Irene Epelboym Rossmer, MD

What are some of the specific conditions you treat?

I treat patients with solid organ malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract, skin and soft tissue, and breast. These specifically include gastric cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, bile duct cancer, duodenal cancer, small bowel cancer, appendiceal cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, breast cancer, sarcoma, melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma. I also take care of benign and premalignant conditions of the hepatobiliary tract such as gallbladder disease and pancreatic cystic lesions. 

What techniques or procedures do you use in your practice?

I offer patients minimally invasive and minimal access abdominal surgery, robotic and laparoscopic cancer surgery, multivisceral and enbloc tumor resection, and surgical management of recurrent, advanced, and/or metastatic malignancies. I offer cytoreductive surgery for selected advanced malignancies. For my breast cancer patients, I specialize in breast conserving surgery with advanced oncoplastic techniques, hidden scar breast surgery, skin and nipple sparing mastectomy, lymph node surgery, and access to advanced reconstructive surgery.

What would you like patients to know about your approach to care?

I believe excellent cancer care starts with truly understanding the person behind the diagnosis. My approach is to listen carefully, explain options clearly, and work with each patient to develop a treatment plan that is both evidence-based and tailored to his or her individual needs and goals. As a surgical oncologist, I focus not only on achieving the best possible cancer outcome, but also on preserving quality of life and helping patients feel confident in their decisions. I believe complex cancer care is best delivered collaboratively, working closely with medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and other specialists to ensure that every aspect of care is thoughtfully considered. I strive to be both thorough and approachable. I want my patients to feel comfortable asking questions, understand why we are recommending a particular approach, and know that I will be there with them throughout their treatment and recovery.

Describe some of your professional highlights.

I am a fellowship-trained and board-certified surgical oncologist with expertise in the comprehensive surgical management of cancer. My clinical practice encompasses breast surgical oncology as well as complex gastrointestinal and hepatopancreatobiliary cancers, including pancreatic and liver malignancies, as well as malignancies of the stomach, small intestine, appendix, colon, and rectum. I have particular expertise in advanced surgical techniques and individualized approaches to cancer surgery, with a focus on achieving excellent oncologic outcomes while preserving quality of life whenever possible. In addition to my clinical practice, I am committed to developing comprehensive multidisciplinary cancer care. I work closely with medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and my surgical colleagues to create personalized treatment plans for each patient. My approach emphasizes thoughtful decision-making, evidence-based care, technical excellence, and a coordinated patient experience from diagnosis through treatment and recovery and into survivorship. In addition, I have contributed to quality improvement initiatives, surgical education, and collaborative clinical programs focused on improving outcomes for cancer patients. My work includes developing patient centered surgical pathways and participating in institutional efforts to expand access to high-quality cancer care.

What inspired you to become a healthcare clinician?

I was drawn to medicine because it brought together the opportunity to make a tangible difference in someone's life and my love of science and problem solving. Over the course of my career, I have come to appreciate that being a physician is about much more than simply treating a disease. A cancer diagnosis is an especially personal journey, and I value the opportunity to guide patients and their families through some of their most difficult moments. I am continually inspired by the trust patients place in us and by the privilege of helping them.

If you would like to include any additional information in your profile like clinical trials, research projects, current industry relationships, publications or awards, please indicate below.

My academic work spans more than two decades and reflects a sustained commitment to improving cancer care, surgical outcomes, and health equity. As past Program Director for Surgical Oncology Diversity Research and Education, I led patient focused initiatives aimed at advancing quality cancer care and reducing disparities. This included securing extramural grant funding from Amazon Web Services to support an AI driven breast cancer screening equity project - a program designed to improve early detection for underserved populations.

My research background includes extensive work in pancreatic, endocrine, and breast disease, with contributions to epidemiologic studies, surgical outcomes research, and innovations in hepatopancreaticobiliary and breast surgical oncology. I have authored numerous peer reviewed publications in journals such as Annals of Surgical Oncology, HPB, The Oncologist, J Gastrointestinal Surgery, covering topics ranging from neoadjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer to diagnostic challenges in breast and colorectal disease. I have presented my work nationally at meetings including the Society of Surgical Oncology, American Hepato Pancreato Biliary Association, Pancreas Club, and the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress. My research has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Blakemore Research Prize, the American Pancreatic Association Young Investigator Award, and the AWS Health Equity Initiative Award.

Across all these efforts, my focus remains on generating meaningful, clinically relevant insights that improve patient outcomes, enhance surgical quality, and expand equitable access to high-quality cancer care.