Assistant Professor

Areas of Interest
breast cancer, patient reported outcomes, quality improvement, improving access to breast cancer care

Biography

Dr. Victoria Huynh is an assistant professor in the UAB Division of Breast and Endocrine Surgery. She joined the faculty of the UAB Department of Surgery in 2025.

After attending medical school at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, she completed her general surgery residency at the University of Colorado and was a breast surgical oncology clinical research and quality improvement resident. She then completed a fellowship in breast surgical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Dr. Huynh’s research interests include improving access to breast cancer care among the general population and special or disadvantaged populations.

Honors and Awards

The Academy for Emerging Leaders in Patient Safety Scholarship

Academic Surgical Congress - Best Overall Abstract Award

University of Colorado General Surgery - Chief Resident of the Year Award

Selected Publications

Huynh V, Mouabbi J, Kuerer HM, Wanis KN, Abdel-Salam HM, Gutierrez AM, Johnson HM, Lucci A, Hunt KK, Arun B. Characterization of the germline pathogenic mutational landscape and oncologic outcomes among 877 patients with invasive lobular carcinoma. Annals of Surgical Oncology, Vol. 32(8):5477-5488, August 2025.

Huynh V, Glencer A, Yi M, Wingate E, Wingate H, Allassan N, Alameddine S, Singh P, Hunt K, Kuerer HM, Refinetti A. Impact of pathologic complete response on local-regional recurrence and survival in patients undergoing neoadjuvant systemic therapy and breast conserving surgery. Annals of Surgical Oncology, August 2025.

Online ahead of print. Adams M, Higgins M, Vemuru S, Huynh V, Coons H, Baurle E, Rojas K, Hampanda K, Zimmaro L, Arkema A, Bozzuto L, Fleagle E, Makela K, Singer K, Tevis S. Developing a patient-centered educational video series on sexual health for women with breast cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, Vol. 33(8):724, July 2025.

Higgins M, Vemuru S, Helmkamp L, Adams M, Colborn K, Parris H, Huynh V, Christian N, Ahrendt G, Lee C, Kim S, Matlock D, Cumbler E, Tevis S. Access to results of patient reported outcome surveys did not improve longitudinal patient reported outcomes in breast cancer patients in a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Surgery. January 2025. 239:116054. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2024.116054. Epub 2024 Oct 30. PMID: 39500006; PMCID: PMC11649449.

Vemuru S, Helmkamp L, Adams M, Colborn K, Parris H, Huynh V, Higgins M, Christian N, Ahrendt G, Baurle E, Lee C, Kim S, Matlock D, Cumbler E, Tevis S. Longitudinal trends in patient-reported outcomes in the first year after lumpectomy vs mastectomy. Annals of Surgical Oncology, Vol. 31(11):7597- 7606, October 2024.

Jeon J, Adams M, Higgins M, Vemuru S, Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Baurle E, Rojas K, Matlock D, Lee C, Kim S, Tevis S. Breast cancer surgery: A qualitative exploration of concerns over time. Journal of Surgical Research, Vol 300:272- 278, August 2024.

McCranie A, Lee A, Leonard L, Vemuru S, Huynh V, D’Angelo J, D’Angelo AL, Ahrendt G, Kaoutzanis C, Fisher C, Gleisner A, Meguid C, Schulick R, Del Chiaro M, Tevis S. Exploration of patient retention in seeking a second opinion: A retrospective cohort study. Journal of Surgical Research, May 2024. Online ahead of print.

Mott N, Huynh V, Vemuru S, Parris H, Colborn K, Ahrendt G, Christian N, Kim S, Matlock D, Cumbler E, Tevis S. Barriers and facilitators to measuring patient reported outcomes in an academic breast cancer clinic: An application of the REAIM framework. American Journal of Surgery, Vol. 228:180-184, February 2024.

Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Vemuru S, Romandetti K, Fisher C, Coons H, Hampanda K, Ahrendt G, Afghahi A, Tevis S. Characterizing informational needs and information seeking behavior of patients with breast cancer. American Journal of Surgery, Vol. 227:100-105, January 2024.

Vemuru S, Bronsert M, Vossler K, Huynh V, Ahrendt G, Arruda J, Kaoutzanis C, Rojas K, Bozzuto L, Kim S, Tevis S. Postoperative outcomes after staged vs coordinated breast surgery and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Annals of Surgical Oncology, Vol. 30(9): 5667-5680, September 2023.

Yang J, Huynh V, Leonard L, Kovar A, Bronsert M, Ludwigson A, Wolverton D, Hampanda K, Christian N, Kim S, Ahrendt G, Mathes D, Tevis S. Are diagnostic delays associated with distress in breast cancer patients? Breast Care, Vol. 18(4): 240-248, August 2023.

Vemuru S, Huang J, Colborn K, Yoon YJ, Huynh V, Leonard L, Ahrendt G, Christian N, Afghahi A, McLemore L, Sams S, Tevis S. Clinical implications of receptor conversions in breast cancer patients who have undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, Vol. 200(2): 247-256, July 2023.

Neilson T, Huynh V, MacDonald A, Romandetti K, Ahrendt G, Kim S, Tevis S. Financial toxicity of breast cancer care: The patient perspective through surveys and interviews. Journal of Surgical Research, Vol. 281: 122-129, January 2023.

Billings J, Huynh V, Leonard L, Kovar A, Jones T, Cumbler E, Meachum R, Tevis S. Addressing an epidemic: Improving guideline-concordant opioid prescribing in surgical patients. Surgery, Vol. 172(5): 1407-1414, November 2022.

Vemuru S, Smith S, Colborn K, Huynh V, Leonard L, Bonnell L, Scherer L, Matlock D, Lee C, Kim S, Tevis S. Access to results of patient reported outcome surveys does not improve survey response rates. Journal of Surgical Research, Vol. 283: 945-952, October 2022.

Huynh V, Vemuru S, Hampanda K, Pettigrew J, Fasano M, Coons H, Rojas K, Afghahi A, Ahrendt G, Kim S, Matlock D, Tevis S. No One-Size-Fits-All: Sexual Health Education Preferences in Patients with Breast Cancer. Annals of Surgical Oncology, Vol. 29(10): 6238-6251, October 2022.

Verosky A, Leonard L, Quinn C, Vemuru S, Warncke E, Himelhoch B, Huynh V, Wolverton D, Jaiswal K, Ahrendt G, Sams S, Lin CT, Cumbler E, Schulick R, Tevis S. Patient comprehension of breast pathology report terminology: The need for patient-centered resources. Surgery, Vol. 172(3): 831-837, September 2022.

Leonard L, Himelhoch B, Huynh V, Wolverton D, Jaiswal K, Ahrendt G, Sams S, Cumbler E, Schulick R, Tevis S. Patient and clinician perceptions of the immediate release of electronic health information. American Journal of Surgery, Vol. 224(1): 27-34, July 2022.

Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Myers S, Hampanda K, Christian N, Ahrendt G, Romandetti K, Tevis S. Patient perceptions of changes in breast cancer care and well-being during COVID-19: A mixed methods study. Annals of Surgical Oncology, Vol. 29(3): 1649-1657, March 2022.

COVIDSurg Collaborative [including Huynh V]. SARS-CoV-2 infection and venous thromboembolism after surgery: an international prospective cohort study. Anaesthesia, Vol. 77(1): 28-39, January 2022.

Huynh V, Yang J, Bronsert M, Ludwigson A, Ahrendt G, Kim S, Matlock D, Cohen J, Hampanda K, Tevis S. Choosing between mastectomy and breast conserving therapy: Is patient distress an influencing factor? Annals of Surgical Oncology, Vol. 28(13): 8679-8687, December 2021.

Huynh V, Christian N, Tuthill K, Colborn K, Schulick R, Tevis S. Development of a surgical research program for medical students and its short-term impact on academic productivity. Journal of Surgical Education, Vol. 78(6): 68-71, November 2021.

COVIDSurg Collaborative [including Huynh V]. Effects of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery: an international prospective cohort study. Anaesthesia, Vol. 76(11):1454-1464, November 2021.

Huynh V, Colborn K, Smith S, Bonnell L, Ahrendt G, Christian N, Kim S, Matlock D, Lee C, Tevis S. Early trajectories of patient reported outcomes in breast cancer patients undergoing lumpectomy versus mastectomy. Annals of Surgical Oncology, Vol. 28(10): 5677-5686, October 2021.

Su M, Huynh V, Bronsert M, Su E, Goode J, Lock A, Banden S, Ahrendt G, Afghahi A, Arruda J, Tevis S. Longitudinal risk management for patients with increased risk for breast cancer. Journal of Surgical Research, Vol. 266: 421- 429, October 2021.

Huynh V, Colborn K, Rojas K, Christian N, Ahrendt G, Cumbler E, Schulick R, Tevis S. Evaluation of opioid prescribing preferences among surgical residents and faculty. Surgery, Vol. 170(4): 1066-1073, October 2021.

COVIDSurg Collaborative [including Huynh V], GlobalSurg Collaborative. SARSCoV- 2 vaccination modeling for safe surgery to save lives: Data from an international prospective cohort study. British Journal of Surgery, Vol. 108(9):1056-1063, September 2021.

Huynh V, Colborn K, Christian N, Nehler M, Rojas K, Ahrendt G, Bronsert M, Cumbler E, Tevis S. Resident opioid prescribing habits do not reflect best practices in post-operative pain management: An assessment of the knowledge and education gap. Journal of Surgical Education, Vol. 78(4): 1286-1294, July 2021.

COVIDSurg Collaborative [including Huynh V]. Timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international prospective cohort study. Anaesthesia, Vol. 76(6): 748-758, June 2021.

Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Bronsert M, Sloan K, Murphy C, Christian N, Jaiswal K, Ahrendt G, Tevis S. A screening tool identifies high distress in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Surgery, Vol. 168(5): 935-941, November 2020.

Huynh V, Rojas K, Ahrendt G, Murphy C, Jaiswal K, Cumbler E, Christian N, Tevis S. Reassessing opioid use in breast surgery. Journal of Surgical Research, Vol. 254: 232-241, October 2020.

Johnson C, Huynh V, Hargrove L, Kennedy L, Graf-Eaton A, Owens J, Trzeciakowski JT, Hodges K, DeMorrow S, Han Y, Wong L, Alpini G, Francis H. Inhibition of mast cell-derived histamine decreases human cholangiocarcinoma growth and differentiation via c-kit/stem cell factor-dependent signaling. American Journal of Pathology, Vol. 186, No. 1, January 2016.

Kennedy L, Hargrove L, Graf A, Francis T, Hodges K, Nguyen Q, Ueno Y, Greene J, Meng F, Huynh V, Francis H. Inhibition of mast-cell derived histamine secretion by cromolyn sodium treatment decreases biliary hyperplasia in cholestatic rodents. Laboratory Investigation, Vol. 94, December 2014.

Education

Medical School
Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine

Residency
University of Colorado
General Surgery Residency

Fellowship
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship

Contact

Phone
Patient Appointments and Questions: 205-801-9034
Academic Office: 205-975-5477

Email
vdhuynh@uabmc.edu