Tara Sanft, MD
Cards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Chief, Patient Experience Officer
Medical Director, Survivorship Clinic
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Chief, Patient Experience Officer
Medical Director, Survivorship Clinic
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Chief, Patient Experience Officer
Medical Director, Survivorship Clinic
Contact Info
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology)
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.
Appointments
Medical Oncology
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Cancer Prevention and Control
- Center for Breast Cancer
- Internal Medicine
- Irwin Lab (LEAN Study)
- Medical Oncology
- Obesity Research Working Group
- Pusztai Lab
- Subset Medical Oncology Faculty
- Survivorship Clinic
- Transdisciplinary Research in Energetics and Cancer Research Education Program
- Yale Cancer Center
- 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
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 Subject Headings (MeSH)
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Research Interests
Brenda Cartmel, PhD
Leah Ferrucci, PhD, MPH
Alfred Lee, MD, PhD
Courtney McGowan
Fangyong Li, MS, MPH
Maura Harrigan, MS, RDN, CSO
Survivorship
Communication
Publications
2024
Exercise 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, Consortium E. Exercise and nutrition to improve cancer Treatment-Related outcomes (ENICTO). Journal Of The National Cancer Institute 2024, djae177. PMID: 39118255, 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 intensityAnxiety and fear of cancer recurrence as predictors of subsequent pain interference in early cancer survivorship: Exploring the moderating roles of cognitive and emotional factors
Gnall K, Emrich M, Magin Z, Park C, Bellizzi K, Sanft T. Anxiety and fear of cancer recurrence as predictors of subsequent pain interference in early cancer survivorship: Exploring the moderating roles of cognitive and emotional factors. Journal Of Behavioral Medicine 2024, 1-14. PMID: 39110352, DOI: 10.1007/s10865-024-00506-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFear of cancer recurrencePain interferenceCancer survivorsAssociated with greater pain interferenceGreater pain interferencePrimary cancer treatmentCancer recurrenceQuality of lifeCancer survivorshipLonger-term painSelf-report measuresEmotion regulation difficultiesCancer treatmentConsequence beliefsChronic beliefsCognitive/emotional factorsPsychological treatmentLongitudinal studyPotential moderatorsAnxietyRegulation difficultiesPainFollow-upEmotional factorsSurvivorsLongitudinal Curriculum to Address Wellness and Professional Development in a Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program
Srikumar T, Stempel J, Goldberg S, Podoltsev N, Braun D, Lee A, Sanft T. Longitudinal Curriculum to Address Wellness and Professional Development in a Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program. EMJ Oncology 2024, 1: 37-39. DOI: 10.33590/oncolamj/zgwb5064.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLongitudinal curriculum to address wellness and professional development in a hematology/oncology fellowship program.
Srikumar T, Stempel J, Goldberg S, Podoltsev N, Braun D, Lee A, Sanft T. Longitudinal curriculum to address wellness and professional development in a hematology/oncology fellowship program. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2024, 42: 9004-9004. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.9004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNeeds assessmentLongitudinal curriculumPatient Health Questionnaire 2Score of self-efficacyGeneral Self-Efficacy ScaleFellowship programsBaseline needs assessmentFaculty-led sessionsProfessional boundary settingSelf-Efficacy ScaleLevels of depressionProfessional developmentFirst-year fellowsDidactic sessionsPrevent burnoutChi-square testAcademic yearDebriefing sessionsQuestionnaire 2Baseline assessmentSelf-efficacyProfessional development skillsDepressed moodLeadership skillsBurnoutA medical school curriculum to foster the physician-patient relationship through narrative medicine.
Yao J, Hunter C, Jaber Chehayeb R, Sanft T, Prsic E, Dunne D, Kang-Giaimo A. A medical school curriculum to foster the physician-patient relationship through narrative medicine. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2024, 42: e21015-e21015. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.e21015.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDoctor-patient relationshipPatient storiesNarrative medicineTraining sessionsStrong doctor-patient relationshipOptimal quality careThird-year medical studentsPhysician-patient relationshipMedical school curriculumYear medical studentsImprove well-beingMedical education toolThematic analysis of responsesNarrative medicine curriculumDoctor patient relationshipPre-clerkship studentsMedicine skillsYale School of MedicineQuality careMedical students' senseMedicine curriculumPatient relationshipThematic analysisInterviewed patientsSchool of MedicineImproving lifestyle behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early After Diagnosis (LEANer) Trial
Puklin L, Ferrucci L, Harrigan M, McGowan C, Zupa M, Cartmel B, Li F, Ligibel J, Spiegelman D, Sharifi M, Sanft T, Irwin M. Improving lifestyle behaviors during chemotherapy for breast cancer: The Lifestyle, Exercise, and Nutrition Early After Diagnosis (LEANer) Trial. Cancer 2024, 130: 2440-2452. PMID: 38470431, PMCID: PMC11214600, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35280.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPhysical activityDiet qualityHEI-2015Strength trainingLifestyle behaviorsHealthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015Breast cancerAssociated with baseline fatigueImprove physical activityImprove lifestyle behaviorsHigher HEI-2015Associated with higher oddsExercise interventionUsual careIntervention armIntervention groupBaseline fatigueLifestyle interventionYearlong interventionLower fatigueHigher oddsSecondary analysisLogistic regressionNewly diagnosed patientsStudy armsImpact of the Breast Cancer Index for Extended Endocrine Decision-Making: First Results of the Prospective BCI Registry Study.
Sanft T, Wong J, O'Neal B, Siuliukina N, Jankowitz R, Pegram M, Fox J, Zhang Y, Treuner K, O'Shaughnessy J. Impact of the Breast Cancer Index for Extended Endocrine Decision-Making: First Results of the Prospective BCI Registry Study. Journal Of The National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2024, 22: 99-107. PMID: 38437792, DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2023.7087.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsBenefit of endocrine therapyBreast Cancer IndexPatient satisfactionEndocrine therapyRegistry studyReduce patient concernsPhysician decision-makingClinical practiceEarly-stage breast cancerIncrease physician confidenceCancer indexHormone receptor-positive early-stage breast cancerDrug safetyPhysician recommendationMedication adherencePhysician confidenceWilcoxon signed rank testPatient concernsClinical careDecision-makingPatient preferencesLate distant recurrencePhysiciansTest questionnaireLong-term outcomesPhysical health and function trajectories in adults with cancer: psychosocial predictors of class membership
Bellizzi K, Park C, Lee J, Harel O, Sanft T, Fritzson E, Salafia C, Ligus K, Gnall K, Magin Z. Physical health and function trajectories in adults with cancer: psychosocial predictors of class membership. Journal Of Cancer Survivorship 2024, 1-11. PMID: 38289507, PMCID: PMC11286833, DOI: 10.1007/s11764-024-01540-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPhysical healthTrajectory class membershipPsychosocial predictorsGeneral healthDiagnosed adult cancer patientsHealth survey measuresFunction trajectoriesAdult cancer patientsPredictors of trajectory class membershipMultinomial logistic regression modelLogistic regression modelsTrajectory of recoveryPhysical functionBodily painSF-12Estimate associationsBaseline assessmentDeclining scoresYale Cancer CenterClass membershipGrowth mixture modelingPattern of predictorsLogistic regressionDaily activitiesHealth
2023
SIOG2023-5-P-388 Social support buffers the effect of social deprivation on comorbidity burden in adults with cancer
Bellizzi K, Ligus K, Salafia C, Sanft T, Park C. SIOG2023-5-P-388 Social support buffers the effect of social deprivation on comorbidity burden in adults with cancer. Journal Of Geriatric Oncology 2023, 14: s81-s82. DOI: 10.1016/s1879-4068(23)00426-5.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2022
NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Survivorship, Version 1.2022.
Sanft T, Day A, Peterson L, Rodriguez MA, Ansbaugh S, Armenian S, Baker KS, Ballinger T, Broderick G, Demark-Wahnefried W, Dickinson K, Fairman NP, Friedman DL, Goldman M, Henry NL, Hill-Kayser C, Hudson M, Khakpour N, Koura D, McDonough AL, Melisko M, Mooney K, Moore HCF, Moryl N, Neuman H, O'Connor T, Overholser L, Paskett ED, Patel C, Pirl W, Porpiglia A, Ruddy KJ, Schapira L, Shockney L, Smith S, Syrjala KL, Tevaarwerk A, Yang EH, Zee P, McMillian NR, Freedman-Cass DA. NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Survivorship, Version 1.2022. Journal Of The National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2022, 20: 1080-1090. PMID: 36240847, DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2022.0052.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and Concepts
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
A Phase III, Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Giredestrant Plus Everolimus Compared With The Physician's Choice of Endocrine Therapy Plus Everolimus in Patients With Estrogen Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative, Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer
HIC ID2000033456RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date10/03/2024Recruiting ParticipantsTrial of Exercise and Lifestyle (TEAL) Intervention
HIC ID2000032524RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2026Recruiting ParticipantsAn Open-Label Phase II Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Neoadjuvant Doxorubicin Plus Cyclophosphamide Followed by Weekly Paclitaxel Plus Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab in Early Stage HER2-Negative Breast Cancer Patients Selected With a Test Measuring Live Cell HER2 Signaling Transduction (FACT 1)
HIC ID2000025449RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date10/30/2023Recruiting ParticipantsThe CompassHER2 Trials (Comprehensive Use of Pathologic Response Assessment to Optimize Therapy in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer) CompassHER2 Residual Disease (RD), a Double-Blinded, Phase III Randomized Trial of T-DM1 Compared With T-DM1 and Tucatinib
HIC ID2000030282RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date01/01/2028Recruiting ParticipantsRandomized Non-Inferiority Trial Comparing Overall Survival of Patients Monitored With Serum Tumor Marker Directed Disease Monitoring (STMDDM) Versus Usual Care in Patients With Metastatic Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer
HIC ID2000024170RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date01/01/2035Recruiting Participants
Clinical Care
Overview
Tara Sanft, MD, is a Yale Medicine medical oncologist and director of the Survivorship Program at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital. She enjoys helping people with the issues they face after cancer treatment and creating survivorship care plans for them—individualized “road maps” for how to go about living daily life after cancer.
“Once the patient is done with treatment and on surveillance,” Dr. Sanft says, “they're considered in the ‘survivorship phase’ of their treatment. And that's the phase where they get lost in transition and the patient may think, ‘I'm falling off the cliff, I finished my treatment, my next appointment is in a year… now what?’”
To help, Dr. Sanft and her team, which includes a social worker, physical therapist and nutritionist, address common problems people may be experiencing, including fear of recurrence and sexual intimacy issues. They also make specific diet, exercise and follow-up care recommendations to help survivors feel more in control of their lives.
“For many patients, this survivorship period is marked with fear,” she says. “It's kind of adjusting to a ‘new normal’—a new sense of your physical, emotional and spiritual self after cancer.”
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Cancer Survivorship
Learn More on Yale MedicineCancer-Related Fatigue
Learn More on Yale MedicineCancer Rehabilitation
Learn More on Yale MedicineSide Effects of Cancer Treatment
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Yale Medicine News
Are You a Patient?
View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
View Doctor ProfileLinks & Media
News
- August 29, 2024
YCC Publications 2024
- January 29, 2024
Comprehensive Breast Cancer Care at Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven
- December 19, 2023Source: MedPage Today
Tara Sanft and Melinda Irwin on Diet and Exercise for Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
- December 07, 2023Source: Yale Insights
Tara Sanft: Life after Cancer
Get In Touch
Contacts
Administrative Support
Locations
Patient Care Locations
Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.
Events
Everyone Sandra Cassanelli - Eric Winer, MD - Lajos Pusztai, MD, DPhil - Mariya Rozenblit, MD - Sarah Elizabeth Schellhorn, MD - Adriana Matutino Kahn, MD - Melinda Irwin, PhD, MPH - Maura Harrigan, MS, RDN, CSO - Nancy Borstelmann - Sarah Cody - Tara Sanft, MD - Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH