Enhancing Colorectal Cancer Care Through Genetics and Clinical Collaboration

Dr. Mohammad Ali Abbass, MD, MPH, is a colorectal surgeon specializing in hereditary gastrointestinal cancer syndromes and cancer prevention. He serves as an Assistant Attending Surgeon in Colorectal Surgery and Clinical Genetics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where his work focuses on the early detection, prevention, and management of hereditary colorectal cancer conditions, including Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Dr. Abbass completed advanced training in colorectal surgery and hereditary cancer at the Cleveland Clinic, where he was the inaugural fellow in Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Syndromes. His research integrates genomics, clinical trials, and translational science to develop innovative strategies for cancer interception, including studies on genotype-phenotype correlations, immunotherapy, and organ-preservation strategies for hereditary colorectal cancer. Dr. Abbass is dedicated to advancing precision prevention and improving outcomes for patients and families affected by inherited cancer risk.

Brittany Szymaniak is a genetic counselor working with the Urology and Digestive Health Departments at Northwestern Medicine. She received her master’s degree in Genetic Counseling from Northwestern University in 2018 and had previously completed her PhD in Genetics at the University of Rochester in 2016. Brittany is the lead genetic counselor for the BRCA+ Men’s Clinic, as well as the VHL (von-Hippel Lindau) Clinic. She has been a member of the NCCN High Risk Assessment Colorectal, Endometrial, and Gastric Panel since 2020. Brittany also has a faculty appointment with Northwestern University’s Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling, serving as a supervisor, lecturer, and thesis advisor.