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Category Archives: Newsworthy

Author Christy Curtis Categories Newsworthy

Offering Breast Cancer Care in Albany and Corvallis, Oregon

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“Our goal continues to be providing the most holistic and supportive personalized experience to every cancer patient throughout the cancer journey.”

— Winnie Henderson, MD, PhD, FACS, CGRA breast surgical specialist at Oregon Surgical Wellness

As a breast cancer surgeon at Oregon Surgical Wellness [part of Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center (WVCI)], I want to share a personal perspective on why I’m excited, and deeply committed, to expanding service to patients in Albany, Corvallis, and the surrounding communities in Linn and Benton Counties.

In the past six months, there has been an increasing need for specialized breast cancer care in the mid-Willamette Valley region of Linn and Benton Counties. After the loss of local surgeons, many patients had to travel hours for treatment, something that just isn’t feasible for everyone. So, in August 2025, I began seeing patients at WVCI’s Albany clinic on Thursdays, once a month. I soon realized patients were coming from Corvallis, Philomath, Lebanon, and other outlying areas too, so we expanded again in January 2026 to welcome patients at WVCI’s Corvallis location monthly. Now patients throughout the Mid-Valley region don’t have to leave their communities to find expert, high-quality care.

I believe providing the best breast cancer care should do more than just remove or treat cancer. It should help people heal both physically and emotionally. That’s why I specialize in oncoplastic and hidden scar breast surgery. These advanced techniques let me focus on removing cancer while preserving natural contours and minimizing visible scarring. It’s about giving patients the best medical outcome while helping them feel like themselves again.

Beyond surgery, I’m certified in cancer genetic risk assessment (CGRA). This means I help patients understand their personal and family cancer risks, walk them through selecting the genetic testing that’s right for them, and support them as they make decisions about their health. Knowledge is power, and I’m here to guide patients every step of the way.

Breast cancer affects every aspect of life, so my care philosophy is holistic. I see each patient as a unique individual, not just a cancer diagnosis. My team and I connect patients with counselors, nutritionists, and support groups, offering guidance through surgery, recovery, and beyond. It’s my goal is to provide personalized care so you feel understood and supported.

I’ve spent 45 years on the West Coast and completed my medical education and surgical training at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). I’m board certified in surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and one of only three surgeons nationwide credentialed in cancer genetic risk assessment (CGRA). I stay connected with peer networks like the City of Hope Clinical Cancer Genomics Community of Practice. I also engage with national organizations including the Society of Oncolplastic Surgery, American Society of Breast Surgeons, and the National Consortium of Breast Centers. This keeps me on the cutting edge of advances in the field so I can deliver the highest quality care.

Expanding our practice into Albany and Corvallis is more than just a milestone to me. It’s my commitment to reduce gaps in care and serve my broader community. Whether someone is seeking early intervention, a second opinion, or needs precision surgery, that’s what I’m here for. Every patient matters, and I’m passionate about helping people access the best in breast cancer care, no matter where they live.

If you or someone you know in the Albany/Corvallis region needs a breast cancer surgery consultation or a second opinion, please reach out. Oregon Surgical Wellness is ready to help navigate the journey with expertise and compassion. Call us at 541-735-3778 or fax 541-735-3772 for more information.

Thank you for trusting me and my team. Together, we can face breast cancer with hope, strength, and community.

Author Christy Curtis Categories Newsworthy

Oregon Surgical Wellness Expands Breast Cancer Program with Dr. Shiozaki

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We’re thrilled to share exciting news with our community: Dr. Teisha Shiozaki, MD, FACS, the first fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist in Lane County, has joined our team at Oregon Surgical Wellness, in partnership with Willamette Valley Cancer Institute!

Dr. Shiozaki brings advanced expertise in breast surgical oncology, adding to the incredible foundation built by our founders, Dr. Winnie Henderson and Dr. Christine Kollmorgen. Together, this trio forms a powerhouse of compassionate, cutting-edge care—right here in the Southern Willamette Valley.

For a community our size, this is a remarkable achievement. By uniting under one program, OSW and WVCI are creating a true center of excellence in breast surgical care—one that ensures our patients have access to innovation, continuity, and world-class expertise close to home.

Meeting a Critical Need, Right When It’s Needed Most

Across the country, healthcare systems are grappling with the challenge of recruiting and retaining specialists. At the same time, the need for cancer care continues to grow. Here in Oregon, breast cancer rates remain significant—and the demand for highly trained surgical experts has never been greater.

That’s why we’re expanding our breast program. Welcoming Dr. Shiozaki is more than a milestone—it’s a promise to our community that we’re investing in the future of cancer care.

Advanced Techniques, Compassionate Care

Dr. Shiozaki’s fellowship training equips her with the latest innovations in breast surgical oncology, including minimally invasive and oncoplastic techniques that prioritize both cancer control and cosmetic outcomes. Her approach reflects our shared philosophy: treat the whole person, not just the disease.

Together, our team offers more than surgery. We provide genetic risk assessment, survivorship resources, and ongoing research opportunities—ensuring every patient is supported through diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and beyond.

A Shared Vision for the Future

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while pink ribbons are powerful symbols, we believe true impact comes from action. By strengthening our team and expanding our services, we’re building a more resilient, compassionate cancer care program for Lane and Linn Counties.

We’re proud to welcome Dr. Shiozaki—and proud to stand beside every patient who walks through our doors. Because at OSW we believe our patients deserve nothing less.

For more information on Dr. Shiozaki, or to schedule a consultation, please visit Teisha Shiozaki, MD, FACS – Oregon Surgical Wellness.

Author Christine Kollmorgen Categories Newsworthy

Unleashed: Redesigning Healthcare Podcast

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Dr. Winnie Henderson was featured on The Unleashed Podcast.

What would you do if you were unleashed?

Unleashed is the podcast that challenges every clinician listening to ask themselves…

What would I do if I were unleashed? What would I do if I could reinvent care from scratch? 

The podcast also calls upon health care executives, thought leaders, and policy makers to do more to support innovation on the front lines. 

Most episodes spotlight clinicians who have developed a new model of care. Occasionally, hosts Glyn Elwyn and Chris Trimble interview experts on innovation in health care delivery. In SEASON 2, EPISODE 1 — our very own Dr. Winnie Henderson, focuses on breast cancer treatment at Oregon Surgical Wellness, describing how she deepens her connections with patients through empathy, education, and collaborative decision making. She also describes the benefits, for both patients and doctors. Click below to be directed to the website or head to Spotify and listen today!

Author Christine Kollmorgen Categories Newsworthy

Integrating Shared
Decision-Making for Early-Stage
Breast Cancer Treatment

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How to make hard decisions easier.

Oregon Surgical Wellness has teamed up with The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice to help women in North America diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer make informed decisions about treatment options. As Lane County’s highest volume center taking care of more than 300 breast cancer patients annually, Oregon Surgical Wellness, LLC was recently selected as a learning collaborative partner by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) at The Dartmouth Center for Shared Decision Making. Drs. Henderson and Kollmorgen are honored to be working side by side with leading decision scientists at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Over the next 24-month period, Oregon Surgical Wellness will be a test site; using specifically designed patient centered option grids for shared decision making. Their focus will be on helping women with early-stage breast cancer make informed choices for treatment. They are thrilled to be selected as one of only 30 collaborative partners across the Americas. Phase 1 research suggests that one of the most effective ways to improve health outcomes and increase people’s satisfaction with care is through better communication and more responsive, patient-centered decision making.

This model for care—often called shared decision-making (SDM)—has at its core a strong partnership between health care provider and patient. The Dartmouth Institute is at the forefront of patient engagement and shared decision-making research, working to develop tools to improve communication between patients and healthcare providers and strategies for integrating SDM into healthcare practice at many levels. A team of researchers at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine and The Dartmouth Institute, led by Glyn Elwyn, MD, PhD, MSc, has received a $2.1 million funding award from the PCORI to develop a shared decision-making process to help women with breast cancer choose their surgical treatment options using the SHAIR OptionGrid in three different languages (English, Spanish and Chinese) and in picture format. Their methods will soon be studied further right here in Lane County. The strategy to be implemented at 30 sites including Lane County includes four components:

  • An assessment of each organization’s readiness for SDM and a tailored strategy to address potential organizational barriers to implementation
  • Online or in-person training of clinical teams
  • Implementation of a paper-based text or picture version and/or a web-based interactive OptionGrid encounter decision aids
  • Integration of the new evidence and the SDM approach into existing clinical practice guidelines

Dartmouth’s research, as well as many other studies, support the idea that well-designed conversation aids lead to improved patient education and increased SDM, which is highly valued by patients and widely recognized by healthcare professionals as the moment of epiphany in the patient-provider relationship. Drs. Henderson and Kollmorgen feel strongly that these conversation aids be made available to all women with early-stage breast cancer on a routine basis. In keeping with their mission of being an innovation-focused organization passionate about continuous improvement, Drs. Henderson and Kollmorgen are ramping up the program called SHAIR Collaborative by training their staff and attending national webinars for participants. The team at Oregon Surgical Wellness is confident this emerging approach, unique in Lane County, will add tremendous value to the comprehensive care of their breast cancer patients. Most importantly, they feel these new tools will ensure that every patient has a voice and a choice in their care. Informed decisions result in improved patient engagement and better decisions. Better decisions in turn lead to better outcomes, an exciting new advance for our community’s breast cancer patients.

Author Christine Kollmorgen Categories Newsworthy

Docs and Ducks on a Mission

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Our passion is wellness here and worldwide.

Gearing up for Docs and Ducks on October 23, 2021 (Ducks vs UCLA), we are proud sponsors of the Cascade Medical Team who was established in 2001-2002 by a group of healthcare professionals in Oregon. Their first medical mission was launched in 2002. They are just one of several medical teams, dispatched to Guatemala annually through our affiliate, HELPS International. Their teams range in size from 80-100 volunteers. They are a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization. We seek to help them achieve their mission of providing free healthcare and health education, where medical services are severely lacking along with supporting community development projects to the impoverished population in the Highlands of Guatemala. We both share the vision of providing high quality care where it’s needed most. Since their first medical mission in 2002, the Cascade Medical Team has treated over 22,700 Guatemalans!

Author Kollmorgen1 Categories Newsworthy

BRAS for CAUSE

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VOTE FOR WELLNESS WINS

HOW BRAS FOR CAUSE BEGAN

Dandelions Flowers & Gifts in Eugene has been a family-run business for more than 40 years. Over that time, owner Shirley Lyons and her daughter Toviana Jackson have come to know their customers well, during the good times and the not-so-good times.

“We see the births, we see the deaths, we see illness, and we send flowers for those occasions,” Shirley says. “So our work is touching people’s lives during the greatest and most difficult times in their lives.”

In 2012, Shirley and Toviana were compelled to create an event that would bring awareness to breast cancer and raise money to support patients going through treatment. Borrowing a concept that has been used around the country, Bras for Cause was born: Invite people to decorate a bra, put the creations on display, and encourage the community to donate by voting for their favorites.

about-shirley-toviana

A PARTNERSHIP FOR HOPE

Since Bras for Cause began, proceeds raised have helped support the work of Oregon Cancer Foundation. The Foundation provides stopgap financial assistance to Lane County residents and individuals receiving cancer-related services in Lane County. That help is delivered to patients in ways it’s needed most, like gas money to get to treatment, a rent check, or money to pay a utility bill or buy groceries.

“We wanted to do something that people would be excited about, while making sure the money raised stays right here in our community,” Shirley says. “It’s important to have national cancer research, but people going through treatment have real financial needs.”

LAUGHING IN THE FACE OF CANCER

Those who participate in Bras for Cause run the gamut, from creatively inclined individuals with big hearts, to local businesses, teams, clubs and even cancer survivors themselves.

“The woman who won the Grand Prize award the first year created a bra in memory of a loved one who had recently passed away from breast cancer,” says Toviana. “For her, creating this bra was a big part of the grieving process. Her creation was truly a piece of art.”

“Cancer is a downer. It’s a serious disease affecting so many people,” Shirley says. “But this fundraiser is meant to pick people up. We invite the community to get involved.”

This is why we at OSW support BRAS for CAUSE and we hope you will support our bra made with love by our very own!

VOTE FOR WELLNESS WINS
Author Kollmorgen1 Categories Innovation, Newsworthy

Learn About OSW High-Risk Breast Clinic

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OSW FEATURED ON KVAL

Approximately 5-10% of breast cancer cases can be linked to hereditary genetic mutations. Physicians at Oregon Surgical Wellness in Springfield are helping to identify patients who may be at a higher risk for developing breast cancer and offering them tools and information to protect themselves.

Cevia Yellin is one of those patients. Two decades ago, her family participated in a cancer risk study through the National Institutes of Health, and she learned that she carries the BRCA1 gene, the same genetic mutation that is responsible for her father, grandmother and other family members developing cancer.

“When I initially agreed to participate in the study, I was doing it to help other people,” Cevia says. “But once I found out I was a carrier of the mutation, it was suddenly all about me. I was told at one point that I have an 87% chance of developing breast cancer in my lifetime. It’s been a bit of a roller coaster emotionally.”

Identifying cancer risk

Inspired by Cevia and patients like her, breast surgeons Christine Kollmorgen and Winnie Henderson at Oregon Surgical Wellness developed and launched the first comprehensive high-risk breast clinic program in Lane County. The program allows them to screen and identify patients who may be genetically predisposed to breast cancer and offer them genetic testing and licensed counseling through a partnership with Ambry Genetics.

“If we can identify a patient’s risk, then we can develop a risk management strategy for them, which may include prophylactic surgery or more close monitoring and following. And that’s pretty empowering,” Dr. Kollmorgen says.

Patients who believe they may be genetically predisposed to cancer can request a referral to Oregon Surgical Wellness. The patient will then receive a text screening tool which enables them to answer a series of questions right from their phone and based on the algorithm of their answers to those questions, they may or may not be a candidate for genetic testing. The test is a simple blood test done in the clinic and Dr. Kollmorgen says results are typically received within three weeks.

“Once the results are back and it’s been confirmed that they carry a genetic mutation, we take care of the rest. We’ll have a post consultation with them and they have access to true genetic counselors which are rare to find in the age of telehealth. We are right there to walk them through the process and help them make decisions that are right for them to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.”

Dr. Henderson says approximately 80% of people diagnosed with breast cancer qualified for genetic testing, but they didn’t have it done. “If we can identify these individuals and help them prevent their breast cancer, we are going to save so many lives.”

Hidden scar breast surgery

In addition to their high-risk breast clinic program, doctors Kollmorgen and Henderson are certified hidden scar breast surgeons, which means if a patient decides to have prophylactic surgery, or if they have a type of breast cancer that makes them a good candidate for this technique, the surgeons can place the incision in a location that is hard to see so the scar is not visible when the incision heals. As a result, the patient has little to no visible reminder of the surgery or their cancer.

“Scars are a reminder of trauma,” says Dr. Henderson. “Every time a breast cancer patient sees the scar from their surgery, it is a reminder of what they went through. Not having a visible scar allows them to live their life without that reminder.”

While some people may see breast surgery scars as a symbol of beating cancer, studies show that they can significantly impact a woman’s psychological and emotional recovery and can have an impact on self-confidence, intimacy and body image.

Dr. Kollmorgen says, “What’s wonderful about the hidden scar techniques is that they can be used with mastectomy, where we’re removing the entire breast, and they can also be used in breast conservation with the goal being to hide all visible reminders of the fact that you had breast cancer.”

Supporting cancer patients in the community

Doctors Henderson and Kollmorgen have been longtime supporters of the Oregon Cancer Foundation, which provides financial and emotional support, as well as education, to cancer survivors in the community.

Displayed in the Oregon Surgical Wellness lobby is the clinic’s 2021 Bras for Cause entry, one of 16 bras created by businesses and individuals in Lane County that will be used to raise money for the foundation throughout the month pf October.

The clinic’s Bras for Cause entry is titled, “Wellness Wins,” a true testament to the staff’s desire to help support their patients’ overall wellness, not just treat their cancer.

“We truly believe that when ‘I’ becomes ‘we,’ ‘illness’ becomes ‘wellness,’ says Dr. Kollmorgen. “And overall wellness for our patients is our goal.”

Cevia says it isn’t easy knowing she’s predisposed to developing breast cancer; however, she feels empowered knowing that she has options. She’s made lifestyle changes focusing on nutrition, exercise and stress management, and she never misses her yearly screenings. Cevia underwent surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes, which significantly decreased her risk of ovarian cancer and reduced her risk of breast cancer by 50%. She is now considering having her breasts removed to further protect herself.

“Dr. Kollmorgen is coaching me and supporting me through that decision process. I feel fortunate that I have this information and that I found out. I have peace of mind knowing that I’m doing what I can to reduce my risk for cancer.”

Author Kollmorgen1 Categories Innovation, Newsworthy

Entrepreneurship and Wellness

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Regardless of the profession you’re in, there’s always a way to channel your entrepreneurial spirit!

Drs. Winnie Henderson & Christine Kollmorgen shared their journey with the Eugene Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce at their Women Business Leaders Conference. Surgical specialists and now entrepreneurs gave the group a taste of their inspiration & shared their recipe for career fulfillment. The Women Business Leaders Conference is presented by Northwest Community Credit Union.  Enjoy networking with dynamic women and consider attending one of their upcoming events or simply check out the Eugene Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce to see how they are helping to make our community thrive.

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