SUMMARY
Allison E. Garda, M.D., studies radiation therapy for gynecologic and breast cancers. Through her work, Dr. Garda improves the balance between tumor control and treatment toxicity for patients receiving pelvic or breast radiation. She explores techniques that combine modern radiation, biomarkers and patient-reported outcomes to tailor treatment to each patient.
The research of Dr. Garda includes clinical trials comparing proton and photon radiation therapy. She also evaluates hypofractionated radiation schedules and adaptive radiation strategies. Dr. Garda studies circulating tumor DNA related to human papillomavirus to understand disease monitoring and recurrence risk in cervical cancer. She examines complications affecting patients who have had successful gynecologic cancer treatment.
Additionally, Dr. Garda investigates how clinical education and health system innovations affect cancer care delivery. Her research includes patient education and communication training. Dr. Garda also studies the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in medical training.
Focus areas
- Precision pelvic radiotherapy strategies. Dr. Garda studies how modern radiation technologies — including proton therapy, adaptive radiation and image-guided brachytherapy — can improve treatment accuracy for cervical and endometrial cancers. She examines how these approaches affect toxicity, dose distribution and patient outcomes to improve the therapeutic ratio.
- Biomarkers in cervical cancer. Dr. Garda studies circulating tumor DNA derived from human papillomavirus to evaluate its role in disease monitoring, treatment response and recurrence risk in cervical cancer. She develops minimally invasive biomarkers to guide treatment decisions and follow-up strategies.
- Radiation toxicity and survivorship. Dr. Garda examines treatment side effects affecting gynecologic cancer survivors, including gastrointestinal, urinary and sexual health complications. She evaluates new interventions and supportive strategies to reduce long-term morbidity and improve quality of life.
- Innovations in oncology education. Dr. Garda researches communication training, technology-enabled learning in oncology training programs and patient education models. She evaluates how AI tools affect resident efficiency, clinical reasoning and knowledge retention.
- Global oncology education programs. Dr. Garda develops multidisciplinary training programs for medical teams specializing in cancer care in low- and middle-income countries. She focuses on sustainable educational models and collaborative knowledge exchange.
Significance to patient care
Radiation therapy is an important treatment for patients with cervical, uterine and breast cancers. Yet it may cause lasting side effects. Dr. Garda studies how to deliver radiation more precisely. Her work helps treat tumors while limiting the amount of radiation that reaches healthy organs.
Dr. Garda explores new ways to find recurring cancer at an earlier stage using blood-based biomarkers. She also studies treatment effects reported by patients.
Dr. Garda's research helps lower the risk of side effects and improves the quality of life for patients who have completed treatment. Her research also helps care teams choose the safest and best therapies for each patient.
Professional highlights
- Mayo Clinic:
- Section head, Gynecologic Cancers, 2025-present.
- Program director, Advanced Radiation Oncology Fellowship, 2024-present.
- Program director, Global Oncology Fellowship, 2024-present.
- Associate program director, Radiation Oncology Residency, 2022-present.
- Teacher of the Year Award, Mayo Fellows' Association, 2026.
- Endowment for Education Research Award, 2025-2026.
- Clinician all-star recognition in patient education best practices, 2025.
- Clinical Innovations Funding Award, Department of Radiation Oncology, 2020.
- National co-principal investigator, NRG Oncology GY-037 clinical trial funded by the National Cancer Institute, 2025-present.
- Education Scholars Program, American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2023.
- Best of ASTRO Abstract Award, American Society for Radiation Oncology, 2016, 2020.