Zabi Wardak, M.D.

Biography

Zabi Wardak, M.D., Associate Professor, Chief of Central Nervous System Radiation Oncology Service, and Medical Director of the Gamma Knife Program, earned his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University in New York and completed his residency training in radiation oncology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident. He has additional advanced training and certification in the use of Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and CyberKnife stereotactic radiotherapy.

Dr. Wardak specializes in treating benign and malignant brain and spinal cord tumors for both adults and pediatric patients with a focus on stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) for:

• High- and low-grade gliomas
• Brain metastases
• Meningioma
• Pituitary tumors
• Arteriovenous malformations
• Trigeminal neuralgia
• Acoustic neuroma (also known as vestibular schwannoma)

He also has expertise in the use of brachytherapy for ocular cancer, gliomas and meningiomas. His research interests include advancing the treatment of brain metastases with radiosurgery and computing improvements in the field of radiation oncology.

Growing up, Dr. Wardak always aspired to be a surgeon and loved cutting-edge technology. In his free time he would frequently be found taking apart and putting back together cars and computers. “I’ve always been big on technology and computing,” he says. “Once I discovered that we could use radiosurgery to deliver noninvasive cancer treatment to patients and achieve similar outcomes as surgery, I knew this is what I wanted to devote my practice to.”

Radiation treatment technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, Dr. Wardak notes, adding, “Patients benefit not just from advanced treatment machines but from a skilled team that understands how to use that technology to its maximal potential.”

Dr. Wardak says his No. 1 priority is treating cancer aggressively. He points out that patients who have been diagnosed with cancer may have many life changes to deal with all at once, so it is vital that they feel their cancer is being handled by an experienced professional who is dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome for them. 

“My philosophy of cancer treatment incorporates my own approach to whole-body wellness, which includes mental and nutritional health as well,” Dr. Wardak says. “I encourage patients to take care of themselves, and I do my best to take care of the rest.”