Isabel Rubio

Academic History

Isabel Rubio, MD, PhD, is the Head of Breast Surgical Oncology at Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Madrid, Spain, and a Professor of Surgery at the University of Navarra. She earned her medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain, and her PhD at the University of Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain. To further specialize in breast surgical oncology, Prof. Rubio pursued advanced training in the United States, completing a two-year fellowship at the University of Arkansas, and the Arkansas Cancer Center, Little Rock, AR. Before joining Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Prof. Rubio served as the Head of the Breast Surgical Oncology Unit at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain and Associate Professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

In addition to her clinical and leadership roles, Prof. Rubio has been the principal investigator in numerous clinical trials and has published over 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts and several book chapters. She serves as the Breast Associate Editor of the Journal of Surgical Oncology, and a reviewer for journals such as the Breast and European Journal of Surgical Oncology.

Speaking on innovations in breast cancer surgery

Prof. Rubio specializes in advancing surgical techniques and multidisciplinary management for breast cancer patients. Her research focuses on de-escalation of surgical treatments, sentinel lymph node biopsy, neoadjuvant treatments, and the surgical management of BRCA mutation carriers. She is also dedicated to standardizing breast cancer surgical training and developing specialized breast units to ensure high quality care. Through her collaborative efforts, Prof. Rubio aims to improve surgical practices and outcomes for patients with breast cancer worldwide.