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Nicole Christian, MD
Assistant Professor, Surgery-Surgical Oncology

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Medical School:
  • MD, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine (2011)
Graduate School :
  • MSCS, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (2015)
Undergraduate School:
  • AB, Harvard University (MA) (2007)
Internship:
  • University of Colorado (2012)
Residency:
  • University of Colorado, Chief Resident, Surgery (2018)
Fellowships:
  • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Program, Breast Surgical Oncology (2019)
Languages: English
Department: Surgery-Surgical Oncology

Teaching

  • Associate Program Director General Surgery Residency Program (2019)
    School of Medicine, Surgery

Publications

  • Yang JH, Huynh V, Leonard LD, Kovar A, Bronsert M, Ludwigson A, Wolverton D, Hampanda K, Christian N, Kim SP, Ahrendt G, Mathes DW, Tevis SE. Are Diagnostic Delays Associated with Distress in Breast Cancer Patients?. Breast Care (Basel). 2023 Aug;18(4):240-248. PubMed PMID: 37900555
  • Mott NM, Huynh V, Vemuru S, Parris HJ, Colborn K, Ahrendt G, Christian N, Kim S, Matlock DD, Cumbler E, Tevis SEA. Barriers and facilitators to measuring patient reported outcomes in an academic breast cancer clinic: An application of the RE-AIM framework. Am J Surg. 2023 Sep 15. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 37741803
  • Christian N, Acker S. Gestating Healthy Policies for Young Parents. JAMA. 2023 Aug 22;330(8):689-690. PubMed PMID: 37535360
  • Leonard LD, de Araujo TB, Quinn C, Thomas MB, Beaty L, Mott NM, Kathryn Colborn, Heelan AA, Tevis SEA, Christian N, Ahrendt G, Gleisner AL. ASO Visual Abstract: De-implementation of Axillary Dissection in Women Undergoing Mastectomy for Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Sep;30(9):5703-5704. PubMed PMID: 37386306
  • Leonard LD, de Araujo TB, Quinn C, Thomas MB, Beaty L, Mott NM, Colborn K, Heelan AA, Tevis SEA, Christian N, Arhendt G, Gleisner AL. De-implementation of Axillary Dissection in Women Undergoing Mastectomy for Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Sep;30(9):5692-5702. PubMed PMID: 37326811
  • Vemuru S, Huang J, Colborn K, Yoon Y, Huynh V, Leonard L, Ahrendt G, Christian N, Afghahi A, McLemore L, Sams S, Tevis S. Clinical implications of receptor conversions in breast cancer patients who have undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2023 Jul;200(2):247-256. PubMed PMID: 37233961
  • Awadallah NS, Jones TS, Christian N, Fainstad T, Nyquist J, Schreiber J, Fung CC, Rumack CM, Nehler M, Jaiswal KR. Proactive Coaching in General Surgery Internship: Incorporating Well-being Practices into Resident Professional Life. J Surg Educ. 2023 Feb;80(2):177-184. PubMed PMID: 36244927
  • Lai SH, Suarez-Pierre A, Jaiswal K, Travis C, Steward L, Nehler M, Zweck-Bronner S, Christian N. Implementation of a Holistic Review Process of US Allopathic Medical Students Eliminates Non-Comparable Metrics and Bias in General Surgery Residency Interview Invitations. J Surg Educ. 2023 Nov;80(11):1536-1543. PubMed PMID: 37507300
  • Awadallah NS, Jones TS, Christian N, Fainstad T, Nyquist J, Schreiber J, Fung CC, Rumack CM, Nehler M, Jaiswal KR. Proactive Coaching in General Surgery Internship: Incorporating Well-being Practices into Resident Professional Life. J Surg Educ. 2022 Oct 13. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 36244927
  • Billings JD, Huynh V, Leonard LD, Kovar A, Jones TS, Cumbler E, Christian N, Rojas KE, Meacham R, Tevis SE. Addressing an epidemic: Improving guideline-concordant opioid prescribing in surgical patients. Surgery. 2022 Nov;172(5):1407-1414. PubMed PMID: 36088172
  • Christian NT, Borges VF. What Dobbs Means for Patients with Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2022 Sep 1;387(9):765-767. PubMed PMID: 36026608
  • Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Myers S, Hampanda K, Christian N, Ahrendt G, Romandetti K, Tevis S. Patient Perceptions of Changes in Breast Cancer Care and Well-Being During COVID-19: A Mixed Methods Study. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Mar;29(3):1649-1657. PubMed PMID: 34928479
  • Gleisner AL, Moss A, Friedman C, Suresh K, Grunwald G, Torphy RJ, Leonard LD, Colborn K, Ahrendt G, Tevis S, Christian N, Abud VL, de Araujo TB, Beaty LE, Thieu D, Glorioso TJ, Kim S, Daugherty S. De-implementation of Axillary Dissection in Women With Breast Cancer is Largely Driven By Site-level Contextual Effects. Ann Surg. 2022 Dec 1;276(6):e923-e931. PubMed PMID: 33351462
  • Billings JD, Huynh V, Leonard LD, Kovar A, Jones TS, Cumbler E, Christian N, Rojas KE, Meacham R, Tevis SE. Addressing an epidemic: Improving guideline-concordant opioid prescribing in surgical patients. Surgery. 2022 Nov;172(5):1407-1414. PubMed PMID: 36088172
  • Christian NT, Borges VF. What Dobbs Means for Patients with Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2022 Sep 1;387(9):765-767. PubMed PMID: 36026608
  • Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Myers S, Hampanda K, Christian N, Ahrendt G, Romandetti K, Tevis S. Patient Perceptions of Changes in Breast Cancer Care and Well-Being During COVID-19: A Mixed Methods Study. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Mar;29(3):1649-1657. PubMed PMID: 34928479
  • Gleisner AL, Moss A, Friedman C, Suresh K, Grunwald G, Torphy RJ, Leonard LD, Colborn K, Ahrendt G, Tevis S, Christian N, Abud VL, de Araujo TB, Beaty LE, Thieu D, Glorioso TJ, Kim S, Daugherty S. De-implementation of Axillary Dissection in Women With Breast Cancer is Largely Driven By Site-level Contextual Effects. Ann Surg. 2022 Dec 1;276(6):e923-e931. PubMed PMID: 33351462
  • Huynh V, Colborn K, Smith S, Bonnell LN, Ahrendt G, Christian N, Kim S, Matlock DD, Lee C, Tevis SE. ASO Visual Abstract: Early Trajectories of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Lumpectomy Versus Mastectomy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Dec;28(Suppl 3):622-623. PubMed PMID: 34392461
  • Huynh V, Christian N, Tuthill K, Colborn K, Schulick R, Tevis S. Development of a Surgical Research Program for Medical Students and its Short-Term Impact on Academic Productivity. J Surg Educ. 2021 Nov-Dec;78(6):e68-e71. PubMed PMID: 34266791
  • Huynh V, Colborn K, Smith S, Bonnell LN, Ahrendt G, Christian N, Kim S, Matlock DD, Lee C, Tevis SE. Early Trajectories of Patient Reported Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Lumpectomy Versus Mastectomy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Oct;28(10):5677-5685. PubMed PMID: 34263375
  • Huynh V, Christian N, Tuthill K, Colborn K, Schulick R, Tevis S. Development of a Surgical Research Program for Medical Students and its Short-Term Impact on Academic Productivity. J Surg Educ. 2021 Nov-Dec;78(6):e68-e71. PubMed PMID: 34266791
  • Huynh V, Colborn K, Smith S, Bonnell LN, Ahrendt G, Christian N, Kim S, Matlock DD, Lee C, Tevis SE. Early Trajectories of Patient Reported Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Lumpectomy Versus Mastectomy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2021 Oct;28(10):5677-5685. PubMed PMID: 34263375
  • Huynh V, Colborn K, Rojas KE, Christian N, Ahrendt G, Cumbler E, Schulick R, Tevis S. Evaluation of opioid prescribing preferences among surgical residents and faculty. Surgery. 2021 Oct;170(4):1066-1073. PubMed PMID: 33858683
  • Huynh V, Colborn K, Christian N, Rojas K, Nehler M, Bronsert M, Cumbler E, Ahrendt G, Tevis S. Resident Opioid Prescribing Habits Do Not Reflect Best Practices in Post-Operative Pain Management: An Assessment of the Knowledge and Education Gap. J Surg Educ. 2021 Jul-Aug;78(4):1286-1294. PubMed PMID: 33386285
  • Huynh V, Colborn K, Rojas KE, Christian N, Ahrendt G, Cumbler E, Schulick R, Tevis S. Evaluation of opioid prescribing preferences among surgical residents and faculty. Surgery. 2021 Oct;170(4):1066-1073. PubMed PMID: 33858683
  • Huynh V, Colborn K, Christian N, Rojas K, Nehler M, Bronsert M, Cumbler E, Ahrendt G, Tevis S. Resident Opioid Prescribing Habits Do Not Reflect Best Practices in Post-Operative Pain Management: An Assessment of the Knowledge and Education Gap. J Surg Educ. 2021 Jul-Aug;78(4):1286-1294. PubMed PMID: 33386285
  • Gleisner AL, Moss A, Friedman C, Suresh K, Grunwald G, Torphy RJ, Leonard LD, Colborn K, Ahrendt G, Tevis S, Christian N, Abud VL, de Araujo TB, Beaty LE, Thieu D, Glorioso TJ, Kim S, Daugherty S. De-Implementation of Axillary Dissection in Women with Breast Cancer is Largely Driven By Site-Level Contextual Effects. Ann Surg. 2020 Dec 18;Publish Ahead of Print. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33351462
  • Pawloski KR, Christian N, Knezevic A, Wen HY, Van Zee KJ, Morrow M, Tadros AB. Atypical ductal hyperplasia bordering on DCIS on core biopsy is associated with higher risk of upgrade than conventional atypical ductal hyperplasia. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2020 Dec;184(3):873-880. PubMed PMID: 32857242
  • Ludwigson A, Huynh V, Bronsert M, Sloan K, Murphy C, Christian N, Jaiswal K, Ahrendt G, Tevis SE. A screening tool identifies high distress in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Surgery. 2020 Nov;168(5):935-941. PubMed PMID: 32591140
  • Huynh V, Rojas K, Ahrendt G, Murphy C, Jaiswal K, Cumbler E, Christian N, Tevis S. Reassessing Opioid Use in Breast Surgery. J Surg Res. 2020 Oct;254:232-241. PubMed PMID: 32474196
  • Samuels JM, Halpern AL, Carmichael H, Christian NT, Travis CEM, Jaiswal K, Nehler MR. This Surgical Life - An Exploration of Surgical Department Podcasting. J Surg Educ. 2020 Sep - Oct;77(5):1257-1265. PubMed PMID: 32217125
  • Christian N, Zabor EC, Cassidy M, Flynn J, Morrow M, Gemignani ML. Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Use After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2020 Mar;27(3):743-749. PubMed PMID: 31732944
  • Christian N, Gemignani ML. ASO Author Reflections: Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer May Not Alter Increasing Trends for CPM Utilization. Ann Surg Oncol. 2020 Mar;27(3):750-751. PubMed PMID: 31728793
  • Christian N, Heelan Gladden A, Friedman C, Gleisner-Patton A, Murphy C, Kounalakis N, Ahrendt G. Increasing omission of radiation therapy and sentinel node biopsy in elderly patients with early stage, hormone-positive breast cancer. Breast J. 2020 Feb;26(2):133-138. PubMed PMID: 31448508
  • Pawloski KR, Christian N, Knezevic A, Wen HY, Van Zee KJ, Morrow M, Tadros AB. Atypical ductal hyperplasia bordering on DCIS on core biopsy is associated with higher risk of upgrade than conventional atypical ductal hyperplasia. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2020 Dec;184(3):873-880. PubMed PMID: 32857242
  • Huynh V, Rojas K, Ahrendt G, Murphy C, Jaiswal K, Cumbler E, Christian N, Tevis S. Reassessing Opioid Use in Breast Surgery. J Surg Res. 2020 Oct;254:232-241. PubMed PMID: 32474196
  • Samuels JM, Halpern AL, Carmichael H, Christian NT, Travis CEM, Jaiswal K, Nehler MR. This Surgical Life - An Exploration of Surgical Department Podcasting. J Surg Educ. 2020 Sep - Oct;77(5):1257-1265. PubMed PMID: 32217125
  • Christian N, Zabor EC, Cassidy M, Flynn J, Morrow M, Gemignani ML. Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Use After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2020 Mar;27(3):743-749. PubMed PMID: 31732944
  • Christian N, Gemignani ML. ASO Author Reflections: Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer May Not Alter Increasing Trends for CPM Utilization. Ann Surg Oncol. 2020 Mar;27(3):750-751. PubMed PMID: 31728793
  • Christian N, Heelan Gladden A, Friedman C, Gleisner-Patton A, Murphy C, Kounalakis N, Ahrendt G. Increasing omission of radiation therapy and sentinel node biopsy in elderly patients with early stage, hormone-positive breast cancer. Breast J. 2020 Feb;26(2):133-138. PubMed PMID: 31448508
  • Christian N, Zabor EC, Cassidy M, Flynn J, Morrow M, Gemignani ML. Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Use After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2019 Nov 15. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31732944
  • Christian N, Gemignani ML. ASO Author Reflections: Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer May Not Alter Increasing Trends for CPM Utilization. Ann Surg Oncol. 2019 Nov 14. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31728793
  • Christian N, Heelan Gladden A, Friedman C, Gleisner-Patton A, Murphy C, Kounalakis N, Ahrendt G. Increasing omission of radiation therapy and sentinel node biopsy in elderly patients with early stage, hormone-positive breast cancer. Breast J. 2019 Aug 25. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31448508
  • Christian N, Gemignani ML. Issues with Fertility in Young Women with Breast Cancer. Curr Oncol Rep. 2019 May 16;21(7):58. PubMed PMID: 31098718
  • Baumgartner L, Townsend N, Winkelman K, MacLaren R. CE: Original Research: The Efficacy and Safety of an RN-Driven Ketamine Protocol for Adjunctive Analgesia During Burn Wound Care. Am J Nurs. 2018 Jul;118(7):26-31. PubMed PMID: 29905575
  • Christian NT, Burlew CC, Moore EE, Geddes AE, Wagenaar AE, Fox CJ, Pieracci FM. The focused abdominal sonography for trauma examination can reliably identify patients with significant intra-abdominal hemorrhage in life-threatening pelvic fractures. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2018 Jun;84(6):924-928. PubMed PMID: 29794689
  • Christian NT, Burlew CC, Moore EE, Geddes AE, Wagenaar AE, Fox CJ, Pieracci FM. The FAST Exam Can Reliably Identify Patients with Significant Intraabdominal Hemorrhage in Life Threatening Pelvic Fractures. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2018 Feb 14. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29443857
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Practice Locations

UCHealth Diane O'Connor Thompson Breast Center - Anschutz
1635 Aurora Ct
3rd Floor
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-1030

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (UCH)
12605 E. 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

CU Medicine Breast Surgical Oncology - Cherry Creek Medical Center
100 Cook Street
Suite 210
Denver, CO 80206
720-516-9402

UCHealth Ambulatory Surgery Center - Cherry Creek Medical Center
100 Cook Street
Suite 500
Denver, CO 80206
720-516-9373

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital
Center Affiliations

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Breast Surgical Oncology, Board Certification (2019)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Cancers - Breast Cancer
  • Cancers
  • Cancers - Cancer Surgery
  • Surgery - Breast Surgery
  • Surgery
Clinical Interests
I am dedicated to multi-disciplinary care of breast disease. I specialize in the surgical care of benign, high risk, and malignant breast conditions, including lumpectomy, mastectomy, nipple sparing mastectomy, and axillary staging.

Care Philosophy
I believe in taking excellent care of my patients. I strive to include the patient's perspective and background in order to improve and personalize their care. My goal is to provide exceptional and evidence-based care to patients with breast disorders with my colleagues in a multi-disciplinary fashion.

General Information

Medical Schools:
  • MD, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine (2011)
Graduate Schools:
  • MSCS, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (2015)
Undergraduate Schools:
  • AB, Harvard University (MA) (2007)
Internships:
  • University of Colorado (2012)
Residency Programs:
  • University of Colorado, Chief Resident, Surgery (2018)
Fellowships:
  • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Program, Breast Surgical Oncology (2019)
Languages: English
Department: Surgery-Surgical Oncology
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