Meet our Advisory Board Members. As the Founder/Director of DiepCFoundation I gave thoughtful consideration to the advisory board. I sought those who value and practice patient engagement at the highest level through shared decision making and evidence based research and science. The members of the advisory board are exemplary of these standards. I have the highest respect for each individual in their respective professions. I am honored and grateful to have them on the board to share in the mission of educating about breast reconstruction options after breast cancer and mastectomy. Many of these individuals are part of our resources at DiepCFoundation including our Educational Video Channel, the DiepCJourney Podcast, and the DiepCJourney blog. I encourage you to follow them to learn more about breast cancer and breast reconstruction information.
Advisory Board Specialties
The Foundation advisory board consists of the following speicialties:
Reconstructive Microsurgery
Breast Surgery
Oncoplastic Breast Surgery
Oncology
Radiology
Patient Advocates
Dr. Minas T. Chrysopoulo, MD, FACS
Dr Chrysopoulo is a board-certified plastic surgeon and microsurgeon, and President of PRMA Plastic Surgery. He specializes in state-of-the-art breast reconstruction with a particular focus on perforator flap breast reconstruction, nipple-sparing mastectomy, techniques to maximize aesthetic outcomes, and restoring sensation after mastectomy.
Named one of America’s Top Surgeons, “Dr. C” is routinely featured in the media for his contributions in the field of breast reconstruction. He has authored and co-authored several book chapters and scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, and has been an invited speaker on expert breast reconstruction panels at regional, national and international academic conferences.
Dr. C has dedicated his professional life to advocating for breast cancer patients. He strongly believes that shared decision-making between the physician and patient is crucial in ensuring the highest quality healthcare with excellent outcomes, and has built his practice on this philosophy.
To empower as many patients as possible, Dr. C created the Breast Advocate® App, the World’s first shared decision-making app for breast cancer surgery and breast reconstruction. Breast Advocate® is a free app, co-created by breast cancer specialists and patient advocates, that provides anyone with a breast cancer diagnosis, or at risk of developing breast cancer, a much needed voice in their breast cancer treatment decision-making.
Dr. Anne Dancey
Anne Dancey graduated from Glasgow University, UK, with distinction and honours in 1999. Her general surgical training was completed in the Midlands and she became one of the youngest surgeons in the United Kingdom to pass the specialist exam in plastic surgery (FRCS-Plast).
Anne is trained in all areas of aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery performing the full repertoire of procedures. However, her specialist interest lies in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery and lymphoedema surgery. She had the privilege of completing a 6 month fellowship at the internationally renowned breast reconstruction unit in Gent, Belgium, with some of the world’s best plastic surgeons. The focus there was primarily on the latest techniques in micro-vascular free-flap and aesthetic breast surgery. To her knowledge, she is one of a few surgeons in the World performing DIEP flap breast reconstructions and lymph node transfers for lymphoedema. In recent years, Dr Dancey has also increasingly focused on helping lipoedema sufferers with rehabilitative liposuction.
Dr. Dancey was previously a council member of the British Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (BAPRAS) and regional speciality advisor for Plastic Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS). She represents the British Standards Institute in developing European and national safety standards in aesthetic surgery. Author of over 30 papers and several prestigious book chapters, Dr. Dancey regularly conducts peer review articles for the major international Plastic Surgery journals.
In 2010, she was appointed as a consultant at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Birmingham. She left the NHS in 2014 to work in the private health sector in the West Midlands and Harley Street, London. In 2021, Dr. Dancey started a new practice in the Cayman Islands. Initially this was as a visiting surgeon, but she is now delighted to be based in the Cayman Islands where she is working closely with Dr. Tanja Ebanks.
Dr. Samuel Lin, MD, FACS
Dr. Samuel Lin is a plastic surgeon and Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. He routinely performs microsurgical DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator flap) and other breast reconstructive procedures and is part of a breast reconstructive practice. He is a board member of Susan G. Komen New England and Bright Pink which are focused on breast cancer and early detection of breast cancer and ovarian cancer, respectively. He commonly presents at national meetings and has a robust research team that routinely publishes medical papers, book chapters and books. Dr. Lin has had several of his own family members require breast cancer treatment and reconstruction. He is passionate about the benefits of autologous breast reconstruction in the right patient. He notes, “one of the huge benefits of social media has been the importance of support groups to help breast cancer patients undergoing treatment and reconstruction.”
Dr. Anne Peled, MD
Dr. Anne Peled is a practicing breast cancer and plastic surgeon based in San Francisco. She is board-certified in plastic surgery and has fellowship training in breast surgical oncology, making her uniquely able to offer both breast oncologic and reconstructive surgical care. Dr. Peled is the co-director of the Breast Care Center of Excellence at Sutter Health California Pacific Medical Center. Her research experience focuses on improving outcomes after breast cancer surgery and breast reconstruction and is currently involved in research looking at novel approaches to optimize patient satisfaction and quality-of-life after breast surgery. She has a passion for educating patients and health care professionals about oncoplastic surgery and breast reconstruction options, regularly teaching at courses across the U.S. to increase awareness around these approaches.
Dr. Michele Ley, MD, FACS
Dr. Ley was raised in Northern California and has lived in Tucson since 2000. She graduated from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology. She completed medical school at St. Louis University and moved to Tucson for her general surgery residency at the University of Arizona.
Dr. Ley is board-certified in general surgery. Subsequently, she completed a fellowship in breast surgical oncology at the University of California San Francisco, Carol Frank Buck Breast Care Center in 2006 before establishing a breast surgical oncology practice in Tucson.
As a breast cancer survivor herself, Dr. Ley emphasizes the importance of shared decision-making through open, honest, and empathetic communication. She was diagnosed through high-risk screening due to a family history at the age of 44. Through this personal experience, she brings kind and understanding care to each of her patients.
As a surgeon, she serves her community at Tucson Breast Health Specialists offering a number of treatment and surgical services.
Dr. Danielle Carroll
Danielle Carroll, MD is a board-certified radiologist specializing in breast imaging and intervention with Arizona State Radiology based in Tucson, AZ. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and her master’s degree from the University of West Florida. After returning to Tucson she obtained her medical degree from The University of Arizona College of Medicine. She completed a residency in Diagnostic Radiology at The University of Arizona College of Medicine where she served as Chief Resident. Dr. Carroll has additional fellowship training in Breast Imaging and Intervention.
Board certified by the American Board of Radiology, Dr. Carroll belongs to the Radiological Society of North America, American Association for Women Radiologists, Society of Breast Imaging, and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She has received a number of distinctions and awards for her academic achievements and her work in the field of medicine. In her spare time, Dr. Carroll enjoys Bikram Yoga, ballet class, photography, reading, and supporting Arizona Athletics.
When asked about her career as a breast radiologist, Dr. Carroll states “I am driven to diagnose breast cancer at the earliest possible moment which can significantly increase a woman’s chance for long term survival. In the event that breast cancer is diagnosed, I strive to ensure that each patient is established with the best breast surgeons and oncologists who can guide the patient through the breast cancer treatment and recovery process. I am also passionate about educating patients about the importance of breast imaging and breast health. This passion has prompted the development of my blog ‘The Mammo Press: A patient’s guide to Breast Imaging and Radiology.'”
Roberta Albany
Roberta became an advocate through Living Beyond Breast Cancer Young Women’s Advocate Program in September 2015 after being diagnosed in December 2013 of Stage IIB, Estrogen Positive, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Breast Cancer. Ms. Albany is involved in creating and developing outreach program(s) for Black/African American Women & Men and People of Color to help bridge the health disparity gap in these communities.
She serves as a member of the Black Breast Cancer Advisory Council via Living Beyond Breast Cancer and is a Breast Cancer Coach for The Chrysalis Initiative. Roberta is a 2017 graduate of Project Lead Institute and a National Breast Cancer Coalition Public Policy Team Leader in the state of Pennsylvania. Ms. Albany served as a member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s 2021 Summit Advocate Steering Committee. She is the Founder/CEO of Cancer In The Know and is a contributing author of Bruised, Broken & Blessed.
Dr. Don S. Dizon
Don S. Dizon, MD, FACP, FASCO, is an oncologist who specializes in women’s cancers. He is the director of women’s cancers at Lifespan Cancer Institute and director of medical oncology at Rhode Island Hospital. He is also a professor of medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. His research interests are in novel treatments of women’s cancers and issues related to survivorship, particularly as they relate to sexual health after cancer for both men and women.
He is a prolific researcher and writer, and he has authored hundreds of publications, including peer-reviewed articles, books and book chapters. Dr. Dizon is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, SWOG cancer research network, and the National Consortium of Breast Cancers, of which he has served as both vice president and president.
Barbara Jacoby
Barbara Jacoby is a two-time breast cancer survivor and domestic abuse survivor. She created the Let Life Happen website to provide hope and inspiration for other survivors. In addition, her experiences have led her to become a patient advocate. Barbara is recognized as an award-winning breast cancer blogger worldwide and whose work is also syndicated on The Huffington Post.