Dr. Ajay Bhatnagar, MD, MBA

Dr. Ajay Bhatnagar had an unmistakable zest for life. Animated, expressive, and larger than life, he brought enthusiasm to everything he did. He worked with purpose, celebrated wholeheartedly, and was always ready for the next adventure. Whether traveling somewhere new, skiing with his family, or spending an afternoon on the golf course, Ajay wanted to experience life fully and bring the people he loved along with him. His excitement was contagious, and his presence made ordinary moments memorable.

That same energy filled his life as a beloved son, brother, husband to Rashmi, father to Jay and Jaina, and dear friend to many. Ajay was the person you could count on to pick up the phone. He took a genuine interest in what others were pursuing, offered help freely, and celebrated their successes with pride. He believed in people and wanted them to believe in themselves.

He was a caring son to his mother, Asha Bhatnagar, and a guiding light for his brother, Sanjay. During his father Sudhir Bhatnagar’s final days, Ajay stayed by his side and made sure he was well cared for. For all his ambition and the many demands on his time, being there for the people he loved mattered deeply to him.

Being Jay and Jaina’s dad was one of Ajay’s greatest joys. He wanted them to have every opportunity to thrive, from finding the best schools to supporting their sports and encouraging their individual dreams. He made sure they learned to ski and shared with them his love of travel and adventure. Whatever they set out to do, they knew their dad was in their corner, proud of them, encouraging them, and eager to see who they would become.

Born in London, England, Ajay spent much of his childhood in Pennsylvania. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in bioengineering, earned his MD and MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, and completed his residency in radiation oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

In 2007, Ajay began caring for patients in Casa Grande, Arizona, where he practiced for 15 years. Alongside his clinical work, he published research on targeted radiation for breast and skin cancer and contributed to an American Brachytherapy Society consensus statement on skin cancer treatment. His work reflected a persistent desire to improve care and help patients understand the choices available to them.

In 2022, he founded the Prostate Cancer Institute of America around a conviction that guided his career: patient care came first. As low dose rate brachytherapy became less widely available, Ajay saw a need and acted. He built a practice dedicated to preserving access to this treatment, which uses tiny radioactive implants to deliver radiation directly to the prostate. He wanted men facing cancer to have meaningful options, clear information, and a voice in their care.

What began in Arizona grew into a practice with locations across the country. Ajay collaborated with urologists, embraced advances in treatment planning, and expanded options for eligible patients. He shared his knowledge through research, conference presentations, interviews, and educational resources. He brought the same enthusiasm to explaining a treatment that he brought to building the practice itself: he believed in what he was doing and wanted others to understand why it mattered.

His commitment extended to the wider medical community. He served on the Arizona Medical Association’s board, consulted for the Arizona Medical Board, previously served as president of the Arizona Radiology Society, and was president-elect of the Maricopa County Medical Society. He also offered encouragement and practical support to physicians who wanted to establish independent practices of their own.

His professional honors included Top Doctor recognitions and the Edgar Hernandez Humanitarian Award for his work helping underserved communities access cancer screening and treatment. These honors reflected a commitment that ran throughout his career: using his skills to reach people who needed care.

Ajay’s plans for giving back continued to grow. He founded the Prostate Cancer Institute of America Foundation to advance awareness, education, and patient support. Its inaugural charity golf tournament in Sedona brought people together around a game he loved and a cause he believed in. He had so much more he wanted to accomplish, and we hope the work he began will continue to carry his purpose forward.

Ajay saved lives. He also changed the experience of facing cancer for patients and families by answering their questions, explaining their options, and helping them find a way forward. At the time of his passing, approximately 300 patient appointments still lay ahead of him. Each represented someone he would have wanted to help, another conversation he would have taken seriously, and another opportunity to make a difference.

In far too few years, Ajay filled his life with love, adventure, achievement, and service. His legacy lives on in Rashmi, Jay, Jaina, his family and friends, the patients he cared for, and the work he set in motion. We feel blessed to have shared our lives with him and will remember him with immense pride and love.

Wherever he went, Ajay brought an unbridled happiness, energy, and enthusiasm that were unmistakably his own. He made every gathering more animated, every celebration more joyful, and every adventure more memorable. To know him was to know someone absolutely unforgettable.

Celebrate His Life. Carry His Legacy Forward.

Please celebrate Ajay’s life by supporting the cause he devoted himself to through a donation to the Prostate Cancer Institute of America Foundation (PCIAF). Your generosity will help advance prostate cancer awareness, education, and patient support, carrying forward his commitment to helping others.

Donate in honor of Dr. Ajay Bhatnagar

Thank you for honoring his memory and helping his children carry his legacy forward.

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