Sidney Health Center is pleased to announce the addition of Ralf Kiehl, M.D. Dr. Kiehl joins the medical staff as a Radiation Oncologist. 

Dr. Kiehl, who has provided temporary coverage at Sidney Health Center since 2011, recently committed to working full-time at Sidney Health Center’s Cancer Care. As a Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Kiehl specializes in the treatment of cancer patients, using radiation therapy as the main method of treatment.

His practice utilizes the technology of TomoTherapy, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), and CT scanning equipment to adapt the treatment plan of cancerous tumors. 

In addition, he partners with area physicians including Dr. Chad Pedersen, Medical Oncologist to provide comprehensive cancer care to folks living in the MonDak region. As part of the multi-disciplinary team, Dr. Kiehl works with the medical physicist, Tim Stack, to develop a radiation plan that ensures safe exposure to normal structures. 

Originally from Germany, Dr. Kiehl has been practicing medicine for more than 20 years in the New York area. He started his career serving in the United States Army before going onto receive degrees in Psychology and Biology from the State University of New York and University of the State of New York respectively. He then returned to Germany to get his Doctor of Medicine from the Universitaet des Saalandes in Homburg/Saar. He completed residencies in Internal Medicine in Germany as well as the United States at St. Louis University Medical Center, St. Louis, MO before specializing in oncology. Branches of specialization included doing Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowships and completing his Radiation Oncology Residency at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, CT.

In January 2011, Sidney Health Center added radiation therapy to its line of outpatient oncology services with the installation of a TomoTherapy Hi-Art radiation treatment system. Unlike traditional radiation therapy equipment, TomoTherapy combines CT scan imaging with its cancer treatment delivery, ensuring the most accurate radiation treatment with the fewest side effects. In addition, the TomoTherapy platform provides the capability to upgrade and provide SBRT and SRS treatment programs. 

With conventional therapy, radiation is delivered in relatively small doses over the course of several weeks, with patients receiving daily treatments during that time. On the other hand, SBRT allows physicians to deliver a higher dose of radiation over the course of two to five treatments.  

To find out more about Sidney Health Center’s Cancer Care services including chemotherapy, IV therapy, medical oncology and radiation oncology, visit the website at https://www.sidneyhealth.org/Cancer-Care or call the Cancer Care Suite at 406-488-2504. The cancer care team is comprised of oncologists, specialists, nurses, pharmacists and therapists who take the time to understand and guide area cancer patients through their care plan.