Beth Baughman DuPree, M.D., F.A.C.S., A.B.O.H.M., is a board-certified general surgeon specializing in diseases of the breast, with additional board certification in integrative and holistic medicine. She has practiced medicine since 1987.
Dr. DuPree earned her medical degree from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia and her undergraduate degrees in behavioral neuroscience, history and philosophy of science at the University of Pittsburgh. She completed a residency in general surgery at Albert Einstein Hospital in Philadelphia and was an adjunct assistant professor of surgery at the University of Philadelphia.
Q: What do you plan to achieve during the first couple of months in Sedona?
A: Building relationships with not just primary care providers, but with the entire team at NAH whether it’s in Cottonwood, Sedona or Flagstaff. One of the prime directives with the cancer program is to attain national accreditations, and we need team work to achieve this.
Q: What are you most excited about to bring to the area?
A: Three things: 1) My passion. 2) My purposes for being here is to make Sedona’s cancer care program on par with any cancer program someone can choose to go to in the country. 3) My service to humanity − in Philadelphia, I was able to create a cancer program in a community that did not have a cancer program prior to my arrival in 2009. Although I’m leaving that program, the program is intact, successful, sought after, busy and has partners who are able to take the ball and run with it. I plan to do the same here because you don’t build a program around a person, you build a program around multiple people who choose to come together under the same desire. NAH has this desire and mission to bring cancer care back home where it belongs and raise the bar to a level where people will be happy to receive cancer care here.
Q: What is your care philosophy?
As a physician and healer, I treat the whole person and not simply the disease. My patients and I become partners in their care. I believe combining state-of-the-art western medical treatments with eastern healing modalities allows patients to not only work toward curing a disease, but also provides guidance on their journey to healing.
Q: Tell us about your specialty. What drew you to it and what keeps you in it?
Care of patients with breast cancer is a long-term relationship. It spans many years from an initial mammogram, breast biopsy through surgical treatment and survivorship. Helping patients navigate their course of treatment is rewarding; and seeing patients 20 years after a diagnosis who still appreciates the role I played in their lives is beyond rewarding.
Q: What is some advice you can offer to women regarding breast health?
A: Be your own advocate. Whether it’s for prevention, risk reduction, treatment you have to go with your gut, get second opinions.
Dr. DuPree is located at Verde Valley Medical Clinic − Sedona, and will begin seeing patients Wednesday, Sept. 6. To schedule an appointment, call 928-204-4180.