zoom_in Click to enlarge

Monica Morrow

▲ ▼

description Monica Morrow Overview

Monica Morrow is a surgical oncologist specializing in breast cancer treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her work focuses on modern surgical techniques and innovative approaches to improve outcomes for patients facing this disease. She conducts significant research impacting surgical oncology practices and primarily serves individuals diagnosed with breast cancer requiring advanced surgical care.

help Monica Morrow FAQ

What specific surgical techniques did Monica Morrow pioneer?

Dr. Monica Morrow is a pioneer in the advancement of breast-conserving surgery, commonly known as lumpectomy, over traditional radical mastectomies. Her extensive clinical research proved that less invasive surgeries, when combined with radiation therapy, provided equal survival rates for early-stage breast cancer. Her work directly changed the standard of care, allowing millions of women to keep their breasts.

Where does Dr. Monica Morrow currently practice?

Dr. Morrow serves as the Chief of the Breast Surgical Service and holds the Anne Burnett Windfohr Chair in Clinical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). At MSK, she leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to the surgical management of breast cancer. Her department is recognized as a global leader in innovative oncologic surgery.

Has Monica Morrow held leadership roles in surgical societies?

Yes, Dr. Morrow has held numerous prestigious leadership positions, including serving as the President of the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO). She has also been a prominent figure in the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Through these roles, she heavily influenced national guidelines for breast cancer treatment and surgical training.

How did Monica Morrow change the approach to margins in breast surgery?

Dr. Morrow led crucial research that redefined what constitutes a "clear margin" during a lumpectomy, proving that extremely wide margins of healthy tissue did not reduce cancer recurrence. This finding, endorsed by major oncology societies, prevented countless women from needing unnecessary repeat surgeries. It allowed surgeons to remove less tissue while still ensuring the cancer was fully eradicated.