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John Austin Vargo IV, MD, MBA

  • Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh Department of Radiation Oncology
  • Director of Telemedicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
  • Medical Director of Radiation Oncology, Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC

John Austin Vargo IV, MD, is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and gynecologic malignancies, including image-based brachytherapy and stereotactic radiotherapy. In addition to his positions at University of Pittsburgh Department of Radiology, Magee-Womens Hospital of UMPC, and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, he serves as co-director for the Radiation Oncology Residency Program. His clinical interests include 3D image-based brachytherapy, stereotactic radio surgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, and national disparities in cancer care.

    Education & Training

  • Undergraduate: BA Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, 2007
  • MD: West Virginia University School of Medicine, 2011
  • MBA: Healthcare, West Virginia University, 2023
  • Residency: UPMC, 2016
Awards
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Excellence in Medical Student Research Mentoring Award, Summer 2023
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Teacher of the Year for Outstanding Clinical Education of Medical Students, Spring 2023
American Board of Radiology, Volunteer Service Award, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
Castle Connolly Top Doctor Award, Spring 2022
Representative Publications

PubMed® Link: John Austin Vargo IV, MD, MBA

Research Grants

Foundation Grant – UPMC Shadyside Foundation 2017.  Association of Critical Organ-at-Risk Dosimetry with Complications in Head and Neck Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy.  

American College of Radiation Oncology New Practitioner SEED Grant 2021. Is Radiotherapy Cost-Effective in the PET-era for Early-Stage Hodgkin’s Lymphoma with Alternative Payment Models?  

Thomas H. Nimick, Jr. Competitive Research Fund Grant 2023.  Is There Racial Bias in the Application of Short Course Adjuvant Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer: That Increases the Burden of Care in African American Women within the UPMC system?