Breast Medical Oncologist
Director - Breast Cancer Prevention Center
 Dr. Fabian founded the High Risk Clinic in 1989 which has evolved into the Breast Cancer Prevention Center.  She has been on the faculty of KUMC since 1977 and is a Professor of Internal Medicine as well as a board certified Medical Oncologist.  She is the recipient of the Kansas Masonic Research Endowed Chair and leads the Risk Assessment Prevention and Cancer Control Program in the Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute.  She is responsible for overall clinical care and clinical research protocols at the center.

Prevention Center Appointments

(913) 588-3800

Cancer Center Appointments

(913) 588-3671

Office

(913) 588-7791

Dr. Kimler  is a radiation and cancer biologist, and a Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology. He has been at KUMC since 1977 and has been an integral part of the High Risk Clinic and Breast Cancer Prevention Center since the early 1990’s.  He plays a major role in budgetary and regulatory matters and in organizational and operational aspects of the research protocols.  His research interests are in breast biology and early detection including non-radiation based breast imaging (spectroscopy), and mammographic breast density.   

Office (913) 588-3660

bkimler@kumc.edu

Qamar J. Khan, M.D.

Breast Medical Oncologist

Dr. Khan joined the Hematology/Oncology faculty at KUMC in January 2005.  He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine.  His interests include: clinical treatment trials, quality of life issues, and chemoprevention.  He sees high-risk patients in the Breast Cancer Prevention Center as well as breast cancer patients in the Cancer Center.  He is studying the incidence of Vitamin D insufficiency in women beginning aromatase inhibitor treatment after the diagnosis of breast cancer for and the role that Vitamin D might play in alleviation of  joint pain commonly associated with aromatase inhibitors.  Dr. Khan is also heavily involved in research related to mammographic density and cell proliferation in women without cancer.

Prevention Center Appointments  

(913) 588-3800

Cancer Center Appointments 

(913) 588-3671

Office

 (913) 588-3375

qkhan@kumc.edu

Priyanka Sharma, M.D.

Breast Medical Oncologist

Dr. Sharma became a member of the    Hematology/Oncology faculty in September 2005.  She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine.  She sees high-risk patients in the Breast Cancer Prevention Center as well as breast cancer patients in the Cancer Center.  Her current research interests are in neoadjuvant chemotherapy for women who are ER, PR and HER-2 negative, and prevention trials with statins.  

Prevention Center Appointments  

(913) 588-3800

Cancer Center Appointments

 (913) 588-3671

Office

(913) 588-3375

Psharma2@kumc.edu

Brian Petroff, DVM, Ph.D.,

Scientific Director,

Breast Cancer Prevention Center Laboratory

Dr. Petroff is a Veterinarian and has a Ph.D. in Reproductive Endocrinology.  He is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine.  He has developed an animal model of simultaneous breast and ovarian precancer which will ultimately be helpful in determining how breast and ovarian tissue will respond to prevention drugs.  He is also involved in determining how breast stem cells might be involved in breast and ovarian precancer development as well as other biomarkers used in prevention trials. 

Office phone (913) 588-3992

Lab phone (913) 588-3917

bpetroff@kumc.edu

Jennifer Klemp, M.P.H., Ph.D.

Clinical Psychologist/ Cancer Risk Counselor

Jennifer received a Masters degree in Public Health and a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology from the University of Kansas.  She joined the Breast Cancer Prevention Center staff in 1996 and has had significant involvement in clinical research as well as provided prevention consultations and genetic counseling.  Dr. Klemp has a strong interest in patients' quality of life issues following cancer treatment.  In addition to performing genetic counseling for the prevention center, she will be the Program Manager of the Breast Cancer Survivorship Center opening late summer 2007.

Office (913) 588-3657

nfiggins@kumc.edu

Susan Baxa, RN

Research Nurse Clinician

Susan joined the Breast Cancer Prevention Center in 2006 with a background in Hematology/Oncology.  She is currently a study coordinator for multiple trials including:

1) Letrozole for high-risk postmenopausal  women on hormone replacement therapy

2) Flaxseed extract for high-risk premenopausal women

3) Vitamin D replacement for women with breast cancer initiating aromatase inhibitor adjuvant therapy. 

Office (913) 588-3622

sbaxa@kumc.edu

Sonya Cox, B.S.

Senior Research Coordinator

Sonya obtained a bachelors degree in Dietetics from the University of Missouri- Columbia and is currently working towards a masters degree in Public Health.  She plays a major role in Dr. Fabian's prevention clinics.  She records medical and family history and notes any current concerns for their patients.  She is also involved in getting patients' outside records and reporting back test results.  In addition, she is the Study Coordinator for the Diet and Exercise Prevention Study opening early Spring 2007. 

Office (913) 588-3801

Scox2@kumc.edu

Veronica Alexander, B.S.

Senior Research Coordinator

Veronica received a bachelors degree  in Biology from Hampton University.  She plays a major role in Dr. Sharma and Dr. Kahn's prevention clinics.  She records medical and family history and notes any current concerns for their patients.   She also assists with aspirations and consents patients for genetic testing.  In addition, she is the study coordinator for ROCA which monitors women’s risk for ovarian cancer through periodic blood tests (currently closed to further entry). 

Office (913) 588-3963

valexander@kumc.edu

Jennifer Roweton , B.A.

Senior Research Coordinator

 Jennifer received a bachelors degree in Advertising/ Public Relations from the Texas Christian University School of Journalism.  She joined the prevention center staff in 2004 and is familiar with both the clinical and research branches.  She assists in the aspiration clinic and plays a significant role in clinical research trial support.  In addition, she is the study coordinator for Intergenetics,  Oncovue testing as well as assessment of vitamin D levels and bone density in women at increased risk for breast cancer. 

Office (913) 588-0647

jroweton@kumc.edu

Amy Kreutzjans

Health Care Technician

Amy is usually the first person a patient sees when checking into the clinic.  She handles registration, breast imaging scheduling and will perform phlebotomy if indicated.  Amy is the person to call to make, cancel or reschedule an appointment. 

Office (913) 588-3800

akreutzjans@kumc.edu

Rebecca Meneely, B.A.

Senior Administrative Assistant to Dr. Fabian

Becky has obtained degrees in Business and Psychology.  She is involved in grant, manuscript and protocol preparation and coordinates Dr. Fabian’s schedule.  She interfaces with multiple individuals at the National Cancer Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center and other universities.  She is not involved in patient scheduling. 

Office (913) 588-7791

meneely@kumc.edu

Valerie Hahn, B.A.

Research Administrative Coordinator

Valerie obtained a bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison in English Literature and Linguistics and has worked in research for 14 years. She responsible for multiple operational functions within the prevention center such as ordering supplies and payroll.   She also provides administrative assistance to Drs. Khan and Sharma.  She is not involved in patient scheduling. 

Office 913-588-3375

vhahn@kumc.edu

Laboratory Staff

Teresa Phillips, M.S.

Senior Research Associate 

Teresa received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Michigan State University and a Master of Science degree in Biochemistry from Iowa State University.  She is responsible for running many tests performed as part of prevention trials, including blood and tissue assays for hormones growth factors, laser capture microdissection of thin prep and paraffin embedded tissue sections and qRT-PCR assays of biomarkers.

Office (913) 588-3834

tphillip@kumc.edu

Trina Metheny, BHS, CT (ASCP)

Manager of Cytology and Immunocytochemistry

Trina received a BHS in Cytotechnology from Wichita State University.  She has over 25 years of laboratory experience and heads the cytology subsection of the laboratory.  She is responsible for oversight and quality control, processing, staining of fine needle aspirate specimens and interpretation of immunochemistry specimens.

Office (913) 588-3917

tmetheny@kumc.edu

Jennifer Hughes, B.S.

Senior Laboratory Associate

jhughes@kumc.edu

Tammy Kennedy, B.S.

Computer Information Specialist

Tammy has bachelor degrees in biology and chemistry from Emporia State University. She is responsible for developing the case report forms and creating the databases for all non-NCI funded trials.

She performs much of the data entry for these trials and is responsible for much of the day-to-day interface with the statistical unit.

Office (913) 588-3658

tkennedy@kumc.edu

Postdoctoral Fellow, Internal Medicine
Kelli came to KUMC in 2004 after completing her doctoral studies in physiological sciences at the University of Arizona. She previously earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science from the University of Missouri. Her current research focuses on the use of proteomics to identify early markers of breast cancer risk and examining the role breast stem cells play in cancer risk assessment and chemoprevention.

Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Alison received her bachelor of art degree in microbiology from the University of Kansas. She is a Ph.D. candidate in molecular and integrative physiology under the mentorship of Dr. Brian Petroff. Alison’s current research projects include the development and characterization of a preclinical (rat) model of simultaneous breast and ovarian cancer.