Mary A. Downey, PA

I'm a radiation oncologist, and I specialize in treating brain, base of skull and spine tumors, as well as tumors that arise in the body but go to the brain or the spine, as in certain cases of lung, breast and kidney cancer and melanoma. When I meet with a patient, it’s important for me to introduce them and their family to our team of doctors, therapists, nurses and treatment planners. The patient and their family will also become members of this team – truly the most important part - so we can work together to tailor care based on their wants and needs. At Duke, we’ve developed techniques to precisely and accurately treat small, complex lesions and tumors. We can minimize the amount of radiation that goes into normal tissues and at the same time maximize the amount of radiation where it is needed. Our team is geared to delivering every treatment to each patient exactly as planned, especially in complicated and difficult situations. As a patient or a physician, I think there’s no better place to be than Duke. I love my work, feel honored that my patients place their trust in our team and me and work hard to earn that trust. Dr. Kirkpatrick is highly rated in 41 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Brain Tumor, Meningioma, Glioma, Astrocytoma, and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery.

I specialize in gynecological radiation oncology but also treat patients with cancer of the breast, brain and central nervous system among others. I also have a special clinical interest in brachytherapy, when radiation is delivered directly to the target internally. Duke is a world leader in treating gynecological cancers with all forms of treatment. I have the privilege of collaborating with many other specialists in gynecologic surgery, chemotherapy and pathology. We have built a state of the art gynecologic cancer program in radiation therapy with a dedicated brachytherapy suite with built-in anesthesia monitoring, imaging to allow for the most complex and pinpoint treatments to treat tumors, while sparing all normal tissue. My mother was a radiation oncologist. Growing up, her dedication to her patients inspired me. She developed truly, caring relationships and touched the lives of so many people over the decades of her practice. My wife, my two children and I currently live in Durham and have been happy members of the Duke community since 2005. Outside of medicine, I spend as much time with them as I can. Dr. Chino is highly rated in 9 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Cervical Cancer, Endometrial Cancer, Vulvar Cancer, and Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Cervix.

I was drawn to the field of oncology because cancer is a terrifying diagnosis for most people. It is one of those health issues that make people very nervous. I find great satisfaction working with cancer patients to help allay their fears and provide the best care possible. For me, it is rewarding to work with individuals who express so much courage in overcoming a difficult diagnosis. It is very rare that a patient comes alone to an appointment. Usually they have a spouse, son or daughter, a brother or sister, or a mother or father accompanying them. I spend a lot of time answering family member’s questions, who often provide a significant amount of care and support for their loved one. My job is to help educate both the patient and the family and to formulate a plan by which we can provide comprehensive care for all of the patient’s needs. Dr. Kelsey is highly rated in 26 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Lung Cancer, Pleuropulmonary Blastoma, Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).