Saundra Buys, MD, will step down as Chief of the Division of Oncology, a position she has held since 2018. During her tenure, she has led with distinction through a period of tremendous growth and innovation in cancer care, research, and education. A member of the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute community for over four decades, Dr. Buys will continue her clinical and research work within the Division, where her ongoing presence will remain a vital asset to our faculty, trainees, and patients. 

Dr. Buys first joined the University of Utah faculty in 1979, after completing her fellowship in oncology at the U. She has since built a legacy as a dedicated physician, educator, and advocate for patients. In recognition of her remarkable contributions, she was named a Distinguished Professor in July 2021. Dr. Buys has received numerous national honors, including repeated recognition in Forbes, Newsweek, America’s Top Doctors, and Exceptional Women in Medicine. 

Throughout her tenure, Dr. Buys has been a national leader in breast cancer care and research. Her work has shaped standards in clinical oncology and inspired generations of trainees and colleagues. The Division is grateful for her leadership and continued presence as a mentor and physician. 

Drs. Theresa Werner and Sarah Colonna will serve as Interim Chiefs while a national search is conducted for the next Division Chief.

Theresa Werner, MD, Professor, specializes in gynecologic malignancies and is the Deputy Director and an investigator in the Experimental Therapeutics Program at Huntsman Cancer Institute. A nationally recognized leader in clinical research, Dr. Werner has served on multiple National Cancer Institute and NCCN panels and previously served as Senior Director of Clinical Research and Medical Director of the Clinical Trials Office at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Her work in gynecologic oncology has advanced the standard of care for patients across the country. 

Sarah Colonna, MD, Associate Professor, specializes in breast cancer and genetics. Board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology, her clinical and research interests focus on cancer risk assessment, genetic predisposition, and breast imaging. She is widely respected for her leadership in breast cancer within the Veterans Affairs system and the genetic/high-risk clinics at Huntsman Cancer Institute. 

The Department of Internal Medicine thanks Dr. Buys for her decades of outstanding leadership and service and welcomes Drs. Werner and Colonna into their new roles.