Justin E. Bekelman, M.D.

Description of Clinical Expertise

I am a radiation oncologist who specializes in the treatment of prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and testicular cancer. My particular expertise is managing the early detection and treatment of prostate cancer. Prostate cancers present and progress in different ways. While some prostate cancers pose little threat to health, others may grow aggressively. In many cases, radiotherapy or surgery can be curative. We are actively studying new ways to preserve bowel, urinary and sexual function after radiotherapy and to improve quality of life for patients after treatment. For example, to improve outcomes while minimizing the side effects of radiotherapy, we use sophisticated technologies like proton beam therapy and image-guided, intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Description of Research Expertise

My main research interests are in assessing and improving the quality of cancer care, with a particular emphasis on screening, treatment and outcomes for men with prostate cancer. My current research is focused on the comparative effectiveness of prostate cancer treatments, including proton beam therapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy, image-guided radiotherapy, brachytherapy, surgery and active surveillance. I am conducting several studies using linked cancer registry-administrative claims datasets to investigate the effectiveness of these therapies among older men. I am also the co-Principal Investigator of a multi-center randomized clinical trial that compares patient-reported outcomes after intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) versus proton beam therapy for prostate cancer. I also conduct research on bladder and testicular cancer. I am a close collaborator with other faculty at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI), the University of Pennsylvania’s center for interdisciplinary health services research. I am active in the American Society for Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and the Radiation Oncology Institute (ROI), where I co-Chair the Research Committee and serve on the Executive Committee of the National Radiation Oncology Registry. The National Radiation Oncology Registry aims to harness health information technologies to improve the safety and quality of radiation therapy across cancers, starting with prostate cancer. I formerly served as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense in the US Department of Defense.