Specialties

Medical Oncology
Hematology
Research Director

Primary Location

Norfolk (Brock Cancer Center)
6251 E Virginia Beach Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23502

Main Phone:
(757) 466-8683

View Location Information

Medical School

Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London

Internship

University of Pennsylvania Health System

Residency

University of Pennsylvania Health System

Fellowship

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Chief Fellow | Hematology and Oncology

Board Certification

• Internal Medicine
• Medical Oncology

Affiliations

• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• American Society of Hematology (ASH)
• American Medical Association (AMA)
• American College of Physicians (ACP)
• British Medical Association (BMA)

Biography

Dr. Michael Danso is a physician, research leader, and national thought leader in breast cancer with more than 20 years of experience in hematology and oncology.

He received his medical degree from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine in London. He completed his internship and residency at Pennsylvania Hospital within the University of Pennsylvania Health System, followed by fellowship training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Center, where he served as Chief Fellow. During this time, he made significant contributions to medical education, including editing the Hematology and Oncology Pearls textbook. He also helped define the role of the androgen receptor in triple-negative breast cancer, work that helped reshape the treatment landscape.

Dr. Danso was recruited to Virginia Oncology Associates to lead the Breast Cancer Research Program. Under his leadership, patients in the community gained access to multiple practice-changing clinical trials and novel therapies, including KEYNOTE-522, which introduced immunotherapy in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, ASCENT, which ushered in the era of antibody–drug conjugates for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, and monarchE, which improved outcomes for high-risk estrogen receptor–positive disease.

In addition to his role as an attending physician, Dr. Danso also serves as the Research Medical Director at VOA, as well as the Chair of the Oncology Service Line for the Sentara Cancer Network in Hampton Roads. Nationally, Dr. Danso is the Disease Chair of the Breast Cancer Executive Committee for the Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) network, where he fosters physician collaboration, advances clinical trial engagement and accrual, and supports scientific and educational initiatives across SCRI. He has also served on numerous American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) committees, including Chair of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Scientific Committee for the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting, where he was honored as a Fellow of ASCO, a prestigious designation among oncologists, and the first and only one in Hampton Roads thus far.

A lifelong advocate for clinical research, Dr. Danso is committed to bringing academic-level innovation to community oncology. His leadership has helped position VOA as a destination cancer center, offering cutting-edge therapies typically available only at major academic institutions, closer to where patients live and receive support.