Dr. Cummings is an Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed graduate studies in Cancer Genetics at Roswell Park in Buffalo, NY and his residency training at the University of Rochester.

My practice specializes in head and neck cancers, prostate cancer including brachytherapy, and bladder cancer. There is often no one best approach for any situation, and the goal of any visit is finding how the uniqueness of each person and their case fits into the published evidence and their own expectations, and setting out a treatment plan that meets those goals.

Outside work I am married with two sons who are young enough to still want to spend time with me, and that keeps me quite busy. I enjoy running outdoors, am a part time Cub Scout Den Leader, skiing in the winter, and watching the Sabres and Bills.

Faculty Appointments

Associate Professor - Department of Radiation Oncology (SMD)

Credentials

Residency & Fellowship

Residency, Radiation Oncology, University of Rochester Medical Center. 2014 - 2018

Internship, Internal Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University. 2013 - 2014

Education

MD | SUNY Upstate College of Health Professions. 2013

Awards

Alpha Omega Alpha, Medical Honor Society.

Research

Clinical Trials

Parallel Phase III Randomized Trials of Genomic-Risk Stratified Unfavorable Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer: De-Intensification and Intensification Clinical Trial Evaluation (GUIDANCE)

Lead Researcher: Michael Andrew Cummings

This phase III trial uses the Decipher risk score to guide intensification (for higher Decipher gene risk) or de-intensification (for low Decipher gene risk) of treatment to better match therapies to an individual patient's cancer aggressiveness. The...

Prospective Study of Non-invasive Acupuncture-like Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (Altens) to Help Alleviate Xerostomia After Radiation Therapy for Cancers of the Head and Neck

Lead Researcher: Michael Andrew Cummings

The purpose of this study would like to learn if acupuncture-like electrical therapy can be used in patients with head and neck cancer who have had radiation treatment to treat dry mouth.

Publications

Journal Articles

Adaptive Radiotherapy: Next-Generation Radiotherapy.

Dona Lemus OM, Cao M, Cai B, Cummings M, Zheng D

Cancers.. 2024 March 1916 (6)Epub 03/19/2024.

Influence of air mapping errors on the dosimetric accuracy of prostate CBCT-guided online adaptive radiation therapy.

Lemus OMD, Tanny S, Cummings M, Webster M, Wancura J, Jung H, Zhou Y, Yoon J, Pacella M, Zheng D

Journal of applied clinical medical physics. 2023 June 5 :e14057. Epub 06/05/2023.

Stroke death in patients receiving radiation for head and neck cancer in the modern era.

Hardy SJ, Bandyopadhyay S, Yang H, Williams A, Gudina A, Cummings MA, Zhang H, Singh DP, Chen Y, Mohile NA, Janelsins MC, Milano MT

Frontiers in oncology.. 2023 13 :1111764. Epub 06/15/2023.

Patterns of recurrence after intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery for brain-only metastases from non-small cell lung cancer and the impact of upfront thoracic therapy with synchronous presentation.

Bergsma DP, Moravan MJ, Suri JS, Cummings MA, Usuki KY, Singh DP, Milano MT

Journal of thoracic disease.. 2022 June 14 (6):1869-1879. Epub 1900 01 01.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with unknown primary: trends and outcomes from a hospital-based registry.

Cummings MA, Ma SJ, Van Der Sloot P, Milano MT, Singh DP, Singh AK

Annals of translational medicine.. 2021 February 9 (4):284. Epub 1900 01 01.

Long-term maintenance of acinar cells in human submandibular glands after radiation therapy.

Luitje ME; Israel AK; Cummings MA; Giampoli EJ; Allen PD; Newlands SD; Ovitt CE.

International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics. 2021; 109(4): 1028-1039.

Risk of brain metastases in T1-3N0 NSCLC: a population-based analysis.

Milano MT, Bates JE, Budnik J, Qiu H, Hardy S, Cummings MA, Baumgart MA, Maggiore RJ, Mulford DA, Usuki KY

Lung cancer management.. 2020 February 259 (1):LMT25. Epub 02/25/2020.

Short course radiation therapy for rectal cancer in the elderly: can radical surgery be avoided?

Cummings MA, Usuki KY, Fleming FJ, Tejani MA, Katz AW

Journal of gastrointestinal oncology.. 2019 April 10 (2):357-361. Epub 1900 01 01.

Dosimetric changes achieved and changes in target and parotid volumes in patients undergoing adaptive planning during chemoradiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with helical delivery of treatment

Cummings, M; Youn. P; Abu-Aita, R; Herman, A; Hare, M; Zhang, H; Chen, Y; Singh, D.

Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice. 2019; 18(4): 1-7.

Inoperable pulmonary carcinoid tumors: local control rates with stereotactic body radiotherapy/hypofractionated RT with image-guided radiotherapy

Singh D; Chen Y; Cummings MA; Milano MT.

Clin Lung Cancer. 2019; 20(3): e284-e290.

Predicting intracranial progression following stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases: Implications for post SRS imaging.

Salama JK, Kirkpatrick JP, Milano MT, Chmura SJ, Adamson J, Fecci PE, Moravan MJ, Choudhury KR, Jutzy JM, Cummings MA, Rushing CN, Natarajan BD

Journal of radiosurgery and SBRT.. 2019 6 (3):179-187. Epub 1900 01 01.

Comparison of Single- and Five-fraction Regimens of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Peripheral Early-stage Non-small-cell Lung Cancer: A Two-institution Propensity-matched Analysis.

Cummings MA, Ma SJ, Hermann G, Serra L, Syed Y, Malhotra HK, Chen Y, Milano MT, Gomez-Suescun JA, Singh DP, Singh AK

Clinical lung cancer.. 2018 November 19 (6):511-517. Epub 07/30/2018.

Single-Fraction Radiosurgery Using Conservative Doses for Brain Metastases: Durable Responses in Select Primaries With Limited Toxicity.

Cummings M, Youn P, Bergsma DP, Usuki KY, Walter K, Sharma M, Okunieff P, Schell MC, Milano MT

Neurosurgery.. 2018 September 183 (3):437-444. Epub 1900 01 01.

Three- Versus Five-Fraction Regimens of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Peripheral Early-Stage Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Two-Institution Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Ma SJ, Cummings M, Serra LM, Syed YA, Hermann GM, Chen Y, Milano MT, Singh AK, Gomez-Suescun JA, Singh DP

Clinical lung cancer.. 2018 May 19 (3):e297-e302. Epub 11/26/2017.

Severe radiation-induced leukoencephalopathy: Case report and literature review.

Cummings M, Dougherty DW, Mohile NA, Walter KA, Usuki KY, Milano MT

Advances in radiation oncology.. 2016 1 (1):17-20. Epub 02/02/2016.

Dosimetric and clinical analysis of retreatment of vertebral body metastases using intensity modulated radiation therapy.

Chowdhry V, Cummings MA, Hahn SS, Chowdhry AK, Stellingwerf K, Shapiro A

Practical radiation oncology.. 2013 3 (2 Suppl 1):S15-6. Epub 03/25/2013.

Recurrent meningeal sarcoma successfully treated with stereotactic radiosurgery.

Cummings M, Chowdhry V, Shah H, Back J, Kennedy GA

Journal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics.. 2012 November 10 (5):434-8. Epub 09/21/2012.

Ratings & Comments

At URMC, we believe that patients should be empowered to make the right decisions regarding their personal healthcare. To do so, transparency is critical. URMC partners with Press Ganey, to survey our patients about all aspects of their care experience. We are now putting this pertinent information at your fingertips by displaying star ratings for our providers along with anonymous patient comments on our website. This will help you make better-informed choices about how and with whom you seek care. Click here to learn more about the surveys used to generate this vital information. Learn more about our survey process.

Ratings

During this visit, did this provider spend enough time with you?

4.9

During this visit, did this provider show respect for what you had to say?

5.0

During this visit, did this provider give you easy to understand information about these health questions or concerns?

5.0

During this visit, did this provider listen carefully to you?

5.0

During this visit, did this provider explain things in a way that was easy to understand?

5.0

Patient Comments

5.0

Great team!

Jan 24, 2024

4.6

I rank Dr. Michael Cummings as quite possibly the best doctor I have had. I greatly appreciate that I see him, and not just one of his nurses or assistants.

Jan 22, 2024

5.0

Dr Cummings did a great job addressing my condition and potential treatment via radiation. Clearly described procedures and addressed pros and cons in easy to understand terms. Very happy with our meeting!

Oct 12, 2023

5.0

Appreciated Dr. Cummings on my concerned regarding my 'bladder' and coming up with a remedy.

Aug 27, 2023

5.0

Good

Aug 24, 2023

5.0

All the questions fit in the very good categoty

Jul 27, 2023

5.0

Everyone in that office is the best.

Jun 16, 2023

5.0

Dr. Cummings is an amazing provider! VERY CARING!

Jun 14, 2023

5.0

Dr. Cummings is "involved" in every aspect of my care. Follows up with doctors outside his system. More attention than I would expect.

Jun 13, 2023

5.0

Doctor coming to spend there with me all the way he's very nice very knowledgeable to help me in a lot of ways couldn't ask for any more from him or his staff. Matter of fact everyone over there has been wonderful because some days I'm not easy to deal with

May 28, 2023

5.0

Dr. Cummings continues to be a fantastic provider. From the time we first met until now he has been a blessing. Answering my questions and assuring me along the way has been so important!

May 18, 2023

5.0

Dr Cummings is thoughtful and very caring. He explains everything with great detail. Overall an outstanding doctor

May 07, 2023

5.0

Cannot speak highly enough about Dr. Cummings. Exceptional physician!

Apr 18, 2023

4.6

Good

Mar 23, 2023

5.0

Dr. Cummings is an outstanding Physician. I feel that he genuinely cares about my physical and mental wellbeing. He is an exceptional communicator. I understand his communications to me and I always feel listened to when speaking with him about my health condition and treatment. When I am in his office with him, I always feel like he is totally focused on my medical situation, I would recommend him to anyone in need of his medical expertise. One example of his dedication to his patients: On my first day of radiation for my cancer, he made a special effort to stop by and offer me words of encouragement. He knew how nervous I was about the procedure, so he made an extra effort to reassure me that I was in great hands with the Radiation Techs. He went above and beyond throughout my treatments. Thank you Dr. Cummings! You are the Best!

Feb 19, 2023

5.0

Dr. Cummings is exceptional - very good listener and caring.

Feb 12, 2023

5.0

I feel so well cared for with Dr Cummings and the team. I really feel like they care, listen and have compassion.

Jan 23, 2023

5.0

He was very thorough in his explanations.

Jan 16, 2023

Good

Jan 01, 2023

5.0

Good - good listener, calm manner, patient with my many questions. Explained procedures, etc., very well!

Dec 29, 2022

5.0

Dr. Cummings was great. Explained everything.

Dec 29, 2022

5.0

Dr Cummings was very thorough and understood my problem. He offered all options for a solution and answered all my questions.

Dec 18, 2022

5.0

Dr. Cummings heard my concern about having sufficient information to be able to make an informed consent for hormone therapy he made an appointment with Dr. Mohile and staff one week alter. He gave me the time needed to ask questions and gave me needed information.

Dec 16, 2022

5.0

I always tell everyone that Dr Cummings office and his staff are top notch with their empathy and compassion, putting you at as much ease as they can, and making your visit as much as possible a positive experience....they are the best!

Dec 01, 2022

5.0

Absolute best care for my cancer. These folks are essential in the quality of my care and mindset. I couldn't ask for better!

Nov 18, 2022

5.0

He's the best.

Nov 15, 2022

5.0

This doctor is always looking out for my health and well being

Oct 21, 2022

5.0

I cannot say enough good about Dr Cummings.

Oct 12, 2022

5.0

I have highly recommended this provider to many people with the same condition as me. Finest kind

Sep 29, 2022

4.6

Michael and his team are excellent! Not bad to say about them.

Sep 28, 2022

5.0

My experience with Dr. Cummings is the best I've ever had with a doctor.

Jun 27, 2022

5.0

Dr. Cummings was excellent

Jun 11, 2022

5.0

Dr Cummings is knowledgeable. Compassionate, and caring

May 30, 2022

5.0

Very good, went over all possibilities before choosing treatment.

May 27, 2022

5.0

Excellent provider.

Apr 27, 2022

5.0

Pleasant experiance

Apr 24, 2022

5.0

All my questions were answered to my satisfaction

Mar 27, 2022

5.0

Dr. Cummings has a very effective style - warm, intelligent, approachable. He should be commended by URMC.

Mar 23, 2022

5.0

The best doctor I have ever talked to.

Mar 22, 2022

5.0

Dr. Cummings was very forthcoming with relative answers based on his experience and how his treatment plan could resolve my Issues. He was very easy to speak with.

Mar 19, 2022

5.0

Great experience.

Mar 18, 2022