Deborah L. Toppmeyer, MD

Since coming to Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey in 1995, Deborah L. Toppmeyer, MD, has helped countless patients with breast cancer navigate their journey through a comprehensive approach at the Stacy Goldstein Breast Cancer Center.

When a patient hears the words, “You have breast cancer,” they need to know that not all breast cancer is alike. Therefore, Dr. Toppmeyer recommends a personalized treatment plan tailored to their particular disease to maximize the benefit.

Following a fellowship at the Dana Farber Cancer Center at Harvard Medical School, preceded by a residency at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Toppmeyer's expertise has long been breast cancer and breast cancer genetics – including helping people understand their risk of developing breast cancer.

Through the years, Dr. Toppmeyer has also been involved in the design and implementation of clinical trials that offer promising new therapies targeted to specific types of breast cancer. In consultation with experts across multiple disciplines, she help educate patients about clinical trial options. With the unique relationship offered through a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Toppmeyer has the opportunity to work collaboratively with scientific investigators -- helping to translate information from the patient bedside back to the laboratory.

As a professor of medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Dr. Toppmeyer also enjoys teaching the next generation of oncologists and provide opportunities for students to learn cancer biology, cancer pharmacology, genetics and clinical care.

Dr. Toppmeyer is the author or co-author of more than 50 publications and serves on the editorial board of the journal Clinical Cancer Research, one of the nation’s premier cancer publications. As a core member for the Breast Committee of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, one of the nation's largest clinical cancer research organizations that conducts clinical trials in all types of adult cancers, she helps develop and identify the next generation of treatment options for women and men with breast cancer.

She is also affiliated with RWJ University Hospital and RWJ University Hospital Hamilton.

Honors and Awards

• Exceptional Women in Medicine: Castle Connolly Top Doctors – 2019, 2020
• Jersey’s Best – Top Doctors for Cancer Care- June 2019, 2020
• 2018 Woman of Distinction: Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey
• Inside New Jersey Magazine: Top Doctors for Cancer Care – Inside Jersey – July 2017, July 2018
• Inside New Jersey Magazines’ Top Doctors for Women’s Health – pub; February 2017, February 2018
• America’s Most Honored Professionals: Top 1% - The American Registry – 2016
• Inside Jersey’s Medical Oncology Top Doctor’s for Women – Castle Connolly Medical LTD. – 2016, 2017
• Top Doctors for Cancer – Newsweek Magazine – 2015, 2016
• Inside Jersey’s Medical Oncology Top Doctor’s for 2014 – Castle Connolly Medical LTD. – 2014, 2015, 2016
• Best Doctors in America – Top 5% of U.S. doctors - Best Doctors – 2014
• America’s Top Doctors: New York Metro Area - Castle Connolly Medical LTD 2000-- 2020 (20^th Anniversary)
• America’s Top Doctors 20 Years - Castle Connolly Medical LTD – 2020
• America’s Top Doctors - Castle Connolly Medical LTD – 13 yr. Anniversary, 2014, 2016
• Recognized as an Outstanding Leader, Makinga Difference for Women Award, National Council for Research on Women, 2012
• America’s Top Doctors for Cancer Care– Castle Connolly, American Registry: 2010 - 2020 (10^th Anniversary)
• America’s Most Honored Professionals - Top 4% of all recognized professionals in America Castle Connolly, American Registry - 2011
• America’s Most Honored Doctors - Top 1% of all recognized professionals in America Castle Connolly, American Registry - 2020
• Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor 2021, America Castle Connolly, Top 6% of all U.S. board certified physicians - 2021
• Inside New Jersey Magazines’ Top Doctors, Castle Connolly, American Registry, 2002 - 2014
• Night of Wine and Roses Medical Honoree, American Cancer Society, 2010
• Award of Hope for Leadership in Patient Care, Cancer Institute of New Jersey Foundation, 2006
• Spirit of Jane Rodney Award, Susan G. Komen Foundation, 2005
• Alpha Omega Alpha, National Honor Medical Society, 1984
• Psi Chi, National Honorary Psychology Society, 1981
• Ralph Signet Award - for excellence in Chemistry Research, Ohio Wesleyan University, 1981
• Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1981
• Lubrizol Scholar in Chemistry, Ohio Wesleyan University, 1980
• Chi Gamma Nu, National Honorary Chemistry Society, 1979