Shayna L Showalter, MD
Breast Surgery
Additional Locations
Bio & Overview
Dr. Showalter is a Virginia native. She grew up in northern Virginia and attended college and medical school at the University of Virginia. She then moved to Philadelphia where she completed her general surgery residency at Thomas Jefferson University and her Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. During her time at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Showalter also completed coursework for a certificate in clinical research in the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Following her surgical training Dr. Showalter returned to the University of Virginia as a Professor of Surgery in the Division of Surgical Oncology. Dr. Showalter now specializes in treating breast cancer and diseases of the breast. She lives in Charlottesville with her husband and three children.
Academic Information
- Department
- Surgery
- Academic Role
- Professor
- Division
- Breast & Melanoma Surgery
- Research Interests
- Breast Cancer Clinical Trials, Early Stage Breast Cancer, Outcomes Research
- Gender
- Female
- Languages
- English
- Age Groups Seen
- Adults (21-65)
Older Adults (65+)
- Primary Education
- University of Virginia School of Medicine
- Residency
- Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University
- Fellowships
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
- Certification
- American Board of Surgery (Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery)
Highlights
Dr. Shayna Showalter profile video
- My name is Shana Showalter, and I am a breast surgical oncologist at the breast care center at the University of Virginia. I became a doctor mainly because I-- as cliche as it sounds-- I really did want to be able to help people. I loved science, and so I thought that was a good continuation. My dad was actually a cardiac surgeon. And so growing up with somebody that absolutely loved their job was extremely motivating for me as well. The hardest part for patients is that first visit because it's extremely overwhelming to have a new diagnosis of breast cancer. So I try to break the process down for them in sort of a stepwise process rather than getting overwhelmed by the entire treatment plan. So I-- you know, I typically give a broad overview of what the next several months will be and then have them focus just on the next several steps so that they have small goals. And that way they, you know, they feel as if each week goes by that they accomplish something towards finishing their treatment. And luckily breast cancer is typically a very curable disease, and patients tend to do very well. So we try to focus on the positive. We work with a great team of breast surgeons, specialists in terms of medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, and pathology. And then we have a great group of nurse practitioners, nurses, a wonderful geneticist. Our team as a whole is just so highly specialized that we really are able to provide patients with the highest level of care. We're all here and thinking hard and trying to do the best thing for each of our patients.
Awards
- 2020 University of Virginia Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research, Junior Faculty (Honors one faculty member before tenure annually)
- 2020 Recognition of Outstanding Patient Experience, UVA Health System
- 2019 Recognition of Outstanding Patient Experience, UVA Health System
- 2017 University of Virginia Dean’s Clinical Excellence Award- Honors four-five faculty members annually demonstrating clinical excellence and exemplary patient care
- 2016 Leadership in Academic Matters, University of Virginia- One of 30 faculty members selected to participate in this leadership program
- 2015 Bedside Manner Award, Our Health Magazine; First place
- 2011 Mary E. Groff Fellowship in Clinical Research, University of Pennsylvania, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- 2007 Excellence in Teaching Award, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University
- 2006 Excellence in Teaching Award, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University
- 2005 Excellence in Teaching Award, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University
Reviews
180 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
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