Gwendolyn “Wendy” McGinnis, MD
Radiation Oncologist
Accepting new patients
Provider Biography
Dr. Wendy McGinnis is a board-certified radiation oncologist who works collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams of oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, physicists, dosimetrists, and advanced practice providers to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care to patients. She actively participates in multidisciplinary tumor board discussions to develop individualized radiation treatment plans aligned with best practices and the latest clinical evidence.
Dr. McGinnis completed her residency at MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the top cancer institutions in the country, where she was a Fletcher-Cox Fellow involved in clinical trial development and implementation of automated treatment planning. She earned her medical degree and a master’s in clinical research at Oregon Health & Science University, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She brings a strong foundation in clinical research and patient-centered care to her work.
Dr. McGinnis was drawn to radiation oncology after witnessing the impact of excellent, compassionate cancer care during her father’s treatment for rectal cancer. Later, she served as a caregiver for her mother during treatment for advanced ovarian cancer. These personal experiences continue to inform her patient-centered approach and reinforce her commitment to delivering thoughtful, individualized care grounded in evidence and empathy.
Throughout her training and practice, Dr. McGinnis has developed expertise in a broad spectrum of advanced radiation therapy techniques, including stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), MR-guided radiation therapy, proton therapy, brachytherapy (HDR and LDR), intraoperative radiation therapy, and Gamma Knife radiosurgery. She has extensive experience treating complex and high-risk malignancies, with clinical interests that include gynecologic, breast, gastrointestinal, head and neck, and thoracic cancers, as well as oligometastatic disease and benign conditions requiring radiation.
A nationally recognized researcher and author, Dr. McGinnis has contributed to over twenty peer-reviewed publications in top oncology journals and co-authored multiple radiation oncology textbook chapters, including Pocket Radiation Oncology and Clinical Lymphatic Mapping in Gynecologic Cancers. Her academic work focuses on optimizing treatment outcomes, implementing advanced technologies in radiation therapy, and improving quality of life for patients.
Dr. McGinnis is passionate about delivering thoughtful, personalized care to each patient and remains committed to expanding treatment options through clinical trials and multidisciplinary collaboration. She currently practices in Denver, Colorado, where she is proud to care for patients in the Rocky Mountain region.
Provider Specialties
- Breast Cancer
- Benign/Non-Cancerous Diseases
- Keloids
- Dupuytren’s Contracture
- Ledderhose Disease
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Avascular Necrosis
- Heterotopic Ossification
- Central Nervous System (CNS) Tumors
- Adenomas
- Gilomas
- Meningiomas
- Schwannomas
- Gastrointestinal Cancers
- Anal Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- General Radiation Oncology
- 3D Conformational Radiation Therapy
- Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI)
- Alternative and Complimentary Oncology Multi-Disciplinary Conference
- High Dose Rate Brachytherapy (HDR)
- Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
- Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR)
- Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SABR/SBRT)
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS)
- Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)
- Genitourinary Cancers
- Gynecologic Cancers
- Cervical Cancer
- Uterine Cancer
- Vaginal Cancer
- Vulvar Cancer
- Head and Neck Cancers
- Laryngeal Cancer
- Nasopharyngeal Cancer
- Oral Cavity Cancer
- Oropharyngeal Cancer
- Salivary Gland Cancer
- Sinonasal Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
- Tongue Cancer
- Lymphomas
- Non-Hodkin Lymphoma
- Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Oligometastatic Cancers
- Radionuclide Therapy
- Sarcoma
- Skin Cancers
- Basal Cell Cancer
- Melanoma
- Merkel Cell Cancer
- Squamous Cell Cancer
- Thoracic Cancers
- Esophageal Cancer
- Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Thymoma
Care Philosophy
I care deeply about getting things right, for each patient, every time. I’m committed to delivering radiation therapy that is thoughtful, precise, and evidence-based, used only when and how it’s truly needed. My goal is to guide you through treatment with honesty, compassion, and the kind of care that supports informed decisions and builds trust from day one.
Locations
Thornton Radiation
Thornton, CO 80260
Reviews
Education
Residency
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Medical School
Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
Board Certifications
Radiation Oncology
Memberships
SWOG Cancer Research Network, Investigator/Member, 2023 - Present
American Brachytherapy Society, Member, 2023 - Present
The Radiosurgery Society, Member, 2020 - Present
American Society for Radiation Oncology, Member, 2019 - Present
Radiological Society of North America, Member, 2014 - Present
Presentations
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Show Presentations
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Bell RB, Leidner R, Crittenden M, Taylor M, Young K, Seung S, Patel A, Xiao H, Cheng A, Fratangelo C, Srivastava A, McGinnis GJ, Grossmann K, Hermann R, Duhen T, Piening B, Gough M, Fox B, Hanes D, Cohen E, Sharabi A, Saddawi-Konefka R, Blumenfeld L, Gutkind S, Califano J. “Pathologic response to neoadjuvant sequenced, lymphatic sparing SBRT plus pembrolizumab in HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Results of the Neoadjuvant Immuno-Radiotherapy Trial (NIRT-2)” Submitted to ASCO 2025.
McGinnis GJ (poster presentation), Ning MS, Mafuka R, Nsingo M, Chiyapo S, Balang D, Grover S, Cardenas CE, Court LE, Smith GL. “Survey of Radiation Therapy Providers Evaluating Barriers and Facilitators of Use of Automated Radiotherapy Planning Tool.” American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting, Digital (2021)
McGinnis GJ (oral presentation), Ning MS, Bvochora-Nsingo M, Chiyapo S, Balang D, Ralefala T, Lin A, Zetola NM, Grover S. “Practice patterns in the treatment of head and neck malignancies with or without comorbid HIV infection in Botswana.” American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting, Digital (2020)
McGinnis GJ (oral presentation), Eifel PJ. “Stump the professor: gynecologic malignancies.” RadOnc 2020, Houston, TX (2020)
McGinnis, GJ (oral presentation), Friedman D, Young KH, Torres ERS, Thomas CR Jr, Gough MJ, Raber J. “A novel preclinical model of cognitive and neuro-inflammatory consequences of precision radiation and immunotherapy.” Radiological Society of North America, Chicago, IL (2016)
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Publications
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Show Publications
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Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Shi JJ, McGinnis GJ, Peterson SK, Taku N, Ying-Shiuan C, Yu RK, Wu CF, Mendoza TR, Shete SS, Ma H, Volk RJ, Giordano SH, Shih YCT, Kaiser K, Nguyen DK, Smith, GL. Pilot Study of a Spanish Language Measure of Financial Toxicity in Underserved Hispanic Cancer Patients with Limited English Proficiency. Front Psychol. 2023 June. PMID: 37492449.
McGinnis GJ, Holden S, Yu B, Ransom C, Guidarelli C, De BS, Diao K, Boyce D, Thomas CR Jr, Winters-stone K, Raber J. Association of fall rate and functional status by APOE genotype in cancer survivors after exercise intervention. Oncotarget. 2022 Nov. PMID: 36441715.
Jacobsen MC, Beriwal S, Dyer BA, Klopp A, Lee S, McGinnis GJ, Robbins J, Rauch GM, Sadowski E, Simiele S, Stafford RJ, Taunk N, Yashar C, Venkatesan AM. Consensus Imaging Recommendations from the Society of Abdominal Radiology and the American Brachytherapy Society. Brachytherapy. 2022 June. PMID: 35725550
McGinnis GJ, Ning MS, Mafuka R, Nsingo M, Chiyapo S, Balang D, Grover S, Cardenas CE, Court LE, Smith GL. Radiation Oncology Practitioner-Reported Benefits and Barriers to Clinical Implementation of an Automated Radiotherapy Treatment Planning Tool: A Multi-Site Survey. J Global Oncol. 2022 May. PMID: 35537104.
Grover S, Ning MS, Bale M, Lichter KE, Shah S, Bvochora-Nsingo M, Chiyapo S, Balang D, McGinnis GJ, Ralefala T, Moloi T, Luckett R, Ramogola-Masire D, Robertson ES, Zetola NM. Chemoradiation versus radiation alone in stage IIIB cervical cancer patients with or without human immunodeficiency virus. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2021 Jul. PMID: 34312220.
Warren GW, Lim VS, Chowdhary M, Marwaha G, Abd Elbadee OM, Kirakli EK, Billiet C, Marin AG, Ramos M, Suppli MH, McGinnis GJ, Adjei AA. New Pulmonary Infiltrates Observed on Computed Tomography-Based Image Guidance for Radiotherapy Warrant Diagnostic Workup for Coronavirus Disease 2019. J Thorac Oncol. 2021 June. PMID: 34166850.
McGinnis GJ, Ning MS, Bvochora-Nsingo M, Chiyapo S, Balang D, Ralefala T, Lin A, Zetola NM, Grover S. Management of head and neck cancers with or without comorbid HIV infection in Botswana. Laryngoscope. 2021 May. PMID: 33098322.
Diao K, Song J, Thall PF, McGinnis GJ, Boyce-Fappiano D, Amini B, Brown PD, Yeboa DN, Bishop AJ, Li J, Briere TM, Tatsui CE, Rhines LD, Chang EL, Ghia AJ. Low risk of radiation myelopathy with relaxed spinal cord dose constraints in de novo, single fraction spine stereotactic radiosurgery. Radiother Oncol. 2020 Nov. PMID: 32745668.
Pasalic D, McGinnis GJ, Fuller CD, Grossberg AJ, Verma V, Mainwaring W, Miller AB, Lin TA, Jethanandani A, Espinoza AF, Diefenhardt M, Das P, Subbiah V, Subbiah IM, Jagsi R, Garden AS, Fokas E, Rödel C, Thomas CR Jr, Minsky BD, Ludmir EB. Progression-free survival is a suboptimal predictor for overall survival among metastatic solid tumour clinical trials. Eur J Cancer. 2020 Sep. PMID: 32702645.
Boyce-Fappiano D, Bathala TK, Ye R, Pasalic D, Gjyshi O, Pezzi TA, Noticewala SS, McGinnis GJ, Maroongroge S, Kuban DA, Nguyen QN, McGuire SE, Hoffman KE, Choi S, Tang C, Kudchadker RJ, Frank SJ. Predictors of urinary toxicity with MRI-assisted radiosurgery for low-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy. Brachytherapy. 2020 Sep. PubMed PMID: 32682778.
Samson P, Ning MS, Shaverdian N, Shepherd AF, Gomez DR, McGinnis GJ, Nitsch PL, Chmura S, O'Reilly MS, Lee P, Chang JY, Robinson C, Lin SH. Clinical and radiographic presentations of COVID-19 among patients receiving radiation therapy for thoracic malignancies. Adv Radiat Oncol. 2020 Jul. PMID: 32395673.
McGinnis GJ, Ning MS, Nitsch PL, O'Reilly MS, McAleer MF, Koong AC, Chang JY. Rapid detection of asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 by computed tomography image guidance for stereotactic ablative radiotherapy. J Thorac Oncol. 2020 June. PMID: 32311499.
Lipps DB, Leonardis JM, Dess RT, McGinnis GJ, Marsh RB, Strauss JB, Hayman JA, Pierce LJ, Jagsi R. Mechanical properties of the shoulder and pectoralis major in breast cancer patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery with axillary surgery and radiotherapy. Sci Rep. 2019 Nov PMID: 31780712.
McGinnis GJ, Holland JM, Thomas CR Jr, Nabavizadeh N. Massive hemorrhage following definitive esophageal chemoradiation: teaching case of a fatal aortoesophageal fistula and lessons learned. Clin Case Rep. 2017 Dec. PMID: 29225860.
McGinnis GJ, Raber J. CNS side effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors: preclinical models, genetics and multimodality therapy. Immunotherapy. 2017 Sep. PMID: 29338610.
McGinnis GJ, Friedman D, Young KH, Torres ER, Thomas CR Jr, Gough MJ, Raber J. Neuroinflammatory and cognitive consequences of combined radiation and immunotherapy in a novel preclinical model. Oncotarget. 2017 Feb. PMID: 27893434.
Grogan KE, McGinnis GJ, Sauther ML, Cuozzo FP, Drea CM. Next-generation genotyping of hypervariable loci in many individuals of a non-model species: technical and theoretical implications. BMC Genomics. 2016 Mar. PMID: 26957424.
El Fiky A, Perreault R, McGinnis GJ, Rabin RL. Attenuated expression of interferon-β and interferon-λ1 by human alternatively activated macrophages. Hum Immunol. 2013 Dec. PMID: 23993990.
Plouviez S, Schultz T, McGinnis GJ, Minshall H, Rudder M, Van Dover C. Genetic diversity of hydrothermal-vent barnacles in Manus Basin. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 2013 Dec.
Piper BJ, Acevedo SF, Edwards KR, Curtiss AB, McGinnis GJ, Raber J. Age, sex, and handedness differentially contribute to neurospatial function on the Memory Island and Novel-Image Novel-Location tests. Physiol Behav. 2011 Jul. PMID: 21463643.
Acevedo SE, McGinnis GJ, Raber J. Effects of 137Cs gamma irradiation on cognitive performance and measures of anxiety in Apoe-/- and wild-type female mice. Radiat Res. 2008 Oct. PMID: 19024648.
Book Chapters
McGinnis GJ, Jhingran AJ. Radiation Oncology Considerations. In: Clinical Lymphatic Mapping in Gynecologic Cancers. Taylor & Francis Group; 2022:117-127.
McGinnis GJ, Klopp AK. Pocket Radiation Oncology 2nd Edition: Gynecologic Malignancies. (In press - anticipated publication ASTRO 2025).
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Our providers accept all of the following insurances:
- Aetna
- Anthem BCBS Colorado
- Apostrophe Health
- benefitSMART
- Carrum
- Cigna
- Claritev Multiplan / PHCS
- Colorado Access
- First Health
- Humana Medicare Advantage
- *Kaiser (depending on market)
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Optum Health / Optum Care CO
- PHPprime
- Rocky Mountain Health Plans Medicaid Prime, CHP+, Valley, Monument Tier 2 & CO Doctors Plan
- SMS
- Select Health Colorado Public Option (Exchange) and Medicare Advantage (MA)
- TRICARE/HealthNET
- United Healthcare