Overview
Cleveland Clinic’s Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship is a fully accredited, Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO)-approved, training program and one of the first of its kind in the nation. Since its inception in 2000, the program has been dedicated to preparing future leaders in breast surgery through comprehensive, multidisciplinary education in the diagnosis and management of both benign and malignant breast disease. The Cleveland Clinic fellowship program trains 2 fellows per academic year.
A defining strength of the fellowship is the high surgical volume and diverse case mix, offering our fellows hands-on mastery of advanced techniques performed by world-renowned breast surgeons — including nipple-sparing mastectomy, hidden-scar approaches, oncoplastic breast surgery, minimally invasive breast surgery, and lymphedema prevention procedures. Our faculty are national leaders in breast cancer and work to provide and teach world-class care.
The program integrates training across both academic and community settings, providing fellows with a balanced and well-rounded experience. At both the Cleveland Clinic’s Main Campus and Community Hospitals, the fellows participate in national clinical trials, manage complex breast disease, and engage in surgical innovation and research. Additionally, they gain hands-on experience with breast ultrasound and procedures and participate in practice management across various breast center settings. Fellows also benefit from in-depth expertise in the management of benign breast disease, high-risk screening, risk assessment, genetic counseling, and breast cancer survivorship care, alongside our dedicated surgical and medical breast teams.
Multidisciplinary collaboration is a cornerstone of the fellowship. Rotations with plastic and reconstructive surgeons provide exposure to advanced oncoplastic and reconstructive techniques, re-sensitization, and lymphovenous bypass. At the same time, experiences in radiation oncology and medical oncology deepen the fellow’s understanding of evidence-based multidisciplinary practice, clinical trials, and palliative care. Additional rotations in pathology, genetics, psychology, and breast rehabilitation and lymphedema management ensure a comprehensive foundation in all aspects of breast health and disease.
Fellows maintain an independent breast clinic, where they evaluate and manage their own patients under faculty supervision. As an academic fellowship, the program emphasizes scholarly engagement through multidisciplinary conferences, tumor boards, educational lectures, research meetings, and journal clubs. Fellows have abundant opportunities to teach residents and medical students, thereby further enhancing their leadership and academic skills.
Each fellow is expected to complete at least one clinical research project during the training year, suitable for submission to a peer-reviewed journal and presentation at a national surgical or oncology meeting. Fellows routinely engage in hands-on teaching labs, lectures and community outreach and educational events. Graduates from the Cleveland Clinic Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship program join an international network of academic leaders and a strong alumni support system.
Rotations
- Breast surgery
- Medical oncology
- Radiation oncology
- Radiology
- Medical breast
- Genetics
- Breast Rehabilitation and Lymphedema Clinic
- Breast psych-oncology
- Palliative medicine
- Breastfeeding medicine
- Plastic surgery/reconstruction/advanced oncoplastics
- Pathology
- Clinical research
Staff
Program Director, Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship
Associate Program Director, Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship
Faculty
Zahraa AlHilli, MD, MBA
Staff
Paula Escobar, MD
Breast Surgeon
Alicia Fanning, MD
Breast Surgeon
Lauren Kopicky, DO
Breast Surgeon
Julie Lang, MD
Breast Surgeon
Regina Matar-Ujvary, MD
Associate Staff
Hassan Masoudpour, MD
Associate Staff
Erica Peters, MD
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.
- The Cleveland Clinic accepts 2 Breast Surgical Oncology fellows per academic year.
- Cleveland Clinic only accepts fellows through the SSO match.
- Applications are submitted online at Society of Surgical Oncology.
- For additional GME information, please visit Graduate Medical Education.
- Residents interested in a Resident Elective Rotation 1-month rotation in Breast Surgical Oncology, can apply here: General Surgery Residency Program | Cleveland Clinic
- For any questions, please reach out to the Breast Surgical Oncology Program Coordinator, Elizabeth Conn conne3@ccf.org
More Information
To request more information
Breast Surgical Oncology Program Director:
Dr. Stephanie A. Valente
Cleveland Clinic
18200 Lorain Ave / Moll Pavilion
Cleveland, OH 44111
Phone: 216.492.2235
Email: valents3@ccf.org
Breast Surgical Oncology Associate Program Director:
Dr. Vincent Wu
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44195
Phone: 216.445.3945
Email: wuv4@ccf.org
Breast Fellowship Program Coordinator:
Elizabeth (Liz) Conn
Fairview Hospital
18101 Lorain Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44113
Phone: 216.973.8748
Email: conne3@ccf.org
