Alana Mary Munger, M.D.
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Orthopaedic Oncology
- Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of Orthopaedic, Department of Surgery
Alana Munger, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery at City of Hope® Cancer Center Duarte, where she specializes in the surgical treatment of both bone and soft tissue sarcomas, as well as the surgical management and stabilization of metastatic bone disease. Dr. Munger is dedicated to a multidisciplinary, compassionate approach to care that prioritizes patients’ mobility and quality of life.
After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles — where she played soccer and helped her team win the NCAA Division National Championship — Dr. Munger earned her medical degree at Keck School of Medicine of USC, graduating in the top 10% of her class. She completed an internship and residency in orthopaedic surgery at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, followed by a musculoskeletal oncology fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Munger is dedicated to inclusion within the surgical field. During her residency training, she created and remains the host of the “She Can Fix It” podcast, which highlights and empowers the women of orthopaedic surgery. She is also the creator and producer of the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society podcast.
With more than two dozen publications in peer-reviewed journals, Dr. Munger is also an active physician-scholar in her field and a member of multiple organizations, including the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, Orthopaedic Research Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society.
Location
Duarte Cancer Center
Duarte, CA 91010
Education & Experience
Degrees
- 2013, B.S., Physiology, UCLA, Los Angeles, California
- 2018, Doctor of Medicine, Physiological Science, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Internship
- 2019, Internship, Orthopaedic Surgery, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut
Residency
- 2023, Residency, Orthopaedic Surgery, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut
Fellowship
- 2024, Fellowship, Musculoskeletal Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Professional Experience
- 2024–present, Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of Orthopedic, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, California
Awards & Memberships
Awards
- 2021, YNHH Pediatrics ED Consultant of the Month (Jan 2021) As voted by the Pediatrics Emergency Medicine Residents/Fellows
- 2020, YNHH ED Consultant of the Month (Sept 2020) As voted by the Emergency Medicine Residents/Fellows
- 2018, American Medical Women’s Association Janet M. Glasgow Achievement Certificate Presented to women who graduate in the top 10% of their class
- 2018, Dean’s Recognition for 2016–2018 Junior/Senior Curriculum For achieving 28 weeks or more of Honors during the required clerkships
- 2016, Most Meritorious Poster at the Keck School of Medicine of USC 2016 Medical Student Research Forum & Poster Day
- 2014 UCLA Athletics’ 2014 Donald R Shepherd Postgraduate Scholarship Award
- 2013, UCLA Women’s Soccer Coaches Award
- 2012, UCLA Women’s Soccer Coaches Award
- 2011, UCLA Women’s Soccer Most Improved Player
Memberships
- Musculoskeletal Tumor Society
- American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
- Orthopaedic Research Society
- Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society
Publications
- Wang JC, Chang SW, Nwachuku I, Hill W, Munger AM, Suleiman LI, Heckmann ND. The Intersection of Race and Sex: A New Perspective Into Diversity Trends in Orthopaedic Surgery. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2023 Dec 1;31(23):1197-1204.
- Wang JC, Chang SW, Nwachuku I, Hill WJ, Munger AM, Suleiman LI, Heckmann ND. Trends in Race and Sex Representation Among Entering Orthopaedic Surgery Residents: A Continued Call for Active Diversification Efforts. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2023 Jun 15;31(12):e530-e539.
- Ottesen TD, Shultz BN, Munger AM, Amick M, Toombs CS, Friedaender GE, Grauer JN. Chondrosarcoma patient characteristics, management, and outcomes based on over 5,000 cases from the National Cancer Database (NCDB). PLoS One. 2022 Jul 28;17(7):e0268215.
- Betini N, Munger AM, Rottmann D, Haims A, Costa J, Lindskog DM. Rare Presentation of Rosai-Dorfman Disease in Soft Tissue: Diagnostic Findings and Surgical Treatment. Case Rep Surg. 2022 Mar 30;2022:8440836.
- Ottesen TD, Shultz BN, Munger AM, Sibindi C, Yurter A, Varthi AG, Grauer JN. Characteristics, Management, and Outcomes of Patients With Osteosarcoma: An Analysis of Outcomes From the National Cancer Database. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2022 Feb 22;6(2):e22.00009.
- Munger AM, Yu KE, Li DT, Furdock RJ, Boeyer ME, Duren DL, Weber DR, Cooperman DR. The More the Merrier: Integrating Multiple Models of Skeletal Maturity Improves the Accuracy of Growth Prediction. J Pediatr Orthop. 2021 Aug;41(7):e580-e584.
- Morris MT, Alder KD, Moushey A, Munger AM, Milligan K, Toombs C, Conway D, Lee I, Chen F, Tommasini SM, Lee FY. Biomechanical restoration of cancer-induced peri-acetabular bone defects by ablation-osteoplasty-reinforcement-internal fixation technique (AORIF): To screw or not to screw? Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2022 Feb;92:105565.
- Munger AM, Lindskog DM, Gardner ED. Case Report: Ossified subperiosteal hematoma in the humerus of a lacrosse player. Int J Sports Exerc Med (2021) 7:208.
- Back J, Nguyen MN, Li L, Lee S, Lee I, Chen F, Gillinov L, Chung YH, Alder KD, Kwon HK, Yu KE, Dussik CM, Hao Z, Flores MJ, Kim Y, Ibe IK, Munger AM, Seo SW, Lee FY. Inflammatory conversion of quiescent osteoblasts by metastatic breast cancer cells through pERK1/2 aggravates cancer-induced bone destruction. Bone Res. 2021 Sep 29;9(1):43.
- Li DT, Li E, Cui JJ, Kahan JB, Petit L, Adeclat GJ, Modrak M, Talty R, Greene JD, Munger AM, Nicholson AD, Cravez E, Cooperman DR, Smith BG. Modification and application of the proximal humerus ossification system to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. Spine Deform. 2021 May 3.