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Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD

(Dr. William Edward Burak Jr., MD)

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Specializes in: General Surgery and Surgical Oncology (Cancer Surgery)

Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College (1987)

Professional interests include: laparoscopic surgery, breast surgery, lymph node procedures, and more.

4700 Waters Avenue Building 100 Suite 405
Savannah, GA 31404

(912) 350-2700

Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD is a general surgeon in Savannah, GA specializing in general surgery and surgical oncology (cancer surgery). He graduated from Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College in 1987 and has 38 years of experience. Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD is affiliated with Memorial Health (Savannah, GA), Memorial Health System, HCA South Atlantic and SAVANNAH MULTISPECIALTY ASSOCIATES LLC.

Office Locations

Address:

4700 Waters Avenue Building 100 Suite 405
Savannah, GA 31404

Some issues Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD can help you with:

Biopsy

A biopsy is a procedure performed to remove a small sample of cells for testing. The cells are examined in a laboratory to check for disease, or sometimes to see how badly a known disease is affecting them. Biopsy can be performed on any part of the body.

Although biopsy is most often associated with cancer, it can also be used to check for other diseases, such as infections. A biopsy sample can be scraped, cut, collected with a needle, taken with a machine that punches out a tiny piece, or removed with the tiny tools in an endoscope.

In most cases, a biopsy is a simple outpatient procedure. Depending on the procedure, patients may need to stop taking certain medications beforehand, such as blood thinners. It is important for patients to tell doctors if they are pregnant, as certain biopsies require the use of x-rays to guide the needle to the right location. There is usually very little pain associated with a biopsy. Patients will have to wait a few days to hear the results.

Breast Biopsy

Breast biopsy is a procedure where a small sample of tissue is collected from the breast for testing. A physician may prescribe a breast biopsy for a variety of reasons, but they are most frequently prescribed for a lump found in the breast. Biopsy samples extracted are examined by pathologists in a laboratory setting and are tested to determine if they are cancerous or benign, or indicative of some other condition. Depending on the lab results, physicians may prescribe additional treatment. Other circumstances which may prompt a breast biopsy include:

Mammograms that detect other unusual features in the chest, such as a cyst or calcium deposit
Breast scans or ultrasounds that display abnormalities
Nipple changes, such as scaling, crusting, or bloody discharge

Breast biopsies are collected through several different procedures and the specific type of biopsy that a patient receives depends on the size, location, and features of a breast lump or irregularity. The three main methods of collecting a breast biopsy include:

Fine needle aspiration (FNA biopsy), where a thin needle is directed into a breast lump or abnormality, extracting a small sample of tissue or liquid
Core needle biopsy (CNB biopsy), where a hollow needle is directed into a breast lump or abnormality, extracting cylinders of tissue called "cores"
Open (surgical) biopsy, where a breast lump is removed through an incision in the breast

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle biopsy (CNB) are sometimes image-guided, where a mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI helps direct the physician performing the needle extraction.

Fine needle aspiration, the most common biopsy method, generally requires few patient preparations. It is recommended patients avoid using lotion, deodorant, and perfume prior to their biopsy procedure. FNA biopsy is performed with local anesthesia (topical numbing cream) and typically has a quick recovery, but patients may experience soreness for a few days. Core needle biopsy extracts slightly more tissue than an FNA biopsy.

Open (surgical) biopsy is more invasive and requires general anesthesia, where patients are put to sleep during the procedure. Patients must fast prior to the surgery. After the biopsy is performed, patients are monitored in a recovery room for a time before being discharged, when they will need someone else to provide transportation.

Although some may consider breast biopsy to be a simple procedure, it can catch critical issues - particularly breast cancer - that impact wellness. If a breast biopsy reveals an underlying condition like life-threatening cancer, patients can receive the diagnosis and medical treatment that is necessary for their long-term health.

Mastectomy (Breast Removal Surgery)

Mastectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the breasts, most frequently associated with breast cancer treatment (for both male and female breast cancer patients). Breast cancer patients who receive a mastectomy typically have undergone other treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation, and less invasive breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy). If these treatments are unsuccessful, oncologists may eventually prescribe a mastectomy. Other conditions that may prompt a mastectomy include:

Two or more cancerous regions in the same breast
Inability to receive chemotherapy or radiation therapy
High likelihood of recurring breast cancer
Large tumor that is bigger than two inches across
Pregnancy that prohibits radiation therapy
Preexisting conditions like lupus or scleroderma

Notably, some patients may elect to undergo mastectomy without a breast cancer diagnosis. Preventative (prophylactic) mastectomy is performed on those with a high risk of breast cancer, such as having a family history of the disease or carrying the breast cancer BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. Preventative mastectomy substantially reduces one's chances of developing breast cancer in the future, but it cannot wholly prevent it.

Surgical oncologists perform several types of mastectomies, depending upon the severity of the breast cancer (including factors such as its location and spread), as well as the patients' own aesthetic and personal choices. The six main types of mastectomy include:

Total mastectomy, where the surgical oncologist removes an entire breast, including parts like the pectoral chest muscle, skin, and nipple.
Radical mastectomy, where the surgical oncologist removes the entire breast, underarm lymph nodes, pectoral chest muscles, and outer skin and nipple. One of the most invasive forms of mastectomy, radical mastectomy is infrequently performed.
Modified radical mastectomy, where the surgical oncologist completes a total mastectomy and also removes the underarm lymph nodes. This procedure is slightly less invasive than radical mastectomy.
Skin-sparing mastectomy, where the surgical oncologist removes cancerous breast tissue and nipple, but leaves most of breast skin. This method is used in conjunction with breast reconstruction, as implants can be added below the skin. Skin-sparing mastectomy often requires a treatment team with a surgical oncologist and a plastic surgeon experienced in breast procedures.
Nipple-sparing mastectomy, where the surgical oncologist removes cancerous breast tissue and leaves the nipple and most of the breast skin. This method is only available to patients in the early stages of breast cancer. Similar to skin-sparing mastectomy, this procedure is frequently performed with breast reconstruction.

Any of these procedures can be done on both breasts, in which case the procedure would be known as a double mastectomy. For example, a surgical oncologist might perform a total or nipple-sparing mastectomy on both breasts. Double mastectomies are often used as a preventive surgery for those who are at risk of developing breast cancer later on in life.

Patients have one or two days of hospital stay before returning home from their mastectomy procedures. Full recovery can take several months, but some patients find they are able to resume normal activity within one month of their mastectomy. Patients are advised to limit arm and chest movements whenever possible.

After surgery, patients must also adjust to changes in their appearance. While some patients choose to receive breast reconstruction, other patients may decide to wear prosthetic breasts or will simply embrace their new chest.

Mastectomies permit patients to conquer cancer and lead healthy, thriving lives as breast cancer survivors.

In The News

“Above, Dr. William Burak looks over a contrast-enhanced mammography image with Kelly Stegall at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, Georgia in 2021.”—"FDA's new regulations underscore the complexity around screening for women with dense breasts", Philly Voice, September 2024

aspiration	15
breast procedures	1015
cancer surgery	9
diagnostic imaging	411
diagnostic procedures	70
doctor visit	913
excision	81
image guided procedures	66
lymph node procedures	28
minimally invasive procedures	66
minor procedures	57
musculoskeletal imaging	17
open surgery	72
preventive care	324
ultrasound (sonogram)	192
women's imaging	927
X-rays	752

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	647
Black	27
Hispanic	15
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	404
From 75 to 84	204
85 and over	41
Less than 65	53

Hypertension	62
High Cholesterol	57
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	20
Depression	14
Chronic Kidney Disease	16
Asthma	7
Osteoperosis	14
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	25
Dementia	5
Cancer	37

aspiration	25
breast procedures	1072
cancer surgery	13
diagnostic imaging	423
diagnostic procedures	76
doctor visit	920
excision	25
image guided procedures	61
lymph node procedures	28
minimally invasive procedures	61
minor procedures	63
musculoskeletal imaging	13
open surgery	12
preventive care	325
ultrasound (sonogram)	227
women's imaging	975
X-rays	761

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	651
Black	49
Hispanic	12
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	421
From 75 to 84	201
85 and over	39
Less than 65	64

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	56
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	19
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	16
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	11
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	24
Dementia	4
Cancer	35

breast procedures	299
cancer surgery	53
diagnostic procedures	55
doctor visit	307
excision	87
image guided procedures	31
lymph node procedures	72
minimally invasive procedures	31
minor procedures	20
open surgery	34
ultrasound (sonogram)	220
women's imaging	218

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	406
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	270
From 75 to 84	130
85 and over	44
Less than 65	52

Hypertension	73
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	20
Depression	18
Chronic Kidney Disease	20
Asthma	12
Osteoperosis	7
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	11
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	30
Dementia	7
Cancer	71

aspiration	18
breast procedures	359
cancer surgery	49
diagnostic procedures	57
doctor visit	351
excision	83
image guided procedures	42
lymph node procedures	71
minimally invasive procedures	42
minor procedures	22
open surgery	34
plastic surgery procedures	10
reconstructive surgery	10
tissue transfer	11
ultrasound (sonogram)	254
women's imaging	252
wound repair (e.g. stitches)	11

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	202
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	133
From 75 to 84	61
85 and over	21
Less than 65	33

Hypertension	71
High Cholesterol	69
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	19
Depression	22
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	14
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	25
Dementia	7
Cancer	71

aspiration	15
breast procedures	341
cancer surgery	31
diagnostic procedures	52
doctor visit	336
excision	53
image guided procedures	45
lymph node procedures	48
minimally invasive procedures	45
minor procedures	29
open surgery	22
ultrasound (sonogram)	254
women's imaging	252

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	217
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	128
From 75 to 84	72
85 and over	23
Less than 65	34

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	18
Depression	18
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	10
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	27
Dementia	6
Cancer	68

aspiration	12
breast procedures	404
cancer surgery	37
diagnostic procedures	60
doctor visit	296
excision	72
image guided procedures	45
lymph node procedures	74
minimally invasive procedures	45
minor procedures	24
open surgery	35
ultrasound (sonogram)	314
women's imaging	312

**Gender**
Male	11
Female	238

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	207
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	126
From 75 to 84	76
85 and over	20
Less than 65	27

Hypertension	63
High Cholesterol	62
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	17
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	13
Atrial Fibrilation	6
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	21
Dementia	4
Cancer	68

aspiration	15
breast procedures	444
cancer surgery	61
diagnostic procedures	64
doctor visit	344
excision	103
image guided procedures	44
lymph node procedures	89
minimally invasive procedures	44
minor procedures	21
open surgery	42
plastic surgery procedures	10
reconstructive surgery	10
ultrasound (sonogram)	316
women's imaging	314

**Gender**
Male	12
Female	278

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	243
Black	0
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	154
From 75 to 84	84
85 and over	21
Less than 65	31

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	19
Depression	20
Chronic Kidney Disease	22
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	6
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	28
Dementia	5
Cancer	74

breast procedures	261
cancer surgery	60
diagnostic procedures	50
doctor visit	418
excision	112
image guided procedures	16
lymph node procedures	88
minimally invasive procedures	16
open surgery	52
plastic surgery procedures	21
reconstructive surgery	21
ultrasound (sonogram)	156
women's imaging	154

**Gender**
Male	11
Female	354

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	306
Black	46
Hispanic	0
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	203
From 75 to 84	102
85 and over	27
Less than 65	33

Hypertension	68
High Cholesterol	66
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	19
Depression	21
Chronic Kidney Disease	24
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	23
Dementia	5
Cancer	70

breast procedures	273
cancer surgery	65
diagnostic procedures	71
doctor visit	558
excision	118
image guided procedures	15
lymph node procedures	111
minimally invasive procedures	15
minor procedures	17
open surgery	53
ultrasound (sonogram)	198
women's imaging	196

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD treated as a general surgeon in Savannah, GA were X-rays, breast procedures, diagnostic imaging and women's imaging.

aspiration	16
breast procedures	503
cancer surgery	42
diagnostic imaging	417
diagnostic procedures	64
doctor visit	495
excision	83
image guided procedures	43
lymph node procedures	67
minimally invasive procedures	43
minor procedures	33
musculoskeletal imaging	15
open surgery	41
plastic surgery procedures	14
preventive care	324
reconstructive surgery	14
tissue transfer	11
ultrasound (sonogram)	237
women's imaging	401
wound repair (e.g. stitches)	11
X-rays	756

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD.

**Gender**
Male	3
Female	87

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	12
Asian / Pacific Islander	0
Non-Hispanic White	287
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Hispanic	2
Other	0

**Age**
85 and over	23
75 to 84	93
Less than 65	32
65 to 74	183

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD From 2013 - 2021

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, cancer and diabetes.

Hypertension	53
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	0
Ischemic Heart Disease	15
Depression	15
Chronic Kidney Disease	16
Asthma	7
Osteoporosis	10
Heart Failure	8
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	20
Atrial Fibrillation	5
Dementia	4
Cancer	49

Education & Training

Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD graduated from Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College in 1987. He completed residency at University of Maryland Affiliated Hospitals. He has a state license in Georgia.

Medical School: Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College (1987)

Residency: University of Maryland Affiliated Hospitals (1992)

Licensed In: Georgia

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

Memorial Health (Savannah, GA)

Memorial Health System

HCA South Atlantic

SAVANNAH MULTISPECIALTY ASSOCIATES LLC

Ratings & Reviews

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.	$1,753 LYMPHOSEEK $1,753
Merit Medical Systems Inc	$1,400 $1,400
Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.	$1,162 IORT $1,162
Medtronic Xomed, Inc.	$1,093 Advanced Energy Cutting Device $1,093
HOLOGIC INC	$487 Myosure $175	localizer $151	Brevera $101	trunode $20	Dimensions 5000 $17	Other $22
Other	$1,492 NATRELLE $195	AEROFORM TISSUE EXPANDER SYSTEM $191	BRACANALYSIS CDX $178	X-RAY $171	BioZorb $158	Other $598

**Types of Payments**
Food and Beverage	$2,921
Travel and Lodging	$1,566
Honoraria	$1,500
Consulting Fee	$1,400

Research Payments

Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD has received 8 research payments totaling $44,721.

Biography

Dr. William Burak is a medical specialist in general surgery and surgical oncology (cancer surgery). Dr. Burak is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Medical College. For his residency, Dr. Burak trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of Maryland. Clinical interests for Dr. Burak include breast biopsy, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), and breast cancer. Dr. Burak is affiliated with Memorial Health (Savannah, GA).

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Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD

Office Locations

Some issues Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD can help you with:

In The News

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD in 2013

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD in 2014

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD in 2015

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD in 2016

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD in 2017

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD in 2018

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD in 2019

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD in 2020

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2013 - 2021

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2013 - 2021

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. William E. Burak Jr., MD From 2013 - 2021

Education & Training

Affiliations & Hospitals

Ratings & Reviews

General Payments

Research Payments

Biography

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