Andrew Wang, M.D.

Biography

Andrew Z. Wang, M.D., grew up with two parents who were both mathematicians. He planned to attend graduate school for mathematics, but shortly after he started college he found that wasn’t his path. It was during his junior year of college that he decided his passion was in medical research.

“I actually thought I’d be a Ph.D. and spend my time in research,” he says. “My interest in becoming a physician started with my interest in medical science and that led me to go to medical school.”

Dr. Wang obtained his medical degree from the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology (HST) program at Harvard Medical School. He also earned two bachelor of science degrees in biochemistry and biology and a bachelor of arts degree from Indiana University with highest distinction. After an internship in internal medicine at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in New York, he completed clinical training in radiation oncology in the Harvard Radiation Oncology Program. Following residency, Dr. Wang joined the faculty at University of North Carolina as Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology.

Dr. Wang is currently Professor of Radiation Oncology and Vice Chair, Translational Research & Commercialization, at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He holds the A. Kenneth Pye Professorship in Cancer Research.

“Radiation oncology is a unique blend of medicine, science, and technology and is a field where advances from research can quickly translate into practice in clinical medicine,” says Dr. Wang. “The ability to rapidly impact patient care through research is one of the reasons that inspired me to pursue a career as a physician-scientist in radiation oncology.”

Dr. Wang specializes in the treatment of genitourinary and gastrointestinal cancers and is familiar with different radiation techniques, including IMRT, IGRT, linac-based SRS, SBRT, and intraoperative radiotherapy and interstitial brachytherapy. In the clinic, he strives to treat his patients as if they are his own family.

“I want to carefully listen to patients and be their ally,” he says. “I’d like them to know that I will give all of myself to them and will do my best to make sure they receive the highest level of care. That’s how I think about and approach patient care.”