About the 2026 RSS Board of Directors Election
This year, there are four open seats on the Radiosurgery Society® (RSS) Board of Directors (BOD). Professional Members of the RSS are hereby notified that five candidates have been nominated to run for the following open seats:
- Four (4) At-Large BOD Members
The BOD At-Large seat is a three-year term, beginning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029. Eligible RSS Members will choose four (4) BOD At-Large candidates.
All Professional Members of the RSS who are in good standing* as of June 9, 2026, will be eligible to vote. Online voting, via electronic ballot, will commence on June 9, 2026, and will close at 5:00 pm Pacific Time on Friday, June 26, 2026.
On June 9, 2026, electronic ballots will be emailed to all eligible RSS Members. If you do not receive your ballot, please contact us.
To verify your eligibility:
- Log-in to your account on www.therss.org/login
- Visit the My Profile Page
- Check your membership type*
- Check your renewal date and if past due, ensure your dues are paid
BOD At-Large Candidate: Prof Dr. Banu Atalar, MD, H.FACR
Prof. Dr. Banu Atalar is a Professor of Radiation Oncology at Anadolu Medical Center Hospital in Istanbul, Türkiye. She currently serves as President of the Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology (TROD) for the 2025–2027 term and as Chair of the National Societies Committee of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) for 2024–2030.
She completed her residency training in Radiation Oncology at Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, and subsequently pursued a Clinical Research Fellowship in Stereotactic Radiosurgery at Stanford University under the mentorship of Dr. John Adler, Dr. Iris Gibbs, and Dr. Scott Soltys. Her Stanford experience significantly shaped her international academic career and long-standing dedication to stereotactic radiation techniques.
Prof. Atalar’s principal clinical and research interests focus on central nervous system, thoracic, and gastrointestinal malignancies, with particular expertise in stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), and MR-guided adaptive radiotherapy. She is internationally recognized for her work in advanced radiation technologies and precision oncology approaches.
She has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has received several prestigious international distinctions, including the ASCO International Development and Education Award (IDEA), the IASLC International Mentorship Award, and most recently, the Honorary Fellowship of the American College of Radiology (ACR). The ACR Honorary Fellowship, one of the institution’s highest international recognitions granted since 1947, honors distinguished global leaders for their exceptional contributions to radiology and radiation oncology, international collaboration, education, and professional leadership.
In her leadership role within ESTRO, Prof. Atalar serves as Chair of the National Societies Committee (NSC), where she has been actively strengthening collaboration between 126 national societies and ESTRO. Under her leadership, the NSC has functioned as a strategic bridge fostering communication, harmonization, and joint educational and scientific initiatives across Europe and beyond, significantly enhancing the visibility and integration of national societies within ESTRO’s global framework. In addition, she contributes to multiple ESTRO committees, supporting initiatives in education, strategy, and international collaboration.
Beyond her clinical and academic work, she has also served on major international committees including the Radiosurgery Society (RSS) Scientific Meeting Organization Committee and the ASCO Resource-Stratified Guidelines Committee. She is a frequent invited speaker, moderator, and session chair at leading international meetings such as ESTRO, RSS, PCSO, ASTRO, and MESTRO.
Prof. Atalar is particularly committed to international collaboration, multidisciplinary education, mentorship of young radiation oncologists, and advancing the global impact of radiation oncology through scientific cooperation and leadership.
BOD At-Large Candidate: Stanley Benedict, PhD, DABR, FAAPM
Stanley H. Benedict, PhD is Professor and Chair of Medical Physics in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Virginia Commonwealth University, in Richmond, VA. He is a nationally recognized leader in medical physics and stereotactic radiosurgery and is widely known for his contributions to stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), image-guided radiation therapy, and radiation treatment safety and quality improvement. Dr. Benedict is Professor Emeritus at the University of California at Davis where he served as Vice-Chair of Clinical Physics, and prior to that he was a Professor and Vice Chair of Medical Physics at the University of Virginia in Radiation Oncology. Dr. Benedict is a Diplomat in Radiological Therapeutic Physics from the American Board of Radiology and has broad experience in clinical practice, teaching, and research at academic medical centers. Dr. Benedict has authored more than 100 scientific publications, served as Chair of the AAPM Task Group 101 on SBRT, and is currently the Editor (Therapy) of the AAPM journal Medical Physics. As a BOD member Dr. Benedict has been a liaison for the RSS Physics Committee, actively involved in organizing the Annual RSS meetings, and a leader for the team that initiated the Radiosurgery Society (RSS) Distinction of Stereotactic Radiotherapy program in association with the accreditation process of ACRO and ACR.
BOD At-Large Candidate: Madhur Garg, MD, MBA
Madhur Garg, MD, MBA is the Clinical Director of Radiation Oncology, Director of Montefiore-Einstein's Proton Therapy Program and Co-Director of Stereotactic Radiation Therapy Program at Montefiore Medical Center, NY. Dr. Garg earned his medical degree at King George’s Medical College and completed his residency in radiation oncology at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago and Montefiore in New York City. He also completed a specialized fellowship at Wayne State University in Detroit.
Dr. Garg is the recipient of the prestigious American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Young Investigator's Award and the Department of Defense Physician Research Award. He is listed as one of the “New York Top Doctors,” “America’s Top Oncologists” and “Best Doctors in America.”
Dr. Garg serves on several Montefiore and Einstein committees, as well as international societies such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American College of Radiology and the American Society for Radiation Oncology. He is on the review boards for several journals, including International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics. He currently serves on the Radiosurgery Society (RSS) Investment Committee and has participated as a speaker and moderator at the RSS Scientific Meetings.
Dr. Garg is a principal investigator of several national and international research studies involving novel cancer treatment modalities and is actively involved in quality of life and healthcare issues for cancer patients.
BOD At-Large Candidate: Charles Simone, II, MD, FASTRO, FACRO, FACR
Charles B. Simone, II, MD, FASTRO, FACRO, FACR is a Research Professor and the Chief Medical Officer of New York Proton Center and a Full Member in Radiation Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He is an internationally recognized expert in SBRT, proton therapy, reirradiation, and innovative stereotactic and thoracic oncology clinical trial strategies. Dr. Simone was previously Chief of Thoracic Oncology at University of Pennsylvania, Director of the Penn Mesothelioma and Pleural Program, and Director of Clinical Research and Operations in Radiation Oncology at Penn. He was then Medical Director of Maryland Proton Treatment Center, Chair of the Clinical Research Committee for Maryland's Comprehensive Cancer Center, proton Fellowship Director, and Stereotactic Radiation Therapy Program Director. He completed his undergraduate and medical training at UPenn and radiation oncology residency at NCI/NIH, where he was chief resident. Dr. Simone is an NIH, NSF, and DOD-funded investigator, published >710 scientific articles/chapters, and given >685 lectures to national/international audiences. He is the national Principal Investigator or Co-Chair of 12 NIH-funded cooperative group trials (NRG Oncology=7, SWOG=1, ECOG-ACRIN=1, ALLIANCE=1, PCG=2) and three-time ARRO Educator of the Year winner.
For The Radiosurgery Society, he has served as the Co-Chair of the SFRT and Flash Working Group (formerly GRID-Lattice-Microbeam-Flash Radiotherapy (GLMFR) Working Group) since 2018. Additionally, he has served on the planning committee for all RSS SFRT and FLASH workshops and symposiums annual since 2018. He has also served on the RSS Annual Meeting Scientific Abstract Review Committee and the RSS Scientific Meeting Planning Committee, and he has been active in RSS Residents/Trainees Mentors Networking events and webinars. He is also the Proton Collaborative Group Board President. He Chairs: ASTRO Annual Meeting Scientific Committee Lung/Thoracic Track, ASTRO Lung Resource Panel Committee, ASTRO Blue Ribbon Lung Panel, NRG Oncology Particle Therapy Work Group, PCG Lung Committee, American Radium Society AUC Thoracic Committee, PTCOG Thoracic Subcommittees, Varian FlashForward Consortium Scientific Committee, and Varian ProtonConnect User Group. He is Editor-in-Chief of Annals of Palliative Medicine.
BOD At-Large Candidate: Shankar Siva, PhD, MBBS, FRANZCR
Shankar Siva leads the stereotactic body radiotherapy (SABR) service at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia, and is a global authority in the field. He leads 5 international multicentre trials through the TransTasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) with a focus in SABR. His current research focuses on high-tech radiotherapy delivery, in the context of immunotherapy combinations, lung cancer, oligometastatic disease, kidney cancer and prostate cancer.
Professor Siva is an internationally recognised expert in lung and genitourinary (kidney and prostate) cancers. His personal achievements include over 350 peer-reviewed manuscript publications and podium presentations at over 140 national and international scientific meetings. He completed his PhD investigating high-tech radiation delivery and radiation biology in the context of lung cancers. He has received over 20 awards for research including $25million in competitive grant funding.
Internationally, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Radiosurgery Society (RSS), Chair of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Advanced Radiation Technology (ART) committee and on the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Science Council. At an Australasian level, he is on the scientific advisory of the Thoracic Oncology Group of Australasia (TOGA) and is co-founder of the Stereotactic Interest Group of Australasia (SIGA) amongst other leadership roles. He is a dedicated clinical trialist, having designed and chaired 15 investigator-initiated clinical trials in the context of lung, kidney, prostate and spinal malignancies.
* Members In Good Standing
Per the Bylaws, Section 2.05, Members in Good Standing are Professional Members (those who are in the following categories: Professional Physician, Professional Non-Physician, Professional Resident/Trainee) who have paid the required dues, fee, and assessments if any, and who are not suspended.