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Amy K. Alderman, M.D., M.P.H.
AmyAldermanMD@yahoo.com
2007-2010 Cohort
Project Title:  "Understanding Disparities in Breast Cancer Reconstruction"






About the Project:

The study aimed to examine delivery system factors underlying variations in use of immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy for cancer; to examine patient-level factors underlying variations in use of delayed breast reconstruction following mastectomy for cancer; and to examine the impact of breast reconstruction on outcomes following mastectomy for cancer. 

Biosketch:

Amy K. Alderman, M.D., M.P.H. is in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia.  Her clinical practice focuses on post-mastectomy breast reconstruction and cosmetic surgery.  She is currently a visiting professor for the American Society of Plastic Surgery and is on the Board of Directors for Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV) that provides financial aid and healthcare to women in Atlanta who are victims of domestic abuse.

Dr. Alderman received her M.D. at the University of Alabama School of Medicine and completed a residency in plastic surgery at the University of Michigan.  During residency, she was selected into the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program at the University of Michigan and obtained her M.P.H. in Health Management and Health Policy.

After her training was completed, Dr. Alderman joined the teaching staff at the University of Michigan and was promoted to a tenured Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery and served as the Director for the University’s Cosmetic Surgery Program.  Her career development award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, along with external support from the National Institutes of Health and Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation, allowed her to concentrate her research on health disparities, surgical outcomes and surgical treatment decision-making in the breast cancer population.  She is a frequent lecturer at plastic surgery conferences worldwide and has over 50 peer-reviewed publications, 7 book chapters, and more than 100 scientific presentations.  She has been recognized by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) as an expert in health services research and disparities in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction.   As a result, the national leadership of the ASPS has asked her to participate in the Breast Surgery Task Force (aimed at reducing disparities in breast cancer reconstruction); the Clinical Trials Network Committee (which designs multi-center trials in plastic surgery); the Data Registry Taskforce (identifies national databases that can be used to monitor the quality of surgical care in plastic surgery); and the TOPS Committee (designs the national plastic surgery clinical registry). 

Her Physician Faculty Scholars Program project, "Understanding Disparities in Breast Cancer Reconstruction," evaluated patient, physician, and health system-level factors accounting for the large geographical and racial variations in the use of breast reconstruction.  This work involved a unique collaboration with the Detroit and Los Angeles SEER Cancer Registries to survey patients and surgeons across a wide range of healthcare settings regarding the use of post-mastectomy breast reconstruction.  The information gained from this study will ideally lead to health policies that improve women’s access to reconstructive services. 

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