To schedule a new patient appointment call 844-CANCERNJ (844-226-2376)
To schedule a follow-up appointment call 732-235-7615
For all other inquiries call 732-235-2465.
Dr. Joseph Contessa specializes in the treatment of benign and malignant brain tumors, brain tumor metastases, and tumors that arise at the base of skull. Prior to becoming Chair at Rutgers Cancer Institute, he led the Brain Tumor Center and Central Nervous System Radiotherapy Program at Yale for over a decade. He believes his broad background with multiple technologies in radiation oncology, coupled with long term patient care and follow up, provides insights that set a benchmark for clinical excellence in the tristate area.
He grew up in New Jersey and is honored to return to my home state to lead the Department of Radiation Oncology. He initially trained as a physician-scientist at the Medical College of Virginia where he received an MD and PhD in Pharmacology. He completed residency training at the University of Michigan, an experience that shaped his commitment to combining cutting-edge science with compassionate patient care. His current practice therefore draws on years of patient care experience that is integrated with an understanding of the latest scientific and technological advances, and delivers evidence-based, personalized treatment to every patient he sees.
He also leads an active research laboratory that studies new approaches to improve the efficacy of radiation therapy for the treatment of malignant tumors. Their work has received competitive funding from the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and the American Cancer Society. In addition to this support, they have also developed partnerships with pharmaceutical companies to advance translational research in brain, lung, and and head and neck cancers. He has authored several practice-changing publications in these areas, which led to election as a Fellow of the American Society for Clinical Investigation. He also serves on the editorial board of Clinical Cancer Research and has held leadership roles on NIH advisory boards, including Chair of the Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology Study Section and membership on the NCI’s Head and Neck Steering Committee. Dr. Contessa was also appointed the Omar Boraie Endowed Chair in Molecular Medicine at Rutgers University for a five-year renewable term.
Accepted Health Plan information is only as accurate as the most current information submitted. Prior to your appointment, it is advisable to verify with your insurance company they are still a participating plan prior to receiving services or care. Each plan is different and some provide different levels of coverage that could make a difference in your out-of-pocket costs. It is always best for the patient receiving care to contact their insurance company to obtain more information.