This article is part of Jmore’s October 2021 Innovations in Health Care issue.
Say the dreaded words breast cancer and for many local women the name Dr. Michael Schultz immediately comes to mind.
Through the years, Dr. Schultz has earned a national reputation for both his clinical care and devotion to his patients (this reporter being one). Now, Dr. Schultz has returned to his medical roots at LifeBridge Health, where he has joined the breast cancer team along with his son, plastic surgeon Dr. Benjamin Schultz.
While the primary goal of breast cancer surgery is removing the tumor, patients also want the best possible cosmetic results.
“Reconstructive surgery has changed everything,” says Dr. Michael Schultz, noting that most women no longer have to fear the disfiguring effects of a mastectomy. “Today’s newer techniques, though, are even technically superior to what we’ve been able to offer in the past. Now we can offer the ability to do good cancer surgery plus superior reconstruction in the same breast center at the same time for a seamless approach.”
Once Dr. Schultz performs the surgery to remove the cancer, his son steps in to perform the cosmetic — or oncoplastic — surgery, to preserve the physical appearance of a woman’s breasts.
“Patients no longer have to seek out the services of a cosmetic surgeon and perhaps wait months for further treatment,” says the younger Dr. Schultz, pointing out that the first patient he and his father treated together was able to go from diagnosis to surgery in just eight days.
From the outset, both Drs. Schultz meet with the patient to discuss treatment and reconstruction goals. That may mean operating on both breasts to reduce the effect of the cancer surgery, which can help a woman heal both physically and emotionally.
For women who are not satisfied with previous surgery they have had, Dr. Ben Schultz can perform revisionary procedures as well. “I want to hear what a woman’s reconstruction goals are and, if they’re interested, tell them about techniques that haven’t been available in the past,” he says.
“Breast cancer can be an assault on a woman’s image of her well-being and femininity,” says “Dr. Ben,” who adds self-deprecatingly that he hasn’t yet earned the reputation of his father as “the” Dr. Schultz in town.
While removing the cancer and offering state-of-the-art reconstructive surgery is paramount, both doctors pride themselves on their passion for their patients and the community at large. “Dr. Ben,” his wife Julie (also a physician) and their son Henry were all born at Sinai Hospital, where Dr. Michael Schultz began his career.
“I used to go on rounds with my father, carrying my little doctor’s bag,” the younger Dr. Schultz recalls. “Now I get to live out my dream of working alongside my father and helping build a new generation of plastic surgery. It’s a blessing.”
Says his dad: “To work with Benjamin is such a kick, and to do something for our community in Baltimore … what could be better?”
For information, visit lifebridgehealth.org.
A former Baltimore resident, Carol Sorgen is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon.
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