Alastair M. Thompson, MD, BSc, FRCS, mBCHB

Dr. Alastair Thompson is a surgical oncologist specializing in breast cancer. He is the Professor and Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology, Section of Breast Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, where he holds the Olga Keith Wiess Chair of Surgery. He also serves as Co-Director of the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center and is Co-Associate Director for Clinical Research at the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

Dr. Thomspon’s clinical interests include: ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS); nipple and skin sparing mastectomy; breast conservation surgery; and sentinel lymph node biopsy. His research interests include: multidisciplinary patient care alongside “bench to bedside” studies; and innovative clinical trials in cancer. He initiated and led a successful breast cancer laboratory program; provided leadership for a cancer center in the United Kingdom; chaired the UK national breast cancer trials portfolio of 120 studies; and engaged in a range of pivotal roles in key drug, radiation therapy and surgical trials involving the UK, Europe, United States and Australia. 

Dr. Thompson also has preclinical and practical experience in the design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of early- to late-phase drug and medical device trials. Dr. Thompson received his MBChB in Medicine Surgery and medical degree in Molecular Biology from the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland. He completed his residency in general surgery at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and a Research Fellowship at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in Edinburgh. 

Dr. Thompson has co-chaired the Comparison of Operative to Monitoring and Endocrine Therapy (COMET) Trial for low-risk DCIS; and the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Breast Cancer Steering Committee proposed “no surgery” clinical trial planning committee. He is a member of the NCI BOLD taskforce and has held leadership positions in the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium and SWOG Cancer Research Network. 

Dr. Thompson is also a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Association of Breast Surgery, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Breast Group, American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Association for Cancer Research, Moynihan Chirurgical Club, and the Society of Surgical Oncology.