Dr. Colleen M. McCarthy

Dr. Colleen M. McCarthy, MD, is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with specialized expertise in reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery, microsurgery, and oncologic reconstruction. She practices at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she brings a patient-centered philosophy to her clinical work, taking time to understand each patient's individual goals and expectations to achieve the best possible surgical outcomes. Her approach ensures that patients feel confident in their care and supported throughout every stage of their reconstructive journey.

Dr. McCarthy is a leading national and international figure in breast implant safety and the emerging field of breast implant associated-anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). She serves as co-chair of the National Breast Implant Registry, which collects data to safeguard breast implant safety, and as principal investigator of the PROFILE Registry, a collaborative effort between the FDA and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons that evaluates all cases of BIA-ALCL in the United States. She is also a lead member of the Global Network for BIA-ALCL, a coalition of experts from 32 countries dedicated to advancing understanding of this rare disease. Her regulatory contributions extend to serving on an FDA panel assessing the safety and efficacy of a tissue substitute in postmastectomy implant reconstruction, and she currently represents the American Society of Plastic Surgeons on the American College of Surgeons' National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.

Her research focuses on patient-reported outcomes, examining the surgical experience from the patient's perspective to identify meaningful improvements in reconstructive care. She has authored more than 100 scientific papers and book chapters and has been invited to lecture both nationally and internationally. Through her clinical practice, research, and advocacy work, Dr. McCarthy continues to shape standards of care in breast reconstruction and advance patient safety on a global scale.