From Minnesota to the world: MCC-supported fellowship advances breast cancer knowledge and care
The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota (MCC), is committed to reducing the burden of cancer in Minnesota and across the globe. One of the ways we advance this mission is by supporting sustainable global partnerships that strengthen cancer care, build local capacity, and accelerate research that benefits all communities.
A recent example of this impact comes from the U of M Medical School’s Global Surgery and Disparities Program (UMGSD), funded entirely by philanthropy, which hosts the Global Breast Cancer Fellowship—the only breast cancer fellowship in the United States dedicated to training physicians from low- and middle-income countries. MCC and the U of M Department of Surgery proudly provided philanthropic support for this unique program.
In November 2025, a team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists, nurses, and residents from the University of Minnesota traveled to San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to work alongside Dr. Alicia Cerrato Grande, MD, a surgery postdoctoral associate from Honduras and a recent Fellowship graduate. The group partnered with La Liga Contra el Cáncer and local clinicians to expand breast cancer treatment and training in the region.
During the visit, the team helped provide surgical care for approximately 30 women with breast cancer, offering lifesaving treatment that many patients otherwise wait months or years to receive.
Strengthening local expertise and systems
The team also met with the Honduran Radiology Society to begin developing a national training program in breast ultrasound and biopsy, an effort that will advance early detection and diagnosis throughout the country.
Dr. Cerrato Grande led the first multidisciplinary breast cancer tumor board with University of Minnesota experts, strengthening long-term clinical collaboration and establishing a foundation for sustainable, team-based care.
These efforts reflect the Fellowship’s core vision: Clinicians return to their home countries equipped to build stronger breast cancer systems that reflect local needs and realities.
Advancing research with global impact
In addition to clinical work, La Liga Contra el Cáncer and the University of Minnesota are partnering on a prospective cohort study to better understand breast cancer in Honduras. This research is connected to MCC through the work of Dr. Todd Tuttle, an MCC researcher and longtime global surgery leader.
The study will help identify trends, improve early diagnosis, and guide program development, providing insights that contribute to global knowledge and help MCC better understand cancer across diverse communities.
Shared mission: A stronger global community
This collaboration across MCC, the UMGSD program, other supporters, and in-country partners shows the power of sustainable global partnerships. Together, we are:
- expanding access to timely, high-quality breast cancer treatment
- strengthening cancer care workforces
- advancing research that helps us understand breast cancer worldwide
- building connections that improve care both abroad and here in Minnesota
The Global Breast Cancer Program has also trained a breast cancer surgeon from Mongolia, and its current fellow is from Pakistan. The program plans to export its multidisciplinary breast cancer model to low- and middle-income countries to strengthen their cancer research and care workforces.
MCC is grateful to all the clinicians, trainees, partners, and supporters who make this work possible, especially to Dr. Tuttle for his leadership of the program and to Dr. Cerrato Grande for her commitment to improving breast cancer care in Honduras.