Director of the Division of Surgical Oncology Dr. Helen Krontiras speaks to a patient in the clinic at UAB.

Helen Krontiras, M.D., director of the Division of Surgical Oncology at UAB, has been named one of Alabama Media Group’s 2018 Women Who Shape the State.

Every year, AMG presents 30 Alabama women with the Women Who Shape the State award. These women are considered by their peers to be leaders within their respective communities and professional industries and are nominated in recognition of their efforts to advance Alabama through their work in philanthropy, commerce, advocacy or public service, as well as their work in the nonprofit or small business sectors. Since its creation in 2015, the Women Who Shape the State list has included the Division of Pediatric Surgery’s Elizabeth Beierle, M.D., who was named in the 2016 list, and the Division of Transplantation’s Jayme Locke, M.D., who was named in the 2015 list. Among the 2018 winners of this award is Krontiras, who will be officially named one of the 2018 Women Who Shape the State at a reception for honorees at The Haven on Nov. 2.

Krontiras, a breast surgical oncologist and professor in the Department of Surgery, joined UAB as an assistant professor 15 years ago and now serves as director of the UAB Division of Surgical Oncology and as medical director of the UAB Breast Health Center, which was named one of the top breast health centers in the country in 2015. She, along with her team of oncologists and surgeons at the UAB Breast Health Center, see about 450 new breast cancer cases every year.

“I’m honored to be named one of the 2018 Women Who Shape the State and to be in such great company with Dr. Beierle and Dr. Locke, as well as the other 29 women who received this award this year," Krontiras said. "The work we do within the Division of Surgical Oncology, the UAB Breast Health Center and the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center has such an impact on so many patients, directly and as a result of our cancer research."

Krontiras’ research primarily focuses on the chemoprevention of breast cancer. She is a senior scientist at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and also serves as the clinical investigator on a new drug in development at UAB that hopes to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, called UAB30.

She is also the co-director of the Lynne Cohen Preventive Care Program for Women’s Cancers at UAB and co-director of the Breast Cancer Prevention and Risk Assessment Clinic. Additionally, as assistant chief medical officer for Ambulatory Quality and Patient Safety for UAB, Krontiras reviews and assesses the actions needed to help provide affordable, high-quality care to patients.

"I’m excited to attend the Women Who Shape the State reception as a recipient of this award and look forward to representing UAB and the Department of Surgery," Krontiras said.

UAB Department of Surgery Chair Herbert Chen, M.D., lauded Krontiras’ expertise as a surgeon and as a leader within the surgical community.

“Dr. Krontiras is recognized as an expert in the field of breast cancer and is highly regarded by her peers and patients,” Chen said. “Her leadership and commitment to patient care, research and education make her an ideal recipient for the 2018 Women Who Shape the State.”

Marina Moody contributed to this report.