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
Director Breast Surgery, Department of Global Oncology Program - Cancer Network, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2023 - Present
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
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
| 2024 - Present | Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CGCAHPS) survey |
| 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, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2022 | Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CGCAHPS) Survey, 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 |
| 2019 | Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CGCAHPS) Survey, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2010 | Administrative Chief General Surgery Resident, East Carolina University |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 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
- 2024. Personalized Approaches in Axillary Management for Breast Cancer. Conference. Indonesia International Cancer Conference. Bali, ID.
- 2024. Clinical Evaluation of Breast Symptoms. Invited. Integrated Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening Workshop. Bali, ID.
- 2024. High risk Lesions. Invited. Brazilian Women's Cancer Congress. Rio de Janeiro, BR.
- 2024. Locoregional treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Conference. Brazilian Women's Cancer Congress. Rio de Janeiro, BR.
- 2024. Clinical Breast Exam & Evaluation of Breast symptoms. Invited. Pre-Symposium Integrated Cervical and Breast cancer workshop - Zambia 2024 Oncology Symposium. Lusaka, ZM.
- 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. Multidisciplinary management of breast cancer (surgeon’s perspective). Invited. IAEA/PAHO Breast Imaging Training, US.
- 2024. Breast exam Course & Evaluation of Clinical Breast Findings. Invited. CDH/MD Anderson Zambia Research Conference. Ndola, ZM.
- 2023. Clinical Evaluation of Breast Findings. Invited. ECHO IGCS - Rwanda, RW.
- 2023. Avaliacao Clinica da Mama. Invited. IGCS worshop -Maputo. Maputo, MZ.
- 2023. Challenges in the Management of Breast Cancer in Zambia. Invited. MDACC/CDH Cancer Symposium. Lusaka, ZM.
- 2021. Armadilhas do tratamento Cirurgico do Cancro de Mama Localmente Avancado. Invited. Workshop Internacional de Cancro de Mama, US.
- 2021. Caso Clinico: Estagiamento Axilar. Invited. Workshop Internacional de Cancro de Mama, US.
- 2018. Rastreamento del Cancer del Seno. Invited, HN.
- 2018. Exame Clinico del Seno. Invited, HN.
- 2017. Manejo da Axila. Invited. ECHO series Mozambique, US.
Formal Peers
- 2024. Role of imaging in Breast Conserving Surgery. Houston, Texas, 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.
- 2018. ECHO Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Care - Mozambique. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2013. Benign Breast Disease, US.
Grant & Contract Support
| 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 - Present |
| 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-PI |
| 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
- 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
- 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.
Abstracts
- Refinetti AP, Chun J, Schnabel FR, Leite AP, Schwartz S, Moy L. The relationship of mammographic breast density and MRI in a high risk population, Poster presentation. SABBCS, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Refinetti AP, Chun J, Schnabel FR, Schwartz S, Guth AA, Axelrod DM. Chemoprevention in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer, Poster presentation. SABCS, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Guth AA, Refinetti AP, Checka CC, Seigel B, Hernandez O, Zamuco R. Atypical vascular lesion after radiation therapy for breast cancer, Poster presentation. ASCO Breast Conference, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- 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, Poster presentation. ASCO Breast Conference, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Chun J, Refinetti AP, Axelrod DM, Guth AA, Schnabel FE. Tumor characteristics in obese women with breast cancer, Poster presentation. ASCO Breast Conference, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Refinetti AP, Checka CC. Atypical Vascular Lesions of the breast not associated with radiation, Poster presentation. American Society of Breast Disease, 2012. e-Pub 2012.
- Refinetti AP, Toevs CC. Impact of Education and Daily Reinforcement on VAP bundle compliance in Surgical Intensive Care Units, Poster presentation. Southeastern Surgical Congress, 2010. e-Pub 2010.
- Refinetti AP, Toevs CC. Saline versus Albumin: fluid resuscitation choice in severe traumatic brain injury, Poster presentation. Society of Critical Care Medicine, 2009. e-Pub 2009.
- 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.
- Refinetti AP, Brahma B, Layman R, Varon M. Enhancing breast cancer multidisciplinary care in Indonesia through Project ECHO. World Cancer Congress.
- 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. Breast Conserving Surgery. In: Diagnostic Imaging, Breast. Elsevier, 2019.
- Refinetti AP, Black DM, Kuerer HM. Targeted Axillary Dissection. In: Diagnostic Imaging, Breast. Third. 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 October 15, 2025