Oncologist Near Me – Lidia Schapira: A Leader in Cancer Care and Medical Education

Welcome to OncoDaily‘s special section “Oncologist Near Me” where we introduce prominent oncologists from around the world.

Here, you can get to know the leading cancer specialists in your area, including both personal and professional details that you won’t find in their research articles.

Interested solely in research? We’ve got that covered too! Discover top research articles by the author, learn about their academic achievements, awards, and honors, watch their interviews, and memorize some quotes for much-needed inspiration!

Lidia Schapira, MD, FASCO

Dr. Lidia Schapira is a distinguished medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer treatment. She is a Professor of Medicine (Oncology) at Stanford University School of Medicine and serves as the Director of the Cancer Survivorship Program. Additionally, she is the Faculty Co-Director for Clinical Research and Clinical Trials at the Office of Cancer Health Equity at the Stanford Cancer Institute. Dr. Schapira serves on the Editorial Board of OncoDaily. She is also the Co-Editor-in-Chief of CancerWorld magazine.

Education

Dr. Lidia Schapira’s educational journey has been a crucial part of shaping her career in oncology. She graduated from Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine in 1982, then went on to complete her residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in 1985. She further specialized by completing a Hematology-Oncology Fellowship at Dana Farber Cancer Institute in 1989. Dr. Schapira is board-certified in both Internal Medicine (1985) and Medical Oncology (1997) by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

When asked about her inspiration to pursue medicine and oncology in a conversation with OncoDaily, she shared that the field allowed her to combine her love for learning with her desire to help others, finding oncology a unique path where both scientific challenges and personal rewards are abundant. As she said,

“Cancer medicine provides a wonderful vocational pathway for physician-scientists and physician humanists to work in a high-risk, high-reward field. There are so many challenges, both scientific and personal, that there is never a dull moment.”

Career

Dr. Lidia Schapira has had an exceptional career in oncology, holding several important roles at Stanford University and beyond. Since 2016, she has been a Professor of Medicine and Physician at Stanford, where she also serves as the Director of the Cancer Survivorship Program. In this role, she leads efforts to improve the quality of life for cancer survivors through specialized care and support.

Additionally, Dr. Schapira is the Faculty Co-Director for Clinical Research and Clinical Trials at the Office of Cancer Health Equity at the Stanford Cancer Institute, ensuring that cancer care is accessible to all patients. In 2023, she took on the role of Director of CME Program Development at Stanford Medicine’s Department of Medicine, overseeing continuing medical education programs.

Recently, CancerWorld announced that that Dr. Shapria had been appointed Co-Editor-in-Chief of CancerWorld magazine, alongside Professor Adriana Albini.

Photo credit to CancerWorld

She has also been an Associate Editor for the Journal of Clinical Oncology since 2022. From 2015 to 2021, she served as Editor-in-Chief of Cancer.net, the official website of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Dr. Schapira was also the Chair of the Psychosocial Oncology Interest Group for the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer from 2014 to 2020 and served as Associate Editor for the Art of Oncology section of the Journal of Clinical Oncology from 2013 to 2023.

From 1990 to 2002, she served as an Attending Physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, then continued her work at Massachusetts General Hospital from 2002 to 2016. During her time in Boston, she held several academic positions at Harvard Medical School, starting as a Clinical Instructor in Hematology-Oncology (1991–2001) and progressing to Assistant Clinical Professor (2001–2004), Assistant Professor of Medicine (2004–2013), and Associate Professor of Medicine (2013–2016).

Through all of these roles, Dr. Schapira has made lasting contributions to the field of oncology, improving both research and patient care. She emphasizes the importance of human relationships and learning from patients, offering this advice to those just beginning their journey in oncology:

“Pay attention to human relationships and connections, and learn everything you can from the patients you serve.”

What continues to motivate her every day is the energy and enthusiasm of her mentees and students, who help her stay grounded in the present while always looking toward the future.

Honors and Awards

• Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (2011)
• Physician of The Year, Cancer Care Inc (Headquarters in NYC, New York) (2015)

Research

Dr. Schapira’s research is centered around improving the lives of cancer patients and survivors, focusing on reducing their suffering and enhancing their overall well-being. A key part of her work is improving communication between patients and clinicians, as she believes that better communication leads to better health outcomes and experiences for patients and their families.

She has been instrumental in developing workshops and educational programs to help cancer clinicians improve their communication skills, creating more compassionate and effective healthcare teams.

Her work has been published in top scientific and academic journals. She served as Editor-in-Chief of Cancer.net from 2015 to 2021 and is currently an Associate Editor for the Journal of Clinical Oncology (since 2022). Dr. Schapira’s research continues to make a significant impact on both the clinical and emotional aspects of cancer care.

Selected publications

1. Kelley JM, Kraft-Todd G, Schapira L, Kossowsky J, Riess H. The influence of the patient-clinician relationship on healthcare outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS One. 2014 Apr 9;9(4):e94207. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094207. Erratum in: PLoS One. 2014;9(6):e101191. PMID: 24718585; PMCID: PMC3981763.
2. Ruddy KJ, Gelber SI, Tamimi RM, Ginsburg ES, Schapira L, Come SE, Borges VF, Meyer ME, Partridge AH. Prospective study of fertility concerns and preservation strategies in young women with breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2014 Apr 10;32(11):1151-6. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2013.52.8877. Epub 2014 Feb 24. PMID: 24567428; PMCID: PMC4164759.
3. Rosenberg SM, Tracy MS, Meyer ME, Sepucha K, Gelber S, Hirshfield-Bartek J, Troyan S, Morrow M, Schapira L, Come SE, Winer EP, Partridge AH. Perceptions, knowledge, and satisfaction with contralateral prophylactic mastectomy among young women with breast cancer: a cross-sectional survey. Ann Intern Med. 2013 Sep 17;159(6):373-81. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-159-6-201309170-00003. PMID: 24042365; PMCID: PMC3968260.
4. Palesh O, Scheiber C, Kesler S, Mustian K, Koopman C, Schapira L. Management of side effects during and post-treatment in breast cancer survivors. Breast J. 2018 Mar;24(2):167-175. doi: 10.1111/tbj.12862. Epub 2017 Aug 27. PMID: 28845551.
5. Schapira L, Antin JH, Ransil BJ, Antman KH, Eder JP, McGarigle CJ, Goldberg MA. Serum erythropoietin levels in patients receiving intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Blood. 1990 Dec 1;76(11):2354-9. doi.org/10.1182/blood.V76.11.2354.2354 PMID: 2257306.

Interviews with Lidia Shapira

What’s on the Mind of a Leading Woman Oncologist? l Walk and Talk with Lidia Schapira – OncoDaily

Cancer and the Mind-Body Connection: A Talk with Lidia Schapira, MD – Standford Medicine

Stanford Women’s Cancer Center Q&A with Lidia Schapira, MD – Standford Medicine

Dr. Lidia Schapira: Hey Doc, What Are You Telling Me? – Our MBC Life

Lessons in Loss – Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation

Interview with Lidia Schapira, MD, New JCO Art of Oncology Editor – ASCO Connection

Beyond the White Coat

When she’s not working, Dr. Lidia Schapira enjoys activities that allow her to fully unwind. Skiing and reading fiction are two of her favorite pastimes because they demand her complete attention, giving her a chance to step away from the demands of work and relax. She also loves spending time with her dog, which never fails to make her laugh as they play together.

Movies are another way she escapes, allowing her to immerse herself in different worlds of fantasy and fiction. Along with watching films, she enjoys taking long walks, visiting modern art exhibits, and traveling. These activities help her recharge and find balance in her busy life.

Dr. Schapira also loves to think deeply about questions and ideas, and writing is something she finds both enjoyable and meaningful. Conversations with friends provide a great source of connection and reflection, allowing her to unwind in a more personal, relaxed way.

Lidia Schapira with Oakley.

We asked Dr. Lidia Schapira to recommend three books and three movies.

For a medical audience, Dr. Lidia Schapira recommends the following three books:

• “When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi – Dr. Schapira was moved by the raw honesty of this memoir, which offers a poignant look at the experience of a young doctor facing a terminal cancer diagnosis.
• “Being Mortal” by Atul Gawande – She appreciates how Gawande weaves his personal family experience into a larger conversation about society’s reluctance to discuss death and dying, as well as the importance of humane end-of-life care.
• “Between Two Kingdoms” by Suleika Jaouad – Dr. Schapira finds this book particularly powerful, as it tells the story of a young adult’s journey through leukemia treatment and survivorship, all without a hint of self-pity.

As for movies, Dr. Schapira shares her favorites:

• “Conclave“, directed by Edward Berger – She loves this recent film for its gripping visuals, drama, and strong performances.

• “Four Weddings and a Funeral“, directed by Mike Newell – This is one of Dr. Schapira’s all-time favorite movies, one she’s watched nearly 20 times. She admires how the film captures the complexities of being human, with memorable characters, humor, and beautiful cinematography.

• “Succession“, created by Jesse Armstrong – Dr. Schapira was hooked on this TV series for its sharp dialogue, compelling drama, and the fast-paced evolution of its many storylines.

A quote from Lidia Shapira

“Most meaningful to me are the moments when I felt that my presence made a change in a situation, that by my ability to be there, either by connecting to somebody, by giving solace to a family, by making the right diagnosis, by providing access to a therapy that profoundly impacted somebody’s life, or just by accompanying and witnessing what was happening, that my being there actually helped.”

How to contact her?

Email:  [email protected]
Location:  900 Blake Wilbur Dr, 3rd Fl MC 6560, Stanford, CA 94305

References

1. Lidia Schapira Professor of Medicine (Oncology) – Standford University
2. Lidia Schapira – Standford University
3. What’s on the Mind of a Leading Woman Oncologist? l Walk and Talk with Lidia Schapira – OncoDaily
4. Lessons in Loss – Conquer Cancer, The ASCO Foundation
5. Lidia Schapira MD, FASCO – U.S. News
6. Lidia Schapira MD, FASCO – LBBC
7. Lidia Schapira – LinkedIn

See also:

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