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Tawnya L. Bowles

Tawnya L. Bowles, MD, FACS

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments Adjunct - Surgery

Divisions: General Surgery

Academic Office Information

tawnya.bowles@utah.edu

Board Certification

  • American Board of Surgery (Sub: General Surgery)

Research Interests

  • Melanoma and Cutaneous Oncology
  • Melanoma Risk Factors
  • Melanoma, Amelanotic
  • Lentigo Maligna Melanoma
  • Melanoma Surgery
  • Sentinel Node Biopsy for Melanoma and Breast Cancer
  • Assessment of Quality of Cancer Care
  • Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation

I am a cancer surgeon with a clinical and research focus in melanoma and other advanced skin cancers as well as sarcomas of the skin and abdomen. I completed my Surgical Oncology training at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. I have extensively researched melanoma prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. I am actively involved in local, regional, and national groups that focus on improving the treatment for melanoma patients. I am an investigator for several local melanoma studies that provide options in treatment for more advanced melanoma. My passion is patient-centered care and I work to understand the specific needs and wants of each patient. I teach medical students and surgery residents and I enjoy educating my patients about their illness. I am actively involved with a melanoma survivor group which includes planning of our yearly melanoma walk to support melanoma patients and research. Outside of the hospital I enjoy the nature beauty of Utah and spending time with family.

Education History

Other Training Intermountain Healthcare
M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Fellow
Residency University of California, Davis Medical Center, Department of Surgery
Resident
University of California, Davis Medical Center, Department of Surgery
Intern
Professional Medical Dartmouth Medical School
MD
Utah State University
BS

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Grossman D, Okwundu N, Bartlett EK, Marchetti MA, Othus M, Coit DG, Hartman RI, Leachman SA, Berry EG, Korde L, Lee SJ, Bar-Eli M, Berwick M, Bowles T, Buchbinder EI, Burton EM, Chu EY, Curiel-Lewandrowski C, Curtis JA, Daud A, Deacon DC, Ferris LK, Gershenwald JE, Grossmann KF, Hu-Lieskovan S, Hyngstrom J, Jeter JM, Judson-Torres RL, Kendra KL, Kim CC, Kirkwood JM, Lawson DH, Leming PD, Long GV, Marghoob AA, Mehnert JM, Ming ME, Nelson KC, Polsky D, Scolyer RA, Smith EA, Sondak VK, Stark MS, Stein JA, Thompson JA, Thompson JF, Venna SS, Wei ML, Swetter SM (2020). Prognostic Gene Expression Profiling in Cutaneous Melanoma: Identifying the Knowledge Gaps and Assessing the Clinical Benefit. JAMA Dermatol, 156(9), 1004-1011.
  2. Truong A, Hyngstrom JR, Andtbacka RHI, Noyes RD, Wright M, Snyder J, Winters A, Sause WT, Grossmann KF, Khong HT, Bowen GM, Hitchcock YJ, Grossman D, Bowles TL (2019). Recurrence risk of early-stage melanoma of the external ear: an investigation of surgical approach and sentinel lymph node status. Melanoma Res, 30(2), 173-178.
  3. Thompson JF, Haydu LE, Uren RF, Andtbacka RH, Zager JS, Beitsch PD, Agnese DM, Mozzillo N, Testori A, Bowles TL, Hoekstra HJ, Kelley MC, Sussman J, Schneebaum S, Smithers BM, McKinnon G, Hsueh E, Jacobs L, Schultz E, Reintgen D, Kane JM, Friedman EB, Wang H, Van Kreuningen L, Schiller V, Elashoff DA, Elashoff R, Cochran AJ, Stern S, Faries MB, MSLT-II Trial Group (2019). Preoperative Ultrasound Assessment of Regional Lymph Nodes in Melanoma Patients Does not Provide Reliable Nodal Staging: Results from a Large Multicenter Trial. Ann Surg.
  4. Swords DS, Andtbacka RHI, Bowles TL, Hyngstrom JR (2018). Routine retrieval of pelvic sentinel lymph nodes for melanoma rarely adds prognostic information or alters management. Melanoma Res, 29(1), 38-46.
  5. Jeter JM, Bowles TL, Curiel-Lewandrowski C, Swetter SM, Filipp FV, Abdel-Malek ZA, Geskin LJ, Brewer JD, Arbiser JL, Gershenwald JE, Chu EY, Kirkwood JM, Box NF, Funchain P, Fisher DE, Kendra KL, Marghoob AA, Chen SC, Ming ME, Albertini MR, Vetto JT, Margolin KA, Pagoto SL, Hay JL, Grossman D, Ellis DL, Kashani-Sabet M, Mangold AR, Markovic SN, Meyskens FL Jr, Nelson KC, Powers JG, Robinson JK, Sahni D, Sekulic A, Sondak VK, Wei ML, Zager JS, Dellavalle RP, Thompson JA, Weinstock MA, Leachman SA, Cassidy PB (2018). Chemoprevention agents for melanoma: A path forward into phase 3 clinical trials. Cancer, 125(1), 18-44.
  6. Grossman D, Farnham JM, Hyngstrom J, Klapperich ME, Secrest AM, Empey S, Bowen GM, Wada D, Andtbacka RHI, Grossmann K, Bowles TL, Cannon-Albright LA (2018). Similar survival of patients with multiple versus single primary melanomas based on Utah Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data (1973-2011). J Am Acad Dermatol, 79(2), 238-244.
  7. Gardner LJ, Ward M, Andtbacka RHI, Boucher KM, Bowen GM, Bowles TL, Cohen AL, Grossmann K, Hitchcock YJ, Holmen SL, Hyngstrom J, Khong H, McMahon M, Monroe MM, Ross CB, Suneja G, Wada D, Grossman D (2017). Risk factors for development of melanoma brain metastasis and disease progression: a single-center retrospective analysis. Melanoma Res, 27(5), 477-484.
  8. Jones MS, Jones PC, Stern SL, Elashoff D, Hoon DSB, Thompson J, Mozzillo N, Nieweg OE, Noyes D, Hoekstra HJ, Zager JS, Roses DF, Testori A, Coventry BJ, Smithers MB, Andtbacka R, Agnese D, Schultz E, Hsueh EC, Kelley M, Schneebaum S, Jacobs L, Bowles T, Kashani-Sabet M, Johnson D, Faries MB (2017). The Impact of Smoking on Sentinel Node Metastasis of Primary Cutaneous Melanoma. Ann Surg Oncol, 24(8), 2089-2094.
  9. Faries MB, Thompson JF, Cochran AJ, Andtbacka RH, Mozzillo N, Zager JS, Jahkola T, Bowles TL, Testori A, Beitsch PD, Hoekstra HJ, Moncrieff M, Ingvar C, Wouters MWJM, Sabel MS, Levine EA, Agnese D, Henderson M, Dummer R, Rossi CR, Neves RI, Trocha SD, Wright F, Byrd DR, Matter M, Hsueh E, MacKenzie-Ross A, Johnson DB, Terheyden P, Berger AC, Huston TL, Wayne JD, Smithers BM, Neuman HB, Schneebaum S, Gershenwald JE, Ariyan CE, Desai DC, Jacobs L, McMasters KM, Gesierich A, Hersey P, Bines SD, Kane JM, Barth RJ, McKinnon G, Farma JM, Schultz E, Vidal-Sicart S, Hoefer RA, Lewis JM, Scheri R, Kelley MC, Nieweg OE, Noyes RD, Hoon DSB, Wang HJ, Elashoff DA, Elashoff RM (2017). Completion Dissection or Observation for Sentinel-Node Metastasis in Melanoma. N Engl J Med, 376(23), 2211-2222.
  10. Johnson MM, Leachman SA, Aspinwall LG, Cranmer LD, Curiel-Lewandrowski C, Sondak VK, Stemwedel CE, Swetter SM, Vetto J, Bowles T, Dellavalle RP, Geskin LJ, Grossman D, Grossmann KF, Hawkes JE, Jeter JM, Kim CC, Kirkwood JM, Mangold AR, Meyskens F, Ming ME, Nelson KC, Piepkorn M, Pollack BP, Robinson JK, Sober AJ, Trotter S, Venna SS, Agarwala S, Alani R, Averbook B, Bar A, Becevic M, Box N, E Carson W 3rd, Cassidy PB, Chen SC, Chu EY, Ellis DL, Ferris LK, Fisher DE, Kendra K, Lawson DH, Leming PD, Margolin KA, Markovic S, Martini MC, Miller D, Sahni D, Sharfman WH, Stein J, Stratigos AJ, Tarhini A, Taylor MH, Wisco OJ, Wong MK (2017). Skin cancer screening: recommendations for data-driven screening guidelines and a review of the US Preventive Services Task Force controversy. Melanoma Manag, 4(1), 13-37.
  11. Ray A, Williams MA, Meek SM, Bowen RC, Grossmann KF, Andtbacka RH, Bowles TL, Hyngstrom JR, Leachman SA, Grossman D, Bowen GM, Holmen SL, VanBrocklin MW, Suneja G, Khong HT (2016). A phase I study of intratumoral ipilimumab and interleukin-2 in patients with advanced melanoma. Oncotarget, 7(39), 64390-64399.
  12. Terakedis BE, Anker CJ, Leachman SA, Andtbacka RH, Bowen GM, Sause WT, Grossmann KF, Bowles TL, Noyes RD, Hitchcock YJ, Boucher KM, Shrieve DC (2013). Patterns of failure and predictors of outcome in cutaneous malignant melanoma of the scalp. J Am Acad Dermatol, 70(3), 435-42.
  13. Bowles TL, Hu CY, You NY, Skibber JM, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, Chang GJ (2013). An individualized conditional survival calculator for patients with rectal cancer. Dis Colon Rectum, 56(5), 551-9.
  14. Andtbacka RH, Donaldson MR, Bowles TL, Bowen GM, Grossmann K, Khong H, Grossman D, Anker C, Florell SR, Bowen A, Duffy KL, Leachman SA, Noyes RD (2012). Sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma in pregnant women. Ann Surg Oncol, 20(2), 689-96.

Case Report

  1. Gonzalez CD, Hawkes JE, Bowles TL (2016). Malignant melanoma scrotal metastasis: The importance of the genital examination. JAAD Case Rep, 3(1), 10-12.
  2. Gonzalez CD, Hawkes JE, Bowles TL (2016). Recurrent cutaneous angiosarcoma of the ear masquerading as atypical fibroxanthoma. JAAD Case Rep, 2(6), 445-447.

Letter

  1. Duffy KL, Truong A, Bowen GM, Andtbacka RH, Hyngstrom J, Bowles T, Grossmann K, Khong H, Hyde M, Florell SR, Bowen AR, Wada D, Grossman D (2014). Adequacy of 5-mm surgical excision margins for non-lentiginous melanoma in situ. [Letter to the editor]. J Am Acad Dermatol, 71(4), 835-8.