Benjamin Schluger, MD

Dr. Benjamin Schluger was born in New York City and raised in a family of six in Millwood, New York. He graduated from Brandeis University with a major in anthropology, with interests in medical and linguistic anthropology. This field of study gave him a deeper appreciation for people whose lives and experiences differ from his own, reinforcing his belief that greater understanding helps break down barriers and reveal the similarities that connect people.

Dr. Schluger earned his medical degree from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his internal medicine residency at Columbia University/NewYork-Presbyterian, where his interest in oncology began. During that time, he participated in research involving patients with EGFR-mutant lung cancer and was also involved in research at the Mailman School of Public Health.

Dr. Schluger and his wife later moved to Pittsburgh, where they both completed hematology/oncology fellowships at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. During fellowship, much of his research focused on targeted therapies in thoracic oncology, including studies examining agents used to target thoracic malignancies with HER2 mutations, ATM mutations, or MTAP deletion.

Why should someone choose you to care for their health?
I trained in academic institutions with extremely diverse patient populations and clinical experiences. I participated in different research studies that gave me the framework to understand how and when I should introduce clinical trials and targeted therapies into a patient’s care.

What is the most important thing your patients should expect from their professional relationship with you? What do you expect from them?
I will provide consistent evidence-based care that is accompanied by a true effort to personalize that care to your life and values. I expect my patients to be honest with me, as I will be honest with you.

How do you spend your valuable personal time when you are not caring for patients?
I truly love doing anything with my family. We all enjoy whatever the outdoors can offer- hiking, swimming, relaxing or running. We love to cook and be with our loved ones.

Why did you choose your specialty and what is its greatest reward?
Cancer carries with it a unique fear of death and uncertainty. To provide the best possible care for a patient with cancer, I feel obligated to know those things in a patient's life that bring them happiness so that my patient's life becomes the center of care rather than their diagnosis. Because of all the new research and innovation that occurs in the field of oncology, it allows me to be constantly engaged in science that is constantly evolving.