LITTLE ROCK — Internationally recognized gynecologic oncologist Lisa Bazzett-Matabele, M.D., has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), specializing in the treatment of women’s cancers. She also serves as an associate professor in the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and gynecologic oncology, Bazzett-Matabele brings more than two decades of clinical experience in women’s cancer care and academic leadership to her new role at UAMS. She specializes in the treatment of cancers of the female reproductive system, including ovarian, uterine, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Bazzett-Matabele to UAMS,” said Monique A. Spillman, M.D., Ph.D., chief of the UAMS Division of Gynecologic Oncology. “Her deep expertise in gynecologic cancer care and women’s health will be a tremendous asset to an increasing number of women in Arkansas who need our care.”

Bazzett-Matabele most recently served as head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Botswana, where she led cervical cancer training and care delivery. From 2000 to 2015, she served as an attending physician at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans and as a clinical professor and instructor at Louisiana State and Tulane Universities.

She has also held academic appointments at Yale University School of Medicine and the University of Queensland in Australia. She is an honorary associate professor at the University of Rwanda School of Medicine and Health and an international mentor for the International Gynecologic Cancer Society.

Bazzett-Matabele has served as a medical volunteer in more than a half-dozen countries and serves on the World Health Organization’s expert group for cervical cancer prevention. She has been an invited speaker at numerous international conferences and has contributed to peer-reviewed research focused on cancer treatment in under-resourced areas, HIV-associated cervical cancer and improving surgical outcomes. She is known internationally for her work to improve access to care for underserved populations and her advocacy for cancer prevention through education and early detection.

“I am deeply honored to join the team at UAMS and contribute to its strong tradition of advancing women’s cancer care in Arkansas and beyond,” said Bazzett-Matabele. “It’s a privilege to care for women through a difficult health journey and to be part of an institution so dedicated to innovation in cancer care. UAMS is a leader in gynecologic cancer care, research and training.”

Bazzett-Matabele earned her medical degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, where she also completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology. She completed a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Bazzett-Matabele sees patients in the Women’s Cancer Clinic at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. For appointments, call 501-296-1200.