Emily S. Weg, MD

What's your favorite memory of working with a patient?

During my medical training, I took care of a patient with cancer who was terminally ill. A high school football coach, he had all of us on his care team calling him “Coach.” Throughout his experience, he was hospitalized frequently, and during that time we grew quite close; he became a coach of sorts for me as well. His positive attitude and generous spirit in the face of so many setbacks were inspirational. He managed to greet his constant stream of visitors with warmth despite his daily challenges. Before he passed away, he gave me a pin in the shape of an angel. I wore it on my collar throughout the rest of my training to remind me of Coach and why I went into oncology. The ability to care for patients with cancer is a privilege that I am grateful for every day.

What’s it like to work with you?

I went into medical school knowing that I wanted to help guide people through difficult moments. Throughout my training, I was always drawn toward working with patients who have cancer. Practicing radiation oncology allows me to help people in very tangible ways, whether that means providing palliative care or working toward a cure. My priorities are sharing my clinical expertise, making data-driven decisions and learning about the person behind each patient. I believe no case is cookie-cutter; focusing on the nuances of your situation enables me to customize your care.

Provider Background

Area of clinical practice

Genitourinary cancers

Genitourinary cancers

I am a board-certified radiation oncologist who specializes in the care of patients with genitourinary cancers, such as prostate cancer. These diseases affect the male urinary tract and reproductive system. An important part of individualizing care in radiation oncology is being proficient with advanced technological tools and approaches and knowing when to use each one. My expertise spans stereotactic radiosurgery, proton therapy, brachytherapy and image-guided intensity-modulated techniques, among others.

In addition to providing clinical care, I study how to improve the effectiveness of radiation treatment while minimizing side effects. Another area of interest is cancer genomics; understanding how a tumor’s DNA drives its behavior can help us tailor a person’s treatment more precisely. The goal of my research is to stay a step ahead of cancer in order to maximize the quality and quantity of each patient’s life.