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The surgical oncologists at Carolinas Medical Center's Division of Surgical Oncology have broad expertise in cancer treatment providing comprehensive specialized care for patients with breast cancer, melanoma, sarcoma, upper gastrointestinal malignancies, non-melanoma skin cancers, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer and endocrine tumors.

The Surgical Oncology group uses the most specialized techniques available, including sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer and melanoma, breast MRI, skin sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, sphincter sparing surgery for low rectal cancers (avoiding colostomy), treatment for liver tumors including resection, regional chemotherapy and radiofrequency ablation, laparoscopic colon resection, advanced laparoscopic tumor resections and placement of high-dose brachytherapy implants for focused radiation therapy treatments (including Mammosite).

All members of the Division of Surgical Oncology are educators: not only teaching resident surgeons but experienced surgeons who seek up to date instruction in the multifaceted management of cancer patients. Our program teaches surgeons the use of specialized techniques emphasizing the multidisciplinary nature of today's cancer care.

The Division of Surgical Oncology interacts on a daily basis with the cancer care team to discuss the most appropriate treatment for patients at each stage of their disease. This multidisciplinary approach is supported by 12 weekly disease site cancer conferences which include medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, in-patient nursing, out-patient nursing, research associates and support staff.

Finally, all of our surgeons are researchers. Since it is research that brings us tomorrow's cures, our surgical oncology team remains on the cutting edge of cancer research. At Blumenthal Cancer Center, we believe our expertise and individualized care for patients provides the best treatment available for those in the fight of their life.

Meet Our Physicians

Richard L. White, Jr., MD, F.A.C.S. - Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology
Dr. White was born in New York City and graduated from the Portsmouth Abbey School in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He went on to Cornell University where he graduated in 1986. He then returned to New York and earned his medical degree from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. After six years in surgical training and research at Georgetown University, he moved to the National Cancer Institute's Surgery Branch. There he spent two years in Surgical Oncology training and an additional year as a fellow in Immunotherapy. Since coming to Charlotte in 1995, Dr. White has served as the Director of Immunotherapy, Co-Director of the Breast Program, Director of the Melanoma Program and now, as Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology. He serves as a member of the Breast Committee for the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Program (NSABP), as a member of the Education Committee of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and has recently been appointed to the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. He has received the Billy Foundation's HealthCaring Award given in recognition of outstanding care of patients with melanoma.

Teresa S. Flippo, MD, F.A.C.S.
Dr. Flippo graduated from West Virginia School of Medicine in 1986 and completed her surgical residency training at Carolinas Medical Center in 1991. She joined Charlotte Surgical Group in 1991 and has served on numerous hospital committees and as Chief of Surgery at CMC-University. She was involved with surgical residency training as part of the teaching facility at Carolinas Medical Center from 1991 to 1996. She is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Flippo enjoys the entire scope of general surgery but has particular interest in surgical oncology and the treatment of breast disease. Dr. Flippo has received additional training in the procedures of minimally invasive breast diagnosis such as ultrasound guided needle biopsies and stereotactic core needle biopsies.

Jonathan C. Salo, MD, F.A.C.S.
Dr. Salo joined Blumenthal Cancer Center in 2002. Before coming to Carolinas Medical Center, Dr. Salo was Assistant Professor of Surgery at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. Following the completion of his surgical residency at the University of California at San Francisco, he completed a three-year Research Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health and a Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Dr. Salo is certified by the American Board of Surgery, is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology.