UTMB Breast oncology surgeon V. Suzanne Klimberg, MD, MSHCT, PhD, FACS, was conferred the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO) Medal for 2022 during the ESSO 41 Congress in Bordeaux.
Dr. Klimberg has over 30 years of experience in breast surgical oncology. She has pioneered innovative breast cancer treatment methods for patients, authored over 350 publications in peer-reviewed journals and 15 books, and has held over 25 editorial board positions for surgical journals and publications. Additionally, Dr. Klimberg has won over 75 awards in teaching, research, and clinical care, and is the past president of three major American surgical organizations and current President of the Southern Surgical Association. She is also the Chair for the UTMB Cancer Committee and was a founding member of the ACS NAPBC (National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers). She is a Senior Director for the American Board of Surgery, the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and the American Board of Complex Surgical Oncology.
Dr. Klimberg chairs the Oncoplastic Breast Hands-on Skills Course at the American College of Cancer and has chaired this course for the U.S. Fellows in Diseased of the Breast. She is currently and previously funded by the NIH, American Cancer Society, Merit Review, the Susan G. Komen Society, the Fashion Footwear Association of New York, and the Alliance Cooperative Group for the ARM trial.
She has held the Muriel Balsam Kohn Chair in Breast Surgical Oncology which was given in her honor and was presented with her own named lectureship by her colleagues and friends at UAMS. Her proudest accomplishment is the success of the nearly 40 breast fellows that she has trained. This year's president-elect of ESSO, Isabel-Teresa Rubio, MD, PhD, FEBS, FSSO, is also a former breast fellow who was trained by Dr. Klimberg.
Congratulations, Dr. Klimberg!