Michael S. Gordon, M.D. (Oncology Research Associates, P.L.L.C.)
Dr. Gordon is a medical oncologist, President and CEO of Oncology Research Associates, and practices at Pinnacle Oncology Hematology, a Scottsdale-based oncology research practice. He is Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.
Dr. Gordon’s principle interests have been in the development of new cancer therapies with a focus on targeted therapies as well as drugs that affect angiogenesis (tumor blood vessel supply).
Dr. Gordon received his B.S. degree in Biomedical Sciences from the Sophie Davis School for Biomedical Education at the City College of New York and his M.D. degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine. Following his graduation from medical school Dr. Gordon performed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics from 1985 through 1988. After completing his fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in 1991 he accepted a position at the Indiana University School of Medicine as a faculty member in the Section of Hematology/Oncology. During nine years on the faculty at Indiana University, Dr. Gordon played integral roles in the development of the Indiana University Cancer Center’s Biologics and Developmental Therapeutics Program, the Leukemia Program, Clinical Research Office, and the Scientific Review Committee.
In 2000 Dr. Gordon re-located to Phoenix to become the Associate Dean for Research for the Phoenix Campus of the University of Arizona College of Medicine and subsequently founded the Arizona Cancer Center’s Drug Development Program in Scottsdale. Dr. Gordon led the Arizona Cancer Center’s activities in the greater Phoenix area until November 2005 when the Drug Development Program was converted to Premiere Oncology of Arizona as a freestanding research practice. Dr. Gordon continues in his activities as a member of the Arizona Cancer Center.
Dr. Gordon’s research has focused on the development of novel cancer therapies with a specific disease-oriented interest in melanoma, kidney cancer and ovarian cancer.
“Hirsh Handmaker” (Ionia Consulting)
Dr. Handmaker is the Founder and President of Ionia Consulting, providing technical, marketing and strategic planning advice to entities interested in the health care sector. His career includes 25 years in clinical practice at Children’s Hospital of San Francisco and California Pacific Medical Center, and research in medical imaging. He has founded 3 companies in advanced medical imaging and informatics, and the pursuit of digital transformation of practices in oncology, orthopaedics, sports medicine and radiology.
A diplomat of the American Boards of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, he also served as Director of Medical Services for the Oakland Athletics Baseball Company, and currently is the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Subcommittee Chairman for the NCAA Fiesta, Insight and BCS Bowl Games In Phoenix, Arizona. He serves on the Scientific Advisory and Statewide Planning Committees for the Arizona Cancer Center of the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Dr. Handmaker has authored or coauthored over 70 publications and 2 textbooks dealing with diagnostic imaging and informatics. He has directed the expedited review process and subsequent FDA approval for two novel diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals after serving as Principal Investigator for the multicenter trials for these agents.
Dr. Handmaker earned his B.S. at The University of Arizona and his M.D. at the University of Southern California. His internship and residency were completed at Northwestern University Affiliated Hospitals, Chicago, Illinois. Following his tour of duty in Chu Lai, Viet Nam (Bronze Star Medal), he served as Assistant Director of Nuclear Medicine at Letterman Army Medical Center, Presidio of San Francisco, followed by a Post-doctoral Fellowship as an NIH Trainee in Medical Physics at The Donner Laboratory of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley.
Coral Quiet, M.D. (Arizona Cancer Specialists, P.L.C. )
Dr. Quiet is a radiation oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer. She was an intern at University of Chicago planning to specialize in mastectomies and immediate reconstructions. Following two years of surgical residency, she began her studies of oncology and radiation therapy. Dr. Quiet has practiced in Arizona since 1993.
Because of her concern that women were not getting full information before making their treatment decisions, Dr. Quiet co-founded the Arizona Institute for Breast Health (www.AIBH.org), a non-profit organization that provides a free second opinion service for women and their families recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
Dr. Quiet began a breast brachytherapy program in 2000. She helped to pioneer the Mammosite catheter for the FDA studies and has been involved with that device’s long-term use and research. Her experience with that device let to a realization that it was limited, and could only treat 60% of the patients being seen with early stage breast cancer. She has since pioneered a new device, SAVI, which has completed its early studies and has shown increased use and is capable of treating more women with early stage breast cancer, while avoiding high dose to the skin and ribs. Dr. Quiet continues to investigate new devices designed to advance breast cancer treatment options.
Dr. Quiet was voted the “#1 Top Doc” in 2010 for Radiation Oncology byPhoenix Magazine. Physicians selected for this recognition are selected through a peer-review survey of 5,000 Valley physicians.
Alex C. McLaren, M.D. (Banner Orthopedic Residency)
Alex C. McLaren, M.D. developed and directs the Banner Orthopedic Residency with a focus on scholarly activity and professionalism. After graduating from Queen’s University School of Medicine, Kingston, Ontario, Canada in 1977, Dr. McLaren completed his orthopedic residency at the University of Western Ontario in 1982 and a fellowship in orthopaedic research at the University of Southern California in 1983.
Dr. McLaren practiced at the University of Western Ontario until 1990 when he relocated to Phoenix, Arizona to pursue his academic and clinical interests in orthopedic infections, revision arthroplasty and complex musculoskeletal trauma. He served as the Chairman and Residency Program Director in Orthopaedics at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix from 1997 to 2000. Dr. McLaren is actively involved in the MusculoSkeletal Infection Society (MSIS) having served as its President in 2003 and continues to investigate and publish on local delivery of antimicrobials. He is the Host Course Director for the SouthWest Orthopaedic Trauma Association (SWOTA) annual Resident Fracture course. He is actively involved in research and continues to publish original research related to orthopaedic infections, trauma and reconstruction.
Ronald S. Korn, M.D., Ph.D. (Scottsdale Medical Imaging, Ltd.)
Dr. Korn received a doctoral degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed his training at the University of Pennsylvania in Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. Dr. Korn’s involvement with PET imaging began early in his career in 1991 while at the University of Pennsylvania and continues in present practice.
Dr. Korn is the Director of Nuclear Medicine and Vice President of Scottsdale Medical Imaging, Ltd (SMIL), a private practice radiology group in Scottsdale, Arizona. He also serves as Chairman of Radiology at Scottsdale Healthcare, a large community-based hospital system. Dr. Korn has been a tireless advocate for the use of PET, PET/CT and SPECT/CT fusion imaging in oncology, neurology and cardiology. Dr Korn has extensive experience in the practices of PET/CT and considerable expertise in application to community healthcare environments.
The team of nuclear medicine physicians, radiologists and technologists at SMIL has extensive experience in CT, MRI, Diffusion-weighted MRI, PET, PET/CT and SPECT/CT imaging and has led the way in setting the standards for excellence in PET/CT imaging in the southwest.
Dr. Korn participates in the GE Healthcare Physician’s PET/CT Training Program Masters Series in Molecular Imaging.