Richard E. Greenberg, MD, FACS
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Clinical Locations
Primary Location
Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111
Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology
Kidney, Bladder, and Prostate Cancer TRDG Member
Carol and Louis Della Penna Chair in Urologic Oncology
Master Clinician
Professor, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University
NCCN, Bladder/Penile Cancers Panel Member
Specialties
Research Program
Key Awards
Urology
Treatment Philosophy
I joined the staff at Fox Chase Cancer Center in 1983 as the first dedicated urologist. This gave me the opportunity to build a strong urology program—one that provides expert surgical care for patients with urologic cancers and their related medical issues. After all this time, the best part of my job is the smiles and gratitude I get from patients and family because of the effort put forth on their behalf, regardless of the eventual outcome.
During my training, I chose the field of urology because it offers a surgical subspecialty that encompasses many physiologic problems that require long-term 'medical' as well as surgical options. I have the opportunity for long-term follow-up of patients, rather than simply performing an operation and then sending them to another doctor for long-term care. Also, the immediate relief sometimes offered to patients feeds my own need for more immediate gratification with patient care and outcome than other areas of medicine.
I look at the whole patient and try to understand their needs within the realm of their family and their specific stage of cancer. I then try to choose the best long-term approach for every patient. I believe that our multispecialty approach to cancer benefits patients. For example, we encourage our prostate cancer patients to consider all types of treatment available to them at Fox Chase, as well as outside of the institution, prior to a final decision.
As a full-time physician at Fox Chase, I have no financial pressure to suggest surgery over a non-surgical option. Rather, I offer the best treatment plan individually tailored to the needs of the patient. I also stress quality as well as quantity of life issues. I am not afraid to tell a patient that surgery is not indicated if it is not in their best interest--even if they had decided that was how they wanted to be treated prior to our consultation. Learning whom to operate on and how to operate, but also whom not to operate on is a skill learned over many years.
I have been a urologist for three decades and have seen advances in technology that are too numerous to mention--but all have helped surgeons improve outcomes. Improvements in managing infections with new antibiotics have changed the face of modern urology. Improvements in both early diagnosis and treatment of almost all of the tumors urologists treat are apparent and constantly moving toward to the goal of cure without toxicity (or side effects).
An excellent example of technological advances is the DaVinci-S surgical robot which allows me to perform laparoscopic anatomical nerve sparing prostatectomies in appropriate patients. Learning this technical skill has been a worthwhile endeavor as it has improved the quality of care I can deliver to those patients with early stage prostate cancer.
Follow on Twitter:@FCUroOnc
Educational Background
- Resident, General Surgery, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
- Resident, Surgery (Urology), New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
- Resident, Surgery (Urology), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
- MD, Cornell University Medical College, Ithaca, NY, 1976
Certifications
- AUA Board of Urology, 1985, 1995, 2005, 2015
Memberships
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
- Bladder/Penile Cancers Panel
- American College of Surgeons
- American Urological Association
- Philadelphia Urological Society
- Society of Urologic Oncology
Honors & Awards
- Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors, 2009-19
- America’s Top Doctors®, 2015-17
- 2016 AUA Annual Resident Teaching Award
- Best Doctors in America®, Best Doctors Inc., 2014
Stephen Harkavy
Stephen Harkavy
When Stephen Harkavy, a retired surgeon, was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 65, he knew immediately where he would seek treatment: Fox Chase Cancer Center. Stephen underwent an assisted, minimally-invasive radical prostatectomy, with outstanding results. "When anyone asks me where to go when they have cancer, without reservation I recommend Fox Chase in general and Dr. Richard Greenberg in particular for anyone requiring urologic cancer surgery."
Louis Della Penna
Louis Della Penna
Louis Della Penna made an appointment at Fox Chase Cancer Center in 1994 because he was concerned about a chronic sore throat. It was the best decision he made since he learned shortly after that he had kidney cancer. Louis underwent surgery to remove the cancer from his kidney and surrounding tissue. Today he is cancer free and supports programs at Fox Chase, including two endowments he and his wife funded. "My feelings for Fox Chase are very strong," he said. "If you want to support something wonderful, there is no better place to give, no matter what your contribution. I am cancer free today, and I continue to return to Fox Chase for follow-up visits. It’s an amazing story."
Pete Vaccaro
Pete Vaccaro
When I walked into Fox Chase Cancer Center in 1998, I wasn’t sure I would be around for the birth of my first child. I was 31 years old at the time, and had just been diagnosed with cancer. Today, my wife Natalie and I have a two sons and a daughter. My life is complete, and I owe it all to Fox Chase.
My wife was pregnant with our first child when I realized that my chronic back pain was worrisome. My doctor ordered an X-ray, which revealed a mass on my abdomen that looked like cancer. My world seemed to slow down. The diagnosis came completely out of the blue.
Peter Hagerty
Peter Hagerty
Peter Hagerty was shocked to learn he had testicular cancer at the age of 36. He sought treatment at Fox Chase Cancer Center after having surgery to remove his testicule at a nearby hospital, where he learned the cancer had spread. After four cycles of chemotherapy, he was ready for surgery, a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, which removed the cancer and reduced the risk of recurrence. Today Peter is cancer free and back to work as a police officer. "My wife and I were really happy with the care I received at Fox Chase," he said. "I really could have gone anywhere, and we drove past all the big Philadelphia university hospitals on our way to Fox Chase. But I chose it because all they deal with is cancer."
Jay Kernan
Jay Kernan
Pages
Selected Publications
Correa AF, Handorf E, Joshi SS, Geynisman DM, Kutikov A, Chen DY, Uzzo RG, Viterbo R, Greenberg RE, Smaldone MC. Differences in Survival Associated with Performance of Lymph Node Dissection in Patients with Invasive Penile Cancer: Results from the National Cancer Database. J Urol, 199(5):1238-44, 2018. PubMed
Hahn NM, Bivalacqua TJ, Ross AE, Netto GJ, Baras AS, Park JC, Chapman C, Masterson TA, Koch MO, Bihrle R, Foster RS, Gardner TA, Cheng L, Jones DR, McElyea K, Sandusky GE, Breen T, Liu Z, Albany C, Moore ML, Loman RA, Reed A, Turner SA, de Abreu FB, Gallagher TL, Tsongalis GJ, Plimack ER, Greenberg RE, Geynisman DM. A PHASE II TRIAL OF DOVITINIB IN BCG-UNRESPONSIVE UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA WITH FGFR3 MUTATIONS OR OVER-EXPRESSION: HOOSIER CANCER RESEARCH NETWORK TRIAL HCRN 12-157. Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, 2016 PubMed
Johnson ME, Zaorsky NG, Martin JM, Ruth K, Greenberg RE, Uzzo RG, Hayes SB, Smaldone MC, Kutikov A, Viterbo R, Chen DY, Hallman MA, Sobczak ML, Horwitz EM. Patient reported outcomes among treatment modalities for prostate cancer. The Canadian journal of urology, 23(6):8535-45, 2016. PubMed
Jung K, Ghatalia P, Litwin S, Horwitz EM, Uzzo RG, Greenberg RE, Viterbo R, Geynisman DM, Kutikov A, Plimack ER, Smaldone MC, Wong YN, Bilusic M. Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder: 20-Year Single-Institution Retrospective Review. Clinical genitourinary cancer, 2016. PubMed
Surgical Apgar Score predicts an increased risk of major complications and death after renal mass excision.Ito T, Abbosh PH, Mehrazin R, Tomaszewski JJ, Li T, et al.The Journal of urology. 2015; 193(6):1918-22. PubMed
Is extended pharmacologic venous thromboembolism prophylaxis uniformly safe after radical cystectomy? Mehrazin R, Piotrowski Z, Egleston B, Parker D, Tomaszweski JJ, et al.Urology. 2014; 84(5):1152-6. PubMed
Additional Publications
Related Articles
16 PATIENT COMMENTS
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5.0
February 17, 2019
It is always a pleasure to see Dr. Greenberg.
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5.0
November 29, 2018
excellent personal attention
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5.0
November 28, 2018
Dr. Greenburg is an excellent dr. He explains things very well.
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5.0
October 26, 2018
super person and speaks to me on my level
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5.0
October 25, 2018
She was extremely professional with a sense of humor.
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5.0
September 27, 2018
Very good experience
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5.0
September 26, 2018
Most definitely would recommend to family or friends.
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5.0
September 20, 2018
Dr Greenberg is a true professional. he will continue to be my provider as long as he remains in practice.
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5.0
August 02, 2018
Fox Chase is a great health provider, very professional,compassionate and knowledgeable care.
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5.0
July 30, 2018
Very strong medical background, very down to earth and answered all my questions.
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5.0
July 28, 2018
For almost 15 years I have been a patient of Dr. Greenberg. He is fantastic.
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5.0
June 28, 2018
very good
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4.5
June 27, 2018
Dr. Greenberg's interaction with me attests to his "top doctor" rating.
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5.0
June 21, 2018
Dr. Greenberg has always been kind & understanding throughout the entire process.
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5.0
May 29, 2018
I am 56 years old and have received a lot of medical treatment in my time. Dr. Greenberg has greatly improved the quality of my life,and probably saved it. He is the most amazing person I have ever met. I really don't have the words to express my gratitude and respect. he is a true treasure.
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5.0
May 28, 2018
Dr. Greenberg is the best and even called me at 8:30 PM [...] to address my problems.
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