Kathryn Spanknebel is a surgical oncologist who focuses her practice mainly on the care of individuals with breast concerns that include cancer and non-cancerous conditions, as well as aesthetic and reconstructive breast issues.

Prior to joining Breast Surgery Specialists, Dr. Spanknebel took time away from clinical practice to pursue additional training in Aesthetic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery at the Institute of Aesthetic Surgery and Medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York. This experience resulted in the formation of the first Breast Fellowship in the country that successfully combines both aesthetic and breast oncologic professional training. She serves as Associate Director of this Postgraduate Program now entering its third year.

Dr. Spanknebel was recently recruited to New York Medical College as Associate Professor of Surgery and now serves as the Chief of Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery at Westchester Medical Center. She oversees the clinical and academic activities of the Division and is working to enhance coordinated systems of cancer care and clinical trial mechanisms. She is an active investigator in cancer clinical trials and serves as co-investigator in research funded by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery studying women with cosmetic breast implants. In addition, she has authored or co-authored several peer-reviewed manuscripts, book chapters and reviews and continues to contribute to the scientific literature.

Dr. Spanknebel graduated from the University of Vermont, College of Medicine in 1992 after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Vermont in 1987. Her internship and residency in General Surgery were completed at the University of Chicago Hospitals in 2000. There, she was granted the James Ewing Award for Basic Science Research from the Society of Surgical Oncology which allowed her to spend three years in the Department of Molecular Biology at University of Illinois in Chicago developing novel methods for tumor suppressor gene identification in breast cancer and contributing to efforts of the Human Genome Project.

Following her General Surgery training, Dr. Spanknebel earned a coveted position at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York to pursue specialty training in surgical oncology. There, she focused on breast, endocrine, melanoma and sarcoma disease sites and was awarded the Gorin Fellow Award for excellence in clinical projects. In 2002, Dr. Spanknebel accepted a faculty position as Assistant Professor in Columbia University’s Department of Surgery in New York which resulted in the formation of the Department’s first Division of Surgical Oncology. During her 3-year tenure, she was integral to the development of Columbia’s Melanoma Treatment Center and served as Surgical Chief of the Endocrine Clinics caring for patients with thyroid and parathyroid disorders.

Dr. Spanknebel holds certification with the American Board of Surgery since 2001 and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She is also an active member in several regional, national and international professional societies and organizations including The New York Surgical Society, The Society of Surgical Oncology, The American Society of Breast Surgeons, The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, The American Society of Clinical Oncology, Breast Surgery International, The International Association of Endocrine Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group.