Kenneth Y. Usuki

Dr. Kenneth Y. Usuki serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He is a board-certified Radiation Oncologist actively practicing at the Wilmot Cancer Center and Strong Memorial Hospital, specializing in neuro-oncology, radiosurgery, and gastrointestinal cancers. His clinical leadership includes roles as Co-Director of the Spinal Radiosurgery Program, Associate Radiation Oncology Residency Director, and Medical Student Clerkship Director.

Dr. Usuki earned his MD from Jefferson Medical College (2004), completed a Transitional Year Internship at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (2004-2005), and underwent Radiation Oncology Residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center (2005-2009), where he served as chief resident. His research focuses on optimizing radiation techniques for brain/spine tumors, skin cancers, and gastrointestinal malignancies.

His research demonstrates consistent innovation in stereotactic radiosurgery, with recent publications (2023-2024) emphasizing brain metastasis management, cognitive preservation during whole-brain radiation, and advanced dosimetry techniques. Key trends include hippocampal avoidance protocols, multi-target radiosurgery planning, and systemic disease interactions with CNS control – reflecting his dual focus on technical precision and patient-centered outcomes. His work frequently appears in high-impact journals like International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics and Advances in Radiation Oncology.

Dr. Usuki actively mentors residents and medical students through formal educational leadership roles. His departmental responsibilities include residency program oversight, medical student clerkship direction, and serving as Wellness Representative for the Department of Radiation Oncology. He contributes to major collaborative trials including NRG Oncology CC001.

As Co-Director of the University of Rochester Spinal Radiosurgery Program, he leads a specialized team applying cutting-edge techniques like Brain Lab Cranial Elements SRS, VMAT, and Image-Guided Radiation Therapy to complex spinal pathologies. The program emphasizes multidisciplinary collaboration between radiation oncology, neurosurgery, and medical oncology teams.