Gary M. Onik, MD
The Center for Recurrent Prostate Cancer
Celebration, FL

Gary M. Onik, MD, is the Leading Physician at the Center for Recurrent Prostate Cancer in Celebration, FL, and Adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. He received his medical degree from New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY. While in residency training at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Onik described a radiological procedure based on the possibility of image-guided thermal tumor ablation (destruction). His research helped birth the field of medicine that revolves around minimally invasive cancer tumor destruction and removal by normal bodily processes. He went on to develop the first new potentially curative treatment for unresectable liver cancer patients in 1982. This work led to the development of image-guided radio-frequency (RF) ablation of liver tumors. Dr. Onik developed the tools used in cryosurgical ablation of prostate cancer, and conceptualized focal therapy in prostate cancer. His most recent development of “Irreversible Electroporation” (IRE) is a “non-thermal” tumor ablation modality which is now being used to successfully treat inoperable pancreatic carcinoma. In his current research, Dr. Onik is focusing on immunotherapy for metastatic patients.