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Faculty

Surgical Oncology Division
Zheng Chen, M.D., Ph.D.

Zheng Chen, M.D., Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor
Publications
Biography: I am currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Miami, with a long-term research goal focused on understanding the tumorigenesis of human esophageal and gastric cancers. My aim is to develop translational approaches that enhance diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic options for these life-threatening diseases. The proposed research, a groundbreaking discovery...
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Jessica S Crystal, M.D.

Jessica S. Crystal, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Surgery
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Dr. Jessica S. Crystal is a complex general surgical oncologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Miami where she was an Echols Honors Scholar. She earned her MD and completed her residency in General Surgery at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. During her training, she completed...
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Jashodeep Datta, M.D.

Jashodeep Datta, M.D.

Associate Professor of Surgery
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Dr. Datta is the DiMare Family Endowed Chair in Immunotherapy, Associate Professor of Surgery, and a hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgical oncologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is also the Associate Director of Translational Research at the Sylvester Pancreatic Cancer Research Institute, and a surgeon-scientist...
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Wael El-Rifai, M.D., Ph.D.

Wael El-Rifai, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: Dr. Wael El-Rifai is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, as well as the Associate Director of Basic Science and Co-Leader of the Tumor Biology Program. Dr. El-Rifai holds the John and Judy Schulte Senior Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. Dr. El-Rifai has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed articles...
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Caitlin Hester

Caitlin A. Hester, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Caitlin Hester is a board-certified surgeon and specializes in minimally invasive and open operations for gastrointestinal malignancies with a focus on cancers of the liver, pancreas, bile duct, and stomach. She obtained her medical degree from Medical College of Georgia. She completed seven years of general surgery training at the University of Texas Southwestern...
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Susan B. Kesmodel, M.D.

Susan B. Kesmodel, M.D.

Section Chief, Breast Surgical Oncology
Clinical Profile | Publications
Biography: I am a surgical oncologist with a specialty practice in breast cancer and cutaneous oncology. I received my MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed my general surgery residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and my fellowship in surgical oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. For the last 15 years I have focused on providing...
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Alan S. Livingstone, M.D.

Alan S. Livingstone, M.D.

Professor of Surgery
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Livingstone trained at McGill University in Montreal where he earned his BSc, MSc (Experimental Surgery), and M.D. degrees. Upon completion of his Surgical Residency at the Montreal General Hospital, he was recruited to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Having distinguished himself as an educator, surgeon, and researcher, he was made Interim Chairman...
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Heng Lu, Ph.D.

Heng Lu, Ph.D.

Research Assistant Professor of Surgery
Publications
Biography: I am currently a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Miami, with a long-term research goal of elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance of human esophageal adenocarcinoma.

My research focuses on the roles of reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling and the redox-regulating protein APE1 in driving cancer progression...
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Nagaraj Nagathihalli, Ph.D.

Nagaraj Nagathihalli, Ph.D.

Associate Professor (with Tenure) of Surgery
Publications
Biography: Dr. Nagaraj Nagathihalli, Ph.D., is a cancer biologist at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, an Associate Professor (with Tenure) in the Department of Surgery, graduate faculty in the Cancer Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Programs, and a faculty member in the Surgical Oncology at the University of Miami School of Medicine. He is also the Assistant...
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Dunfa Peng, M.D., Ph.D.

Dunfa Peng, M.D., Ph.D.

Research Associate Professor
Publications
Biography: Born in China and got my MD degree from Wannan Medical University in 1987, my MS degree of Pathology from Zhejiang University in 1992 and my Ph.D. degree from Shiga University of Medical Science Japan in 2003. I practiced two years as a surgeon and many years as a pathologist in China.

I have been involved in the research on the tumors of gastrointestinal tract and digestive...
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Steven Rodgers, M.D., Ph.D.

Steven Rodgers, M.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Surgery
Clinical Profile
Biography: Dr. Rodgers joined the faculty of the Department of Surgery in 2006. He holds appointments in the divisions of Endocrine Surgery and Surgical Oncology. He is highly experienced in the management of endocrine disorders and routinely performs thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, and both laparoscopic and open adrenalectomy. He is considered a high-volume endocrine surgeon with...
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Seth A. Spector, M.D.

Seth A. Spector, M.D.

Vice Chairman for Veterans Affairs and Professor of Surgery – Surgical Oncology Division
Clinical Profile
Biography: Seth A. Spector, MD received his medical degree from Boston University through a combined BA/MD program in 1994. He completed residency in General Surgery at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut which included a research fellowship in chronic pancreatic disease and then fellowship training at the UM-JMH Surgical Oncology program. After fellowship he was recruited to...
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Danny Yakoub

Danny Yakoub, M.D., Ph.D.

Professor of Surgery, Pending Rank
Publications
Biography: Dr. Yakoub graduated at University of Cairo, obtained his PhD degree at Imperial College London. After his General Surgery residency at Staten Island University Hospital in NYC, he completed fellowship training in Complex General Surgical Oncology at the University of Miami, then joined faculty as an Assistant Professor at UM for a few years.

He then joined University of...
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