Rachel Brem

Rachel F. Brem is an American diagnostic radiologist, professor of radiology at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, and director of the Breast Imaging and Interventional Center at George Washington University’s Cancer Center. She previously served as director of Breast Imaging at Johns Hopkins. Brem develops novel technologies to better support early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. She is a fellow of the American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging.

Early life and education
Rachel Frydman was born to Mechel Frydman and Lea Fishman, of Glen Rock, New Jersey. From a young age, Rachel wanted to be a doctor, a decision that was reinforced when her mother, Lea Frydman, was diagnosed with breast cancer when Brem was 12 years old. Despite being given only six months to live, Lea went on to survive breast and ovarian cancer and live for another 44 years.

Rachel became engaged to Henry Brem, then a medical student, while she was a student at Brandeis. Rachel Brem received a B.A. from Brandeis University in 1979. She then went to Columbia University's medical school, graduating with honors in 1984. Brem completed an internship in internal medicine at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore (1984–1985 ), and a residency in diagnostic radiology (1985–1989) and a fellowship in breast imaging (1989–1990) at Johns Hopkins. She holds board certification in diagnostic radiology.

In the mid-1990s, researchers discovered that Ashkenazi Jewish families were at higher risk for breast cancer due to the BRCA mutation. In 1996, after a maternal aunt had also been diagnosed with breast cancer, Brem chose to be tested for the gene. It was detected, and she scheduled a radical mastectomy on the basis of her genetic results. Ironically, she subsequently detected the presence of an existing tumor in her breast while testing ultrasound equipment for her hospital. Brem strongly recommends early testing for women who are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent or who have a family history of breast cancer.

Career
After completing her training, Brem joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins, where she became the Director of Breast Imaging. Between 1991 and 1999 she introduced the use of image-guided techniques for minimally invasive surgery at Johns Hopkins. Throughout her career she has been active in developing new technologies for early, less invasive detection of breast cancer particularly in women with dense breast tissue.

In 2000, Brem moved to George Washington University (GWU) where she became a Professor of Radiology at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. In 2015 she became the Program Leader for Breast Cancer at the GW Cancer Center, which is collaboratively operated by the GW Hospital, Medical Faculty Associates, School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She is currently the Director of Breast Imaging and Intervention at George Washington University Medical Center and a Professor of Radiology at George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, as well as a Vice Chair of Research and Faculty Development for the Department of Radiology.

Brem is known for her research, publishing and mentoring of students. Brem is a principal investigator for clinical trials which have included approaches to molecular breast imaging and detection of breast cancer. Brem is active in developing new technologies to decrease difficulty and cost and improve effectiveness of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Approaches she is investigating include breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI ), ultrasound tomography, the use of artificial intelligence to increase accuracy of cancer detection, and the development of a non-invasive breath test for breast cancer detection.

Brem has helped to develop two new breast imaging technologies which have been reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and approved for clinical use. In 2012, the FDA approved the Automated Breast Ultrasound System (ABUS). In 2021, the FDA granted premarket approval (PMA) to the SoftVue™ 3D Whole Breast Ultrasound Tomography System as an adjunct to digital mammography. Both are particularly suited to the detection of breast cancer in women with dense breasts.

She has published over 100 journal articles about breast cancer. She is the co-author with Christy Teal of the book No Longer Radical: Understanding Mastectomies and Choosing the Breast Cancer Care That's Right For You (2023).

Brem has directed the Mobile Mammography program at George Washington University. The Mammovan initiative was organized in 1995, before Brem joined GWU. By sending out mobile diagnostic units to neighborhoods and businesses, the project makes cancer care more accessible to women in underserved communities.

In 2004, Brem founded the Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer, to support research, education and clinical care. Through the Brem Foundation, she has worked with Lyft to create the Lyft on Wheels for Women program, which provides free transportation to and from breast cancer screenings for women in the Washington, D.C., and Maryland areas. The Brem Foundation has also developed an online tool for risk assessment, called CheckMate, to help women assess their personal breast cancer risk given their family's medical history. They can then discuss the assessment and their concerns with their health care providers.

Brem advises legislative policy-makers on the importance of education, awareness, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. She advocates for policies to require that women with dense breasts be informed of the possible need for additional types of breast cancer screenings. She recommends that medical plans should cover breast cancer screening methods such as MRIs and ultrasounds, not just mammograms. She has supported legislation such as the bipartisan Find it Early Act.

Brem serves on scientific advisory boards for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), and the Dr. Cyrus and Myrtle Katzen Cancer Research Center. She was appointed to the Board of Delphinus Medical Technologies in 2019. As of 2024, she was appointed to the Board of Directors of Breathe BioMedical (BBM), serving as Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer.

Awards and honors

 * 1998, Fellow, Society of Breast Imaging
 * 2002, Ten Women to Watch, Jewish Women International
 * 2009, Woman of Valor award, Chabad at Johns Hopkins
 * 2010, Editors Recognition Awards, with distinction, Radiology
 * 2011, Fellow, American College of Radiology (ACR)
 * 2015, Top Cancer Doctors, Newsweek
 * America's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly book series (6th–14th Editions)
 * America's Top Doctors for Cancer, Castle Connolly book series (5th–10th Editions)