“Trust that the wind knows where it is blowing.” – John3:8
I was born in the Bay State where I spent many summers sailing off the coast of Massachusetts and Maine. I learned most of my life lessons from my loving parents and the sea. With an appetite for the great outdoors, I moved here in 1998 with my family and enjoyed partnership in a group practice for 23 years before founding Oregon Surgical Wellness in 2021. My practice goals: minimize stress, promote healing, and create meaningful patient interactions. I believe that supporting the whole patient before, during and after treatment promotes the highest quality of life for my patients. I am committed to improving the health of my community one unique patient at a time.
I received a Bachelor of Arts in biology at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and completed medical school at Boston University School of Medicine in Massachusetts. I spent six years at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where I completed my residency training in general surgery, was a laparoscopic research fellow and served as an associate professor of surgery.
With over 34 years of training and operative experience, I have cared for patients in Minnesota, Guatemala, Haiti and Oregon performing an array of general, vascular, thoracic, and pediatric surgical procedures. Additionally, I have served on the call panel for the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Team at PeaceHealth RiverBend Medical Center. Fueled by my passion for specialization, over the last 15 years I have honed my skills in the subspecialties of Breast Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery. Certified by The American Board of Surgery, I participate in three national surgical quality registries, including: The Mastery of Breast Cancer Program , The Collaborative Endocrine Surgery Quality Improvement Program, and The American College of Surgeons, Surgeon Specific Registry. Certified by the City of Hope in Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment, I am also a member of the Clinical Cancer Genetics Community of Practice. I have given many presentations at national and local meetings and been published extensively in scientific journals, book chapters, blogs and magazines on a variety of topics including advanced laparoscopic surgery, colon surgery, rectal surgery, breast surgical oncology, survivorship, genetic cancer risk assessment and endocrine surgery.
I care about my community and get involved whenever possible. Some of the many organizations I support, lead or participate directly in include: Oregon Cancer Foundation where I served as president of the board, Positive Community Kitchen serving as a volunteer and stewardship councilwoman, Cascade Medical Team, Children’s Tumor Foundation, Susan G. Komen, The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, The Eugene Symphony, and others.
At Oregon Health and Science University I help facilitating workshops on Visual Thinking Strategies for health professionals and enjoy mentoring pre med and pre health students whenever I can. Currently, I serve as a professional mentor for young Breast Surgical Oncologists through the American Society for Breast Surgeons Mastery of Breast Surgery Program. When my family needs perspective, optimism and a chance to connect, we volunteer on medical missions. Together we have cared for patients in Guatemala and Haiti.
