Joshua Gruhl, MD
Radiation Oncologist
SECONDARY LOCATION(S)
About Joshua Gruhl, MD
Dr. Gruhl is a board-certified radiation oncologist, specializing in the use of external beam radiation for the treatment of multiple types of malignancies. He completed specialized training in radiation oncology at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, one of the preeminent cancer centers in the United States. Through this training and his years of experience treating cancer patients with radiation therapy, he brings extensive hands-on experience with the most advanced radiation treatment techniques. He is adamant that his patients get the absolute best possible treatments, which are backed up by the most up-to-date clinical trials and research studies.
His areas of expertise include external beam radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), image guided radiotherapy (IGRT), 3D conformal radiation therapy, brachytherapy, skin radiotherapy, and accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI). He treats a wide variety of cancers, with a special interest in breast cancer, prostate cancer, head and neck cancer, lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer (rectal, anal, esophageal, pancreatic, gall bladder), skin cancer, and oligometastatic cancer (metastatic cancers that have spread to a limited number of sites).
Dr. Gruhl participates in many tumors boards where he collaborates closely with other cancer specialists using a multi-disciplinary approach to care. This allows him to seek opinions from many specialists (surgeons, medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and other radiation oncologists), which improves the quality of care for each of his patients. He believes in a compassionate, patient-centered approach. He enjoys educating his patients about their diagnoses so they can participate in a shared decision-making process about their cancer treatment plan, which he feels is crucial to optimizing his patients’ outcomes.
Dr. Gruhl takes a “whole person” approach to cancer treatment. He understands that to get the best possible outcomes for his patients, he needs to consider more than just the radiation treatment plan; this includes diet and nutrition, exercise, wellness practices (including meditation, yoga, etc.), spirituality and religion, and each patient’s unique family life and social situation. He has a personal interest in nutrition, diet, and exercise, and how these factors relate to cancer. He is a strong believer that optimizing a patient’s diet and nutrition prior to and during cancer treatments makes it much more likely that they’ll be able to successfully complete treatment and feel as good as possible doing so. Furthermore, it’s common for patients to experience eating problems (decreased appetite and weight loss, nausea, pain, loss of taste, swallowing difficulties) and digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation, etc.) during chemotherapy and radiation, and he is committed to helping his patients address these symptoms by using dietary and nutrition strategies if possible. He is also interested in providing his patients guidance on how supplements, vitamins and minerals, and alternative cancer therapies can be beneficial at times, and harmful at other times, as they’re going through their cancer treatments.
Board Certifications
Radiation Oncology
Specialties
- Breast Cancer
- Central Nervous System Cancers
- Adenomas
- Gliomas
- Meningiomas
- Schwannomas
- Gastrointestinal Cancers
- Anal Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer
- Esophageal Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Stomach Cancer
- General Radiation Oncology
- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
- High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy
- Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)
- Genitourinary Cancers
- Bladder Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- 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
- Lung Cancer
- Lymphomas
- Sarcomas
- Skin Cancer
Education
Residency
Radiation Oncology, University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT
Medical School
University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha, NE
Patient Care Philosophy
I chose oncology as a career because I love connecting with people. I am honored when they allow me to partner with them to navigate some of the most difficult and vulnerable times in their lives. It is incredibly satisfying meeting with my patients and their families for the first time, building trust over the course of many face-to-face visits and forming long-term relationships which extend far beyond talking about cancer treatments.
I believe the best radiation oncologists are also the best communicators. Someone who listens well, works hard to understand where patients are coming from--their fears, hopes, and goals for treatment--and who puts their patients’ priorities ahead of their own. I take enormous pride in my bedside manner and believe one of my core strengths is my ability to effectively communicate with my patients and their families. When I meet with patients for the first time, my goal is to get to know them as a person first and to understand how their unique background and experiences may help shape their goals for treatment.
I embrace the roles of teacher and coach. By understanding what is most important to patients and their families, I can tailor the discussion to their expectations and provide a unique treatment recommendation for each situation. Ultimately, my goal is to provide patients and their families with as much information as possible about their specific cancer diagnosis and treatment options. I believe in treating every patient like I would want one of my own family members treated.