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Richard E. Greenberg, MD, FACS
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- Clinical Locations
- About
- Education and Training
- Patient Stories
- Research Profile
- Publications
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Clinical Locations
Primary Location
Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111
Secondary Location
Fox Chase Cancer Center Huntingdon Pike
8 Huntingdon Pike
Rockledge, PA 19046
About
Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology
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
Education and Training
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, 2009-20
- Best Doctors in America® , 2014, 2019-2020, Urology
- America’s Top Doctors®, 2015-17
- 2016 AUA Annual Resident Teaching Award
Patient Stories
'Cowboy' Jack Novek
Lymphoma; Prostate Cancer; Skin Cancer
'Cowboy' Jack Novek
Lymphoma; Prostate Cancer; Skin Cancer
I am 78 years old and have owned horses for 68 of those years. I am a cowboy through and through. My father gave me my first pony when I was just five years old and my first horse when I was 10. I have had hundreds of horses since. I also used to train the ponies down at the race track. 
Howard Tomlinson
Prostate Cancer
Howard Tomlinson
Prostate Cancer
I’m 66 years old and a resident of
Walter Masinick
Prostate Cancer
Walter Masinick
Prostate Cancer
The biopsy came back positive even though all my prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests were normal at the time. The doctor suggested I get checked in about a year, but I wanted something done sooner and decided to get a second opinion.
Stephen Harkavy
Prostate Cancer
Stephen Harkavy
Prostate Cancer
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
Kidney Cancer
Louis Della Penna
Kidney Cancer
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."
Pages
Research Profile
Publications
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
Clinical Locations
Primary Location
Fox Chase Cancer Center
333 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111
Secondary Location
Fox Chase Cancer Center Huntingdon Pike
8 Huntingdon Pike
Rockledge, PA 19046
Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology
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
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
Education
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, 2009-20
- Best Doctors in America® , 2014, 2019-2020, Urology
- America’s Top Doctors®, 2015-17
- 2016 AUA Annual Resident Teaching Award
Research Profile
Research Interests
- GU Malignancies
Publications
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
68 PATIENT COMMENTS
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No Star Ratings Available
January 30, 2021
Dr. Richard Greenberg is a consummate healer
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No Star Ratings Available
January 29, 2021
Dr Greenberg is wonderfull
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No Star Ratings Available
January 24, 2021
good
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5.0
January 02, 2021
I experience wonderful care at Fox Chase and Dr. Greenberg and his staff!
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5.0
January 02, 2021
Always given excellent care by Dr. Greenberg & staff. They always go above & beyond in all ways. The best medical treatment I have ever received in my life.
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No Star Ratings Available
December 26, 2020
Excellent Experience
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No Star Ratings Available
December 23, 2020
I am alive because of Dr. Greenberg...
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No Star Ratings Available
December 18, 2020
I refer Dr. Grennberg as a surgeon any chance I can.
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No Star Ratings Available
December 14, 2020
Everything was explained well.
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No Star Ratings Available
December 07, 2020
I have a great deal of trust Dr. Greenberg, and he inspires this trust.
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5.0
December 07, 2020
Dr. Greenberg is an excellent surgeon. Very kind and knowledgeable.
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No Star Ratings Available
November 26, 2020
I have already recommended Dr . Greenberg to several friends .
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No Star Ratings Available
November 24, 2020
Everything was done in friendly and efficient way
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5.0
November 13, 2020
much superior than elsewhere
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No Star Ratings Available
November 13, 2020
He makes me feel at ease to talk about my situation.
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No Star Ratings Available
October 16, 2020
always thorough and pleasant
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5.0
October 16, 2020
Was treated very well.
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No Star Ratings Available
October 09, 2020
Dr Greenberg is an excellent physician and has a comforting style dealing with his patients.
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5.0
September 28, 2020
I have 100% trust in Dr. Greenberg.
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No Star Ratings Available
September 03, 2020
absolutely recommend care provider.
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