Kristin Higgins, M.D.
- Lung Cancer
- Head and Neck Cancers
- Stereotactic Radiotherapy
- Referring Physicians Phone
(770) 400-6568
- Referring Physicians Fax
(770) 400-6900
- Referring Physicians Email
I want patients to be confident that they are navigating their diagnoses with the latest technology, therapies and trials — with all the most effective tools available to them. At City of Hope Atlanta, I see new potential for high-quality programs and more access to clinical trials.
Kristin Higgins, M.D., is chief clinical officer for City of Hope® Cancer Center Atlanta, where she oversees clinical care and hospital operations. Dr. Higgins — who was inspired to pursue medicine by her mother’s career as a nurse — also holds the position of professor of radiation oncology, with a particular focus on lung cancer.
Prior to joining City of Hope, Dr. Higgins spent 15 years at Emory University, where she built an international reputation as a lung cancer expert, developing numerous clinical trials focused on combination radiotherapy treatments for patients with non-small cell and small cell lung cancer. Her many research leadership positions include serving as principal investigator of NRG/Alliance LU005, an international, phase 3 clinical trial investigating the use of immunotherapy alongside standard chemoradiation for lung cancer patients.
After earning her medical degree at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Dr. Higgins completed an internship in internal medicine and a residency in radiation oncology, both at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, which named her chief resident. She then moved to Atlanta, where she spent 15 years at Emory University, earning an international reputation for her expertise in lung cancer.
Dr. Higgins is a member of multiple boards and committees in the lung cancer advocacy community, including the National Lung Cancer Roundtable Survivorship Task Group and the NRG Oncology Lung Cancer Core Committee. She has also co-chaired the World Conference on Lung Cancer and is the author of more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. Her work has been recognized by numerous awards, including the ASCO Bradley Stuart Beller Foundation Merit Award, the Radiological Society of America’s Roentgen Resident/Fellow Research Award and Emory’s Clinic Gold Provider.
Location
Atlanta Cancer Center
Newnan, GA 30265
Education & Experience
Degrees
- 2006, Doctor of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine
- 2002, B.S., Neuroscience, Magna Cum Laude. Vanderbilt University.
Internship
- 2006-2007, Internal Medicine Internship, Duke University Medical Center
Residency
- 2007-2011, Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center
Professional Experience
- 2024-present, chief clinical officer for City of Hope® Cancer Center Atlanta
Publications
- Hamilton T, Zhang J, Wolf J, Kayode O, Higgins KA, Bradley J, Yang X, Schreibmann E, Roper J. Lung SBRT treatment planning: a study of VMAT arc selection guided by collision check software. Med Dosim. 2023 Summer;48(2):82-89.
- Harms J, Schreibmann E, Mccall NS, Lloyd MS, Higgins KA, Castillo R. Cardiac motion and its dosimetric impact during radioablation for refractory ventricular tachycardia. J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2023 Jun;24(6):e13925.
- Westergaard SA, Rupji M, Franklin LE, Behera M, Ramalingam SS, Higgins KA. Engagement and outcomes of cancer patients referred to a tobacco cessation program at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. Cancer Med. 2023 Mar;12(6):7339-7347.
- Chun SG, Rimner A, Amini A, Chang JY, Donington J, Edelman MJ, Geng Y, Gubens MA, Higgins KA, Iyengar P, Movsas B, Ning MS, Park HS, Rodrigues G, Wolf A, Simone CB 2nd. American Radium Society Appropriate Use Criteria for Radiation Therapy in the Multidisciplinary Management of Thymic Carcinoma. JAMA Oncol. 2023 May 15.
- Janopaul-Naylor JR, Cao Y, McCall NS, Switchenko JM, Tian S, Chen H, Stokes WA, Kesarwala AH, McDonald MW, Shelton JW, Bradley JD, Higgins KA. Definitive intensity modulated proton re-irradiation for lung cancer in the immunotherapy era. Front Oncol. 2023 Jan 17;12:1074675.
- Oliver DE, Laborde JM, Singh DP, Milano MT, Videtic GM, Williams GR, LaRiviere MJ, Chan JW, Peters GW, Decker RH, Samson P, Robinson CG, Breen WG, Owen D, Tian S, Higgins KA, Almeldin D, Jabbour SK, Wang F, Grass GD, Perez BA, Dilling TJ, Strosberg J, Rosenberg SA. Early-Stage Primary Lung Neuroendocrine Tumors Treated With Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy: A Multi-Institution Experience. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2023 Jan 26:S0360-3016(23)00071-8.
- Qian DC, Ulrich BC, Peng G, Zhao H, Conneely KN, Miller AH, Bruner DW, Eldridge RC, Wommack EC, Higgins KA, Shin DM, Saba NF, Smith AK, Burtness B, Park HS, Stokes WA, Beitler JJ, Xiao C. Outcomes Stratification of Head and Neck Cancer Using Pre- and Post-treatment DNA Methylation From Peripheral Blood. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2023 Apr 1;115(5):1217-1228.
- Anderson SL, Livingston MD, Higgins KA, McBride CM. Predictors of Discussing Lung Cancer Screening with a Health Care Provider Among Current and Former Smokers in HINTS: A Secondary Data Analysis. Cancer Control. 2022 Jan-Dec;29:10732748221130567.
- McCall NS, McGinnis HS, Janopaul-Naylor JR, Kesarwala AH, Tian S, Stokes WA, Shelton JW, Steuer CE, Carlisle JW, Leal T, Ramalingam SS, Bradley JD, Higgins KA. Impact of radiation dose to the immune cells in unresectable or stage III non-small cell lung cancer in the durvalumab era. Radiotherapy Oncology. 2022 Jul 20;174:133-140.