Ten Ascension oncologists were recognized on Castle Connolly’s 2023 list of Exceptional Women in Medicine:
Medical Oncologists Worood Abboud, MD, and Nafisa Burhani, MD, Ascension Saint Joseph - Joliet, Illinois; Vivian J. Cline. MD, Debra A. Patt, MD, and Dina J. Tebcherany, MD, Ascension Seton Medical Center - Austin, Texas; Jenelle S. Miller, MD, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital Indianapolis; Nancy W. Peacock, MD, Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown, Nashville, Tennessee; and Varsha V. Shah, MD, Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Milwaukee.
Radiation Oncologists M. Connie Nguyen, MD, Ascension St. John Medical Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Erika Swanson, MD, Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital – Milwaukee and Ozuakee Campuses.
Becker’s Hospital Review noted that Castle Connolly released its 2023 list of Exceptional Women in Medicine as part of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative. The list honors 8,400 doctors across 77 specialties and all 50 states. Becker’s listed 761 women physicians specializing in oncology.
Castle Connolly is a healthcare research and information company. Its physician-led team of researchers follows a rigorous screening process to select top doctors on both the national and regional levels. Its online nomination process is open to all licensed physicians in America, who are able to nominate physicians in any medical specialty and in any part of the country, as well as indicate whether the nominated physician(s) is, in their opinion, among the best in their region in their medical specialty or among the best in the nation in their medical specialty. Then, Castle Connolly’s research team vets each physician’s professional qualifications, education, hospital and faculty appointments, research leadership, professional reputation, disciplinary history, and if available, outcomes data. A physician’s interpersonal skills such as listening and communicating effectively, demonstrating empathy, and instilling trust and confidence are also considered in the review process.
