Dr. S. David Nathanson stands as a preeminent surgical oncologist whose career has been dedicated to advancing cancer surgery with particular expertise in breast cancer management and inherited susceptibility. He currently serves as Chairman of Breast Cancer Research and Director of Breast Care Services within the Department of Surgery at Henry Ford Health System, where he has established a nationally recognized program for comprehensive cancer care. His academic appointments include Professor of Surgery at Wayne State University School of Medicine, reflecting his dual commitment to clinical excellence and medical education. Dr. Nathanson earned his medical degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and completed his surgical training at the University of Pretoria and University of the Witwatersrand before pursuing advanced fellowships in the United States in Immunology at UCLA, Surgical Oncology at UCLA, and General Surgery at UC Davis.
Dr. Nathanson has established himself as an international authority on sentinel lymph node biopsy, a critical technique that has transformed the surgical management of breast cancer and melanoma by enabling more precise staging with reduced patient morbidity. His scholarly contributions include over 250 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and reviews that have significantly advanced the understanding of tumor metastasis to lymph nodes and its clinical implications. His research has been supported by prestigious NIH grants, reflecting the scientific community's recognition of his innovative approaches to cancer surgery. The clinical protocols he has developed through his research have been widely adopted in surgical oncology practice, improving patient outcomes through more targeted surgical interventions while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
As a recognized leader in surgical oncology, Dr. Nathanson has profoundly influenced cancer care standards through his dual roles as a clinician and researcher, with his work consistently appearing among the most cited in the field of surgical oncology. He has been honored as one of America's Top Surgeons in Surgical Oncology by the Consumers Research Council of America and is consistently ranked among the top 1% of surgeons and oncologists in the United States by Castle Connolly. His commitment to patient-centered care is evident in his philosophy that patients should be treated 'in a humane way and with all the tools available to modern physicians,' which has shaped the culture of the breast cancer program at Henry Ford. Dr. Nathanson continues to lead innovative research while mentoring surgical oncology fellows and residents, ensuring that his expertise in breast cancer, melanoma, and sarcoma management will continue to advance the field through the next generation of surgical oncologists.
