Helen Pass, MD

Growing up in a medical family, I knew at an early age that I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps and become a surgeon. During my medical training, I was drawn to caring for patients who had cancer. Providing them with help and guidance during times of great turmoil was a great honor and incredibly rewarding.

As a breast cancer surgeon, I am captivated by the remarkable advances in treatment now available to patients. I provide up-to-date, personalized care plans that reflect each patient’s unique goals and treatment priorities. I work with exceptional plastic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, breast imaging specialists, cancer geneticists, nurse navigators, nutritionists, and social workers to provide patient-centered care. This team-based approach helps patients thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Whenever possible, I perform oncoplastic procedures, which combine plastic surgery and cancer surgery, to achieve the best treatment and cosmetic outcomes. Examples include nipple-sparing mastectomies and skin-sparing mastectomies, aesthetic flat closures to smooth the chest wall, oncoplastic lumpectomies, which remove the tumor and reshape the breast, and hidden scar surgery. In addition, I perform sentinel lymph node biopsies, breast biopsies, and breast duct explorations. My expertise also includes performing surgery for breast cancer on women who are pregnant as well as males who have developed breast cancer. I also perform procedures to treat cancer recurrences in the breast, chest wall, or underarm lymph nodes.

Throughout my career, I have been involved in numerous cancer research projects, and I am excited by the many innovative breast cancer clinical trials being conducted at Perlmutter Cancer Center. I have also been at the forefront of authoring evidence-based treatment guidelines. Educating patients and doctors about the latest surgical options for breast cancer is one of my greatest passions. I strive to ensure that everyone is well informed about the most advanced treatment strategies.

Demonstrating my continued involvement in the field, I have served as president and chairman of the board of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, governor of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the Executive Committee of the Commission on Cancer, and a founding member of the Board of Directors of the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).