Faculty

Gynecologic Oncology Faculty at University Hospitals

The gynecologic oncology faculty comprises four board-certified, diversely trained, skilled and committed gynecologic oncologists with a proven track record of excellence in patient care, education and research.

Director, Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship

Kristine Zanotti, MD, is the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program Director and an Associate Professor Obstetrics and Gynecology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Zanotti pursued her fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio in 2000, ultimately joining the division in 2004. Dr. Zanotti also has a strong focus in resident and fellow education and holds numerous positions and honors nationally and within the institution related to this focus. She has a strong interest in quality research, survivorship care and community outreach.

Assistant Director, Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship

Christa Nagel, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and also serves as Assistant Program Director for the fellowship and is faculty supervisor for the Gynecologic Oncology Fellow Service. She completed her residency at Ohio State University and fellowship training at University of Texas Southwestern. She is a member of the NCCN Endometrial Committee and also serves on two Quality Committees within the medical center.

Gynecologic Oncology Teaching Faculty

• Steven Waggoner, MD, is Division Chief, Gynecologic Oncology, at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, and Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Waggoner completed his undergraduate work at University of Puget Sound and earned his medical degree from University of Washington in Seattle. He served a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at University of Chicago and a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Georgetown University. Dr. Waggoner is a member of the NRG Oncology Ancillary Protocol Committee and Membership Committee. He serves as a Principal Investigator for NRG Oncology and GOG Foundation activities at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.


• John Nakayama, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology. He completed his residency at University of Hawaii and his Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship at University of Virginia Medical Center. He is a member of the NRG Cervix Cancer Committee. NRG Oncology is one of the five U.S. network groups of the NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) Program. He is also actively involved in quality research in minimally invasive surgery.


• Amy Armstrong, MD, joined the faculty as Assistant Professor in the Division of Gynecologic Oncology in 2017. She completed both her residency and Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. She is a member of the NRG Endometrial Cancer Committee. NRG Oncology is one of the five U.S. network groups of the NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) Program. She also serves as coordinator for the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Grand rounds and is actively involved in implementing a Health Science Systems Curriculum for the Ob/Gyn residents during their gynecologic oncology rotations.

Non-Gynecologic Oncology Teaching Faculty

• Stefanie Avril (Sassen), MD, is an Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and a Member, of the Hematopoietic and Immune Cancer Biology Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. She started her career in academic pathology in 2004 at the Department of Pathology, Technical University Munich, Germany. Her research is focused on breast cancer and gynecologic oncology, with a specific interest in prediction of treatment response and the tumor immune microenvironment. She has published several studies on prediction of treatment response in ovarian and breast cancer using FDG-PET molecular imaging, as well the histopathological parameters of treatment response and recurrence risk in ovarian cancers and borderline tumors. She has mentored Gynecologic Oncology fellows in translational research and precepts them to enhance their skills in Gynecologic Pathology interpretation.


• Eleanor (Libby) Harris, MD, is Vice Chair, Clinical Programs and Quality, Department of Radiation Oncology, UH Cleveland Medical Center and an active member of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. She is an active participant on Gynecologic Oncology tumor board and precepts Gynecologic Oncology fellows during their Radiation Oncology rotation.


• Raj Mohan Paspulati, MD, is an Associate Professor of Radiology. He is Head of the Section of Abdominal Imaging. He is editor of the Journal of Clinical Imaging Science and the author of many publications. Dr. Paspulati attends the Gynecologic Oncology Tumor Board conference, he has collaborated on many research projects within the Gynecologic Oncology Division and significantly participates in the formal and informal teaching of the Gynecologic Oncology fellows.