Young and Strong Program
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Meet the Team

HOME > ABOUT  > MEET THE TEAM
Picture of Dr. Ann Partridge, Founder and Director
Ann Partridge, MD, MPH
Founder and Director
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Dr. Partridge is Vice Chair of Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she also serves as Director of the Adult Survivorship Program and leads the Program for Young Adults with Breast Cancer. As a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, practicing medical oncologist and clinical researcher, she has sought to improve the care and outcomes of patients with cancer by conducting research, and by developing innovative clinical programming. Dr. Partridge serves in leadership roles nationally and internationally including as co-chair of the Breast Committee of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology and co-chair of the biennial ESMO-ESO sponsored Breast Cancer in Young Women Conference. In December 2022, she was appointed as the newest Chief Scientific Advisor for Susan G. Komen.

After graduating from Georgetown University, Dr. Partridge received her medical degree from Cornell University Medical College, pursued an internal medicine residency at the Hospital for the University of Pennsylvania, and completed Medical Oncology and Hematology fellowship at Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare. She earned a Master of Public Health degree at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Picture of Dr. Phil Poorvu, Associate Director
Phil Poorvu, MD
Associate Director


Dr. Poorvu is a medical oncologist in the Breast Oncology Center at Dana-Farber and focuses on the care of young adults with breast cancer and breast cancer survivorship. He received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and fellowship in Medical Oncology at Dana-Farber. His research seeks to better tailor treatments for young patients using gene expression assays and to understand the impact of cancer treatments on fertility and a number of other survivorship issues. He has worked with the Program for Young Adults with Breast Cancer since 2016 to build programming that enhances patient care and meets the many important needs of young patients.
Picture of Dr. Sara Giordano, Satellite Director
Sara Giordano, MD
Satellite Director


Dr. Giordano is a breast medical oncologist and clinical investigator in the Breast Oncology Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center. She serves as the Director for the Hematology and Oncology Fellowship program at Dana-Farber at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center and as Satellite Director for the Young and Strong Program. She received her medical degree from Loyola University in Chicago and then went on to complete her Internal Medicine residency and Hematology and Oncology fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago. Dr. Giordano has a specific interest in the care of young adults with breast cancer and breast cancer survivorship. Her research focuses on novel therapies in the treatment of breast cancer.
Picture of Kathryn Rigby, Program Manager
Kathryn Rigby, MSEd, MSW
Program Manager

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Kathryn Rigby originally joined the Young and Strong team in May 2018. She has a Master of Science in both Education and Social Work and has extensive experience in her prior work teaching life skills to neurodiverse young adults. When earning her MSW, Kathryn’s studies centered on social innovation and change leadership with a focus on program management. Her first role at Dana-Farber was within the Community Benefits Office as an external affairs intern. In this work, Kathryn provided strategic and tactical planning as well as operations management for community health initiatives. Kathryn is passionate about meeting the unique needs of young adults with breast cancer and committed to continue to expand the reach and impact of the program. Originally from Long Island, NY (and still a hardcore Giants fan), Kathryn enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking local trails, and exploring various National Parks throughout the U.S.
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Picture of Sarah Desmarais, Program Coordinator
Sarah Desmarais, MPH
Program Coordinator 

​Sarah Desmarais joined the Young and Strong team as program coordinator in August 2019. She has a master's degree in public health from Northeastern University and is certified in public health from the National Board of Public Health Examiners. Previously, Sarah worked for two years as a clinical research coordinator in the Early Drug Development Center at Dana-Farber where she assisted with phase I solid tumor clinical trials. She is passionate about health education, promotion, and advocacy. In her spare time, Sarah loves to read mystery novels, binge Netflix crime documentaries, and explore Boston restaurants. ​

Breast Clinic Providers

Picture of Breast Oncology Providers
Our multi-disciplinary team works closely with patients, providing the resources and close cooperation of many specialists with deep expertise in diagnosing and treating breast cancer.

Research Team

Picture of the Research Team
Shoshana Rosenberg, ScD, MPH, Sarah Desmarais, Yue Zheng, MS, Ann Partridge, MD, MPH, Tamryn Gray, RN, PhD, MPH, Hannah Freeman, Tal Sella, MD, Craig Snow, MHA, Bridget Carroll, Kathryn Rigby, MSEd, MSW, Liz Riley, Hugh Meadows, and Greg Kirkner, MPH Not pictured: Phil Poorvu, MD and Sonja Darai, MPH
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©2020 Young and Strong Progam at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • About
    • Meet the Team
    • Clinical Sites and Services
    • Research Studies
    • Supporting the Program
    • Contact Us
  • Newly Diagnosed
    • Understanding your Diagnosis
    • Genetics and Family History
    • Treatment Types >
      • Chemotherapy
      • Surgery
      • Radiation
      • Hormone Therapy
    • Building Your Network of Support
    • Coping with Your Diagnosis
    • Coping As A Family
  • Life with Cancer
    • Treatment and Symptom Management >
      • Menopause and Menopausal Symptoms
      • Fertility
      • Sexual Health
      • Lymphedema
      • Tips for Managing Symptoms
    • Supporting and Engaging Your Body >
      • Nutrition
      • Physical Activity
      • Style and Comfort
      • Health and Wellness Tips
    • Logistics: Managing the Details of Your Life >
      • Work and School
      • Financial Supports
      • Getting Organized
    • Finding Community >
      • Early Stage
      • Inflammatory Breast Cancer
      • Metastatic Breast Cancer
  • Survivorship
    • Survivorship Clinic
    • Life Post-Treatment
    • Continued Support
    • Pregnancy After Breast Cancer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Caregivers
    • Resources for All Caregivers >
      • Getting Organized and Managing Logistics
      • Expanding Your Circle of Support
      • Coping: Cancer Impacts Everyone
    • Resources for Family Members >
      • Family Connections
      • Genetic Testing
    • Resources for Partners >
      • Future Pregnancies
  • News & Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Webcasts
    • 2022 Forum Recordings
    • 2021 Forum Recordings
    • Newsletters
    • Insight Blog
    • COVID-19 and Breast Cancer