Dr. Lynn Dyess, an affiliate physician with the Mitchell Cancer Institute, is also a professor in the departments of surgery and physiology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine. She has been a practicing surgeon in the Mobile medical community, as well as a faculty member at USA, for 20 years.

A Mobile native, she completed her undergraduate studies at USA and then earned a pharmacy degree from Auburn University in 1978. She returned to USA for medical school, graduating in 1982. After completing her internship and general surgery residency Dr. Dyess pursued a two-year fellowship in burns and critical care. While fulfilling requirements of her fellowship, Dr. Dyess engaged in numerous clinical studies, as well as working in the departments of physiology and microbiology/immunology. Her evolution as a surgeon has been greatly influenced by the varied opportunities that have arisen within a teaching medical institution.

Throughout her career, Dr. Dyess has continually worked with researchers to collaborate on developing new and better ways to treat patients. Her involvement with research has enhanced her depth as a physician and altered the focus of her surgical career path from burns and critical care to concentrate on the treatment of breast cancer and endocrine diseases.

She has collaborated on published research in tumor immunology and currently works closely with Dr. Lalita Shevde-Samant, a scientist at the MCI to “better understand the process that allows breast cancer to spread into bone tissue.” As breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among women and bone tissue the most frequent area for metastasis, this type of research is critical in leading to better treatments and outcomes for women with breast cancer. When asked about her involvement with this grant funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, Dr. Dyess said, “Performing clinical research as well as ‘bench’ research provides great insight into the efforts required to effect changes in the practice of medicine.”

A mother of six, Dr. Dyess has definitely learned to delegate, but insists that she is no different than any other working mother. She knew surgery was her future after her first clinical rotation of medical school. “I can’t imagine doing anything else. I enjoy coming to work in the morning,” she said. “I enjoy what I do, and I like my patients. I like the technical aspects of surgery.” Certainly her involvement with the Mitchell Cancer Institute is crucial in its ‘efforts to advance the treatment of cancer along the Gulf Coast.