Title: Department Chair
Company: Saint Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Dignity Health
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
Aidnag Z. Diaz, MD, Department Chair at Saint Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Dignity Health, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Doctors for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Health Care.
Dr. Diaz, a distinguished figure in radiation oncology, has dedicated his career to advancing cancer treatment and patient care. Currently serving as the department chair and professor of radiation oncology at Saint Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Dignity Health, in Phoenix, he also holds the position of medical director at the Dignity Health Cancer Institute. Since 2019, Dr. Diaz has served the Phoenix community by providing care to uninsured and underinsured patients, procuring grants for clinical and translational research, and managing administrative responsibilities. His commitment to patient care remains paramount as he balances clinical duties with departmental leadership and educational roles involving students from Creighton University.
Having begun his remarkable career in the 1990s, Dr. Diaz was a principal investigator for the Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) program at Brookhaven National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory in Upton, New York. He was pivotal in establishing the foundational radiobiology necessary for this innovative therapy. Despite technological challenges that led to the program’s discontinuation, Dr. Diaz’s contributions continue to influence ongoing research in BNCT. In the early 2000s, he transitioned to linac-based radiosurgery, which was crucial in developing new technologies and techniques. From 2011 to 2019, Dr. Diaz excelled as the medical director of Rush Radiosurgery in Chicago, overseeing significant advancements in radiosurgery.
Dr. Diaz’s academic journey laid a strong foundation for his illustrious career. He received a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering in 1981 and a master’s degree in nuclear engineering in 1983, both from Columbia University. He then earned a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and University School of Public Health in 1988. Dr. Diaz’s education continued with an internal medicine residency at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s (now Mount Sinai Morningside) in 1991 and a radiation oncology residency at the University of California, San Francisco, in 1995, where he also completed an American Cancer Society fellowship.
In addition to his professional roles, Dr. Diaz is an esteemed member of several industry-related organizations, including the American Society for Radiation Oncology. He serves as the vice chair of the Central Institutional Review Board for the National Cancer Institute, further underscoring his leadership within the field. Moreover, Dr. Diaz’s dedication to his field is further reflected through his involvement with various committees, such as the scientific review committee at Dignity Health Cancer Institute at Saint Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.
Dr. Diaz’s expertise in treating patients with brain tumors and head and neck tumors is widely recognized, and he has earned accolades such as an award from the American Brain Tumor Association in 2015. Eager for future developments in medicine, he remains focused on endeavors that include revisiting his past contributions to BNCT by integrating technical advancements into clinical settings. Additionally, Dr. Diaz aims to expand his radiation oncology department to better serve the Phoenix community while fostering collaboration between the Cancer Institute and Barrows Neurological Institute to significantly enhance patient care.
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dr. Diaz attributes much of his success to the support he received throughout his journey. He is particularly grateful to Columbia University for equipping him with essential tools for his career advancement. His upbringing instilled a deep gratitude and motivation to give back, driving his efforts today. D. Diaz’s commitment to excellence continues as he strives to achieve greater milestones in radiation oncology.
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