Physicians from the UAB Department of Radiation Oncology are bringing advanced cancer care closer to home for patients in east Alabama through their ongoing partnership with Russell Medical Center (RMC).
Each weekday, radiation oncologists from the Department of Radiation Oncology travel from Birmingham to Alexander City to provide comprehensive services. The clinic treats all cancer types that may require radiation therapy, including breast, prostate, and lung cancers, as well as gastrointestinal, head and neck cancers, and lymphomas. The team also treats select benign conditions, including osteoarthritis.
“Each physician is trained to be able to treat any cancer type with radiation,” said Adam Kole, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology. “In our roles at UAB, we specialize highly in certain diseases, which brings specific expertise to RMC, especially for breast cancers, lung cancers, GI cancers, and head and neck cancers.”
Patients have access to advanced radiation technologies typically available at major academic medical centers, including intensity modulated radiation therapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy, and stereotactic body radiation therapy. Four physicians rotate through the clinic each week: Hunter Boggs, M.D., on Mondays; Mehran Yusuf, M.D., on Tuesdays; Adam Kole, M.D., on Wednesdays and Thursdays; and Gobind Gill, M.D., on Fridays.
In 2025, the clinic began offering low-dose radiation therapy for osteoarthritis in patients who have not found relief with medications or injections and who are not candidates for, or wish to delay, joint replacement surgery. Approximately two-thirds of patients experience pain relief, with minimal to no side effects.
By offering UAB expertise in Alexander City, the department allows patients to receive high-quality, academic-level care without traveling to Birmingham for daily treatment. Radiation plans undergo review by the broader UAB team to ensure quality and safety, and patients who require highly specialized services in Birmingham are seamlessly coordinated for care.
For patients across the Russell Medical region, the clinic represents a commitment to delivering advanced, compassionate cancer care close to home while maintaining the full strength of UAB’s academic resources behind every treatment plan.