M.D.
Breast Surgeon
2005, Doctor of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
2005-2010, Intern and Resident in General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Montefiore/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
Lesley Taylor, MD, is a breast surgical oncologist at City of Hope® Cancer Center Duarte. Dr. Taylor has a deep commitment to improving breast cancer care not just in the United States, but around the world, with more than 12 years spent working on global health efforts that expand access to breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Ethiopia.
Dr. Taylor’s journey began during her surgical training, when she received a grant from Albert Einstein College of Medicine that supported her work leading a project offering breast care services in a remote village in Ecuador. Shortly after, she was invited to take part in a larger effort in Ethiopia, where she helped lead a major international partnership aimed at strengthening breast cancer care systems. This project, funded by the Roche African Research Foundation, became known as the Einstein-Ethiopian Collaboration.
Since then, Dr. Taylor has played a key role in numerous programs that have improved care and training across Ethiopia, including designing one of the country’s first breast cancer centers, and supporting research projects. Dr. Taylor has also worked with the American Society of Clinical Oncology to develop a cancer care course for medical and nursing schools in Ethiopia and is part of two German-funded initiatives that focus on training the next generation of Ethiopian cancer researchers.
Working with partners at City of Hope and Hawassa University, Dr. Taylor continues to grow the COH-Ethiopia Breast Cancer Initiative—a program focused on building strong cancer care systems, improving diagnosis through pathology training and developing patient education and advocacy.
Dr. Taylor has also co-created educational materials, including a widely viewed training video that teaches healthcare providers how to perform a clinical breast exam. Her efforts have reached hundreds of nurses and medical professionals across nine African countries. In 2023, she and her team received a prestigious award from the College of American Pathologists for their work advancing breast cancer diagnosis and surgical education in Africa.
Currently, Dr. Taylor serves as a technical advisor to the World Health Organization’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative, where she contributes to improving treatment and supportive care for patients worldwide. Her work with City of Hope has been recognized by the Biden Administration’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative for advancing global cancer care priorities.