Dr. Suniti Nimbkar, Medical Director of the Breast Care Center at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center at South Shore Health

I'm a surgical oncologist, and the Medical Director of the Breast Care Center at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center at South Shore Health and an Instructor in Surgery at Harvard Medical School. I received my Doctor of Medicine degree from Boston University School of Medicine and completed my General Surgery residency at Boston University Medical Center.

My mission is to provide outstanding, compassionate care for patients with breast cancer which integrates multi-disciplinary care and allows for the most up to date treatment standards. 

I went into the field of breast surgery because I knew that I wanted to be able to help patients going through a new diagnosis of breast cancer with thoughtfulness and insight into the latest therapeutic options.  I feel that being a part of the team at the DFBWCC Cancer Center in clinical affiliation with South Shore Health allows me to be a part of a team of superbly talented clinicians who all have the same goals in mind when it comes to the care of a patient with breast cancer – personalized care, compassion, mutual respect and attention to details. 

My mission is to provide excellent care to all of those in need with compassion and empathy.

I grew up in Duxbury, MA on the South Shore and attended Colby College in Maine. I then obtained my Master of Science degree at Mercer University School of Medicine in Georgia. After securing those credentials I attended MGH Institute of Health Professions for PA school, where I graduated in 2021. I take pride in getting to know each patient, their specific medical condition and then guiding them through difficult medical pathways and stressful circumstances. I enjoy my work/life balance and love traveling, workout classes, skiing, and everything wellness.

I grew up in Scituate and am a proud graduate of Scituate High School.  After graduating from Harvard-Radcliffe, I continued doing another year of diabetes research at Massachusetts General Hospital, then did two years of breast cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  I graduated from the Boston University School of Medicine, went to UMass Worcester for residency, graduated from the Harvard School of Public Health, and then went to Brown for residency.  I began working at South Shore Medical Center in 2008.  I especially enjoy seeing patients who knew my father, a police officer in Scituate for 29 years and hearing their stories about him.  I try to motivate, encourage and work with my patients and it is an honor and a privilege to be able to care for them.  Outside of work, I love dancing, playing frisbee, and spending time with my family. 

Dr. Christopher Cannell is a doctoral-trained Physician Associate with over 22 years of multidisciplinary clinical experience in Emergency Medicine (CAQ-EM), Orthopedics, Critical Care, and Internal Medicine. He is nationally recognized for his leadership and expertise in healthcare quality, patient safety, and risk mitigation.  He is a frequent invited speaker on Provider Clinical Risk Management and a blogger for medical liability companies on these critical topics.

Dr. Cannell is a successful entrepreneur leading a six-figure consulting firm where he also trains and encourages other healthcare provider entrepreneurs to explore their passions, niches, and grow their own business.

Dr. Cannell has held key leadership positions including current President of PAs in Legal Medicine, Board of Directors for the Academy of Doctoral PAs and previously with Massachusetts Association of PAs, and Board Advisor for the SCUHS Doctor of Medical Science program. He has led clinical teams as an APC Director, Department Lead, healthcare system, program manager and thought leader and Chair of APC career letter committee, driving innovation in quality improvement, documentation, onboarding, population management, operations, and value-based care initiatives across health systems.  Created POCUS acute care program for PAs and NPs at the largest community hospital in Massachusetts in alignment with the department ultrasound director. 

Dr. Cannell is an experienced medical professional legal consultant (MPLC) and expert witness, certified through Auburn University and The Center for Legal Studies. He has over 8 years of experience providing expert witness and consulting services focused on clinical risk assessment, discovery, and standard of care.  His collaborative consulting work spans clinicians, legal teams, malpractice insurance consultants, executives, AI technology, and life sciences organizations.

A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Cannell serves as Assistant Professor Doctor of Medical Science Program at The University of Lynchburg, current adjunct faculty for the Doctor of Medical Science Program at Marshall B. Ketchum University and also previously with South College (Healthcare Law & Policy), and currently for Northeastern University School of Medical Sciences PA Program, and the Tufts School of Medicine PA Program. He is a subject matter expert in generative AI development, educational consulting for early career and transitional career NPs and PA’s, and interprofessional collaboration to advance the Quadruple Aim.

Dr. Cannell completed leadership training in Just Culture, High Reliability, as well as patient safety through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). He earned his DMSc from the University of Lynchburg, MPAS from MCPHS–Boston, and BA in Pre-Medical Studies and Psychology from Muhlenberg College. He has done additional leadership training from AAPA from The Center for Healthcare Leadership and Management.