Growing up in Atlanta, Dr. Alyssa Pittman spent much of her childhood as a gymnast, with plenty of stories of broken bones and injuries to prove it. Though her fearless energy and dedication to the sport landed her in the hospital on numerous occasions, these experiences sparked her early interest in the field of medicine. After undergoing surgery in high school, she experienced a meaningful and trusting relationship with her surgeon, which solidified Alyssa’s dream of becoming a surgeon herself.
At the University of Georgia, Alyssa was a student athlete, balancing her time between cheerleading and majoring in biology. She went on to the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, where she met her husband. The two “couples matched” in residency, with him pursuing family medicine while she began her training in general surgery at Prisma Health in Greenville, South Carolina.
Surgical residency exposed Dr. Pittman to the intensity of trauma, vascular, and level-one emergency cases, but she craved more than the technical challenge. While she enjoyed the high-intensity work, she realized she dreamed of a career path that would allow her to grow a longer-lasting and deeper connection with her patients. She found that in breast surgery, she could guide women through some of their most challenging moments, offering both surgical expertise and personal support throughout the entire duration of their care. Following a fellowship at the West Cancer Center in Memphis, Dr. Pittman joined the team as an attending surgeon this summer.
What excites Dr. Pittman most in her career as a breast surgeon is the shift toward personalized medicine. “All patients used to be treated the same way, often with radical surgery and the most intense treatments,” she explains. “Now, care is tailored to the biology of the tumor and the needs of the patient.” With genomic testing and targeted therapies, chemotherapy is no longer automatically prescribed, and mastectomy isn’t always necessary. “In up to seventy percent of cases, by the time we do surgery, there’s barely any cancer left, or none at all, thanks to the success of the personalized therapies,” she says.
While most of Dr. Pittman’s days are spent caring for the health of her patients, her time off is focused on prioritizing her own health. She does so by running, and often enjoys afternoon runs on the Greenway with her mini sheepadoodle. She also schedules 30-minute weight sessions to build strength.
Teaching is another passion for Dr. Pittman. “The most important thing a physician can do is teach the next generation,” she says. Having recently completed a fellowship herself, Dr. Pittman values collaboration with residents and young doctors, believing it sharpens her skills, too.
Moving forward, Dr. Pittman looks forward to continuing to serve her patients and becoming more connected to the Memphis community. “Memphis has welcomed us so warmly,” Dr. Pittman reflects. “We’ve fallen in love with this community and our patients. Being able to care for them makes me appreciate my job every single day.”
By Zoe Harrison
