Maria João Cardoso

Maria João Cardoso, MD, PhD, is a leading breast cancer surgeon and researcher specializing in breast surgery aesthetics and patient quality of life. She currently serves as Head Breast Surgeon and Coordinator of the Breast Unit Surgical Team at the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon since 2011. She completed her medical training and PhD at the University of Porto's Faculty of Medicine, where she held an Assistant Professorship in the Department of Surgery from 2006 to 2011. Her research focuses on objective evaluation of surgical outcomes, leading to innovations in oncoplastic surgery and axillary approaches. She is Principal Investigator of the EU Horizon 2022-funded CINDERELLA Project and medical coordinator of the Breast Research group at INESC Porto.

Dr. Cardoso actively contributes to global patient advocacy through Mama Help, a support center she founded in 2011, and collaborates with European organizations like Europa Donna and Think Pink Europe. She holds editorial roles in The Breast and International Journal of Breast Cancer, and is a member of prestigious societies including EUSOMA and ESMO.