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Howard M. Sandler, MD

Chair, Radiation Oncology

Howard M. Sandler, MD is the Chair of Radiation Oncology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Prior to joining Cedars-Sinai, Dr. Sandler served as a professor of radiation oncology and urology at the University of Michigan, and Senior Associate Chair and Departmental Service Chief at the University of Michigan Hospital.

Dr. Sandler's research interests include prostate and genito-urinary tumors as well as a broad range of subjects related to radiation oncology. He has received more than 15 grants from the National Institutes of Health and other agencies to conduct research in these areas. Some of his research studies include:

  • Evaluating the quality of life of prostate cancer patients following surgery and radiation therapy;
  • Developing methods to translate bench discoveries to prostate cancer patients as rapidly as possible;
  • Monitoring prostate movement during radiotherapy;
  • Testing and evaluating certain technologies associated with the development of a medical device to be used in connection with radiation therapy treatment;
  • Studying the use of solid-state, on-line imagers to assist with patient setup during radiotherapy

Dr. Sandler is a member of several prestigious professional organizations, including the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, the America Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Urological Association, the Southwest Oncology Group and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. Dr. Sandler has served on more than 50 state and national committees and advisory panels of these and other organizations. He also served as Executive Medical Director and board member for the Radiation Oncology Alliance in Michigan and as a board member for the Northeast Michigan Cancer Center and the Central Michigan Community Hospital Radiation Oncology.

Dr. Sandler is a well sought after speaker and writer. In addition to presenting and speaking at more than 100 symposiums, workshops and meetings, Dr. Sandler serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the Prostate Journal, Oncology.com, and Medscape Hematology-Oncology. He has written more than 130 articles on prostate cancer and radiation therapy in peer reviewed publications such as the Cancer, the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, the Journal of Neurosurgery, Radiotherapy and Oncology, the International Journal of Oncology, Neurosurgery, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the American Journal of Clinical Oncology, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Dr. Sandler has co-authored 12 book chapters, is a co-author of the book Brain Tumors and has served as a manuscript reviewer for the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, the Journal of Neurosurgery, The Cancer Journal from Scientific American, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Urology, Journal of Urology, The Lancet, JAMA and Nature Clinical Practice Urology.

The recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Sandler was named Teacher-of-the-Year in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Michigan, and has been named in "Best Doctors in America" and "Best Doctors in America: Midwest Region."

Dr. Sandler received his bachelor's of science (summa cum laude), medical degree and master's of science in physics from the University of Connecticut. He completed his internship at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut. He completed a residency in radiation oncology in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he also served as chief resident.