Emory University School of Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine
Department of Surgery

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Department of Surgery

Breast Surgery at Grady

The Breast Surgery Service at Grady Memorial Hospital provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for patients with benign and malignant breast disease. Based within Grady’s National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC)-accredited Breast Center and Commission on Cancer (CoC)-accredited Cancer Center, the team delivers patient-centered, state-of-the-art care that spans screening and detection, risk reduction, cancer treatment, and survivorship.

Overview

The Breast Surgery Service at Grady Memorial Hospital is a collaboration between the Morehouse and Emory Departments of Surgery. The breast program is dedicated to delivering expert and compassionate care for patients with breast cancer and other breast diseases. The service provides cutting-edge, multidisciplinary management within one of Atlanta’s premier healthcare systems.

As Medical Director of the Breast Center at Grady’s Cancer Center, Dr. Lauren Postlewait leads a highly collaborative team of specialists in breast surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, radiology, and genetics. Together, they provide personalized, evidence-based treatment plans designed to optimize outcomes and enhance quality of life for every patient.

The program emphasizes access to comprehensive breast care for all patients, particularly those in underserved communities, and ensures that every individual receives high-quality care consistent with the latest clinical standards and innovations in breast oncology.

Program Leader Dr. Lauren Postlewait

Dr. Lauren M. Postlewait, MD, FACS, is an Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine. She serves as the Medical Director of the Breast Center at Grady’s Cancer Center.  Dr. Postlewait earned her MD from Emory University School of Medicine and completed her general surgery residency and a two-year research fellowship in surgical oncology at Emory. She is board-certified in general surgery and completed a clinical fellowship in Breast Surgical Oncology at the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

As an educator, Dr. Postlewait serves as the Associate Program Director of the Emory Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship, mentoring the next generation of breast surgeons. Her research interests include mitigating breast cancer risk and optimizing breast cancer treatment.  She is also deeply committed to addressing health disparities and advancing clinical ethics in cancer care.

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Multidisciplinary and Patient-Centered Care

The Breast Surgery Service at Grady emphasizes a team-based, multidisciplinary approach to care. Each patient’s treatment plan is developed through collaboration among specialists in breast imaging, surgery, oncology, pathology, radiation therapy, and genetics. This integrated model ensures timely diagnosis, coordinated treatment, and individualized support throughout the continuum of care from prevention and early detection through treatment, recovery, and survivorship.



Education & Training

The Breast Surgery Service plays a vital role in resident and fellow education for trainees from Emory University School of Medicine and affiliated programs. Trainees gain exposure to the full spectrum of breast disease management within a high-volume, safety-net hospital environment, preparing future surgeons to deliver compassionate, equitable, and evidence-based care.



Advancing Breast Cancer Research and Equity

The Grady Breast Center plays an integral role in advancing breast cancer research through participation in national clinical trials and outcomes-based studies. The program is dedicated to providing patients access to breast cancer clinical trials. Because Grady serves a racially and socioeconomically diverse patient population, one historically underrepresented in national cancer trials, its commitment to research participation represents a critical opportunity to address disparities and advance health equity in cancer outcomes.