Due to a system-wide technology update, we are experiencing extremely high call volume. We appreciate your patience with our operators during this time. Thank you for choosing Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Richard Greenberg, MD, FACS
Clinical Locations
- Fox Chase Cancer Center
- Fox Chase Cancer Center Huntingdon Pike
- Fox Chase Cancer Center East Norriton-Hospital Outpatient Center
Primary Location
Secondary Location
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
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| 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, 2009-20
- Best Doctors in America® , 2014, 2019-2020, Urology
- America’s Top Doctors®, 2015-17
- 2016 AUA Annual Resident Teaching Award
'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.
Howard Tomlinson
- Prostate Cancer
I’m 66 years old and a resident of Princeton, New Jersey. I’m retired now, but I worked on Wall Street for 43 years and have been looking forward to spending my retirement doing things I love like playing golf, running, and giving back to the community.
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
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."
Research Interests
- GU Malignancies
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
Dr.Greenberg is a great doctor which you would expect at Fox Chase but he is a great and caring person also.
Over all excellent
Dr. Greenberg is the best!
I came for a second opinion and Dr. Greenberg answered all of my questions and make us feel very comfortable about the options that were offered to me by own Doctor. I was very appreciative of him taking his valuable time to give me a very appreciated 2nd opinion!
Excellent care & service.
I felt my concerns were well addressed and respected.
The doctor provided excellent information. Very easy to talk to and seemed genuinely concerned. Answered my questions with easy to understand explanations. Top notch, which is why I chose Fox Chase for a second opinion.
Dr Greenberg and staff are wonderful.
Excellent first visit. Dr. Greenberg is just what I needed. His staff, including [...] & [...] were so friendly & helpful. [...]
The quality of care has always been excellent at Fox Chase
Always Great
I have an extremely positive opinion about Dr. Greenberg. His excellent treatment for my prostate cancer over a decade ago has given me the gift of a healthy and normal life. As a retired physician, I recognize excellence in other physicians, and I can truly call Dr. Greenberg "a doctor's doctor." He is the epitome of excellence, both in the skills of his specialty and in his compassion for his patients.
Always thorough and considerate
Great
Dr. Greenberg is the "best" doctor. I trust him with my life! Great doctor!
Wonderful experience with this doctor and the staff in the office.
Dr Greenberg showed warmth humor and respect in his discussion with my father and was very patient with us. His manner was warm and reassuring and we were very happy with him. He answered questions as best he could.
Dr. Greenberg has been someone I could always depend on.
Dr. Greenberg has been very supportive and extremely compassionate with me for the past 10+ years. I would and have recommended him to friends.
Explained the results of my bloodwork
Excellent care by Dr. Greenberg and staff.
Dr Greenberg's the best; a real professional!
Dr. Greenberg is excellent. He is the best!
The provider was caring.
Dr. Greenberg answered allmy questions and I did not feel the meeting was rushed.
Dr Greenberg has provided excellent care over the past seven years.
The care was very good
Dr Greenberg is awesome. I felt very comfortable and well cared for.
I have always been most satisfied with the service and attention that I have received from this provider.
I actually referred a work colleague to Dr Greenberg this past week
Good
Dr. Greenberg - one of the best doctors in the world!! Also nurses very friendly & professional.
Very happy I went.
Excellent care provided.
Dr. Greenberg always provides excellent care, explains things thoroughly and addresses any questions I may have.
Very good.
Good experience.
I would recommend Dr. Greenberg to anyone. Great skills coupled with a calming concern for his patients
I think Dr. Greenberg is the best.
Nice Guy
I am very grateful to Dr. Greenberg for his care over the past 20 years. He has always been personable, caring and clear in his explanations.
Professional, thorough, knowledgeable, confident, excellent, interacts with me on a personal level, V.G. staff.
Great experience. Confident in Dr. G & staff.
Dr. Greenberg is the best surgeon I've seen for this problem.
Dr Greenberg is awesome very easy to talk to and a great surgeon!
Dr. Greenberg was very kind & reassuring. I feel I'm in good hands with him.
dr Greenberg is an excellent doctor
it's great to be a ten year survivor! Thank's to Dr.Greenberg!
Excellent care!
My contact with Dr. Greenberg, as always, was great !
Dr Greenberg was always forthcoming
Dr. Greenberg is an excellent surgeon and an excellent communicator.
Dr. Richard Greenberg is a consummate healer
Dr Greenberg is wonderfull
good
I experience wonderful care at Fox Chase and Dr. Greenberg and his staff!
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.
Excellent Experience
I am alive because of Dr. Greenberg...
I refer Dr. Grennberg as a surgeon any chance I can.