WCN Senior Advisory Committee
Carolyn Y. Muller, MD, Chair, is currently the Director of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Dr. Muller completed her medical school education at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the nation’s first hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. After one year of general OB-GYN practice, she entered fellowship training in gyneoclogic oncololgy at iat the University of Texas, Southwestern. She continued her postdoctoral training in molecular biology through the Reproductive Scientist Development Program. Her main research interests include developing molecular biomarkers for cervical cancer prevention and supporting novel therapeutics (such as gene therapy) for ovarian cancer. Her passion is in improving patient education in cancer prevention and treatment.
Ronald D. Alvarez, MD, is Ellen Gregg Shook Culverhouse Chair and Professor, Gynecologic Oncology, at the University of Alabama Medical Center at Birmingham, Alabama. He received a Doctor of Medicine from LSU Medical School in New Orleans, Louisiana. and completed a residency in Obstetrics/Gynecology and a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is Board Certified in Gynecologic Oncology and has an active interest in novel therapeutics for ovarian cancer and chemoprevention of cervical dysplasia. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation and has been a Council Member and Program Chair for the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists.
Ivor Benjamin, MD, received his Doctor of Medicine from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York and completed his residency in Obstetrics/Gynecology at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. He completed a Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship He at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York. He is Board Certified in Gynecologic Oncology.
Andrew Berchuck, MD, is F. Bayard Carter Distinguished Professor of Gynecologic Oncology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. He attended medical school and was a resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Case Western Reserve University and completed a Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Dr. Berchuck is a clinician-scientist whose research focuses on the molecular pathogenesis of ovarian and endometrial cancers. Currently , he is Principal Investigator of an Ovarian Cancer Program Project funded by the Department of Defense. The aims of this research are to identify genetic polymorphisms that increase ovarian cancer risk and to develop chemopreventive approaches.
Jonathan S. Berek, MD, is a Professor, UCLA School of Medicine where he also serves as Director, Gynecologic Oncology Service, Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Vice Chairman, Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology. He is a member and Principal Investigator, Gynecologic Oncology Group, UCLA School of Medicine. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Johns Hopkins University and completed his internship and residency in Obstetrics/Gynecology at Harvard University. He completed his Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship at the University of California. Dr. Berek is Board Certified in Gynecologic Oncology.
Wesley J. Fowler, Jr., MD, is Vice Chair and Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where he also serves as Director of Gynecologic Oncology. Dr. Fowler received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina where he also completed his residency. He is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology. Dr. Fowler chaired the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation Chair and served as the President of the Society of Gyneoclogic Oncologists. He serves as director of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is chair of the Residency Review Committee for Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Bobbie S. Gostout, MD, is Chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She also serves as a Consultant in Gynecologic Surgery and as an Associate Professor Obstetrics/Gynecology. She is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a member of numerous professional organizations including the Zumbro Valley Medical Society, North Central Cancer Treatment Group, Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and the Mayo Foundation Chapter of Sigma Xi (the Scientific Research Society). Dr. Gostout serves as a Medical Advisory Board member for the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance and as an Executive Committee member for the Western Association of Gynecologic Oncologists. She previosuly served as the Program Committee Chair for the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists.
Dr. Gostout has been a Board Examiner for General and Specialty (Oncology) oral examinations for the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology since 2005. She is published in many peer-reviewed publications, including Gynecologic Oncology, Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Beth Y. Karlan, MD, is Director of the Cedars-Sinai Women's Cancer Research Institute at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, is a world- renowned expert in the field of gynecologic oncology, specifically ovarian cancer surgery, early detection, targeted therapies and inherited cancer susceptibility. She is past-president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, the Editor-in-Chief of Gynecologic Oncology, and has held many international leadership positions. She is commitment to both scientific advancement and enhancing public awareness about gynecologic cancers.
Dr. Karlan is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School. She completed her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology and a post-doctoral fellowship in molecular biology at Yale University School of Medicine. Currently, she is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, and also directs the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and the Gilda Radner Hereditary Cancer Detection Program at Cedars-Sinai.
Mitchell Morris, MD, serves as a Principal in the Life Sciences and Healthcare Practice at Deloitte Consulting, LLP, where he works with healthcare executives on issues including strategy and operations, technology, enterprise applications, and human capital. Previously Dr. Morris was Senior Vice President for Healthcare Systems and Chief Information Officer for The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. A gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Morris is Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Professor of Health Informatics at the University of Texas Houston Health Science Center. He has written over 100 scientific papers, and over 100 chapters and articles in journals, magazines and conference proceedings, and has published leading studies that changed the standard therapeutic approach to cervical cancer worldwide.
Dr. Karl Podratz, MD, PhD, is a consultant in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, where he served as Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for 14 years and Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program for 20 years. Dr. Podratz was awarded the honor of the named professorship, Joseph I. and Barbara Ashkins Professor of Surgery, in 1990. Dr. Podratz obtained a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Minnesota and completed post-graduate training at St. Louis University where he received his medical degree and a PhD. in biochemistry. He completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Chicago and a Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Podratz serves as Chair of the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Council of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. He has served as past president of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, Western Association of Gynecologic Oncologists and the Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In addition, Dr. Podratz served as editor of Gynecologic Oncology and associate editor of Evidence-Based Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Carolyn D. Runowicz, MD, Vice Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt. Director, Gynecologic Oncology Research, Continuum Health Partners, Inc. First woman President of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists. She currently serves on the National Cancer Institute's Scientific Review Group - Subcommittee H. Member of the National Board of Directors. Professor, Clinical Obstetrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Doctor of Medicine received from the Jefferson Medical College, Pennsylvania. Obstetrics/Gynecology Residency and Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship both completed at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York. Board Certified in Gynecologic Oncology.