She did a 2-year surgical oncology fellowship at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Los Angeles, during a period where the first sentinel node techniques were being developed there.  This gave her the opportunity, upon finishing her training, to organize multicenter clinical trials and secure grants as well as national leadership positions.  She became interested in coordinating systems of care around diseases and was recruited to take a position to build and run a breast center in Annapolis, Maryland.  She turned the center from a one cubicle, one nurse, uncoordinated system, into one of the largest and most comprehensive breast centers in the state (The Rebecca Fortney Breast Center).  She also started the first breast cancer surgery fellowship in Maryland and has trained over 20 fellows.  Under her leadership the Fortney evolved to also train surgical oncology fellows from Johns Hopkins and research residents from Walter Reed Medical Center.  She was fortunate to become the President of the American Society of Breast Surgery just 10 years out of training and founded the accreditation organization for breast centers (NAPBC) in partnership with the American College of Surgeons and other national leaders, during her tenure.  This accomplishment along with many national leadership roles led to work nationally and internationally to help other centers develop and grow.

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Appointments

   

Senior Surgeon, July 1999 - Present

Founder and Former Medical Director, The Rebecca Fortney Breast Center/ July 1999 – June 2023

DeCesaris Cancer Institute                  

Anne Arundel Medical Center (Now Luminis Health)

Annapolis, Maryland

 

Associate Chair of Surgery for Academic Affairs & Quality/ July 2017 – June 2023

Anne Arundel Medical Center /Luminis Health

Annapolis, Maryland 

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Academic Appointments previously held at: USC, U. of Penn., Johns Hopkins