SUSMITHA VAKA, MD

Hematology & Medical Oncology

Professional headshot of Dr. Susmitha Vaka, medical oncology and hematology physician at Cancer Specialists of North Florida.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr. Susmitha Vaka is board-certified in medical oncology and practices at our Riverside location.

Originally from India, Dr. Vaka earned her Doctor of Medicine from Guntur Medical College. Upon moving to America, she completed her internship, residency, and fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

“My personal goal as a physician is to provide the best and most advanced care and education to my patients,” she says. “The field of oncology excites and motivates me – it’s every advancing.”

“When I meet a new patient, I start by understanding how they are feeling and what they know of their disease,” she explains. “This included the stage of cancer, prognosis, and treatment options. Educating and involving them in their treatment plan makes the process less overwhelming for them.”

“I feel CSNF has always been a leader in offering new treatments, clinical trials, and collaborative approaches,” she says. “It’s beyond rewarding, for our entire team, to watch patients live longer and spend more time with their loved ones,” she continues.

Dr. Vaka provides complete care for patients with cancer and blood disorders, including breast, lung, and colorectal cancers, and lymphoma.

When not in the office, Dr. Vaka enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, traveling, and hiking.

If you are satisfied with your care, please consider leaving Dr. Vaka a review!

Curriculum Vitae

LANGUAGES

English
Fluent
Telugu
Fluent

BOARD CERTIFICATIONS

Hematology
Medical Oncology
Internal Medicine

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Society of Hematology
American Medical Association

FELLOWSHIP

University of Kansas Medical Center
Hematology/Oncology
University of Kansas Medical Center
Breast Oncology

RESIDENCY

University of Kansas Medical Center

INTERNSHIP

University of Kansas Medical Center

EDUCATION

Guntur Medical College
Doctor of Medicine
Guntur Medical College
Bachelor in Medicine & Bachelor in Surgery

RESEARCH (Principal Investigator Responsibilities)

NCT03395704
A Phase 2, Multi-Center, Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Double-Blind Study with LJPC-401 for the Treatment of Iron Overload in Adult Patients with Hereditary Hemochromatosis, Phase: II, Interventional
NCT02453282
A Phase III Randomized, Open-Label, Multi-Center, Global Study of MEDI4736 in Combination with Tremelimumab Therapy or MEDI4736 Monotherapy versus Standard of Care Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in First Line Treatment of Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Non Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (MYSTIC), Phase: III, Interventional
NCT03043872
A Phase III, Randomized, Multicenter,Open-Label, Comparative Study to Determine the Efficacy of Durvalumab or Durvalumab and Tremelimumab in Combination With Platinum-Based Chemotherapy for the First-Line Treatment in Patients With Extensive Disease Small-Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) (CASPIAN), Phase: III, Interventional

PUBLICATIONS

Oncology Reviews
Capecitabine versus 5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer: where are we now?
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