Meet Ana Refinetti, M.D.
Ana Paula Correa Refinetti, M.D.
Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery
About Dr. Refinetti
Dr. Refinetti earned her medical degree from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She completed her general surgery residency at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. Following her residency, Dr. Refinetti completed a Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship at New York University. She practiced general and breast surgery in Kansas before joining the faculty of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center as a breast surgeon. Her clinical interests include breast cancer in underserved populations and breast cancer management in the extremes of the age.
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Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Sugar Land, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2004 | Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janero, BR, MD |
Postgraduate Training
| 2011-2012 | Clinical Fellowship, Breast Surgical Oncology, New York University, New York, New York |
| 2009-2011 | Clinical Residency, General Surgery, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina |
| 2007-2009 | Clinical Residency, General Surgery, Virginia Tech - Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, Virginia |
| 2006-2007 | Clinical Internship, General Surgery, University of Miami - Jackson Memorial, Miami, Florida |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2024 | Basic Life Support |
| 2016 | Texas Medical Board |
| 2012 | American Board of Surgery, General Surgery |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, TX, 2016 - 2022
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Co-Director, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2026 - Present
Director, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2026 - Present
Director Breast Surgery, Department of Global Oncology Program - Cancer Network, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2023 - Present
Director, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2023 - Present
Director, Maputo Central Hospital, Maputo, Maputo City, 2018 - 2024
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Co-Chair, Gynecology Oncology Chair Search Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2026 - Present
Member, Cancer Alliance of Texas (CAT), Texas Health and Human Services Commission, 2025 - Present Member, Implementation Science in Global Health Action Group, National Institute of Health, 2024 - Present Member, International Committee, Society of Surgical Oncology, 2023 - 2025 Member, Reach Executive Community, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - Present Member, Global Oncology Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present Member, Junior Faculty Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2022 Member, DoS Diversity & Inclusion Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2020 - 2023 Representative, Faculty Senate, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2022 Chair, Sugar Land HAL Patient Experience Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2023 Member, DoS HAL Strategic Growth Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2019 - 2022 Member, MD Anderson Ambassador Program, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2026 - Present | Faculty Honoree for the 2027 Faculty Achievement Award in the Cancer Prevention & Community Outreach category, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2025 - Present | 2025 Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CGCAHPS) survey -Top 1% Provider |
| 2024 - Present | Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CGCAHPS) survey Top 10% provider |
| 2024 | Faculty Excellence Award, Community Outreach, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2023 | Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CGCAHPS) Survey Top 10% provider, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2022 | Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CGCAHPS) Survey Top 1% Provider, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2021 - 2022 | Perfect score provider team, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2021 | Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CGCAHPS) Survey Top 1% Provider |
| 2019 | Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CGCAHPS) Survey 10% Top Performer, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2010 | Administrative Chief General Surgery Resident, East Carolina University |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2026. Global Oncology & Oncologic Surgery Panel: Changing Realities, Shared Responsibilities. Invited. 14th Annual Houston Global Health Collaborative (HGHC) Conference, Texas A&M School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed). Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. "Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis – what to do tomorrow in clinic?”. Invited. Project ECHO-CCP. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Breast cancer health disparities and global oncology. Invited. Breast Surgical Oncology Education Conference. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Global Needs for Point of Care technologies – Breast Cancer. Invited. CITEC Meeting. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Breast Cancer Screening and Early Detection. Invited. Cervical Cancer Prevention Training. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. MDA Faculty Career Expo: Global Oncology. Activity describing engagement opportunities in Global Oncology for MD Anderson Faculty. Invited. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Clinical Evaluation of Breast Findings. Invited. ECHO cervical cancer prevention - RIo Grande Valley, texas, US.
- 2021. NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH 2021 : Faculty Mentoring Matters. Invited. Virtual Fireside Chat (MDACC). Houston, Texas, US.
International Presentations
- 2026. Oncologic Strategy in Breast Reconstruction: Planning Beyond the Incision. Invited. The 7th Asia Pacific Federation of Societies for Reconstructive Microsurgery (APFSRM). Bali, ID.
- 2026. Breast Autologous Reconstruction. Panelist. The 7th Asia Pacific Federation of Societies for Reconstructive Microsurgery (APFSRM).
- 2026. Primary Cancer Prevention. Invited. Luanda.
- 2026. Impact of multidisciplinary care in oncology patient outcomes. Invited. Maputo, MZ.
- 2026. Breast Pathology: A Surgeon’s Perspective. Jakarta, ID.
- 2026. Workshop Breast Oncoplasty. Jakarta, ID.
- 2026. Decision Making in Oncoplastic Breast Surgery: Tailoring Surgery to Tumor Biology. Invited. Jakarta, ID.
- 2026. Surgical Decision Making Based On Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation in Breast Cancer. Invited. Jakarta, ID.
- 2026. Clinical Breast Exam & Evaluation of Breast symptoms. Invited. Jakarta, ID.
- 2026. The Future of Breast Surgical Oncology. Invited. Jakarta, ID.
- 2025. Clinical Breast Examination. Afya Dada project - Collaboration with Kenya National Cancer Control Program and World Economic Forum. Machakos, KE.
- 2025. Clinical Implications of NSABP-B51. Invited. Simpósio Internacional Oncologia Américas. Rio de Janeiro, BR.
- 2025. Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer care - Surgeon's Perspective. ECHO NOTRE Indonesia. Jakarta, ID.
- 2025. Understanding benefits of CBE for Breast Cancer Early Detection in Low resource Settings. Panelist. Sao Paulo, BR.
- 2025. Understanding benefits of CBE for Breast Cancer Early Detection in Low resource Settings. Invited. XXXIV CURSO INTERNACIONAL DE COLPOSCOPIA, LEEP E CONCEITOS EM CANCRO DO COLO DO ÚTERO. Maputo, MZ.
- 2024. Clinical Evaluation of Breast Symptoms. Invited. Integrated Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening Workshop. Bali, ID.
- 2024. Personalized Approaches in Axillary Management for Breast Cancer. Conference. Indonesia International Cancer Conference. Bali, ID.
- 2024. Locoregional treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Conference. Brazilian Women's Cancer Congress. Rio de Janeiro, BR.
- 2024. Strengthening Breast Cancer Management in Zambia: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Screening, Diagnosis, and Surgical Interventions. Invited. Zambia Ministry of Health, MD Anderson Cancer Center & Cancer Diseases Hospital Joint Oncology Symposium. Lusaka, ZM.
- 2024. Clinical Breast Exam & Evaluation of Breast symptoms. Invited. Pre-Symposium Integrated Cervical and Breast cancer workshop - Zambia 2024 Oncology Symposium. Lusaka, ZM.
- 2024. High risk Lesions. Invited. Brazilian Women's Cancer Congress. Rio de Janeiro, BR.
- 2024. Breast exam Course & Evaluation of Clinical Breast Findings. Invited. CDH/MD Anderson Zambia Research Conference. Ndola, ZM.
- 2023. Targeted Axillary Lymph node Dissection. Invited. Jakarta, ID.
- 2023. “ Breast Cancer Screening”. Invited. Maputo, MZ.
- 2023. Challenges in the Management of Breast Cancer in Zambia. Invited. MDACC/CDH Cancer Symposium. Lusaka, ZM.
- 2021. Caso Clinico: Estagiamento Axilar. Invited. Workshop Internacional de Cancro de Mama, US.
- 2021. Armadilhas do tratamento Cirurgico do Cancro de Mama Localmente Avancado. Invited. Workshop Internacional de Cancro de Mama, US.
- 2018. Exame Clinico del Seno. Invited, HN.
- 2018. Rastreamento del Cancer del Seno. Invited, HN.
- 2017. Manejo da Axila. Invited. ECHO series Mozambique, US.
Formal Peers
- 2026. Breast Cancer Early Detection and Screening. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2026. Breast Cancer Early Detection and Screening. Jakarta, Jakarta, ID.
- 2025. Breast Cancer Early Detection and Screening. Tunis, Tunis Governorate, TN.
- 2025. Multidisciplinary Management of Breast Cancer (surgeon’s perspective). Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Hands On Practice Clinical Breast Examination. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Integrated Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Workshop. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Breast Cancer Screening and Early Detection. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Role of imaging in Breast Conserving Surgery. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Evaluation of Clinical Breast Findings. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Surgical Approaches in Breast Cancer Management. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Multidisciplinary management of breast cancer (surgeon’s perspective). Invited, US.
- 2024. Breast Cancer Lecture Series - Indonesia. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2024. Health Equity Expert Panel. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Surgical management of the axilla. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Avaliacao Clinica da Mama. Invited. Maputo, MZ.
- 2023. ECHO - Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Care Indonesia. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Clinical Evaluation of Breast Findings. Invited, RW.
- 2023. Avaliacao Clinica da Mama. Invited. Maputo, MZ.
- 2018. ECHO Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Care - Mozambique. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2013. Benign Breast Disease, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2026 - 2028 |
| Title: | Breast CARE ECHO |
| Funding Source: | philanthropic funds |
| Role: | PI |
| Date: | 2026 - 2029 |
| Title: | Access BreastDX |
| Funding Source: | Robert J Kleberg Jr and Helen C Kleberg Foundation |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2024 - Present |
| Title: | Deep Learning Microscope for Slide-free and Digital Histology: A Clinical Study to Optimize and Validate the Technical Performance Characteristics of a Deep-learning Extended Depth-of-field Microscope |
| Funding Source: | ARPA-H |
| Role: | Co-PI |
| Date: | 2023 - 2025 |
| Title: | A jornada da mulher com câncer de mama em Moçambique: qual o melhor caminho? Uma intervenção para diminuir as desigualdades no tratamento do câncer de mama, |
| Funding Source: | CIRGO |
| Role: | Co-I |
| Date: | 2021 - 2023 |
| Title: | Feasibility study to evaluate performance of the Lum Imaging System for intraoperative detection of Residual Tumor in patients with breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant therapy |
| Funding Source: | Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation |
| Role: | PI |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Huynh, VD, Glencer, AC, Yi, M, Wingate, E, Wingate, H, Allassan, N, Alameddine, S, Singh, P, Kuerer, HM, Hunt, KK, Correa Refinetti, AP. Impact of Pathologic Complete Response on Local-Regional Recurrence and Survival in Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy and Breast-Conserving Surgery. Annals of surgical oncology 32(11):8160-8167, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40762776.
- Kuerer, HM, Valero, V, Smith, BD, Krishnamurthy, S, Diego, EJ, Johnson, HM, Lin, Y, Shen, Y, Lucci, A, Shaitelman, SF, Mitchell, MP, Boughey, JC, White, RL, Hunt, KK, Yang, WT, Rauch, GM, Moseley, T, Leung, J, Huang, ML, Candelaria, RP, Adrada, BE, Arribas, E, van la Parra, RF, Ramirez, DL, Teshome, M, Hwang, RF, Miggins, MV, Piotrowski, MJ, Correa Refinetti, AP, Ehlers II, RA, Mouabbi, JA, Colen, JS, Loveland-Jones, C, Lesnikowski, BA, Samiian, L, Chong, C, Black, DM, Desyder, SM, Sun, SX, Nguyen, TM. Selective Elimination of Breast Surgery for Invasive Breast Cancer A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncology 11(5):529-534, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40152443.
- Johnson HM, Lin H, Shen Y, Diego EJ, Krishnamurthy S, Yang WT, Smith BD, Valero V, Lucci A, Sun SX, Shaitelman SF, Mitchell MP, Boughey JC, White RL, Rauch GM, Exceptional Responders Study Group, Kuerer HM. Patient-Reported Outcomes of Omission of Breast Surgery Following Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open 6(9):e2333933, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37707811.
- Carlson, KA, Checka, CM, Hunt, KK, Jung, J, Bridges, CA, Singh, P, Correa Refinetti, AP, Moseley, T, Perez, F, Mayo, C, Tamirisa, N. Evaluation of a Surgical Navigation System for Localization and Excision of Nonpalpable Lesions in Breast and Axillary Surgery. Breast Journal 2023, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 38162957.
- Kuerer, HM, Smith, B, Krishnamurthy, S, Yang, WT, Valero, V, Shen, Y, Lin, Y, Lucci, A, Boughey, JC, White, RL, Diego, EJ, Rauch, GM, Moseley, T, van la Parra, RF, Adrada, BE, Leung, J, Sun, SX, Teshome, M, Miggins, MV, Hunt, KK, DeSnyder, SM, Ehlers II, RA, Hwang, RF, Colen, JS, Arribas, E, Samiian, L, Lesnikoski, BA, Piotrowski, MJ, Bedrosian, I, Chong, CD, Correa Refinetti, AP, Huang, ML, Candelaria, RP, Loveland-Jones, C, Mitchell, MP, Shaitelman, SF. Eliminating breast surgery for invasive breast cancer in exceptional responders to neoadjuvant systemic therapy. The Lancet Oncology 23(12):1517-1524, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36306810.
- Schnabel FR, Pivo S, Chun J, Schwartz S, Refinetti AP, Axelrod D, Guth A. Breast Cancer Profile among Patients with a History of Chemoprevention. Int J Breast Cancer 2016:9216375, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 28078143.
Professional Educational Materials
- Joseph KA, Refinetti AP. BESAP I – Breast Cancer Management. ASBrS Online Breast Manual, 2012.
Other Articles
- Huynh, VD, Glencer, AC, Yi, M, Wingate, E, Wingate, H, Allassan, N, Alameddine, S, Singh, P, Kuerer, HM, Hunt, KK, Correa Refinetti, AP Correction. Annals of surgical oncology 32(11):8168, 2025. PMID: 40952542.
- Omofoye, TS, Correa Refinetti, AP, Kizub, DA, Bond, M Value-Based Care in Low- to Middle-Income Countries. Journal of the American College of Radiology 21(8):1162-1165, 2024. PMID: 38599360.
- Johnson HM, Valero V, Smith BD, Krishnamurthy S, Refinetti AP, Kuerer HM Eliminating Breast Surgery for Invasive Cancer with Exceptional Response to Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy: Prospective Multicenter Clinical Trial Planned Initial Feasibility Endpoint. J Am Coll Surg, 2023. PMID: 36856291.
Abstracts
- Tran OU, Refinetti AP, Omofoye TS, Milan J, Lopez Varon M, Baker E, Pontremoli M, Schmeler, KM. Integration of Cervical and Breast Screening and Early Detection Training. Medical Students Summer in Oncology at Anderson Research (SOAR) Program.
- Refinetti AP, Brahma B, Layman R, Varon M. Enhancing breast cancer multidisciplinary care in Indonesia through Project ECHO. World Cancer Congress.
- Huynh V, Glencer A, Yi M, Wingate E, Wingate H, Allassan N, Alameddine S, Singh P, Kuerer HM, Hunt K, Refinetti AP. Impact of pathologic complete response on local-regional recurrence and survival in patients undergoing neoadjuvant systemic therapy and breast conserving surgery. American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meeting.
- Leonard LD, Sun J, Bassett R, Ehlers R, Johnson H, Refinetti AP, Akay H, Suarez Colon J, Bedrosian I, Hunt K, Tamirisa N. Surgeon Interpretation of Margin Status Utilizing Intraoperative 3D Tomosynthesis During Breast Conserving Surgery. American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meeting.
- Mohan SC, Yi M, Varon M, Guerrero R, Omofoye T, Brahma B, Mwala K, Schmeler K, Refinetti AP. Impact of Breast Cancer Screening Workshops in Indonesia and Zambia. NIH 13th Annual Symposium of Global Cancer research.
- Zaveri S, Refinetti AP, Yi M, Van Ramshorst G. Impact of the SSO International Career Development Exchange program on global surgical and cancer-care capacity building. Society of Surgical Oncology.
- Wu J, Hou H, Sheyitov B, Williams T, Carns J, Schwarz RA, Gillenwater AM, Williams M, Huo L, Refinetti AP, Horstmeyer R, Veeraraghavan A, Richards-Kortum R. AccessPath: a deep learning extended depth-of-field array-microscope for rapid intraoperative tumor margin assessment. Computational Optical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Sciences III.
- Matin S, Kortum P, Williams T, Williams M, Huo L, Refinetti AP, Gillenwater A, Richards-Kortum R. Human-Machine Function Allocation in an Automated Intraoperative Pathology System. International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care.
- Refinetti AP, Akay C, Suarez Colen J, Miggins M, Yi M, Checka C. Predictors of Nodal Upstage in Early-Stage Invasive Lobular Carcinoma in Women Eligible for Sentinel Node Biopsy Omission. The American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meeting.
- Tamirisa N, Koppala M, Penmetcha V, Gianchandani A, Refinetti AP, Kanneganti S, Pillarisetti R. Understanding barriers to the clinical breast exam in telangana, India: A survey study of participants and non participants in underserved rural and urban areas. American Society of Clinical Oncology.
- Refinetti AP, Toevs CC, Gilbert C, Remine S. Saline versus Albumin: fluid resuscitation choice in severe traumatic brain injury, Poster presentation. Society of Critical Care Medicine.
- Refinetti AP, Toevs CC. Impact of Education and Daily Reinforcement on VAP bundle compliance in Surgical Intensive Care Units, Poster presentation. Southeastern Surgical Congress.
- Refinetti AP, Checka CC. Atypical Vascular Lesions of the breast not associated with radiation. American Society of Breast Disease.
- Chun J, Refinetti AP, Schnabel FR, Leite AP, Schwartz S, Moy L. The relationship of breast density, BMI, and menopause status in mammography and MRI. ASCO Breast Conference.
- Refinetti AP, Checka CC, Seigel B, Hernandez O, Zamuco R, Guth AA, Shapiro R. Atypical vascular lesion after radiation therapy for breast cancer. ASCO Breast Conference.
- Chun J, Refinetti AP, Guth AA, Schnabel FE, Axelrod DM. Tumor characteristics in obese women with breast cancer. ASCO Breast Conference.
- Refinetti AP, Chun J, Schnabel FR, Guth AA, Axelrod DM. Chemoprevention in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. SABCS.
- Chun J, Refinetti AP, Schnabel FR, Leite AP, Schwartz S, Moy L. The Relationship of Breast Density in Mammography and Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging in a High Risk Population. SABBCS.
- Park KU, Kyrish K, Terrell JA, Akay CL, Bedrosian I, Black DM, Caudle AS, Refinetti AP, Checka CC, Thompson AM, DeSnyder SM. Opioid prescriptions after breast cancer surgery: Perception and reality. American Society of Clinical Oncology.
- Johnson HM, Smith B, Refinetti AP, Kuerer H. Eliminating breast surgery for invasive cancer with exceptional response to neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST). Western Surgical Association.
- Piotrowski M, Refinetti AP, Checka C. Development of an application-based digital navigator for perioperative breast surgery patients. SSO.
- Zaveri S, Homian NM, Gaskill C, Adoubi I, Refinetti AP, Kizub D. Breast Cancer Care in Cote d’Ivoire: preliminary results from a breast cancer care capacity assessment survey. AORTIC.
- Zaveri S, Soares L, Oliveira Junior I, Cagnacci Neto R, Martin D, Refinetti AP. Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes). AORTIC.
Book Chapters
- Refinetti AP, Black DM, Kuerer HM. Targeted Axillary Dissection. In: Diagnostic Imaging, Breast. Third. Elsevier, 2019.
- Refinetti AP, Black DM. Breast Conserving Surgery. In: Diagnostic Imaging, Breast. Elsevier, 2019.
Books (edited and written)
- Refinetti AP, Love K, Carter J. The Richard E. Dean ABSITE Review Manual. East Carolina Press, 2010.
Web Publications
- Farley C, Refinetti AP. Diagnosis and surgical management of early stage breast cancer, 2023.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified May 27, 2026