Roshni Rao, MD FACS
Breast & Soft Tissue Surgery
Surgery
Accepting New Patients
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
Overview
Dr. Roshni Rao, a renowned expert in breast care, is the chief of the Breast Surgery Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
A skilled surgeon who is passionate in her commitment to breast health and her patients, Dr. Rao has expertise in the treatment of breast cancer that has spread to the areas surrounding the breast, known as locally advanced breast cancer; in addition to breast cancer that has spread further to other parts of the body, metastatic breast cancer. Her groundbreaking research includes the positive effects of exercise for patients with breast cancer who are preparing for surgery, and the impact of ethnicity on the risk of developing triple-negative breast cancer (when the three receptors known to fuel most breast cancers; estrogen, progesterone, and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; are not present in the cancer tumor).
Dr. Rao oversees the breast cancer surgery program at the Comprehensive Breast Center of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, a multi-site, multi-disciplinary entity that incorporates the legacy of innovation and trust associated with the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She collaborates closely with its team of specialists across every discipline, including radiologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons and other breast cancer support staff.
Dr. Rao was repeatedly recognized with awards for her leadership at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, where she served as the director of the George N. Peters Center for Breast Surgery prior to joining NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia. She was elected by her peers to be a "Best Doctor" in breast surgery every year from 2009 to 2017.
Dr. Rao received her medical degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. She completed a general surgery residency at Baystate Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, followed by a fellowship in breast surgical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology. She is currently the chair of the Patient Safety and Quality Committee for the American Society of Breast Surgeons. Dr. Rao serves as a reviewer for the Journal of the American Medical Association and the Annals of Surgical Oncology, and has served as a reviewer for Cancer and other journals. Her work has been published in these journals and many other surgical and oncology publications.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Cancer Surgery
Academic Appointments
- Vivian L. Milstein Associate Professor of Surgery at CUMC
Administrative Titles
- Chief, Division of Breast Surgery
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center
Gender
- Female
Schedule an Appointment
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
Virtual Visits allow you to connect with your provider from the comfort, convenience, and safety of your own home.
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Location(s)
161 Fort Washington Avenue
Floor 10
New York, NY 10032
Primary
Phone:
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- POS
- PPO
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
AgeWell
- Medicare Managed Care
- Special Needs
Amida Care
- Special Needs
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Emblem/HIP
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Railroad
- Traditional Medicare
Multiplan
- Multiplan
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
Quality Health Management
- Quality Health Management
RiverSpring
- Special Needs
UnitedHealthcare
- Compass (Exchange)
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Medicare Managed Care
- Oxford Freedom
- Oxford HMO
- Oxford Liberty
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE
- Medicare Managed Care
- SelectHealth
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
*Please contact the provider’s office directly to verify that your particular insurance is accepted.
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- MD, 1995 University of Missouri Columbia School of Medicine
- Residency: 2001 Baystate Medical Center / Tufts University
- Fellowship: 2004 MD Anderson Cancer Center
Board Certifications
- Surgery
Honors & Awards
- Mentor/Senior Author for Best Poster, UTSW Department of Surgery Research Forum, May 2016
- Excellence in Patient and Family Centered Care Award, UTSW Department of Surgery, June 2015
- Outstanding Medical Staff Leadership as Chief of Staff, UTSW Hospitals, November 2015
- Mentor/Senior Author for Best Oncology Paper, North Texas American College of Surgeons Meeting, February 2014
- Best Doctors in Dallas, Breast Surgery, 2009-2017 (annual election with recognition)
- Commission on Cancer, Physician Liaison, Parkland Hospital, 2008 – 2013
- Elected Member at Large to Medical Service Research and Development Plan (MSRDP) Board, UTSW, 2012 - 2014
- Nominee, DFW Hospital Council Physician of the Year, 2010
- Mentor/Senior Author for Best Clinical Paper, UTSW Department of Surgery Research Forum, May 2010
- Mentor/Senior Author for Best Oncology Paper, North Texas American College of Surgeons Meeting, February 2010
- Tumor Registry Quality Control Physician, 2008
- Miami Breast Conference, Moderator, 2005
- School of Breast Oncology, Fellowship Award, 2004
- Tufts University School of Medicine Excellence in Resident Teaching Award, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004
- William Sheldon Award, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, 1999
- Overall Honors Certificate, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1999
- Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society, 1998
- Conley Scholar, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1995
Research
Selected Publications
- Jones T, Jones S, Shukla R. Short latency evoked potentials in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) Journal of Comparative Physiology, 1997,180:631-638.
- Jones SM, Warren LE, Shukla R, Browning A, Fuller CA, Jones TA. The effects of hypergravity and substrate vibration on vestibular function in developing chickens. Journal of Gravitational Physiology, 2000, 7(3):31-44
- Ganai S, Garb JL, Kanumuri P, Rao R, Alexander AI, Wait RB. Mapping the Rectum: Spatial Analysis of Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgical Outcomes Using GIS Technology. J Gastrointest Surg. 2006 Jan;10(1):22-31.
- Ganai S, Kanumuri P, Rao R, Alexander AI. Local Recurrence After Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery for Rectal Polyps and Early Cancers. Ann Surg Oncol. 2006 Apr; 13(4): 547-556.
- Babiera GV, Rao R, Feng L, Meric-Bernstam F, Kuerer HM, Singletary SE, Hunt KK, Ross MI, Gwyn KM, Feig BW, Ames FC, Hortobagyi GN. Effect of Primary Tumor Extirpation in Breast Cancer Patients Who Present with Stage IV Disease and an Intact Primary Tumor. Ann Surg Oncol. 2006 Jun; 13(6): 776-782.
- Ma AM, Bowling M, Leitch M, Rao R, Euhus DM. Primary Breast Tumor Characteristics Predicting Aggressive Nodal Involvement. Am J. Surg. 2007 Oct; 194(4): 474-76.
- Rao R, Kuerer H, Cristofanilli M, Brigilio K, Shukla S, Rao M, Krishnamurthy S. Breast Cancer in the Asian Indian Population of the United States: A Call for Screening and Education. Breast J. 2008 Jul-Aug; 14(4): 402-403.
- Rao R, Feng L, Kuerer H, Singletary S, Bedrosian I, Hunt K, Ross M, Hortobagyi G, Feig B, Ames F, Babiera G. Timing of Surgical Intervention for the Intact Primary in Stage IV Breast Cancer Patients. Ann Surg Oncol. 2008 Jun;15(6): 1696-1702.
- Tereffe W, Lang JE, Rao R, Feng L, Yu TK, Oh JL, Woodward WA, Hunt KK, Hortobagyi GN, Babiera GV. Local Radiotherapy Improves Survival in Stage IV Breast Cancer Patients Who Undergo Surgical Resection of the Primary Tumor. National Journal of Radiation Oncology/Biology/Physics. 2008 Sept; 72(1).
- Iyengar R,Saint-Cyr M, Gokaslan T, Rao R. Breast Paraffinoma. Breast J. 2008 Sep-Oct;14(5):504-5.
- Rao R, Lilley L, Andrews V, Radford L, Ulissey M. Axillary Staging Utilizing Percutaneous Biopsy: Sensitivity of Fine Needle Aspiration Versus Core Needle Biopsy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2009 May; 16(5):1170-1175.
- Rao R, Saint-Cyr M, Ma AM, Bowling M, Hatef D, Andrews V, Xie X, Zogakis T, Rohrich R. The Prediction of Post-Operative Necrosis After Mastectomy: A Pilot Study Utilizing Optical Diffusion Imaging Spectroscopy. World J of Surg Oncol. 2009, Nov; 7:91.
- Lodrigues W, Dumas J, Rao M, Lilley L, Rao R. Compliance with the Commission on Cancer Quality of Breast Cancer Care Measures: Self-evaluation Advised. Breast J. 2011 Mar/Apr; 17(2):167-71.
- Brazda, A, Estroff E, Euhus D, Leitch M, Huth J, Andrews V, Moldrem A, Rao R. Delays in Time To Treatment and Survival Impact in Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2010 Oct; 17 (Suppl 3); 291-296.
- Rao R, Lilley L, Ulissey M. Ultrasound-guided FNA of Axillary Lymph Nodes in Patients with Breast Cancer. US Radiology. 2010 Feb; 2(1):57-59.
- Rasko YV, Saint-Cyr M, Peng Y, Rao R. Spontaneous Hematoma of the Breast Thirty Years After Augmentation. Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery. 2010 July; 126(1); 41e-42e.
- Rao R, Moldrem A, Sarode V, White J, Amen M, Rao M, Andrews V, Euhus D, Radford L, Ulissey M. Experience with Seed Localization for Nonpalpable Breast lesions in a Public Health Care System. Ann Surg Oncol. 2010 Dec; 17(12):3241-6.
- Han JS, Cao D, Molberg K, Sarode V, Rao R, Sutton L, Peng Y. Hormone Receptor Status Rather Than Her2 status is Significantly Associated with Ki67 and p53 Expression, and Ki67 but not p53 Expression is Significantly Related to Axillary Nodal Metastasis in Triple Negative and High Grade Non-Triple Negative Breast Carcinomas. American Journal of Clinical Pathology. 2011 February; 135(2):230-7.
- Kobberman A, Unzeitig A, Xie XJ, Yan J, Euhus D, Moldrem A, Leitch M, Andrews V, Rao R. Impact of Routine Cavity Shave Margins on Re-excision rates. Ann Surg Oncol. 2011 May;18(5):1349-55.
- Duan L, Yan J, Sarode V, Rao R, Leitch M, Euhus D,Cao D, Xie XJ, Peng Y. Post Treatment High Ki67 Expression Level (>10%) Is Significantly Associated with Distant Roshni Rao, M.D. Metastasis in Triple-Negative Breast Carcinomas Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Surgery. Modern Pathology. Jan 2011.
- Oni G, Sharma R, Rao R, Unger J, Saint-Cyr M. Bilateral Superior Epigastric Pedicle Perforator Flaps for Total Chest Wall Coverage. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2011 Aug; 64(8):1101-7.
- Ostapoff KT, Euhus D, Xie XJ, Rao M, Moldrem A, Rao R. Axillary Lymph Node Dissection for Breast Cancer Utilizing Harmonic Focus. World J of Surg Oncol, 2011 Aug15;9:90.
- Dreadin J, Rao R. Risk of Residual Breast Tissue After Skin-SparingMastectomy. Breast J, 2012 May-Jun; 18(3):248-52.
- Bailey SH, Saint-Cyr M, Oni G, Maia M, Andry D, Shirvani A, Nguyen V, Wong C, Zhang S, Leitch AM, Euhus D, Rao R, Rohrich R. Aesthetic Subunit of the Breast: An Analysis of Women's Preference and Clinical Implications. Annals of Plastic Surgery. 2012 Mar; 19(3):240-5.
- Mook J, Klein R, Kobbermann A, Unzeitig A, Euhus D, Peng Y, Sarode V, Moldrem A, Leitch AM, Andrews V, Teotia S, Rao R. Volume of Excision and Cosmesis with Routine Cavity Shave Margins Technique. Ann Surg Oncol 2012 Mar;19(3):886-91.
- Venetia R Sarode, Jeong S Han, Danielle H Morris, Yan Peng, Rao, R. A Comparative Analysis of Biomarker Expression and Molecular Subtypes of Pure Ductal Carcinoma by Image Analysis: Relationship of the Subtypes with Histologic Grade, Ki67, p53 Overexpression, and DNA Ploidy. International Journal of Breast Cancer. Volume 2011 Article ID 217060. 7 pages DOI: 10.40061/2001/217060.
- Unzeitig A, Euhus D, Leitch AM, Moldrem A, Huth J, Andrews V, Xie XJ, Rao R. Influence of Surgical Technique on Mastectomy and Re-excision Rates in Breast-conserving Therapy for Cancer. International Journal of Surgical Oncology, 2012, Article ID: 725121, 7 pages. DOI: 10.1155/2012/725121.
- Rao R, Cruz V, Peng Y, Harker-Murray A, Haley B, Euhus D. Bootcamp during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer: a randomized pilot trial. Breast Cancer: Basic and Clinical Research, 2012 Jan; 6: 39-46.
- Rao R, Teotia S. Take Two and Text me in the Morning: Optimizing Clinical Time with A Short Messaging System. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2012 Jul; 130(1):44-9.
- Lang JE, Tereffe W, Mitchell MP, Rao R, Feng L, Meric-Bernstam F, Bedrosian I, Duerer HM, Hunt KK, Hortobagyi GN, Babiera GV. Primary Tumor Extirpation in Breast Cancer Patients who Present with Stage IV Disease is Associated with Improved Survival. Annals of Surgical Oncology 2013 June; 20(6): 1893-9.
- Eastman A, Tammaro Y, Moldrem A, Andrew V, Huth J, Euhus D, Leitch M, Rao R. Outcomes of Delays in Time to Treatment in Triple Negative Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2013 Jun;20(6): 1880-5.
- Cho HS, Davis GC, Paek JE, Rao R, Zhao H, Xie XJ, Yousef MG, Fedric T, Euhus DH, Leitch M. A Randomised Trial of Nursing Interventions Supporting Recovery of the Post-Mastectomy Patient. Journal of Clinical Nursing 2013 Apr; 22(7-8): 919-29.
- Bu D, Lewis CM, Sarode V, Chen M, Ma X, Lazorwitz AM, Rao R, Leitch M, Moldrem A, Andrews V, Gazdar A, Euhus D. Identification of breast cancer DNA methylation markers optimized for fine needle aspiration samples. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. 2013 Dec;22(12):2212-
- Rao R, Euhus D, Mayo HG, Balch C. Axillary node interventions in breast cancer: a systematic review. JAMA. 2013 Oct 2;310(13):1385-94.
- Wallace L, Lilley L, Lodrigues W, Dreadin-Pulliam J, Xie XJ, Mathur S, Rao M, Harvey V, Leitch AM, Rao R. Analysis of internet usage among cancer patients in a county hospital setting: a quality improvement initiative. Journal of Medical Internet Research Protocols. 2014 May 9:3(2):e26.
- Scoglietti V, Wooldridge R, Leitch M, Euhus D, Sarode V, Huth J, Rao R. Development and Initiation of a Clinical Protocol for the Treatment of Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis. J Rare Disorders Vol. 2, Issue 1. 2014 July.
- Bao J, Borja N, Rao M, Huth J, Leitch AM, Rivers A, Wooldridge R, Rao R. Impact of weight change during neoadjuvant chemotherapy on pathologic response in triple-negative breast cancer. Cancer Med. 2015 Apr;4(4):500-6.
- Sarode VR, Xiang QD, Christie A, Collins R, Rao R, Leitch AM, Euhus D, Haley B. Evaluation of HER2/neu Status by Immunohistochemistry Using Computer-Based Image Analysis and Correlation with Gene Amplification by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization Assay: A 10-Year Experience and Impact of Test Standardization on Concordance Rate. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2015 Jul;139(7):922-8.
- Rao R. Evolution of Axillary Staging in Breast Cancer. Missouri Medicine. May/June 2015, 112:3, 317-320.
- Landercasper J, Bailey L, Berry TS, Buras RR, Degnim AC, Fayanju OM, Froman J, Gass J, Greenberg C, Mautner SK, Krontiras H, Rao R, Sowden M, Tjoe JA, Wexelman B, Wilke L, Chen SL. Measures of Appropriateness and Value for Breast Surgeons and Their Patients: The American Society of Breast Surgeons Choosing Wisely ® Initiative. Ann Surg Oncol, 2016 Jun 22.
- Rao R, Rivers A, Rahimi A, Wooldridge R, Rao M, Leitch M, Euhus D, Haley BB. Genetic Ancestry Using Mitochondrial DNA in Patients with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (GAMiT Study). Cancer, 2017 Jan 1; 123(1):107-113. doi: 10.1002/cncr.30267
- Shiao J, Thomas KM, Rahimi AS, Rao R, Jingsheng Y, Xian-Jin X, DaSilva M, Spangler A, Leitch M, Wooldridge R, Rivers A, Farr D, Haley B, Kim N. Aspirin/antiplatelet agent use improves disease-free survival and reduces the risk of distant metastases in Stage II and III triple-negative breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat (2016). doi:10.1007/s10549-016-4081-8.
- DaSilva M, Porembka J, Mokdad AA, Seiler S, Huth J, Rivers A, Wooldridge R, Chu A, Brown E, Bao J, Farr D, Hansen M, Unzeitig-Barron A, Leitch M, Rao R. Bracketed Radioactive Seed Localization versus Bracketed Wire-Localization in Breast Surgery. Breast J, 2017 Jul 14. doi:10.1111/tbj.12854
- Rahimi AS, Thomas K, Spangler A, Leitch M, Rao R, Wooldridge R, Rivers A, Seiler S, Albuquerque K, Stevenson S, Goudreau S, Garwood D, Haley BB, Euhus D, Heinzerling J, Ding C, Ahn C, Timmerman R. Preliminary Results of a Phase I Dose Escalation Trial for Early Stage Breast Cancer Using 5-Fraction Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy For Partial Breast Irradiation (S-PBI) Accepted Januray 2017. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics.
- Landercasper J, Bailey L, Buras R, Clifford E, Degnim AC, Thanasoulis L, Fayanju OM, Tjoe J, Rao R. The American Society of Breast Surgeons and quality payment programs: Ranking, defining, and benchmarking more than a million patient-quality measure encounters. Accepted June 2017. Ann Surg Oncol.