Dr. Susan Higgins, Associate Professor of Therapeutic Radiology at Yale Cancer Center, graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in biochemistry and then entered a PhD program at New York University. Her research focused on the role of DNA repair enzymes in carcinogenesis. While she enjoyed the intellectual aspect of life in the laboratory, she realized that she wanted to take a more “hands-on approach” as a clinical oncologist. Therefore, after she obtained her Master’s degree, she applied to medical school with plans to pursue a career in oncology, where she would be able to interact directly with patients.
After graduating from medical school, Dr. Higgins completed her residency in Therapeutic Radiology at Yale. After spending a few years in private practice, she returned to Yale as a faculty member. She notes that there are many aspects of her department that appeal to her, “Clinically it is a large program, but not so large that it becomes impersonal. It is a great work environment, and many of the mentors that I had are still working here today, which makes for a very comfortable and positive workplace. I always felt that Yale was the perfect fit for me.”
Dr. Higgins has many roles within Therapeutic Radiology. She has significant expertise in the treatment of breast and gynecologic cancers, and extensive experience in performing brachytherapy procedures (brachytherapy is a term that refers to the implantation of radioactive seeds to treat tumors). She is co-director of the Gynecologic Oncology Cancer Program at the new Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven. As part of that program, she works with other physicians to treat cancers in a multidisciplinary fashion, using the appropriate combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.
“We have a tumor board at Yale that meets to discuss specific patients and their treatment options. All the different specialties work very closely with one another to determine the best management plan for each patient. In some cases, radiation is used as ‘adjuvant’ therapy to kill microscopic amounts of cancer that may be left over after another treatment,” said Dr. Higgins. However, she also notes that radiation therapy, with or without chemotherapy, is often the primary and curative treatment for gynecologic cancers, which makes the radiation oncologists’ job very gratifying.
Dr. Higgins has long played a significant role in educating the residents in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology, and for the past five years she has served as the Associate Director of the Therapeutic Radiology Residency Training Program. In addition to the one-on-one teaching that takes place on a daily basis, she mentors residents and directs their research projects. She also holds weekly teaching sessions and delivers lectures as part of the department’s Radiobiology Course and the Clinical Lecture Services.
Dr. Higgins recently received a grant from the Connecticut Clinical Oncology Trials Network (CCOTN) for a trial using a state-of-the-art method for detecting lymphedema in the upper extremities in patients who have been treated for breast cancer. Lymphedema is a chronic disorder caused by a blockage of the lymphatic system that prevents the lymphatic fluid from draining adequately. This condition is a relatively common occurrence, and can become a chronic condition. With this new grant, Dr. Higgins hopes to use early intervention to decrease subclinical lymphedema using a technique called bioimpedance analysis. “We are very excited about this trial because lymphedema cannot be reversed and it is a real quality of life issue for women. Hopefully, with this trial, we will be able to detect lymphedema before it appears. This is just another example of the highly specialized care that is being developed at Yale,” said Dr. Higgins.
In her free time Dr. Higgins enjoys playing tennis and is currently playing on a local USTA team based in Guilford. She also enjoys traveling to points south of New Haven, especially the Caribbean.
The dedication and care that Dr. Higgins shows her patients is evident in the many different layers that her career entails. She is an educator, mentor, researcher, and above all, a dedicated clinician. She enjoys working with her colleagues at Yale, and in the community. For over ten years now, Dr. Susan Higgins has made Yale her second home.