Neil M. Iyengar, MD, a breast medical oncologist and cancer survivorship expert, has been appointed director of survivorship services at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, joining July 1.
Breast medical oncologist and cancer survivorship expert Neil M. Iyengar, MD, has been appointed director of survivorship services at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. Joining July 1, he will also serve as co-director of the Breast Medical Oncology Program in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine and care for patients at Winship’s Glenn Family Breast Center.
As director of survivorship services, Iyengar will guide the strategic direction, operational management and integration of these services across Winship and Emory Healthcare. He will lead a comprehensive, individualized survivorship program for Winship patients—with personalized wellness plans that address needs such as exercise, diet and supportive care—while also overseeing research initiatives and evidence-based practices.
“Dr. Iyengar is an accomplished physician-scientist and a true innovator in breast cancer research and survivorship care, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Winship,” says Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD, FACP, FASCO, Winship’s executive director, the Roberto C. Goizueta Distinguished Chair for Cancer Research and professor of hematology and medical oncology. “Under his leadership, Winship survivorship services will offer an enhanced care experience, providing patients with a tailored wellness plan and expert support from the time they are diagnosed with cancer through their post-treatment care.”
Iyengar joins Winship from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he was an associate attending physician on the Breast Service with a faculty appointment as associate professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. His research explores ways to improve metabolic health to reduce breast cancer risk and mortality. One of his signature efforts was developing and leading Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Healthy Living Program, an evidence-based survivorship care model that creates personal lifestyle plans for patients with breast cancer to support their overall well-being during and after treatment.
“Dr. Iyengar’s career has been dedicated to improving the lives of people diagnosed with cancer, with the understanding that every patient has a unique set of circumstances, risk factors and needs,” says Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP, FASCO, professor and chair of hematology and medical oncology, the Anne and Bernard Gray Family Chair in Cancer and Winship’s chief medical officer. “This makes him an excellent fit for the kind of care we provide at Winship, and our teams can’t wait to work with him.”
Iyengar received his undergraduate and medical degrees through the accelerated program at the University of Illinois at Chicago, graduating with the university’s highest honors. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Chicago Medical Center and a fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at Memorial Sloan Kettering. His work has been recognized and awarded by several organizations, including research grants from the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Conquer Cancer and others.
“I’m honored to join the Winship team and inspired by its deep expertise, collaborative culture and commitment to advancing cancer care and research,” Iyengar said. “Cancer survivorship care is complex, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. We have the opportunity to deliver precision lifestyle optimization with personalized plans to help survivors live and feel better and improve their long-term health. I’m excited for what’s ahead as we redefine survivorship with the same innovation and intentionality that have transformed cancer treatment.”