Dr. Liza Opper Thalheimer M.D.

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Get to know Surgical Oncologist Dr. Liza O. Thalheimer, who serves patients in Houston, Texas.

A fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist, Dr. Thalheimer works with patients at her private practice in Houston, Texas. She specializes in the treatment of both benign and malignant diseases of the breast as well as evaluation and management of men and women with an elevated lifetime risk for the development of breast cancer.

The doctor is best known for being empathetic and accessible to her patients. Her thorough and easy to understand explanations, examples and depth of knowledge reassure patients that, despite her young looking appearance, she is very experienced in her field. She treats her patients and their families with the same kindness and respect she would want for herself or her own family members. She is quite personable, relatable and has an excellent bedside manner, even for a surgeon.

Throughout her academic career, Dr. Thalheimer completed her undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan. Her love for medicine was cemented by a mentor in high school whose enthusiastic love of anatomy and physiology inspired her. Being at a renowned university, she not only focused on her prerequisites for medical school but also wanted to explore classes in areas outside of science. 

Graduating from the University of Michigan in 2004, she matriculated to West Virginia University School of Medicine, allowing her to return to her home state of West Virginia. In 2008, she graduated with her medical degree. During her third and fourth year of medical school, she developed a deep love of general surgery, and thus she matched to a residency in general surgery at the Charleston Area Medical Center, where she was Chief Resident.

Subsequently, Dr. Thalheimer decided to pursue a fellowship in breast surgery at The Bryn Mawr Hospital under the leadership of Dr. Thomas Frazier who has been at the forefront of many landmark breast trials. Her breast fellowship gave her a 360° view of all aspects of breast cancer treatment as well as a deeper understanding of each sub specialty.

She not only perfected her skills in specialized breast surgery but rotated with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and their pathology assistants to gain insight into how surgical specimens are marked and oriented, breast radiologists to understand the nuances of breast imaging and procedures and lastly plastic surgeons, including the Chief of Plastic Surgery at the Perelman of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Joseph Serletti.

An expert in her field, the doctor is board-certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery (ABS). The ABS is an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge.

Distinguished as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Dr. Thalheimer is an active member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the Society of Surgical Oncology.

Surgical oncology is the branch of surgery applied to oncology. It focuses on the surgical management of tumors, especially cancerous tumors. A surgical oncologist removes the tumor and nearby tissue during surgery. He or she also performs certain types of biopsies to help diagnose cancer.

A West Virginia native, Dr. Thalheimer currently resides in Houston, Texas. She is a proud mother of a cat, Kitty, and a cavapoo, Winston. Her hobbies include reading, bargain hunting for great online deals and traveling.

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