Dr. Alexandra S. Heerdt

Dr. Alexandra Heerdt serves as an attending surgeon in the Breast Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and holds joint academic appointments at Weill Cornell Medicine. Her practice centers exclusively on diseases of the breast, with emphasis on integrating oncologic safety, cosmetic outcome, and postoperative function in every operation. She consults closely with pathologists, radiologists, medical oncologists, and rehabilitation specialists to craft individualized surgical plans that reflect tumor biology and personal preferences. Patients referred for evaluation receive a comprehensive review of imaging, core-biopsy findings, and genomic assays before engaging in a shared-decision conversation that explains lumpectomy, nipple-sparing mastectomy, or risk-reducing surgery. Colleagues commend her calm clarity in translating complex data into understandable language, a skill refined through formal coursework in health communication and years of mentoring surgical trainees. In recognition of her impact on education she was appointed Founder’s Chair in Surgical Oncology, an endowed position that supports ongoing curriculum development and research in patient engagement. Her clinic also welcomes individuals seeking second opinions for complex reconstructive questions.

 

Dr. Heerdt’s investigative work bridges surgical practice and lifestyle medicine, focusing on how structured exercise cushions the physiologic stress of systemic therapy and lowers the risk of lymphedema after axillary surgery. She designed a home-based strength and flexibility regimen tested in prospective cohorts; interim analyses show participants maintain muscle and report better shoulder mobility than historical controls. Parallel laboratory collaborations explore microvascular adaptation in postoperative tissue, informing strategies to optimize arm function without compromising oncologic surveillance. Her publications on margin status, sentinel-node mapping, and late axillary recurrence guide contemporary de-escalation protocols that spare unnecessary dissection. She also co-authors institutional pathways that integrate patient-reported outcomes into routine follow-up, allowing earlier identification of neuropathic pain or functional decline. Ongoing grants support randomized trials comparing digital coaching with in-person physical therapy, while registry collaborations evaluate the economic impact of these supportive interventions on return-to-work timelines. Early results appear promising. Collaborators from physical medicine, nursing, and data science meet quarterly to refine protocols and disseminate best practices through open-access toolkits.

 

Leadership responsibilities extend beyond the clinic. Dr. Heerdt directs communication skills education for surgical fellows at her institution, developing simulation modules that teach surgeons to convey pathology results and operative risks with empathy. She participates in national working groups that produce guidelines on breast margin assessment and lymphedema prevention, ensuring that evidence from her own studies informs widespread practice. She has received honors from academic, philanthropic, and patient advocacy organizations, including a humanitarian award that recognized her commitment to accessible postoperative rehabilitation. As a peer reviewer for several oncology journals, she evaluates manuscripts on survivorship and quality of life, encouraging rigorous methodology and practical recommendations. She also sits on advisory boards for community fitness programs, bridging scientific insights with grassroots wellness initiatives that empower survivors to regain strength. Her leadership style emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and learning among teams. She mentors early-career investigators through grant writing workshops. These sessions have helped participants secure pilot funding for novel studies on exercise adherence and surgical recovery and resilience.