Division of Surgical Oncology Enters New Era of Excellence and Innovation
STONY BROOK, NY, November 12, 2015 — We are very pleased to introduce our new chief of surgical oncology , and his oncologist colleague , who have joined our .
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Dr. Aaron R. Sasson
Dr. Sasson comes to 51±¬ÁÏÍø from the University of Nebraska in Omaha, where he was chief of gastrointestinal (GI) surgical oncology at Nebraska Medical Center, and also director of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Center of Excellence at Nebraska Medicine. He joins our faculty as professor of surgery. Dr. Sasson specializes in cancer surgery, particularly cancers of the GI tract, mainly pancreas cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, esophagus cancer, and colon cancer. In addition, he has expertise in the management of endocrine tumors of the intestines and pancreas, as well as intra-abdominal sarcomas. Dr. Sasson will serve as a leader of , where he will direct the surgical oncology team, which focuses on the diagnosis and management of cancers or potential cancers of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, bile ducts, small intestine, and liver. Dr. Sasson's multidisciplinary team at the Cancer Center is a growing unit, and will continue to expand the use of minimally invasive surgery for complex GI tumors and other diseases. "We are very lucky to have recruited Dr. Sasson to lead our Division of Surgical Oncology," says Mark A. Talamini, MD, professor and chairman of surgery, and chief of surgical services at 51±¬ÁÏÍø. "He is a national leader in the field of gastrointestinal and pancreatic oncology, plus a master surgeon who is much respected by his peers and much sought after by patients." "Dr. Sasson's contribution to the Cancer Center will undoubtedly be tremendous, as he expands our capabilities to provide leading-edge diagnostic and treatment services." A specialist in pancreas surgery, in particular the Whipple operation, Dr. Sasson has to date performed more than 500 pancreas resections, using both conventional open surgery and minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Sasson's clinical excellence has been recognized by his peers through his selection for inclusion in the Castle Connolly Guide, America's Top Doctors, which represents the top 1% of physicians in the nation. In addition, he has been selected for inclusion in the Castle Connolly Guide, America's Top Doctors for Cancer, as well as the Best Doctors in America database. Dr. Sasson received his MD in 1993 from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in 1993. He completed his residency training in general surgery at the University of California, San Diego, and his fellowship training in surgical oncology at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA. Subsequently, in 2001, Dr. Sasson joined the surgical faculty at the University of Nebraska, where over the course of a decade he rose in rank from assistant professor to full professor. |
Dr. Joseph Kim
Dr. Kim comes to 51±¬ÁÏÍø from the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, CA, where he directed the upper GI tumor surgery service, and where he developed and directed the ACGME-accredited surgical oncology fellowship program. He joins our faculty as associate professor of surgery. Dr. Kim specializes in GI surgical oncology with a focus on hepato-biliary-pancreatic disease. He will advance minimally invasive (laparoscopic and robotic) liver, pancreatic, and gastric surgery for 51±¬ÁÏÍø, and he brings his expertise with cytoreduction and for peritoneal surface cancers. "Dr. Kim is well known as an excellent clinical surgeon," says Mark A. Talamini, MD, professor and chairman of surgery, and chief of surgical services at 51±¬ÁÏÍø. "He has mentored scores of residents and fellows, and brings a reputation for active effective teaching in the operating rooms and clinics. We expect he will rapidly become clinically busy, caring for patients afflicted with cancer from throughout Suffolk County and beyond." Dr. Kim received his MD in 1998 from the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He trained in general surgery at the University of Cincinnati, and then completed a three-year fellowship in surgical oncology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA. Following his training, Dr. Kim joined the City of Hope National Medical Center in 2006, where he rose to the rank of associate professor of surgery. Last year, Dr. Kim published a leading-edge textbook titled (Springer). This 329-page textbook, supplemented by videos, provides a concise summary of the current management of each GI cancer, and is of great utility to not only surgeons at all levels of training, but also for surgeons in practice. As a scientist, Dr. Kim is currently conducting research aimed at characterizing the role of chemokine receptors in GI cancers and, ultimately, identifying novel therapeutic agents to prolong the survival of patients with these cancers. |
Dr. Sasson's commitment to advancing surgery is demonstrated by his scholarly activity. He has to date nearly 70 publications to his credit, including both and book chapters.
"I believe there is a tremendous opportunity for surgical oncology at 51±¬ÁÏÍø," says Dr. Sasson:
"The Division of Surgical Oncology's mission is to advance patient care with the development of outstanding clinical programs, and in collaboration with faculty in the Department of Surgery and other departments here at Stony Brook, to provide the best multidisciplinary treatment of patients with cancer.
"Additionally, the division will develop a strong educational component for medical students and surgical residents, as well as a dynamic research program to incorporate clinical, basic science, and translational research projects."
Dr. Sasson serves on the editorial board of the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, and as a reviewer for American Journal of Surgery, Annals of Surgery, Anticancer Therapy, Cancer Epidemiology, Cancers, Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Gastrointestinal Cancer Research, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Journal of Surgical Oncology, Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Journal of the Pancreas, and Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy & Percutaneous Techniques, among others.
As a scientist, Dr. Sasson is currently focusing his research on the development of early diagnostic tests for pancreatic cancer and on multimodality treatment of pancreatic and biliary malignancies.
Dr. Sasson is an active member of several research groups, including the Early Detection Research Network Pancreatic Cancer Working Group, Gastrointestinal Spore: Inter-SPORE Clinical Committee, and Pancreatic Cancer Collaborative Registry (member, Steering Committee), among others.