Dr. Duska is an Associate Professor with Tenure in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology. She joined the faculty at UVA in September 2008 having moved from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where she was on faculty for ten years. Her primary clinical focus is in Gynecologic cancers. Her research focus is on clinical trials with particular attention to collaboration in translational research with the Women’s Oncology Group at UVA.

Her main reason for relocating to UVA was to serve as Fellowship Director, and in this role she serves as the primary educator for the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship at UVA. She also is privileged to teach medical students during their Gynecologic Oncology clerkships, teach the Obstetrics/Gynecology residents (first through fourth years), mentor the Gynecologic Oncology fellows, and participate in various national teaching opportunities. She devotes 20% of her time in direct teaching activities plus additional effort teaching and mentoring in the clinic and the Operating Room.

Specialty ~
Obstetrics and Gynecology

Sub - Specialty ~
Gynecologic Oncology

Special Expertise ~
Clinical Trials, (particularly Phase I)
Fertility Preservation
Education

Awards ~
2009 - 2012 - Selection into Best Doctors
2010 - NCI Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award, NCI
2008 - “Partners in Excellence Award”

Education ~
1987 - BA, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
1991 - MD, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
2009 - Masters of Clinical Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Residency ~
1991-1995 Resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology Johns Hopkins Hospital

Fellowship ~
1995-1998 Fellow in Gynecologic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital

Certification ~
1992 National Board of Medical Examiners, Part 3

Research ~
1997 - 1999 Principal Investigator, Center for Minimally Invasive Therapy Grant, Fluorescence Detection and Laser Treatment of Female Lower Genital Tract Dysplasias Utilizing 5 aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-Induced Protoporphyrin IX

2000 - 2002 Principal Investigator, Office for Women's Careers Faculty Development Award, Steroid-Dependent Transcription of bcl-2 Gene Family Members in Human Uterine Cancer

2004 - 2005 Principal Investigator, Gynecologic Cancer Foundation/GSK Therapeutic Approaches to Relapsed Ovarian Cancer Grant, Testing the Significance of Cables Expression in Identification and Genes of Endometrial Cancer

2009 - Principal Investigator, Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research, University of Virginia Cancer Center Support Grant: An Exploratory Pharmacogenomic Study of Neoadjuvant Cetuximab Followed by Cisplatin, Radiotherapy, and Cetuximab in Women with Newly Diagnosed Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cervical Carcinoma

2009-2011 Principal Investigator, Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research, University of Virginia Cancer Center Support Grant: Phase II Study of Docetaxel plus VEGF Trap (AVE0005, SC#724770) in Patients with Recurrent Ovarian, Primary Peritoneal, and Fallopian Tube Cancer

2009-2011 Principal Investigator, Commonwealth Foundation for Cancer Research, University of Virginia Cancer Center Support Grant: An assessment of serum IgG and IgE levels pre- and post- treatment with cetuximab in patients receiving cetuximab chemotherapy and titer level relationship to hypersensitivity reactions and treatment response.

2010- Principal Investigator, UVa Cancer Center through Women’s Oncology Fund and the NCI Cancer Center Support Grant, P30 CA44579: A Phase 0/1 study of dasatinib in women with newly diagnosed endometrial cancer who are going to the operating room for planned hysterectomy

Principal Investigator Trials - National and In house:

MGH Site PI (GOG) GOG 209 - Randomized Phase III Trial of Doxorubicin/Cisplatin/Paclitaxel & G-CSF vs. Carboplatin/Paclitaxel in Patients with Stage III & IV Recurrent Endometrial Cancer

MGH Site PI (GOG) GOG 211 - Phase II Investigation of the Relationship of Short Term Depo-Provera (Medroxyprogesterone acetate) Exposure to the Morphologic, Biochemical, and Molecular Changes in Primary Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma

Co-PI of National Trial TLK283 - Phase III Randomized Study of TLK238 (Telcyta) in Combination with Carboplatin (Paraplatin) versus Liposomal Doxorubicin (Doxil) as Second-Line Therapy in Platinum Refractory or Resistant Ovarian Cancer

MGH Overall PI (investigator initiated) Phase II study of paclitaxel, carboplatin and adriamycin with GCF in patients with “high risk” endometrial cancer

MGH Site PI (investigator initiated) Phase II study of oxaliplatin and gemcitabine followed by radiation therapy in the management of mixed mullerian tumors of the uterus

UVA Site PI GOG 9921: A Phase I Feasibility Trial IP Cisplatin and IV Paclitaxel on Day One Followed by IP Paclitaxel on Day 8 Every 21 Days as Front-line Treatment of Ovarian, Fallopian Tube and Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma

UVA Site PI (investigator initiated) An Exploratory Pharmacogenomic Study of Neoadjuvant Cetuximab Followed by Cisplatin, Radiotherapy, and Cetuximab in Women with Newly Diagnosed Locally Advanced or Metastatic Cervical Carcinoma

UVA Site PI (investigator initiated) Phase II Study of Docetaxel plus VEGF Trap (AVE0005, SC#724770) in Patients with Recurrent Ovarian, Primary Peritoneal, and Fallopian Tube Cancer

UVA Site PI (pharma) A Phase II study of Nektar (pegylated irinotecan) in recurrent platinum resistant or refractory ovarian cancer

UVA Site PI (investigator initiated) An assessment of serum IgG and IgE levels pre- and post- treatment with cetuximab in patients receiving
cetuximab chemotherapy and titer level relationship to hypersensitivity reactions and treatment response.

UVA Site PI GOG 9923 A Phase I Study of Carboplatin/Paclitaxel/CTEP-Supplied Bevacizumab(NSC #704865, IND #7921)and CTEP-Supplied Agent ABT-888(NSC #737664,IND# 77840)in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Previously Untreated Epithelial Ovarian, Fallopian Tube or Primary Peritneal Cancer

UVA Site PI (investigator initiated) A Prospective Trial of COXEN Chemotherapy Prediction in Persistent and Recurrent Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Peritoneal Carcinomas

UVA Site PI (pharma) A Phase III Open Label, Randomized, 2 Arm Study of Ixabepilone Administered Every 21 Days Versus Paclitaxel or Doxorubicin Administered Every 21 Days in Women with Advanced Endometrial Cancer Who Have Previously Been Treated with Chemotherapy

GOG 131H (overall GOG group PI) A Phase II evaluation of Ixabepilone (IND #59699, NSC #710428) in the treatment of recurrent or persistent leiomyosarcoma of the uterus

Publications

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