Radiation Oncologist Rajnikant Mehta to Retire June 19
Rajnikant Mehta, M.D.
Radiation Oncologist Rajnikant Mehta, M.D., is retiring from MyMichigan Health on June 19, 2026, after 46 years of dedicated service. Dr. Mehta joined MyMichigan Medical Center Midland on July 1, 1980, and established the hospital's Radiation Oncology Department when it was still a small community hospital. Throughout his career, he provided compassionate care to cancer patients across the region and played an integral role in the growth of the cancer program. Today, that program is part of MyMichigan Health, a health system affiliated with Michigan Medicine and its world-class cancer center.
Dr. Mehta grew up in a middle-class family in Mumbai, India, and earned his medical degree from Mumbai (Bombay) University. After coming to the United States, he completed his internship and fellowship at Harper Hospital through Wayne State University in Detroit, achieved board certification in radiation oncology, and joined MyMichigan Health, where he launched the Radiation Oncology Department that would become part of today's James T. and Elsa U. Pardee Cancer Wellness Center.
Throughout his career as a radiation oncologist, Dr. Mehta has emphasized patient-oriented, compassionate care. “My vision has always been focused on each patient individually, taking into consideration their disease process, their general health and including patients’ primary care providers, nurses, surgeons and medical oncologists to personalize treatment plans. MyMichigan Health is supportive of this team approach and will continue to carry it forward.”
Dr. Mehta has also witnessed major advances in cancer care technology over the years that has. helped expand both services and service areas for MyMichigan Health, as well as the Pardee Cancer Center. “With improvements in technology, cancer is diagnosed earlier than ever, and treatment advances are helping increase cure rates and positive outcomes,” he said. “Improvements in the precision and targeting of therapies in radiation, chemotherapy and surgery continue to help secure better outcomes for cancer patients.”
Dr. Mehta remains optimistic about future developments in immunotherapy and targeted gene therapy and expressed confidence in MyMichigan’s ability to continue providing high-quality care to patients. Still, he said his retirement brings mixed emotions.
“I have had an amazing career with mutual admiration and respect for my physician colleagues, MyMichigan administration and the countless employees I have had the pleasure of working with through the years,” said Dr. Mehta. “I feel the same about the relationships I have developed with my patients and their families. I will certainly miss them, but I know they will continue to be well cared for – not just with cancer treatment but with many areas of care and specialties MyMichigan Health has built since I began all those years ago."
In retirement, Dr. Mehta looks forward to spending time with his wife, Jyoti, along with their children and eight grandchildren, as well as enjoying reading and traveling and playing golf.
Those interested in learning more about cancer services at MyMichigan Health may visit www.mymichigan.org/cancer
