Ϲ

header-logo
Pancreatic Cancer Hero

The Right Team Makes a True Difference

Pancreatic cancer is a challenging disease to fight, but it’s not impossible. Having the right team can make all the difference. At Ϲ, our team of doctors and professionals have international recognition for their work finding new ways to diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer. When you come to us, our team becomes your team. 

Schedule an AppointmentFind a clinical trial
Group shot by Yacht Club.

Meet our Pancreas Program Faculty

In this interview series, Dr. Evans chats with members of our pancreatic cancer program. Each one shares their unique journey into the field, providing insights into the future of pancreatic cancer research. These conversations illuminate the diverse motivations and expertise within our team and also delve into the innovative strategies being used to increase our understanding and treatment of this challenging disease.

Surgical Oncologists

Surgical oncologists treat cancer by removing the tumor and portions of the pancreas if necessary.

headshot

Callisia N. Clarke, MD, MS, FACS, FSSO

Chief, Associate Professor

Division Chief of Surgical Oncology

headshot

Douglas B. Evans, MD

Donald C. Ausman Family Foundation Professor of Surgery; Professor, Surgical Oncology; Chair, Department of Surgery

headshot

Y. David Seo, MD

Assistant Professor

Medical Oncologists

Medical oncologists treat cancer using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy.

Radiation Oncologists

Radiation oncologists specialize in using radiation to treat cancer.

headshot

William Hall, MD

Chair, Professor

headshot

Christina Small-Tom, MD

Instructor

Research Interest GYN brachytherapy Pancreas Stomach/Biliary Duct

Pathologists

Pathologists diagnose disease by studying cells and tissues under a microscope.

headshot

Juan Felix, MD

Vice Chair, Director, Professor

headshot

Bryan C. Hunt, MD

Associate Professor

headshot

Whayoung Lee, MD, FCAP

Assistant Professor

headshot

S. Krisztian Kovacs, MD

Assistant Professor

Advanced Gastroenterologists

Gastroenterologists perform advanced procedures, including endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to help diagnose pancreatic cancer and relieve symptoms.

headshot

Phillip Chisholm, MD

Assistant Professor

headshot

Srivats Madhavan, MD

Assistant Professor

headshot

Zachary Smith, DO, MSc

Associate Professor

headshot

Matthew T. Peller, MD

Assistant Professor

Genetic Counselor

Genetic counselors provide assessment of genetic risk factors and family history for patients.

headshot

CJ Christian, MS, CGC

Certified Genetic Counselor, Oncology

Advanced Practice Providers

Advanced practice providers (APPs) are health care providers who work together with physicians to provide direct medical care to patients.

headshot

Lisa Graber, RN, MSN, APNP

Nurse Practitioner

headshot

Jennifer Menako, RN, MSN, APNP

Nurse Practitioner

headshot

Sarah Misustin, MPAS, PA-C

Physician Assistant

headshot

Lauren Newell, RN, MSN, APNP

Nurse Practitioner

headshot

Bente Smith, MPAS, PA-C

Physician Assistant

headshot

Tanya Radke, RN, MSN, APNP

Nurse Practitioner

headshot

Susan Thoreson, MS, FNP-BC, APNP, AOCNP

Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner

headshot

Ann Hanson, RN, MSN, APNP

Nurse Practitioner

headshot

Amanda Schlundt, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Registered Dietitians

Dietitians provide special counseling to ensure adequate diet and nutrition to keep the body healthy.

headshot

Michele Derdzinski, RD, CD

Dietitian

Psychologist

Psychologists are responsible for assessing, diagnosing, and treating behavioral problems related to mental or physical health and work to improve a patient's quality of life.

headshot

Karen E. Kersting, PhD

Associate Professor

Scientific Investigators

headshot

Mohammed Aldakkak, MD

Assistant Professor

headshot

Michael B. Dwinell, PhD

Professor; Founding Director, Center for Immunology; Director, Bobbie Nick Voss Laboratory for Colon Cancer Research; Hanis-Stepka-Rettig Endowed Chair in Cancer Research

Cancer Metastasis, Tumor Microenvironment, Mucosal Inflammation

headshot

Guan Chen, MD, PhD

Professor

headshot

Gwen Lomberk, PhD

Joel and Arlene Lee Chair in Pancreatic Cancer Research; Chief, Division of Research; Director, Basic Science Research, Department of Surgery; Professor of Surgery and Pharmacology & Toxicology

headshot

Nikki K. Lytle, PhD

Assistant Professor

headshot

Mochamad (Muska) M. Nataliansyah, MD, MPH, PhD

Assistant Professor of Surgery; CHDS implementation scientist

headshot

Subramaniam Malarkannan, PhD

Professor and Gardetto Chair for Immunology and Immunotherapy; Professor, Medicine (Hematology and Oncology) and Microbiology & Immunology; Senior Investigator, Versiti Blood Research Institute

NK cell development and function

headshot

Thomas McFall, PhD

Assistant Professor

I am interested in experimental-systems approaches that enable mechanism-based inference in genomic medicine and can help identify patients for selective therapeutic strategies.

headshot

Jong-In Park, PhD

Professor; Eminent Scholar

headshot

Raul A. Urrutia, MD

Professor, Department of Surgery; Director, Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine

Recent Publications

  • (Thalji SZ, Clarke CN.) Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America. January 2026;35(1):71-87 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105008015185 01/01/2026

  • (Halder K, Borazanci EH, Jameson GS, Lin W, Vrana A, Cridebring D, Tsai S, Aldakkak M, Evans DB, Hayashi M, Tanaka H, Kanda M, Goel A, Von Hoff DD, Han H.) Br J Cancer. 2025 Nov;133(9):1335-1343 PMID: 40897818 PMCID: PMC12572646 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105015071784 09/03/2025

  • (Kamgar M, Ko AH.) J Clin Oncol. 2025 Nov;43(31):3334-3338 PMID: 40929645 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105020614040 09/10/2025

  • (Ku AT, Shankavaram U, Trostel SY, Zhang H, Kartal S, Sater HA, Harmon SA, Carrabba NV, Liu Y, Ryu H, Proudfoot JA, Hong BH, Wood BJ, Pinto PA, Choyke PL, Roach M, Sandler HM, Pugh SL, Zeitzer KL, Mendez LC, Kapadia NS, Hall WA, Desai AB, Stoyanova RS, Pollack A, Davicioni E, Chua MLK, Turkbey B, Sowalsky AG, Citrin DE.) Clin Cancer Res. 2025 Oct 02 PMID: 41037000 10/02/2025

  • (Ingabire Z, Hanna AB, Sebera E, Murayire J, Mohamed GS, Rutaganda E, Shikama F, Mukanumviye MS, Nyampinga D, Dadamessi I, Dua K, Berhane R.) BMC Gastroenterol. 2025 Jul 28;25(1):535 PMID: 40721730 PMCID: PMC12302689 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105012780372 07/29/2025

  • (Zenga J, Awan MJ, Frei A, Foeckler J, Kuehn R, Kasprzak J, Massey B, Bruening J, Akakpo K, Shukla M, Wong SJ, Mathison AJ, Wendt Andrae J, Hunt B, Puzyrenko A, Jin VX, Memon AA, Villarreal Espinosa O, Chen F, Shaheduzzaman M, Kearl T, Hematti P, Himburg HA.) Nat Commun. 2025 Jul 01;16(1):5660 PMID: 40593620 PMCID: PMC12219838 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105009625716 07/02/2025

  • (Ayabe RI, Seo YD, Melendez B, Fields BC, Diggs LP, Lazcano R, Singh BB, Wani K, Ingram D, Johnson S, Chelvanambi M, Hudgens C, Hernandez SD, Ajami NJ, Wargo JA, Lazar AJ, Knafl M, Woodman S, Halperin DM, Estrella JS, Maxwell JE.) JCO Precis Oncol. 2025 Jul;9:e2500107 PMID: 40638874 PMCID: PMC12463141 07/10/2025

  • (Peck H, Pagani W, Smith A, Madhavan S.) ACG Case Rep J. 2025 Apr;12(4):e01653 PMID: 40182191 PMCID: PMC11968019 04/04/2025

  • (Ramamurthi A, Neupane B, Deshpande P, Hanson R, Brown KR, Christians KK, Evans DB, Kothari AN.) Surgery. 2025 Mar;179:108942 PMID: 39613655 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85210539458 11/30/2024

  • (Smith CA, Paul S, Haney KE, Parra SG, Bond M, López L, Maza M, Felix J, Ramalingam P, Escobar P, Castle PE, Schmeler KM, Richards-Kortum RR.) Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 24;15(1):3041 PMID: 39856147 PMCID: PMC11760965 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85217000856 01/25/2025

  • (Ogunmuyiwa J, MacDuffie E, Erickson B, Sturdza A, Keyes M, Kamrava M.) Brachytherapy. 2025;24(5):814-819 PMID: 40681439 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105011097435 07/19/2025

  • (Thalji SZ, Fernando D, Dua KS, Madhavan S, Chisholm P, Smith ZL, Aldakkak M, Christians KK, Clarke CN, George B, Kamgar M, Erickson BA, Hall WA, Evans DB, Tsai S.) Ann Surg. 2023 Dec 01;278(6):e1224-e1231 PMID: 37078282 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85176508848 04/20/2023

  • (Johnston N, Samuels TL, Goetz CJ, Arnold LA, Smith BC, Seabloom D, Wuertz B, Ondrey F, Wiedmann TS, Vuksanovic N, Silvaggi NR, MacKinnon AC, Miller J, Bock J, Blumin JH.) Laryngoscope. 2023 Jan;133 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S1-S11 PMID: 35678265 PMCID: PMC9732152 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85131512635 06/10/2022

  • (Rizen EN, Phan AT.) Curr Oncol Rep. 2022 Jun;24(6):703-714 PMID: 35254612 03/08/2022

  • (Kersting K.) Principle Based Stepped Care and Brief Psychotherapy for Integrated Care Settings. 13 February 2018:223-230 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85046321268 02/13/2018