Partial Speakers List
Mili Arora, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine The Joe Sullivan Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program Director Division of Hematology Oncology UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Sacramento, CA
Abenaa M. Brewster, MD, MHS
Medical Director Nellie B. Connally Breast Center Professor (Tenured) Clinical Cancer Prevention Clinical Medical Director, Breast Medical Oncology Breast Medical Oncology Clinic The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Vijayakrishna Gadi, MD, PhD
Professor and Director of Medical Oncology Department of Medicine Associate Director, Translational Oncology Department of Medicine Division of Hematology and Oncology University of Illinois Cancer Center
Chicago, IL
Bruce G. Haffty, MD, FACR, FASTRO, FASCO
Associate Vice Chancellor Cancer Programs Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Professor and Chair Dept of Radiation Oncology Robert Wood Johnson and NJ Medical School Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ
Norah Lynn Henry, MD, PhD
Daniel F. Hayes MD Breast Cancer Research Professor Professor and Interim Division Chief Division of Hematology/Oncology University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
Jennifer M. Matro, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine UC San Diego Health
San Diego, CA
Polly Niravath, MD
Associate Professor Section Chief, Breast Oncology Director, Cancer Survivorship Program Lois E. And Carl A. Davis Centennial Chair in Cancer Research Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center Houston Methodist Hospital
Houston, TX
Neil Vasan, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor Division of Hematology & Oncology Department of Medicine Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center Columbia University Medical Center
New York, NY
Yuan Yuan, MD, PhD
Professor Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Director Breast Medical Oncology Medicine Medical Director Breast Oncology Disease
Research Group
Los Angeles, CA
Julia Foldi, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Hematology/Oncology University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Breast Medical Oncology Magee Womens Hospital of UPMC
Pittsburgh, PA
Mili Arora, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, The Joe Sullivan Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program Director Division of Hematology Oncology, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center,
Sacramento, CA
Dr. Mili Arora is an oncologist in Sacramento, California and is affiliated with UC Davis Medical Center. She received her medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine, completed her residency in Internal Medicine from Tufts Medical Center and fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology from University of California Davis Health. Dr. Arora’s clinical interests are in breast cancer, and endocrine cancers. Dr. Arora's research focuses on improving the landscape of treatments for breast cancer. She has a specific interest in triple negative breast cancer and developing better supportive therapies to use adjunctively with standard breast cancer treatments.
Abenaa M. Brewster, MD, MHS
Medical Director Nellie B. Connally Breast Center, Professor (Tenured) Clinical Cancer Prevention Clinical Medical Director, Breast Medical Oncology Breast Medical Oncology Clinic, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Abenaa Brewster MD, MHS is a tenured professor in the Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) and has an adjunct appointment in the Department of Epidemiology. She is a Medical Oncologist, Director of the MD Anderson Nellie B. Connally Breast Center, and her clinical interest is in the management of breast cancer. Her research team has developed a framework for investigating the decision-making process that women undergo in considering contralateral prophylactic mastectomy. Her research expertise involves using the tools of molecular epidemiology to investigate clinical, epidemiological, and biological factors that determine breast cancer risk and survival. She is particularly interested in understanding how tumor genomics, host genetic susceptibility, ethnicity, and obesity influence a woman’s risk and survival after a diagnosis of breast cancer. She has experience in the conduct and data management of hospital, population-based cohort studies, and is the principal investigator and director of a longitudinal cohort study of women at high risk of developing breast cancer. Dr. Brewster is a Komen Scholar, an award given to individuals for their knowledge and leadership within the scientific, research, and advocacy communities and for their own contribution to breast cancer research. She completed her MD at Harvard Medical School and her Master of Health Science in Cancer Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene & Public Health.
Vijayakrishna Gadi, MD, PhD
Professor and Director of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine Associate, Director, Translational Oncology Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL
A physician-scientist, VK Gadi, MD, PhD, is Deputy Director of the University of Illinois Cancer Center. A medical oncologist at UI Health, he specializes in breast cancer, and his laboratory and clinical research also has focused primarily on breast cancer. A Professor and Director of Medical Oncology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, he joined the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) in 2020 after 20 years in Seattle at the University of Washington, where he did his postgraduate training, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Since coming to Chicago, he has worked to stabilize, expand and diversify the clinical and research workforce focused on solid tumor malignancies in the Cancer Center’s catchment area of Cook County, the second most populous county in the U.S. and one of the most diverse catchment areas in the nation. Working closely with Cancer Center leaders, he continues to lead efforts to identify and recruit novel molecular assets for clinical trials testing from both big pharmaceutical companies and smaller biotechs. His efforts have increased national-level engagement for cooperative group studies and provided access to Cancer Center disease team leaders for clinical trial development opportunities to ensure trials are written to address the needs of diverse patient populations. In collaboration with several groups of investigators and UIC technology transfer, he also is accelerating the process of commercialization of multiple diagnostic and therapeutic intellectual properties to build a sustainable licensing revenue stream to support Cancer Center activities.
Bruce G. Haffty, MD, FACR, FASTRO, FASCO
Associate Vice Chancellor Cancer Programs, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Professor and Chair, Dept of Radiation Oncology, Robert Wood Johnson and NJ Medical School, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ
Bruce G. Haffty, M.D., FACR, FASTRO, FASCO is Associate Vice Chancellor, CancerPrograms, Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Professor and Chairman of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey Medical School. His medical school, internship and residency training was at Yale School of Medicine. He spent the majority of his academic career at Yale and moved to Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey in 2005. Dr. Haffty has a long and successful record in clinical and translational research in radiation oncology. He is currently co-investigator on several national clinical trials. He has published over 400 peer-reviewed articles, 30 book chapters, and numerous editorials and letters. In addition to a busy clinical practice, Dr. Haffty has served on numerous national committees related to research and education in breast cancer and radiation oncology. He has served in the past as Deputy Editor of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vice Chair of the Alliance Breast Committee and Chair of the ACGME Residency Review Committee in Radiaton Oncology. He is Past President of the American Radium Society, past President of the American Board of Radiology, past President of ASTRO, and past President of RSNA. He is the 2020 recipient of ASTRO’s Gold Medal and the 2024 recipient of the American Radium Society Gold Medal.
Norah Lynn Henry, MD, PhD
Daniel F. Hayes MD Breast Cancer Research Professor Professor and Interim Division Chief Division of Hematology/Oncology University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI
Dr. Norah Lynn Henry is a medical oncologist and interim Division Chief of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Michigan. Since completing her fellowship in Hematology/Oncology she has been on the faculty at the University of Michigan, except for the years 2016-2019 when she was at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute. Dr. Henry specializes in the care of patients with all stages and all types of breast cancer. Her research focuses on personalizing treatment for breast cancer. She studies treatments for breast cancer as well as ways to manage symptoms and side effects that arise from the cancer or its treatment. Her goal is to provide effective treatments for breast cancer while maintaining the quality of life of each patient. In addition, she works with scientists at the University of Michigan to translate their lab findings into clinical trials.
Jennifer M. Matro, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine UC San Diego Health San Diego, CAJennifer M. Matro, MD Associate Professor of Medicine UC San Diego Health, San Diego, CA
Jennifer M. Matro, MD, is a board-certified medical oncologist who specializes in the treatment of breast cancer. She has a multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer and works closely with radiologists, pathologists, surgeons, and radiation oncologists. She applies chemotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy and targeted therapy as indicated to offer her patients the most appropriate and advanced treatment. Dr. Matro provides compassionate care and also recommends supportive care and other interventions to maintain and improve the quality of life of her patients. As a medical oncologist at an academic medical center, Dr. Matro teaches medical students, residents, and fellows at UC San Diego School of Medicine. She also lectures regionally and nationally to educate community oncologists on the most recent advances in breast cancer care. She is actively involved in research and clinical trials aimed at reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence and optimizing the treatment of advanced breast cancer. Dr. Matro completed a hematology/oncology fellowship at Fox Chase Cancer Center/Temple University School of Medicine, where she was named chief fellow during her third year, and twice earned an American Society of Clinical Oncology merit award. Dr. Matro completed her residency and earned her medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Matro is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Polly Niravath, MD
Associate Professor, Section Chief, Breast Oncology Director, Cancer Survivorship Program Lois E. And Carl A. Davis Centennial Chair in Cancer Research, Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
Dr. Polly Niravath is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in oncology and hematology. She is a breast oncologist for the Houston Methodist Cancer Center and spearheads the survivorship clinic. Her goal is to offer comprehensive care to patients, from diagnosis and treatment to long-term survivorship care. Her primary interests are breast cancer, symptom management, and aromatase inhibitor side effects. Dr. Niravath's research focuses on minimizing treatment-related side effects for breast cancer patients. After completing her medical training at University of California at Irvine, Dr. Niravath completed both her residency and fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. There, she received the Excellence in Teaching Award and also earned competitive grant funding for her clinical research from sources such as National Institutes of Health and National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Dr. Niravath is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research. She is fluent in Spanish and sees patients at Houston Methodist Hospital.
Neil Vasan, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor Division of Hematology & Oncology Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
Neil Vasan, MD, PhD, is a physician-scientist in the Department of Medicine and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. The Vasan Lab uses functional genomics to understand how oncoproteins regulate breast cancer cell signaling, growth, and therapeutic response. Dr. Vasan received his AB/AM from Harvard University and MD/PhD from Yale University School of Medicine, and completed clinical training in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and in medical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. As a postdoctoral fellow, he identified double PIK3CA mutations as an oncogenic alteration, which has gone from bench to bedside as a cancer genomic biomarker. His research awards include the NIH K08, Susan G. Komen Career Catalyst Research grant, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) NextGen Star, and American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) Young Physician-Scientist Award. Dr. Vasan is an active clinical oncologist treating patients with breast cancer and serves as a standing member of the Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) for the FDA.
Yuan Yuan, MD, PhD
Professor Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Director Breast Medical Oncology Medicine Medical Director Breast Oncology, Disease Research Group, Los Angeles, CA
Dr. Yuan Yuan is a Professor of Medicine and Director of Breast Oncology and Medical Director of Breast Cancer Research at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She also hold appointment as Health Sciences Clinical Professor at UCLA.
Julia Foldi, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Breast Medical Oncology Magee Womens Hospital of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA
Dr. Julia Foldi is a Medical Oncologist who specializes in treating patients with breast cancer. She sees patients at the Women's Cancer Center in Magee-Women's Hospital of UPMC. Her aim is to provide multidisciplinary, evidence-based and personalized care to each patient diagnosed with breast cancer.Dr. Foldi is a researcher focusing on improving treatments for patients with breast cancer through complementing clinical care with robust clinical investigation and translational research. Her specific focus is on designing clinical trials based on strong scientific rationale for the treatment of both early-stage and advanced breast cancer, using novel therapeutics such as immunotherapy and targeted therapies. She also aims to leverage information from patients - such as patient reported outcomes, blood and tissue samples - to ask fundamental questions about tumor biology and host-tumor interactions.
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