Vivian J. Bea, MD, FACS
Section Chief, Breast Surgical Oncology, New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital; Assistant Professor, Surgery, New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medicine
Highlights
- LBBC Medical Advisory Board since 2023
- Accomplished breast surgeon
- Recognized community leader and advocate
- Expert on racial disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Member of LBBC's Black Breast Cancer Advisory Council
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Vivian J. Bea. MD, FACS, a board-certified surgeon and breast cancer disparities researcher, is also an educator and community outreach leader.
As a leader in the community, Dr. Bea has focused on bridging the gap between multidisciplinary breast cancer treatment and community barriers. She has a multi-institutional community outreach grant designed to address breast cancer disparities in Black women through increased breast cancer screening, innovative community education, and navigation.
Dr. Bea is course director for the Weill Cornell Breast Health Disparities annual CME course, the goal of which is to provide breast cancer education to community clinicians within targeted communities. Most recently, Dr. Bea was awarded the prestigious American Medical Association’s National Minority Quality Forums Braintrust, “Top 40 under 40 in Minority Health” for her dedication to community outreach and research. Her clinical and research interests include management of the axilla and inflammatory breast cancer in underserved populations, as well as identifying and eliminating disparities in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Bea received her master’s degree in biology from Drexel University in Philadelphia and her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. She completed her training in general surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina and a fellowship in breast surgical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is a recognized speaker, author, and community advocate.
Experience & accolades
Expertise
- Surgery
- Breast cancer disparities
Education
- Cornell University
- Masters of Business Administration (expected 2025)
- Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
- Master of Science in Healthcare Leadership (expected 2025)
- Morehouse College School of Medicine
- Doctor of Medicine
- Drexel University
- Masters of Biological Science
- University of Miami
- Bachelors degree
Experience
- New York Presbyterian/Brooklyn Methodist Hospital (2019-Present)
- Director, breast program
- Section chief, breast surgical oncology
- Assistant attending surgeon
- Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University (2019-Present)
- Assistant professor of surgery
- MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper (2018-2019)
- Breast surgical oncologist
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (2016-2017)
- Fellow, breast surgical oncology
- Medical University of South Carolina (2010-2016)
- Surgical resident
Awards & distinctions
- Morehouse School of Medicine Top 10 Under 40 in Medicine, 2021
- South Jersey Biz Best in Healthcare, 2019
- National Minority Quality Forum’s 40 Under 40 Leaders in Minority Health, 2018
- Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism MUSC and Excellence in Teaching awardee
- American Association for Cancer Research Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Award
- ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation URM Resident Travel Award
- NMA NIH NIDDK Resident Award
- MUSC Student National Medical Association “Lift As You Climb” Diversity Mentorship Award
- MUSC Junior Resident of the Year Award
- Weill Cornell Medicine Teaching Award
- MUSC Resident Teacher of the Month (January)
- Pfizer Minority Medical School Scholarship Recipient
- Morehouse School of Medicine Lincoln Community Foundation Scholarship
- Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. National Education
- MetLife Awards Program for Academic Medicine
- National Medical Fellowship Need-Based Scholarship
Professional memberships & board positions
- Medical Advisory Board, Living Beyond Breast Cancer
- American College of Surgeons
- American Society of Breast Surgeons
- Society of Surgical Oncologists
- Society of Black Academic Surgeons
Publications
- Bea, V., An, A., Gordon, A., et al Mammography screening beliefs and barriers through the lens of Black women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cancer. 2023
- Pinheiro, L., Fasano, G., An, A., et al. Psychosocial well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic among women with and without breast cancer. Psycho-oncology. 2023
- Fasano, G., Bayard, S., Johnson, J., et al. Breast Cancer and Obesity: a Qualitative Analysis of a Diverse Population of Breast Cancer Patients' Perspectives on Weight Management. Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities. 2023
- Fayanju, O., Edmonds, C., Reyes, S., et al. ASO Visual Abstract: Landmark Series-Addressing Disparities in Breast Cancer Screening: New Recommendations for Black Women. Annals of surgical oncology. 2022
- Fasano, G., Bayard, S., Bea, V. Breast Cancer Disparities and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Current breast cancer reports. 2022
- Bayard, S., Bea, V. Disparities in Time to Treatment for Breast Cancer: Shifting Focus to the Root Cause. Annals of surgical oncology. 2022
