Helen Shih, M.D.


Physician Investigator (Cl)
Radiology, Mass General Research Institute
Medical Director
Proton Therapy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital
Director
CNS & Eye Service, Massachusetts General Hospital
Professor of Radiation Oncology
Harvard Medical School
MS University of Pennsylvania 1999
MD Univ. of Pennsylvania School of Medicine 2000
brain neoplasms; cranial irradiation; drug addiction; genes brca1; ionizing radiation; meningeal neoplasms; meningioma; optic nerve neoplasms; organs at risk; proton therapy; radiation-associated injury; radiosurgery; radiotherapy conformal; radiotherapy dosage; radiotherapy planning computer-assisted; substance abuse

Helen Shih, MD, MS, MPH,is a practicing radiation oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Prior to Mass GEneral, Dr. Shih did her undergraduate education at Brown University as a biology major and medical school education at the University of Pennsylvania where she also earned a Master's Degree in Cell & Molecular Biology. She completed a transitional year internship at Beaumont Hosptial, Royal Oak, MI before radiation oncology residency at Mass General. She also has a Master's in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Dr. Shih has remained on staff at Mass General and is the Director of the Central Nervous System & Eye Services. She specializes in the treatment of patients with brain and eye tumors. She cares for range of patients with benign to malignant diagnoses and both primary and metastatic diseases. She is an Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at Harvard Medical School.

In her other administrative roles, Dr. Shih is the Medical Director of the MGH Proton Therapy Programs and is the Director of the Proton Therapy Fellowship.

Dr. Shih's research interests are in clinical and translational efforts to better define the role of radiation therapy in the management of her broad spectrum of patients.

One subspecialty interest is proton therapy and improving our understanding and use of this technology. Another interest is in understanding the effects of ionizing radiation on normal tissues, primarily the brain, and how best to reduce the risk of radiation-associated injury.

Yet another area of interest is understanding the effects of drug addictions on the brain and developing more effective and curative therapies. Dr. Shih is keenly interested in improving outcomes for individuals suffering from drug addiction through both novel research efforts and also advancing community based services. Education to reduce stigma remains another goal.