Dr. Alphonse Taghian started this program in 2005
Alphonse Taghian, MD, PhD
Director of the Lymphedema Research Program
at Massachusetts General Hospital
Professor of Radiation Oncology,
Harvard Medical School
Email: ataghian@mgh.harvard.edu
“The foundation of my clinical, research and academic practice is in advancing all aspects of a patient’s care. I have dedicated my academic and research career to the investigation, development and clinical implementation of innovative approaches to improving the delivery and quality of breast cancer treatment. The focal point of my work concerns the minimization of treatment related side effects and complications to improve the quality of life for patients while not compromising the expected benefit of the cancer therapy."
Cheryl Brunelle joined the program in 2013
Cheryl Brunelle, PT, MS, CCS, CLT
Associate Director of the Lymphedema Research Program
at Massachusetts General Hospital
Physical Therapy Clinical Specialist,
Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy
Email: cbrunelle@mgh.harvard.edu
“My clinical practice and research is focused on advancing the breast cancer and breast cancer-related lymphedema care of patients within the Department of Physical Therapy and as part of the MGH Lymphedema Research Program. In clinical practice, I oversee the physical therapy department’s treatment of patients with breast cancer, and focus my clinical practice specifically on care of those with lymphedema or with upper extremity or other morbidity as a result of breast cancer and its treatments. I am responsible for overseeing staff and for program development in this area. I am the Associate Director of the MGH Lymphedema Research Program, and my research includes projects focusing on survivorship and investigation of symptoms, impact on quality of life and early detection and intervention of breast cancer-related lymphedema.”
Current Clinical Research Coordinators...
Rachel Rodrigues
Boston College 2023
Jenny Lin
Boston College 2023
Previous team members who made a lasting impact on our program...
Brooke Juhel
Clinical Research Coordinator
2021 - 2023
Tufts University 2021
Attending Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Amanda Jung
Clinical Research Coordinator
2021 - 2023
Tufts University 2020
Tufts Medical School 2021, Masters in Public Health
Attending UMass Chan Medical School
Loryn Bucci
Clinical Research Coordinator
2019 - 2021
Boston College 2019
Attending NYITCOM
Madi Bernstein
Clinical Research Coordinator
2019 - 2021
Tufts University 2019
Currently a Senior Research Associate at Adelphi Values
George Naoum
Research Fellow
2017 - 2020
Harvard Medical School, Masters Of Science in Clinical Investigations
Currently a Radiation Oncology Resident Physician at Northwestern University Hospitals, Chicago, Illinois
Tessa Gillespie
Clinical Research Coordinator
2017 - 2018
Program Manager
2018 - 2020
Boston College 2017
David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA 2024
Sacha Roberts
Clinical Research Coordinator
2018 - 2019
Boston College 2018
New York Medical College 2023
Currantly a Resident Physician at NYP-Weill Cornell Medical Center
Kayla Daniell
Clinical Research Coordinator
2017-2018
Program Manager
2018 - 2019
Boston College 2017
UMass Chan Medical School 2023
Currently a Radiation Oncology Resident Physician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Hoda Sayegh
Clinical Research Coordinator
2016 - 2017
Program Manager
2017 - 2018
University of Chicago 2016
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago 2022
Currently an Internal Medicine Resident Physician at Stanford University
Meyha Swaroop
Clinical Research Coordinator
2013 - 2016
Program Manager
2016 - 2017
Boston College 2013
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine 2021
Currently an OBGYN Resident at Wake Forest
Maria Asdourian
Clinical Research Coordinator
2015-2017
Boston College 2015
Harvard Medical School 2022
Laura Salama
Research Fellow and Data Manager
2014 - 2017
Alexandria Univeristy School of Medicine, Egypt
Internal Medicine Residency Program at Florida Atlantic University - Charles E Schmidt College of Medicine
2017 - 2020
Chief Residency
Internal Medicine Residency Program at Florida Atlantic University - Charles E Schmidt College of Medicine
2019 - 2020
Currently a Hematology-Oncology Fellow at The Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University
Melissa Skolny
Clinical Research Coordinator
2009 - 2016
University of Connecticut, 2007
Roberts Wesleyan College, MS in Health Administration 2009
MGH Institute of Health Professions, BS in Nursing 2015
MGH Institute of Health Professions, MS in Nursing 2016
Currently a Nurse Practitioner in Medical Oncology at a small community hospital in Southeastern MA
Cindy Miller
Clinical Research Coordinator
2010 - 2013
Boston College 2010
Harvard Medical School 2017
Currently a General Surgery Resident at MGH, planning to pursue Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship
Chantal Ferguson
Clinical Research Coordinator
Lauren Jammallo
Clinical Research Coordinator
Tara Sullivan
Clinical Research Coordinator
A special thank you to Jean O'Toole who helped create this program in 2005.
Currently retired after working 35 years at MGH
Jean O'Toole
Clinical Specialist in the Physical Therapy Department of MGH
Northeastern University, BS in Physical Therapy
1970
Boston University, MPH
1991
Lymphedema Training
2002
"Working with the MGH Cancer Center was truly the most special and rewarding time of my working years"