Blair McNamara, MD

Blair C. McNamara, MD, specializes in treating patients with gynecologic cancers, including ovarian, uterine, cervical, and vulvar cancer. She provides comprehensive care for patients facing these conditions and offers individually tailored treatments that range from surgical interventions to chemotherapy. She has a passion for providing patients evidence-based treatments, including minimally invasive surgical techniques and cutting-edge targeted chemotherapies. She focuses on a “whole person” approach to cancer care and loves getting to know patients and their families while guiding them through the many choices that come with a new cancer diagnosis.

“I was drawn to gynecologic oncology very early on. It is a rare specialty in medicine where we get to offer both surgical and systemic (i.e. chemotherapy) treatments to our patients. This enables us to form long-lasting and deep bonds with our patients. that feel so rare in modern medicine more broadly.”

“We have a saying that once a patient receives a gyn cancer diagnosis, they are our patient forever! We work closely with their primary care physicians and other care team members to ensure that if they are living with cancer, or are free of disease, all aspects of their health are being tended to. I love getting to know my patients, their families, and I really feel that witnessing their strength and resilience while helping to care for them is one of the greatest privileges.”

As an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. McNamara conducts research aimed at improving surgical outcomes for patients. She is also investigating novel therapeutic strategies for patients with advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancies.

Beyond taking excellent care of patients and their families, I have always wanted to have a career in academic medicine,” she explains. In all of medicine, but especially in cancer care, research has allowed us to fundamentally change the way we treat patients with gynecologic cancer. Even over the last 10 years, patients are living longer, getting cured of cancer more, and living with fewer side effects and toxicities from their treatments. Doing my part to push the field forward feels very important. Furthermore, teaching the next generation of physicians, OBGYNs, and gynecologic oncologists is so rewarding. We all have so much to learn from each other, and I love being at Yale, where there is such a strong legacy of education.”

Dr. McNamara received her medical degree from Yale School of Medicine, and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California San Francisco. She then returned to Yale to complete a fellowship in gynecologic oncology.