Division Chief
State-of-the-art cancer care requires the expertise of many specialists, including surgical oncology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology to name a few. This team approach to the cancer patient is commonly referred to as multidisciplinary care. The Division of Surgical Oncology at WMed is focused on both treating and studying various abdominal, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and soft tissue and skin cancers using a multidisciplinary approach that seeks to personalize treatment for each patient.
Our team of surgical oncologists works closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, geneticists and many other disciplines at WMed, the West Michigan Cancer Center (WMCC), Ascension Borgess Hospital, and Bronson Methodist Hospital to treat cancer in a holistic manner. By coordinating care around the biology of cancer, and the needs of the patient and their families, we aim to individualize treatment plans supported by the best available evidence.
Faculty in the Division of Surgical Oncology provide specialized cancer care and conduct cutting-edge research in a number of locations, clinics, and programs in Kalamazoo, including the high-volume, high-quality pancreas cancer center at WMCC that is certified by the National Pancreas Foundation and WMCC"s multidisciplinary skin cancer clinic.
Education
We believe education is crucial to preparing the next generation of cancer surgeons and we seek to expose both students and residents to the subspecialty of surgical oncology as early in their careers as possible. Third-year medical students rotate on the surgical oncology service and fourth-year students also have the option of rotating as a Sub- I with the Division of Surgical Oncology. The residents in general surgery complete rotations in surgical oncology during their first and fifth years and have opportunities to attend educational conferences and boards such as gastrointestinal and skin and soft tissue tumor board. These are in addition to their general surgery curriculum. We have dedicated faculty and instructors that welcome any medical student or surgical resident that would like to have a better understanding of this division within the Department of Surgical Services.
