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Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship

About The Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Women & Infants Hospital

Women & Infants Hospital is the major teaching hospital of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University dedicated to the advancement of healthcare for women. The breast surgical oncology fellowship was started in 1997 and has been accredited by the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) since 2004. Our unique philosophy emphasizes the importance of the art and the heart in equal parts with medical knowledge in the practice of medicine. We focus on human values, as well as p values, and take a patient-centered, interdisciplinary approach to education and patient care. Our team pioneered the inclusive prospective multidisciplinary tumor board in the 1990s– a forum for every cancer patient to be reviewed before the first therapeutic intervention. We continue in this patient-centered care pathway, now in our 4th decade.

Apply Now Through SSO

Get In Touch

Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship
Women & Infants Hospital
101 Dudley Street
Providence, RI 02905

Program Director
David A. Edmonson, MD
E-mail: dedmonson@wihri.org

Education/Fellowship Coordinator
Debra L. Mallon
E-mail: dlmallon@wihri.org
Phone: (401) 430-7223

Program Highlights

Oncoplastics

We are a robust interdisciplinary breast oncology practice. The surgical team is comprised of six breast surgeons seeing approximately 700 new cancers per year at our primary sites. In our role as surgeons, we prioritize expertise in surgery, including oncoplastic surgery, lymphovenous bypass, and aesthetic flat closure. Dr. Jennifer Gass, a long-standing member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) Oncoplastic Committee, Co-Chaired the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Oncoplastic Surgery course in 2019 and has continued to teach these courses annually at Clinical Congress. Dr. Jamie Patterson brings expertise in extreme oncoplastic techniques, having studied with Dr. Mel Silverstein.

Lymphedema
Dr. David Edmonson has the leading local expertise with axillary reverse mapping and LYMPHA lymphovenous anastomosis and directs our nationally recognized lymphedema program. Our comprehensive lymphedema prevention program includes the use of ferrous superoxide and bioimpedance spectroscopy measurements with the SOZO system.
Transgender/Gender Diverse Care

Dr. Micaela Weaver leads our new gender-affirming clinic, counseling transgender and gender diverse patients about breast cancer risk and screening.

Medical Oncology
Our dedicated breast medical oncology colleagues include Dr. William Sikov, who is a member of the Cooperative Groups Program for clinical research. His 40603 trial put carboplatin into the schema for triple negative breast cancer.
Breast Imaging

Our dedicated breast imagers pioneered comprehensive tomosynthesis mammography screening in 2013.

Fellow Wellness

Fellows also participate in monthly psychosocial rounds - not for patients, but for the breast and gynecologic oncology fellows. These rounds occur with a licensed psychologist in a closed room setting, allowing them to speak confidentially about caring for oncology patients, adjusting to new roles, or any aspect of life. Fellows also participate in Program in Women’s Oncology artistic performances, as well as attend local art events. There are also monthly meetings with the program director and emeritus director, which provides an opportunity for evaluation of the fellow but also of the program and any needs the fellow may have.

Rotations & Curriculum

The fellowship begins with an introductory rotation at the Breast Health Centers at Women & Infants Hospital and Kent Hospital (Care New England’s community hospital located in Warwick, Rhode Island) with one fellow at each location. Going forward, the fellows will rotate for one month in each of the following specialties, alternating with each other so they have focused, individualized education in each specialty.

Formal rotations include:

  • Breast surgery, Women & Infants Hosptial and Kent Hospital
    • Eight months on the breast surgery/clinic service, with six months at Women & Infants Hospital and two months at Kent Hospital
  • Radiology and Pathology, split between radiology in the morning and pathology in the afternoon
  • Radiation Oncology, off-site at Rhode Island Hospital and GenesisCare, both in Providence
  • Medical Oncology
  • Plastic Surgery

Recent fellows have graduated with more than 290 logged breast surgery cases, plus more than 15 axillary lymph node dissections, and more than 25 plastic surgery cases.

Fellows Clinic
Starting in September, the fellows will begin their own half-day clinic and will manage their own panel of patients through the end of their fellowship. Dedicated surgical faculty oversee the clinic and provide surgical guidance during the fellow’s own surgical cases.

Complementary Experience
In addition to formal month-long rotations, the fellow will spend time in genetic counseling and case conferences, palliative care, psycho-oncology, lymphedema treatment and prevention, integrated care, metastatic tumor board, and the WISH Clinic (Women’s Intimacy and Sexual Health).

Education

Fellows have many ongoing educational opportunities. The foremost of these is the weekly multi-center Multidisciplinary Tumor Board, which the fellows are charged with preparing and leading. The meeting is well attended by breast surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, genetic counselors, social workers, research assistants, and nurse navigators. It provides an open forum for discussion of best practices and treatments, as well as training the fellows about the nuances of treatment planning.

Didactics
The formal didactic curriculum occurs weekly on Friday afternoons and this time is protected from other clinical responsibilities. This curriculum includes clinical and research topics as well as monthly morbidity/mortality conferences with the gynecologic oncology fellows and monthly journal clubs. Topics are taught by attendings in the field of study and can be tailored based on fellow interests or requests.

Teaching and Community Outreach
Fellows serve as the primary on-service leader and educator for rotating Brown Medical Students, OB/GYN and plastic surgery residents, surgical oncology fellows, PA students, and other rotating learners. Fellows have the opportunity to lecture to the medical students on their core clerkship rotation and are considered teaching fellows of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Community outreach and education opportunities are also available and encouraged.

Research

Research is an integral part of the Breast Surgery Fellowship and the program affords fellows a foundation for pursuing the investigative and scholarly aspects of breast disease. The Breast Health Center actively participates in clinical research in the effort to advance the knowledge and treatment of breast cancer and we have a dedicated research staff, supporting both cooperative group trials and investigator-initiated study. As part of their clinical activities in the Program in Women’s Oncology, fellows gain exposure to clinical trials conducted by multi-institutional organizations such as

Research Workshop

During the month of August, the fellows participate in a 2-week research workshop to prepare them for the rigors of academic research. The two-hour sessions include topics such as statistics, study design, clinical trials, proposals, grants, academic mentorship, CV/biosketch writing, and IRB processes. Fellows routinely present their own research at the ASBrS and SSO national meetings, as well as at the Rhode Island ACS Chapter meetings and other conferences. There is a dedicated team to assist with IRBs, grants, budgets, and statistical analysis with expertise in grant submission, budgets, research methodologies, database management, stats, and publication support.

Current Open Breast Clinical Trials *as of 10/20/2023

  • Alliance A011801
  • Alliance A012103
  • NSABP B-61 ( I saw this with the research binders)
  • NCIC MA-39
  • NRG BR-007
  • NRG BR-008
  • BrUOG 387
  • Cairn Surgical
  • Exact Sciences/ASCEND-2

Rhode Island Living

Rhode Island may be the smallest state but it offers an eclectic blend of natural resources as well as diverse people and cultures. With a population of 189,700, Rhode Island’s capital, Providence, is a medium-sized city that offers diversity, an amazing food/art scene rivaling bigger cities, and a comfortable, homey place to live. As a fellow in an Alpert Medical School-affiliated program, you’ll have the opportunity to work in an urban setting that offers a high patient volume and superb clinical experiences.

Providence is also home to RISD (a top arts college), Johnson & Wales (a renowned culinary institute), and several other colleges and universities, creating a young, vibrant cosmopolitan community. The city is full of green spaces and close to beautiful beaches and woodland areas alike, affording the opportunity to enjoy all 4 seasons of Rhode Island. Fellows often live in the city of Providence; however, it is easy to live in nearby North Providence, Cranston, East Providence, and beyond.

 

Providence, Rhode Island cityscape at Waterplace Park.

Benefits & Lifestyle

  • Salary in accordance with regional PGY pay scale, 2024 PGY-6 salary is $83,535.00
  • 20 vacation days, 12 sick days (3 of these days can be used for scheduled personal days), 10 national holidays, 2 float holidays, 5 interview days, and education days approved on a case-by-case basis, for things like board exams and conferences
  • Fellows coordinate vacations between them, with approval from the program director
  • Free parking, access to the exercise room on the physicians' floor of the hospital
  • Meal stipend for use in the cafeteria – $800 for the year
  • Educational stipend of $4,000

 



  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending account eligible
  • Life insurance, long-term disability, long-term care, dependent life insurance
  • Access to the Brown Medical Library and other Brown facilities and discounts
  • Coverage of breast surgery call at WIH and Kent
  •  Schedule made by the fellows
  • No medical oncology or general surgery call

Application Information & Deadlines

All interested candidates are required to submit their applications electronically to the Society of Surgical Oncologists (SSO).

To foreign applicants from a general surgery residency who require visa sponsorship: Regretfully, per ECFMG, since we are an ObGyn residency hospital that does not have a general surgery residency program, we are not able to sponsor visas for those applying from a general surgery residency.

Items to be included are:
  • One copy of the completed application form
  • Current curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement
  • Three letters of recommendation from persons best qualified to vouch for the character and professional qualifications of the applicant
  • In-service scores
  • A creative piece (favorite poem, song lyrics, artwork, etc.), this does not have to be an original piece of work

This fellowship accepts two fellows per year and is offered to surgically-trained physicians who have completed a residency in general surgery, OB/GYN, or plastic surgery.

Applications are accepted from December 16, 2024 to January 17, 2025 via the SSO. Interviews will be held in person on March 12, 2025 and May 21, 2025.

Apply Now Through SSO

Faculty

Surgery Faculty

Jennifer Gass, MD, FACS, General/Breast Surgeon

  • Director, Breast Health Center
  • Chief of Surgery, Women & Infants Hospital
  • Professor of Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology

David Edmonson, MD, FACS, General/Breast Surgeon

  • Program Director, Breast Fellowship
  • Director, Lymphedema Program
  • Associate Professor of Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology

Ashley Stuckey, MD, FACOG, FACS, Breast and Gyn Oncology Surgeon

  • Program Director, Gyn Oncology Fellowship
  • Co-Director, Cancer Genetics and Prevention Program
  • Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Jamie Patterson, MD, FACOG, Breast Surgeon

  • Site Lead, The Breast Health Center at Kent Hospital
  • Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Micaela Weaver, DO, FACS, General/Breast Surgeon

  • Co-Leader, OB/GYN Resident Rotation
  • Assistant Professor of Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology

Stephanie Ng, MD

  • Co-Leader, OB/GYN Resident Rotation
 
 
Plastic Surgery 

Erik Hoy, MD, MBA, Plastic Surgeon

  • Chief of Plastic Surgery, Care New England

Benjamin Christian, MD, Plastic Surgeon

  • Plastic Surgeon
Medical Oncology
  • William Sikov, MD, FACP
  • Bachir Sakr, MD
  • Mehdavi Gupta, MD
Pathology
  • Kamaljeet Singh, MD
  • James Sung, MD

Radiation Oncology
  • Jaroslaw Hepel, MD
  • Timothy Shafman, MD
  • Allen Rosetti-Chung, MD
Radiology
  • Susan Koelliker, MD

2024-2025 Breast Surgical Oncology Fellows

Jessica F. Moore, MD

PGY-5

ObGyn Residency completed at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Health System of Miami, Florida.

Tiffany J. Nevill, DO

PGY-6

General Surgery Residency completed at Franciscan Health of Olympia Fields, Illinois.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

We have established an environment that puts diversity, equity and inclusion at the center of our work, and informs how we both approach and treat all our patients and families. 
Learn More