Miss Joanna Franks
Joanna Franks is a consultant breast and oncoplastic surgeon, practising both at UCH and privately. Her area of expertise is the assessment and management of all conditions relating to the breast, encompassing both benign and malignant disease. Her interests include the detection of early breast cancers, oncoplastic breast conservation, mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, risk reduction and breast screening.
Bio
Miss Joanna Franks is highly experienced in performing breast and oncoplastic surgery for both malignant and benign breast conditions. Her clinical focus includes the early diagnosis of breast cancer, mastectomy procedures, breast conservation, and breast cancer screening.
Miss Franks completed her undergraduate degree in medicine at Imperial College London, before undertaking MRC-funded research in pathology. Following this, she undertook Higher Surgical Training within the London Deanery, gaining extensive experience in several highly prestigious units including the Oncoplastic Breast Unit at UCLH and the Macmillan Cancer Centre. In addition to her clinical training she also completed a Master's Degree in Medical Education, which has enabled her to contribute to teaching and curriculum development at several prestigious medical schools including the Royal Free and UCLH. She also serves as a Medical Assessor for the General Medical Council.
Beyond her clinical and educational roles, Miss Franks is actively involved in charitable and community initiatives. She is a trustee of Future Dreams, a charity supporting those affected by breast cancer, through funding, awareness and research. She also services as a medical patron for the charity Chai, working with them and Jnetics to roll out the National Jewish BRCA Testing Programme. She also works with Acheinu, helping the Jewish community to manage breast cancer. Additionally, she is a governor at South Hampstead School and a strong advocate for the Befriend Your Boobs programme, promoting breast health awareness among young people.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Miss Franks served as a Pan London Breast Hub Co-ordinator, playing a critical role in establishing safe treatment pathways and ensuring that time-critical breast cancer surgery resumed at the earliest opportunity (including complex and reconstructive procedures).
Areas of expertise
- Breast cancer including treatment, screening and family history
- Benign breast disease
- Malignant breast disease
- Oncoplastic breast conservation
- Mastectomy with immediate reconstruction
- Breast screening and risk reduction
More information
Rapid Diagnostic Centre
142-146 Harley Street
London, W1G 7JZ
- Qualified 1999
- Imperial College (with Honours)
- BSc Pathology
- MSc Medical Education
- Consultant Breast and Oncoplastic Surgeon
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Honorary Consultant
Royal Free Hospital - Trustee
Future Dreams - Medical Patron
Chai Cancer - Governor
South Hampstead Highschool
- FutureDreams podcast
- Bedside Manners podcast
Miss Franks is part of the research committee at Future Dreams House currently supporting two projects:
- One of the research projects is with Prof Charles Swanton, supporting his work studying metastatic triple negative breast cancer at the world-famous Francis Crick Institute. The project is a collaboration between the Francis Crick Institute, UCL (London), UNICANCER (Paris), Institute Curie (Paris) and Gustave Roussy (Villejuif.) It will help transform the understanding of cancer evolution and help develop practical steps towards an era of precision medicine.
- Future Dreams is funding a PhD student at University of Cambridge to understand if AI screening could identify women who are more at risk of developing breast cancer. Miss Joanna Franks, said: “Being able to use AI in breast screening will be a tremendous breakthrough enabling quicker assessments, earlier diagnosis and help all women including those who are at greater risk of developing breast cancer. It will transform the UK screening programme."
- Royal College of Surgeons
- Association of Breast Surgeons
- British Association of Day Surgery