Leigh Neumayer, MD, MS, Professor of Surgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine, is a member of the multidisciplinaryteam treating breast cancer at Huntsman Cancer Institute. She holds a Jon and Karen Huntsman Presidential Professorship in Cancer Research. She is an experienced breast surgeon offering all types of surgery for diseases of the breast including total skin sparing mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy.
Dr. Neumayer received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in1985. She trained in general surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, and the University of Arizona in Tucson. She received a master’sdegree in clinical research design and statistical analysis from the University of Michigan. She joined the faculty of the University of Utah in 1992. She is past president of the Association of Women Surgeons, the Association of VA Surgeons and the Association for Surgical Education. She was a Director of the American Board of Surgery from 2005 to 2011, and is a Regent of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Neumayer has a long history of mentoring students,residents and faculty. She was the first woman to hold a full-time faculty position in the Department of Surgery, to be the chief of surgery at the Salt Lake City VA and to be a tenured full professor of Surgery at the University of Utah. She served as the American Association of Medical Colleges Women’s Liaison Officer and was the program director for the University of Utah’s Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health Program. She served as the honorary chair of the Susan G. Komen Salt Lake City Race for the Cure. She received the American Medical Women’s Association Gender Equity Award (twice) and the Linda K. Amos Award for Distinguished Service to Women at the University of Utah. She recently was recognized with the Association for Surgical Education Distinguished Educator Award and the Clark Lowe Rich Distinguished Surgeon Award.
Dr. Neumayer is a tireless advocate for her patients. She has created a video that is posted online to help breast cancer patients and co-authored a book “Meet Virginia: Biography of a Breast” that chronicles a patients journey with breast cancer. She is a long time supporter of Image Reborn Foundation and frequently participates in the retreats.
