Rachel E. Beard, MD, is fellowship-trained in surgical oncology and in surgery of the liver, pancreas, and biliary tract. She is an assistant professor of surgery at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Her research focuses on minimally invasive approaches to liver and pancreas surgery and immunotherapy for the treatment of widespread malignancies….
Feature Stories
Pioneers of fetal surgery in RI mark milestone
Twenty years ago, Dr. Francois Luks, a pediatric surgeon with Brown Surgical Associates, and Dr. Stephen Carr, a maternal and fetal specialist from Women and Infants Hospital, embarked on a partnership that would change countless lives. The duo became the first in New England to perform in utero surgery on identical twins with a condition…
Controversies in Bariatric Surgery: Should the procedure be offered to prisoners?
The United States has seen a significant increase in the number of incarcerated individuals, increasing from 250,000 to 6.6 million prisoners over the last three decades. Given the obesity epidemic in the United States, it is not surprising that significant numbers of these prisoners are obese and have obesity-related co-morbidities. Brown Surgical Associates’ Andrew R….
Colorectal cancer rates up among younger adults
Colorectal cancer rates have gone up among younger adults. It’s an issue that has gotten more attention after the recent death of actor and activist Chadwick Boseman. “Unfortunately it’s a tragedy we see all too often,” said Brown Surgical Associates’ Dr. Steven Schechter, who is also the interim chief of colorectal surgery at Lifespan. “Under…
Trauma admissions spiking at RI Hospital due to vehicle, motorcycle crashes
Over the past several months, as the state eased up on shutdown restrictions, the number of motor vehicles and motorcycles on the road aren’t the only things that have steadily increased. Dr. Stephanie Lueckel, a trauma surgeon with Brown Surgical Associates, told Channel 10’s Barbara Morse the number of trauma admissions related to crashes has…
Innovative fecal incontinence treatment ‘life changing’ for Dr. Roth patient
An innovative experimental treatment for female fecal incontinence that’s currently only performed in the United States by Brown Surgical Associate’s Dr. Leslie Roth is showing results. “Nobody should have to struggle with what I’m struggling with, what I’ve been struggling with when there’s this option,” said 34-year-old Taylor Reeve, who last year made the trip…
Pandemic could lead to increase in deaths from breast, colon cancers
In a recent editorial in Science publication, the nation’s top cancer doctor, Norman “Ned” Sharpless, expressed concern that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and decreased screenings, the number of cancer deaths could dramatically increase over the next 10 years. Dr. Christine Emmick from Brown Surgical Associates Center for Breast Care spoke with Channel 10’s Barbara…
BSA’s Dr. Moreira works to build healthier communities
At age 14, Dr. Carla Moreira, an aspiring doctor, helped her grandfather, who didn’t speak English, navigate his medical care. Though “most of the experiences we had were great,” she was “keenly aware” of how language barriers affected his care. “I couldn’t imagine how much worse it would have been if I didn’t speak English,”…
Local teenager benefits from bariatric weight loss surgery
A local teen is benefiting from bariatric weight loss surgery performed by Brown Surgical Associate’s own Dr. Elizabeth Renaud. “I was just absolutely miserable all the time, like mentally and physically, always exhausted,” said 18-year-old Jenna Bergeron of East Providence. She says she grew up overweight and endured kids calling mean names. It took an…
5 questions with Dr. Graves
Breast surgeon Dr. Theresa A. Graves is director of the Breast Cancer Center at the Lifespan Cancer Institute and director of the Center for Breast Care at Brown Surgical Associates Inc. In a recent article on Providence Business News, Graves discusses what impacts the COVID-19 health crisis has had on the practices, and explains how…
