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Physicians

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Clayton Hess MD MPH

CureRays Co-Founder

Board Certified Radiation Oncologist

Medical Director, Radiation Medicine

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Doctor of Medicine * Master of Public Health * Board certified * Highly educated *

Procedurally trained * Technically skilled * Well published

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        Dr. Hess completed his medical education at Penn State University, his internship at the University of Texas at Austin, and medical residency training at the University of California, Davis. He then completed a two-year clinical fellowship in proton therapy at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. During this time, he was awarded a K-12 career development grant from the NIH and Dana Farber Cancer Institute as a Neuro-Oncology research fellow to study circulating tumor cells in brain tumors. He received graduate-level statistical and epidemiological training in clinical research methods and then a Master In Public Health degree at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, emphasizing clinical effectiveness. He took a faculty position at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, treating principally head and neck cancers with photon and proton therapy, followed by a post-doctoral place in Microbiology and Immunology to study the immune effects of low-dose radiation. At the onset of the global pandemic, he helped lead a novel clinical trial evaluating the role of low-dose radiation as treatment for COVID-19's life-threatening cascading lung inflammation. He then relocated to Northern California to be closer to family and established a successful radiation oncology practice at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital.
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    Dr. Hess' treatment philosophy is to personally and professionally escort patients through their cancer journeys while contributing to generalizable knowledge and awareness as a dedicated researcher, committed scientist, efficient innovator, community leader, and thoughtful communicator. He is dedicated to the highest caliber of oncology care to patients locally, in our corner of the world.

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Clayton Hess MD MPH

Radiation Oncologist and Medical Director

Clayton Hess is a board certified radiation oncologist and California native with special interest in patient education and outcomes, high-reliability management, process modernization, public health and awareness, clinical research, innovation, brachytherapy, childhood cancers, fatherhood, and literary & scientific writing

Education

2006      BA Cum Laude              Humanities with English Emphasis                     Brigham Young University                 Provo, UT

2011      MD                                  Doctor of Medicine                                                 Penn State University                         Hershey, PA

2012      Internship                      Surgery/Medicine Transitional Year                     University of Texas/UTSW                Austin, TX

2015      Rotating Resident         Department of Radiation Oncology                     St. Jude Children's R. Hospital         Memphis, TN

2016      Medical Residency       Department of Radiation Oncology                     University of California, Davis          Sacramento, CA

2018      Clinical Fellow               Pediatric Proton Therapy Fellow                          Massachusetts General Hospital    Boston, MA

2019      NIH Research Fellow   K12 Program in Neuro-Oncology                         Dana Farber Cancer Institute           Boston, MA

2019      MPH                               Master of Public Health                                         Harvard University                             Boston, MA

2020     Post-Doctoral Fellow    Microbiology and Immunology                             Emory University                               Atlanta, GA

Professional Experience

Academic Appointments

Dec 2018-Aug 2020  Assistant Professor   Radiation Oncology      Emory University School of Medicine

                                                                                                                     Winship Cancer Institute

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Professional Staff Appointment at Hospitals/Affiliated Institutions

Dec 2018-Aug 2020   Staff Physician       Radiation Oncology          Emory University Hospital (Atlanta, GA)

                                                                                                                     Emory University Hospital Midtown

                                                                                                                     Emory Proton Therapy Center

                                                                                                                     Grady Memorial Hospital

                                                                                                                     Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital

                                                                                                                     Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

July 2017-June 2019   Research Fellow     Neuro-Oncology            Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA)

Aug 2016-Dec 2018   Clinical Fellow           Radiation Oncology       Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA)

 

 Previous Clinical Appointment

Aug 2018-Dec 2018   Assistant Staff        Radiation Oncology          Exeter Hospital (Exeter, NH)

                                                                                                                      Massashusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA)

Awards and Honors

Spring 2021                 Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Excellence in Action:                       Scholastic

Fall 2020                      “Best of ASTRO” Research Designation                                                   Research

Jun 2017-2019            National Cancer Institute K12 Training Grant MGH                               Research

March 2015                 ARRO/ASTRO Global Health Scholarship                                                Research

May 2011                     Robert B. Spieth Scholarship                                                                     Scholastic

Jun 2010                      National Gold Humanism [in Medicine] Honor Society (GHHS)          Scholastic

May 2010                     K. Danner Clouser Research Endowment Recipient                              Research

Apr 2010                      Senior Co-Editor of 2011 Wild Onions Medical Literary Magazine      Scholastic

Fall 2008                      Penn State Hershey’s Community Service Event of the Year               Service

Feb 2008                     1st Place Winner Top Medical Literary Entry                                           Scholastic

Dec 2006                     Cum Laude, College of Humanities                                                          Scholastic       

2001-2007                   Half-Tuition Academic Scholarship (7-time recipient)                          Scholastic

2002-2006                   Full-Tuition Academic Scholarship (6-time recipient)                           Scholastic

Fall 2001                     Trust Scholarship Recipient                                                                       Scholastic

1999                             Eagle Scout Award, Boy Scouts of America                                           Service

Recent Publications

  1. Meier AH, Hess CB, Cilley RE. Complications and treatment failures of video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement for pediatric empyema. Pediatr Surg Int (2010) 26:367–371. 

  2. Hess CB, Chen AM. Global and Health-Related Quality of Life after Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2012 Nov;12(11):1469-77.

  3. Varlotto JM, Recht A, Flickinger JC, Yao N, Hess CB, Reed J, Toth D, Zander M, DeCamp MM. Preoperative identification of Stage I non-small cell lung cancer patients at high risk for local recurrence following limited resection. CHEST 2013; 143(5):1365–1377

  4. Hess CB, Rash DL, Daly ME, Farwell DG, Bishop J, Vaughan AT, Wilson MD, Chen AM. Competing Causes of Death and Medical Comorbidities Among Patients with Human Papillomavirus-Positive vs. Human Papillomavirus-Negative Oropharyngeal Carcinoma and Impact on Adherence to Radiotherapy. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014 Apr;140(4):312-6.

  5. Hess CB, Lee A, Fish K, Daly ME, Mayadeb JS. Socioeconomic and racial disparities in the selection and outcomes of a chest-wall boost in post-mastectomy radiation therapy. Clin Breast Cancer. 2015 Jun;15(3):212-8.

  6. Hess CB, Malinou J, Singer M, Juliano JJ, Varlotto JM, Wagner H, Liao J, Myers KR, Levin MP, Mackley HB. Optimal Frequency of Psychosocial Distress Screening in Radiation Oncology. J Oncol Pract. 2015 Jul;11(4):298-302.

  7. Rash DL, Hess CB, Tait L, Michaud A, Mayadev JS.      Evaluation of Patient Satisfaction Following the Use of Visual Brachytherapy-Specific Educational Materials for Cervical Cancer.  Brachytherapy. 27 Oct 2015. 

  8. Ling DC, Hess CB, Chen AM, Daly ME.  Comparison of Toxicity Between Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy and 3-Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.  Clin Lung Cancer. 2016 Jan;17(1):18-23.

  9. Vlashi E, Chen AM, Boyrie S, Yu G, Frohnen P, Browe PA, Hess CB, Pajonk F.  Radiation-Induced Dedifferentiation of Head and Neck Cancer Cells into Cancer Stem Cells Depends on HPV status.  Int J Radiation Oncol Biol Phys, Vol. 94, No. 5, pp. 1198-1206, 2016.

  10. Hess CB, Thompson H, Benedict SH, Seibert AJ, Wong K, Vaughan AT, Chen AM. Exposure Risks Among Children undergoing Radiation Therapy:  Considerations in the Era of Image-Guided Radiotherapy.  Int J Radiation Oncol Biol Phys, Vol. 94, No. 5, pp. 978-992, 2016.

  11. Hoffman D, Chung E, Hess CB, Stern R, Benedict S.  Characterization and evaluation of an integrated quality monitoring system for online quality assurance of external beam radiation therapy.  J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2017 Jan;18(1):40-48. doi: 10.1002/acm2.12014.

  12. Hess CB, Stein-Wexler R, Qi L, Davis JR, Fragoso RC.  Outcomes of Pre-Operative vs. Post-Operative Radiation for Heterotopic Ossification Prevention in Pediatric Patients with Cerebral Palsy Undergoing Proximal Femoral Resection. J Pediatr Orthop. 2017 Oct 24.

  13. Baedorf Kassis S, Gallotto S, Hess CB, Weyman E, Yock TI. Rethinking Re-Consent When Minors Reach Adult Age in Minimal Risk Studies. Letter to the Editor. Pediatric Blood & Cancer.  2018 Jan;65(1).

  14. Zureick A, Evans C, Niemierko A, Grieco J, Nichols A, Fullerton B, Hess CB, Goebel C, Gallotto S, Weyman E, Gaudet D, Nartowicz J, Ebb D, Jones R, MacDonald S, Tarbell N, Yock T, Pulsifer M.  Left Hippocampal Dosimetry Correlates with Visual and Verbal Memory Outcomes in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors. Cancer. 2018 May 15;124(10):2238-2245. doi: 10.1002/cncr.31143. Epub 2018 Mar 2.

  15. Parkes J, Hess CB, Burger H, Anacak Y, Howard SC, Elhassan M, Ahmed S, Ghalibafian M, Abbas AN, Qureshi BM, Zhagloul M, Zunizarreta E, Davidson A, Bouffet E, Esiashvilli N. Recommendations for the Treatment of Children with Radiotherapy in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC): A Position Paper from the PROS-LMIC (Pediatric Radiation Oncology Society), PODC (Pediatric Oncology in Developing Countries) Working Group of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology (SIOP).  Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2017 Dec;64 Suppl 5.

  16. Breneman JC, Donaldson SS, Constine L, Merchant T, Marcus KJ, Paulino A, Followill D, Mahajan A, Laack N, Esiashvili N, Haas-Kogan D, Laurie F, Olch A, Ulin K, Hodgson D, Yock TI, Terezakis S, Krasin M, Panoff J, Chuba P, Hua CH, Hess CB, Houghton PJ, Wolden S, Buchsbaum J, Fitzgerald TH, Kalapurakal JA. The Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Radiation Oncology Discipline: 15 Years of Contribution to the Treatment of Childhood Cancer. The International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. Volume 101, Issue 4, 15 July 2018, Pages 860-874.

  17. Hess CB, Indelicato DJ, Paulino AC, Hartsell W, Hill-Kayser C, Perkins SM, Laack NN, Ermoian RP, Chang AL, Wolden S, Hamstra D, Gallotto SL, Weyman EA, Bajaj BVM, Yock TI. An Update from the Pediatric Proton Consortium Registry. Frontiers in Oncology. 2018 May 24;8:165. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00165.

  18. Kamran SC, Goldberg S, Gaudet D, Kuhlthau KA, Pulsifer M, Weyman EA, Galotto SL, Hess CB, Ebb DH, Huang M, Friedmann A, Abrams A, MacDonald SMM, Tarbell NJ, Yock TI. Long-term quality of life in proton-treated pediatric medulloblastoma: Results of a prospective assessment. Cancer. 2018 Aug;124(16):3390-3400. doi: 10.1002/cncr.31575

  19. Palhares DMF, Marconi DG, Azevedo TL, Hess CB, Fregnani JHTG, Affonso RJ Jr, Veneziani ACLC, Canton HP, Gadia R, Spadim MD, Rossini RR, Kamrava M.  Predicting the Necessity of Adding Catheters to Intracavitary Brachytherapy for Women Undergoing Definitive Chemo-Radiation for Cervical Cancer.  Brachytherapy. August 2018. Brachytherapy. 2018 Aug 9. pii: S1538-4721(18)30090-4.

  20. Matuszak M, Fuller C, Yock T, Hess CB, McNutt T, Jolly S, Gabriel P, Mayo C, Thor M, Caissie A, Rao A, Owen D, Smith W, Palta J, Kapoor R, Hayman J, Waddle M, Rosenstein B, Miller R, Choi S, Moreno A, Herman J, Feng M.  Performance/Outcomes Data and Physician Process Challenges for Practical Big Data Efforts in Radiation Oncology.   Med Phys. 2018 Sep 19. doi:10.1002/mp.13136. [Epub ahead of print]

  21. Lawell MP, Bajaj BVM, Gallotto SL, Hess CB, Patteson BE, Nartowicz JA, Gibling MJ, Kleinerman RA, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Ebb DH, Tarbell NJ, MacDonald SM, Weyman EA, Yock TI. Increased distance from a treating proton center is associated with diminished ability to follow patients enrolled on a multicenter radiation oncology registry.  Radiotherapy and Oncology 134 (2019) 25–29.

  22. Hess CB, Parkes J, Janssens GO, Lin C, Wong K, Zaghloul MS, Marconi DG, Borterberg T, Esiashvili N. Global Pediatric Radiation Therapy in Resource-Limited Settings. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. July 2020.

  23. Hess CB, Buchwald ZS, Stokes W, Nasti TH, Switchenko JM, Weinberg BD, Steinberg JP, Godette KD, Murphy D, Ahmed R, Curran WJ. Low-Dose Lung Radiation for COVID-19 Pneumonia: Planned Day-7 Interim Analysis of a Registered Clinical Trial. Cancer. June 2020.

  24. Tseng YD, Hoppe BS, Dedeckova K, Patel CG, Hill-Kayser CE, Miller DM, Maity A, Mendenhall NP, Mailhot RB, Yock TI, Baliga S, Hess CB, Winkfield KM, Mohindra P, Rosen LR, Tsai H, Chang C, Hartsell WF, Plastaras JP. Risk of pneumonitis and outcomes after mediastinal proton therapy for relapsed/refractory lymphoma: A PTCOG and PCG collaboration. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. Vol. 109. Issue 1p220–230. Published online: August 28, 2020.

  25. Hua C, Vern-Gross TZ, Hess CB, Olch AJ, Alaei P, Sathiaseelan V, Deng J, Ulin K, Gopalakrishnan M, Donaldson SS, FitzGerald TJ, Constine LS, Hodgson DC, Hass-Kogan DA, Breneman JC, Kalapurakal J.  Practice Patterns and Recommendations of Pediatric Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT): A Children’s Oncology Group Report. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. August 2020.

  26. Hess CB, Nasti TH, Dhere V, Kleber T, Switchenko JM, Buchwald ZS, Stokes W, Weinberg BD, Steinberg JP, Godette KD, Murphy D, Ahmed R, Curran WJ, Khan MK. Immunomodulatory Low-Dose Whole-Lung Radiation for Patients with COVID-19-Related Pneumonia. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. Epub ahead of print. December 2020. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2020.12.011

  27. Hess CB, Eng TY, Nasti TH, Dhere VR, Kleber TJ, Switchenko JM, Weinberg BD, Rouphael N, Tian S, Rudra S, Taverna LS, Perez-Daisson A, Ahmed R, Khan M. Whole-lung low-dose radiation therapy (LD-RT) for non-intubated oxygen-dependent patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia receiving dexamethasone and/or remdesevir. Radiother Oncol 165:20-31. doi: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.10.003. December 2021. Epub 2021 Oct 13.

28 . Hess CB, Khan MK. In response to Finazzi and Papachristofilou. Radiother Oncol. Vol 169, p141. Apr 2022.

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