Biography
Tari S. Stull, M.D., is a fellowship trained breast surgeon now seeing patients at MidMichigan Medical Center - West Branch. She devotes 100 percent of her practice to the care of breast cancer patients. Dr. Stull is specially trained to do minimally invasive biopsies as well as the latest surgical and non-surgical treatment for benign and malignant breast disease.
Dr. Stull began her career in general surgery but was quickly drawn to patients with benign and malignant breast disease. “I found myself going to breast conferences and focusing on breast care,” said Dr. Stull. This led her into a fellowship in breast surgery at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Pennsylvania and devoting her career to caring for and treating breast patients.
Philosophy of Care
Dr. Stull works to build a collaborative relationship with her patients that allows them to feel empowered and reassured that they are receiving the best care possible. Her philosophy is to help patients with breast cancer and benign breast conditions understand their disease so they can make an informed decision. “During our conversations, we will work together to develop a personalized plan that gives them the best chance to resolve their issue or cure their cancer, with the best quality of life,” she said.
She treats her patients in the same manner she would expect her own family members to be treated. “In that respect, my patients frequently become family to me,” she added. “We live, laugh and cry together.”
“I want to provide comfort to a terrified patient who has just heard the word ‘cancer’ and help them learn about the disease and treatment,” Dr. Stull added. “I believe providing them with education helps reduce their stress and anxiety.”
She encourages women to make sure they have an advocate, educator and partner in making decisions. Dr. Stull works hard to provide all the latest literature and technology so her patients know they are receiving the most advanced care possible.
Dr. Stull notes some of the biggest advances in breast cancer have been treatments that are directed at the biology of the tumor. “These advances in medicine have drastically altered the survivability of some of the more aggressive cancers,” explains Dr. Stull. “This results in breast cancer surgery being less disfiguring for the patient. In the future there are new discoveries in the pipe line that could lead to less invasive surgeries and shorter courses of therapy for breast cancer.”
Dr. Stull’s all-time favorite hobby is traveling. On a trip to Wyoming to ride horses, she met her cowboy, Jeffrey, who moved back to Michigan. Together they have a furry family that includes a French Brittany, beagle and some feline friends. Much of their down time is devoted to hunting and relaxing at their cabin hide-a-way in the woods on the back of the family farm in Hale.
