UChicago Faculty Physician
Daniel J. Haraf, MD
Daniel J. Haraf, MD
UChicago Faculty Physician
Clinical Professor of Radiation and Cellular Oncology
Medical Director, Radiation Oncology
Specialties
- Radiation Oncology
Locations
- Orland Park
- Chicago - Hyde Park
- About
- Specialties & Areas of Expertise
- Locations & Patient Information
- Education & Research
- Accepted Insurance
Daniel J. Haraf, MD, is an expert in the treatment of lung, esophageal and head and neck cancer. He was instrumental in pioneering the use of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)--a highly precise form of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy. IMRT uses computers to accurately plan and deliver radiation with the fewest possible side effects for patients.
He has become a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC). Dr. Haraf has been a major force in developing a program using chemotherapy together with IMRT in the treatment of patients with HNC--reducing or eliminating the need for extensive, debilitating, or mutilating surgery. This program has a long track record curing cancer with preservation of normal organ function as documented in the medical literature. Dr. Haraf is proud that we can actually discuss the expected results with our patients based on detailed analyses of our own treatment program.
Dr. Haraf has also pioneered re-irradiation for patients with recurrent cancer of the head and neck. People with recurrent cancer after radiation often have limited treatment options and little chance of cure. Most radiation oncologists will not consider offering a second round of radiation treatment. Dr. Haraf has found that re-irradiation is possible and offers these people their only chance of cure.
He is active in developing new methods of radiation delivery for patients with lung and esophageal cancer. Cancers in the chest can move while people breathe during treatment. We now have the technology to time the delivery of radiation to a specific part of respiration. The result is greater accuracy in treating the cancer while limiting the amount of normal lung tissue exposed to radiation.
He has become a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC). Dr. Haraf has been a major force in developing a program using chemotherapy together with IMRT in the treatment of patients with HNC--reducing or eliminating the need for extensive, debilitating, or mutilating surgery. This program has a long track record curing cancer with preservation of normal organ function as documented in the medical literature. Dr. Haraf is proud that we can actually discuss the expected results with our patients based on detailed analyses of our own treatment program.
Dr. Haraf has also pioneered re-irradiation for patients with recurrent cancer of the head and neck. People with recurrent cancer after radiation often have limited treatment options and little chance of cure. Most radiation oncologists will not consider offering a second round of radiation treatment. Dr. Haraf has found that re-irradiation is possible and offers these people their only chance of cure.
He is active in developing new methods of radiation delivery for patients with lung and esophageal cancer. Cancers in the chest can move while people breathe during treatment. We now have the technology to time the delivery of radiation to a specific part of respiration. The result is greater accuracy in treating the cancer while limiting the amount of normal lung tissue exposed to radiation.
Specialties
Areas of Expertise
UChicago Medicine Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine - Hyde Park5758 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago IL 606371-888-824-0200
Board Certifications
- Radiation Oncology
- Internal Medicine
Practicing Since
- 1985
Languages Spoken
- English
Medical Education
- Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Residency
- Michael Reese Hospital
Internship
- Michael Reese Hospital
Memberships & Medical Societies
- American College of Radiation Oncology
- American Society for Radiation Oncology
News & Research
Insurance
- Aetna Better Health *see insurance page
- Aetna HMO (specialists only)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
- Aetna POS
- Aetna PPO
- BCBS Blue Precision HMO (specialists only)
- BCBS HMO (HMOI) (specialists only)
- BCBS Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
- BCBS PPO
- Cigna HMO
- Cigna POS
- Cigna PPO
- CountyCare *see insurance page
- Humana Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Choice PFFS
- Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Plus HMO
- Medicare
- Multiplan PPO
- PHCS PPO
- United Choice Plus POS/PPO
- United Choice HMO (specialists only)
- United Options (PPO)
- United Select (HMO & EPO) (specialists only)
- United W500 Emergent Wrap
- University of Chicago Health Plan (UCHP)
Our list of accepted insurance providers is subject to change at any time. You should contact your insurance company to confirm UChicago Medicine participates in their network before scheduling your appointment. If your insurance company is not listed here, or if you have any other questions, please contact Managed.Care@uchospitals.edu.
Ratings & Reviews (12)
Chef Triumphs Over Tongue Cancer
Cancer specialists across the country told top chef Grant Achatz that his only option for treating a stage 4 tumor was to remove most of his tongue. The head and neck cancer team at UChicago Medicine offered him a different approach, one that saved his tongue and his life.
[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING] I noticed a small, white dot on the side of my tongue. And they said, oh, you're young. You just had your first child. You're working 16 hours a day in a high stress environment. Eating and swallowing was very difficult. And it became very clear that there was something more sinister going on than just stress.
And in the beginning, I was met with a very antiquated approach. There was nothing creative going on. It seemed incredibly barbaric to me.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I got a call from the team there and talked to them briefly on the phone, found the clinical trial, read about it, and said, this is exactly what I was looking for. And Grant said, no, I'm done. Like, we made that decision. It was a very difficult decision. And I'm done. And I said, like, one more.
And we sat in a room with Dr. Vokes and Dr. Haraf, Dr. Blair. And first of all, I was surprised because I had been to about four major institutions prior to going to the University of Chicago. And I only met with one doctor each time. And here we were in this room with a team, with three doctors-- each in their own specialty, but clearly working together.
I still don't understand how surgeons say, the only anything we can do is cut your tongue out. We have to cut your tongue out. First step, cut your tongue out. And I go, why should that be the first step? Why should you sacrifice that important organ-- not only for Grant, who was a chef and needs it for his culinary abilities, but for an average guy that wants to talk or kiss his wife.
And so at no point here do we rule out surgery. We have brilliant surgeons. But it is not what we want to do first. And so what we already had experience with at the time was to start out with chemotherapy to try and tame this tumor-- to take the inflammation down, to take the size down-- and then go in with chemotherapy and radiation.
And so we were concerned at the time that even though we gave the patient chemo and radiation therapy, if it came back in a lymph node, or maybe it was like 90% gone in the lymph node, if it regrew, it would be much harder to treat.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[VOCALIZING]
Years and years and years later, it really helped me become a better chef, engendering the spirit of teamwork, allowing us to grow, take wonderful ideas from other members of the team and implement them into our programs. So really, that individualistic approach-- it never gets you far. You have to work as a team in order to succeed. And, again, it's the same in the restaurant. I feel strongly it's the same in the medical profession.
Oh, I think the reentry into normalcy takes a long time. It's a very mentally challenging experience to go through. But I mean, he's got tons of advocates. And it's been great.
[VOCALIZING]
There was a lot of, obviously, anxiety about, not only was I going to live or die, but was I going to be able to continue my life's passion? And now all of that's dispelled. I've been doing what I love to do for 12 years since treatment. And I think the restaurant, me as a person, me as a chef, are better than ever.
[MUSIC FADES]
And in the beginning, I was met with a very antiquated approach. There was nothing creative going on. It seemed incredibly barbaric to me.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
I got a call from the team there and talked to them briefly on the phone, found the clinical trial, read about it, and said, this is exactly what I was looking for. And Grant said, no, I'm done. Like, we made that decision. It was a very difficult decision. And I'm done. And I said, like, one more.
And we sat in a room with Dr. Vokes and Dr. Haraf, Dr. Blair. And first of all, I was surprised because I had been to about four major institutions prior to going to the University of Chicago. And I only met with one doctor each time. And here we were in this room with a team, with three doctors-- each in their own specialty, but clearly working together.
I still don't understand how surgeons say, the only anything we can do is cut your tongue out. We have to cut your tongue out. First step, cut your tongue out. And I go, why should that be the first step? Why should you sacrifice that important organ-- not only for Grant, who was a chef and needs it for his culinary abilities, but for an average guy that wants to talk or kiss his wife.
And so at no point here do we rule out surgery. We have brilliant surgeons. But it is not what we want to do first. And so what we already had experience with at the time was to start out with chemotherapy to try and tame this tumor-- to take the inflammation down, to take the size down-- and then go in with chemotherapy and radiation.
And so we were concerned at the time that even though we gave the patient chemo and radiation therapy, if it came back in a lymph node, or maybe it was like 90% gone in the lymph node, if it regrew, it would be much harder to treat.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
[VOCALIZING]
Years and years and years later, it really helped me become a better chef, engendering the spirit of teamwork, allowing us to grow, take wonderful ideas from other members of the team and implement them into our programs. So really, that individualistic approach-- it never gets you far. You have to work as a team in order to succeed. And, again, it's the same in the restaurant. I feel strongly it's the same in the medical profession.
Oh, I think the reentry into normalcy takes a long time. It's a very mentally challenging experience to go through. But I mean, he's got tons of advocates. And it's been great.
[VOCALIZING]
There was a lot of, obviously, anxiety about, not only was I going to live or die, but was I going to be able to continue my life's passion? And now all of that's dispelled. I've been doing what I love to do for 12 years since treatment. And I think the restaurant, me as a person, me as a chef, are better than ever.
[MUSIC FADES]