Staff Reports | Community Updates
HonorHealth and Arizona Center for Cancer Care have launched Arizona’s first breast surgical oncology fellowship program.
HonorHealth’s Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program received accreditation from the Society of Surgical Oncology and the American Society of Breast Surgeons to establish the program in partnership with the Comprehensive Breast Center of Arizona, according to a press release.
HonorHealth serves as the sponsoring institution for the fellowship and supports 21 residency and fellowship programs. It also serves as the primary clinical affiliate for the ASU John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering.
HonorHealth Cancer Care is one of 68 accredited programs in the United States and Canada offering this specialized fellowship. The program is the first of its kind in Arizona and is intended to expand access to surgical oncology training.
The fellowship launches as workforce challenges continue across the health care sector. A 2024 report from the Association of American Medical Colleges projects a nationwide physician shortage of between 13,500 and 86,000 by 2036, including a projected shortage of surgeons.
The program is designed to train surgeons in comprehensive breast cancer care. Fellows will receive multidisciplinary training in breast surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, breast imaging, genetics, survivorship and psychosocial care.
“This fellowship represents a significant step forward in addressing the growing need for specialized breast surgeons,” said S. Brenda Moorthy, D.O., F.A.C.S., oncoplastic breast surgeon at the Comprehensive Breast Center of Arizona and program director of the Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program. “By providing advanced, multidisciplinary training, we are equipping future surgeons with the expertise needed to improve outcomes for patients with breast cancer.”
The fellowship builds on a partnership between Arizona Center for Cancer Care and HonorHealth that began in 2017 with the creation of the HonorHealth Virginia G. Piper Cancer Care Network. The network was established to expand access to cancer care across Arizona and connects medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology and hematology services.
“We are proud to bring this level of advanced training to Arizona for the first time. Working within state-of-the art Honor Health Cancer Care treatment centers, our program is uniquely positioned to provide fellows with comprehensive clinical exposure and the skills necessary to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care across the full continuum of breast oncology,” Dr. Moorthy said.
Through collaboration with HonorHealth, HonorHealth Foundation and the ASU medical school, the Comprehensive Breast Center of Arizona aims to support research, education and patient care.
