Breast Center

Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for appointments
To schedule an appointment, call 713.798.1999

Monday - Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for imaging/mammography 
To schedule a mammogram, call 713.798.2180 

For more information, visit the Breast Center website at: http://www.breastcenter.tmc.edu

The Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine offers women a comprehensive, expert resource for all their breast care needs, including mammography screening, evaluation of benign disease, and prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all stages of breast cancer.

The Smith Breast Center combines a multidisciplinary team of breast care specialists in one location, all collaborating to improve patient outcomes and expedite treatment. Integration of clinical care with our renowned breast research program enables us to quickly translate the latest research findings into improved treatment for our patients.

We are one of only a few comprehensive breast care centers in the country focused exclusively on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of breast disease and breast cancer. Statistics show that patients who go to comprehensive breast centers have improved outcomes and greater likelihood of survival compared to those who seek treatment elsewhere.

Our physicians are board-certified experts in all areas of breast health and disease, with years of intense, focused research and decades of experience treating thousands of patients diagnosed with breast problems and breast cancer. The Smith Breast Center team includes radiologists, prevention and risk assessment specialists, genetic counselors, pathologists, surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, reconstructive and restorative surgeons, psychologists, chemotherapy infusion specialists, pharmacists, cell biologists, molecular biologists and biostatisticians.

Unbeatable Musical

UNBEATABLE: A Bold New Musical

Tracy Boyd is a high-powered, type-A workaholic whose speed and efficiency give her superhero status - until she ignores a lump in her breast for almost a year. In the trial of her life, Tracy finally confronts her greatest fear: living. Based on the journals of a real-life breast cancer survivor, Unbeatable celebrates hope, laughter and the courage to live every moment. Watch our inspiring video about the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center’s commitment to finding a cure for breast cancer that debuted at the opening night gala of the musical.

Baylor Clinic Healthletters
Focus on Breast Imaging by Emily Sedgwick, MD
Focus on Breast MRI by Emily Sedgwick, MD

View "Breakthroughs in Breast Cancer" featuring the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at BCM produced by KTRK Channel 13. more

October 3, 2007
Do Doctors Consider My Quality of Life During Breast Cancer Treatment?
By C. Kent Osborne, MD more

Saving Lives through Research

Back to Top

At the Smith Breast Center, patient care is supported by our internationally recognized research program, ensuring treatment based on the latest findings and discoveries. Our vision for the future is personalized medicine – using patients’ own genetic makeup to help identify their potential for breast cancer, prevent its onset, more effectively diagnose and treat the disease when it does occur, and one day, provide a cure.

After 30 years of focused research, breast cancer is among the first diseases to be treated using genetic analysis, with the doctors and scientists at Baylor College of Medicine providing much of the scientific data leading to this approach. Today, the Smith Breast Center is using genetic testing to identify women with a predisposed genetic risk for breast cancer and offering treatment programs based on that analysis, including new clinical trials designed to prevent the disease.

Part of an NCI-Designated Cancer Center

Back to Top

The Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center is a major component of the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine, which brings together research, patient care, education and outreach activities from BCM and its affiliated hospitals to expedite the fight against this devastating disease. The Duncan Cancer Center has been named a designated cancer center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a significant milestone that opens the doors for additional funding to combat cancer. It is one of two NCI designated centers in Houston.

Our Services

Back to Top

Patients come to the Smith Breast Center for a variety of needs, including:

To address those needs, we offer a full range of services including:

Our Physicians

Back to Top

Medical Oncologists

C. Kent Osborne, MD, is professor of Medicine and Molecular and Cellular Biology, director of the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center and the Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine and acting chief of the section of Hematology-Oncology at BCM. Clinically, Dr. Osborne is primarily interested in new treatment strategies, including the development and testing of new hormonal treatments for breast cancer and the development of gene therapy for treatment and prevention. He earned his medical degree at the University of Missouri Medical School in Columbia. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, and his fellowship in medical oncology at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD. Dr. Osborne is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, with a subspecialty of medical oncology.

Powel Brown, MD, PhD, is professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and director of the cancer prevention section of the Smith Breast Center. Dr. Brown directs the section on genetic testing and prevention and oversees clinical trials of new prevention strategies. His clinical focus is on breast cancer prevention, risk management and genetics. His research interests include identification and testing of cancer preventive agents. Dr. Brown earned his medical degree from New York University. He completed his internship and residency at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, and his fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine with a subspecialty in medical oncology.

Jenny Chang, MD, is associate professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and medical director of the Smith Breast Center. Dr. Chang focuses on clinical research of new biologic therapies as well as translational research to identify molecular factors that predict response to various endocrine and chemotherapy treatments. She is particularly interested in identifying markers to predict response to neoadjuvant treatments. Dr. Chang earned her medical degree at Cambridge University in England. She completed her residency in internal medicine at St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia, and her fellowship in medical oncology at Royal Marsden Hospital, London. Dr. Chang is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and received board accreditation in Medical Oncology in the United Kingdom.

Garrett Rush Lynch, MD, is professor of Hematology/Oncology at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Lynch focuses on both breast and clinical oncology and is head of the Oncology Fellowship Program. Dr. Lynch earned his medical degree at Baylor College of Medicine. He completed his residency at Boston City Hospital and his fellowship at Memorial Sloan - Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine with a subspecialty in medical oncology. 


Mothaffar F. Rimawi, MD, is an assistant professor of Medicine in the section of hematology/oncology at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Rimawi graduated summa cum laude from the University of Jordan School of Medicine in Amman. His extensive training includes an internship at Al-Bashir General Hospital in Amman. Dr. Rimawi also completed an internal medicine residency, a hematology-oncology fellowship and an advanced fellowship in breast cancer care and research at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Rimawi is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology. He specializes in the care of patients with breast cancer.

Yee Lu Tham, MD, is assistant professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Tham focuses on prognostic and predictive factors and treatment of CNS metastasis in breast cancer as well as the health effects of chemotherapy induced amenorrhea. She earned her medical degree at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She completed her residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in medical oncology at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Tham is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Medical Oncology.

Radiologists

Emily Sedgwick, MD, is assistant professor of Radiology at Baylor College of Medicine and director of breast imaging at the Smith Breast Center. Dr. Sedgwick focuses on the continual advancement of the breast imaging program, as well as research studies that include working with oncologists to determine the appropriate use of breast MRI. Dr. Sedgwick earned her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. She completed postgraduate training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard School of Medicine, in Boston, MA, where she completed an internship in general surgery, a residency in diagnostic radiology, and a breast imaging fellowship. She served as chief resident (1999-2000) at Harvard School of Medicine, and was named Radiologist of the Year (2004) while at The Methodist Hospital in Houston. Dr. Sedgwick is board certified by the American Board of Radiology.

Chadwick M. Mills, MD, is assistant professor of Radiology at Baylor College of Medicine. He specializes in imaging and diagnosis of breast disease. Dr. Mills earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, followed by a residency in diagnostic radiology at Baylor College of Medicine. He completed a breast imaging fellowship at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, under the mentorship of Peter J. Dempsey, MD, professor of Radiology and chief of the Breast Imaging Section at M. D. Anderson. Dr. Mills is board certified by the American Board of Radiology.

Breast Surgeon

F. Charles Brunicardi, MD, FACS, is chair and DeBakey/Bard Professor of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. He also serves as a consultant and attending surgeon at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ben Taub General Hospital, and St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital. A board-certified surgeon, Dr. Brunicardi’s areas of specialty include breast surgery, minimally invasive surgery, pancreas surgery, hepatobiliary surgery, and endocrine surgery. Dr. Brunicardi earned his medical degree from Rutgers School of Medicine in New Jersey before becoming a resident and later chief resident in general surgery at the State University of New York (SUNY) Health Sciences Center in Brooklyn. He also spent a three-year research fellowship in pancreatic physiology at SUNY, receiving national and international awards for this work.

Plastic Surgeons

C. Bob Basu, MD, MPH, is assistant professor of Surgery in the division of Plastic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Basu focuses on breast reconstruction and microsurgery and partial breast restoration after breast conservation therapy and lumpectomy. He is interested in improving access to breast reconstruction options to underserved and minority patients. Dr. Basu earned his medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston. He completed his residency training in general surgery at The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, and in plastic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine.

Lior Heller, MD, is assistant professor of Surgery in the division of Plastic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. He specializes in reconstructive surgery, body contouring, aesthetic surgery and nonsurgical rejuvenation of the face. Dr. Heller is a graduate of the Hebrew University Medical School in Jerusalem, Israel. After completing residencies in both general surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery in Israel, he earned his board certification in general surgery from the Israeli Society of General Surgery and board certification in plastic and reconstructive surgery from the Israeli Society of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Heller also completed a two-year fellowship in reconstructive plastic surgery at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC, and a one-year fellowship in minimally invasive and endoscopic aesthetic surgery of the face with Dr. Oscar Ramirez in Baltimore, Maryland. He dedicated another year of training to microsurgical oncologic reconstruction at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Radiation Oncologist

Hsin H. Lu, MD, associate professor of Radiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Lu focuses on radiation treatment for breast cancer and breast disease. Dr. Lu earned her medical degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She completed her internship at Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL, and her residency in radiation oncology at Baylor College of Medicine. She is board certified with the American Board of Radiology, Radiation Oncology.

Psychologist

Mary Rose, PsyD, CBSM, is the director of Psycho-Oncology at the Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Rose helps patients adjust to the diagnosis and management of cancer. She is also an assistant professor in the department of Medicine, division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, at BCM. Dr. Rose earned her doctor of psychology degree from the Virginia Consortium, a joint program sponsored by The College of William and Mary, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Old Dominion University and Norfolk State. She completed residency training in clinical psychology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, followed by a fellowship at Shriners Burns Hospital for Children, UTMB-Galveston. Dr. Rose also completed a sleep fellowship at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Her clinical and research interests focus on emotional and social adjustment to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and disease-related complications such as insomnia, fatigue and sexual dissatisfaction. Dr. Rose is certified by the American Board of Sleep Medicine in Behavioral Sleep Medicine, with expertise in dealing with psychological issues related to sleep. She is the only clinician in Houston with this certification and one of only 88 clinicians worldwide.

Collaborating Clinical Faculty

Back to Top

A number of other clinical faculty actively participate in the care of patients in the Smith Breast Center. These physicians represent a variety of disciplines, as follows:

Surgery

Richard Caplan, MD
Michael Coselli, MD
Karl Tomm, MD

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Jeff Friedman, MD
Aldona Spiegel, MD

Radiation Oncology

Bin Teh, MD

Pathology

Carolina Gutierrez, MD
Mary Schwartz, MD

Genetics

Powel Brown, MD, PhD
Sharon Plon, MD, PhD
Mari Rude, RN, ANP

Hours of Operation

Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ( 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. for imaging/mammography )

Appointments

To schedule an appointment or evaluation by a physician at the Breast Center, call 713.798.1999.
For mammography scheduling, call 713.798.2180.

Patients are encouraged to bring past mammograms with them to appointments for comparison, which can help detect subtle changes over time. Additional information and forms needed to secure prior screenings can be found on our website.

For More Information

Visit the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center website: www.breastcenter.tmc.edu

Location

Back to Top

Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine
Baylor Clinic
6620 Main Street
13th Floor, Suite 1350
Houston, Texas 77030


I was very impressed with the interior of the building - it was the first time I had been here. I found your staff to be professional, courteous and friendly. When I went in for my scan, I appreciated how friendly my caregiver was, how she took the time to explain the procedure, and her skill at drawing blood. This place is first class.