DeKalb Medical at Hillandale welcomes breast surgery expert

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October 1, 2009
Health & Wellness
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DeKalb Medical at Hillandale welcomes breast surgery expert
T
he soothing sounds
of the ocean
washing ashore and
the “wall words”
of inspiration comfort patients
who visit Dr. April L. Speed’s
office. The serene setting is Dr.
Speed’s way of making sure that
every patient she sees is treated
with the dignity she says they
deserve.
“Patients are people—not
numbers,” said Speed, whose
exam rooms bear names such as
Faith, Peace and Hope, rather
than numbers. “I selected the
names, along with the wall
words, as a way to encourage
my patients.”
Speed is one of the newest
additions to the staff at DeKalb
Medical Center at Hillandale.
A breast surgery expert who
provides treatment to women,
men and adolescents, she’s a
highly sought-after speaker,
lecturer and consultant on breast
cancer and breast health.
The Chicago native was
raised in Atlanta and graduated
from Harper High School. Speed
completed both, her residency
and internship in general
surgery, at Grady Memorial
Hospital in Atlanta through
Morehouse School of Medicine.
She also earned a Doctor of
Medicine from Morehouse.
Following her education at
Morehouse, she completed
intensive dual breast surgical
oncology fellowships: the Susan
Dr. April L. Speed, M.D.
G. Komen Foundation and the
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at
the University of Texas, a world
leader in cancer care that awards
only two fellowships in breast
surgery per year.
Clay Fowler, vice president
and administrator at DeKalb
Medical, said the hospital is
excited about Speed coming
aboard.
“Any hospital that is able to
attract a surgeon of Dr. Speed’s
caliber is truly fortunate,”
Fowler said. “Breast cancer is a
major health disparity in our part
of DeKalb County and we know
that by bringing Dr. Speed’s
practice exclusively to this
hospital, we are building a core
of surgical care at Hillandale
where patients will no longer
have to get on the interstate
highways and travel for the
very best care. They can have it
here.”
Fowler said he believes that
Speed also will be an asset to
the Radiation Oncology Center,
which is opening across the
street from the hospital this fall.
Speed said that her training
as a specialist has equipped
her for her new role at DeKalb
Medical.
“At Grady, my patients were
my teachers. There, I learned
to be creative, competent,
confident and compassionate,”
Speed said.
Speed offers care ranging
from routine, annual breast
exams to thorough second
opinions on previously
diagnosed breast disease to
oncoplastics. Oncoplastics is
a new treatment method that
allows immediate reconstruction
at the same time as breast cancer
surgery such as a mastectomy, in
appropriately selected patients.
Using the oncoplastics treatment
technique, Speed collaborates
with a plastic surgeon to
perform the breast cancer and
reconstructive surgeries all
in the same procedure. In the
past, patients had to undergo a
separate operation at a later date
for reconstructive surgery.
In addition to bringing
world-class medicine to the
community, Speed offers
patients a comforting experience
with her hand-selected office
amenities—warm sarongs,
instead of hospital gowns, and
reception and exam rooms in a
relaxing environment.
“My patients deserve
the best,” said Speed, who is
an esteemed member of the
American Society of Breast
Surgeons, Society of Surgical
Oncology and American College
of Surgeons. “Providing them
with comprehensive breast care
with dignity and detail is one
more way that DeKalb Medical
is pushing beyond in health
care.”
Dr. April L. Speed’s office
is located at DeKalb Medical
at Hillandale, 5900 Hillandale
Drive, Suite 335, Lithonia. She
is accepting new patients. To
make an appointment, call 404501-8045.
About DeKalb Medical at
Hillandale
The 100-bed hospital
located in Lithonia was the
first planned all-digital hospital
in Georgia. Serving more
than 150,000 patients since
opening in 2005, the hospital
offers inpatient and outpatient
surgery, an adult ICU, and
24-hour emergency services.
The hospital will open a stateof-the-art Cancer Center this
fall. To learn more, visit www.
dekalbmedical.org.