Sarah Anne McAvoy

Sarah Anne McAvoy, MD is an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where she serves as Vice Chair for Education. Board-certified by the American Board of Radiology, she treats all cancer sites with specialized expertise in breast/gynecologic cancers, brain/spine tumors, and thoracic malignancies using advanced technologies including GammaPod, proton therapy, and brachytherapy.

Her educational background includes:

• Bachelor's degree from Carroll College (1999-2003)
• Medical degree from University of Minnesota School of Medicine
• Internship at Hennepin County Medical Center (2010-2011)
• Residency in Radiation Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center (2011-2015), where she served as Co-Chief Resident

Dr. McAvoy's research focuses on glioblastomas, thoracic radiation reirradiation, and normal tissue toxicity, with clinical interests in women's health cancers and advanced radiation technologies. Her work bridges genomic instability studies from early career to current clinical applications in proton therapy and GammaPod systems, emphasizing treatment optimization for complex cases like locoregionally recurrent lung cancer.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in lung cancer reirradiation (proton vs. IMRT comparisons, aortic dose constraints), brachytherapy quality assurance (MRI-guided prostate treatment), and foundational work in cancer genomics (common fragile site genes). The research trajectory shows evolution from basic genomic mechanisms to clinically impactful radiation techniques, particularly for challenging recurrent tumors.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Dr. Mary Fletcher Award for clinical excellence (2013)
• Alpha Omega Alpha honor society (2009)
• ASH Trainee Research Award (2009)
• Multiple undergraduate/medical school scholarships including BJ Kennedy Oncology Scholarship

As Vice Chair for Education, Dr. McAvoy leads curriculum development for radiation oncology residents while maintaining active research roles. Her grant history includes co-investigator positions on Marnie Rose Foundation research (2013-2014) and a HI-CRSP-funded Phase II trial comparing proton radiotherapy to IMRT for glioblastoma (2013-2015), demonstrating commitment to both clinical innovation and trainee development.

Her clinical work integrates with specialized facilities including the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (GammaPod) and Maryland Proton Treatment Center, facilitating multidisciplinary approaches to complex cancer cases.