Surgical Oncology Team

Breast Cancer Surgeons

Jason M. Hechtman, MD
FACS Assistant Professor, Dept. of Surgery, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine

Dr. Jason Hechtman is on the medical staff at Tampa General Hospital and is an assistant professor of breast surgery at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. He specializes in the treatment of breast cancer and breast diseases, blending cutting edge treatment options with advanced surgical interventions to ensure patients not only receive the best medical care possible, but also feel beautiful and confident. With more than 16 years of experience, Dr. Hechtman is an expert in breast ultrasound, ultrasound-guided breast biopsy and localization procedures, breast brachytherapy catheter placement and treatment, breast oncoplastic interventions, hidden scar breast surgical interventions and other minimally invasive breast interventions that maximize aesthetic outcomes.

Abigail S. Beard, MD
Assistant Professor, Breast Surgery, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine

Dr. Abigail Beard is on the medical staff at Tampa General Hospital and an assistant professor of breast surgery at the University of South Florida School of Medicine. Her areas of interest include benign and malignant disorders of the breast, high risk breast cancer screening, and breast conservation and oncoplastic surgery, about which Dr. Beard has given several presentations and published studies. She is the vice chair of the Committee on Cancer and has served on the Radiation Oncology Chair Search Committee, both at Tampa General Hospital. Dr. Beard’s awards and honors include clerkships in pediatrics, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and psychiatry, and letters of commendation in surgery, internal medicine, and neurology. She was also named to the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Golden Key Honor Society in the National Scholastic Honor Society.

Colorectal Cancer Surgeons

Jorge E. Marcet, MD
Medical Director, Colorectal Surgery Services, Tampa General Hospital

Jorge Marcet, MD, operates as the Medical Director of Colorectal Surgery Services for Tampa General Hospital. Dr. Marcet is a member of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. He obtained his medical degree from Cornell University and specializes in general surgery and colon & rectal surgery. Dr. Marcet is often recognized for trusting relationships with his patients and the community by providing quality care and educating others.

Carolina Martinez, MD
Colon & Rectal Surgery, General Surgery, Tampa General Hospital

Dr. Carolina Martinez is a fellowship-trained surgeon with expertise in colon and rectal surgery, specializing in management of both benign and malignant colorectal disorders. Dr. Martinez uses advanced endoscopic interventions as well as minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic techniques to manage patients with colorectal tumors, inflammatory bowel disease and pelvic floor dysfunction. Dr. Martinez is a compassionate physician whose primary goal is to ensure equal access to comprehensive health care.

Gynecologic Cancer Surgeons

Thomas J. Rutherford, MD

Medical Director, TGH Cancer Institute
USF Health Director, Division of Gynecology and Oncology

Dr. Thomas J. Rutherford is the medical director of the Tampa General Hospital Cancer Instituteand director of the Division of Gynecology and Oncology at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. He approaches patient care as an advocate for total cancer care, recognizing that patient care encompasses a continuum from prevention and high-risk genetic screening to individualized treatment, survivorship and end-of-life care. A nationally recognized surgeon, Dr. Rutherford came to Tampa from Western Connecticut Health Network, where he was the network physician director of cancer services. Before that, he was a professor, division director of gynecologic oncology and director of the gynecologic oncology fellowship at the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Rutherford has authored more than 100 scientific journal articles on the prevention, early detection and treatment of gynecological cancers.

Matthew L. Anderson, MD, PhD, PACOG

Gynecologic Oncologist, Tampa General Hospital
Director, USF Morsani College of Medicine Obstetrics & Gynecology

Dr. Matthew L. Anderson specializes in the surgical and medical management of pre-malignant and malignant diseases of the female reproductive tract. He utilizes state-of-the-art approaches, including both minimally invasive and robotic surgery, to achieve the best possible clinical outcomes in a friendly, patient-oriented environment. Dr. Anderson leverages his unique expertise as a nationally recognized translational cancer researcher to help his patients gain a better understanding of their disease and personalize the therapeutic approach. His experience with genetics is particularly helpful for patients seeking options for managing an inherited predisposition to ovarian and/or uterine cancer. In addition, Dr. Anderson’s many years of experience as a surgeon allow him to effectively address complex gynecologic issues, such as large pelvic masses, fistulas and difficult cases of endometriosis and uterine leiomyomas.

Head & Neck Cancer Surgeon

Tapan Padhya, MD

Medical Director, Ear Nose and Throat, Tampa General Hospital

Professor and Chairman
Chief, Division of Head and Neck Oncology
Co-Director, USF ENT Sleep and Snoring Center
Dept. of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine

Dr. Tapan Padhya operates as Tampa General Hospital’s Medical Director for Ear, Nose, and Throat, a professor and Chairman for the Division of Head and Neck Oncology at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. In addition, Dr. Padhya is the founder and co-director at the USF ENT Sleep and Snoring Center. He received his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine and specializes in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery. Dr. Padhya serves the community through his dedication to his patients and drive for research and educating others.

Lung Cancer Surgeons

K. Eric Sommers, MD, FACS

Medical Director, TGH Center for Lung Cancer
Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Tampa General Hospital

Dr. K. Eric Sommers is one of the most experienced thoracic surgeons in Florida, having performed more than 6,300 cardiothoracic surgeries – including over 4,000 for lung cancer – as well as hundreds of robotic assisted procedures using the da Vinci® System.Hisskill and expertise in minimally invasive lung and chest surgery have earned him national recognition. His robotic lobectomy technique for lung cancer is being utilized as a teaching tool for other thoracic surgeons.Dr. Sommers’ surgical skill is matched by his extensive teaching and administrative experience. In addition to spending more than a decade on the medical staff at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, he was also, the medical Staff Executive Committee President at Moffitt, an associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, a founding surgical director of the Tampa General Hospital lung transplant program, and the director of the Heart Transplant Group at Tampa General Hospital.

Jonathan Daniel, MD
Thoracic Surgeon, Tampa General Hospital

Dr. Jonathan Daniel is a board-certified thoracic surgeon who specializes in cancerous and non-cancerous diseases of the lungs and esophagus. In the 10 years prior to joining Tampa General, he treated patients in the private practice setting in Alaska and Oregon. Equipped with extensive experience in minimally invasive techniques and specialized robotic surgeries, Dr. Daniel is a lecturer and proctor for Intuitive Surgical, the manufacturer of the da Vinci robotic system. He’s also provided instruction as an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Arizona, where he served as Section Chief of Thoracic Surgery and performed lung transplant surgery and general thoracic surgery.