Dr Rachel B Wellner
M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.
Rachel B. Wellner is a trailblazing Board-Certified General Surgeon who has nearly 20 years of experience as a medical professional and holds licensing in New York, New Jersey,, California and Florida. She is currently founder and CEO of Caelum Diagnostic Solutions, Inc.
Dr. Wellner was drawn to medicine at a young age, inspired by her father’s work in the medical field. In college, she pursued international mission trips and this passion for service and healthcare is reflected throughout her illustrious career. From founding several international medical programs, to providing free breast cancer screenings and services to the underserved and uninsured, Dr. Wellner truly embodies the values of her oath.
Her acclaimed career is marked by her dedication to patients and her belief in overall wellness. After witnessing her patients experience the trauma associated with a breast cancer diagnosis along with the psychosocial, emotional, and physical consequences of a surgically altered body, Dr. Wellner dedicated 2 years to pioneering a state-of-the-art Oncoplastic Program at Hackensack University Medical Center. This innovative approach integrates breast cancer tumor removal with reconstructive surgery.
Dr. Wellner began her career as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Mount Sinai Hospital. She went on to serve as an Attending Physician at The Beth Israel Medical Center. In 2009, after being appointed to be the Director of Breast Services at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, Dr. Wellner continued her mission to provide exceptional healthcare and she developed the center into a satellite of the NAPBC-accredited Continuum Cancer Centers of New York.
In 2015, after serving on the surgical faculty at Hackensack University Medical Center, she accepted the position of Senior Breast Surgeon at Montefiore Medical Center. At that time, Dr. Wellner had established a stellar reputation and was at the forefront of cancer medicine. As the Senior Breast Surgeon, she saw patients immediately after they had been diagnosed with breast cancer to develop an aggressive and comprehensive treatment plan with them.
Philanthropy
Guided by her philosophy that everyone deserves quality healthcare regardless of socioeconomic states, Dr. Wellner has founded several medical programs around the developing world, including an international training program for Surgical Residents. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Hebrew, she has worked abroad in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, India, and other areas. She was also a delegate member of Susan G. Koeman’s first Israeli Race for the Cure Program in Jerusalem. In addition to her international humanitarian work, Dr. Wellner served as project coordinator in collaboration with WPIX 11 for the Project Renewal ScanVan, the country's first mobile mammography and radiology clinic for homeless and uninsured adults. ScanVan provides clinical breast exams, mammograms, tuberculosis tests, and health education to homeless and low-income men and women throughout the 5 boroughs of New York City.
Awards & Education
Dr. Wellner has received numerous accolades and awards for her global humanitarian work and professional accomplishments. Notably, in 2008, she received The Arnold P. Gold Foundation Award for Humanism and Excellence in Teaching from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and The University of Connecticut Health Center Auxiliary Award in recognition of clinical and academic excellence. She recently won the Founder’s Award from Latina SHARE, a group she has worked extensively with to provide breast education and resources to Hispanic women.
Dr. Wellner is a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO), the American Society of Breast Surgery (ASBS), as well as the American College of Surgeons (ACS). She is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS).
Dr. Wellner earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish Literature from Dartmouth College, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She went on to attain her MD from The University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and later, her Masters of Public Health from the Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, where she also published a textbook, “Aging, Heart Disease, and Its Management” along with other publications. She completed her Internship in General Surgery and her Residency in General Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, and she went on to her Fellowship in Breast Surgery at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California. She has maintained academic scholarship and clinical research work throughout her career.
