Sarah Ackroyd, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Gynecologic Oncology
Sarah Ackroyd, MD, MPH, is an assistant professor in gynecologic oncology whose research focuses on health equity, socioeconomic and geospatial factors affecting uterine and endometrial cancer outcomes, and patient-reported measures such as time toxicity and financial toxicity. She leads multiple funded projects, including an NCI K12 Career Development Award, pilot grants studying disparities and treatment experience, and an Ovarian Cancer SPORE award evaluating plasma biomarkers for chemotherapy response and recurrence.
Her work also includes molecular characterization of clear cell ovarian and endometrial cancers, survivorship needs and decision-making in advanced disease. Dr. Ackroyd serves as an associate editor for Topics in Obstetrics & Gynecology, is an Early Career and New Investigator Fellow with NRG Oncology and has held leadership roles within the Society of Gynecologic Oncology. She mentors fellows interested in outcomes research, disparities, biomarker development and patient-centered cancer care.
Kathrine Kurnit, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Gynecologic Oncology
Katherine Kurnit, MD, MPH, is an assistant professor in gynecologic oncology with a research program focused on precision medicine and novel therapeutics for gynecologic cancers, with particular expertise in endometrial cancer, uterine carcinosarcoma, ovarian cancer and rare tumor subtypes, including mucinous ovarian cancer. Her work spans immune and molecular tumor profiling, biomarker development and clinical trials, and she currently serves as director of the Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Trials Program at the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center, leading a robust portfolio of cooperative group and investigator-initiated trials.
Dr. Kurnit is funded through multiple awards, including an NIH K12 through the Reproductive Scientist Development Program, Multiply Your Impact BRIDGES Accelerator Research Grant support from the Foundation for Women’s Cancer and institutional and philanthropy-backed projects examining the immune microenvironment and treatment response in aggressive uterine cancers. She holds national leadership roles with NRG Oncology and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, contributes to practice guidelines in gynecologic immunotherapy and is a sought-after speaker on emerging therapies, including immunotherapy, ADCs and targeted treatment strategies. Dr. Kurnit mentors fellows interested in translational research, immuno-oncology, clinical trial development and precision treatment approaches across gynecologic malignancies.
Kathryn Mills, MD
Assistant Professor, Gynecologic Oncology
Kathryn Mills, MD, is an assistant professor in gynecologic oncology and fellowship director whose work spans clinical trials leadership, surgical innovation and translational research. Her research includes studies on lymph node assessment in vulvar and cervical cancers, ovarian cancer imaging biomarkers, hormonal therapy safety in hereditary cancer syndromes and nanoparticle therapeutics targeting metastasis in gynecologic cancers. Dr. Mills serves as site PI for multiple national cooperative group trials, contributes to ovarian cancer prevention and early detection research, and creates surgical education resources used internationally.
She holds key leadership roles within the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, NRG Oncology, and the American College of Surgeons Wellness Coalition, and is a recognized educator through her MERITS fellowship and service as the former residency associate program director for the OB/GYN department at UChicago Medicine. Dr. Mills mentors fellows with interests in clinical trials, surgical innovation, translational therapeutics, hereditary cancer risk reduction and ovarian cancer prevention.