Chavalia Joan Breece, ANPBC MSN

Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health

Joan Breece, RN, is a nurse practitioner who is board-certified in adult geriatrics and acute care at MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. She specializes in tobacco cessation counseling and lung cancer screenings. She also is a member of the Association for the Treatment of Tobacco Use and Dependence.

Joan’s approach to care centers on providing compassionate and comprehensive services.  She begins by engaging in thoughtful conversations with patients to fully understand their conditions and empathetically address their concerns. For those who need lung cancer screenings, she thoroughly conducts physical examinations and clearly explains test results. For others who are in the Smoking Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Program, she offers evidence-based educational tools and medication management assistance to maximize treatment effectiveness and minimize side effects. In collaboration with experienced interventional pulmonologists, she supports patients during every step towards healthier and nicotine-free lives.

Joan is dedicated to raising awareness about the evolving criteria for lung cancer screenings among current and former smokers. One such screening is the low-dose CT scan – a safe, painless, and brief 10-minute procedure that captures detailed images of the lungs to detect nodules or abnormal growths. She also is passionate about new strategies to address the use of smokeless tobacco or vape pens. In addition to containing nicotine, these products are addictive and linked to cancer. Referring physicians should know that she is dedicated to keeping them well informed about their patients’ progress while delivering prompt and coordinated care.

Philosophy of Care

“It’s not always easy to get and stay healthy. When linked with tobacco-smoking habits, it can be even harder. That’s why I applaud patients – without judgement – throughout their journeys toward freedom from nicotine. And at every turn, I’m ready to help them identify actionable solutions to physical, social, and emotional barriers.”