Gordana Rasic, MD MS

Gordana Rasic headshot

Site: Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Research Mentors: Tony E. Godfrey PhD and Teviah Sachs MD MPH

Area of Research: Investigated the utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in postoperative surveillance for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; evaluated racial and socioeconomic disparities in the management of hepatopancreaticobiliary cancers

Dr. Gordana Rasic is currently a General Surgery Resident and Clinical Instructor of General Surgery at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center (BMC).  During her resident academic development time, Dr. Rasic committed her efforts to improving surgical oncology outcomes by developing and clinically validating methodology for ctDNA testing in postoperative surveillance for head and neck cancers. In addition, Dr. Rasic conducted institutional and national database research to identify racial and socioeconomic disparities in healthcare settings that obstruct the delivery of equitable and high-quality oncologic care.

Dr. Rasic is also devoted to cultivating a diverse and inclusive surgical workforce and training environment. On the Association of Women Surgeons HeForShe Committee, she served as the resident co-director of the Cross-Mentorship Workshop Series and led the creation of an online cross-mentorship curriculum. As a result, she led a multi-institutional study that evaluates the impact of the curriculum on improving cultural diversity awareness of mentors who practice in diverse environments. As a result of these experiences and her interests, Dr. Rasic serves as a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force for the Association for Surgical Education (ASE) and DEI Committee for the Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS). As an out lesbian surgeon and avid LGBTQIA+ advocate, Dr. Rasic was appointed in 2022 to serve as the inaugural Resident and Fellow Representative on the Executive Board of the Association of Out Surgeons and Allies (AOSA). Throughout this time, Dr. Rasic has also served as the senior administrative research resident of the Department of Surgery at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, where she invested her efforts in improving the resources available to both clinical and research residents to pursue their research initiatives

From her academic development time, Dr. Rasic is an author of nearly 30 publications and book chapters, 14 of which she is the first author. She has presented at numerous national conferences such as those for the Society of Surgical Oncology, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress, and Association for Surgical Education. In addition, Dr Rasic has been invited to speak on national platforms – Advances In Surgery and ASE Surgical Podcast – to advocate for LGBTQIA+ inclusive practices of surgical trainees.

Top Three publications:

  • Rasic G, Beaulieu-Jones BR, Chung SH, Romatoski KS, Kenzik K, Ng SC, Tseng JF, Sachs TE. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Time to Treatment Initiation: A National Cancer Database Study. Annals of Surgical Oncology (2023). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-023-13468-6
  • Rasic G, de Geus SWL, Papageorge MV, Woods AP, Ng SC, McAneny D, Tseng JF, Sachs TE. Disparities in the Receipt of Recommended Curative Treatment for Patients with Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma. World J Surg (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-023-06969-8
  • Rasic G, de Geus SWL, Beaulieu-Jones B, Kasumova GG, Kent TS, Ng SC, McAneny D, Tseng JF, Sachs TE. A Nationwide propensity score analysis comparing ablation and resection for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Surg Oncol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1002/jso.27232

A full list of Dr. Gordana Rasic’s manuscripts can be found here (‪Gordana Rasic MD MS – ‪Google Scholar).

Awards/Grants:

  • Recognition of Excellence Coin, Association for Surgical Education, Surgical Education Week 2023, San Diego, CA     
  • Best Oral Presentation, Grasberger Research Symposium 2023, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA
  • Massachusetts Chapter of American College of Surgeons (MCACS) 11th Annual Resident Advocate Leadership Competition, 2023
  • The Arnold P. Gold Humanism Honor Society, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, 2021
  • Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, 2021

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