In this special "Live from ASBrS 2026" episode, the co-hosts welcome Dr. Helen Pass for our part one conversation about the most impactful papers presented at the meeting. They break down the latest research, key findings, emerging trends, and what these insights mean for breast surgeons in everyday practice. SPECIAL GUEST Helen Pass, MD Growing up in a medical family, Helen Pass knew early on that she would follow in her father's footsteps by pursuing a career in surgery. During her medical training, a passion for caring for cancer patients emerged, driven by the opportunity to guide people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. As a breast cancer surgeon, she is dedicated to providing personalized, evidence-based care that reflects each patient's unique goals and priorities while working within a multidisciplinary team that includes plastic surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, breast imaging specialists, geneticists, nurse navigators, nutritionists, and social workers. Helen's practice includes advanced oncoplastic techniques such as nipple-sparing and skin-sparing mastectomies, aesthetic flat closures, oncoplastic lumpectomies, hidden scar surgery, sentinel lymph node biopsies, breast biopsies, and breast duct explorations, as well as treatment for pregnant women, men with breast cancer, and patients facing cancer recurrence. She is deeply involved in cancer research, innovative clinical trials, and passionate about educating both patients and physicians on the latest surgical options and evidence-based treatment strategies. Demonstrating longstanding leadership in the breast community and surgical specialty, Helen has served as president and chairman of the board of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, governor of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the Executive Committee of the Commission on Cancer, and a founding member of the Board of Directors of the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). Her long-running session, "Helen Pass's Best Papers", is always a major highlight of every ASBrS Annual Meeting. MEET THE CO-HOSTS Michael Berry, MD is a breast surgical oncologist at the West Cancer Center in Germantown, TN. After practicing general surgery for 6 years, he completed a breast surgical oncology fellowship at UT Southwestern in Dallas in 2002. Upon leaving Texas, he moved to the Memphis, TN area where he was the first fellowship trained breast surgeon in the region; and this is where he remains today. Dr. Berry has long taught breast ultrasound diagnosis, intervention and ablation. However, his particular interest is in education, as he currently serves on the Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Training Committee, which oversees the fellowship programs in the U.S. and Canada. Dr. Berry is currently the president-elect of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and will begin his term as president in May of 2025. Susan K. Boolbol, MD, FACS is the system chief of breast surgical oncology and breast program at Nuvance Health. She is a board-certified, fellowship-trained breast surgeon and performs a variety of breast cancer surgeries including lumpectomies and mastectomies. She has a special interest in oncoplastic surgery and nipple-sparing mastectomy; she is also a Hidden Scar certified surgeon. Dr. Boolbol's personal mission is to diagnose and successfully treat breast cancer and breast conditions while caring for the whole patient – emotionally and physically – every step of the way. Dr. Boolbol is the immediate Past President of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. She joined Nuvance Health after serving as chief of breast surgery at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center. She completed her breast surgery fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center after her residency in general surgery at New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center. Dr. Boolbol earned her medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine. Carla Fisher, MD, MBA, FACS is the Division Chief of Breast Surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Shawn Hanson Professor of Surgery. Dr. Fisher is also the director of the IU Dept of of Surgery Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship. She earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and completed her residency in general surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina and her fellowship as a surgical fellow in breast oncology at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Fisher is a certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, Society of Surgical Oncologists and the Association of Academic Surgeons. Susie Hagen, MD, FACS received her medical degree from the University of South Carolina. She completed her residency in General Surgery at the University of Iowa. In addition, Dr. Hagen earned her Master of Science in Public Health from the University of South Carolina and a Master in Medical Education from the University of Iowa. Her special interests are benign and malignant breast disease, complex wound, and robotic surgeries. She still takes call at a level II trauma center. Dr. Hagen obtained a certification in the Advanced Trauma Operative Management Course and she is an Advanced Trauma Life Support Instructor. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Colorado Medical Society and the Boulder County Medical Society. She has received the following national awards; the American Medical Association Leadership Award, Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award, and the American College of Surgeons Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Hagen is the director of surgical services at Boulder Community Health. While she does not claim to be a runner, she has run every day consecutively for nearly 4 years! In her free time, you can find her playing Mah Jong with her neighbors or finding an adventure. Ellie Kraft, MD, FACS, is a fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist and oncoplastic surgeon at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, CA. Dr. Kraft's unique trajectory began in private equity, a background that continues to inform her "business lens" approach to modern medical practice and healthcare delivery. After earning her MD from the University of Kansas and completing her residency at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Brooklyn Methodist, Dr. Kraft completed her fellowship in breast surgical oncology and oncoplastic surgery under the mentorship of Dr. Melvin Silverstein, widely considered as the "father of oncoplastic surgery". Building on this legacy, she serves as a founding faculty member of the United States' first stand-alone Oncoplastic Fellowship at Hoag, established in July 2024. In addition to a busy clinical practice, she was recently appointed as the Program Director of Business Development and the Digital Patient Experience, Dr. Kraft is at the forefront of innovating how surgeons engage with the modern patient and is a dedicated advocate for physician digital literacy, teaching peers how to leverage social media and digital education to enhance patient outcomes and satisfaction and reduce physician burnout. She resides in Laguna Beach with her husband, Patrick, and their two Labrador Retrievers and spends her free time serving on the Komen foundation board, cooking, trying new restaurants, staying active outdoors, and learning new things. CONTENT DISCLAIMER: The content within The Next Breast Thing Podcast represents the views, thoughts, and opinions of the co-hosts and may not reflect the views, thoughts, and opinions of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.
