Our Physicians

At Columbus Oncology and Hematology Associates, our physicians and staff make compassionate and quality care their number one priority. It’s our level of care, experienced staff and state of the art facility that set us apart from other cancer clinics.

Read about the Benefits of choosing a physician with Columbus Oncology and Hematology Associates.

Erin Bertino, MD

Dr. Bertino completed her Internal Medicine residency at The Ohio State University followed by fellowship training in Hematology-Medical Oncology at The Ohio State University. She completed her training in 2011 and worked as a physician faculty member at Ohio State for 11 years with a focus on thoracic medical oncology. She was a recipient of ASCO Young Investigator Award for her work in clinical research. She continues to have interest in Lung Cancer Awareness and advocacy. She is Board Certified in both Medical Oncology and Hematology.

Dr. Bertino is married – she lives in Upper Arlington with her husband and 3 children. Outside of work, she enjoys reading and she is an enthusiastic hockey mom (and player) and long distance runner.

Jarred Burkart, MD

Dr. Jarred Burkart is a native of Cincinnati, OH. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University in three and a half years with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and minor in Chemistry. Prior to attending medical school, he worked as a research assistant in a genetics laboratory at Vanderbilt University. He attended medical school at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and graduated Cum Laude.

Dr. Burkart completed his internship and Internal Medicine Residency at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and completed an additional year working in the program after being selected as a Chief Resident.

Dr. Burkart completed his combined Hematology and Oncology Fellowship at The Ohio State University James Cancer Center.  He was awarded the Outstanding Clinical Care Fellow Award for his commitment to patient care during fellowship. He has worked on various research projects throughout his training, has published articles in multiple medical journals and presented some of his work at both national and international conferences. He is Board Certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology, and Internal Medicine.

Shabana Dewani, MD

Dr. Dewani is Board Certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology, and Internal Medicine. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Wright State University and was appointed as Chief Resident.  Dr. Dewani completed her combined fellowship in Oncology and Hematology at Wright State University. During her training, she received Special Award in Academic Excellence and was inducted into the medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha.

Dr. Dewani was a faculty member at the Ohio State University where she was rated among the top 10 percent of physicians in the nation for patient satisfaction. She participated in multiple clinical trials investigating different therapies to treat breast, gastrointestinal and hematologic cancers.

Dr. Dewani is married, has two children and lives in Dublin, Ohio.

Andrew Grainger, MD

Dr. Andrew V. Grainger is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and graduated from Saint Louis University, Summa Cum Laude, with Honors Bachelor of Arts degrees in Biology and Economics in 1993. He graduated from Creighton University School of Medicine in 1997 and went on to complete his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at The Ohio State University in 2000.  He completed a fellowship in Medical Oncology and Hematology at The Ohio State University in June of 2003.

Dr. Grainger is Board Certified in Medical Oncology and Hematology and served as a faculty member at The Ohio State University/James Cancer Hospital prior to joining Columbus Oncology and Hematology in 2005.

Dr. Grainger lives in Grandview Heights with his wife and two children.

Joseph Hofmeister, MD

Dr. Joseph K. Hofmeister is a native of Pittsburgh, PA. In 1989, he graduated from Villanova University, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. In 1994 he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School with his M.D.

While in medical school, he performed Molecular and Flow Cytometry research, as a Post-Sophomore Year Fellow in Clinical Pathology. He completed his Internal Medicine Internship at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh and his Residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He completed his Fellowship in Medical Oncology and Hematology from the Ohio State University in June 2000. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology and Hematology.

He is married to Dr. Marietta Hofmeister and has four children, three daughters, Brigitte, Abby and Isabelle and a son Theodor.

Augustine Hong, MD

Dr. Augustine Hong is a native of Toledo, Ohio. He graduated from The Ohio State University with degrees in Microbiology and Psychology. Prior to attending medical school, Dr. Hong pursued a Master of Science in Global Medicine at the University of Southern California.

Dr. Hong went on to receive his Doctor of Medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.  He pursued his post graduate training at Case Western Reserve University/Metro Health Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio where he successfully completed his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine as well as his Fellowship in Hematology/Oncology.  Dr. Hong is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.  He is also Board Eligible in Hematology.

Dr. Hong is an avid sports fan and proudly supports The Ohio State Buckeyes as well as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Browns, and Guardians. He lives in Grandview Heights, Ohio.

 

Elizabeth Kander, MD

Dr. Kander is a native of Dublin, Ohio. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science in Human Science. She also received her Medical Doctorate from Georgetown University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and was inducted into the medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha.  She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine followed by a combined Medical Oncology and Hematology Fellowship at The Ohio State University.

Dr. Kander is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology and Hematology.

Dr. Kander is married and lives with her husband in Grandview Heights, Ohio.

Peter Kourlas, MD

Dr. Pete Kourlas is native of Columbus and graduated from Upper Arlington High School in 1987. He was awarded Phi Beta Kappa his junior year and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Honors Program at The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1991.

Dr. Kourlas received his medical degree and completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at The Ohio State University. He then completed his fellowship in Medical Hematology and Oncology from The Ohio State University/James Cancer Center in 2001 where he was awarded the James V. Warren Award as most outstanding research fellow.

Dr. Kourlas is married and has four children and lives in Upper Arlington.

Dr. Kourlas evaluates and treats blood as well as cancer disorders. He is Board Certified in Medical Oncology and Hematology.

Kavya Krishna, MD

Dr. Krishna completed her combined Hematology and Medical Oncology fellowship training at The Ohio State University. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology. Prior to starting her residency at the University of Arkansas, Dr. Krishna worked in clinical research at the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy.

Throughout her medical training in the United States, Dr. Krishna has received awards for excellence in medicine and outstanding clinical care of patients. She was also involved in research projects in gastrointestinal malignancies as well as breast cancer during her stay at the Ohio State University and James Cancer Hospital and has won recognition for her research.  She is passionate about patient care and believes in advocating and striving for the best possible outcomes for her patients.

She resides in Dublin with her two sons and husband, Dr. Som Krishna.  She has a special interest in fitness and nutrition and is a true believer in living and promoting healthy lifestyle.

Erin Macrae, MD

Dr. Erin Macrae graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Honors Program at the Ohio State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Microbiology. She received her medical doctorate from Case Western Reserve University where she graduated Alpha Omega Alpha. Dr. Macrae completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania followed by a Hematology and Oncology fellowship at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute of Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Macrae was a faculty member in the Division of Medical Oncology at the Ohio State University where she published numerous research articles on breast cancer and novel cancer therapies. Recipient of multiple awards, she was recently named 40 under 40 by Columbus Business First Magazine and received a Career Development Award by the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Dr. Macrae is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology, and she lives in Grandview Heights, Ohio with her husband and three children.

Shylaja Mani, MD

Dr. Shylaja Mani is board certified in Hematology, Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine. She completed medical school in India and moved to Ohio, where she did her Internal Medicine Residency at Cleveland Clinic.  Dr. Mani also served as Chief Medical Resident in the Internal Medicine program at Cleveland Clinic and was awarded for both best clinical research” and teaching.  She completed her combined Hematology and Oncology Fellowship at the Ohio State University.  She participated in clinical research and authored several research papers which were presented at a national conference and published in journals.

Dr. Mani has worked as a Hematologist and Oncologist at Adena Cancer Center and served the communities in Southern Ohio after Fellowship.  She is very passionate about Community Oncology and providing the best care tailored to patient needs.

She lives in Powell, Ohio with her husband and two children.  She loves spending time outdoors, cooking, singing and gardening.

 

Nse Ntukidem, MD

Dr. Ntukidem completed his medical oncology fellowship at The James Cancer Hospital, The Ohio State University Medical Center.  He is Board Certified in Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine.

Dr. Ntukidem served as Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Texas Tech University and continues to teach medical students and resident physicians at Riverside Methodist Hospital.   He is Associate Principal Investigator at the Columbus Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP),  a National Cancer Institute research program.  Dr. Ntukidem is Section Chief of Hematology and Oncology at Dublin Methodist Hospital.

In addition to his many awards and honors, he has an exceptional ability and love of caring for patients.  He is married with three children and resides in Powell, Ohio.

Michael Ozga, MD

Dr. Michael Ozga is a native of Chicago, Illinois and received the E&M Beaumont Memorial Academic Scholarship to attend the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 2014. He attended medical school at the University of Illinois-Chicago and was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He moved to Columbus, OH to complete both his Internal Medicine Residency and combined Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Cancer Center. He received The Ohio State University’s Internal Medicine Chairman’s Award for Scholarly Achievement by a Senior Internal Medicine Resident and was voted by his mentors to receive the Clara D. Bloomfield Excellence in Hematology & Oncology Research Award. He was also awarded several American Society of Hematology and American Society of Oncology research accolades during his fellowship training.

He has worked on numerous national and international research projects throughout his training, culminating in published articles in several renowned medical journals. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, and board eligible for Medical Oncology and Hematology.

Dr. Ozga lives in Dublin with his wife, Dr. Heather Ozga, and enjoys running after their toddler and puppy while rooting for the Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packers.

Anish Parikh, MD

Dr. Anish Parikh, M.D. grew up in Columbus and completed his undergraduate education in art history at Case Western Reserve University. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 3 years and then moved to New York City to work as a cancer screening navigator with AmeriCorps. He completed his medical education at NYU School of Medicine, where he remained for his internal medicine residency. After serving as Chief Resident for one additional year, he remained in New York City to complete his combined hematology/medical oncology fellowship at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he also served as Chief Fellow. Prior to joining Columbus Oncology, Anish Parikh, M.D. was an Assistant Professor at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and specialized in Genitourinary Malignancies at the James Cancer Hospital. He has published numerous research articles in medical journals and has presented his work at oncology meetings across the country. In addition, he has extensive experience in leadership, medical education, international health, and quality improvement, and is a member of both the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society and the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. Anish Parikh, M.D. is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. He lives in Upper Arlington with his wife and children.

Emily Saul, DO

Dr. Emily B. Saul is a native of Greenville, Mississippi.  She graduated magna cum laude from Delta State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.  She worked doing breast cancer research in Baton Rouge, LA prior to attending Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Saul’s internship and residency were completed at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, where she received multiple “Power of One” awards.  Prior to beginning her fellowship, Dr. Saul was a hospitalist at Riverside Methodist Hospital.  Because of her passion in caring for patients with oncologic and hematologic disorders, she went on to complete a combined fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.  She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology.  Dr. Saul lives in Upper Arlington with her husband and two children.

Thomas Sweeney, MD

Dr. Thomas J. Sweeney is a native of Columbus. He graduated from the Ohio State University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and an M.S. in Chemistry. In 1992 he graduated from the Ohio State University College of Medicine with his M.D. He completed his Internship and Residency at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Dr. Sweeney completed his Fellowship in Medical Oncology at Stanford University in 1998. Dr. Sweeney is Board Certified in Medical Oncology.

Dr. Sweeney joined our group in the Summer of 1999 after he, his wife Rose and three children completed their move back to Ohio.

Joy Tang, MD

Dr. Tang is a native of Detroit, Michigan and graduated Summa Cum Laude with Honors from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. She stayed at Wayne State for her Medical Doctorate and then completed her Internal Medicine residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She then went on to complete a combined fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Ohio State University, where she also served as Chief Fellow.

Dr. Tang is Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.  She is also board eligible for Hematology.

She lives in German Village and enjoys spending time running outdoors, hiking and finding all the best desserts in Columbus.

Choosing an Oncologist

Choosing the right oncologist is an important first step for any person who has received a cancer diagnosis, and a step that will inform, educate, and support individuals and their family members throughout the treatment process.

Insurance plans offer lists of in-network physicians for individuals to consider, however it is often very beneficial to speak to your primary care doctor, as well as friends and family, who can offer referrals to physicians in the area. You may also want to call your local hospital to ask for a list of doctors specializing in cancer care who practice at that hospital. Many online resources exist to help individuals locate oncologists in their area. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), for example, hosts a searchable database that includes more than 30,000 oncologists, listing their affiliations, specialties, and contact information. The American Medical Association (AMA) also provides a database called DoctorFinder, allowing users to search for licensed physicians in the United States by name or medical specialty. Web-based searches, or looking at advertisements in the telephone book or yellow pages may also help you in locating doctors.

Once you have narrowed down a list of oncologists in your area, it is a good idea to call the offices of the physicians to confirm that they accept your specific insurance plan, as well as to make sure that they are accepting new patients. If you do not have insurance, or if you are covered under federal or state health insurance programs such as Medicare or Medicaid, you should consult with the doctor’s office to make sure they accept patients under these programs, or if they offer any reduced rates or services for people without medical insurance.

When it comes to selecting the oncologist for you, there are several considerations to keep in mind. First, does the oncologist have board certification, and do they specialize or have extensive experience in the relevant area of treatment? Also, does the doctor make an effort to stay up-to-date with his or her knowledge of recent innovations in cancer treatments? When you meet with the oncologist, do you feel he or she listens closely to you, addressing your concerns and allowing you to feel informed and respected? These are all important considerations, and you should ultimately choose a doctor that you feel assured is well qualified, as well as sympathetic and caring to your unique situation.

Many individuals seek second opinions, or choose to meet with several doctors until they find one who offers the support they need, and with whom they share a positive rapport. Remember that it is common to seek the advice of more than one medical professional, and you should feel comfortable asking questions of your doctor, and receiving care that is nothing less than compassionate, supportive, and personal to you and your loved ones.