Section of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Surgery

Pursuing breakthrough treatments in cancer care

The Section of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal (HPB-GI) Surgery at WashU Medicine is among the nation’s top liver and pancreas surgery programs. Established in 1992 as part of the Division of General Surgery, the section has made significant contributions to the field of HPB-GI surgery.

Our surgeons treat diseases of the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, gastrointestinal tract, and bile ducts. As part of Siteman Cancer Center, our cancer program is consistently ranked among the nation’s best. Highlights of our program include

High volume laparoscopic and robotic surgery program
Comprehensive Cancer Center designation and “Exceptional” rating from National Cancer Institute – Siteman Cancer Center
Exemplary Status for Whipple procedure – National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

Research in our section focuses on developing new therapies for pancreatic cancer, improving outcomes, and enhancing surgical recovery through “prehabilitation” before surgery. Recent sources of research funding include a $10.9 million Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant from the NCI.

The section trains general surgery residents rotating on the service and offers a two-year clinical fellowship in HPB surgery for graduates of accredited general surgery training programs in the United States or Canada. Fellows gain operative experience in one of the nation’s largest surgical referral centers for disorders of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and GI tract. The fellowship also provides significant opportunities for clinical research.

High clinical volume

Advanced training

Innovative research

Section chief

Dominic E. Sanford, MD, MPHS, MBA

Chief, Section of HPB-GI Surgery
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Section of HPB-GI Surgery
Division of General Surgery
Director, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Missouri Baptist Medical Center

Phone: 314-362-2280

Patient care

HPB-GI surgeons at WashU Medicine use the latest advances to identify and treat cancer and other diseases of the liver, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract. Our experts offer minimally invasive treatment options that can reduce recovery times and get people back to living their lives. We see patients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and convenient locations across the St. Louis area.

HPB-GI surgery

Education

Our section trains general surgery residents and offers an advanced HPB-GI fellowship. The two-year fellowship includes significant clinical experience, particularly in complex minimally invasive surgery, as well as opportunities for clinical research and educational pursuits.

Research

Research in the section ranges from basic science to clinical outcomes studies. Areas of focus include development of novel approaches to treating pancreatic cancer and implementation of a surgical “prehabilitation” program to get patients ready for surgery and improve their postoperative outcomes through early interventions.

Our faculty

Maria B. Majella Doyle, MD, MBA, FRCS

Mid-America Transplant/Department of Surgery Distinguished Endowed Chair in Abdominal Transplantation
Section of Transplant Surgery
Division of General Surgery
Director, Liver Transplant Program, Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Director, Clinical Faculty Development
Executive Vice Chair, Department of Surgery

Phone: 314-747-9889

S. Peter Goedegebuure, PhD

Associate Professor of Surgery
Section of Surgical Oncology
Division of General Surgery

Adeel S. Khan, MD, MPH, FACS

Professor of Surgery
Section of Transplant Surgery
Division of General Surgery
Section of Surgical Technology and Bioengineering
Division of Surgical Sciences
Director, Transplant
Director, Robotic Transplantation