Breast Cancer Thrivers and Supporters Champion New Chair Inspired By Gratitude
Many patients with breast cancer have expressed heartfelt gratitude and created special bonds with Julie Margenthaler, MD, FACS, director of Breast Surgical Services at Siteman Cancer Center. While her expert surgical oncology skills are nationally renowned, patients especially appreciate her compassionate, personal approach to care.
In honor of her dedication to patients over the past 30 years, Dr. Margenthaler was installed as the inaugural Endowed Chair for Surgical Excellence in Breast Cancer through The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital on April 9, 2026.
This chair was made possible by generous, visionary donors to the Foundation who are determined to change the outcomes for patients with breast cancer. Many of those who championed the efforts to establish this chair are breast cancer survivors or patients of Dr. Margenthaler.
Dr. Margenthaler specializes in the surgical care of patients with breast diseases with an emphasis on breast cancer.
Pam Nicholson is one of her grateful patients who rallied support for the new chair in her honor.
“You’re in such a vulnerable position when you’re first diagnosed,” Pam says. “Dr. Margenthaler is just that right person who is so calming, and she instills confidence. Your doctor matters and where you go matters. I think Dr. Margenthaler is a jewel for the hospital, for St. Louis, and for all the Midwest.”
Pushing the Envelope
Over the past few years, Pam has been supporting Dr. Margenthaler’s research work through the Foundation. Dr. Margenthaler is partnering with Heather Garrett, MD, a WashU Medicine radiologist who specializes in breast imaging at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, to determine if cryoablation could be an alternative to lumpectomy for certain types of breast cancers. Cryoablation freezes and destroys cancer cells through a non-invasive procedure.
“Chair support enables vitally important work now and for the future that will have a major impact on patient care,” Dr. Margenthaler says. “This endowed chair will allow us to continue to push the envelope in research for advances to come 10 or 20 years from now. And it will allow us a regenerating mechanism for research, specifically research that may not be traditionally funded by the National Institutes of Health. It also creates a legacy that will allow us to recruit the best people who want to continue our mission.”
Ultimately, the chair represents Siteman Cancer Center’s commitment to being the best in breast surgery and patient care, Dr. Margenthaler emphasizes.
“The key to the best patient outcomes is the collaboration between medical oncology, radiation and surgical experts at Siteman. One of my goals is to establish a center of excellence in breast surgery for the region and even nationally to make it clear to patients that there’s an advantage to being at Siteman for your care. There’s a difference in the full multidisciplinary package we can offer to patients. I always tell people a mammogram is not just a mammogram—it makes a difference who is reading your mammogram.”
Creating a Lasting Impact
Endowed chairs are among the highest honors physicians and scientists can receive. The chairs represent generous donor support through the Foundation for the hospital's mission of teaching, research, clinical care, and community service.
Endowed chairs are critical in academic medicine to provide permanent, reliable funding that fuels innovation and discovery, improves the standard of care, and saves lives.
“This Endowed Chair for Surgical Excellence in Breast Cancer represents the tremendous impact Dr. Margenthaler has had on thousands of women, and the future impact her legacy of research, surgical skills, leadership, and compassionate patient care will have,” says John Lynch, MD, president of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and group president of BJC East Region.
A Lifetime Commitment to Compassion
Dr. Margenthaler developed her caring bedside manner at a young age. As a studious high school sophomore with a passion for science, she became a candy striper in her small hometown’s hospital. She already had aspirations to become a doctor, and medical community members took her under their collective wing to help her achieve her dream.
During college summer breaks, she worked at the same hospital as a nurse’s assistant. She also trained there for six weeks as a medical student.
“Those observations and experiences early on—especially because I knew so many of the families—gave me a different perspective of how you would want to take care of people,” Dr. Margenthaler says.
She carries that dedication to personal, compassionate patient care with her every day when she meets with anxious patients leaning on her for guidance and surgical expertise. And patients are forever grateful.
“Dr. Margenthaler’s surgical and research contributions combined with her stellar example of compassionate patient care over the past 30 years make her the ideal leader to further elevate our breast surgery program through this inaugural Endowed Chair for Surgical Excellence in Breast Cancer,” says Timothy Eberlein, MD, director of Siteman Cancer Center.
Building a Beacon of Hope
Dr. Margenthaler completed her general surgery residency as well as research and breast disease fellowships at WashU Medicine. She joined the faculty in 2006.
In addition to serving as director of Breast Surgical Services at Siteman Cancer Center, Dr. Margenthaler is also professor of surgery and director of the Breast Fellowship Program at WashU Medicine.
She is a fellow in the American College of Surgeons and has served in numerous positions, including as president for the American Society of Breast Surgeons.
Currently, she is the section editor for the Annals of Surgical Oncology, Associate Editor for the Journal of Surgical Research, and she reviews 12 other journals. In addition, she is the author of more than 240 peer-reviewed publications, reviews, editorials, and book chapters.
Dr. Margenthaler has been the primary investigator on multiple clinical trials. Her research interests are in breast cancer outcomes and breast cancer disparities, minimally invasive staging of breast cancer, and the development of molecular imaging devices.
She lectures nationally and internationally and is committed to the mission of improving the lives of women with breast diseases and breast cancer.
“Dr. Margenthaler is a dedicated leader in surgical oncology who is further elevating WashU Medicine’s commitment to surgical training, and advancing research and techniques for better breast cancer outcomes,” says David Perlmutter, MD, dean of WashU Medicine and executive vice chancellor for medical affairs. “She has made Siteman a beacon of hope for patients with breast cancer.”
John Olson, MD, head of the Department of Surgery at WashU Medicine, says installing Dr. Margenthaler as chair gives the opportunity to impact more patients with less invasive surgeries and more positive outcomes. “With Dr. Margenthaler’s leadership and expertise, supported by this newly established chair, we will improve patient care by advancing breast cancer knowledge and practice around the world.”
Inspired to Do More
After nearly 30 years as a surgeon, Dr. Margenthaler’s patients still inspire her to do more.
“Thank you to all those passionate donors who rallied support, and to everyone who gave generously through the Foundation to reach this milestone for the future of breast cancer treatment with this new endowed chair,” Dr. Margenthaler says. “We have created these survivors who are very vocal. They’re our best lobbyists when it comes to treatment and care. That part is very rewarding.”
Written by Joyce Romine
Photography by Gara Lacy