Oncology team, Hematologist, Oncologist, Cancer care professionals expert clinicians, Clinical investigations

Tauseef Ahmed, M.D. FACP

Tauseef Ahmed, M.D. FACP is a widely recognized expert in the specialty fields of Oncology and Hematology. Dr. Ahmed has been raising the standards for nearly 25 years. After basic training at King Edward Medical College in Pakistan and medical residency training at Sinai Hospital of Detroit, he completed fellowship training in medical oncology with a specialty in genitourinary cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and prepared for his role as Stem Cell Transplant Program Director at the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Dr. Ahmed co-founded and heads the Westchester Oncology Hematology Group. His appointments include Professor of Medicine for New York Medical College, Medical Director of the Arlin Cancer Institute and Director of the Blood Cell Transplant and Collection Center programs at Westchester Medical Center. He is also an attending physician at Sound Shore Medical Center Hudson Valley Hospital Center and Phelps Memorial Hospital.

He has comprehensive experience in the field, and has special interests in the management of Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, stem cell transplantation, genitourinary and breast cancers. A recognized clinical investigator and pioneer, Dr. Ahmed has developed many techniques and approaches that are today considered standards of care including the M-VAC regimen for bladder cancer, peripheral stem cell technology applications, cryopreservation techniques, tandem and non-myeloablative transplant conditioning regimens for hematologic malignancies and selected solid tumors. He is currently working on strategies for the use of stem cells in non-malignant settings and gene transfer applications designed to sustain long-term, disease-free survival in transplanted patients. Dr. Ahmed chairs the Westchester Medical Center’s Cancer Committee and serves as oncology advisor for patient care improvement initiatives there and in many other hospitals throughout Westchester. He is also advisor to the Brander Cancer Research Institute and other national organizations which take advantage of his talent, creativity and extensive knowledge on a range of topics. Dr. Ahmed is in high demand as a lecturer in both national and international settings – not surprising since he has been awarded numerous research grants and has published over 200 papers, book chapters and abstracts on a variety of cancer-related topics. Dr. Ahmed is fluent in English, Urdu/Hindi, and Punjabi.

WOHG is an all board-certified medical practice. We specialize in treating of cancer (oncology) and blood diseases (hematology). Our practice had its beginnings in 1983 when a group of talented oncologists came together from top academic medical facilities throughout the country to practice cancer care and conduct research in Valhalla at Westchester Medical Center, the university hospital of New York Medical College. During the past 25 years we have added services such as stem cell transplantation, blood transfusion and apheresis, and national clinical trials. We also have reached out with services to the Hudson Valley and the Tri-State area. Today, our seven member group sees hundreds of new patients each year. Patients come from the New York metropolitan and Tri-State area; some even come to see us from as far as Europe and Asia.

What makes our practice stand out is our unique blend of academic and community medicine. We are both professors of medicine and community doctors – teaching new doctors as we care for our patients. We deliver the most up-to-date and innovative yet personally customized medical diagnostics, treatment and care. We do not rely on go-betweens or substitute doctors to see our patients. We confer directly with your internist or referring physician. We see you as part of their team. We make every effort to create a familiar and comfortable atmosphere in which to care for you.

WOHG doctors are passionate scientists, expert clinicians and compassionate people - an unsurpassable combination of characteristics that makes our group unique among medical oncology practitioners. We are seven distinguished doctors and a nurse practitioner who have completed education and training in acclaimed universities and academic medical centers from around the country including the National Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Stanford University and Harvard University comprise. Each of us is board certified in oncology and internal medicine; most are also certified in hematology. WOHG physicians are recognized for exceptional clinical care - just ask our patients. We excel in medical education and are on the cutting edge in clinical research, pioneering a number of medical advances that today have become standard cancer care approaches. Our participation in education and clinical research raises the bar for cancer management and patient care. We publish and present our work nationally and internationally. Collectively, we have published more than 400 papers in peer-reviewed journals and have delivered hundreds of presentations to top professionals. We have also earned membership in key medical societies including:

• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
• American Society of Hematology (ASH)
• American Medical Association (AMA) and the
• American College of Physicians

Tauseef Ahmed M.D., FACP Medical School: King Edward Medical College - Pakistan Residency: Sinai Hospital of Detroit - Michigan Fellowship: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Board Certifications: Oncology, Hematology, Internal Medicine Clinical Appointments: Chief Oncology and Hematology, New York Medical College/Westchester Medical Center, Medical Director, Arlin Cancer Institute, Stem Cell Transplant Program and Hematotherapy Service, Westchester Medical Center; Attending physician - Hudson Valley Hospital Center, Phelps Memorial Hospital, Sound Shore Medical Center, Cabrini Hospital Academic Title: Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College Specialty: Stem Cell Transplantation, Lymphoma, Myeloma, Genitourinary, Lung and Breast Cancers Languages: English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi
John C. Nelson M.D. Medical School: Harvard University Medical School Residency: Mt. Sinai Hospital — New York Fellowship: Hematology, New York Medical College Specialty: Hematologic disorders, Transfusion Medicine
Carmelo A. Puccio, M.D. Medical School: Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara — Mexico; Albert Einstein College of Medicine (5th Pathway) Residency: Maimonides Medical Center New York Fellowship: Westchester Medical Center Specialty: Solid Tumors — Varied and Gynecologic cancers (uterus, ovary, cervix, vulva)
Karen P. Seiter, M.D. Medical School: New York Medical College Residency: Albert Einstein College of Medicine — New York Fellowship: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Specialty: Hematologic Malignancies (acute and chronic leukemias, myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative syndromes, lymphoma, myeloma), Stem Cell Transplantation and breast cancer
Delong Liu, M.D., PhD Medical School: Shanghai Medical University — China; Mt. Sinai Medical School (PhD — Tumor Immunology) Residency: Albert Einstein College of Medicine — New York Fellowship: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Specialty: Hematologic Malignancies (acute and chronic leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, lymphoma, myeloma), Stem Cell Transplantation and Solid Tumors (lung)
Asim Aijaz, M.D. Medical School: The Aga Khan Medical College - Pakistan Residency and Fellowship: Westchester Medical Center - New York Specialty: Solid Tumors – Varied (breast, lung, colorectal, gynecologic and prostate)
Kiran Yalamanchili M.D. Medical School: at Columbia University and New York Medical College Residency & Fellowship: New York Medical College, New York Specialty: Solid Tumors, Lymphomas, Breast and Gastrointestinal Cancers
Dr. Woondong Jeong M.D. Medical School: Catholic University Medical College in Seoul, South Korea Residency & Fellowship: New York Medical College, New York Specialty: Gastrointestinal Cancers
Denise Cameli, R.N., FNP, OCN® Nursing School: College of New Rochelle, Bachelor of Science – Registered Nurse Graduate School: College of New Rochelle, Master of Science – Family Nurse Practitioner Licenses/Certifications: Registered Nurse (R.N.), Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN®), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

Led by Charlene Hohwart, RN Clinical Supervisor, our specially-trained therapeutic apheresis nurses are certified Hemapheresis Practitioners with years to decades of experience in the field. In addition to being expert in both medical/surgical and intensive care unit nursing, our team is uniquely skilled in i.v. therapy and venous access device management, transfusion therapy, and the operation of special equipment such as the automated blood cell separator machine used to collect and separate blood cells or remove harmful substances from the blood (apheresis). They administer transfusions and perform special hematotherapy procedures in both outpatient and inpatient settings often in critical care circumstances. Collectively, our apheresis nurses have safely delivered thousands of transfusions and performed hundreds of special hematotherapy procedures including plasmapheresis, leukapheresis, plateletpheresis and immunoadsorption. To ensure patient safety, they practice under the supervision and guidance of our Transfusion Medicine doctors with whom they collaborate on each patient they treat. As dedicated patient advocates, our apheresis nurses will assist you to identify and access numerous support systems existing in the community, on the internet and through the pharmaceutical industry to help get you through any rough spots during the course of your treatment. They understand just how frightening the experience can be and are ready with a soothing word and reassuring touch. You can count on them. They are there - in person and by telephone - and they care for the whole person - body, mind and spirit.

Hoo G. Chun M.D.

Hoo G. Chun M.D., Director of Solid Tumor Service and Clinical Research, brings to the group his expertise in cancer management and solid tumor clinical research gained in fellowship training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and as Senior Investigator in the Cancer Therapy and Evaluation Program at the National Cancer Institute. During his career, Dr. Chun has been a leader in the development of new chemotherapy regimens for esophago-gastric cancers and has been principal or co-investigator in a variety of studies that have helped to make important discoveries including the addition of oxaliplatin and bevacizumab as frontline therapies for colorectal cancer. Dr. Chun focuses his practice in the management of various solid tumors and has a special interest in gastrointestinal cancer management including management of esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas, colorectal, and liver cancers. He is an attending physician at Westchester Medical Center, Hudson Valley Hospital Center, and Sound Shore Medical Center. Dr. Chun has authored more than 200 papers, book chapters and abstracts. He is fluent in English, and Korean and also speaks some Spanish.

Karen Seiter, M.D.

Karen Seiter, M.D., Director of the Adult Leukemia Service, came to the group from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Mt. Sinai Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where she gained invaluable experience in the treatment of patients with acute leukemias, myelodysplasia and other hematologic malignancies. Dr. Seiter has been recognized for five consecutive years in New York’s “Best Doctors” listings. Dr. Seiter serves as Vice Chairman of the Institutional Review Board (Oncology Panel) at New York Medical College where she is Associate Professor of Medicine and leader of the Oncology Fellowship Training Program. As an attending physician at Westchester Medical Center, Dr. Seiter contributes to patient care improvements as oncology advisor to the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee and other quality improvement initiatives. She has been awarded more than 25 grants to investigate the management of hematologic malignancies. She has opened doors to innovative therapies for patients with blood-related cancers through her involvement in the design and conduct of Phase I, II and III clinical trials. Dr. Seiter lectures widely and has published over 100 papers and book chapters on these topics. Dr. Seiter is fluent in English and Spanish.

Delong Liu, M.D. PhD

Delong Liu, M.D. PhD, specializes in hematologic malignancies and leads the Non-myeloablative Transplant Initiative. He came to the group from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Mt. Sinai Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where he developed broad expertise in the management of leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, and bone marrow transplantation. He is an attending physician at Westchester Medical Center and Chief of Hematology at Phelps Memorial Hospital Center. Dr. Liu has extensive research experience and has pioneered a novel mini-transplant chemotherapy regimen designed to decrease side effects; Liu is also principal investigator for a variety of clinical trials in leukemia, bone marrow transplantation, and alloimmunotherapy for renal cell cancer and selected solid tumors. In addition, he is developing groundbreaking laboratory techniques to study blood stem cells, dendritic cells and lymphocytes. Dr. Liu has over 30 publications and lectures extensively in both the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Liu is fluent in English and Chinese.

Dr. Carmelo Puccio, M.D.

Dr. Carmelo Puccio, M.D., serves as WOHG advisor to the oncology program at Sound Shore Medical Center in New Rochelle. Dr. Puccio studied at Fordham University and the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara and was certified through the 5th Pathway Program at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Bronx Lebanon Hospital. Dr. Puccio is attending physician at Westchester Medical Center and Sound Shore Medical Center where he practices university oncology. Specializing in solid tumor management, Dr. Puccio cares for patients with lung and gynecologic cancers with unsurpassed expertise. As Assistant Professor of Medicine, Dr. Puccio mentors medical students, interns and residents. He is a frequent lecturer and has published numerous papers on a variety of cancer-related topics. Dr. Puccio is fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian

John C. Nelson, M.D.

John C. Nelson, M.D., Director of the Westchester Medical Center Hematotherapy Service and a board certified hematologist who focuses his practice on treating hematologic diseases and transfusion medicine. Dr. Nelson studied at Stanford and Harvard Universities and completed his fellowship with New York Medical College. He is a locally and regionally recognized expert in blood and clotting disorders who applies his expertise in defining complex hematologic conditions and designing customized treatment plans to combat those diseases. As a top professor of medicine at New York Medical College, Dr. Nelson has conducted hematologic research and is published on a number of blood-related topics. He is a recognized and highly sought after educator and mentor to medical students. He is an attending physician at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla and Phelps Memorial Hospital Center in Tarrytown.

Led by Betzaida Nieves, R.N., members of our team of highly skilled oncology nurses have more than twenty years experience in cancer care gained in academic medical centers, community settings and in our practice and have provided care to thousands of patients during their careers. Their practice blends skill, dedication and compassion. As expert caregivers, our nurses perform patient assessment to determine baseline information about your physical and emotional health and to evaluate your responses to treatment. The information they gather from you is communicated to your doctor to provide additional information used in shaping your treatment and care. Their skill in establishing and maintaining the venous access devices used for treatment delivery is unmatchable. Their extensive knowledge about the latest medications and regimens for cancer treatment and symptom management minimizes risk of complications and decreases discomfort. To ensure your safety, they collaborate with our pharmacist, a core member of the infusion team, who is on site lending his pharmacologic expertise to medication preparation and consultation. As dedicated patient advocates, our nurses assist you to identify and access numerous support systems existing in the community, on the internet and through the pharmaceutical industry to help get you through any rough spots during the course of your treatment. They understand just how frightening the experience can be and are ready with a soothing word and reassuring touch. They are there - in person and by telephone - and they care for the whole person - body, mind and spirit.