Honorees
SURGEONS FROM THE CENTER FOR BREAST HEALTH & DISEASE MANAGEMENT AT BARNABAS HEALTH AMBULATORY CARE CENTER:
DR. M. MICHELE BLACKWOOD was recently appointed to an expanded role as Chief, Section Breast Surgery at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and as Professor of Surgery at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Blackwood wears many hats—as a busy clinician and as an administrator.
In addition, she serves as Medical Director at The Center for Breast Health and Disease Management at the Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center. As Northern Regional Director for RWJBH, Dr. Blackwood oversees breast cancer surgical and clinical services, programs and initiatives at Saint Barnabas Medical Center (SBMC), Clara Maass Medical Center (CMMC), Jersey City Medical Center (JCMC) and Newark Beth Israel (NBI).
A dedicated breast surgeon, Dr. Blackwood obtained her bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and graduated with her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. She completed her internship and residency at The Stamford Hospital, and a fellowship with the Breast Service from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is certified by the American Board of Surgery. In addition, her various academic appointments include Clinical Instructor, New York Medical College and Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Surgery, Columbia University. She is currently confirmed as an Assistant Professor of Surgery, Rutgers University.
Dr. Blackwood has published several articles in professional publications, including The Lancet and The Journal of Trauma, and served on the Editorial Review Board for Women in Medicine Journal. She is a frequent guest on national and local media programs including Fox Five Television, WOR Radio, “60 Minutes,” The Montel Williams Show, CBS News, Good Day New York, More Magazine, and CBS’s Early Show, among others.
Dr Blackwood has been honored by Castle Connolly’s “Best Doctors” lists for over 15 years. She recently was the Medical honoree for The American Cancer Society.
Dr. Blackwood is a member of Barnabas Health Medical Group and affiliated with Saint Barnabas Medical Center.
DR. ELISSA J. SANTORO was the founder of the Breast Care and Treatment Center in Livingston, New Jersey. Dr. Santoro, a surgeon and member of Barnabas Health Medical Group, received her medical degree from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. While attending the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, she had a straight surgical internship. Her general surgical residency was completed at Saint Vincent's Hospital in New York City where she was the first woman to be Chief Surgical Resident. An American Cancer Society Clinical Fellowship was awarded to her at Saint Vincent's Hospital. She received fellowship in Cancer Training from the National Institute of Health at New York Medical College.
A pioneer in breast surgery, Dr. Santoro has exclusively dedicated her practice to breast surgical oncology since 1976. Dr. Santoro is a Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery. She maintains memberships in several professional societies and is very active. The various offices Dr. Santoro has held include: chairman of the New Jersey Division of the American Cancer Society; president of the NJ American Cancer Society; chairwoman of the Essex County American Cancer Society; medical advisor to Research and Recovery, Post-Mastectomy Program, NJ American Cancer Society; Board of Trustees, College of Saint Elizabeth; Medical Advisory Board of the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation.
Dr. Santoro has also appeared on several televised educational programs regarding breast health issues. She has written and co-authored numerous publications related to breast diseases and treatments. Dr. Santoro has worked with New Jersey state legislators to develop a Woman's Health Department and increased funds for Breast Cancer Research. She also received the First Annual Christine Todd Whitman's Award for Outstanding Woman in the field of Medicine. Dr. Santoro is consistently named as one of the "Top Doctors" in the New York Metropolitan Area by the Castle Connolly Group, and is listed in the International Who's Who of Professionals.
DR. SARAH S. SCHAEFER is a board certified breast surgeon with the Center for Breast Health and Disease Management and a member of Barnabas Health Medical Group. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Union College, Schenectady, NY with a BA in Psychology and received a Sigma Xi Award for Outstanding Science. She was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Schaefer received her medical degree from New York University School of Medicine.
While attending New York University School of Medicine, she was the Student Director of NYU Student Health. She remained at New York School of Medicine for surgical residency training at Tisch, Bellevue and the Manhattan Veterans’ Hospitals. Upon the conclusion of her residency, she joined the attending surgical staff at Bellevue, where she supervised the Surgical Breast Service and its associated clinics. The Bellevue Hospital Surgical Breast Service is a multi-disciplinary breast care service comprised of several surgeons, radiologists and medical and radiation oncologists.
Dr. Schaefer maintains memberships in several professional societies. She is a surgical attending at Saint Barnabas Medical Center where she participates on several hospital committees. She has lectured for RWJBarnabas Health’s gynecology residency, and has been awarded special recognition from the American Cancer Society for her dedication to the education of women regarding breast diseases and treatment. Dr. Schaefer is a true believer of holistic treatment from a women’s perspective since psychological and spiritual factors are critical to a patient’s physical recovery and well-being.
DR. JANETTE H. McDERMOTT is a board certified general surgeon and member of Barnabas Health Medical Group. She specializes in the surgical treatment of benign and malignant breast disease. Her interest extends beyond the physical aspects of these diseases to also include the psychological and emotional impact. By incorporating a holistic approach into her practice, Dr. McDermott is able to treat the whole patient and often includes recommendations of nutrition, diet and exercise in post-surgical directives as preventative measures for reoccurrence. She has been involved as a principal at a national level with National Cancer Institute breast cancer trials and program development.
A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. McDermott is also a member of the New York Metropolitan Breast Cancer Group, the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the prestigious Society of Surgical Oncology.
Dr. McDermott received her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City and her general surgical training at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. She received subspecialty training at the University of Illinois in breast cancer research including a minimally invasive breast surgical and radiologic techniques training under the auspices of the National Cancer Institute and fellowship from the American Cancer Society.
PAT & BARBARA FILOSO, PROPRIETORS HILLCREST FARMS
JOSEPH N. DiVINCENZO, JR., ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE
