The article is available on the CancerNetwork website.

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Dr. Wright’s talk, Shifting Paradigms in Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer in North Carolina, described approaches to radiation de-escalation in early-stage, low-risk breast cancer, identified strategies for treatment of higher risk breast cancer, and discussed the impact of radiation technology in the management of breast cancer.

The full talk is available on the UNCLCN website.

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Dr. Yanagihara said, “This has been a tremendous, multi-institutional collaboration that I have been very fortunate to be involved with and we are excited to see external beam radiation (EBRT) as a recommended treatment for select patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. In prior guidelines, EBRT has not been included in the core treatment algorithm, and this update represents a recognition of increasing data and general acceptance of EBRT as a safe and effective ablative therapy for HCC.”

The full press release.

Dr. Yanagihara (second row, left) and the BCLC group. Photo courtesy of BCLC.

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Mahesh helped build the foundations of our department and served as Director of the (former) Division of Radiation Oncology. Mahesh was a kind, humble, and thoughtful man who was beloved by our learners and patients. He was a trusted colleague and friend and he will be missed by many. A more detailed remembrance from his family is provided below.

Dr. Mahesh Varia passed away on May 11, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Born and raised in Kampala, Uganda, Mahesh was a lifelong learner. His pursuit of knowledge led him to the University of Liverpool in England, where he earned his medical degree. After a magical walk at the Talav ni Pal in Jamnagar, India, he married the great love of his life—Dr. Indira (Indu) Ghatalia—in 1969. Together, they served as medical officers in rural Uganda.

In 1972, with their young daughter Rachna, Mahesh and Indu immigrated to the United States ahead of Uganda’s expulsion of Asians. He completed his radiation oncology residency at Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia, where their daughter Nisha was born. The family then moved to North Carolina, where Mahesh joined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1976. Their youngest daughter, Smita, was born soon after.

Mahesh spent 41 years at UNC Hospitals as a clinician, researcher, and mentor. He treated thousands of patients with deep compassion. He directed the training program for residents in radiation oncology for 20 years, authored dozens of research publications, and was a national leader in clinical trial development and radiation biology research on tumor hypoxia. He led with quiet excellence and left an indelible imprint on his colleagues and patients alike.

Rooted in the Jain principles of nonviolence and compassion, Mahesh and Indu transformed their beliefs into action through building community and dedicating themselves to service. They helped establish the thriving Jain Study Center of North Carolina, built a primary school in Gujarat, and returned to rural India annually for 17 years to provide free medical care. A lifelong vegetarian, Mahesh became a committed vegan in his later years.

Mahesh was ever ready to explore the world and try new things, from traveling across all seven continents—including Antarctica!—to taking line dancing classes. He immersed himself in his hobbies, including music, photography, and making slideshows. His eyes would light up when talking about one of his greatest joys—playing and teaching bridge.

Mahesh and Indu treasured connection and were central pillars of a large, extended family and a wide network of friends and community. All who knew Mahesh were touched by his kindness, gentleness, brilliance, and humility. He supported countless family and friends with advice and care. His tremendous example of quiet strength and equanimity, including after the loss of his beloved wife Indu in 2022, will be remembered always.

Mahesh is held in the hearts of daughters and sons-in-law, Rachna, Nisha, Smita, Junish, Ritchie, and Brad, and his cherished grandchildren, Siona, Simrin, Neel, Kaya, and Sejal.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Share and Care Foundation and their projects supporting healthcare in rural India.

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In addition, the department successfully recruited a candidate for the 3-year clinical and research program: Zach Gude, PhD (Duke University).

Per residency coordinator Sara Tinkham, “They are great applicants, and we are so excited to have them join our team!”

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DHE is making significant strides in improving clinician well-being through innovative initiatives that combine research and hands-on practice. Sponsored by the UNC Health Well-Being Program, DHE launched a 60-day blitz across 16 emergency departments in the UNC Health system, gathering more than 370 submissions from clinicians about their well-being concerns. These submissions provided valuable insights, ranging from workflow inefficiencies to staffing and physical work environment issues. Thanks to this feedback, immediate improvements were implemented, such as resolving Epic issues and enhancing equipment support. Work has begun on complex projects to address systemic challenges, such as boarding and throughput. Local projects also tackled practical needs, including revamped supply stocking, dual monitors for physicians, and portable phones for nurses.

With funding provided by the UNC Health Well-Being Program, DHE supported well-being initiatives across all participating EDs, and five hospitals successfully made requests for supplies to improve staff morale and comfort. These requests were promptly approved and fulfilled by August, demonstrating commitment to fast, impactful interventions. By combining real-time changes with research, DHE’s work was presented at the International Conference for Physician Health and submitted for publication, ensuring that the lessons learned here will benefit healthcare providers nationwide. As they move forward, DHE remains dedicated to sustaining and expanding these efforts to support clinicians in their vital roles.

Dr. Mazur, along with his team, Jennifer Bissram, and Dr. Emily Kertcher, pose with emergency department staff and leaders at UNC Rex after delivering chairs and other requested supplies to improve staff well-being.

Leading Human Factors Research in Workplace Violence Prevention

Meagan Foster has been at the forefront of advancing human factors research within DHE, focusing on critical issues faced by healthcare professionals. One of her key contributions has been spearheading efforts to analyze workplace violence in healthcare settings. Using an innovative electronic aggregate reporting tool, Meagan’s research captures the frequency of healthcare professionals experiencing or witnessing incidents of workplace violence.

Her most recent publication, featured in the Journal of User Experience this fall, highlights the significant findings and actionable insights from this important work. By identifying trends and patterns, Meagan’s research continues to inform strategies that enhance safety and well-being for healthcare workers.

Research in Radiation Oncology Quality Assurance

Elizabeth (Liz) Kwong’s PhD research focuses on transforming pretreatment quality assurance in radiation oncology by developing and implementing an automated checklist for physicists. This innovation, designed in collaboration with the University of California at San Diego, aims to replace manual processes, improving usability and reducing the cognitive workload on physicists—ultimately enhancing patient safety and care quality.

In addition to optimizing workflow efficiency, Liz’s research explores the role of stakeholder engagement in the development and implementation of health technology tools. By involving physicists and other key stakeholders, this work identifies strategies for successful technology adoption, offering a blueprint for the effective implementation of digital health solutions to improve care quality and patient outcomes.

Liz, a PhD student in the Carolina Health Informatics Program (CHIP), has been with the Department of Radiation Oncology and DHE for 3 years and is scheduled to graduate in May, 2025.

Mazur Leads Efforts to Establish WHO Collaborating Center in Radiation Oncology

Dr. Lukasz Mazur is driving efforts for the Department of Radiation Oncology to become a designated World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center. This initiative focuses on an area in which the department is already recognized as a leader—patient safety in radiation oncology. This is a collaborative effort involving many leaders in the department, along with faculty from the School of Information and Library Science (SILS) and CHIP, who are contributing their expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence  and machine learning. An extensive report and technical documents are currently being prepared by a large team, with the first draft expected to be completed in February 2025. With this diverse range of knowledge and innovative practices, the department is well-positioned to contribute to WHO’s mission of enhancing global health standards.

As a WHO Collaborating Center, the Department of Radiation Oncology would join an international network of institutions working to advance patient safety, optimize treatment outcomes, and develop best practices in radiation oncology. This designation would not only recognize the department’s existing contributions but also allow it to share its knowledge on a global scale, helping improve radiation oncology safety standards worldwide.

Accomplishments

Dr. Mazur was selected to participate in the 2024–2025 class of Leading Transformation in Academic Medicine (LTAM). LTAM is a 9-month, cohort-based leadership development program for midcareer faculty striving for increased levels of leadership. The program is housed in the School of Medicine’s Office of Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development.

Written by Jennifer Bissram, MSIS, MBA

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