Maryam Lustberg Named Director of The Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Chief of Breast Medical Oncology at Yale Cancer Center

Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH, has been appointed Director of The Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Chief of Breast Medical Oncology at Yale Cancer Center. She will also join the faculty at Yale Cancer Center as an Associate Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology).

Lustberg joins Yale from The Ohio State University where she is an Associate Professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at The James, Director of their Breast Cancer Survivorship Program, and Medical Director of Supportive Care. She has been recognized for her patient-focused care with awards that include being rated by Forbes as one of the top breast medical oncologists in the nation and named to the Castle Connolly list of “Regional Top Doctors,” and “Exceptional Women in Medicine” for 2020. She is currently participating in the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Leadership Development Program.  

“Dr. Lustberg’s arrival at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital will propel our breast cancer team forward, working together with an elite group of medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists, and supportive care providers. We are pleased to appoint her to this important leadership position,” said Charles S. Fuchs, MD, MPH, Director of Yale Cancer Center and Physician-in-Chief of Smilow Cancer Hospital.

With an emphasis on improving the long-term outcomes for patients with breast cancer who have developed side effects associated with treatment, Lustberg will continue her research efforts at Yale. She is also focused on investigating novel blood-based biomarkers to identify recurrence and treatment toxicity earlier. She is a NCI-funded investigator and active in both ALLIANCE and SWOG Cancer Cooperative Groups. Dr. Lustberg collaborates widely with researchers from around the world, thriving in creating innovative multidisciplinary scientific teams. Her mentorship has been recognized by numerous awards including Best Teacher Award by Hematology Oncology Fellows and the Shining Star Award for Medical Student Mentorship. 

Nationally, Lustberg is a member of the ASCO Annual Meeting Education Committee, Patient and Survivor Care Education Committee, and Neuropathy Expert Guideline Panel. She is actively engaged in national patient advocacy organizations with a focus on improving shared decision making and increasing patient engagement in clinical trials. In addition, she serves as the President Elect and on the Board of Directors for the international organization Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC). She serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Cancer Survivorship. In the last decade, she has published over 140 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. 

“Dr. Lustberg’s experience in breast treatment and leadership in outcomes and patient-focused care will be an incredible advantage to both our patient care and research efforts as we continue to expand our breast cancer initiatives at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital. Her mutual compassion and drive for new advances in the field are the right combination to lead our team,” said Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD, Chief of Medical Oncology, Ensign Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology) and Professor of Pharmacology, and Associate Cancer Center Director for Translational Research at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital.

“I look forward to welcoming Dr. Lustberg to the Breast Cancer Program at Smilow, and working together with her to continue to build on our world-class breast cancer care, both for our patients and for patients impacted by breast cancer everywhere,” Mehra Golshan, MD, MBA, FACS, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Surgical Services at Smilow Cancer Hospital, Clinical Director of the Smilow Cancer Hospital Breast Cancer Program, and Professor of Surgery (Oncology) at Yale School of Medicine, said.

“Yale School of Medicine is renowned for innovation and excellence. I am honored to lead The Breast Center, continuing to build on this legacy of excellent scientific scholarship and patient-centered care as a multidisciplinary team,” Dr. Lustberg said. 

Lustberg received her medical degree from the University of Maryland where she also completed her residency, and went on to complete a fellowship in medical oncology and in breast medical oncology at The Ohio State University before joining the faculty in 2010. She earned a Master’s in Public Health from The Ohio State University in 2013. 

About Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital Yale Cancer Center (YCC) is one of only 51 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the nation and the only such center in Connecticut. Cancer treatment for patients is available at Smilow Cancer Hospital through 13 multidisciplinary teams and at 15 Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Centers in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Comprehensive cancer centers play a vital role in the advancement of the NCI’s goal of reducing morbidity and mortality from cancer through scientific research, cancer prevention, and innovative cancer treatment.

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