Dr. Lisa Boyle’s path to becoming the President of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH) is a testament to her dedication and deep-rooted commitment to furthering patient care. Dr. Boyle began her journey at MedStar Health about 31 years ago. Originally trained as a general surgeon, she steadily climbed through the ranks, serving in a variety of roles that provided her with a comprehensive understanding of both clinical and administrative operations. Her trajectory from being a general surgeon to the Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer at MGUH laid the groundwork for her current leadership role. In July 2023, after ten and a half years of serving as Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Boyle was given the opportunity to take on the role of President of the hospital—a position she has embraced wholeheartedly.
Transitioning from a clinical surgeon to a full-time hospital administrator required a significant shift in mindset. “I’ve been a surgeon for 30 odd years and have taken care of tens of thousands of patients and done so many operations,” she reflects. But with the presidency comes a different set of responsibilities that require complete focus. Recognizing that the demands of patient care and hospital leadership were not compatible at this level, she made the difficult decision to step away from her clinical practice. “I can put that aside, but I still spend a lot of time in various meetings with patients and talking to them about their prognosis and treatment,” she adds.
Since stepping into her role, Dr. Boyle has overseen several transformative changes at MGUH, including the completion and opening of the state-of-the-art Verstandig Pavilion. Her involvement in this project, from its conception to its completion, underscores her dedication to improving patient care and making MGUH a place that patients feel comfortable and taken care of. “It was an incredible opportunity for me to work across various teams to figure out the problems we needed to address and how we would ensure that we are doing right by every patient who walks in our doors,” she explained.
When asked to reflect on how far cancer treatment and care has come since she began her career, Dr. Boyle notes the monumental advancements in both technology and patient care. “Over the span of my career, so much has changed in medicine in general, but particularly in cancer care,” she shared.
Dr. Boyle, a 16-year breast cancer survivor, has seen firsthand the evolution from broad-spectrum, highly toxic therapies to more refined, targeted treatments that minimize side effects and improve patient outcomes.
“The nice thing is that for a long time, we were limited in what treatments we could give to patients because of the toxicity of the medications. With more refined targeted therapy, patients will experience fewer side effects with the ultimate goal of not only physically handling the treatments better but having higher success rates. This provides a better opportunity to achieve a positive outcome, and I am optimistic for what the future holds, because our abilities to treat and care for patients will only continue to improve.”
Dr. Boyle will be supporting BellRinger for the third time this October, but she is unable to ride due to a recent injury. Over the course of those three years, she has had the opportunity to see the Ride’s evolution — not only in size, but growth of its impact as well. “I’ve noticed over the last several months as I was out and about riding, somebody is always riding in a BellRinger jersey. Everytime I see someone, it makes me that much more grateful for this community and to know that it’s growing, and more people are going to join us in making a difference,” she shared. But for Dr. Boyle, BellRinger is more than just an opportunity to fundraise; it’s a way for people to come together toward one goal. “In a world that is increasingly focused on emphasizing our differences and the things that divide us, this is one of those opportunities that unites us. Anything that we can do as an institution to help unite people against a common adversary like cancer… why not do it? We all hate cancer, and we all want to see a future without it.”
Reflecting on BellRinger’s impact, Dr. Boyle shares her hope that the event will continue to grow, bringing more people into the fold each year. “For me, every year I want to build on the year before — in terms of number of Riders, number of volunteers, and obviously at the end of the day, the dollars raised.” Her goal is to create momentum and enthusiasm that permeates her team at MGUH and the broader community.
“My message to people is that you can ride, you can volunteer, or you can step up and support a Rider through a donation. The smallest commitment makes the biggest impact, but it all starts with taking the step and getting involved.”
Dr. Boyle’s optimism about the future of patient care is palpable. She envisions a world where cancer treatment continues to evolve toward precision medicine, making it less toxic and more holistic. “The recognition that other adjacencies are important—nutrition, having a healthy lifestyle—all of these things keep people healthy while they’re getting their treatment,” she notes. For Dr. Boyle, the broader focus on patient wellness is as crucial as the cutting-edge treatments themselves. “It just speaks to the importance of continuing to fund innovative therapies because it gives promise and hope to people who previously would never have stood a chance.”
As Dr. Boyle continues to lead MGUH into the future of cutting-edge patient care, her vision is clear: to ensure that the hospital remains a beacon of hope and healing for all who walk through its doors. “We’re a healthcare organization, and everything we do is in support of our mission to take care of patients,” she emphasizes. And with opportunities like BellRinger paving the way for groundbreaking research and community engagement, the future looks brighter than ever. For Dr. Boyle, her commitment is not just a professional obligation—it’s a personal mission.
MedStar Health serves as the Academic Health System Partner of BellRinger, ensuring that all Riders are supported and cared for at every rest stop and the finish line. With the collaboration of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, physicians, nurses, social workers, and other key caregivers work together to heal, teach, serve, and discover. Through the partnership, they train the next generation of providers and scientists–and bring innovative therapies from the laboratory to the patients so they can receive tomorrow’s treatments today.
