Nikhil Thaker, MD, MHA, FABS, FAMIA
Medical Director, Radiation Oncology
Dr. Thaker is a renowned radiation oncologist, scientific researcher, informaticist, and healthcare leader who works at the intersection of clinical oncology, technology, and value-based cancer care delivery. He is the medical director of stereotactic radiosurgery at Capital Health.
He received his undergraduate degree in biology with summa cum laude from The College of New Jersey and his medical degree with junior Alpha Omega Alpha status from Rutgers University – New Jersey Medical School, receiving both degrees through the highly competitive 7-year accelerated combined medical program. During medical school, he helped develop novel therapeutic combinations for glioblastoma brain tumors and was awarded a clinical and translational research fellowship through the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Upon graduating medical school, Dr. Thaker completed residency training in Radiation Oncology at the prestigious University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas - the #1 ranked cancer center in the country by US News and World Report. In an effort to improve the quality of cancer care in patients’ communities, Dr. Thaker also completed a fellowship in healthcare management, where he worked with national leaders in quality improvement and healthcare innovation at the MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Harvard Business School.
Dr. Thaker is double-board certified in radiation oncology and clinical informatics, holds Master’s degrees in healthcare and business administration, has attained Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified in Medical Quality (CMQ) professional certifications, and is a Fellow of the American Brachytherapy Society (FABS) and the American Medical Informatics Association (FAMIA). He works with leading experts in all aspects of radiation oncology and applied technology and has helped develop cutting-edge cancer therapies. He has expertise in treating a wide range of cancers, including gastrointestinal, lung, gynecologic, breast, head and neck, genitourinary, and central nervous system malignancies. Dr. Thaker also holds several national leadership positions in the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS). He has co-founded multiple companies in the areas of technology, digital transformation, and healthcare delivery for underserved communities.
Dr. Thaker has a strong devotion to delivering world-class, academic-level cancer care to patients close to their homes. He is deeply passionate about helping patients and their families navigate their cancer journey, and he believes in patient-centered care, where he combines each patient’s personal values with strong multidisciplinary collaboration and the most cutting-edge standards of cancer care. When at home, Dr. Thaker enjoys swimming, running, programming, watching movies, and singing Bollywood songs. He especially enjoys spending time with his wife and three young children.
Gopal Desai, MD
Dr. Desai is a board certified radiation oncologist with over 30 years of experience treating all types of cancers. He has spent the past 20 years caring for patients in the New Jersey area and feels a strong sense of commitment to the region and compassion towards the patients who undertake this courageous journey.
Dr. Desai completed his medical school training at Kurnool Medical College in Andhra Pradesh, India. After working in both India and England for several years, he moved to the United States in the 1990s and completed residency training at the renowned Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University in St. Louis. He subsequently worked at several institutions, and also served as the chairman of radiation oncology at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, NJ, a position he held for 16 years. His interests include multimodality treatment of cancer with radiosurgery approach to oligometastatic disease, ultra-hypofractionation of prostate cancer and breast cancer.
A cancer diagnosis is a challenging and unfamiliar terrain for patients and their loved ones to navigate. Dr. Desai believes it is a privilege to care for patients diagnosed with cancer, and his goal to provide exceptional and compassionate care to them and their families. He participates in multiple tumor boards and working with other colleagues in surgical oncology, medical oncology and other supportive services, he with other team members is able come up with the best multimodal approach that serves the patient needs. The determination, grit, and grace of caring for cancer patients never ceases to amaze him. His goal is to aid patients on their medical journey, to cure when possible, to palliate when needed, and to always provide comfort and support.