Overview
I am a faculty member at Duke in the Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology. I am a surgical breast oncologist whose clinical research interests focus on the de-escalation of axillary surgery for patients with lymph node positive breast cancer. My translational research interests focus on epigenetic modifications in breast cancer. I have returned to Duke (Medical School 1994), having spent the past 20 years in Los Angeles, most recently at UCLA where I served as Chief of Breast Surgery and Director of Breast Health for the UCLA Health System. I am honored to have joined the Duke faculty and am eager to grow the program in Wake County as the medical director of breast cancer services.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Professor of Surgery
·
2022 - Present
Surgical Oncology,
Surgery
Chief, Section of Breast Surgery
·
2022 - Present
Surgical Oncology,
Surgery
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
·
2022 - Present
Duke Cancer Institute,
Institutes and Centers
Recent Publications
ASO Visual Abstract: Contemporary Trends in Axillary Surgery for ER-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer Stratified by Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy, Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy, or Upfront Surgery.
Journal Article Ann Surg Oncol · February 2026 Full text Link to item CiteNeoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy Use in Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer: Insights from Practice Shifts During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Journal Article Ann Surg Oncol · January 2026 BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic restricted operating room availability, prompting the Pandemic Breast Cancer Consortium to issue guidelines on deferring non-urgent surgical procedures. This led to an increased use of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) f ... Full text Link to item CiteContemporary Trends in Axillary Surgery for ER-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer Stratified by Neoadjuvant Endocrine Therapy, Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy, or Upfront Surgery.
Journal Article Ann Surg Oncol · January 2026 BACKGROUND: De-escalation of axillary surgery for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer has gained traction, but guidelines for axillary management after neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) remain ill-defined. METHODS: Female patients age ≥50 years with ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Surgical axillary lymph node removal with the option of "extended surgery" or "radiotherapy" in breast cancer patients with existing axillary lymph node involvement
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by University Hospital Basel · 2024 - 2029A single shot therapy will accelerate the elimination of breast cancer
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity · 2024 - 2028Single Cell and Spatial Analysis of Lethal Breast Cancers
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Department of Defense · 2024 - 2028View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Duke University, School of Medicine ·
1994
M.D.
Yale University ·
1989
B.S.