Guided by Research, Wilmot’s Breast Cancer Program Comes of Age

When military scuba divers are in training, they learn to hold their breath deep in the lungs for long periods. It’s crucial to their survival. Kim Gergelis, M.D., is working on a way to bring the same military-based training concept to breast cancer patients being treated with radiation at Wilmot Cancer Institute. Research shows that “deep breath holds” for 20 seconds moves the heart away from the breast temporarily, reducing the chances that highenergy X-rays aimed at breast tissue will inadvertently damage the heart.

Gergelis, who recently joined Wilmot from the “other” Rochester — the esteemed Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. — has many fresh ideas like this one.

And, she arrived in upstate New York at a perfect time to make an impact. Wilmot’s growing and flourishing Comprehensive Breast Care program has an impressive list of new initiatives. These include groundbreaking clinical trials unique to this region; advanced technology not found anywhere else in the state to diagnose breast cancer; a popular new risk-reduction clinic that serves women with any type of breast concern; a retooled survivorship program for individuals who want to continue to be seen by breast cancer specialists long after they enter remission; new directions in laboratory research, and a mobile unit — “the mammo van” — that launches later this year to bring mammography screening to patients in urban and rural areas with less access to quality care.

Kim Gergelis, M.D.

“I interviewed all over when I was looking to take the next step in my career,” says Gergelis, assistant professor of Radiation Oncology. “I felt like the University of Rochester and Wilmot were trying to make things better. There are a lot of places that are okay with the status quo. Here, the leadership wants to see changes, learn things from the outside, and make improvements. That’s really exciting to me.”

“Collaborative Spirits” Drive Change

Breast cancer remains the number-one cancer in women nationally and locally, and since 2019, there’s been an uptick in breast cancer patients seen at various Wilmot sites, including its hub location, the Pluta Cancer Center in suburban Henrietta. Improvements in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer are occurring rapidly in the field, but there are gaps in knowledge and in who gets quality care.

Wilmot leaders are building research into every facet of its breast cancer program, with the goal of becoming the premier center in New York state.

“Our mantra is, ‘enhancing clinical care, supporting and fostering research, and growing our team of highly academic oncologists,’” says Anna Weiss, M.D., the newly recruited director of Wilmot’s breast cancer service line, a surgeon who joined the UR in 2022 from Harvard University.

Research is the foundation for all new treatments, and Weiss’ other major objective, still unfolding, is enhancing connections between clinicians and lab scientists working on breast cancer across the Medical Center to build larger, cross-institutional research projects. Her kindred souls include Jennifer Harvey, M.D., chair of Imaging Sciences and an international expert in breast density, which leads to a higher risk of cancer, and Ruth O’Regan, M.D., chair of Medicine and a national thought leader in novel breast cancer

Breast Health Clinic

treatments, focusing on what’s known as triple-negative disease, the most aggressive type of breast cancer.

They are working in unison.

“The beauty of Ruth, Jennifer and I, is our collaborative spirits,” Weiss says. “We’re excited about moving things forward. We have a lot of enthusiasm and energy, which is going to lead to more innovation.”

This new program is already popular, logging more than 100 appointments in the first two months. The clinic is designed for any person who has any concern about breast health — but does not have breast cancer.

Complaints may include pain, infection, or an abnormal imaging scan. For those with an elevated risk due to a family history of breast cancer, newly discovered lumps, dense breasts, or exposure to chest radiation, the Breast Health Program can also provide genetic testing via Wilmot’s Hereditary Cancer Screening and Risk Reduction.

The focus is to assess cancer risk and then make a plan to reduce that risk. This may include personalized imaging plans, lifestyle changes (smoking cessation, weight loss, exercise, nutrition) and medications to reduce breast cancer risk.

The clinic formalizes services that were already provided at Wilmot, with dedicated resources and a more convenient, centralized approach. Crystal Regis, N.P., manages daily operations; additional program support comes from breast surgeon Jessica Gooch, M.D. For more information, please call (585) 486-0557. No referral is necessary.