MD, MS
Thoracic Medical Oncologist, Medical Director of Clinical Research
It’s important that my patients and their families trust that I will be open about their prognosis and side effects, so they’re prepared for the journey ahead. Patients need to have all the information in order to make informed decisions.
Federal University of Ceara School of Medicine – Fortaleza, Brazil
Internal Medicine – Walter Cantidio University Hospital, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil
Internal Medicine – Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Hematology and Oncology; Transfusion Medicine – Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
M.Sc. in Cancer Biology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center – Houston, TX
Medical Oncology – American Board of Internal Medicine
Debora Bruno, MD, MS, is a thoracic medical oncologist at City of Hope® Cancer Center Atlanta, where she specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases including lung cancer, mesothelioma and thymoma and thymic carcinoma. She also serves as medical director of clinical research, overseeing a growing clinical trials program that seeks to develop new therapies for patients at City of Hope and beyond.
“City of Hope’s patient-centric paradigm of care is so refreshing in today's day and age of health care and cancer care,” Dr. Bruno says. “I’m excited to be part of a multidisciplinary team of colleagues committed to not only bringing leading-edge treatments to our patients, but also helping them achieve their goals when living with and surviving cancer.”
Growing up in Brazil, Dr. Bruno was inspired to pursue a career in medicine by her physician father. A combination of the fascinating science of oncology and the rewarding nature of working with patients drew her to the field of cancer care–but it was her mentors who showed her the value that a personal approach brings to clinical work.
“My compassionate teachers were physicians who inspired me to strive to treat people rather than just patients,” she explains.
In the clinic, Dr. Bruno works with each patient’s cancer care team to craft a personalized treatment plan that incorporates a variety of systemic approaches to cancer, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies.
“I’ve heard quite a few times that my patients feel special, as if they’re the only ones I treat rather than one of many. They feel seen and understood, and in my opinion, this is such an important part of the therapeutic process,” Dr. Bruno says.
A board-certified medical oncologist with more than 25 years’ experience, Dr. Bruno earned her medical degree from the Federal University of Ceara School of Medicine in Brazil and a master’s in cancer biology from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. She completed an internal medicine internship at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia and two residencies in transfusion medicine and hematology-oncology, both at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.
Dr. Bruno is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.
A recognized expert in her field with multiple peer-reviewed publications to her name, Dr. Bruno serves as principal investigator for more than 20 clinical trials and has been recognized with more than a dozen awards.
Outside the clinic, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, hiking and dancing.