Dr. Memmel & Dr. Monahan

Dr. Heidi Memmel and Dr. Denise Monahan comprise a highly accomplished breast surgery team at Northwestern Medicine. Together, they deliver comprehensive, patient-centered services ranging from high-risk assessment and second opinion cancer consultations to advanced surgical interventions – all with compassion and clarity tailored to a patient’s individual needs.

Dr. Heidi Memmel, a fellowship-trained breast surgeon, brings 20 years of dedicated clinical experience since completing medical school and fellowship at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine. She was among the first in the Chicago area to perform new nerve-grafting techniques to restore sensation after mastectomies and helps teach this technique at the national level. She specializes in prophylactic and cancer-curing nipple-sparing mastectomies as well as oncoplastic breast conservation. Acknowledged as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2014, she has been honored repeatedly by Chicago magazine and named among “Exceptional Women in Medicine.” She is helping to bring this expertise to the north suburbs with the new office in Glenview. Her patients emphasize her warmth, patience and expert guidance.

Dr. Denise Monahan is a board-certified surgeon, specializing in breast cancer in diverse populations, including men, pregnant women, and high-risk individuals. She performs the full range of breast surgeries including breast conserving surgery, nipple-sparing mastectomies, and the most current lymphatic procedures. She joined Northwestern Medicine 10 years ago to help build a comprehensive breast cancer program. She is also the director of the High-Risk Breast Cancer Clinic, which aims to identify those at increased risk for developing breast cancer, implement high-risk screening as well as risk reduction strategies.

Together, they offer full breast care continuum, from high-risk consultations and diagnostic workups to personalized surgical treatments such as a new nerve-grafting technique partnering with plastic surgeons to restore sensation. Their unified mission prioritizes patient education, emotional support, and evidence-based approaches to achieving optimal individualized outcomes.