Persenaire C, Spinosa DL, Brubaker LW, Lefkowits CJ. Incorporation of Palliative Care in Gynecologic Oncology. Curr Oncol Rep. 2023 Nov;25(11):1295-1305. PubMed PMID: 37792249
Nitecki R, Fu S, Jorgensen KA, Gray L, Lefkowits C, Smith BD, Meyer LA, Melamed A, Giordano SH, Ramirez PT, Rauh-Hain JA. Employment disruption among women with gynecologic cancers. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2022 Jan;32(1):69-78. PubMed PMID: 34785522
Salyer C, Littell RD, Pearl ML, Brown AJ, Popowich S, Lefkowits C, Spoozak L. Palliative care in gynecologic oncology: a narrative review of current literature and vision for the future. Ann Palliat Med. 2022 Nov;11(11):3542-3554. PubMed PMID: 36366900
Akapo A, Anishchenko K, Lefkowits C, Greenwood AL. Therapeutic Options for Brain Metastases in Gynecologic Cancers. Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2022 Nov;23(11):1601-1613. PubMed PMID: 36255665
Haag JG, Adler AD, Sheeder J, Brubaker LW, Lefkowits C. Patterns of palliative care referral in platinum resistant ovarian cancer demonstrate reactive rather than proactive approach. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2022 Oct;43:101053. PubMed PMID: 35958954
Haag J, Sanders BE, Walker Keach J, Lefkowits C, Sheeder J, Behbakht K. Impact of blinding interviewers to written applications on ranking of Gynecologic Oncology fellowship applicants from groups underrepresented in medicine. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2022 Feb;39:100935. PubMed PMID: 35141387
Nitecki R, Fu S, Jorgensen KA, Gray L, Lefkowits C, Smith BD, Meyer LA, Melamed A, Giordano SH, Ramirez PT, Rauh-Hain JA. Employment disruption among women with gynecologic cancers. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2022 Jan;32(1):69-78. PubMed PMID: 34785522
Davidson BA, Havrilesky LJ, Lefkowitz C. Opportunities to Advance the Delivery of High-Quality, Goal-Concordant End-of-Life Care in Ovarian Cancer. JCO Oncol Pract. 2022 Mar;18(3):161-163. PubMed PMID: 34748389
Fresia J, Boe B, Breed C, Lefkowits C. Ovarian dysgerminoma in a 14-year-old presenting with an adnexal mass and elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG). Journal of Case Reports & Images in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Hill BL, Moroney MR, Post MD, Sawyer B, Sheeder J, Wolsky RJ, Lefkowits C. Can we safely forgo hysterectomy in non-fertility-sparing surgery for borderline ovarian tumors?. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2021 May;36:100730. PubMed PMID: 33665295
Hill BL, Lefkowits C. Strategies for Optimizing Perioperative Pain Management for the Cancer Patient. Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2021 Jul;30(3):519-534. PubMed PMID: 34053666
Brown AJ, duPont N, Alvarez RD, Spillman MA, Landrum L, Lefkowits C. MAID ready for primetime?: A survey of SGO members regarding medical aid in dying (MAID). Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2021 Aug;37:100829. PubMed PMID: 34277920
Hill BL, Lefkowits C. Strategies for Optimizing Perioperative Pain Management for the Cancer Patient. Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2021 Jul;30(3):519-534. PubMed PMID: 34053666
Hill BL, Moroney MR, Post MD, Sawyer B, Sheeder J, Wolsky RJ, Lefkowits C. Can we safely forgo hysterectomy in non-fertility-sparing surgery for borderline ovarian tumors?. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2021 May;36:100730. PubMed PMID: 33665295
Nitecki R, Fu S, Lefkowits C, Smith BD, Meyer LA, Melamed A, Giordano SH, Rauh-Hain JA. Employment disruption following the diagnosis of endometrial cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 2021 Jan;160(1):199-205. PubMed PMID: 33183765
Davidson BA, Havrilesky LJ, Lefkowitz C. Opportunities to Advance the Delivery of High-Quality, Goal-Concordant End-of-Life Care in Ovarian Cancer. JCO Oncol Pract. 2021 Nov 8;:OP2100699. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34748389
Nitecki R, Fu S, Lefkowits C, Smith BD, Meyer LA, Melamed A, Giordano SH, Rauh-Hain JA. Employment disruption following the diagnosis of endometrial cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 2020 Nov 9. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33183765
Shalowitz DI, Lefkowits C, Landrum LM, von Gruenigen VE, Spillman MA. Principles of ethics and critical communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gynecol Oncol. 2020 Sep;158(3):526-530. PubMed PMID: 32622474
Guntupalli SR, Brennecke A, Behbakht K, Tayebnejad A, Breed CA, Babayan LM, Cheng G, Ramzan AA, Wheeler LJ, Corr BR, Lefkowits C, Sheeder J, Matsuo K, Flink D. Safety and Efficacy of Apixaban vs Enoxaparin for Preventing Postoperative Venous Thromboembolism in Women Undergoing Surgery for Gynecologic Malignant Neoplasm: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Jun 1;3(6):e207410. PubMed PMID: 32589230
Rauh LA, Sullivan MW, Camacho F, Janke MJ, Duska LR, Chandler C, Sukumvanich P, Courtney-Brooks M, Lefkowits C. Validation of the surprise question in gynecologic oncology: A one-question screen to promote palliative care integration and advance care planning. Gynecol Oncol. 2020 Jun;157(3):754-758. PubMed PMID: 32171568
Kim CH, Lefkowits C, Holschneider C, Bixel K, Pothuri B. Managing opioid use in the acute surgical setting: A society of gynecologic oncology clinical practice statement. Gynecol Oncol. 2020 Jun;157(3):563-569. PubMed PMID: 32107049
Buckingham L, Janssen M, Ray EM, Tucker K, Davidson BA, Arenth J, Lefkowits C, Jones JA, Gehrig P, Jones CA. Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Caring for Serious Illness in Pregnancy. J Palliat Med. 2020 May;23(5):712-718. PubMed PMID: 31928374
Urban RR, Fay EE, Podgurski L, Bevis K, Carey EC, Lefkowits C, Amory J. Pilot study of a condensed communication skills workshop for gynecologic oncology fellows. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2019 Nov;30:100492. PubMed PMID: 31538106
Ross ME, Wheeler LJ, Flink DM, Lefkowits C. Pre-operative opioid use in gynecologic oncology: a common comorbidity relevant to the peri-operative period. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2019 Nov;29(9):1411-1416. PubMed PMID: 31473659
Ward K, Ramzan A, Sheeder J, Fischer S, Lefkowits C. Persistent opioid use after radiation therapy in opioid-naive cervical cancer survivors. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2019 Sep;29(7):1105-1109. PubMed PMID: 31420413
Lefkowits C, Bevis K, Carey EC, Sheeder J, Arnold RM, Podgurski L. Gynecologic oncology providers endorse practice-changing impact of communication skills training. Gynecol Oncol. 2019 Jun;153(3):633-638. PubMed PMID: 30979590
Moroney MR, Lefkowits C. Evidence for integration of palliative care into surgical oncology practice and education. J Surg Oncol. 2019 Jul;120(1):17-22. PubMed PMID: 30892710
Zakem SJ, Robin TP, Smith DE, Amini A, Stokes WA, Lefkowits C, Fisher CM. Evolving trends in the management of high-intermediate risk endometrial cancer in the United States. Gynecol Oncol. 2019 Mar;152(3):522-527. PubMed PMID: 30876498
Ramzan AA, Fischer S, Buss MK, Urban RR, Patsner B, Duska LR, Fisher CM, Lefkowits C. Opioid use in gynecologic oncology in the age of the opioid epidemic: Part II - Balancing safety & accessibility. Gynecol Oncol. 2018 May;149(2):401-409. PubMed PMID: 29544707
Lefkowits C, Buss MK, Ramzan AA, Fischer S, Urban RR, Fisher CM, Duska LR. Opioid use in gynecologic oncology in the age of the opioid epidemic: Part I - Effective opioid use across clinical settings, a society of gynecologic oncology evidence-based review. Gynecol Oncol. 2018 May;149(2):394-400. PubMed PMID: 29472016
Stokes WA, Robin TP, Jackson MW, Amini A, Schefter TE, Lefkowits CC, Fisher CM. Patterns of Adjuvant Therapy Utilization in Uterine Carcinosarcoma Stages I to III: A National Cancer Database Analysis. Am J Clin Oncol. 2018 Oct;41(10):927-932. PubMed PMID: 28654573
Hay CM, Lefkowits C, Crowley-Matoka M, Bakitas MA, Clark LH, Duska LR, Urban RR, Chen LM, Creasy SL, Schenker Y. Gynecologic Oncologist Views Influencing Referral to Outpatient Specialty Palliative Care. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2017 Jan 4. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28060140
Garcia C, Lefkowits C, Pelkofski E, Blackhall L, Duska LR. Prospective screening with the validated Opioid Risk Tool demonstrates gynecologic oncology patients are at low risk for opioid misuse. Gynecol Oncol. 2017 Nov;147(2):456-459. PubMed PMID: 28807366
Hay CM, Lefkowits C, Crowley-Matoka M, Bakitas MA, Clark LH, Duska LR, Urban RR, Creasy SL, Schenker Y. Strategies for Introducing Outpatient Specialty Palliative Care in Gynecologic Oncology. J Oncol Pract. 2017 Sep;13(9):e712-e720. PubMed PMID: 28763259
Stokes WA, Robin TP, Jackson MW, Amini A, Schefter TE, Lefkowits CC, Fisher CM. Patterns of Adjuvant Therapy Utilization in Uterine Carcinosarcoma Stages I to III: A National Cancer Database Analysis. Am J Clin Oncol. 2017 Jun 26. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 28654573
Hay CM, Lefkowits C, Crowley-Matoka M, Bakitas MA, Clark LH, Duska LR, Urban RR, Chen LM, Creasy SL, Schenker Y. Gynecologic Oncologist Views Influencing Referral to Outpatient Specialty Palliative Care. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2017 Mar;27(3):588-596. PubMed PMID: 28060140
Lefkowits C, Duska L. Opioid Use in Gynecologic Oncology; Balancing Efficacy, Accessibility and Safety: An SGO Clinical Practice Statement. Gynecol Oncol. 2017 Feb;144(2):232-234. PubMed PMID: 27988048
Lefkowits C, Duska L. Opioid Use in Gynecologic Oncology; Balancing Efficacy, Accessibility and Safety: An SGO Clinical Practice Statement. Gynecol Oncol. 2016 Dec 14. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 27988048
Lefkowits C, Solomon C. Palliative Care in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Dec;128(6):1403-1420. PubMed PMID: 27824769
Hay CM, Courtney-Brooks M, Lefkowits C, Hagan TL, Edwards RP, Donovan HS. Symptom management in women with recurrent ovarian cancer: Do patients and clinicians agree on what symptoms are most important?. Gynecol Oncol. 2016 Nov;143(2):367-370. PubMed PMID: 27531571
Lefkowits C, Teuteberg W, Courtney-Brooks M, Sukumvanich P, Ruskin R, Kelley JL. Improvement in symptom burden within one day after palliative care consultation in a cohort of gynecologic oncology inpatients. Gynecol Oncol. 2015 Mar;136(3):424-8. PubMed PMID: 25546112
Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Board Certification (2016)
Conditions & Treatments
Cancers - Cancer Surgery
Cancers - Cervical Cancer
Cancers - Chemotherapy
Cancers - Gynecologic Cancer
Cancers - Living with Cancer
Cancers - Ovarian Cancer
Cancers - Uterine Cancer
Cancers
Clinical Interests
Gynecologic Oncology, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Cancers - Cancer Surgery, Cancers - Cervical Cancer, Cancers - Chemotherapy, Cancers - Gynecologic Cancer, Cancers - Living with Cancer, Cancers - Ovarian Cancer, Cancers - Uterine Cancer, Cancers
Care Philosophy
Dr. Carolyn Lefkowits was drawn to gynecologic oncology in order to help patients throughout the course of their illness, including surgical and non-surgical treatments, surveillance and follow-up care after treatment. She has an inherent love of the field and its collaborative nature, both among fellow clinicians and her patients.
General Information
Medical Schools:
MD, Harvard Medical School
(2007)
Graduate Schools:
MPH, Harvard School of Public Health
(2006)
MS, University of Pittsburgh
(2014)
Undergraduate Schools:
BSc, Queen’s University (Kingston Ontario Canada)
(2001)
Internships:
University of California (San Francisco) Program
(2008)
Residency Programs:
University of California (San Francisco) Program, Obstetrics and Gynecology (2011)
Fellowships:
UPMC Medical Education/Magee-Women's Hospital Program, Gynecologic Oncology
(2015)
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Hospice and Palliative Medicine
(2012)