Gretchen Ahrendt, MD
Professor, Surgery-Surgical Oncology

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Medical School:
  • MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1990)
Undergraduate School:
  • BA, Carleton College (MN) (1985)
Internship:
  • Johns Hopkins University Program (1990)
Residency:
  • Johns Hopkins University Program, Chief Resident, Breast Surgical Oncology (1998)
Fellowships:
  • Johns Hopkins University/Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Program, Research (1993)
Department: Surgery-Surgical Oncology

Professional Titles

  • Professor of Surgery
  • Director, Diane O'Connor Thompson Breast Center

Teaching

  • Visiting Professor (2017)
    School of Medicine, Surgery
    Breast cancer

Publications

  • Yang JH, Huynh V, Leonard LD, Kovar A, Bronsert M, Ludwigson A, Wolverton D, Hampanda K, Christian N, Kim SP, Ahrendt G, Mathes DW, Tevis SE. Are Diagnostic Delays Associated with Distress in Breast Cancer Patients?. Breast Care (Basel). 2023 Aug;18(4):240-248. PubMed PMID: 37900555
  • O'Brien E, Vemuru S, Leonard L, Himelhoch B, Adams M, Taft N, Jaiswal K, Sams S, Cumbler E, Wolverton D, Ahrendt G, Yi J, Lin CT, Miles R, Hampanda K, Tevis S. Information transparency with immediate release: Oncology clinician and patient perceptions. Am J Surg. 2023 Oct 5. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 37863801
  • Neilson T, Huynh V, Macdonald A, Romandetti K, Ahrendt G, Hampanda K, Kim SP, Tevis SE. Financial Toxicity of Breast Cancer Care: The Patient Perspective Through Surveys and Interviews. J Surg Res. 2023 Jan;281:122-129. PubMed PMID: 36155269
  • Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Vemuru S, Romandetti K, Fisher C, Coons HL, Pettigrew J, Hampanda K, Kaoutzanis C, Ahrendt G, Afghahi A, Stewart C, Tevis S. Characterizing informational needs and information seeking behavior of patients with breast cancer. Am J Surg. 2023 Oct 8. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 37863795
  • Mott NM, Huynh V, Vemuru S, Parris HJ, Colborn K, Ahrendt G, Christian N, Kim S, Matlock DD, Cumbler E, Tevis SEA. Barriers and facilitators to measuring patient reported outcomes in an academic breast cancer clinic: An application of the RE-AIM framework. Am J Surg. 2023 Sep 15. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 37741803
  • Boughey JC, Yu H, Dugan CL, Piltin MA, Postlewait L, Son JD, Edmiston KK, Godellas C, Lee MC, Carr MJ, Tonneson JE, Crown A, Lancaster RB, Woriax HE, Ewing CA, Chau HS, Patterson AK, Wong JM, Alvarado MD, Yang RL, Chan TW, Sheade JB, Ahrendt GM, Larson KE, Switalla K, Tuttle TM, Tchou JC, Rao R, Tamirisa N, Singh P, Gould RE, Terando A, Sauder C, Hewitt K, Chiba A, Esserman LJ, Mukhtar R. ASO Visual Abstract: Changes in Surgical Management of the Axilla Over 11 Years-Report on Over 1500 Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on the Prospective I-SPY2 Trial. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Oct;30(11):6411-6412. PubMed PMID: 37537482
  • Leonard LD, de Araujo TB, Quinn C, Thomas MB, Beaty L, Mott NM, Kathryn Colborn, Heelan AA, Tevis SEA, Christian N, Ahrendt G, Gleisner AL. ASO Visual Abstract: De-implementation of Axillary Dissection in Women Undergoing Mastectomy for Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Sep;30(9):5703-5704. PubMed PMID: 37386306
  • Boughey JC, Yu H, Dugan CL, Piltin MA, Postlewait L, Son JD, Edmiston KK, Godellas CV, Lee MC, Carr MJ, Tonneson JE, Crown A, Lancaster RB, Woriax HE, Ewing CA, Chau HS, Patterson AK, Wong JM, Alvarado MD, Yang RL, Chan TW, Sheade JB, Ahrendt GM, Larson KE, Switalla K, Tuttle TM, Tchou JC, Rao R, Tamirisa N, Singh P, Gould RE, Terando A, Sauder C, Hewitt K, Chiba A, Esserman LJ, Mukhtar RA. Changes in Surgical Management of the Axilla Over 11 Years - Report on More Than 1500 Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy on the Prospective I-SPY2 Trial. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Oct;30(11):6401-6410. PubMed PMID: 37380911
  • Vemuru SR, Bronsert M, Vossler K, Huynh VD, Beaty L, Ahrendt G, Arruda J, Kaoutzanis C, Rojas KE, Bozzuto L, Kim S, Tevis SE. Postoperative Outcomes After Staged Versus Coordinated Breast Surgery and Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Sep;30(9):5667-5680. PubMed PMID: 37336806
  • Mukhtar RA, Chau H, Woriax H, Piltin M, Ahrendt G, Tchou J, Yu H, Ding Q, Dugan CL, Sheade J, Crown A, Carr M, Wong J, Son J, Yang R, Chan T, Terando A, Alvarado M, Ewing C, Tonneson J, Tamirisa N, Gould R, Singh P, Godellas C, Larson K, Chiba A, Rao R, Sauder C, Postlewait L, Lee MC, Symmans WF, Esserman LJ, Boughey JC. Breast Conservation Surgery and Mastectomy Have Similar Locoregional Recurrence After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Results From 1462 Patients on the Prospective, Randomized I-SPY2 Trial. Ann Surg. 2023 Sep 1;278(3):320-327. PubMed PMID: 37325931
  • Vemuru SR, Bronsert M, Vossler K, Huynh VD, Beaty L, Ahrendt G, Arruda J, Kaoutzanis C, Rojas KE, Bozzuto L, Kim S, Tevis SE. ASO Visual Abstract: Postoperative Outcomes After Staged Versus Coordinated Breast Surgery and Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Sep;30(9):5683-5684. PubMed PMID: 37314543
  • Vemuru S, Huang J, Colborn K, Yoon Y, Huynh V, Leonard L, Ahrendt G, Christian N, Afghahi A, McLemore L, Sams S, Tevis S. Clinical implications of receptor conversions in breast cancer patients who have undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2023 Jul;200(2):247-256. PubMed PMID: 37233961
  • Lee PL, Ma IT, Schusterman MA 2nd, Beiriger J, Ahrendt G, De La Cruz C, Diego EJ, Steiman JG, McAuliffe PF, Gimbel ML. Surgical Nipple Delay and its Expanded Indications for Nipple-sparing Mastectomy. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2023 Jan;11(1):e4783. PubMed PMID: 36699239
  • Neilson T, Huynh V, Macdonald A, Romandetti K, Ahrendt G, Hampanda K, Kim SP, Tevis SE. Financial Toxicity of Breast Cancer Care: The Patient Perspective Through Surveys and Interviews. J Surg Res. 2023 Jan;281:122-129. PubMed PMID: 36155269
  • Osdoit M, Yau C, Symmans WF, Boughey JC, Ewing CA, Balassanian R, Chen YY, Krings G, Wallace AM, Zare S, Fadare O, Lancaster R, Wei S, Godellas CV, Tang P, Tuttle TM, Klein M, Sahoo S, Hieken TJ, Carter JM, Chen B, Ahrendt G, Tchou J, Feldman M, Tousimis E, Zeck J, Jaskowiak N, Sattar H, Naik AM, Lee MC, Rosa M, Khazai L, Rendi MH, Lang JE, Lu J, Tawfik O, Asare SM, Esserman LJ, Mukhtar RA. Association of Residual Ductal Carcinoma In Situ With Breast Cancer Recurrence in the Neoadjuvant I-SPY2 Trial. JAMA Surg. 2022 Nov 1;157(11):1034-1041. PubMed PMID: 36069821
  • Huynh V, Vemuru S, Hampanda K, Pettigrew J, Fasano M, Coons HL, Rojas KE, Afghahi A, Ahrendt G, Kim S, Matlock DD, Tevis SE. ASO Visual Abstract: No One-Size-Fits-All: Sexual Health Education Preferences in Patients with Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Oct;29(10):6252-6253. PubMed PMID: 35963904
  • Osdoit M, Yau C, Symmans WF, Boughey JC, Ewing CA, Balassanian R, Chen YY, Krings G, Wallace AM, Zare S, Fadare O, Lancaster R, Wei S, Godellas CV, Tang P, Tuttle TM, Klein M, Sahoo S, Hieken TJ, Carter JM, Chen B, Ahrendt G, Tchou J, Feldman M, Tousimis E, Zeck J, Jaskowiak N, Sattar H, Naik AM, Lee MC, Rosa M, Khazai L, Rendi MH, Lang JE, Lu J, Tawfik O, Asare SM, Esserman LJ, Mukhtar RA. Association of Residual Ductal Carcinoma In Situ With Breast Cancer Recurrence in the Neoadjuvant I-SPY2 Trial. JAMA Surg. 2022 Nov 1;157(11):1034-1041. PubMed PMID: 36069821
  • Huynh V, Vemuru S, Hampanda K, Pettigrew J, Fasano M, Coons HL, Rojas KE, Afghahi A, Ahrendt G, Kim S, Matlock DD, Tevis SE. No One-Size-Fits-All: Sexual Health Education Preferences in Patients with Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Oct;29(10):6238-6251. PubMed PMID: 35915298
  • Gleisner AL, Moss A, Friedman C, Suresh K, Grunwald G, Torphy RJ, Leonard LD, Colborn K, Ahrendt G, Tevis S, Christian N, Abud VL, de Araujo TB, Beaty LE, Thieu D, Glorioso TJ, Kim S, Daugherty S. De-implementation of Axillary Dissection in Women With Breast Cancer is Largely Driven By Site-level Contextual Effects. Ann Surg. 2022 Dec 1;276(6):e923-e931. PubMed PMID: 33351462
  • Verosky A, Leonard LD, Quinn C, Vemuru S, Warncke E, Himelhoch B, Huynh V, Wolverton D, Jaiswal K, Ahrendt G, Sams S, Lin CT, Cumbler E, Schulick R, Tevis SE. Patient comprehension of breast pathology report terminology: The need for patient-centered resources. Surgery. 2022 Sep;172(3):831-837. PubMed PMID: 35715235
  • Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Myers S, Hampanda K, Christian N, Ahrendt G, Romandetti K, Tevis S. Patient Perceptions of Changes in Breast Cancer Care and Well-Being During COVID-19: A Mixed Methods Study. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Mar;29(3):1649-1657. PubMed PMID: 34928479
  • Leonard LD, Himelhoch B, Huynh V, Wolverton D, Jaiswal K, Ahrendt G, Sams S, Cumbler E, Schulick R, Tevis SE. Patient and clinician perceptions of the immediate release of electronic health information. Am J Surg. 2022 Jul;224(1 Pt A):27-34. PubMed PMID: 34903369
  • Gleisner AL, Moss A, Friedman C, Suresh K, Grunwald G, Torphy RJ, Leonard LD, Colborn K, Ahrendt G, Tevis S, Christian N, Abud VL, de Araujo TB, Beaty LE, Thieu D, Glorioso TJ, Kim S, Daugherty S. De-implementation of Axillary Dissection in Women With Breast Cancer is Largely Driven By Site-level Contextual Effects. Ann Surg. 2022 Dec 1;276(6):e923-e931. PubMed PMID: 33351462
  • Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Myers S, Hampanda K, Christian N, Ahrendt G, Romandetti K, Tevis S. Patient Perceptions of Changes in Breast Cancer Care and Well-Being During COVID-19: A Mixed Methods Study. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Dec 20. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34928479
  • Leonard LD, Himelhoch B, Huynh V, Wolverton D, Jaiswal K, Ahrendt G, Sams S, Cumbler E, Schulick R, Tevis SE. Patient and clinician perceptions of the immediate release of electronic health information. Am J Surg. 2021 Dec 4. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34903369
  • Huynh V, Colborn K, Smith S, Bonnell LN, Ahrendt G, Christian N, Kim S, Matlock DD, Lee C, Tevis SE. Early Trajectories of Patient Reported Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Lumpectomy Versus Mastectomy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Oct;28(10):5677-5685. PubMed PMID: 34263375
  • Huynh V, Yang J, Bronsert M, Ludwigson A, Ahrendt G, Kim S, Matlock DD, Cohen J, Hampanda K, Tevis SE. Choosing Between Mastectomy and Breast-Conserving Therapy: Is Patient Distress an Influencing Factor?. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Dec;28(13):8679-8687. PubMed PMID: 34160707
  • Su M, Huynh V, Bronsert M, Su E, Goode J, Lock A, Banden S, Ahrendt G, Afghahi A, Arruda J, Tevis S. Longitudinal Risk Management for Patients with Increased Risk for Breast Cancer. J Surg Res. 2021 Oct;266:421-429. PubMed PMID: 34102512
  • Huynh V, Colborn K, Rojas KE, Christian N, Ahrendt G, Cumbler E, Schulick R, Tevis S. Evaluation of opioid prescribing preferences among surgical residents and faculty. Surgery. 2021 Oct;170(4):1066-1073. PubMed PMID: 33858683
  • Huynh V, Colborn K, Christian N, Rojas K, Nehler M, Bronsert M, Cumbler E, Ahrendt G, Tevis S. Resident Opioid Prescribing Habits Do Not Reflect Best Practices in Post-Operative Pain Management: An Assessment of the Knowledge and Education Gap. J Surg Educ. 2021 Jul-Aug;78(4):1286-1294. PubMed PMID: 33386285
  • Huynh V, Yang J, Bronsert M, Ludwigson A, Ahrendt G, Kim S, Matlock DD, Cohen J, Hampanda K, Tevis SE. Choosing Between Mastectomy and Breast-Conserving Therapy: Is Patient Distress an Influencing Factor?. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Dec;28(13):8679-8687. PubMed PMID: 34160707
  • Myers SP, Ahrendt GM, Lee JS, Steiman JG, Soran A, Johnson RR, McAuliffe PF, Diego EJ. Association of Tumor Molecular Subtype and Stage with Breast and Axillary Pathologic Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Dec;28(13):8636-8642. PubMed PMID: 34142288
  • Huynh V, Colborn K, Christian N, Rojas K, Nehler M, Bronsert M, Cumbler E, Ahrendt G, Tevis S. Resident Opioid Prescribing Habits Do Not Reflect Best Practices in Post-Operative Pain Management: An Assessment of the Knowledge and Education Gap. J Surg Educ. 2020 Dec 29. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33386285
  • Gleisner AL, Moss A, Friedman C, Suresh K, Grunwald G, Torphy RJ, Leonard LD, Colborn K, Ahrendt G, Tevis S, Christian N, Abud VL, de Araujo TB, Beaty LE, Thieu D, Glorioso TJ, Kim S, Daugherty S. De-Implementation of Axillary Dissection in Women with Breast Cancer is Largely Driven By Site-Level Contextual Effects. Ann Surg. 2020 Dec 18;Publish Ahead of Print. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33351462
  • Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Bronsert M, Sloan K, Murphy C, Christian N, Jaiswal K, Ahrendt G, Tevis SE. A screening tool identifies high distress in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Surgery. 2020 Nov;168(5):935-941. PubMed PMID: 32591140
  • Huynh V, Rojas K, Ahrendt G, Murphy C, Jaiswal K, Cumbler E, Christian N, Tevis S. Reassessing Opioid Use in Breast Surgery. J Surg Res. 2020 Oct;254:232-241. PubMed PMID: 32474196
  • Kovar A, Bronsert M, Jaiswal K, Murphy C, Wolverton D, Ahrendt G, Tevis S. The Waiting Game: How Long Are Breast Cancer Patients Waiting for Definitive Diagnosis?. Ann Surg Oncol. 2020 Oct;27(10):3641-3649. PubMed PMID: 32314153
  • Christian N, Heelan Gladden A, Friedman C, Gleisner-Patton A, Murphy C, Kounalakis N, Ahrendt G. Increasing omission of radiation therapy and sentinel node biopsy in elderly patients with early stage, hormone-positive breast cancer. Breast J. 2020 Feb;26(2):133-138. PubMed PMID: 31448508
  • Christian N, Heelan Gladden A, Friedman C, Gleisner-Patton A, Murphy C, Kounalakis N, Ahrendt G. Increasing omission of radiation therapy and sentinel node biopsy in elderly patients with early stage, hormone-positive breast cancer. Breast J. 2019 Aug 25. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31448508
  • Bovbjerg DH, Keefe FJ, Soo MS, Manculich J, Van Denburg A, Zuley ML, Ahrendt GM, Skinner CS, Edmond SN, Shelby RA. Persistent breast pain in post-surgery breast cancer survivors and women with no history of breast surgery or cancer: associations with pain catastrophizing, perceived breast cancer risk, breast cancer worry, and emotional distress. Acta Oncol. 2019 May;58(5):763-768. PubMed PMID: 30747014
  • Gebhardt BJ, Thomas J, Horne ZD, Champ CE, Ahrendt GM, Diego E, Heron DE, Beriwal S. Standardization of nodal radiation therapy through changes to a breast cancer clinical pathway throughout a large, integrated cancer center network. Pract Radiat Oncol. 2018 Jan - Feb;8(1):4-12. PubMed PMID: 28939351
  • Gebhardt BJ, Thomas J, Horne ZD, Champ CE, Farrugia DJ, Diego E, Ahrendt GM, Beriwal S. Is completion axillary lymph node dissection necessary in patients who are underrepresented in the ACOSOG Z0011 trial?. Adv Radiat Oncol. 2018 Jul-Sep;3(3):258-264. PubMed PMID: 30197938
  • Le-Petross HT, McCall LM, Hunt KK, Mittendorf EA, Ahrendt GM, Wilke LG, Ballman KV, Boughey JC. Axillary Ultrasound Identifies Residual Nodal Disease After Chemotherapy: Results From the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z1071 Trial (Alliance). AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2018 Mar;210(3):669-676. PubMed PMID: 29381381
  • Clark BZ, Farrugia DJ, Landmann A, Diego EJ, Dabbs DJ, Puhalla SL, Jankowitz RC, Brufsky AM, Ahrendt GM, McAuliffe PF, Bhargava R. Prognostic Significance of Modified Residual Disease in Breast and Nodes (mRDBN) Algorithm After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer. Am J Clin Pathol. 2018 Mar 7;149(4):332-343. PubMed PMID: 29481634
  • Landmann A, Farrugia DJ, Zhu L, Diego EJ, Johnson RR, Soran A, Dabbs DJ, Clark BZ, Puhalla SL, Jankowitz RC, Brufsky AM, Ahrendt GM, McAuliffe PF, Bhargava R. Low Estrogen Receptor (ER)-Positive Breast Cancer and Neoadjuvant Systemic Chemotherapy: Is Response Similar to Typical ER-Positive or ER-Negative Disease?. Am J Clin Pathol. 2018 May 31;150(1):34-42. PubMed PMID: 29741562
  • Gebhardt BJ, Thomas J, Horne ZD, Champ CE, Ahrendt GM, Diego E, Heron DE, Beriwal S. Standardization of nodal radiation therapy through changes to a breast cancer clinical pathway throughout a large, integrated cancer center network. Pract Radiat Oncol. 2018 Jan - Feb;8(1):4-12. PubMed PMID: 28939351
  • Farrugia DJ, Landmann A, Zhu L, Diego EJ, Johnson RR, Bonaventura M, Soran A, Dabbs DJ, Clark BZ, Puhalla SL, Jankowitz RC, Brufsky AM, Lembersky BC, Ahrendt GM, McAuliffe PF, Bhargava R. Magee Equation 3 predicts pathologic response to neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy in estrogen receptor positive, HER2 negative/equivocal breast tumors. Mod Pathol. 2017 Aug;30(8):1078-1085. PubMed PMID: 28548119
  • Wesmiller SW, Bender CM, Conley YP, Bovbjerg DH, Ahrendt G, Bonaventura M, Sereika SM. A Prospective Study of Nausea and Vomiting After Breast Cancer Surgery. J Perianesth Nurs. 2017 Jun;32(3):169-176. PubMed PMID: 28527544
  • Edmond SN, Shelby RA, Keefe FJ, Fisher HM, Schmidt JE, Soo MS, Skinner CS, Ahrendt GM, Manculich J, Sumkin JH, Zuley ML, Bovbjerg DH. Persistent Breast Pain Among Women With Histories of Breast-conserving Surgery for Breast Cancer Compared With Women Without Histories of Breast Surgery or Cancer. Clin J Pain. 2017 Jan;33(1):51-56. PubMed PMID: 27922843
  • Wesmiller SW, Sereika SM, Bender CM, Bovbjerg D, Ahrendt G, Bonaventura M, Conley YP. Exploring the multifactorial nature of postoperative nausea and vomiting in women following surgery for breast cancer. Auton Neurosci. 2017 Jan;202:102-107. PubMed PMID: 27729204
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Practice Locations

UCHealth Diane O'Connor Thompson Breast Center - Anschutz
1635 Aurora Ct
3rd Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-1030

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (UCH)
12605 E. 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

CU Medicine Breast Surgical Oncology - Highlands Ranch Specialty Care Center
1500 Park Central Drive
Suite 203
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
720-516-2120

UCHealth Surgical Care - Highlands Ranch Hospital
1500 Park Central Drive
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
720-516-1000

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital
  • UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Breast Surgical Oncology, Board Certification
  • American Board of Surgery, Board Certification (1999)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Cancers - Breast Cancer
  • Cancers
  • Surgery
  • Cancers - Cancer Surgery
  • Surgery - Breast Surgery
Clinical Interests
Breast cancer including DCIS and all invasive breast cancers Neoadjuvant therapy to minimize extent of breast and axillary surgery Oncoplastic breast surgery Nipple sparing surgery Sentinel node surgery Tailored surgical treatment of the axilla Benign breast conditions

Care Philosophy
My mission is to provide personalized advanced surgical breast cancer care to my patients and to help them navigate their cancer treatment to optimize their cancer outcome and survivorship. I also strive to support the emotional and educational needs of my patients and their families and to guide them to additional support services as required.

General Information

Medical Schools:
  • MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1990)
Undergraduate Schools:
  • BA, Carleton College (MN) (1985)
Internships:
  • Johns Hopkins University Program (1990)
Residency Programs:
  • Johns Hopkins University Program, Chief Resident, Breast Surgical Oncology (1998)
Fellowships:
  • Johns Hopkins University/Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Program, Research (1993)
Department: Surgery-Surgical Oncology
Contact Us
CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place
Campus Box C290
Aurora, CO 80045

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