Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the all-women surgical and support team from the Breast Care Center at the George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates (GWMFA) are available for interviews about breast cancer and women’s health.

GWMFA offers an array of support and programs for patients and families, in addition to detecting, diagnosing and treating breast cancer with state-of-the-art technology and superior medical, surgical, and post-treatment care.

GWMFA will be hosting a luncheon for breast cancer survivors, keynoted by a woman who survived Breast Cancer three times, after it claimed the life of her father Luncheon emcee is Breast Cancer survivor Cokie Roberts of ABC News and National Public Radio.

Experts:
Christine Teal, Associate Professor of Surgery; Director, Breast Care Center; Chief, Breast Surgery
Christine Teal, MD, is the chief of breast surgery at The George Washington University Hospital. She is also the Director of the Breast Care Center, as well as an assistant professor of surgery and the co-director of undergraduate surgical education. She earned her medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed a residency in general surgery at The New York Weill Cornell Medical Center and the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, both located in New York City. Her research has been published in the Journal of Cancer Education and Radiology. She has also been named a Washingtonian magazine Top Doctor.

Anita Pruitt McSwain, MD, MPH, FACS, Assistant Professor of Surgery
Anita McSwain is the Assistant Professor of Surgery and a breast surgeon at The George Washington University Hospital, working specifically with benign breast disease, sentinel lymph node biopsy, international health and breast cancer. She was educated at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed her residency at the Emory University Affiliated Hospitals.

Rachel Brem, MD, Mammogram Radiologist
Rachel Brem is the Director of the Breast Imaging and Intervention Center at The George Washington University Hospital and a professor of Radiology. She works on breast imaging, including new technologies in breast cancer diagnosis like computer-aided detection, nuclear medicine breast imaging and minimally invasive breast biopsy. She was educated at Columbia University, interned at the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore and completed her residency and fellowship at Johns Hopkins University Hospital.

Jocelyn Rapelyea, MD, Mammogram Radiologist
Jocelyn Rapelyea, MD is an assistant professor in the Department of Radiology at The George Washington University Medical Center. Dr. Rapelyea also serves as the Associate Director of Breast Imaging and the Director of Medical Student Education in Radiology. She specializes in diagnostic radiology and breast imaging. Dr. Rapelyea earned her medical degree from the New Jersey Medical School. She completed a research fellowship with the University of Maryland Medical Systems, Neuroradiology Department, followed by a radiology residency and fellowship at The George Washington University Hospital. Dr. Rapelyea has received numerous honors and appointments throughout her career, including appointments as Chief Resident at The George Washington University Hospital, the National Executive Council for the American College of Radiology’s Resident Physician Section and Who’s Who in Medical Services Education. Her published pieces can be found in various journals, including Radiology, Journal of Women’s Imaging, The Breast Journal and Clinical Radiology.

Jessica Torrente, MD, Mammogram Radiologist
Jessica Torrente is a Spanish-speaking mammogram radiologist at The George Washington University Medical Center and an assistant professor of Radiology. Dr. Torrente specializes in early breast cancer detection utilizing MRI and BSGI (breast specific gamma imaging).
She earned her degree at the University of Miami School of Medicine and completed her residency at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN and a fellowship at The George Washington University Medical Center.

Joanne Lenert,MD, Reconstructive Surgeon (Plastics)
Joanne Lenert, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Plastic Surgery at The George Washington University Medical Center and practices reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery at The George Washington University Hospital. Her clinical interests include breast and other cancer reconstruction, reconstruction following massive weight loss and general plastic surgery. She has expertise in microsurgery and performs free flap breast reconstruction, including deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flaps. Dr. Lenert earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her residency in general surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Pittsburgh, Penn. She then did her plastic surgery residency at New York University, followed by a fellowship in microsurgery and cancer reconstruction at the University of Texas-M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Lenert has published over five peer-reviewed publications as well as book chapters on facial nerve reconstruction and oral cavity reconstruction. She is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery and the National Capital Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Elizabeth Marshall, MD, MPH, Reconstructive Surgeon (Plastics)
Elizabeth Marshall is a Spanish-speaking reconstructive surgeon at The George Washington University Medical Center and assistant professor of surgery. She works with skin cancer excision, reconstruction after cancer resections, liposuction for weight loss and reconstruction, removal of tissue after weight loss, breast reconstructive surgery after mastectomies, breast reduction, augmentation and lift, and abdominoplasty. Dr. Marshall is certified by the American Board of Surgery. She completed her education at the University of Illinois in Chicago, her residency in general surgery at the Georgetown University Hospital and her fellowship in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of North Carolina Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC.

Bretta Fabian, PT (Lymph Drainage Therapy)
Bretta Fabian has been practicing physical therapy for 25 years. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1985, Bretta practiced traditional physical therapy and currently incorporates a variety of alternative techniques from a number of healing perspectives that optimize physical function. Bretta has created a practice that specializes in the structural integration of the body and developed a program that facilitates post-surgical breast cancer patient’s recovery. This program includes scar tissue release, range of motion and lymph drainage therapies.

Molina Dayal, MD, MPH, FACOG (Fertility Interventionist)
Molina Dayal is Board Certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Reproductive Endocrinology/Fertility. Dr. Dayal was born and raised in Metro Washington and received her undergraduate, medical school, and public health degrees from the Johns Hopkins University. She subsequently completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility at the University of Pennsylvania. During her fellowship training, Dr. Dayal authored numerous scientific publications and has received several scientific awards. Her areas of interest include recurrent pregnancy loss, polycystic ovary syndrome, reproductive surgery, and IVF outcomes, but she is keenly interested in preserving fertility in young men and women who are about to enter Cancer treatment. Dr. Dayal is a member of the Society of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.

Deirdre Orceyre, ND, MSOM, LAc
Dr. Deirdre Orceyre completed her Naturopathic and Chinese Medicine training at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. In 2004, at the end of a six-year post-graduate medical training program, she graduated Cum Laude with a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine. Following medical school, Dr. Orceyre completed a 2 year full-time residency with specialized training in integrative oncology. Dr. Orceyre currently practices at the GW Center for Integrative Medicine and is part of the interdisciplinary clinic at GW’s Breast Center. Dr. Orceyre uses herbal medicine, acupuncture, supplements, homeopathics, nutrition and lifestyle changes to help breast cancer patients minimize side effects of conventional treatments and prevent recurrence afterward. Her goal is to help each individual patient find balance and support - physically, emotionally and spiritually - as she navigates through her treatment and healing process.

Source:  GW Medical Faculty Associates