Provider Spotlight: Jessie MacVicar, MD, and Patient-Centered Care
Jessie H. MacVicar, MD, breast surgeon at BMC South
Jessie MacVicar, MD, is a board-certified surgeon at Boston Medical Center – South (BMC South) who specializes in the care of patients with breast cancer and benign breast diseases.
After graduating from Georgetown University School of Medicine, she completed her surgical residency at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, now Boston Medical Center – Brighton (BMC Brighton). She practiced surgery in the Brockton community for over two decades with Signature Healthcare before joining BMC South.
How would you describe your approach to patient care?
The patient is always the focus. I like to treat my patients just like they were my family members. That’s the key—how would you want your family member to be treated?
One of the things that’s different for breast surgery compared to most other surgical specialties is that you have an extended relationship with your patient. If you’re a general surgeon, you typically will see the patient before the procedure, perform the surgery, see them one or two times postoperatively, and then you don’t typically see them again unless there’s a problem. That’s not the case with breast care patients. I will typically see my patients on a regular basis, even for routine checkups.
What’s your favorite part of being a breast surgeon?
I love the whole thing. I really do. I have patients who are suffering from breast pain and afraid to come into the office because they think they have breast cancer, or have a patient who is diagnosed with breast cancer and afraid to come in because they don’t think it is treatable. I am able to relieve that anxiety, to comfort them and explain how we can treat their problem and do that relatively quickly. That is so meaningful to me.
What’s special about breast surgery is the extended relationship you develop with your patients—you don’t just see them for surgery and send them on their way. You’re with them through the whole process and then may see them regularly thereafter. That ongoing connection is something I really value.
What do you wish more patients knew about surgical oncology and breast disease?
Breast cancer is so treatable these days. We have made incredible advancements in treatment, no matter what stage you are in when you initially present. I know it’s scary, but you can’t let that fear paralyze you from coming in and being seen. It is important to know your body and the importance of breast self-exams. If you note a change in your breast tissue, no matter what it is, don’t ever feel foolish about wanting to be seen to have it evaluated. It’s better to be sure.
What most excites you about joining the BMC South surgical team?
Not many organizations are as patient-centered and compassionate as BMC Health System. Here, the patient is the center of every decision. I’ve heard that over and over from everyone at BMC Health System, from surgeons to administrators. And that’s why I chose BMC Health System. You see those values in practice here—it’s not just talk.
Expert Guidance for Every Step of Your Surgical Journey
The team of board-certified surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and technicians at BMC South works together to guide patients through every step of their surgical journey, from preoperative preparation through discharge home. BMC South offers a wide range of the latest surgical techniques, including minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic procedures, and was among the first in the region to adopt the da Vinci Xi robotic-assisted surgical system.
The Breast Center at BMC South provides coordinated breast imaging, with advanced screening and diagnostic services to identify and address breast conditions as early as possible, as well as expert surgical consultation at the same location.