Margaret West Comprehensive Breast Center

11/25/2025

🎗️ Standing Up for Better Breast Cancer Care in Washington 🎗️

Dr. Michael Berry, along with The American Society of Breast Surgeons, recently visited Capitol Hill to talk with lawmakers about important issues that affect patients and their doctors.

➡️ Insurance Coverage for Follow-Up Imaging
If your shows something abnormal, you often need more tests. We’re working to make sure insurance companies cover these follow-up scans, so patients don’t face delays or extra costs.

➡️ Upcoming Changes That Could Affect Care
Starting in January 2026, a new rule will cut payments for certain procedures by 2.5% every three years forever. This could make it even harder for specialists to provide care. Many lawmakers didn’t know about this, so we’re making sure they understand the impact.

➡️ Dr. Berry and the team also met with Senator Marsha Blackburn’s office and representatives from South Dakota and Louisiana to push for solutions that protect patients and keep care accessible.

Lf to Rt: Ashlea Semmens, MD; Vera Hendrix-Tuggle, MD; Senator David Kustoff; and Michael Berry, MD

11/10/2025

We’re so proud of Dr. Gregory Vidal for his continued leadership in advancing breast cancer research. 🎗

Check out his latest feature in DocWire News discussing new treatment approaches for ER+/HER2– following CDK4/6 therapy.

Dr. Gregory Vidal discusses evERA BC trial results of giredestrant plus everolimus in ER+/HER2– breast cancer post-CDK4/6.

11/07/2025

We’re proud to share that two of our newest breast surgeons, Dr. Caroline Lippe and Dr. Alyssa Pittman, were recently featured in Memphis Medical News’ Grand Rounds segment!

🩺 Dr. Caroline Lippe, DO is a fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist who joined the Margaret West Comprehensive Breast Center/West Cancer Center after completing her Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Bryn Mawr Hospital. Her extensive research and dedication to advancing breast cancer care have been recognized nationally, with publications on benign breast disease, lymphedema screening, and financial de-escalation in breast cancer treatment.

🩺 Dr. Alyssa Pittman, MD also recently joined our surgical team following her Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship. She earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and served as Chief Administrative Resident during her General Surgery Residency at Prisma Health. Dr. Pittman is passionate about providing compassionate, patient-centered care and advancing the field of breast oncology.

Please join us in congratulating these two outstanding physicians for their feature and for their commitment to excellence in breast cancer care here in the Mid-South! 💕

Click here to view the full publication: https://issuu.com/pamelaharris1/docs/october_november_2025_memphis_medical_news/9

11/04/2025

We’re so excited to welcome Maria Urbina, MS, RD, LDN, to our West Cancer Center team! 💕

Patients at our Breast Center also have access to Maria’s expert nutrition support — helping manage symptoms, improve treatment tolerance, and enhance overall wellness throughout their breast cancer journey.

🌟 Welcome to the team, Maria! 🌟

Please join us in welcoming our new Registered Dietitian, Maria Urbina, MS, RD, LDN, specializing in oncology nutrition!

Maria joined our network in October and will be providing individualized medical nutrition therapy to help support treatment tolerance, symptom management, and overall quality of life for our patients.

She holds a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Memphis and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Ouachita Baptist University. Her experience spans outpatient care, transplant nutrition, and pediatric oncology — including roles at Morrison Healthcare, Methodist Transplant, Baptist Oncology Center, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Please join us in welcoming Maria to the team!

10/29/2025

We recently welcomed 3 new breast surgeons to our team — Dr. Alyssa Pittman, Dr. Caroline Lippe, and Dr. Linda Han! 💕

With their expertise, we continue to expand our comprehensive approach to breast care — offering a full suite of services including:
✅ Breast Surgery & Imaging
✅ Genetic Counseling & High-Risk Breast Clinic
✅ Lymphedema & Rehabilitation Therapy
✅ Medical & Radiation Oncology
…and so much more!

✨ We’re honored to provide compassionate, multidisciplinary care for women — across two convenient clinic locations.

📍 Learn more or schedule an appointment at margaretwestbreastcenter.com

10/27/2025

A huge thank you to Jenena Sweezer, a survivor, Mary Cowans Joyner, and their amazing students for donating 150 snack bags for our patients!

Each bag was filled with love — and some sweet treats like cookies, candy, chips, breakfast bars, and peanut butter crackers.

Their kindness and thoughtfulness truly brighten our patients’ days. 💕

10/22/2025

10/20/2025

🎀 Breast Cancer Awareness Spotlight 🎀

Meet Dr. Richard Gilmore, one of our dedicated Breast Surgical Oncologists.

He finds it an honor to walk patients hand-in-hand through every step of their cancer journey. In this short video, Dr. Gilmore shares what makes our Breast Center so unique, the power of a multidisciplinary team, and even a glimpse into his life outside of medicine.

📍 Location: Germantown / Wolf River Campus

📞 Appointments: 901.692.9600

💗 Our Breast Center welcomes all women and accepts all major insurance carriers.

10/15/2025

💗 On Wednesdays, we wear PINK! 💗

Our Breast Center team is proud to show support for our patients and raise awareness during Breast Cancer Awareness Month — one pink outfit at a time!

Pictured are some of our amazing ladies sporting their pink in honor of all those fighting, surviving, and thriving.

Join us each Wednesday in October by wearing pink and share your photos below to help spread awareness and show your support!

10/13/2025

🌸 Meet Dr. Alyssa Pittman! 🌸

We are thrilled to welcome one of our newest Breast Surgical Oncologists, Dr. Alyssa Pittman, to our Breast Center family!

In this video, Dr. Pittman shares
☑️ her academic background
☑️ her compassionate approach to patient care
☑️ and what inspired her to specialize in breast surgical oncology

Her dedication to helping patients navigate their breast cancer journey with knowledge, confidence, and support makes her an incredible addition to our team.

Dr. Pittman is now accepting new consults and second opinions.

To schedule an appointment, please call 901.692.9600.

Join us in giving Dr. Pittman a warm welcome — we’re so excited to have her as part of our breast center family!

10/09/2025

Big news in innovation!

The FDA has granted marketing authorization for ProSense® cryoablation — a minimally invasive, outpatient treatment for select patients with early-stage, low-risk breast cancer.

We’re especially proud that Dr. Richard Fine, Breast Oncology Surgeon here at Margaret West Comprehensive Breast Center, served as lead author of the ICE3 clinical trial — the pivotal study that supported this FDA decision.

This advancement marks an exciting step forward in the de-escalation of breast cancer care, offering patients effective treatment with less surgery, faster recovery, and excellent outcomes.

Cryoablation, when combined with adjuvant endocrine therapy, may offer a minimally invasive outpatient strategy in older patients with breast cancer.

10/09/2025

🩺 MD vs. DO: What’s the Difference? 🩺

Dr. Caroline Lippe, one of our breast oncology surgeons, explains the difference between an MD and a DO.

A DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) completes the same 4 years of medical school and can pursue the same residencies as an MD.

The key difference?

DOs receive additional training in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, which emphasizes that the body is interconnected.

Dr. Lippe shares how this approach can be especially helpful in patient care, considering how seemingly separate issues in the body might be related.