Dr. Sara Al-Reefy

Content created by Virtual Intern  Nayantara Arora

Dr. Sara Al-Reefy is a breast and oncoplastic surgeon who owns and leads the London Breast Care Centre located in Bahrain. As a general surgery resident in Bahrain, Dr. Al-Reefy observed firsthand the shockingly high mortality rate of young women to breast cancer due to cultural norms and shame surrounding cancer diagnosis and treatment. In November 2007, Dr. Al-Reefy traveled to the United States on an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) titled “Breast Cancer Awareness and Community Outreach.” Her visit to the MD Anderson Hospital and the Susan G. Komen Charity opened her eyes to the importance of yearly breast cancer screening and oncoplastic breast surgery. Inspired, Dr. Al-Reefy traveled to London to specialize in breast cancer surgery at St. George’s University Hospital. Three years later, she returned to Bahrain equipped with “advanced oncoplastic surgery techniques.” Reflecting on her IVLP experience, Dr. Al-Reefy writes, “it was that trip that saved the lives of so many women in my kingdom.”

Over the next five years, Dr. Al-Reefy established the first One-Stop Breast Clinic within the Gulf Cooperation Council and the first private medical center specializing in breast cancer screening and treatment. In 2016, she was awarded a $100,000 grant by the Crown Prince of Bahrain that allowed her to purchase her clinic's first 3D Hologic Mammogram. Since then, Dr. Al-Reefy has launched the first mobile breast screening unit, making breast cancer screening accessible to women in Bahrain's villages, and established a clinical branch in Kuwait.

Dr. Sara Al-Reefy’s tireless efforts and innovative initiatives have resulted in the diagnosis and treatment of 3,000 women with breast cancer in the region. She is changing the current management of breast cancer in the Arab world.

Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra