I was one of the first gynecologic cancer surgeons trained on the da Vinci® system, which is a surgical robot used in minimally invasive procedures. Today, I use this system to perform roughly half of my surgical cases — most often for uterine, cervical, and small ovarian cancers — which helps my patients have faster recoveries. For women with advanced ovarian cancers with large tumors, I am passionate about the skill and technique required to complete a comprehensive resection of disease and enhance patient outcomes via open abdominal surgery.
Regardless of the procedure at hand, surgery requires great mental and technical skill. I was an art history minor in college and a former state-competition pianist. Along with my extensive clinical training and experience, this background has given me the ability and focus to accomplish a complete tumor resection, restore normal anatomy, and optimize the clinical outcomes for my patients.
In addition to my technical surgical skills, I take pride in providing each of my patients with personalized care plans. When we first meet, I work to understand where they are in their lives, their expectations, and their support system as they face the challenge of a cancer diagnosis. In order for us to work together as a physician-patient team, it’s important to establish trust and understanding. A key component of this is listening. At the end of each appointment, I want my patients to feel confident and supported with the knowledge that they will receive state-of-the-art surgical excellence and compassionate care.
In parallel with my clinical work, I have a strong commitment to research in ovarian cancer and uterine cancer. I have received funding from the Foundation for Women’s Cancer and the National Cancer Institute for my research in ovarian cancer tumor biology and developmental therapeutics. I have served on national committees dedicated to improving outcomes for women with gynecologic cancers, including the Society of Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Practice Committee and the Gynecologic Oncology Group Ovarian Cancer Committee. Currently, I am the Chair of Communications for the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for Women’s Cancer. I have received numerous awards for my work from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Association of Cancer Research, the American Cancer Society, and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology.
I am a cancer surgeon because I believe this is where I’m most needed. I am continually inspired by the partnerships I have with my patients as we shore up the defenses and drive forward to eradicate this disease.
Originally from Wilton, Connecticut, I graduated magna cum laude from the accelerated medical degree program at Boston University in 1996. I completed residency in gynecology and obstetrics at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, followed by a gynecologic oncology fellowship with specialized training in minimally invasive surgery for gynecologic cancers at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. Upon the completion of my training in 2004, I worked as a full-time gynecologic cancer surgeon at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and I relocated to Memorial Sloan Kettering in 2007. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, and art.
