Jennifer Montes, Director of the Breast Surgery Center at Hunterdon Healthcare and Founder of Evolve Pink, has dedicated her career to empowering women facing breast cancer. Drawn to surgery for its skill and impact, Jennifer found her calling in breast cancer treatment, where she could make a long-term difference in women’s health and lives. Through Evolve Pink, she has created a holistic support community that helps women transition from treatment to “thriverhood,” guiding them to embrace life as their best selves.

Jennifer defines success as achieving balance—being the best surgeon, mother, sister, and friend. Guided by values of honesty and resilience, she believes setbacks are essential to discovering inner strength and wisdom. She is deeply committed to empowering women by encouraging them to live unapologetically true to themselves, and her work is a testament to her mission of helping others find strength, community, and hope on their journey.

What inspired you to pursue your current career or passion?

I was always drawn to the field of surgery, however the treatment of breast cancer allowed me to continue working in women's health and to also be a part of my patient's lives long term. It was a perfect niche for me.

How do you define success for yourself?

To me success is being able to find work life balance, so that I can not only be the best surgeon I can be, but also the best mother, sister and friend as well.

What impact do you hope to leave on the world through your work?

I hope to not only treat women for their breast cancer, but to also help give them the tools necessary to transition from treatment into thriverhood as their best selves.

What values guide you in your personal and professional decisions?

You can never go wrong by telling and living the truth. Honesty is what matters most in all decisions.

How do you handle setbacks or failures, and what have you learned from them?

“A strong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is in the journey where she will become strong.”
I truly believe that it is in our failures that we learn the most, especially about who we really are deep down.

How do you prioritize and set goals for both short-term and long-term success?

I never allow the amount of time it will take to obtain a goal be a deterrent from going after it. The years will pass regardless, perhaps with less blood, sweat and tears, but in the end it is worth it.

How do you define empowerment, and how do you strive to empower others?

Empowerment is about always being unapologetically your true self, even if that means you may not be the most popular person in the room. I strive to always speak and live my truth.
The purpose of Evolve Pink is to empower women during their breast cancer journey and beyond. It is through holistic modalities, education and the creation of community that we achieve this.

Photography by Alison Dunlap