Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct faculty typically have an academic or research appointment at another institution and contribute or collaborate with one or more School of Medicine faculty members or programs.
Adjunct rank detailsTara Sanft, MD
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Associate Professor AdjunctDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Titles
Associate Professor Adjunct
Chief, Patient Experience Officer; Medical Director, Survivorship Clinic
Biography
I am board certified in both medical oncology and hospice and palliative medicine, which I feel helps me treat the "whole person" and not just a disease. As the Chief Patient Experience Officer at Smilow Cancer Hospital, I enjoy thinking about improving care, especially where the provider and patient experience overlaps. As a breast oncologist, I have a busy practice and enjoy taking care of women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. As the director of the Yale Survivorship Clinic, one of the nation’s only multi-disciplinary clinics specializing in cancer survivorship, I learn from patients about key issues after treatment and this informs my role as Chair of the NCCN Survivorship Guidelines. My research focuses on healthy lifestyles and quality of life after cancer. I am a facilitator for Relationship-Centered Communication Workshop that address how we develop therapeutic relationships with our patients and each other.
Last Updated on February 20, 2025.
Appointments
Medical Oncology and Hematology
Associate Professor AdjunctPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Cancer Prevention and Control
- Internal Medicine
- Irwin Lab (LEAN Study)
- Medical Oncology and Hematology
- Obesity Research Working Group
- Palade House Affiliates
- Pusztai Lab
- Transdisciplinary Research in Energetics and Cancer Research Education Program
- Yale Medicine
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- Fellowship
- Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois (2010)
- Fellowship
- Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois (2010)
- Resident
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (2007)
- MD
- Medical College Wisconsin (2004)
Research
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Overview
I conduct research with Dr. Melinda Irwin, and have completed several lifestyle intervention trials. I am the Principal Investigator of an NCI-funded R-01 study in which we randomize women to usual care or a healthy diet and exercise intervention in women undergoing chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer. We hope to find early intervention on lifestyle factors makes chemotherapy completion easier. Additionally, I am the site Principal Investigator of a study looking a resilience trajectories in patients diagnosed with breast, colon and prostate cancer, so that we may better learn who needs our help the most in order to thrive after cancer. I have mentored fellows on research projects including investigating decision-making for extended endocrine therapy in hormone receptor positive breast cancer; communication behaviors and patient experience during hospitalization on an oncology unit, exercise behaviors and chemotherapy completion rates and delivering survivorship education through an Enhancing Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) program.
Medical Research Interests
Breast Diseases; Communication; Survivorship
ORCID
0000-0002-1687-2538
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Tara Sanft's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Tara Sanft's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Tara Sanft is interested in exploring.
Melinda Irwin, PhD, MPH
Lajos Pusztai, MD, DPhil
Brenda Cartmel, PhD
Leah Ferrucci, PhD, MPH
Anees Chagpar, MD, MBA, MPH, FACS, FRCS(C)
Erin Hofstatter, MD
86Publications
505Citations
Survivorship
Communication
Publications
2025
Psychosocial Risk Factors and Perceived Well‐Being in Survivors of Gastrointestinal Cancer
Butensky S, Schultz K, Godfrey E, Kim J, Sanft T, Johnson C, Leeds I, Khan S. Psychosocial Risk Factors and Perceived Well‐Being in Survivors of Gastrointestinal Cancer. Psycho-Oncology 2025, 34: e70302. PMID: 41068065, DOI: 10.1002/pon.70302.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPsychosocial risk factorsPerceived HealthAssociated with qualityQuality of lifeSocial determinantsGI cancersPhysical healthMental healthSocial supportSocial determinants of healthAssociated with quality of lifeDeterminants of healthUs Research ProgramPatient-reported experiencesWell-beingRisk factorsCross-sectional analysisPerceived well-beingGastrointestinal (GI) cancersCancer survivorshipCancer survivorsHealthcare discriminationHealth SurveySupport servicesHealthDiverging paths: Identifying barriers to and increasing accessibility of a survivorship program in a socio-economically diverse community.
Thau F, Madrid K, Smith N, Gambaccini M, Sanft T, Capozza S. Diverging paths: Identifying barriers to and increasing accessibility of a survivorship program in a socio-economically diverse community. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2025, 43 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.e13877.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedian household incomeSurvivorship programsClinical sitesHousehold incomeSurvivorship clinic visitLife of cancer survivorsNo-showLow median household incomePatient's zip codeIn-Person VisitsArea of residenceDiverse patient groupsElectronic medical recordsScheduled patient visitsState-based insuranceDiverse patient populationsCancer survivorsIdentified barriersHome addressPatient visitsScheduling appointmentsZip codesIn-personQualitative studyDemographics of patientsMoments of connection between clinicians and patients in oncology: A mixed-methods exploratory study of sacred moments.
Yasin F, Puklin L, Quinn M, Saint S, Sanft T. Moments of connection between clinicians and patients in oncology: A mixed-methods exploratory study of sacred moments. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2025, 43 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.e21004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer CenterAdvanced practice providersRelationship-centered careMedical oncologySample of cliniciansSurvey assessed demographicsMixed methods studyMixed-methods exploratory studyComprehensive cancer centerInductive coding approachGeneral hospital patientsSemi-structured interviewsAssociated with enhanced well-beingPalliative medicinePractice providersOncology cliniciansPractice of medicineSense of meaningCareer fulfillmentPatient perspectivePatient encountersThematic analysisSense of purposeMethods studyProfessional fulfillmentProspective decision impact study of the Breast Cancer Index: Results from the BCI Registry study.
Sanft T, Siuliukina N, O'Neal B, Anderson A, Jankowitz R, Pegram M, Diab S, Zhang Y, Treuner K, O'Shaughnessy J. Prospective decision impact study of the Breast Cancer Index: Results from the BCI Registry study. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2025, 43: 531-531. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2025.43.16_suppl.531.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsPercentage of physiciansBreast Cancer IndexPhysician confidenceRegistry studyPatient preferencesTest questionnaireEndocrine therapyReduce patient concernsPhysician decision-makingEarly-stage breast cancerQuality of lifeClinical decision-makingCancer indexPhysician recommendationWilcoxon Signed Rank TestLikelihood of benefitPatient concernsClinical careBenefit of endocrine therapyBreast cancer patientsLong-term clinical outcomesDrug safetyDecision impact studyEndocrine therapy benefitLate distant recurrenceTrajectories of aerobic physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake in adults with cancer: Predictors and outcomes of class membership
Bellizzi K, Emrich M, Park C, Magin Z, Gnall K, Sanft T. Trajectories of aerobic physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake in adults with cancer: Predictors and outcomes of class membership. Journal Of Cancer Survivorship 2025, 1-11. PMID: 40158052, DOI: 10.1007/s11764-025-01790-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPhysical activityF&V intakePhysical healthEarly survivorshipAssociated with better physical healthAssociated with physical healthHealth behavior guidelinesAerobic physical activityHealth behavior trajectoriesPredictors of trajectory groupsIdentified socio-demographicSocio-demographic factorsRacial-ethnic minority statusAerobic PAPA trajectoriesCancer survivorsVegetable intakeHealthy behaviorsHealth outcomesPsychosocial factorsPsychosocial predictorsLinear mixed modelsBenefit recoverySocio-DemographicHeathy diet
2024
Trajectories of Cancer Survivors' Spiritual Well‐Being Through the Transition From Treatment to Early Survivorship
Park C, Magin Z, Bellizzi K, Sanft T. Trajectories of Cancer Survivors' Spiritual Well‐Being Through the Transition From Treatment to Early Survivorship. Psycho-Oncology 2024, 33: e70040. PMID: 39632284, PMCID: PMC11793928, DOI: 10.1002/pon.70040.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSpiritual Well-BeingCancer survivorsSocial supportWell-beingModerate level of spiritual well-beingAdult cancer survivorsLevel of spiritual well-beingDiagnosis of breastYears of survivorshipHigh social supportLatent class linear mixed modelMultinomial logistic regression modelLogistic regression modelsFACIT-SpPsychosocial resourcesLinear mixed modelsEarly survivorshipAdaptive copingCoping effortsCoping strategiesActive treatmentCopingColorectal cancerCharacterize trajectoriesRegression modelsNCCN Guidelines® Insights: Survivorship, Version 2.2024.
Sanft T, Day A, Goldman M, Ansbaugh S, Armenian S, Baker K, Ballinger T, Demark-Wahnefried W, Fairman N, Feliciano J, Flores T, Friedman D, Gabel N, Hill-Kayser C, Koura D, Lee K, Lee N, McDonough A, Melisko M, Mooney K, Moore H, Moryl N, Neuman H, Overholser L, Patel C, Peterson L, Pirl W, Porpiglia A, Schapira L, Schwartz A, Smith S, Tevaarwerk A, Von Ah D, Wake R, Yang E, Zee P, McMillian N, Freedman-Cass D. NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Survivorship, Version 2.2024. Journal Of The National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2024, 22: 648-658. PMID: 39689426, DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2024.0062.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsBaseline predictors associated with successful weight loss among breast cancer survivors in the Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition (LEAN) study
Hoobler R, Puklin L, Harrigan M, Cartmel B, Li F, Sanft T, Ferrucci L, Irwin M, Playdon M. Baseline predictors associated with successful weight loss among breast cancer survivors in the Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition (LEAN) study. Journal Of Cancer Survivorship 2024, 1-9. PMID: 39528779, DOI: 10.1007/s11764-024-01702-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsBreast cancer survivorsClinically meaningful weight lossCancer survivorsWeight loss interventionCancer SurvivorsBreast cancer survivorsWeight loss successConclusionBreast cancer survivorsPrevention of weight gainAssociated with lower oddsHistory of weight gainHealthy body weightMultivariate logistic regressionCancer treatmentSuccessful weight lossBreast cancer treatmentIntervention armLower oddsResultsBaseline dataDesign of programsWeight lossLogistic regressionC-statisticWeight gainSurvivorsInterventionBarriers to and facilitators of improving physical activity and nutrition behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: a sequential mixed methods study
Puklin L, Irwin M, Sanft T, Ferrucci L, Harrigan M, McGowan C, Cartmel B, Zupa M, Winer E, Deyling M, Ligibel J, Basen-Engquist K, Spiegelman D, Sharifi M. Barriers to and facilitators of improving physical activity and nutrition behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: a sequential mixed methods study. Supportive Care In Cancer 2024, 32: 590. PMID: 39141176, DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08789-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPhysical activityLifestyle interventionSelf-reported PA questionnaireSelf-reported diet qualityBreast cancerHealthy Eating Index-2015Stage I-III breast cancerBenefits of PASequential mixed methods studyI-III breast cancerChemotherapy-related symptomsMixed methods studyThematic content analysisBehavioral goalsSense of controlBody mass indexPA questionnaireSemi-structured interviewsMean body mass indexTranscribed verbatimIntervention armTailored educationDiet qualityNutritional behaviorMental benefitsExercise and Nutrition to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes (ENICTO)
Schmitz K, Brown J, Irwin M, Robien K, Scott J, Berger N, Caan B, Cercek A, Crane T, Evans S, Ligibel J, Meyerhardt J, Agurs-Collins T, Basen-Engquist K, Bea J, Cai S, Cartmel B, Chinchilli V, Demark-Wahnefried W, Dieli-Conwright C, DiPietro L, Doerksen S, Edelstein S, Elena J, Evans W, Ferrucci L, Foldi J, Freylersythe S, Furberg H, Jones L, Levine R, Moskowitz C, Owusu C, Penedo F, Rabin B, Ratner E, Rosenzweig M, Salz T, Sanft T, Schlumbrecht M, Spielmann G, Thomson C, Tjaden A, Weiser M, Yang S, Yu A, Perna F, Caan B, Anderson S, Bahia H, Castillo A, Feliciano E, Johnson K, Ross M, Weltzein E, Brown J, Albarado B, Compton S, Green T, Nash R, Nauta P, Welch M, Yang S, Meyerhardt J, Dieli-Conwright C, Nguyen D, Pena A, Spielmann G, Kim Y, Evans W, Bea J, Blew R, Crane T, Bhatti A, Clavon R, Erlandsen S, Freylersythe S, Hollander K, Lopez-Pentecost M, Penedo F, Rolle L, Rossi P, Schlumbrecht M, Wheeler M, Irwin M, Cao A, Cartmel B, Ferrucci L, Gottlieb L, Harrigan M, Li F, McGowan C, Puklin L, Ratner E, Sanft T, Zupa M, Berger N, Cerne S, Mills C, Conochan S, Hundal J, Owusu C, Ligibel J, Campbell N, DiGuglielmo K, Kemp W, Maples-Campbell C, Nguyen T, Oppenheim J, Tanasijevic A, Thomson C, Yung A, Basen-Engquist K, Loomba P, Chinchilli V, Schmitz K, Binder J, Doerksen S, Foldi J, Garrett S, Scalise R, Sobolewski M, White L, Scott J, Cercek A, Cai S, Cao S, Furberg H, Harrison J, Jones L, Lee C, Levine R, Michalski M, Moskowitz C, Novo R, Rabazzi J, Stoeckel K, Salz T, Weiser M, Yu A, Demark-Wahnefried W, Robien K, Evans S, DiPietro L, Duong B, Edelstein S, Helmchen L, Le D, McCleary C, Tjaden A, Wopat H, Rabin B, Perna F, Agurs-Collins T, Czajkowski S, Elena J, Nebeling L, Norton W. Exercise and Nutrition to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes (ENICTO). Journal Of The National Cancer Institute 2024, 117: 9-19. PMID: 39118255, PMCID: PMC11717426, DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djae177.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsSelf-reported physical functionTreatment-related outcomesTreatment-related side effectsRisk of suboptimal outcomesExercise interventionOncology carePhysical functionNational Cancer InstituteNutrition ProgramIntervention effectsCommon data elementsExerciseCancer InstituteCommunity opportunitiesData elementsStandard of careInterventionCareCancer patientsNutritionRelative dose intensityOutcomesSuboptimal outcomesCancer treatmentChemotherapy relative dose intensity
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News
- June 09, 2025
Radiating Hope, Celebrating Life: Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center's Cancer Survivors Day
- June 06, 2025
Yale Cancer Center Researchers and Trainees Present at 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting
- June 05, 2025Source: WTNH News 8 (with Dr. Tara Sanft)
Celebrating National Cancer Survivorship Month
- May 14, 2025
Yale Cancer Center Experts Set to Present Advances in Cancer Research at the World’s Largest Clinical Oncology Conference
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