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My decision to pursue a career in surgery was based on the ability to immediately and tangibly help people. Patients can be at their most fearful and vulnerable when hearing that they may have cancer. As a surgical oncologist, I can offer them hope with a treatment option that may cure some forms of the condition.

I manage cancers of the esophagus, stomach, and hepatobiliary tract, which includes the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and bile ducts. I enjoy creating treatment plans and offering support to people who are faced with a challenging diagnosis.

I spend as much time as needed talking with my patients about their diagnosis because I know cancer and its treatments can be complicated to understand. I take the same amount of time explaining what surgery involves. I am trained in thoracic surgery as well as surgical oncology. Whenever possible, I use minimally invasive approaches such as robotic-assisted surgery and laparoscopy to remove tumors. I want to give people the best chance of a cure.

Oncology care takes a whole team of people, and I work closely with radiologists, pathologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and gastroenterologists. Surgery is not always the best or only treatment, so I explain all options to my patients and their families. I empower and guide people in making treatment decisions based on what’s important to them and how they envision their lives moving forward.

I also see patients during postsurgical follow-up appointments to answer their questions, address any concerns that may arise, and help coordinate further treatment. I continue to follow my patients for years after surgery to monitor them for cancer recurrence.

In addition to patient care, I perform research on frailty in patients who have cancer and whether regimens improving physical function before surgery lead to better outcomes. I am also studying peripheral blood markers for response to immune therapy in patients who have cancer.