Click on any state to jump to that place in the Whipple Surgeon list below:
CA CO FL IN KS KY MD MA MI MO NE NJ NY NC OK OH OR PA TX WA WI
Also, Canada, India and South Africa

A while ago, I started a project to try to gather a list of Whipple surgeons around the country that had particular skill or expertise in this procedure. People from all over the country submitted their suggestions, and I want to thank everyone who helped with this project. Below you will find a list of the U. S. and Canadian surgeons submitted, along with people's comments about these surgeons.

Please Note: This list is not meant to be exhaustive nor is it meant to express any opinion about the skill or excellence of any physician on this list. It is merely a compilation of the suggestions people have sent us along with their comments. We currently don't have the resources to update this list, instead we rely on our users for help and feedback in keeping this list and its information current.

Why is there a need for this kind of list? Currently, without question the best treatment for anyone diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer is the Whipple Surgery. However, relatively few people are able to qualify for this surgery due to the advanced nature of their cancer. In talking to people about the surgery, it has become apparent that there may also be other factors that may determine whether a patient is able to have a successful Whipple. Foremost among these factors is quite simply the skill and experience of the surgeon. There is a perception that those surgeons who commonly do Whipple surgeries are not only more skilled, but they may also be able to perform a successful Whipple where other surgeons who perform the surgery less often would not. For example, my father had exploratory surgery to determine if he had Pancreatic Cancer, and if so, whether he could have a Whipple. The surgeons felt, after seeing his cancer, that they could not attempt the Whipple without killing him in the process. The question that later arose was, if he had instead decided to have the surgery at one of the cancer centers specializing in Whipple surgery (rather than by a surgeon in our home town), would these surgeons have been more skilled, aggressive, etc. so that perhaps they could have pulled off the Whipple procedure? I don't know the answer to this question, but in retrospect we did wish we had instead had the surgery at one of the major cancer centers where the surgeons did a hundred or more of these surgeries each year rather than just a few a year.

In light of our experiences, I felt it would be helpful to gather a list of the best Whipple surgeons around so that people struggling with this disease could have a ready source of information when deciding on a surgeon. Again, I thank all that participated in this project, and wish the best for those evaluating surgeons.

Whipple Surgeon Project List

Canada

Ontario

Toronto
1. Dr. Bryce Tayolor
email address bryce.taylor@uhn.on.ca
"Dr Taylor practices in Toronto at the Toronto General Hospital. He is awesome. He performed a whipple on my wife 18 months ago and she is still going strong. He is very positive whatever the topic. We 're lucky to have him."

India

1. Dr. Neelamekam
" I just wanted to mention a Wonderful Doctor that performed the Whipples procedure on my Mother. This Doctor is based in India and works as a consultant in all major hospitals in Chennai, including the Appolo. He is a very talented doctor who is very kind and reassuring. His Name is Dr. Neelamekam. I am sending this just incase someone in Asia was looking for a doctor like we did when my mom needed the surgery and we didn't know where to look. "

South Africa

1. Dr Martin Smith
" I am a South African Resident and I am sure that some of your visitors may have family in RSA - if ever they should need a wonderful surgeon, in South Africa, they could contact Dr Martin Smith who practices from the Rosebank Clinic and also from the teaching hospital The Helen Joseph. Dr. Smith operated on me in February 2000, I am doing so well!! I will get to see my daughters turn 21 and 16 respectively this year-I am eternally grateful for his skill, dedication and practical approach! "

U.S.

The list is set forth alphabetically by state. The comments in quotes are the comments made by the individuals who submitted that surgeon for inclusion in the list, or from individuals comments about a surgeon from the Pancreatic Message Board.

California

Davis
1. Hung S. Ho, M.D.
University of California, Davis Medical Center
(916) 734-2858 to schedule appointments
Dr. Ho's bio on UC Davis School of MedicineWebsite
"My 75 year old Mom had a Whipple at the University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, Ca. After 10 days she came home; she's doing GREAT-eating, having regular body functions, etc. This doctor is wonderful. "

Irvine
1. Dr. John Butler
University of California, Irvine - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
(714) 456-8030
"I am recommending that Dr. John Butler of the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California in Irvine. He does about 30 to 35 Whipples a year and has not lost a patient on the table for over 2 years. His peers consider him as a Surgeon second to none. I had a Whipple last Oct.29th,2001, and I feel great."

Los Angeles
1. Dr. Howard A. Reber
UCLA, (800) UCLA MD1
UCLA Dept of Surgery Web page with Dr. Reber's background and publications list
"Does many Whipple surgeries has done combination chemo with Dr Isacoff to shrink tumors to resectable size. "

2. Dr. Rick Selby
(323) 442-5908
Dr Selby's bio on the USC School of MedicineWebsite Dr Selby's email
" My husband was diagnosed with pc in March of 2000 and had the Whipple in July... Recommended to us by my oncologist (I had breast cancer) and my husband's oncologist was Dr. Rick Selby. He is the Associate Professor of Surgery and The USC School of Medicine as well as Director of the Liver Transplantation Program and Chief of the Division of Hepatobiliay and Pancreas Surgery. He and his team perform about 20 Whipples a month. After interviewing 2 others surgeons, we chose Dr. Selby. He and his team were excellent. I would recommend him to anyone."

Colorado

Denver
1. Dr Nate Pearlman
University of Colorado Hospital, Denver
Dr. Nathan Pearlman at Univ of Colorado website
" Dr Nate Pearlman at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver is an excellent surgeon! He explained everything, answering questions, etc. Some think that he is compulsive about what he does - he is - and because of that he is very good at what he does. He takes the time to do it right the first time! It is a teaching hospital, with the advantages and disadvantages, but he was always around and responsive to my mother's needs. The residents who worked with him were great! He has been doing the Whipple for many years and has patients who check in with him every year just to say hi. "

Florida

Miami
1. Dr. Dido Francheschi
Sylvester Cancer Center, Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital
Web pages for Sylvester Cancer Center
"Has done dozens of surgeries, has a flair for the surgery, trained at Sloan Kettering. He is very dependable. "

Tampa
1. Dr. Larry Carey
University of South Florida
813-259-0935
Dr Carey's bio on the USF Website
" Dr Larry Carey and Dr Rosemurgy from University of South Florida in Tampa are experts at Whipple surgery. Dr Rosemurgy has published extensively on pancreatic cancer. Dr Carey performed surgery on my husband when other surgeons refused because of his heart condition. "

2. Dr Alexander Rosemurgy
University of South Florida
813-259-0929
Dr Rosemurgy's bio on the USF Website
" Dr Larry Carey and Dr Rosemurgy from University of South Florida in Tampa are experts at Whipple surgery. Dr Rosemurgy has published extensively on pancreatic cancer. Dr Carey performed surgery on my husband when other surgeons refused because of his heart condition. "

Indianapolis

Indiana
1. Dr. Maurice Arregui
St. Vincent's Hospital, Nagan and Arregui, M.D., Inc., 317-872-1158

"Dr. Arregui performed the Whipple on my father Nov. 10, 1998 -- my father is now experiencing symptoms of reoccurrence but they cannot find the site yet. My father's tumor was 4 cm. n size and I do not feel every physician would have attempted the surgery. Thanks to the Dr. we have had another year with my father. I am a nurse and truly owe Dr. Arregui a lot."

2. Dr. Keith Lillimoe
chairman of the department of surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine
IU affiliated web page for Dr. Lillimoe - list different office locations
"Dr. Keith Lillimoe performed the Whipple procedure on me May, 1998 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. My family physician said he was the best. He is well known in medical circles for his ability and expertise in surgery for pancreatic cancer. He saved my life."

Kansas

Topeka
1. Dr. James Hamilton
823 S.W. Mulvane, Topeka, KS 66606, 785 232 0444
"He saved my life! All tests were negative, but Dr. Hamilton's gut feeling was that I had pancreatic cancer. He operated, found the cancer, removed it, and performed a Whipple. I am now recovering."

Olathe
1. Dr. Harlan Opie
Olathe Medical Center (near Kansas City)
The Doctors Building, 20375 W. 151st Street, Suite 463, Olathe, KS 66061, 913-782-8577
"An excellent Dr located at the Olathe Medical Center. He performed the Whipple procedure on me in July 1999."

Kentucky

Paducah
1. Dr. David West
Western Baptist Hospital
2601 Kentucky Ave
Paducah , KY (270) 443-0202
"Dr. West is experienced with this procedure and is very aggressive. If you can live without, he’ll take it out."

Maryland

Baltimore
1. Dr. John Cameron
Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins' web page for Dr. Cameron

2. Dr. Charles Yeo
Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins' web page for Dr. Yeo
Dr Yeo wrote me this note:
"The hospital that does the most Whipple procedures in the world per year is Johns Hopkins.

There are two of us here who do the highest volumes of surgery: Dr. John Cameron and myself. We are all surgeons. Last year we did over 200 Whipple procedures. Certainly any list of high volume surgeons doing Whipples should include us. Also, I would call your attention to our Web Page at Johns Hopkins Pancreas Web Page. This is the most "hit" webpage as concerns pancreas cancer, research, surgery. We have an extensive bibliography on the page, a chat room, a what's new section, illustrations of Whipple procedure, etc, etc..."

Massachusetts

Boston
1. Mark P. Callery, MD, FACS (Associate Professor of Surgery Harvard Medical School)
Dr. Callery's profile on Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center's Website - Click on "Find a Doctor" and then search on his last name
Chief, Division of General Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, ST-928, Boston, MA 02215
Tel- 617-667-3798, Fax- 617-667-7756
mcallery@bidmc.harvard.edu

2. Andrew Warshaw
Massachusetts General Hospital, 617-726-8254, warshawa@a1.mgh.harvard.edu
Mass. General's Web page for Dr. Warshaw
"The surgeon I had is world renound. His name is Andrew Warshaw. I had a whipple operation with him and I am now fine."

3. Dr. Carlos Fernandez-del-Castillo
Massachusetts General Hospital, (617) 726-5644
Dr. Castillo's profile on Mass. General's Website
"I had a Whipple Procedure on 10/14/99 performed by Dr. Carlos Fernandez-del-Castillo at Mass. General Hospital. My tumor was attached to the portal vein which normally renders it inoperable. With the assistance of Dr. Willett (head of Radiation/Oncology), they radiated the tumor during surgery, shrunk it off the vein, repaired the vein and I am still here to tell about it (9/19/00). Dr. Fernandez is not only brilliant but he also is a perfect gentleman and the most compassionate doctor I have ever met. He not only believes in miracles, as I do, he performs them! "

Burlington
1. Dr. Roger L Jenkins
Lahey Clinic, (781) 744-2500
Dr. Jenkins profile on Lahey Clinic's Website
"You musn't forget Dr. Roger Jenkins at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA. He performed the Whipple on my mother and did a superb job. Lahey is also not a teaching Hospital so they do not leave the patient on the table any longer than need be."

Michigan

Southeastern Michigan
1. Dr. Robert P. Jury
Royal Oak Surgical Associates
Beaumont Medical Bldg, Suite 205
Royal Oak, MI 48073
Office: 248-551-8180
Fax: 248-551-8181

"I underwent a successful classic whipple procedure performed by Dr. Robert P. Jury at William Beaumont Hospital at Royal Oak, Michigan in September 2004 and I have nothing but positive things to say about the experience from pre-op to present.

From the day my wife and I first met Dr. Jury, we were extremely impressed by his knowledge, confidence and positive/caring attitude. We soon learned that Dr. Jury is considered "the best around" for this type of procedure. Also, it's important to know that William Beaumont Hospital is an outstanding medical institution and Dr. Jury is held in very high regard by his peers at Beaumont and elsewhere. He performs dozens of Whipple's every year and has pretty much seen it all.

I would urge you to contact Dr. Jury if you may require this type of surgery and live anywhere in Michigan or the Central United States.

I consider myself a cancer SURVIVOR because of Dr. Jury and my family and I are extremely appreciative of his work." "

Missouri

St. Louis
1. Dr. Steven Strasberg
email address strasbergs@msnotes.wustl.edu
"Dr. Strasberg operates at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. He takes great interest in his patients and he and his team does, I believe, from 70-100 Whipples/year. As one other noted doctor said -- and this is an exact quote: 'I don't know if he is the best in the world, but there is none better'." "

Nebraska

Omaha
1. Dr. Paula Termuhlen
University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska
"Dr. Termuhlen was highly recommended by a person posting on the Johns Hopkins message board. She came from M.D. Anderson in Houston, Texas."

New Jersey

Mt. Holly
1. Dr. Eric Miller
Virtua Health Center
609 267 7050
"Dr. miller is an excellent surgeon and an extremely compassionate man. He performed my mother's Whipple surgery in March of 1994. She is still with us today because of Dr. miller's skill and care. Dr miller is an oncological surgeon who specializes in breast cancer. "

New York

Buffalo
1. Dr. Ponds
Buffalo General Hospital

"My sister had the whipple at Buffalo General Hospital, by Dr. Ponds - she is still living after 7 and one half years."

New York City
1. Dr. John Chabot
New York's Columbia Presbyterian Hospital
Phone: (212) 305-9468
Dr. Chabot's biography on Columbia Presbyterian Hospital's Website
" I survived the Whipple and Stage2e thanks to Dr. John Chabot the surgeon at Columbia Presbyterian..He has a great reputation there and elsewhere...I think he saved my life.....Indeeed, my Gastroenterologist with some 35+ years experience insisted I go to John Chabot at Columbia or Andrew Warshaw in Boston for the Whipple...My Oncologist is William Sherman...He is the Kindest of men and he and Dr. Robert Fine there are great Oncologists using Gemcitabine, Platinum and Taxotere...But Taxotere is strong stuff....Chabot is a kina dn rather gentle surgeon and Dr. Sherman is the kindest man on earth...I feel Chabot and Sherman gave me the best hope in the world"

2. Kenneth Eng
General Surgeon - NYU Medical Center 212 263 7301
"He performs about 2-3 Whipple's every month. Excellent reputation."

3. Dr. Fong
Memorial Sloan Kettering

4. Dr. Daniel Coit
Memorial Sloan Kettering
"It's amazing how fast things happen. we have found a doctor that, we are told, is the best at Pancreatic cancer surgery. Doctor Daniel Coit at Memorial Sloan Kettering."

5. Dr. Joseph Raccuia
St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center
Note: When this was updated on Feb 12, 2002, the St. Vincent's site was not listing Dr. Raccuia as being on staff of the Comprehensive Cancer Center or St. Vincent's in general.

"I was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer by Dr. Joseph Raccuia. He performed the Pancreaticduadoectomy on me January 6, 2000 at St. Vincent's Catholic Medical Center NYC. He is terrific. My Oncologist is Dr. John S MacDonald Chief of the St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center who is wonderful. I am a participant in a protocol study which consisted of 5-1/2 weeks of 5FU Fluorouracil plus radiation and then gemcitibine. I am scanned every few months and presently underwent more chemo treatment. It is now 2 years and my last cat scan is relatively clear in the abdomen area. St Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center is incredible. Every employee, from doorman to Head Doctor, have been the most caring, loving people. I cannot say enough about this institution."

North Carolina

Charlotte
1. Dr. Peter Turk
"We were pleased with his efforts and skill."

Durham
1. Dr. Douglas Tyler
Morris Clinic Cancer Center. 919-684-2137
"I had a Whipple performed at Duke Medical Center in Durham, NC on August 9,1999. Before having surgery, I underwent an experimental trial using radiation(2xdaily,Morning & Afternoon)Mon.-Friday for 3 weeks, and chemo(Gemzar)at lunch on Mon. and Thursday between radiation treatments. So, to sum up I had 30 radiation treatments and 6 chemos, all in 3 weeks. After 2.5 weeks of rest during which time I was really sick, I had the Whipple procedure. Before surgery my oncologist, Dr. Herbert Hurwitz gave me Megace to pick up my appetite and it really helped me to gain some weight. Dr. Tyler performs approx. 50 each year. My doctors are great and I highly recommend them."

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City
1. Dr. Russell Postier
University of Oklahoma Health Science Center
John A. Schilling Professor and Chair
Department of Surgery
Phone: (405) 271-7912 Fax: (405) 271-3919
Dr. Postier's email address
Dr. Postier's Page on the Oklahoma Health Science Center Site
"My husband had the Whipple procedure performed on Jan 3, 2001. We used the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, in Oklahoma City, OK. We were fortunate enough to be referred to Dr. Russell Postier, M. D. who did the Whipple Surgery. We are very thankful there was such a qualified surgeon in our State. Surgery was 5 1/2 hr with no blood transfusion required. "

Ohio

1. Dr. Ellison
Ohio State University Medical Center
1-800-293-5123
"Dr. Ellison is highly regarded as the best. I had 5 centimeter tumor against a vein. A less skilled surgeon probably would have simply said inoperable. I am impressed with his skill and staff."

2. Dr. William Burak and Dr. Abdasselam
Ohio State University Medical Center
1-800-293-5123
"These two surgeons operated on my father on March 8th 2001 at OSU Medical Center. The tumor they removed was the size of a small football and weighed about 12lbs. I believe many other surgeons would not have tried to resect this tumor! The tumor was wrapped around a main vein to his small intestine and the surgery took 8.5 hours! He had every complication possible and these surgeons knew what to do in each case! I believe they saved his life. "

Oregon

Portland
1.Dr. Brett Sheppard
Sheppard@ohsu.edu
"Although my husband,Wayne, lived only one year after his Whipple, the quality of his surgery at OHSU in Portland, OR was outstanding. My husband was able to function quite well,despite the radical surgery. We enjoyed our last year. I just wish it had been longer."

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia
1. Drs. Francis Rosato and Donna Barbot
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia.
215-955-8666
"I was referred to these surgeons by our "local" chief of surgery. 6 yrs ago they performed approx (only) 10 Whipple operations per year."

2. Drs. Ernest Rosato
University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
1 800 789 PENN
"Dr. Rosato's service at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (Now University of Pennsylvania Medical Center) in Philadelphia perform more than 100 Whipple procedures per year and they get referrals from all around the Tristate area. I personally had my operation done there with no complications."

Texas

1. Drs. Douglas Evans and Peter Pisters
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
"Easily, Drs. Douglas Evans and Peter Pisters, both of M D Anderson Cancer Center. They perform 2/3 of all of the 250 Whipples per year. The mortality rate for Whipple: ZERO. They have also developed a new technique for performing this surgery with a vein resection if the portal vein is involved. They have the most experience with this technique. If you visit M D Anderson's pancreas page at http://www.mdanderson.org/DEPARTMENTS/pancreatic/default.htm and check their credentials under "specialists" you'll see the chapters they've written and their latest papers. M D Anderson is also doing a great deal of teaching in this realm."

Fort Worth
1. Dr. Peter Rutledge
"My mother, age 68, recently underwent a successful Whipple procedure in Fort Worth, Texas by a surgeon named Peter Rutledge. It is my understanding that he is the only surgeon, and if not, one of few who will do this surgery in Fort Worth. He is trained at Harvard and our experience with him has been that he is very competent and skilled. I believe he does 20-30 Whipple's per year. I do not know his success rate."

2. Dr. David Ritter
"Dr. David Ritter, having been recommended to us because of his previous experience performed the Whipple procedure on me (Don 76 years old) on Sept 28, 1997. I was greatly impressed by his surgical skills as well as his post-operative care. My oncologist recently told my that he had never seen anyone recover as quickly as I did from that operation. I heartily endorse this likeable and skillful young surgeon. He is now practicing in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. Is a graduate of the Baylor Med. School and Wash. U. in St. Louis."

Washington

Seattle
1. Dr. Carlos Pellegrini
University of Washington, Seattle
Pellegrini (contact person Nancy Pierson)
"I had my Whipple performed by Carlos Pellegrini, M.D. at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. I was referred to Dr. Pellegrini by Dr. John Cameron at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Pellegrini is the chairman of the Dept. of surgery and very experienced in performing Whipple procedures. In fact, his name kept popping up from other doctors that I spoke with including surgeons at the University of Utah Medical Center and University Medical Center at Texas Tech in Lubbock, TX. I cannot give you statistics on his specific data - you can get that from Nancy Pierson. All I know is I owe this man my life. "

Wisconsin

Milwaukee
1. Dr. Henry Pitt 2 submissions
Medical College of Wisconsin (formerly of Johns Hopkins)
Professor and Chair of Surgery
9200 West Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53226
(414) 454-5700
Fax: (414) 259-9225
At our last update, Dr. Pitt was not found on the Medical College of Wisconsin website
"Dr. Henry Pitt contacted us while he was on vacation to discuss our issues and to set up the surgery. This man is extremely compassionate. While performing the Whipple, the tumor was semi-wrapped around the aorta. Instead of giving up, he regrouped and was able to detach the tumor and complete the surgery. An unbelievably warm and precise man."

"My Whipple was done by Henry Pitt, M.D. at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. I had tried to get in to see John Cameron at Hopkins, but he was swamped. Pitt was his Vice Chair of Surgery at Johns Hopkins and was recommended because of his humanity in addition to his technical skill and judgment. I have experienced non-compassionate physicians, notably at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and I am convinced that the entity created from the patient-physician relationship is profoundly important. Research by Dr. Herbert Benson, M.D. at Harvard has suggested that the efficacy of the "placebo effect" when both physician and patient believe in what they are doing can be as high as seventy percent even when the presumed physiologic explanation was subsequently disproven.!! While Chief of Surgery, Henry Pitt nonetheless performed his rounds as a caring being. His aggressive surgical approach to my "inoperable" islet cell tumor was very successful. Numerous cancer specialists had advised me that the correct "Board Exam answer" was to wait until a palliative procedure was necessary (i.e. a bowel obstruction). My own Dana Farber trained oncologist only backed my decision because of my aggressive state of mind to go in and debulk tumor mass even if a cure was not possible. Remember, this was NOT an adenocarcinoma, but an islet cell tumor which displays different biological characteristics. Pitt was my quarterback from the first kick-off. His (at least older) survival data was at the Johns Hopkins web site."

2. Dr. Stuart Wilson
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(414) 454-5723
Froedtert & Medical College Clinics
Dr Wilson's listing on Froedtert's web site
" Dr. Wilson is an extraordinary physician, as well as a remarkable individual. His compassion, wisdom, skill and determination characterize him as someone very , very special. He should be on your list of surgeons who perform Whipple surgery with great skill and experience! And one who can guide a patient through this difficult surgery with encouragement and patience. "