Dr. Julie E. Lang

Dr. Julie E. Lang, MD, is a widely respected breast surgical oncologist and physician-scientist currently serving as Chief of Breast Surgery and co-leader of the Breast Cancer Program at Cleveland Clinic. She earned her MD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed her general surgery residency and postdoctoral research fellowship at UCSF before undertaking specialized fellowship training in breast surgical oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Board-certified in general surgery, Dr. Lang is known for her expertise in advanced procedures—including nipple-sparing mastectomy, oncoplastic reconstruction, and management of aggressive breast cancers—and for her compassionate, patient-focused approach.

A leader in translational breast cancer research, Dr. Lang’s work emphasizes liquid biopsy technologies such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), examining their roles in early diagnosis and treatment monitoring. She is a key investigator in landmark multicenter trials, including I-SPY2 and studies assessing KEYNOTE-522 in triple-negative breast cancer, and her lab has engineered clinically relevant patient-derived xenograft models for inflammatory breast carcinoma. With nearly 200 peer-reviewed publications, her scholarship has driven precision medicine forward and shaped biomarker-driven treatment strategies that enhance patient outcomes.

In her role as educator and mentor, Dr. Lang trains surgical fellows, medical residents, and junior scientists, while maintaining leadership positions within professional organizations such as ASCO, AACR, and the American College of Surgeons. Her excellence has been recognized with multiple “Top Doctor” awards and honors like the Donald L. Morton Award. Patients consistently praise her clear communication, empathy, and expert surgical skill. Bridging cutting-edge clinical care, groundbreaking research, and compassionate mentorship, Dr. Lang continues to advance the field of breast surgical oncology.