Tashanna Myers, MD, FACOG, FACS

As a gynecologic oncologist in Women’s Health at Baystate, Dr. Tashanna Myers specializes in treating the complex needs of patients who have uterine, cervical, or ovarian cancer, right here where they work and live. This expert care is complemented by a cadre of team members who bring years of expertise and attention to their unique roles in treating the patient.

“When I think of everything that happens behind the scenes in a patients’ care, it’s clear it takes a village to care for a woman with cancer,” she says. “I rely on each of those pieces.”

By the time patients arrive at their first appointment, a series of vital steps in their care have already taken place. Radiologists have reviewed imaging and pathologists who specialize in gynecologic oncology have carefully examined lab results. Nurses and other team members have evaluated each chart and ensured all the information Dr. Myers and her patients need is available.

“I feel as if I know my patients before I ever meet them,” says Dr. Myers. “And when we do meet for the first time, they feel known.”

For many of her patients, surgery is the next step in their care and preparing for this care moment requires a coordinated effort before the patient is ever wheeled into the Operating Room. Environmental Services team members have cleaned and disinfected the area with the highest standards. The Sterile Processing team has sterilized surgical tools. Nurses have reviewed and confirmed that everything needed for surgery is in place. The anesthesiologist is administering medications and monitoring the patient.

“Everyone is focused on the patient and doing their critical part. This allows me to completely focus on operating and removing a patient’s cancer,” says Dr. Myers.

Following surgery, Dr. Myers trusts the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) team to carefully monitor patients as they wake from anesthesia and let her know when they are alert and ready to discuss how their surgery went.

This finely-tuned, team-centered approach is something Dr. Myers has always valued since joining Baystate Health 18 years ago. Originally from New York, western Massachusetts is her home now, and Baystate Medical Center is the hospital that treats her loved ones as well.

“We all are connected,’ she says. “When you care for a woman with cancer, you’re also touching every person that she’s connected to. If we can help her recover, she gets to be there for the wedding. She’s able to attend the graduation ceremony. She gets to meet her grandchild.”