MD
Director of Medical Oncology for the Breast Program
I want patients to know that I am here for their entire journey, not just during treatment, and that I will take their goals and values into account to prioritize a collaborative approach to mutual decision-making.
University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, AL
Internal Medicine – Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA
Hematology/Oncology – University of Mississippi, Jackson, MS
Medical Oncology – American Board of Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine – American Board of Internal Medicine
As Director of Medical Oncology for City of Hope® Cancer Center Chicago’s breast program, Teja Poosarla, MD, collaborates with each patient’s multidisciplinary care team to craft a personalized breast cancer treatment plan that incorporates advances in conventional and targeted therapies. Dr. Poosarla believes strongly in treating every patient with compassion and taking his or her personal values and beliefs into account every step of the way, from diagnosis through treatment and into survivorship.
Born in India, Dr. Poosarla moved to the United States at a young age. Having experienced frequent health issues as a child, she understood the vital role doctors played in caring for patients’ health and their overall well-being. But it was when her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer during Dr. Poosarla’s residency that she was inspired to pursue a career in oncology.
“That experience shaped my life,” she says. “My grandmother’s oncologist felt like part of the family. I want to have the same influence on my patients that her doctor had on her and establish long-term relationships with them.”
Dr. Poosarla earned her medical degree from the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, Alabama, then completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans. She attended the University of Mississippi in Jackson, Mississippi, for her residency in hematology/oncology. A board-certified internist and medical oncologist, Dr. Poosarla has extensive training in her field.
She is particularly excited to be part of the world-class team of physicians at City of Hope.
“We are able to truly give patients the care they deserve here, since everything is at our fingertips,” Dr. Poosarla says. “From speed-to-care to clinical research, everyone is invested in taking care of patients.”
An experienced researcher, Dr. Poosarla has been involved with multiple clinical trials, including those targeting new therapies for ER+ and triple-negative breast cancer, and her research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals. She’s a member of multiple professional organizations, including the Society of Hematologic Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Outside of City of Hope, she enjoys international travel, exploring new foods and cultures and spending time with her husband and son.