James Edney, M.D., professor of surgery at UNMC and Nebraska Health System, is the only breast cancer specialist in Nebraska to be included on the list of “Top Doctors for Women” in the April issue of Ladies Home Journal.
Dr. Edney is one of only 43 physicians who made the top doctors list as a breast cancer specialist in the 15-state central region. In addition to Nebraska, other states in the central region are Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. The list includes oncologists, radiologists, surgeons and reconstructive and plastic surgeons who specialize in treating breast cancer. The list may be accessed at http://www.lhj.com/.
Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. in New York City compiled the list of top physicians. Castle Connolly has been publishing the “America’s Top Doctors” consumer guide annually since 1992. About half the board-certified physicians in the area receive nomination forms and are asked to anonymously and confidentially nominate outstanding physicians who not only excel in academic medicine and research but also exhibit excellence in patient care.
The survey asks each respondent to nominate physicians “to whom you would send members of your family.” In addition to nominations obtained directly from practicing physicians, Castle Connolly solicits nominations from key hospital administrators in a variety of patient care specialties.
A major focus of Dr. Edney’s practice the last 20 years has been breast cancer. He developed the Olson Comprehensive Breast Care Center, part of the Olson Center for Women’s Health at UNMC, in an effort to serve patients with a multi-disciplinary team approach.
“Dr. Edney has devoted his professional career to the management of patients with cancer, but he has been particularly interested in breast disease,” said Jon Thompson, M.D., professor and vice chair of the department of surgery and chief of the general surgery section at UNMC. “He has always been on the leading edge of advances in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition, and his patients have benefited greatly from his efforts.”
Dr. Edney has seen many changes in the treatment of breast cancer over the years. “The treatment of breast cancer has changed dramatically over the last 15 years. Most individuals have more surgical options other than mastectomy,” he said. “The majority of patients we see now can preserve their breast without adversely affecting their chance of survival.
“Of all the different types of cancer, breast cancer is very unique. For the patient, there are a number of different ramifications. Not only do they have to deal with the possibility of death, common to most cancers, but also the fear that they may be disfigured, unloved or rejected.
“What we’ve done here at UNMC through the Olson Center that is unique is bring together a team of the health professionals involved in treatment, communicate with each other on a regular basis and discuss the patient’s condition before treatment. When the patient comes to see us, we try to minimize the most stressful time of their lives by arranging for them to see all the health care providers they need, to formulate an initial treatment plan in one week.”
Dr. Edney earned his bachelor’s degree from Creighton University in 1971 and his medical degree from UNMC in 1975. From 1975 to 1980, he did a residency in general surgery at UNMC followed by a one-year fellowship in surgical oncology at the University of Colorado in Denver.
He returned to UNMC in 1981 as an assistant professor of surgery and was elevated to associate professor in 1990 and professor in 2000. Since 1991, he has been the director of the residency program for the department of surgery.
Dr. Edney is currently president of the Southwestern Surgical Congress and the Western Trauma Association and recently began a 10-year appointment on the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Among his numerous awards is the Golden Apple Teaching Award he received in 1995 from UNMC surgery resident physicians.
This marks the second national women’s magazine that has recognized Dr. Edney among its list of best physicians. Last October, he was the only Nebraska physician listed among the 325 leading breast cancer specialists by Redbook magazine.