Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship

Cleveland Clinic's Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship is a fully accredited Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) approved breast training program. The fellowship is one of the first in the country, training breast surgery fellows since 2000. The primary goal of the fellowship is to provide in-depth multidisciplinary training in the diagnosis and treatment of both benign and malignant breast disease.

The major strength of this program is its large volume and experience in mastering the advanced surgical techniques performed by our renowned breast surgeons such as nipple sparing mastectomies, hidden scars, oncoplastic surgery, lymphedema prevention surgery and intraoperative radiation therapy.

The Cleveland Clinic breast surgical oncology fellowship combines experience in Academic Surgery at the Main Campus and Community Surgery at our two community programs, Fairview and Hillcrest Hospitals. At the Main Campus, the breast fellow will gain experience with participation in national clinical trials, treating advanced surgical disease, as well as partake in surgical innovation and research. At our community hospitals, the fellow learns hands-on ultrasound, high volume operative experience and breast cancer survivorship. The fellow will also have an opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of management of benign breast disease, high-risk screening, risk-calculation and medical genetics with our medical breast team.

Additionally, on their multidisciplinary rotation, the fellow will work with the micro and reconstructive surgeons to understand reconstruction, oncoplastics and lymphovenous bypass. Rotations in radiation oncology and medical oncology allow the fellow better understanding of clinical trials, evidence based medicine, and palliative medicine. Furthermore, rotations in pathology, genetics, and lymphedema clinic make for a robust multidisciplinary understanding and education in the diagnosis and treatment of all breast conditions. The Breast Surgical Oncology fellow maintains an independent Breast Fellow clinic where they see their own scheduled patients with all types of breast issues and diagnoses.

This is an academic fellowship with weekly multidisciplinary conferences, educational lectures and monthly research meetings and journal clubs. Cleveland Clinic residents and medical students on rotation afford an excellent opportunity for the fellow to teach. It is expected that the fellow will complete a clinical research project during the fellowship year that will be submitted for publication and presentation at a national meeting.

Rotations

The fellow learns the multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer through dedicated monthly rotations.

• Breast Surgery (7 months)
• Medical Oncology (1 month)
• Radiation Oncology (1 month)
• Radiology (1 month)
• Medical Breast, Genetics, & Lymphedema Clinic
• Psych-Oncology, Palliative Medicine
• Plastic Surgery/Reconstruction/Oncoplastics (1 month)
• Pathology
• Clinical Research

Staff

Zahraa AlHilli, MD, FRCSI Assistant Professor of Surgery, Lerner College of Medicine Staff Breast Surgeon	Alicia Fanning, MD, FACS Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery Lerner College of Medicine Staff Breast Surgeon	Debra Pratt, MD, FACS Staff Breast Surgeon
Julie Lang, MD, FACS Chief, Breast Surgery Co-Leader, Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Program Lula Zapis Endowed Chair for Breast Research Staff Breast Surgeon	Stephanie Valente, DO, FACS Assistant Professor of Surgery, Lerner College of Medicine Director Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Director Western Region and Fairview Hospital Breast Program  Staff Breast Surgeon	Erica Peters, MD, FACS Staff Breast Surgeon
Diane Radford, MD, FACS Director of the Breast Program at Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital Staff Breast Surgeon

How to Apply

Physicians eligible to apply must be board eligible or board certified in General Surgery as determined by the American Board of Surgery.

• Applications are submitted online at Society of Surgical Oncology
• Cleveland Clinic only accepts fellows through the SSO match
• For additional GME information, please visit Graduate Medical Education

More Information

To request more information

Breast Surgical Oncology Program Director:
Dr. Stephanie A. Valente
18200 Lorain Ave / Moll Pavilion
Cleveland, OH 44111
Phone: 216.252.2235
Email: valents3@ccf.org

Breast Fellowship Program Coordinator:
Janine Keough
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Ave., MC H1-246a
Cleveland, OH 44195
Phone: 216.444.2009
Email: keoughj@ccf.org