Radiation Oncology Residents

PGY-5

Dekuang “DK” Zhao, DO, PhD 
 
Dekuang “DK” Zhao was born and raised in China. He completed the Cancer Biology graduate program at the University of Miami. He then attended medical school at Liberty University, followed by a preliminary year in Internal Medicine at the University of South Florida. Outside of medicine, he enjoys fishing, cooking and spending time with his family on the beach.

Why I chose this residency program: I chose this program because of its high clinical volume, forefront research opportunities and supportive learning environment. As one of the leading cancer hospitals, Moffitt provides comprehensive cancer care to diverse patient populations across the nation, which gives residents abundant clinical exposure to various treatment modalities. Building upon Total Cancer Care, current research focusing on radiosensitivity index (RSI)-driven personalized radiation opens doors for a wide spectrum of clinical trials. Lastly and most importantly, the culture of mentoring and collaboration in our program fosters an excellent environment for residents’ academic and professional development.

Research:

1. Xiaoyu Jiang, XiaoQing Lu, Andrew J Gentles, Dekuang Zhao, Seth A. Wander, Yu Zhang, Yasodha Natkunam, Joyce Slingerland, Isildinha M. Reis, Brian Rabinovich, Midhat H. Abdulreda, Vincent T. Moy, Izidore S.Lossos, HGAL inhibits lymphoma dissemination by interacting with multiple cytoskeletal proteins. Blood Advances. 2021. Sep 20; bloodadvances.2021004304.
2. Yanxia Ma, Jonathan Shepherd, Dekuang Zhao, Lakshmi  Reddy Bollu, William M. Tahaney, Jamal Hill, Yun Zhang, Abhijit Mazumdar and Powel H. Brown. SOX9 Is Essential for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Survival and Metastasis. Mol Cancer Res. 2020, 18(12):1825-1838.
3. Hyunho Yoon, Minsoon Kim, Kibeom Jang, Miyoung Shin, Alexandra Besser, Xue Xiao, Dekuang Zhao, Seth A. Wander, Karoline Briegel, Lluis Morey, Andy Minn, and Joyce M. Slingerland. p27 transcriptionally coregulates cJun to drive programs of tumor progression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019, 116(14):7005-7014.
4. Dekuang Zhao, William M. Tahaney, Abhijit Mazumdar, Michelle I. Savage, Powel H. Brown. Molecularly Targeted Therapies for p53-mutant Cancers. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2017, 74(22):4171-4187.
5. Zhao D, Pan C, Sun C, Gilbert C, Drews-Elger K, Azzam DJ, Picon-Ruiz M, Kim M, Ullmer W, El-Ashry D, Creighton CJ, and Slingerland JM. VEGF drives cancer-initiating cells through VEGFR-2/STAT3 signaling to upregulate Myc and Sox2. Oncogene. 2015, 34(24):3107-3119.
6. Zhao D, Alexandra A*, Wander S, Sun J, Wang B, Ince T, Zhou W, Guo W, Mills G, Theodorescu D, Slingerland JM. Cytoplasmic p27 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor metastasis via STAT3-mediated Twist1 regulation. Oncogene. 2015, 34(43):5447-5459.  (*Equal contribution)
7. Jing Zhao, Dekuang Zhao, Graham M. Poage, Abhijit Mazumdar, Yun Zhang, Jamal L. Hill, Zachary C. Hartman, Michelle I. Savage, Gordon B. Mills, Powel H. Brown. Death-associated protein kinase 1 promotes growth of p53-mutant cancers. J Clin Invest. 2015, 125(7):2707-2720.

John Peterson, MD 
 
John Peterson grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, and completed both undergraduate and medical education at the University of Utah. He and his wife love exploring Tampa's cultural and culinary diversity with their baby boy.
 
Why I chose this residency program: It was important to me that I train at an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center in the NCCN serving a large and diverse patient population. Moffitt is just that. I was also looking for an institution that was expanding and I wanted colleagues who were smart and supportive. While I was interacting with Moffitt residents and faculty, it was clear that this was a place that valued mutual respect, innovation, and professional development.
 
Research:
 

1. Peterson JS, Plana D, Bitterman DS, Johnson SB, Aerts HJ, Kann BH. Growth in eligibility criteria content and failure to accrue among National Cancer Institute (NCI)‐affiliated clinical trials. Cancer Med. 2023; 12:4715-4724. doi:10.1002/cam4.5276 
2. Peterson, J, Wilson, TF, Watt, MH, et al. International medical tourism of US cancer patients for alternative cancer treatments: Financial, demographic, and clinical profiles of online crowdfunding campaigns. Cancer Med. 2023; 00:1- 9. doi:10.1002/cam4.5636 
3. Peterson JS, Peckham ME, Poppe MM, Burt LS, Shrieve DC, Cannon DM. Delineating the Subarachnoid Space in the Adult Lumbosacral Spine Using Computed Tomographic Myelography: An Aid for Clinical Target Volume Delineation in Craniospinal Irradiation. Advances in Radiation Oncology. 2022;7(5):100994.
4. Peterson J, Wilson T, Gruhl J, et al. Timing and Motivations for Alternative Cancer Therapy With Insights From a Crowdfunding Platform: Cross-sectional Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Cancer. 2022;8(2):e34183. Published 2022 Jun 7. doi:10.2196/34183
5. Peterson J, Chow C, Bonnett R, Colbert-Getz J. Improving students' narrative feedback to educators. Med Educ. 2020;54(5):477-478. doi:10.1111/medu.14122
6. Hutten R, Khouri A, Parsons M, Tward A, Wilson T, Peterson J, et al. The Clinical Significance of Maximum Tumor Diameter on MRI in Men Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy or Definitive Radiotherapy for Locoregional Prostate Cancer. Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2022;20(6):e453-e459. doi:10.1016/j.clgc.2022.06.010
7. Parsons MW, Hutten RJ, Tward, Khouri A, Peterson J, et al. The Effect of Maximum Tumor Diameter by MRI on Disease Control in Intermediate and High-risk Prostate Cancer Patients Treated With Brachytherapy Boost. Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2022;20(1):e68-e74. doi:10.1016/j.clgc.2021.10.003
8. Peterson JS, Swire-Thompson B, Johnson SB. What is the alternative? Responding strategically to cancer misinformation. Future Oncol. 2020;16(25):1883-1888. doi:10.2217/fon-2020-0440

PGY-4

Celina Chiodo, MD

Celina Chiodo was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. As an undergraduate, she majored in Literature at Yale College. She completed a Master's in Medical Physiology and earned her Medical Doctorate at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Prior to starting her residency training at Moffitt, she completed her preliminary year in Internal Medicine at Ascension Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois. Outside of medicine, she enjoys music, movies, painting, orchid care, weightlifting and spending time with her two birds and her friends and family. 

Why I chose Moffitt: As I continue along my career path, it is important to me that I don't close any doors. I believe Moffitt will train me well for whichever path I take. There is a high clinical volume, an abundance of valuable research opportunities, an emphasis on mentorship and leadership, and a strong community for the residents, staff and patients. Here at Moffitt, I look forward to setting a strong foundation for a career of lifelong education and patient care.

Kolade Olabode, MD, MPH

Kolade was born and raised in Nigeria. He obtained his medical degree at the Olabisi Onabanjo University and practiced in Nigeria before moving to the U.S., where he obtained his Master of Public Health at Kent State University, Ohio. He subsequently gained valuable pharmaceutical experience in oncology drug development, biostatistics and epidemiology before completing his preliminary year in surgery at the Nassau University Medical Center, New York. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, family and friends; he is a huge soccer fan and likes to travel.

Why I chose Moffitt: I was impressed by the sheer volume of diverse clinical work, resources, infrastructure and research opportunities at Moffitt. The leadership and faculty are great and the emphasis on top-notch patient care, global health and innovative research is laudable. The culture at Moffitt was very instrumental in my choice and the multidisciplinary approach to healthcare delivery is phenomenal. Being at an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center was also a huge factor. 

Research:

1. Mohammad Khan, Clayton Hess, Tony Eng, Tahseen Nasti, Vishal Dhere, Troy Kleber, Jeffrey Switchenko, Brent Weinberg, Nadine Rouphael, Sibo Tian, Soumon Rudra, Kolade Olabode, Eileen Samuel, Rafi Ahmed. Combined Analysis of a Phase III Randomized Trial and Phase II Prospective Trial with Blind Control Matching of Patients Receiving Whole-Lung, Low-Dose Radiation for COVID-19: Full Results and Immunologic Correlates of the RESCUE 1-19 Trial. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.06.1029. 2023.
2. Solomon O Badejoko, Jessie Wang, Paul E Formaker, Mojolaoluwa Balogun, Arshi Jha, Jessica B Madej, Mariam Akinwale, Kolade Olabode, Nso Nso, Raphael Ezeagu, Gurtej Malhi. S2304 Esophagobronchial Fistula After a Laparoscopic Partial Fundoplication, Mimicking as Empyema. http://dx.doi.org/10.14309/01.ajg.0000865856.09346.2b. 2022.
3. Kolade Olabode and Augustine Manadan, Ehizogie Edigin, Precious Eseaton, Chinenye Osuorji, Nneka Chukwu, Oluyemisi Amoda. Hospitalization for SLE Flare Has Reduced over Two Decades in the United States: A Longitudinal Population-based Study. American College of Rheumatology. 2021.
4. Macaulay Onuigbo, Kolade Olabode, Mohan Sengodan. ‘Sweet Hypoxia’ with Acute Kidney Injury: The Unpredictability of Acute Hypoxic Respiratory Failure in COVID-19 Infection – a Community Hospital Experience.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfab092.0048.  2021. 

Simran Alexandria Polce, MD

Simran Polce grew up on Long Island, NY. Her research at the VA Health System and The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health nurtured her early interest in medicine. Dr. Polce earned her Bachelor of Science degree with summa cum laude honors from the New York Institute of Technology before obtaining her medical degree from Stony Brook University. She completed a preliminary year in internal medicine at North Shore University Hospital/Northwell Health, providing her with a solid foundation in general medicine. Outside of her medical career, Dr. Polce enjoys a variety of activities. She is an avid video game enthusiast and deeply appreciates Bollywood music. She values quality time spent with family and friends, which helps her maintain a balanced and fulfilling life.

Why I chose Moffitt: I chose Moffitt Cancer Center for my residency due to its exceptional clinical expertise, diverse staff and patient population, and outstanding research opportunities. The program's commitment to cutting-edge treatment techniques and its well-balanced training structure stood out to her. Additionally, the opportunity to work alongside incredible co-residents was a significant factor in my decision. I am passionate about personalized and holistic cancer care and strive to integrate these principles into my daily practice. 

Research:

1. Zabrocka E, Polce, S., Roberson JD, Wu J, Cohen J, Baer L, Stopeck A, Ryu S, Stessin A. Utility of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Establishing Local Control for Patients with Invasive Breast Cancer Not Undergoing Definitive Surgery. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2024 Feb 1;118(2):436-442. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2023.08.064. Epub 2023 Oct 2. PMID: 37793576.
2. Polce, S., Noldner C., Ailawadi S., Ryu S., Stessin A. Radiation Therapy in Cancer of Accessory Breast Tissue: Questions for Treatment Guidelines, Case Series, and Literature Review. Appl Rad Oncol. 2023;12(1):31-37.
3. Polce, S., Gogineni, E., Antone, J., Ghaly, M., Keith Frank, D., Segal, J. D., & Parashar, B. Dental radiation dosimetric maps from intensity-modulated radiation therapy planning for head and neck cancers. Head & Neck, 43(5), 1428–1439. https://doi.org/10.1002/hed.26611
4. Wernicke, A. G., Polce, S., & Parashar, B. Role of Radiation in the Era of Effective Systemic Therapy for Melanoma. The Surgical Clinics of North America, 100(1), 189–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.suc.2019.09.010
5. Polce, S. A., Burke, C., França, L. M., Kramer, B., de Andrade Paes, A. M., & Carrillo-Sepulveda, M. A. Ellagic Acid Alleviates Hepatic Oxidative Stress and Insulin Resistance in Diabetic Female Rats. Nutrients, 10(5), 531. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10050531

PGY-3

Levi Martinka, MD 

Levi Martinka was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He completed his undergraduate studies in Neurobiology and Global Health at the University of Wisconsin–Madison before attending medical school at Rush Medical College. He then went on to complete a transitional year in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Outside of medicine, he enjoys spending time with his fiancée and friends, cheering on Minnesota sports teams, playing pickleball and volleyball, rollerblading and discovering new breweries.

Why I chose this residency program: I was drawn to this program because of the balance of exceptional clinical training and how comfortable the program made me feel. As a high-volume cancer center, it provides exposure to unique cases and the opportunity to work with outstanding multidisciplinary physicians at the top of their field. The program also offers flexibility to support residents’ individual interests. Just as important, the camaraderie among residents and the support from faculty create a truly welcoming and collaborative environment. And of course, living in a vacation destination is the perfect bonus!

Research:

1. Wagner B, Martinka L, Gordon D, Anderson S, Bukolt K, Martin K, Golden D. Characterizing the Clinical Role of Radiation Oncology Advanced Practice Providers Using Entrustable Professional Activities. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Phisocs. 2025 Sept; 123(1): e11.  10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.05.043.
2. Bonomi P, Moudgalya H, Gomez SL, Shah P, Basu S, Batus M, Martinka LB, Abdelkader A, Tzameli I, Cobain S, Collins S, Keliher EJ, Breen DM, Calle RA, Fidler MJ, Borgia JA. Frequency of weight and body composition increases in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients during first line therapy. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2024 Dec;15(6):2311-2322. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.13534. Epub 2024 Sep 17. PMID: 39289919; PMCID: PMC11634467.
3. Roy S, Kishan AU, Morgan SC, Martinka L, Spratt DE, Sun Y, Malone J, Grimes S, Citrin DE, Malone S. Association of PSA kinetics after testosterone recovery with subsequent recurrence: secondary analysis of a phase III randomized controlled trial. World J Urol. 2023 Dec;41(12):3905-3911. doi: 10.1007/s00345-023-04635-1. Epub 2023 Oct 4. PMID: 37792009.

Samantha Webking, MD  

Sam was born and raised in North Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a minor in Psychology from the University of West Florida before completing PA school at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale. After graduation, she chose to continue her education by attending medical school at the American University of the Caribbean. In her free time, she enjoys trail running, exploring national parks, scuba diving, painting, listening to podcasts, spending time with her dog and reading.

Why I chose this residency program:

I was initially drawn to Moffitt because of the exceptional group of physicians who practice here—leaders who are not only highly skilled but also deeply passionate about teaching and mentoring the next generation of doctors. Moffitt's patient-centered focus is evident in every case, with a focus on quality of life. I knew I wanted to join the Moffitt team after seeing the culture of support and collaboration in which learners are encouraged to ask questions, share ideas, and grow both personally and professionally. Knowing that many of the doctors I admire are graduates of this residency gave me the added confidence that the quality of education and hands-on training here would be unmatched.

PGY-2

Mariana Dejuk , MD

Mariana Dejuk was born and raised in Palatka, Florida. She attended the University of Florida for undergraduate studies and Penn State College of Medicine for medical school before completing her transitional year at HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital. Outside of medicine, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé and family, playing volleyball, tennis and basketball, snowboarding, and trying new foods and recipes.

Why I chose Moffitt: I was drawn to Moffitt because of the exceptional care the team provides to its patients and the genuine commitment to putting patients first. I also value the diversity of the patient population, both culturally and in the wide range of diseases we see, from common diagnoses to rare and complex cases. Just as important to me was the culture. From my time here, it was clear that the residents genuinely support one another and that the faculty are approachable, invested in teaching, and care about their residents. Moffitt also offers an incredible number of resources and opportunities, which gives residents the flexibility to shape their training around their individual interests and goals. Ultimately, I chose Moffitt because it offers outstanding clinical training in an environment where I feel supported, challenged and excited to learn.

Research

1. Dejuk, Mariana, et al. "Face the Pain: Radiobiological and Clinical Considerations of Re-radiosurgery to the Trigeminal Nerve Following Irradiation of an Abutting Petroclival Meningioma." Cureus 17.5 (2025).
2. Dejuk, Mariana, et al. "Qualitative and quantitative relationships between comorbid seizures and dementia among hospitalized stroke patients." Journal of the neurological sciences 468 (2025): 123332.
3. Lekoubou, A., Cohrs, A., Dejuk, M., Hong, J., Sen, S., Bonilha, L., & Chinchilli, V. M. (2024). Acute seizures after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in young individuals: 11-year trends and association with mortality. Epilepsy research, 205, 107408.
4. Kite, T., Wegner, R. E., Karlovits, S., Herbst, J., Lister, J., Knox, H., Dejuk, M... & Shepard, M. J. (2026). Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma: Results From the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation. Neurosurgery

James “Nick” Trosper, MD

James “Nick” Trosper was born and raised in Kentucky. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Kentucky before serving for nine years in the United States Navy as a submarine warfare and nuclear propulsion officer. He later returned to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, where he developed a strong interest in oncology, radiation medicine, brachytherapy and a desire to find innovative solutions to improving cancer care. Outside of medicine, Nick enjoys spending time with his wife and their three children.

Why I chose this residency program:
I was impressed by the exceptional clinical training, strong mentorship and patient-centered cancer care offered at Moffitt.  My background in engineering and Navy nuclear propulsion gave me a fundamental appreciation for multidisciplinary teamwork and the program's exceptional clinical volume, breadth of pathology and robust research infrastructure offered a similar kind of environment for continuing my training. I am deeply motivated to help push the boundaries of what is possible in cancer care. 

Research:

1. Sims SL, Frazier HN, Case SL, Lin RL, Trosper JN, Vekaria HJ, Sullivan PG, Thibault O. Variable bioenergetic sensitivity of neurons and astrocytes to insulin and extracellular glucose. npj Metabolic Health and Disease. 2024;2(1):33. doi:10.1038/s44324-024-00037-y.
2. Knight JA 2nd, Trosper N, Misa J, Bernard ME, Fabian D, Kudrimoti M, Yan W, St Clair W, Yang ES, Pokhrel D. Reported early clinical outcomes of forward-planned multileaf collimator-based 3-dimensional conformal spatially fractionated radiation therapy technique for large and bulky tumors. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. 2025;122(4):1060-1068. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2025.04.016.
3. Trosper N, Fabian D, St Clair W, et al. Feasibility and safety of multiple courses of Gamma Knife radiosurgery treatment to recurrent trigeminal neuralgia: A single-institutional clinical outcomes study. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. 2024;120.
4. Taj H, Adatorwovor R, Trosper N, Blanford C, Morris T, Soule A, Chahine Z, Qasrawi A, Iragavarapu C, Munker R, Monohan G, Yalniz F. AI-driven risk stratification for disease progression after allo-SCT in AML. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2025;43(16_suppl). doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.e18562.

Bryce Comstock, MD

Bryce Comstock grew up in Olympia, Washington, and earned his undergraduate degree from Gonzaga University before attending Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. Outside of medicine, Bryce enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, following soccer, fishing, snorkeling and exploring Florida's outdoors.

Why I chose this residency program: I was looking for an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in a state where my family and I wanted to build our lives, and Moffitt offered an exceptional combination of clinical training and research opportunities. I was especially drawn to the breadth of treatment technologies, including brachytherapy, proton therapy, MR-guided radiotherapy, and adaptive radiation therapy, as well as the program's close collaboration with medical and surgical oncology. Moffitt's emphasis on translational research—including radiomics, cancer genetics, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and minimal residual disease (MRD)—provides an ideal environment to train as an academic radiation oncologist and contribute to the future of personalized cancer care.