Education Council

Dr. Jayne Gurtler is a member of the Education Council and serves as the Director of CME for STO. In addition, Dr. Gurtler is the long-term CME Program Editor for The Oncologist, the official journal of the society. She has 40 years of experience and numerous published articles in oncology through her work as a practitioner and researcher and she has taught at the Xavier University School of Pharmacy. STO is grateful to have her leadership to determine essential practice gaps and educational needs of learners in order to develop programming for our educational initiatives.

Who is Dr. Jayne Gurtler?

Dr. Gurtler is a medical oncologist at the East Jefferson General Hospital and Touro in Metairie, Louisiana. As a young child, Dr. Gurtler would accompany her father, a pioneer in radiation therapy, on rounds to visit with his patients. She remembers patients opening their arms to hug her and that feeling of being needed is with her today. From this early age, she was able to get a first-hand understanding of the importance of personal care and empathy, especially when treating cancer patients.

In her lengthy career, Dr. Gurtler has seen and treated some of the most indigent populations in her community. She was a part of the disaster that resulted from Hurricane Katrina. In a reflection published in The Oncologist, she illustrated how important it is to serve the community without the need for recognition. She continually strives to provide the best care to all of her patients and her passion for her craft is evident by her selflessness with her time. In addition to a full case load at her affiliated institutions, Dr. Gurtler takes time to travel to Africa, often helping with basic healthcare needs of close friends and their communities.

In addition to providing aid in Africa, Dr. Gurtler enjoys the beautiful country, animals, and nature. Many people may not know this, but she also has a tree farm in Mississippi. The farm is in part dedicated to improving streams and rivers and restoring wetlands, protecting native endangered species of plants and animals such as gopher tortoises, native trees, and pitcher plants.

“What I do is not extraordinary. In fact, it is quite ordinary.” – Dr. Jayne Gurtler