Vaishali Patel, DO, has joined the general surgery team at Springfield Clinic Peoria. Dr. Patel specializes in breast surgical oncology and is also training in breastfeeding medicine. 

Born in New York City, Dr. Patel did not grow up wanting to be a doctor. She began her career working for a nonprofit organization, Malaria No More, where she worked with high school- and college-aged students to raise awareness of issues in Africa and Southeast Asia. It was during that time she realized that she could make a difference in people's lives through medicine.

"I get a lot out of one-on-one interaction. It's a different scope, but it's so important to someone. It can be their entire world. At first, I didn't know exactly what field to go into. But when I started rotations, I just gravitated toward the surgeons."

Springfield Clinic Peoria is comprised of a team of highly-trained surgeons and advanced practitioners who provide procedures in general surgery, breast surgery, plastic surgery, surgical oncology, surgical weight loss, thoracic surgery and colon and rectal specialties. They also offer minimally invasive surgery and procedures for hernia treatment, LINX reflux management and Mediport® insertion.