CUTV News Radio spotlights Dr. Elissa J. Santoro, MD., FACS

Livingston, NJ – Dr. Elissa Santoro started as a surgical oncologist since 1970. Today, Dr. Elissa Santoro serves as Breast Care Consultant for RWJS Barnabas Health Center. Now 80 years old, and no longer performing surgery, Dr. Santoro care for even more patients than ever while teaching the next generation of surgical oncologists all she has learned as a practicing physician.

Dr. Santoro has been on the front lines as the field of cancer treatment has evolved. In fact, she has been responsible for much of that evolution, and the approach to care those who have been diagnosed can receive today. When integrative medicine was still in its infancy, Dr. Santoro pioneered a holistic integrative breast care for women, immersing patients into compete healing of mind, body and spirit.

“As the only woman surgical oncologist in New Jersey, I found there was a terrible need for a more holistic approach,” says Dr. Santoro. “I had the ability to open up a practice for breast care and treatment center where the patient could be diagnosed, operated on if needed, chemotherapy if needed, as well as treating the mind, body, and spirit.”

And as the field has evolved, women have shown they want women to be their doctor.

“We've come a long, long way and there's so much on the horizon,” says Dr. Santoro. “We're learning more and more about the immune cells and identifying the patients at risk using gene testing. Maybe one day surgery will have only minor role, but it's been a big change from 1970 to 2018.”

For more information on Dr. Elissa J. Santoro, MD., FACS, visit www.elissa-santoro1.info