Philosophy of care | Effective medical care begins with a deep understanding of each patient’s circumstances and needs. The physician-patient relationship is foundational and must be a two-way dialogue built on trust and respect. I prioritize learning what truly matters to you and your family. I offer treatment recommendations and options that align with your values, preferences and goals. While my clinical focus is on blood disorders and blood cancers, listening carefully and tailoring care to patients is the heart of everything I do. I provide guidance and recommendations, but the decisions ultimately belong to you, the patient. I strongly believe in a team-based approach, where collaboration and communication yield the best outcomes. | Why I entered medicine | When I started college, medicine was the farthest thing from my mind; I was an economics major and took the MCAT on a whim. To my surprise, I scored far better than expected for someone without a science background, and that led me to medical school. Looking back, I can’t imagine doing anything else. Medicine – and caring for patients – has become my true passion. My path into the field was unconventional but led me exactly where I was meant to be. Practicing hematology and oncology isn’t just a career for me – it’s the only thing I can see myself doing. | Community involvement | As a part of cancer center leadership, I participate in local events and charities for patients with cancer and blood diseases, including speaking to the leukemia/lymphoma society. I am particularly fond of events centered around running for cancer charities. | Personal interests | Running is a personal passion of mine – second only to medicine and my family. Dr. Lash is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Large-Cell Immunoblastic Lymphoma, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.

Victor Benitez is a primary care provider, practicing in Family Medicine in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Benitez is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Obesity, Vitamin D Deficiency, High Cholesterol, and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D).

Philosophy of care | I want to help people live their best life. | Why I entered medicine | My family comes from a combination of cultures. I was raised near the Venezuelan-Columbian border, and the exposure to this environment, with limited medical services, inspired me to work in improving access to health care to the area's inhabitants. Due to the political environment in Venezuela, I later chose to move to a country that cherishes freedom. | Personal interests | I enjoy my family, reading history, languages, swimming, scuba diving and playing tennis. Dr. Penaloza is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Obesity, Hepatitis C, and Cirrhosis.

Richard Mazzaccaro is a Pediatrics provider in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Mazzaccaro is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Malnutrition, Febrile Neutropenia, Genetic Epilepsy with Febrile Seizures Plus (GEFS+), Cerebral Hypoxia, and Adenoidectomy.

Philosophy of care | Medical care means partnership and teamwork with patients and their families based on an individual approach. | Why I entered medicine | Pediatrics is a wonderful field, allowing me to work with children and their families, and applying science by providing medical care. | Personal interests | I enjoy hiking, exploring and the arts. Dr. Busse is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. Her top areas of expertise are Keratomalacia, Malnutrition, Febrile Neutropenia, Streptococcal Group A Infection, and Cataract Removal.

Philosophy of care | Diet and exercise are central to good health. | Why I entered medicine | The opportunity to care for patients like you attracted me to the medical field. | Personal interests | Outside of work I practice what I promote by exercising. Dr. Miller is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Strep Throat, Infective Endocarditis, Osteomyelitis, and Sepsis.

Aylin Colpan is an Infectious Disease provider in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Colpan is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. Her top areas of expertise are Strep Throat, Sepsis, Osteomyelitis, Microdiscectomy, and Herniated Disc Surgery.

Shabnam Assar is an Infectious Disease provider in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Assar is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. Her top areas of expertise are Sepsis, Strep Throat, Infectious Arthritis, and Infective Endocarditis.

Philosophy of care | The relationship between a patient and physician should be an equal partnership in which the goal is to deliver the best care to the patient. I encourage my patients to be active participants in their health, by advocating patient education and by connecting them to the resources available to them. | Why I entered medicine | Infectious disease is a dynamic and challenging field. As infectious disease specialists, we have to stay one step ahead of organisms that are evolving to evade our antibiotics and also be ready when novel infections emerge. | Personal interests | I enjoy outdoor activities, including snowboarding, surfing, jogging, rollerblading and biking. I am learning how to play tennis. Dr. Shastry is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. Her top areas of expertise are Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), Strep Throat, Sepsis, and Lymphangitis.

Philosophy of care | My philosophy is really that of a student and a teacher. I need to listen and learn from each patient encounter and pass on this knowledge to be successful. | Why I entered medicine | The greatest mentors I had in training were infectious diseases specialists, and I wanted to be just like them. They were very smart and excellent teachers. | Community involvement | I volunteered in a homeless shelter during my medical school and residency, and I would like to do something like this again. I was in Kenya on a volunteer medical exchange, and it made me realize that there are many people here in the Lehigh Valley that could use charitable care as well. | Personal interests | I have too many hobbies and not enough time. I am an amateur beekeeper and like to bicycle. When I get lazy, I ride my motorcycle. Dr. Naktin is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Lyme Disease, Infective Endocarditis, Strep Throat, and Infectious Arthritis.

Eric Young is an Infectious Disease provider in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Young is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Infective Endocarditis, Osteomyelitis, Strep Throat, and Sepsis.

Philosophy of care | I strive to approach patients with concern, from their level of understanding and without judgement. | Why I entered medicine | I enjoy microbiology – it has shaped the futures of countries, societies and cultures. Medicine allows me to act locally while thinking globally. | Personal interests | I enjoy volleyball, tennis and my two dogs, Bernie and Elin. Dr. Benjamin is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Strep Throat, Sepsis, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), and Osteomyelitis.

Brian Friel is an Infectious Disease provider in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Friel is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Strep Throat, Sepsis, Asymptomatic Bacteriuria, and Infectious Arthritis.

Don Park is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Park is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Primary Lymphoma of the Brain, Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia without Maturation, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.

Paul Palyca is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Palyca has been practicing medicine for over 17 years and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Large-Cell Immunoblastic Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, Urothelial Cancer, Familial Colorectal Cancer, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.

Philosophy of care | I believe in involving patients in every step of their journey, specifically by incorporating your beliefs and viewpoints into the treatment plan for personalized and compatible care. Cancer treatment is rapidly advancing and the personalized care now extends to understanding each patient's unique tumor biology with the goal of targeted therapy. I see the field only getting more exciting as we discover new diagnostic and therapeutic means for achieving unprecedented results and improving quality of life. | Why I entered medicine | One thing that drew me to oncology was the level of depth at which the doctor-patient relationship functioned. I have always appreciated the enormous responsibility we as physicians have to our patients and their loved ones with regards to transparency and evidence-based care and this is paramount when treating someone with cancer or a blood disorder. | Community involvement | As a medical student, I participated in a medical service trip to the Himalayas in Northern India where we camped at various sites to establish tent clinics as a means of providing care to local people who otherwise would not have had access. Medical aid abroad has always been a passion of mine and in the future, I would very much like the opportunity to participate in similar programs to provide oncologic care and preventative services in developing nations as well as on the home front. | Personal interests | I enjoy traveling with my family. I am of Italian origin and enjoy visiting Italy to tour historical sites, try different local dishes, and spend time with family and friends. I love running for multiple reasons and lately have participated in the Philadelphia Half Marathon for the past few years and train by trail running with my four-legged companions. My wife and I bond over cooking together and we both enjoy hiking, exploring the outdoors, and going to the orchestra and theater for productions. Dr. Fratamico is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Familial Colorectal Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), and Prostate Cancer.

William Scialla is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Scialla is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Heyde Syndrome, Von Willebrand Disease (VWD), Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Lung Cancer, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.

Philosophy of care | I will treat you as I would like to be treated in your place, and strongly believe in providing individualized care. A physician should clearly explain each patient's condition and the pros and cons of available options at the time of diagnosis and at each step along the way. Equally important is listening to patients to learn what is important to them and their concerns. | Why I entered medicine | I chose oncology because I enjoy helping patients deal with and get through one of the most difficult periods of their lives. | Community involvement | I support the Conquer Cancer Foundation. | Personal interests | I enjoy spending time with my family and watching European soccer. Dr. Kazemi is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Blood Clots, Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma, and Lithotripsy.

Muhammad Rizvi is a Hematologist and an Oncologist in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Rizvi is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Philadelphia-Negative Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), Familial Colorectal Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, and Bone Marrow Aspiration.

Philosophy of care | In my area we’re dealing with people who are frightened. I’m trying to help patients deal with all of the information they’ve been hearing, and I’m trying to dispel all of the myths. It’s a matter of education and mutual trust. I’m there to do whatever I can do for them, even if it’s just a matter of easing their pain. | Also, I am a member of the thoracic cancer multidisciplinary consultation team. Together we review your diagnostic information and give you a written opinion reflecting the scope of your condition and recommendations for your best course of care. | Why I entered medicine | Medicine was not my first choice. I wanted to be first oboe in the New York Philharmonic. I have a love of biochemistry and science, and I like people. One day, I just decided I wanted to be a doctor. I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world. | Community involvement | I’m part of the National Cancer Institute’s community cancer program. Our goal is to be able to give the same care and treatment to everyone, whether they have health insurance or not. | Personal interests | I still play the oboe and will always have a love of music. I’m an avid cyclist, and I enjoy skiing. Dr. Friedman is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Febrile Neutropenia. His top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), and Bone Marrow Aspiration.