Looking to advance its scope of cancer care and create further synergies between cancer-related subspecialties, NYU Lutheran recently named Ioannis 鈥淵anni鈥 Hatzaras, MD, to direct its Surgical Oncology Outreach Program.
Hatzaras, who officially joined NYU Lutheran on September 1 and who is also a member of 嘿嘿视频's Perlmutter Cancer Center,聽has been a member of the faculty in the 聽at 嘿嘿视频 Medical Center since 2013. He is bringing his talents and expertise in gastrointestinal cancers, sarcomas, and melanoma听迟辞 help NYU Lutheran better serve the increasing number of patients turning to the Sunset Park hospital for cancer care. This latest leadership appointment was announced jointly by , the George David Stewart Professor of Surgery and chair of the Department of Surgery, and Kenneth M. Rifkind, MD, chief of surgery at NYU Lutheran.
鈥淚n a very short time, Hatzaras has proven to be an extremely gifted surgical oncologist,鈥 Pachter says. 鈥淚n addition, he has shown to be a leader in building strong, working partnerships with other cancer-focused clinicians. He is the ideal person to advance NYU Lutheran鈥檚 Surgical Oncology Outreach Program to the next level of excellence.鈥
A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Hatzaras holds the academic title of assistant professor of surgery at 聽and served as an attending surgeon at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue for three years prior to his appointment at NYU Lutheran.
Hatzaras brings a wide range of clinical and research experience in surgical oncology to the Brooklyn campus of 嘿嘿视频. He is board certified in complex general surgical oncology and specializes in surgery for cancer of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract鈥攆rom esophageal cancer听迟辞 stomach, liver, pancreatic, bile duct, gallbladder, and colorectal cancer, as well as melanoma and other soft tissue cancers. He has particular expertise in the Whipple procedure鈥攁 complicated pancreatic cancer operation to remove parts of the pancreas, the small intestine, and the gallbladder and to reattach the remaining organs in order to restore digestive function.
At NYU Lutheran, Hatzaras will work with medical and radiation oncologists to manage the multidisciplinary care for patients with cancer. "The oncology team will work together to determine the best treatment strategy and tailor a management plan for each individual patient," says Hatzaras.
Inquisitive and curious about everything science-related from an early age, Hatzaras began his professional path in medicine and research at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine in Greece. While still a medical student, he spent a rotation in GI oncology research at the Institut Jules Bordet, a major cancer center affiliated with the Universit茅 Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium.
In 2003, Hatzaras came to the United States to do research in the Department of Surgery at Yale University School of Medicine, which preceded his internship in general surgery at St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury, CT. He completed his residency training at Ohio State University (OSU) Medical Center, where he also conducted research at the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute at OSU鈥檚 Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus. Hatzaras also earned a master鈥檚 degree in public health in the clinical investigation track from OSU. He subsequently trained in surgical oncology and hepatobiliary surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD.
Hatzaras is the co-author of more than 50 research papers in peer-reviewed journals and three book chapters, and has given several scientific presentations and lectures nationally and internationally.
