Rick D. Vavolizza, MD
Dr. Rick D. Vavolizza, MD, is a board-certified breast surgical oncologist who specializes in treating breast cancer and other breast conditions. He works with each patient to develop an individualized treatment plan based on their diagnosis, health needs, and personal goals.
Dr. Vavolizza has a particular interest in combining effective cancer treatment with surgical approaches that preserve the appearance of the breast whenever possible. He works closely with other breast cancer specialists to provide coordinated care throughout diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.
Dr. Vavolizza earned his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where he also completed his general surgery residency. He then completed advanced fellowship training in breast surgical oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Dr. Vavolizza believes patients should feel informed and supported throughout their breast cancer care. He takes time to help patients understand their diagnosis and treatment options so they can make decisions that reflect both their medical needs and what matters most to them.
Board Certifications
American Board of Surgery
Affiliations
Emory
Education & Training
- Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine
- Internship: University of Virginia
- Residency: University of Virginia
Fellowships
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Locations and Directions
Correll Pavilion
Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Publications
- Primary Breast Angiosarcoma: Clinicopathologic Features and Oncologic Outcomes.
Vavolizza RD, Subramaniam A, Yi M, Wingate E, Perez AN, Keung E, Roland CL, Torres K, Scally CP, Lyu H, Yoder A, Mitra D, Farooqi AS, Bishop AJ, Guadagnolo BA, Lazar A, Ravi V, Hunt KK, Lillemoe HA
Annals of surgical oncology. 2026;
PMID: 42864567 - Post-operative Opioid Reduction Protocol Reduces Racial Disparity in Clinical Outcomes in Children.
Grabski DF, Vavolizza RD, Baumgarten HD, Fleming MA, Moneme C, McGahren ED, Swanson JR, Kabagambe SK, Gander JW
Journal of pediatric surgery. 2024;59(1):53-60.
PMID: 37858396 - Cancer Screening and Treatment Delays During the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Role of Health Literacy in Care Re-engagement: Findings from an NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center sample.
Keim-Malpass J, Vavolizza RD, Cohn WF, Kennedy EM, Showalter SL
Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education. 2023;38(5):1405-1412.
PMID: 37202597 - A Step Toward Personalized Surgical Decision Making: Machine Learning Predicts 1 Versus Numerous Melanoma Lymph Node Metastases Using RNA-sequencing.
Meneveau MO, Vavolizza RD, Mohammad A, Kumar P, Manderfield JT, Callahan C, Lynch KT, Abbas T, Slingluff CL, Bekiranov S
Annals of surgery. 2023;278(3):e589-e597.
PMID: 36538614 - Clinical Trials in Breast Cancer: Practice Changing, Landmark with a Focus on More Current Trials.
Vavolizza RD, Rabinovich EP, Meneveau MO, Showalter SL
The Surgical clinics of North America. 2023;103(1):17-33.
PMID: 36410349 - Management of Nipple Discharge.
Vavolizza RD, Dengel LT
The Surgical clinics of North America. 2022;102(6):1077-1087.
PMID: 36335926 - Phase I/II clinical trial of a helper peptide vaccine plus PD-1 blockade in PD-1 antibody-naïve and PD-1 antibody-experienced patients with melanoma (MEL64).
Vavolizza RD, Petroni GR, Mauldin IS, Chianese-Bullock KA, Olson WC, Smith KT, Dengel LT, Haden K, Grosh WW, Kaur V, Varhegyi N, Gaughan EM, Slingluff CL
Journal for immunotherapy of cancer. 2022;
PMID: 36100309 - Standing Intravenous Acetaminophen Is Associated With a Reduction of Post-operative Opioid Use in Infants Aged Less Than 1 Year Treated on the Acute Care Floor.
Vavolizza RD, Grabski DF, Roecker Z, Levin D, Swanson JR, McGahren ED, Gander JW
The Journal of surgical research. 2022;
PMID: 35413578 - Reduction of post-operative opioid use in neonates following open congenital diaphragmatic hernia repairs: A quality improvement initiative.
Grabski DF, Vavolizza RD, Roecker Z, Levin D, Swanson JR, McGahren ED, Gander JW
Journal of pediatric surgery. 2022;57(1):45-51.
PMID: 34686379 - A Quality Improvement Intervention to Reduce Postoperative Opiate Use in Neonates.
Grabski DF, Vavolizza RD, Lepore S, Levin D, Rasmussen SK, Swanson JR, McGahren ED, Gander JW
Pediatrics. 2020;
PMID: 33184168
PLANNING
PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT
Whether you’re a patient or you’re visiting one, a little planning beforehand can make your visit to Grady easier and more comfortable. Here, you’ll find everything you need to prepare for your visit, including an appointment checklist, admissions information, dining options, and much more.