Orlando Health - MD Anderson Cancer Center Making Cancer History

Meet the team

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  Veronica Schimp, DO

  Medical Director
  Gynecologic Oncologists

  Veronica Schimp, DO is internationally recognized for her expertise in minimally invasive surgery. She is the section chief of MD Anderson Cancer Center's Gynecologic Cancers Department.

  Dr. Schimp is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and gynecologic oncology. She has focused her career on improving the health of patients and preserving fertility in young women afflicted with cancers of the reproductive system and using minimally invasive surgical approaches, such as vagina surgery, laparoscopy and DaVinci Robotics. Her research interests include cervical, ovarian and uterine cancers with an emphasis in racial disparities, cancer outcomes and quality outcomes in surgery and cancer care.

  Before joining MD Anderson — Orlando, Dr. Schimp served as director of inpatient surgery, cancer center chairwoman and co-director of Minimally Invasive Surgery program at Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit. Also, she served as a clinical educator at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

  Dr. Schimp completed a post-doctoral fellowship in gynecologic oncology at MD Anderson in Houston and earned a doctorate in osteopathy from Michigan State University. She completed a two year residency in general surgery at St. John/Oakland General Hospital in Madison Heights, Michigan, and a four year residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Hutzel Hospital/Wayne State University in Detroit.

  As the author of chapters in two medical books and numerous published articles and case studies on cancer of the female reproductive organs, Dr. Schimp has presented at more than 50 seminars and conferences. She has been recognized as one of Detroit's top doctors by HOUR Detroit Magazine and has received the Patient's Choice Award the past three years, as well as America's Top Oncologists Award in 2009.

  Dr. Schimp is a member of several organizations including the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Association of Cancer Research, American Medical Association and American Osteopathic Association.

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  Arvind Bakhru, MD, MPH

  Gynecologic Oncologist

  Arvind Bakhru, MD, MPH, is a gynecologic oncologist specializing in complex pelvic surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and chemotherapy for women with gynecologic cancers and precancers. Dr. Bakhru cares for women with ovarian, endometrial, uterine, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers and sarcomas. He is trained in minimally invasive techniques and advanced, precision da Vinci robotic surgery.

  Dr. Bakhru’s undergraduate studies were in biomedical engineering at The Johns Hopkins University. He earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester. He also studied at the Yale University School of Public Health, where his master’s thesis won top honors. Dr. Bakhru did his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Maryland, where he was chief resident and won numerous teaching awards. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of Michigan. During that time, he was the fellow member of the Executive Council of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, helping to implement evidence-based practice and quality care.

  Dr. Bakhru has published in major medical journals, and his research includes the role of diabetes and nutrition in ovarian cancer and the long-term needs of ovarian cancer survivors. He is a member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, International Gynecologic Cancer Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

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  Tomas Dvorak, MD, MSPH

  Radiation Oncologist

  Dr. Dvorak serves as a radiation oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando. He specializes in the treatment of breast and gynecological cancers.

  Dr. Dvorak received his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his internship in Internal Medicine at Harvard University/Mt. Auburn Hospital. He completed his clinical research fellowship in radiation oncology at Mahidol University/Siriraj Hospital.

  Prior to focusing on radiation oncology, Dr. Dvorak served as a healthcare consultant with Easton Associates, where he led evaluations of new drugs, medical devices and health technology for venture capital firms, biotechnology companies and pharmaceutical companies. Before joining MD Anderson – Orlando, Dr. Dvorak served as chief resident in the department of radiation oncology at Tufts University/Tufts Medical Center as well as at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital. His research interests include health technology assessment with a focus on potential utilization of proton therapy and evidence-driven delivery of medical care.

  His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals. He also works as a developer and editor of the online Wiki Textbook of Radiation Oncology. He is currently a member of the American Brachytherapy Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Medical Association and the American Society for Radiation Oncology, where he serves on the Communications Committee.

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  Rafael Manon, MD, MSPH

  Radiation Oncologist

  Dr. Manon, MD, is board certified in radiation oncology and serves as a radiation oncologist for MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando.

  He received his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine. He completed a residency in radiation oncology at the University of Wisconsin (UW) Hospital and Clinics, where he served as chief resident. Dr. Mañon completed an internship in internal medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and earned a medical degree from the University of Florida. At UW, he served as the chief resident of radiation oncology during his final year and as an instructor in radiotherapy technology.

  Dr. Mañon brings a wealth of experience in helical tomotherapy to MD Anderson - Orlando. Through the University of Wisconsin, where tomotherapy was created, he is researching and developing more aggressive treatments for cancer, with the aim of improving cancer cure rates while maintaining a clinically acceptable level of side effects.

  Dr. Mañon received the Outstanding Achievement in Science, Engineering and Mathematics Award from the Office of Naval Research.

  Additionally, Dr. Mañon has published several peer-reviewed articles in medical journals including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Radiotherapy and Oncology and International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology and Physics. His professional affiliations include the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. He has faculty appointments at the University of Central Florida, Florida State University and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and has many interests including martial arts.

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  Nathalie Dauphin McKenzie, MD, MSPH

  Gynecologic Oncologist

  Nathalie Dauphin McKenzie, MD, MSPH, a gynecologic oncology surgeon, specializes in the care of women with ovarian, endometrial, uterine, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers. Her surgical expertise focuses on advanced minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic techniques and extensive debulking procedures to remove cancerous tumors.

  Dr. McKenzie received her medical degree from the University of Buffalo in New York and went on to the University of Miami - Jackson Memorial Hospital for her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology, followed by a fellowship in gynecologic oncology, which included earning a Masters of Science in public health and epidemiology.

  She has written numerous articles, authored several institutional handbooks, and co-authored a book chapter as well as presented her research at national and international conferences. Dr. McKenzie also continues to serve as adjunct faculty at the University of Miami. She is the recipient of several awards and honors, most recently receiving the prestigious ASCO Young Investigator Award for a phase I clinical trial in the treatment of women with advanced cervical cancer. Being a cancer survivor herself, Dr. McKenzie has a clear understanding of the many obstacles and fears experienced by her cancer patients and their families.

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  Anna Priebe, MD

  Gynecologic Oncologist

  Anna Priebe, MD, is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and has extensive experience in the minimally invasive management of gynecologic cancers, including robotic and laparoscopic surgery.

  A native of Poland, Dr. Priebe immigrated to the United States in 1981. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, she returned to Poland and received her medical degree from the Poznan University of Medical Sciences in 2001. She subsequently completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester in 2005, and her fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2008.

  Prior to joining the gynecologic oncology division at MD Anderson – Orlando in 2012, Dr. Priebe was an attending physician at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD, where she developed the clinical research program and was the principal investigator for more than 30 clinical trials for women with gynecologic cancer. Her research interests include cancer cell metabolism and the molecular targeting of these aberrant pathways. She is particularly interested in patient education and empowerment and cancer survivorship.

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