This article was originally published in the Winter 2024 issue of the GFS Bulletin.

Versha Pleasant*, MD, MPH, is a clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and Director of the Cancer Genetics and Breast Health Clinic at Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan. She specializes in the medical and surgical care of patients with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. She is also deeply interested in health disparities, particularly in breast cancer outcomes and genetic testing barriers facing Black women. 

We spoke with Pleasant about her career and how she weaves together storytelling, medicine, and advocacy.

*Many of you know her as Versha Patel from her GFS days.

What drew you to cancer genetics?

Versha Pleasant '00: My aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer twice and uterine cancer twice while I was in medical school. The devastation from her death prompted me to dive deeper into my family’s medical history, where I discovered three generations of breast cancer. That led me to the Cancer Genetics and Breast Health Fellowship at University of Michigan.

What does your job look like?

I provide medical and surgical care to patients at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer due to gene mutations or family history, and surgical intervention for breast cancer survivors experiencing gynecologic issues. I also do research focused on Black women’s cancer outcomes. Black women are almost just as likely to be diagnosed as white women, but have a 40 percent increased risk of dying from breast cancer. A lot of my work raises awareness about these alarming, unacceptable disparities and explores ways to reverse them.

What’s your perspective on the disproportionate breast cancer mortality rate in the Black community?

Black women have a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, a more aggressive subtype that’s harder to treat. Some data suggest that poverty, racism, and environmental and social stressors can also play a huge role in cancer risk and outcomes. Data also shows more delays in care and treatment among Black women. Cancer is complex, and likely involves an interplay of these risk factors. 

Can you tell us more about your “Redefining the Crown” project?

One day, our family hairstylist in Philadelphia told me how my aunt asked her to cut her hair off when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. That story struck a chord, and I began to notice that there was a lack of scientific literature about hair loss among Black women from cancer treatments. I wrote in the American Cancer Society Journal, outlining the different options, or lack thereof, for Black women who have undergone hair loss from breast cancer chemotherapy.

After the paper was published, I wanted to amplify the voices of women who have been through this. I received a grant to produce “Redefining the Crown,” a photo essay about six Black women and their breast cancer journeys through the lens of hair loss. The interviews and photos were published in the Fall 2024 issue of Michigan Medicine Magazine. We also hosted an incredibly successful live event in September, in which we interviewed the women onstage. I hope to expand this project on a national level. 

You’re a clinical assistant professor. How did GFS influence your teaching?

At GFS, I learned to think critically. Similarly, I encourage medical students and residents to constantly ask questions and assess what we do. For instance, I developed a curriculum at the medical school about the history of racism in obstetrics and gynecology. It is important to understand the history to contextualize why we are seeing such alarming racial health disparities in the present day.

What keeps you going, working in such a demanding field?

I love helping people decrease their risk of cancer. But it is intense. You’re walking by someone’s side during a dark time. It’s also incredibly rewarding to be a source of comfort and support.

When I see a patient I tell them: We are going to talk about cancer for a full hour. Laugh, cry, shout, whatever you need to do. But by the time you leave, we will have a plan that allows you to not have to think about cancer every second of the day. Additionally, a lot of my research and projects are focused on how we can change systems and environments to increase access to equitable care, particularly for those who are at disproportionately higher risk of dying from breast cancer, as is the case for Black women. My vision of reversing these inequities—this is what inspires me each day.