Simie Degefu, M.D.

The mission of the Gynecologic Oncology service is three-fold: to provide comprehensive care for all women with pervasive or invasive gynecologic malignancies in a dignified, compassionate manner; to provide an environment conducive to learning for patients, their families, and physicians; and to foster research at both clinical and basic science levels in order to continuously improve our current knowledge in the cause and in the treatment of cancer.

We provide radical, reconstructive, conservative and minimally invasive surgery as well as management of chemotherapy for gynecologic cancers. In addition, together with our radiation oncology colleagues, we provide radiation therapy with state-of-the-art equipment.

Members of this section participate in national cooperative study groups, including Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG), and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (TROG). Our active involvement in these clinical trials not only keeps Tulane at the forefront of cancer research, it also provides access to treatment options that otherwise would not be available to patients. In addition, members of this section are collaborating closely with Tulane scientist to develop new and promising treatments for cancer, including ovarian cancer.

Our comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach integrated with our deep commitment to research offers our patients the finest and latest in gynecologic cancer care.

Residents in training participate in all clinical aspects of our service, including radical surgery. In addition, there are ample opportunities to be involved in clinical research.