{"id":873,"date":"2020-04-17T13:45:48","date_gmt":"2020-04-17T17:45:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/?page_id=873"},"modified":"2025-12-23T13:29:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T18:29:54","slug":"dr-richard-alexander","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/treatment\/doctors\/dr-richard-alexander\/","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Richard Alexander"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>About Dr. Richard Alexander<\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Richard Alexander is a peritoneal mesothelioma specialist who currently serves as the chief surgical officer and the chief of surgical oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute in New Jersey.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout his career, he has discovered the link between specific proteins and mesothelioma. This discovery is paving the way for new kinds of <a href=\"\/treatment\/\">treatments<\/a> that will help stop mesothelioma tumors from growing.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Alexander is also dedicated to improving the effectiveness of the current standard surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma \u2014 a combination of <a href=\"\/treatment\/surgery\/cytoreduction-hipec\/\">cytoreduction surgery and heated chemotherapy<\/a> applied directly to the abdominal cavity.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Our hospital treats a lot of people with peritoneal mesothelioma. One of the strengths of our institution is the experience we have in treating people with these kinds of conditions.&#8221;<br \/>\n<strong>\u2013 Dr. Richard Alexander, peritoneal mesothelioma specialist<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Dr. Alexander has also published more than 250 peer-reviewed articles, written 50 book chapters featured in various publications, and presented lectures on the topic of peritoneal mesothelioma in 17 countries worldwide. He currently serves on the editorial board of the renowned medical journal <em>Surgery<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>We can help you or a loved one connect with Dr. Alexander and other top mesothelioma specialists. Use our <strong>Free Doctor Match<\/strong>\u00a0to get started.<\/p>\n<div id=\"25223\" class=\"one-off-25223 widget widget_oscar-vque one-off\" data-vqueid=\"25223\"><style type=\"text\/css\" data-style=\"one-off\">.one-off-25223{margin:60px auto}.one-off-25223 a{box-shadow:0 4px 4px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.25);display:block;background:#e4f4f6;padding:20px 25px 200px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;position:relative;overflow:hidden;max-width:360px;margin:0 auto}.one-off-25223 a::before{background:#0FAEBF;border-radius:50% 50% 0 0;content:'';position:absolute;bottom:0;height:19%;width:135%;left:-60px;z-index:0}.one-off-25223 .vque-content,.one-off-25223 .image-wrap{z-index:1;position:relative}.one-off-25223 .image-wrap{width:100%;position:absolute;left:-10px;bottom:-15px}.one-off-25223 .image-wrap img{position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;max-width:unset;left:0}.one-off-25223 .heading{font-size:27px;line-height:33px;text-align:center;display:block;max-width:340px;margin:5px auto 25px}.one-off-25223 ul{list-style:none;margin:-10px auto 22px;text-align:left;font-size:16px;line-height:26px}.one-off-25223 ul li{margin:0 0 15px;position:relative;padding-left:35px}.one-off-25223 ul li::before{font-family:\"mesohope\"!important;speak:none;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;content:\"\\e904\";background:#0FAEBF;width:21px;height:21px;display:block;position:absolute;left:0;top:4px;border-radius:50%;color:#fff;font-size:11px;text-align:center;line-height:21px}.one-off-25223 p{text-align:center}.one-off-25223 .button{padding:12px 16px;display:block}@media screen and (min-width:768px){.one-off-25223 a{max-width:620px;padding:30px 30px 35px;border-radius:0 0 4px 4px}.one-off-25223 a::before{border-radius:50%;height:155%;width:150%;right:-550px;left:unset;bottom:-295px}.one-off-25223 .heading{text-align:left;margin:2px 0 25px;max-width:unset;font-size:24px}.one-off-25223 ul{margin:-7px 0 30px;max-width:365px;line-height:23px}.one-off-25223 ul li::before{top:1px}.one-off-25223 .image-wrap{max-width:unset;position:absolute;right:-25px;bottom:-35px;margin:0 0 -2px;left:unset;width:380px}.one-off-25223 .image-wrap img{position:relative;bottom:0;left:0;width:380px}.one-off-25223 .button{display:inline-block;padding:14px 25px}.one-off-25223 p{text-align:left}}@media screen and (min-width:1150px){.one-off-25223 a{padding:30px}}<\/style><a href=\"\/get-matched\/\" title=\"Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor\" class=\"cte\" data-ce-category=\"In-Content Ads\" data-ce-label=\"Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor Ad\"><div>\r\n    <div class=\"vque-content\">\r\n        <strong class=\"heading\">Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor<\/strong>\r\n        <ul>\r\n            <li>Find top specialists near you<\/li>\r\n            <li>Seek compensation for travel & care<\/li>\r\n            <li>Get medical guidance<\/li>\r\n        <\/ul>\r\n        <p><strong class=\"button arrow\" title=\"Get Matched Now\">Get Matched Now<\/strong><\/p>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <div class=\"image-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Doctors-ad.png\" alt=\"Get Matched With a Mesothelioma Doctor\" class=\"lazyload\" ><\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"professional-background\">Dr. Richard Alexander&#8217;s Professional Background<\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Alexander earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine before serving as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy for 8 years.<\/p>\n<p>During his service, he worked at the Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Bethesda while he finished his general surgery residency.<\/p>\n<p>He later worked as a medical officer aboard the USS Mount Whitney and the USS Midway \u2014 two ships that relied on parts that contained asbestos, the only known cause of <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/\">mesothelioma<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Upon completing his military service, he completed his fellowship in surgical oncology. He returned to military service for another 4 years, serving as commander at the Walter Reed Medical Center.<\/p>\n<p>Once his second stint in the military was completed, he worked for the Surgery Branch of the <a href=\"\/cancer-centers\/national-cancer-institute\/\">National Cancer Institute (NCI)<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>During his 16 years at the NCI, he served as:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Chair of the gastrointestinal malignancies section<\/li>\n<li>Chief of the surgical metabolism area<\/li>\n<li>Deputy director of the Center for Cancer Research<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While working at the NCI, he was also a professor and associate chair of clinical research for the University of Maryland School of Medicine\u2019s Department of Surgery. In 2017, he began working as the chief surgical officer of the Rutgers Cancer Institute in <a href=\"\/treatment\/states\/new-jersey\/\">New Jersey<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Since his early days in general surgery, Dr. Alexander has been passionate about raising funds for cancer research. He has spoken at many international events to raise awareness about incurable diseases that he believes must be prioritized.<\/p>\n<h3>Awards &amp; Honors<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Dr. Alexander&#8217;s awards and honors include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">American College of Surgeons (Fellow)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">American Surgical Association (Fellow)<\/li>\n<li>Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Chair of the Board)<\/li>\n<li>National Institutes of Health Individual Merit Award 2005<\/li>\n<li>Research Committee for the Society of Surgical Oncologists (Chair)<\/li>\n<li>Royal College of Surgeons, Glasgow (Honorary Member)<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Society of Surgical Oncology (Fellow)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In 2025, the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) selected Dr. Alexander as the recipient of the Gabriella Graham Patient Advocacy Award. The award recognizes those who provide support and hope to patients affected by a rare cancer called pseudomyxoma peritonei.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"professional-background\">Dr. Richard Alexander&#8217;s Medical Specializations<\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Alexander\u2019s area of expertise is <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/peritoneal\/\">peritoneal mesothelioma<\/a> \u2014 asbestos-caused cancer affecting the peritoneum (the abdominal lining).<\/p>\n<p>As part of his treatment routine, Dr. Alexander focuses on a combination of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Though a fairly common combination, it\u2019s still considered a risky procedure. Many specialists believe the <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/prognosis\/survival-rate\/\">survival rate<\/a> is too low to justify administering it.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Alexander continually researches and refines his treatment methods to make them safer and more effective for patients.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"cytoreductive-surgery-with-hipec\">Cytoreductive Surgery With HIPEC<\/h3>\n<p>In peritoneal mesothelioma, the tumors grow inside the lining of the abdomen. Unlike other types of cancer, the tumors do not form one large mass. Instead, many small tumors form throughout the lining, some of which are too small to see.<\/p>\n<p>Because of how peritoneal mesothelioma tumors grow, cytoreductive surgery cannot remove all of the cancer from the abdomen. During surgery, which can take up to 12 hours, Dr. Alexander removes all visible tumors and then attempts to kill the remaining cells with HIPEC.<\/p>\n<p>Through HIPEC, the abdominal cavity is filled with a heated solution of chemotherapy. The drugs attack and kill the quickly dividing cancer cells for about 90 minutes until the solution is drained from the abdomen.<\/p>\n<p>Because the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/treatment\/chemotherapy\/drugs\/\">chemotherapy drugs<\/a> are applied directly to the cancer cells, HIPEC has fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy treatments.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s been a lot of advances on a number of fronts that have reduced the risk of serious complications.&#8221;<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u2013 Dr. Richard Alexander, peritoneal mesothelioma specialist<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>Targeted Therapy Research<\/h3>\n<p>Dr. Alexander has conducted extensive work with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/treatment\/targeted-therapies\/\">targeted therapies<\/a> \u2014 drugs that eliminate the proteins cancer needs to grow.<\/p>\n<p>During <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/treatment\/clinical-trials\/\">clinical trials<\/a>, it was discovered that peritoneal mesothelioma cells stopped multiplying when certain proteins were killed by the drugs.<\/p>\n<p>Get the answers you need to take control of your care. Download our <strong>Free Checklist of Questions to Ask Your Doctor<\/strong> and feel confident when discussing targeted therapies, clinical trials, and other treatment options.<\/p>\n<div data-vqueid=\"18575\" class=\"widget widget_oscar-vque outline image-left has-img\"><style type=\"text\/css\" data-style=\"outline\">.widget_oscar-vque.outline{margin:60px auto;max-width:315px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline:first-child{margin-top:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a{border:1px solid #E6E7EC;padding:20px;box-shadow:0 20px 20px rgba(34,34,34,0.03);border-radius:10px;color:#383441;display:block;text-decoration:none}.widget_oscar-vque.outline img{margin:0 auto 20px;max-width:180px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline .vque-content{color:#383441;font-size:16px;text-align:center}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.subheading{color:#100134;display:block;line-height:1;font-size:14px;margin-bottom:5px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.heading{color:#100134;font-size:20px;display:block;margin:0 0 20px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul{font-size:16px;text-align:left;list-style:none;max-width:265px;margin:15px auto 25px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul li{padding-left:28px;margin-bottom:10px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul li:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul li:before{font-family:\"mesohope\" !important;font-display:swap;speak:none;color:#fff;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;content:\"\\e904\";border:none;position:absolute;left:0;top:3px;background:#0FAEBF;width:20px;height:20px;border-radius:20px;line-height:20px;text-align:center;font-size:12px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.button.arrow{width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a{position:relative;border-radius:0 10px 10px 0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a:before{content:\" \";position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;width:4px;height:100%;left:0;background:linear-gradient(180deg, #0FAEBF 0%, #fff 100%)}@media screen and (min-width: 768px){.widget_oscar-vque.outline{max-width:620px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline img{max-width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a{padding:0}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a>div{display:block;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:flex-end;flex-direction:row-reverse}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a>div>div{width:41%}.widget_oscar-vque.outline>a .vque-content{width:59%;padding:30px;text-align:left}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.subheading{font-size:16px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.heading{font-size:24px;margin:0 0 13px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline ul{max-width:none}.widget_oscar-vque.outline strong.button.arrow{width:auto}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div{display:block;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div>div{float:left}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div>div:first-child{width:27%;padding:30px}.widget_oscar-vque.outline.image-left>a>div>div.vque-content{width:73%;padding-left:0;color:#383441}}<\/style><a href=\"\/doctor-questions\/\" title=\"Free Download: 14 Questions to Ask\u00a0Your Doctor\" class=\"cte\" data-ce-category=\"In-Content Ads\" data-ce-label=\"Free Download: 14 Questions to Ask\u00a0Your Doctor Ad\" data-desktop-image=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/questions-to-ask-doctor-ipad.png\"><div><div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"95\" height=\"144\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/questions-to-ask-doctor-ipad.png\" class=\"attachment-Medium size-Medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"14 Questions to Ask Your Doctor packet\" \/><\/div><div class=\"vque-content\"><strong class=\"heading\">Free Download: 14 Questions to Ask\u00a0Your Doctor<\/strong><ul>\n<li>Preparing for treatment<\/li>\n<li>Finding clinical trials<\/li>\n<li>Getting a second opinion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong class=\"button yellow arrow\" title=\"Get Your Free Download\">Get Your Free Download<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"receiving-mesothelioma-treatment\">Get Help Connecting With Dr. Richard Alexander<\/h2>\n<p>Receiving a peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis can be emotionally overwhelming. Finding a reputable doctor you trust is critical during this stressful time.<\/p>\n<p>If you select Dr. Alexander as your mesothelioma specialist, you can find comfort in knowing he is one of the country&#8217;s leading experts in peritoneal mesothelioma. He is both an excellent surgeon and a passionate researcher.<\/p>\n<p>If you have peritoneal mesothelioma, <a href=\"\/about\/contact\/\">contact our team today<\/a> for additional information about visiting a specialist and pursuing financial assistance for your treatment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About Dr. Richard Alexander Dr. Richard Alexander is a peritoneal mesothelioma specialist who currently serves as the chief surgical officer and the chief of surgical oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute in New Jersey. Throughout his career, he has discovered the link between specific proteins and mesothelioma. This discovery is paving the way for new kinds&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":20878,"parent":49,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/template-doctor.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-873","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=873"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/873\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/49"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}