General Info

Vincent Vinciguerra, MD, is a medical oncologist specializing in treating gastrointestinal cancers and breast cancer. He's also a professor of medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and professor for the Karches Center for Oncology Research at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. After attending Georgetown University School of Medicine, Dr. Vinciguerra did a residency and fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and a residency at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH). He then served in the military, returning to NSUH in 1973 to develop the medical oncology program. "What attracted me to that specialty was the one-on-one patient care, and the fact that this was a fast-moving field in terms of different therapies." When Dr. Vinciguerra began his oncology career, there were only two or three medications for cancer treatment. Now, the development of targeted treatment and immunotherapy represents an exciting and meaningful shift in the management of cancer patients. "Often, we see an outstanding response, even with extensive disease, and that's what keeps me going," he says. "The longer I stay around, the more interesting this field becomes." Dr. Vinciguerra has published more than 100 journal articles on cancer drug trials and treatments, and is the principal investigator for the National Cancer Institute-supported National Community Oncology Research Program, which offers clinical trials and innovative therapies for cancer patients. He's particularly focused on cancer prevention and expanding the diversity of patients in clinical trials to ensure everyone has access to new areas of research. When it comes to patient care, Dr. Vinciguerra feels that his most important skill is listening. "There is so much stress with this diagnosis and treatment that I want patients to feel they're not being rushed, that they can get their questions answered," he says. "That's what helps me understand what's going on with them, mentally as well as physically. I attempt to introduce some humor during the consultation, to put the patients and family at ease. It's difficult to relax when you have cancer, but the more you can feel supported and heard, the easier that becomes."