Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship
Mission & Vision
The University of Miami/Jackson Health System Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship offers an integrated approach to the management of breast cancer patients in an academic tertiary care environment. The goal of the fellowship is to train surgeons who are interested in becoming specialists and leaders in the field of breast surgery by providing them with the independent skills to be breast care leaders in academic or community environments. Our vision is to form a group of graduates that would carry on some of the unique treatment approaches that have been developed at our institution, but also to help grow physician scientists and leaders in the community at-large.
Mission & Vision
The University of Miami/Jackson Health System Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship offers an integrated approach to the management of breast cancer patients in an academic tertiary care environment. The goal of the fellowship is to train surgeons who are interested in becoming specialists and leaders in the field of breast surgery by providing them with the independent skills to be breast care leaders in academic or community environments. Our vision is to form a group of graduates that would carry on some of the unique treatment approaches that have been developed at our institution, but also to help grow physician scientists and leaders in the community at-large.
Program Director’s Welcome
The Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship offers a one- to two-year surgical fellowship designed to provide in-depth, multidisciplinary training in the diagnostic evaluation, surgical management and adjuvant care of breast cancer patients in addition to management of patients with benign breast disorders. In addition, a strong emphasis is placed on participation in clinical and translational research.
Program Director’s Welcome
The Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship offers a one- to two-year surgical fellowship designed to provide in-depth, multidisciplinary training in the diagnostic evaluation, surgical management and adjuvant care of breast cancer patients in addition to management of patients with benign breast disorders. In addition, a strong emphasis is placed on participation in clinical and translational research.
Breast cancer treatment has become very complicated, especially for providers who are not (or cannot be) fully vested in this specific area of expertise. This is especially so since the research is moving forward at such a fast pace, and what was the standard of care five years ago is no longer the standard of care today, and will likely change again in a matter of just a few years. This is pretty unique to the quickly advancing field of breast surgery. Another distinguishing factor for our field is how multidisciplinary care has become a necessity for the optimization of breast cancer care. The breast specialist is also often the “primary” breast care provider enabling him/her to diagnose different conditions and not only treat diagnoses made by other providers. Breast ultrasound and other diagnostic modalities are an essential armamentarium for the breast surgical oncologist.
Our program strives to be at the forefront of breast care and to provide graduates with the necessary tools for a successful career, be it academic or community-based. To that end, our fellows are taught standard breast surgery skills along with research tools, breast ultrasound, oncoplastic surgery, intraoperative radiation, lymphedema preventative techniques and more.
We are proud to say that our program has been able to train U.S. and international fellows, all of whom have been successful in their careers. Furthermore, very shortly after its creation, our program was fully accredited by the Society of Surgical Oncology, the official accrediting body for breast surgical oncology. This accreditation gives our graduates additional credibility by providing leading-edge research, the highest quality standards of care and a knowledge exchange outlet, connecting cancer surgeons worldwide.
If you are excited by the idea of becoming a world expert in breast surgery and breast care, we are excited to show you why this fellowship program is the one for you.
-Eli Avisar, MD
Description
Our program strives to be at the forefront of breast care and to provide graduates with the necessary tools for a successful career, be it academic or community-based. To that end, our fellows are taught standard breast surgery skills along with research tools, breast ultrasound, oncoplastic surgery, intraoperative radiation, lymphedema preventative techniques and more.
We are proud to say that our program has been able to train U.S. and international fellows, all of whom have been successful in their careers. Furthermore, very shortly after its creation, our program was fully accredited by the Society of Surgical Oncology, the official accrediting body for breast surgical oncology. This accreditation gives our graduates additional credibility by providing leading-edge research, the highest quality standards of care and a knowledge exchange outlet, connecting cancer surgeons worldwide.
If you are excited by the idea of becoming a world expert in breast surgery and breast care, we are excited to show you why this fellowship program is the one for you.
-Eli Avisar, MD
Fast Facts
Accreditation
None
Number of Fellows per Year?
1
Duration of Fellowship?
1 to 2 years
(second year optional)
Clinical Experience
Year 1
One fellow is accepted every year and intensively trained. During the first year, the fellow spends six months on the breast surgical service working with the whole breast surgery team at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, a University of Miami Hospital and Clinics Facility and The Taylor Breast Health Center/Roberta Orlen Chaplin Digital Breast Imaging Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Significant emphasis is placed on the outpatient evaluation of breast imaging, pathology results and patient risk factors to develop a comprehensive care plan. Development of ultrasound skills for characterization of breast lesions, image-guided biopsy and intraoperative localization is emphasized.
The remainder of the year includes month-long rotations in breast imaging, pathology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, plastic surgery and risk assessment and genetic counseling. The fellow is evaluated at the end of each rotation by the clinical preceptor of that rotation, as well as every three months on the breast surgery service. The evaluation includes patient care, technical skills, medical knowledge, clinical judgment, teaching, academic performance, organization, work relationship, empathy to patients and dependability.
Year 2
The second year is dedicated to clinical research while continuing the clinical breast activities for one to two days a week, and for afterhours coverage. The goal of this optional second year is to foster the development of breast oncology researchers who will be able to return to their institutions and function not only as excellent clinicians but also become academic leaders in the field of breast oncology. After the first six months of the first year, the candidate is evaluated for suitability and interest in this track, based on both candidate interest and the evaluations during that time. When a second year is offered, the candidate is given the choice of a few mentors for their research project and is expected to formulate a project plan prior to starting the second year. Evaluations continue throughout the second year by the research mentor and by the breast surgery service in three-month intervals.
Your Faculty
Eli Avasar, MD
Director, Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program
Professor, Surgery
Jessica Crystal
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Dido Franceschi, MD
Professor, Surgery
Neha Goel, MD
Assistant Professor, Surgery
Carmen Gomez-Fernandez, MD
Director, Head and Neck Pathology Fellowship Program
Professor, Pathology
Vice Chair and Director, Education
Susan B. Kesmodel, MD
Associate Professor, Surgery
Elisa Krill-Jackson
Voluntary Assistant Professor of Medicine
SCCC Associate Director for outreach for women’s health
Mecker Moller, MD
Associate Director, Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program
Cristiane Takita, MD, MBA
Professor, Radiation Oncology
Kristin Rojas
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Barbara Susnik
Associate Professor, Director of Breast Pathology
Monica M. Yepes, MD
Associate Professor, Surgery
Alumni Placements Include:
BASS Medical Group
Georgia Regents University
Jackson Memorial Hospital
King Fahad Specialist Hospital-Dammam
Soroka University Medical Center
Southcoast Physicians Group
Alumni Placements Include:
BASS Medical Group
Georgia Regents University
Jackson Memorial Hospital
King Fahad Specialist Hospital-Dammam
Soroka University Medical Center
Southcoast Physicians Group
Notable Alumni
Jamila Alazhri, MD
2015
Breast Surgeon, King Fahd Specialist Hospital-Dammam
Ahkeel Allen, MD
2019
Breast Surgeon, Breast Care Center Miami
Voluntary Assistant Professor, Surgery, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
Keren Braithwaite, DO
2016
Breast Surgeon, Southcoast Physicians Group
Swapna Ghanta, MD
2018
Breast Surgeon, BASS Medical Group
Heather King, MD
2013
Breast Surgeon, Texas Breast Specialists (Austin)
Shai Libson, MD
2013
Breast Surgeon, Soroka University Medical Center
Bridget O’Brien, DO
2014
Breast Surgeon, Texas Breast Specialists (Cedar Park)
Alicia Vinyard, MD
2017
Assistant Professor, Surgery, Georgia Regents University
Arthy Yoga, MD
2015
Breast Surgeon, Texas Breast Specialists (Kingwood)
Jamila Alazhri, MD
2015
Breast Surgeon, King Fahd Specialist Hospital-Dammam
Ahkeel Allen, MD
2019
Breast Surgeon, Breast Care Center Miami
Voluntary Assistant Professor, Surgery, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
Keren Braithwaite, DO
2016
Breast Surgeon, Southcoast Physicians Group
Swapna Ghanta, MD
2018
Breast Surgeon, BASS Medical Group
Heather King, MD
2013
Breast Surgeon, Texas Breast Specialists (Austin)
Shai Libson, MD
2013
Breast Surgeon, Soroka University Medical Center
Bridget O’Brien, DO
2014
Breast Surgeon, Texas Breast Specialists (Cedar Park)
Alicia Vinyard, MD
2017
Assistant Professor, Surgery, Georgia Regents University
Arthy Yoga, MD
2015
Breast Surgeon, Texas Breast Specialists (Kingwood)