Anthony Zietman

Anthony Zietman is the Jenot W. Alpert and Nathaniel E. Alpert Professor of Radiation Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he has spent his career advancing the use of proton beam therapy for genitourinary malignancies. He is best known for conducting the landmark randomized trial that established dose escalation with proton therapy as a superior strategy for localized prostate cancer compared with conventional photon radiotherapy, work that fundamentally shaped treatment guidelines worldwide and helped justify the expansion of proton facilities globally. Zietman served as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics (the Red Journal), the flagship publication of ASTRO, from 2008 to 2019, during which time he oversaw a dramatic expansion of the journal's digital presence and impact factor. Under his editorial leadership, the journal became a primary forum for randomized trials, systematic reviews, and technology assessments in radiation oncology. He has also served in numerous leadership roles at ASTRO, including as President, and has been instrumental in shaping policy discussions on appropriate use criteria, radiation safety, and patient access to advanced technologies. Throughout his career, Zietman has championed patient-centered outcomes research, consistently emphasizing that treatment decisions in prostate cancer must weigh oncologic efficacy against urinary, bowel, and sexual quality-of-life impacts. He has mentored generations of radiation oncologists at MGH and has contributed to landmark cooperative group trials through alliance with NRG Oncology and RTOG. His contributions have been recognized with the ASTRO Gold Medal, the society's highest honor.