New Chief of Breast Surgery Named at Rutgers Cancer Inst. of NJ

New Brunswick, N.J., September 17, 2018 – Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey has named M. Michele Blackwood, MD, FACS, as its new Chief of Breast Surgery. Dr. Blackwood, whose surgical expertise is in complex breast malignancies, is currently the Medical Director and Northern Regional Director of Breast Services for RWJBarnabas Health. As Chief of Breast Surgery, Blackwood will work with the surgical team in the Institute’s Stacy Goldstein Breast Cancer Center to further enhance and expand clinical and surgical services.

“As New Jersey’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, it is our mission to provide the most advanced, world-class cancer care close to home. The expanded role of Dr. Blackwood to our team demonstrates our commitment to provide integrated breast cancer services across RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute, so that we can ensure our collective reach touches every part of our state,” notes Rutgers Cancer Institute Director Steven K. Libutti, MD, FACS, who is also senior vice president of oncology services for RWJBarnabas Health and vice chancellor for cancer programs for Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences.

Having earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, Blackwood obtained her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. She completed an internship and residency at The Stamford Hospital, followed by a fellowship with the Breast Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is certified by the American Board of Surgery. Blackwood also is taking part in the Harvard Medical School for Surgical Leadership Program.

“With the development of increasingly effective multimodal therapies for patients with breast cancer, we need to ensure that highly specialized and dedicated breast surgeons continue to advance in their knowledge and skills. Under Dr. Blackwood’s leadership I am confident that our surgical team will continue to be recognized as leaders who are on the forefront of treatment and research,” adds H. Richard Alexander, MD, FACS, chief surgical officer and chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute; and professor of surgery at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

“Breast Cancer is a complex disease with multiple causes, types and treatment options. I ensure that my patients are provided with the necessary information about their diagnosis, their genetics and their treatment options so that together we can determine the most appropriate and successful treatment plan to fit their lifestyle and conquer their disease. My dual roles across both Rutgers Cancer Institute and RWJBarnabas Health enable me to ensure that breast cancer patients do not have to travel far for state-of-the-art cancer care,” notes Blackwood.

Blackwood has published several articles in professional publications, including The Lancet and The Journal of Trauma, and has served on the Editorial Review Board for Women in Medicine Journal. She has also been continually recognized as a “Top Doctor” by New Jersey Monthly magazine as well as Castle Connolly. She also serves as a member of the Women’s Board of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Medical Advisory Board of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

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