Breast Surgical Oncology

Our comprehensive breast program is located in Levine Cancer Institute and is part of the Division of Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery in Charlotte, NC. The program includes five surgeons who focus on the care of patients with breast disease and is funded through the generosity of the Charis Cancer Fellowship.

Program Details

We have a multidisciplinary, patient-centered approach to the management of benign and malignant disease.Our surgeons, annually, treat more than 800 new breast cancer patients, and manage over 400 patients with benign breast processes. We have an active high risk program and our five genetic counselors see over 600 new consults per year. Twelve dedicated breast radiologists perform almost 100,000 mammograms per year. Our program is actively involved in clinical trials with the NRG oncology group, and the Alliance group. We are NAPBC certified and our breast center physicians are actively involved with the ASBS, SSO, NAPBC and clinical trials groups. We received SSO breast fellowship program accreditation in 2013 for the next 3 years.

Rotations

Our fellow will have dedicated focus on breast surgical oncology, breast pathology, breast imaging, medical and radiation oncology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and genetics. Additionally there is dedicated time involved with integrative oncology, onco-fertility, psychosocial oncology, rehabilitative medicine with focus on lymphedema management and community service in breast related events.

There is a dedicated weekly research conference and instruction in clinical trials, and statistics. The fellow is expected to develop, complete and present at national conferences at least two research projects under the mentorship of an identified faculty member.

The fellow attends and presents at weekly multidisciplinary tumor board and breast conference, and weekly radiology/surgery imaging concordance conference. There are monthly breast journal clubs and monthly didactic breast lecture series. The fellow assists in instructing residents, medical students and advanced care practitioners. Our surgeons are certified in breast ultrasound and the fellow is expected to gain ultrasound skills including u/s guided biopsy, and be ready for certification at the completion of the fellowship.

Eligibility

Applicants must have successfully completed an accredited general surgery residency program in the United States and must be American Board of Surgery certified or eligible. One fellow per year will be selected, and interviews will take place in the fall preceding the match year. Application materials required by Levine Cancer Institute and Carolinas Medical Center are available on the SSO website.

Levine Cancer Institute and Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center

Levine Cancer Institute, part of Atrium Health, is a network of 14 integrated cancer programs across the Carolinas. Derek Raghavan, MD, president of Levine Cancer Institute, leads a team of nationally recruited cancer experts focused on providing advanced cancer care including state-of-the-art technology, Phase 1 clinical trials and a clinical pathway program that brings world-class cancer care closer to where people live. The Institute's research and administrative headquarters is located on the campus of Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center, an academic tertiary hospital located in Charlotte, NC.

The Atrium Health's Carolinas Medical Center department of surgery, under the leadership of Brent Matthews, MD, trains nationally competitive surgical residents and has fellowships in minimally invasive surgery, hepato-biliary surgery and critical care in addition to breast surgical oncology.