Meet Our Team

Abigail S. Beard, MD
Assistant Professor, Breast Surgery, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine

Dr. Abigail Beard is on the medical staff at Tampa General Hospital and an assistant professor of breast surgery at the University of South Florida School of Medicine. Her areas of interest include benign and malignant disorders of the breast, high risk breast cancer screening, and breast conservation and oncoplastic surgery, about which Dr. Beard has given several presentations and published studies. She is the vice chair of the Committee on Cancer and has served on the Radiation Oncology Chair Search Committee, both at Tampa General Hospital. Dr. Beard’s awards and honors include clerkships in pediatrics, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and psychiatry, and letters of commendation in surgery, internal medicine, and neurology. She was also named to the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Golden Key Honor Society in the National Scholastic Honor Society.

Christian Cruz Pico, MD
Assistant Professor, Breast Surgery, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine 

Dr. Christian X. Cruz Pico is a general surgeon specialized in breast cancer surgery and surgery for benign (noncancerous) breast conditions at Tampa General Hospital (TGH). Dr. Cruz is pleased to provide expert breast surgical care that is personalized, and patient centered. Before joining TGH, Dr. Cruz served as a general surgeon at several hospitals in communities outside Atlanta, Georgia, where he performed general surgery procedures, surgical endoscopy and minimally invasive procedures to treat diverse medical conditions, including cancer. His most recent academic post was as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. Dr. Cruz pursued an advanced academic career as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Surgical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, where he focused his research in breast cancer models and personalized cancer therapies. He continued his academic path as a Surgical Oncology Fellow at the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to later focus his training on Breast Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Sarah Merkel, MD
Assistant Professor, Breast Surgery, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine 

Dr. Sarah Merkel is an Assistant Professor of Surgery (Breast Surgical Oncology) at the University of South Florida. She is a board-certified general surgeon that specializes in breast surgery for both benign and malignant breast conditions. She is an active member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the Society of Surgical Oncology, and the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Merkel completed her General Surgery residency at the University of South Florida and went on to complete her Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship at Yale University. Her extensive training has not only equipped her with advanced surgical expertise but also allows her to provide comprehensive counseling to her patients about all aspects of breast cancer care – from diagnosis and treatment options to survivorship and long-term wellness. Dr. Merkel is proud to provide expert, patient-centered care to individuals across the Tampa Bay region and beyond. She is honored to serve as a trusted partner to her patients – whether they live locally or travel from afar for their breast cancer care. She is committed to delivering the highest standard of surgical excellence to every patient she treats.

Tracie Patel, PA-C
Physician Assistant

Tracie Patel is a certified physician assistant (PA-C) who specializes in breast surgery and prides herself on delivering world-class, compassionate care. She cares for benign breast disease and patients who have an increased risk for development of breast cancer due to family history, previous atypical biopsies, or genetics. She is happy to help patients better understand their breast imaging and to provide insight into ways to help prevent development of breast cancer. She has been working as a Physician Assistant in surgery for 20 years at Tampa General Hospital. She was also the chair of the TGH Advanced Practice Council from 2015 to 2017. Tracie earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. Prior to that, she received her Master of Arts in Anthropology from Brigham Young University. She has also received several awards including Physician Assistant of the Year, Provider of Month and was selected as a Cancer Committee APP member in 2021. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

Marlee White, PA-C
Physician Assistant

Marlee White is a certified physician assistant (PA-C) who specializes in breast surgery. She has special clinical interests in breast cancer, cancer survivors, breast diseases, and women at high risk for breast cancer with or without genetic mutations. She is highly experienced in an operating room setting and has served as a first assistant to surgeons for numerous years. Marlee has assisted in several medical procedures that include lumpectomies, mastectomies, sentinel node biopsies, axillary node dissections, and the removal of axillary accessory tissue. She can also perform in-office procedures such as punch biopsies. She has a passion for educating patients and families about health and illness prevention, diagnoses, risks and benefits, post-operative care, and treatment plan instructions. Before joining Tampa General, Marlee served as a surgical physician assistant in the Surgical Services Department at Florida Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She initially began her medical career as a breast surgery physician assistant in the Division of Breast Surgery with Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, Pa. Marlee earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Gannon University in Erie, Pa., where she also received her Bachelor of Health Science and graduated with honors. She is certified by the National Commission on Certifications of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

Hillary Camp, APRN, AGPCNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner

Hillary Camp, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, is a board-certified adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner with a strong background in surgical oncology and breast health. She currently serves as an advanced practice provider in breast surgery at Tampa General Hospital, where she evaluates and manages patients with both benign and malignant breast conditions. Hillary brings over a decade of nursing experience to her role, including prior positions at BayCare Medical Group and Moffitt Cancer Center. Her clinical expertise includes surgical consultation, post-operative care, and coordination of multidisciplinary treatment plans. She is skilled in interpreting imaging and pathology, performing in-office procedures, and following NCCN guidelines to ensure high-quality, evidence-based care. Known for her attention to detail and compassionate approach, Hillary is an active participant in breast cancer tumor boards and is committed to supporting patients through every step of their care journey.

Victoria Rizk, MD
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Victoria Rizk is a board-certified medical oncologist who specializes in the care and treatment of patients with breast cancer. Prior to joining Tampa General, Dr. Rizk worked as a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where she provided comprehensive care, support and education for patients with breast cancer. Additionally, she was as an instructor in medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, where she taught and mentored medical students. Aspiring to become an oncologist from a young age, Dr. Rizk graduated from an accelerated, six-year B.A./M.D. program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. She then completed Internal Medicine Residency at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine and Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at the University of South Florida/Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

Paula Rosenblatt, MD
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Paula Rosenblatt is a board-certified medical oncologist with expertise in breast cancer and survivorship care. She joins Tampa General Hospital from the University of Maryland, where she served as associate professor and director of quality and safety at the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Rosenblatt has led numerous clinical trials and quality improvement initiatives, and she is widely published in oncology research. Her leadership in multidisciplinary care and patient education has helped shape national standards in breast cancer treatment. At TGH Cancer Institute, Dr. Rosenblatt continues her mission to improve outcomes through evidence-based care, innovation and a deep commitment to patient advocacy.

Catherine Cartwright, PA-C
Physician Assistant

Kelly Foster, MD
Medical Oncologist

Kelly Foster, MD, is a former medical oncologist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, where she provided quality care to patients with all types of cancer. Dr. Foster completed her internal medicine residency and her medical oncology and palliative medicine fellowship training all at Northwestern University. She received her undergraduate degree at UCLA and completed medical school at Loyola University Chicago.

Dr. Foster is board certified in medical oncology, internal medicine and palliative medicine. She is currently seeing patients with all types of cancer, with a focus on breast and gastrointestinal cancers (gastric, esophageal, pancreatic, hepatobiliary, colon, anal). She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Talya Schwarzberg, MD
Medical Oncologist

Talya Schwarzberg, MD, is a former clinical instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and staff physician at Massachusetts General Hospital’s department of medical oncology. She received her medical oncology and hematology training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and her internal medicine training at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, both in Boston.

Dr. Schwarzberg is currently seeing patients with different types of cancers, with a focus on breast and gynecologic cancers. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Brian T. Collins, MD
Director of Brachytherapy Services, Tampa General Hospital

Dr. Brian T. Collins is a board-certified radiation oncologist with significant clinical experience in treating breast and lung cancers. Regarded as a world-renowned expert in CyberKnife® radiotherapy technology, Dr. Collins specializes in cutting-edge radiation oncology techniques and tools.

Prior to joining Tampa General, Dr. Collins served as the medical director of the Department of Radiation Medicine and clinical director of the Proton Therapy Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. He has a particular interest in treating central nervous system (CNS) tumors and previously led the Department of Radiation Medicine’s CNS program for more than 20 years. He also was an associate professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine.

Clayton Alonso, MD
Radiation Oncologist, TGH Cancer Institute

Dr. Clayton Elliott Alonso is a highly accomplished radiation oncologist. Prior to joining Tampa General Hospital, he served since 2019 at Advanced Cancer Treatment Centers in Brooksville, Florida. Dr. Alonso’s journey began with his education at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where he graduated with honors and was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. He completed his transitional year at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mercy in 2015, before embarking on his residency in Radiation Oncology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where he was recognized as Chief Resident from 2018 to 2019. During his residency, Dr. Alonso received several accolades, including the Constable/Agarwal Award and the Clinical Excellence Award, highlighting his dedication and exceptional performance in the field.