Overview
My research passion lies at the intersection of gynecologic cancers and palliative care, helping patients with GYN cancers and their families navigate the journey of their cancer diagnoses to maximize their quality of life and mitigate aggressive and futile care near the end of life. I am also passionate about how the healthcare team communicates with patients and their families. Cancer care should be patient-centered based on an individual's own values--this requires comprehensive goals of care conversations early and often throughout the cancer trajectory. This has led me to become involved in VitalTalk Communication Skills training, which I have taught both locally at Duke and across the country to clinicians in various clinical settings.
Clinically, caring for patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasms and cancers in adolescents and young adults is a rewarding aspect of my job. Helping patients and their families navigate cancer diagnoses and the potential impact this has on growing families is rewarding. I enjoy working in a multi-disciplinary approach with our reproductive endocrinology, psychology, and cancer support teams to maximize longevity, quality of life and family building opportunities.
As the program director for the OB/GYN department, medical education and simulation is also near and dear to my heart. I find great joy in mentoring trainees at all stages and in all venues--clinically, research, and professionally.
Clinically, caring for patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasms and cancers in adolescents and young adults is a rewarding aspect of my job. Helping patients and their families navigate cancer diagnoses and the potential impact this has on growing families is rewarding. I enjoy working in a multi-disciplinary approach with our reproductive endocrinology, psychology, and cancer support teams to maximize longevity, quality of life and family building opportunities.
As the program director for the OB/GYN department, medical education and simulation is also near and dear to my heart. I find great joy in mentoring trainees at all stages and in all venues--clinically, research, and professionally.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
·
2022 - Present
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology,
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
·
2017 - Present
Duke Cancer Institute,
Institutes and Centers
Recent Publications
A pilot study investigating the effect of pembrolizumab on the tumoral immunoprofile of newly diagnosed mullerian cancers.
Journal Article Gynecol Oncol Rep · June 2025 OBJECTIVE: This pilot window of opportunity study was conducted to assess feasibility, toxicity, and changes in immune parameters in response to one dose of the PD-1 inhibitor, pembrolizumab, in patients newly diagnosed with mullerian epithelial cancers. M ... Full text Link to item CiteQuality for All: Clinical Trial Enrollment and End-of-Life Care in Solid and Hematologic Malignancies.
Journal Article Cancer Med · May 2025 BACKGROUND: Patients with incurable cancer deserve quality end-of-life (EOL) care. Despite established EOL quality metrics, many patients receive aggressive EOL care with limited goals of care (GOC) documentation. Concurrently, clinical trials are critical ... Full text Link to item CiteThe Role of Sleep Apnea in Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorders Among Older Noncardiac Surgery Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Journal Article Anesth Analg · January 1, 2025 BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with increased dementia risk, yet its role in postoperative neurocognitive disorders is unclear. Here, we studied whether the severity of untreated obstructive sleep apnea is associated with the severity of ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
CL-PTL-119: Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Phase III Trial of Maintenance FANG (bi-shRNAfurin and GMCSF Augmented Autologous Tumor Cell Immunotherapy) for High Risk Stage III/IV Ovarian Cancer
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Gradalis, Inc. · 2015 - 2025View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
University of Virginia ·
2009
M.D.