Dr. Elizabeth Mittendorf

Dr. Elizabeth A. Mittendorf, MD, PhD, is a surgical oncologist internationally recognized for her expertise in breast cancer treatment and immunotherapy. She serves as Robert and Karen Hale Distinguished Chair in Surgical Oncology and Director of the Breast Immuno-Oncology Program at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, as well as Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Mittendorf earned her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University, completed her general surgery residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and received her PhD in immunology from the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She completed a surgical oncology fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center and is board-certified in Surgery.

Dr. Mittendorf’s research focuses on developing breast cancer vaccines and combination immunotherapy strategies, particularly for triple-negative breast cancer. She has led clinical trials evaluating peptide vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and HER2-targeted immunotherapies, contributing to the growing field of breast immuno-oncology. Her translational research aims to identify biomarkers that predict response to immune-based treatments and to integrate immunotherapy into earlier stages of breast cancer care.

In addition to her research, Dr. Mittendorf is an influential surgical educator and leader in national oncology organizations, including ASCO and the Society of Surgical Oncology. She has published extensively, serves on editorial boards, and mentors the next generation of breast cancer researchers. Her work continues to redefine the role of the immune system in breast cancer prevention and treatment.