Dr. Victoria Forte and Dr. Calvin Han join RUMC’s Hematology/Oncology Department leadership team
Richmond University Medical Center has announced two new appointments to its Hematology/Oncology Department leadership team. Victoria Forte, MD, has been appointed as Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Cancer Service Line Director, and Fellowship Program Director. Joining her is Calvin Han, MD, as RUMC’s new Associate Chief of Hematology/Oncology.
“We are excited that Dr. Forte is returning to our institution and, at the same time, welcoming Dr. Han to our RUMC family,” President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel J. Messina, PhD, FACHE, said. “With their extensive knowledge and experience, Dr. Forte and Dr. Han will continue to expand our hematology/oncology programs, providing the highest level of quality care right here on Staten Island.”
A native Staten Island resident, Dr. Forte completed her hematology-oncology fellowship at the University of Southern California. There, she was awarded the Broad Stem Cell Clinical Scholars Grant. She presented her translational biomarker research in several conferences including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR). Prior to her time at USC, she was an internal medicine resident in Brooklyn at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, where she rotated through Kings County Hospital, the Brooklyn VA, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. At MSKCC, she conducted several research projects in immunology and brain metastases. Additionally, she has been appointed to the board of the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer IRB.
Dr. Forte’s prior positions include serving these same roles at New York City Health and Hospitals/ Kings County and as Northwell’s Cancer Institute’s Director of the Western Region. In addition, in her tenure as Medical Director at Puma Biotechnology, she was pivotal in the FDA approval of a novel HER2 targeted therapy in breast cancer. Dr. Forte has been extensively published in several high impact peer reviewed journals and participates in several professional societies. Her special interests include the multi-disciplinary care of breast cancer, novel therapeutics, clinical trials, translational research, and personalized medicine.
“It’s an honor and privilege to be back at RUMC. I’m thrilled to lead an expanded cancer service line. The mission and vision is to provide high quality, comprehensive, personalized cancer care via a multidisciplinary care team, cutting edge therapeutics and compassionate care right here at home” said Dr. Forte. I’m exceptionally excited for the future of cancer care here in 2025 and beyond”
Like Dr. Forte, Dr. Han is also a native Staten Island resident. He graduated with distinction from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology after which he completed a Doctor of Medicine degree at St. Louis University School of Medicine. He went on to complete a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology both at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine Program.
Since 2010, Dr. Han has maintained his own hematology/oncology practice at the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute in Meadville, Pennsylvania, where he has also been the Medical Director of Research and Professional Development and an Adjunct Clinical Professor at Lake Erie College of Medicine.
“I feel blessed to be coming back home and joining the RUMC team. My goal is to provide compassionate and excellent care to our community,” said Dr. Han.
The oncology program at Richmond University Medical Center has been nationally accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer since 1937, making it the longest continually accredited cancer care program on Staten Island. In addition to services provided at the hospital in West Brighton, RUMC has a dedicated state of the art Center for Cancer Care at 1000 South Avenue that opened in 2018. The center has received national accreditation by the American College of Radiology (ACR) for its Positron Emission Tomography (PET) services, and the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO) for providing a continuous, exceptional standard of patient care across all forms of radiation therapy.
Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC), is a not-for-profit healthcare provider serving the ethnically diverse community of Staten Island and its neighbors. We provide premier-quality patient care through a full spectrum of emergent, acute, primary, behavioral health and educational services. We do this in an environment that promotes the highest satisfaction among patients, families, physicians, and staff. For more information call 1-718-818-1234 or visit www.rumcsi.org. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
