Dr. Mussallem is a consultant in the Division of Hematology Oncology at Mayo Clinic and Assistant Professor of Medicine. She is a lifestyle medicine breast specialist at The Robert and Monica Jacoby Center for Breast Health and serves as Medical Director for Mayo Clinic Florida Humanities in Medicine. She is double-board certified, including a board certification in Lifestyle Medicine and has over 25 years of patient-centered clinical wellness experience. She has international recognition in the field of breast medicine, lifestyle medicine, integrative oncology, cancer survivorship, and a unique personal experience as a stage IV cancer patient diagnosed 3 months into medical school and in 2021 a heart transplant recipient. She shares that her journey as a patient cultivated her boundless energy and deep purpose to help patients flourish during and after adversity. In 2015, she founded the Integrative Medicine and Breast Health Program at Mayo Clinic Florida, a patient-centered program that works with breast cancer patients during and after a breast cancer diagnosis, introducing them early on to the importance of lifestyle optimization alongside conventional cancer treatments with a goal to reframe cancer as a “teacher of life,” leading patients to discover renewed vitality through healthier living. She is frequently invited to give keynote presentations and podcasts to international audiences, appear on television shows, and has authored journal articles, abstracts, and other written publications. Her research focus includes the impact of whole-food, plant-based nutrition and weight management on breast cancer outcomes, awareness of alcohol related breast cancer risk, and breast cancer survivorship quality of life.

In addition to her clinical and research activities, Dr. Mussallem is active in medical education, which includes co-director for the International Medical Breast Training Program and director of the Lifestyle Medicine Residency Curriculum at mayo Clinic. She is Chief Executive Editor for the National Consortium of Breast Centers and Breast Wellness Magazine. She serves as the physician for Blue Zones Jacksonville Steering Committee and the Mayo Clinic Experience Committee.

In recognition of her work, Dr. Mussallem has received many awards and honors, including being named 2022 American College of Physicians Florida John G. Langdon Volunteerism in Medicine Award; 2021 Marquis Who’s Who in America Top Doctor for her leadership, dedication, and achievements in integrative oncology; 2020 Marquis Who’s Who in America; Mayo Clinic Patient Experience award; Mayo Clinic Florida Hospital Instructor of the Year.

On February 6, 2022 she became the 1st person in the world to run a full marathon 1 year from heart transplant and has since run 4 official marathons. She is now working on completing the Abbott Majors. She enthusiastically attributes her survival and flourishing to whole food, plant-based nutrition!