Shari Damast, MD, is a radiation oncologist who specializes in caring for women with gynecologic malignancies—cancers that arise in the female reproductive organs, such as the cervix, uterus, ovaries, vagina, and vulva. She offers advanced therapies like brachytherapy, an internal radiation treatment that places a radiation source inside or near the tumor, to help treat these conditions.
Dr. Damast is dedicated to helping patients feel informed and comfortable as they undergo treatment for gynecologic cancers, ensuring that personalized care and compassion remain at the forefront of her practice.
“It can be scary to receive any kind of cancer diagnosis, but in recent years, treatment options for cervical cancer have really advanced—not only are patients surviving—but newer treatments can allow them to go about their daily lives much easier,” she says.
Dr. Damast works closely with a multidisciplinary team to coordinate patient-centered care. “One of the advantages of coming to a major cancer hospital is that no one will go through a cancer diagnosis and treatment alone,” she explains. “We have navigators, social workers, and many others who make sure each patient receives comprehensive support.”
As a professor of therapeutic radiology at Yale School of Medicine and director of the Gynecologic Radiotherapy Program, Dr. Damast focuses her research on integrating modern radiation approaches, including image-guided techniques, in ways that preserve quality of life and address concerns about sexual health.
Dr. Damast received her medical training at Weill Cornell Medical College, followed by an internship in internal medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center and a residency in radiation oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
