Novant Health opens new breast surgery clinics in Winston-Salem and Kernersville

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – To expand access to the latest in specialized breast cancer care for patients in and around the Triad, Novant Health opened a new breast surgery clinic on July 1 at 2825 Lyndhurst Ave. in Winston-Salem, and a satellite care location at 1710 Kernersville Medical Parkway in Kernersville. The goal of the new multidisciplinary care clinic is to serve as an extension of the Novant Health Cancer Institute, by providing patients with a dedicated care location focused exclusively on breast cancer surgery. The new clinic, Novant Health Breast Surgery, will be staffed by three longtime breast cancer surgeons - Dr. Jennifer Christman, Dr. David Carr and Dr. Lori Kellam. 

“One in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point during their lives,” said Christman, lead clinician, Novant Health Breast Surgery in Winston-Salem and Kernersville. “We also know that it’s the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Ultimately, it’s a disease that affects not just the patient, but the entire family. For these reasons and more, we’re very excited to open new breast surgery care locations to serve patients and their families across the Triad. While not every patient requires surgery, our goal is to provide laser-focused attention, care, support and treatment for those who do.” 

For each new patient, the new clinic will take a multidisciplinary team approach by partnering with the patient’s primary care physician and medical oncologist to develop a customized and patient-specific treatment plan. This may include a combination of radiation therapy, medical oncology and innovative surgical approaches. Along the way, each patient is also paired with a breast nurse navigator to answer questions and to help remove any barriers to care.

The new Novant Health Breast Surgery location in Winston-Salem will be staffed by Christman, Carr and Kellam, who are all board-certified. The satellite clinic will be staffed by Christman. 

• Christman earned her medical degree at Medical College of Ohio and completed her internship and residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Ohio. Christman has more than 10 years of experience in surgery and has been serving the Winston-Salem and Kernersville communities for her entire career. She feels a special connection with breast cancer patients and is passionate about providing care and treatment. Outside of work, Christman is proud to be a wife and mother of two home-schooled daughters. She also enjoys gardening, tending to her small flock of chickens and beekeeping. 
• Carr earned his undergraduate degree at Davidson College, medical degree at Duke University and completed his internship and residency at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He chose to focus his career on surgery because of the acute nature and immediacy of relief that it provides for his patients. He has 30 years of surgical experience with over half of his career solely dedicated to surgical and nonsurgical interventions for breast cancer patients. He is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. Carr also pioneered the sentinel node biopsy and MammoSite partial breast irradiation procedure in the Winston-Salem area. Since 2018, Carr has been the top enrolling nationwide investigator of a scientific probe (Lumicell) to facilitate the removal of all cancer cells from lumpectomy cavities. Outside of work, Carr enjoys spending time with his wife, adult children and their expanding family.
• Kellam earned her medical degree from Wake Forest University and completed her residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. As a board-certified general surgeon, she has more than 20 years of experience and is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. Kellam’s motivation to enter the medical field came from her father, a retired and well-respected general surgeon. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her three children, cheering on the Atlanta Braves, running road races and serving on medical mission trips. 

Novant Health Breast Surgery in Winston-Salem will see patients Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 336-277-6300 or visit NovantHealth.org/BreastSurgery. 

Novant Health Breast Surgery in Kernersville will see patients Tuesday, from 8 a.m. to noon, but will also be available to take calls or to schedule visits at other locations all other days of the week. To schedule an appointment, call 336-277-6300 or visit NovantHealth.org/BreastSurgery.

The area’s first Novant Health Breast Surgery clinic opened in Greensboro last year. It is staffed by Dr. Judy Tjoe, a board-certified surgeon who specializes in breast cancer. Tjoe is also a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. The clinic sees patients Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 336-660-5540 or visit NovantHealth.org/BreastSurgery.

Dr. Tjoe will also start seeing patients at Novant Health Cancer Institute in Thomasville beginning July 14. While this clinic specializes in treating all cancers, Tjoe will specifically see breast cancer patients Thursday mornings. To schedule an appointment, call 336-481-1950 or visit NovantHealth.org/CancerThomasville.