PHOENIX (July 12, 2021) – Arizona Oncology, a premier provider of advanced cancer care across the state of Arizona, is expanding its services and levels of care for Tucson area residents with the addition of three new oncologists and two colorectal surgeons.

The provider announced the five physicians will join Arizona Oncology’s existing network of more than 120 clinicians across the state, serving patients in Tucson and the surrounding areas of Southern Arizona. The new hires include:

Dr. Delmer Montoya, M.D., specializing in medical oncology at the Tucson-Wilmot location.

Dr. Suresh Mukkamala, M.B.B.S., M.D., specializing in medical oncology at the Tucson-Rudasill location.

Dr. Shobhana Talukdar, M.B.B.S., M.D.,  specializing in gynecologic oncology at the Tucson- Wilmot location.

Dr. Cybil Corning, M.D., F.A.C.S. specializing in colorectal surgery at the Tucson-Craycroft location.

Dr. Stefanie Schluender, M.D.,  F.A.C.S., specializing in colorectal surgery at the Tucson-Craycroft location.

“Arizona Oncology believes in the benefit of receiving cancer care close to home and within the communities that our patients live in throughout the state,” said Dr. Edgar Staren, Chief of Operations at Arizona Oncology. “We’re looking forward to adding even more industry leading physicians to our team of oncologists in Tucson and hope to continue expanding our services for Southern Arizonans.”

Physician Backgrounds

Dr. Montoya, a Spanish-speaking native of Honduras who studied at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, brings several years of experience in hospice and palliative care to the Wilmot location. He is relocating to The Old Pueblo this August from Mobile, Alabama, after completing his medical oncology fellowship with the University of South Alabama.

Similarly, Dr. Mukkamala will begin seeing patients at Tucson’s Rudasill location in August, following a three-year fellowship in hematology and oncology with Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Dr. Mukkamala completed his residency in internal medicine at St. Luke’s Health Easton Hospital in Pennsylvania and is certified through the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Talukdar is also relocating to Tucson in September from Minneapolis, where she recently completed a gynecologic oncology fellowship with the University of Minnesota School of Medicine. With limited physicians in the state specializing in gynecologic oncology, Dr. Talukdar is one of two oncologists recently hired by Arizona Oncology to service Tucson. She will work closely with Dr. Katherine Stewart, who will spearhead Arizona Oncology’s new Oncofertility Program out of Phoenix.

“Women’s reproductive organs are complex and expertise in the field of gynecologic oncology is critical to ensure we’re providing best-in-class treatments for our patients,” said Dr. Candice Lewis, M.D., a physician with Arizona Oncology who is based in Tucson and specializes in gynecologic cancers and complicated gyn conditions. “We are so excited to welcome Dr. Talukdar to Arizona Oncology and continue to expand our talented team of gynecologic oncologists.”

Among the new hires, Dr. Corning is one of two current Tucson residents, with previous ties to the community. She completed her medical residency at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Clinic before relocating to the East Coast for a brief period to complete her fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Cleveland Clinic Florida. She currently practices with Arizona Community Specialists.

Similarly, Dr. Schluender has been practicing medicine in Tucson since 2006 and is currently with Arizona Community Specialists. She completed her general surgery residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Schluender is also board-certified in both general surgery and colon and rectal surgery.

About Arizona Oncology
Arizona Oncology is one of the largest medical groups in Arizona, with more than 120 clinicians devoted exclusively to providing comprehensive, compassionate and high-quality cancer care. Since its inception in 1998, Arizona Oncology has led with the philosophy that it’s beneficial to provide cancer therapies in a community setting, close to patients’ homes and support systems. Arizona Oncology specializes in Medical, Gynecologic, and Radiation Oncology, Hematology, Breast Surgery, Bone Marrow Transplant, Urology, Research, Genetic Risk Assessment, and patient ancillary programs. The physicians and their staff treat patients in many communities throughout the state including Deer Valley, East Valley, Flagstaff, Glendale, Goodyear, Green Valley, Peoria, Phoenix, Prescott,  Prescott Valley, Scottsdale, and Tucson.

Arizona Oncology is an affiliate of The US Oncology Network (The Network). This collaboration unites AO with more than 1,400 independent physicians dedicated to delivering value-based, integrated care for patients — close to home. Through The Network, these independent doctors come together to form a community of shared expertise and resources dedicated to advancing local cancer care and to delivering better patient outcomes. The US Oncology Network is supported by McKesson Specialty Health, whose coordinated resources and infrastructure allow doctors in The Network to focus on the health of their patients, while McKesson focuses on the health of their practices. AO also participates in clinical trials through US Oncology Research, which has played a role in more than 100FDA-approved cancer therapies.