Patrick Richard, MD, MPH, DipABLM

Provider Biography

Dr. Patrick Richard is a highly skilled and compassionate board-certified radiation oncologist, specializing in the use of external beam radiation to treat various types of malignancies. His practice encompasses a wide range of cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, head and neck cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, gynecologic cancers, and urologic cancers. Dr. Richard takes a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to patient care, working closely with medical oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists to ensure patients receive the highest level of care and access to cutting-edge cancer treatments. His broad experience enables him to apply the latest, most effective radiation treatments and remain up to date on the newest recommendations for radiation therapy across all cancer types.

In addition to his expertise in radiation oncology, Dr. Richard is also a board-certified lifestyle medicine physician through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM). During patient visits, he evaluates the six pillars of lifestyle medicine—physical activity, nutrition, restorative sleep, toxic substance use, social connectedness, and mental health/positive psychology—and discusses the importance of each during and after cancer therapy. By addressing these key lifestyle factors, Dr. Richard engages and empowers patients to be active participants in their health and wellness despite undergoing cancer treatments. This holistic approach has been shown to reduce side effects, improve quality of life, and enhance cancer care outcomes, ultimately helping patients enter survivorship with a fortified body terrain and improved physical and mental well-being.

Medical Training & Expertise
Dr. Richard's expertise in radiation oncology is complemented by his extensive training, which includes a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) with a focus on Health Systems Management. This dual perspective of clinical care and health systems strategy allows him to influence not just individual patient outcomes, but also the broader healthcare delivery models that benefit the wider community.

As a vital member of the Boulder Community Health network, Dr. Richard regularly attends cancer case review conferences for general, breast, central nervous system, and colorectal cancers. He provides best practice recommendations in radiation oncology, contributing invaluable expertise to ensure each case receives the most appropriate care. His involvement extends to serving as the radiation oncology representative on Boulder Community Health’s Cancer Committee and as a key member of the Breast Program Leadership Committee. In these roles, he helps maintain the clinic’s prestigious NABPC accreditation status as a comprehensive breast cancer center.

Innovative Cancer Research
Dr. Richard is deeply involved in cutting-edge cancer research as an active investigator in the Western States Cancer Research Program NCORP (WSCR-NCORP), a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded clinical trial program. His work in launching and recruiting patients for groundbreaking phase III clinical trials on radiation therapy has made a lasting impact on advancing the field. Dr. Richard has been invited to serve as the radiation oncology co-investigator for the WSCR research program, where he reviews ongoing and future trial protocols for potential implementation across various clinics.

For patients interested in enrolling in clinical trials, more information can be found on the WSCR website.

Integrative Oncology Approach
Driven by a holistic approach to cancer care, Dr. Richard has also completed a year-long training program in integrative oncology at the University of Michigan. Here, he honed his skills in recommending evidence-based, complementary treatments that support and enhance patients' well-being during their radiation therapy. By integrating conventional radiation with complementary therapies, Dr. Richard is committed to providing comprehensive, open-minded care that aims not only to treat cancer but also to improve overall quality of life, promote survivorship, and increase vitality.

Dr. Richard is currently leading the development of an integrative oncology multi-disciplinary conference at RMCC Boulder. This innovative program reviews new and established cancer patients from a holistic perspective, bringing together specialists from various fields to ensure a well-rounded approach to treatment.

Advanced Radiation Therapy Techniques
A key area of Dr. Richard’s practice is hypofractionation, a technique that delivers fewer radiation doses at higher intensities over a shorter time period. Hypofractionated regimens have proven to be just as effective as traditional, longer radiation courses, offering patients greater convenience without sacrificing treatment efficacy. By utilizing hypofractionation when appropriate, Dr. Richard helps patients spend less time in treatment and more time focusing on their personal lives.

Dr. Richard and his team have also recently completed the installation of an advanced radiation treatment and localization platform at RMCC Boulder. The state-of-the-art Varian TrueBeam/Edge platform, designed for high-dose treatments in as few as 1-5 sessions, is paired with the Brainlab ExacTrac Dynamic localization system. This cutting-edge technology continuously monitors and maintains the accurate positioning of both the patient and the target during therapy. It ensures superior precision and minimizes damage to surrounding tissues in treatments such as Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiation Therapy (SABR), and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT).