Penn Medicine Physician Interviews

The HIPEC team at Penn Medicine is led by surgical oncologist Dr. Giorgos Karakousi. The HIPEC team includes specialists from medical oncology, anesthesiology, pathology, radiology, and critical care.

Giorgos Karakousis MD, FACS discusses why HIPEC is usually performed at academic medical centers like Penn Medicine and shares what makes it one of the most innovative treatments available today for complex cancers.

The Abramson Cancer Center recently awarded a Translational Center for Excellence grant to the Ovarian Cancer Research Center.

Ronny Drapkin, MD, PhD examines advances in Ovarian Cancer treatment research and what the objectives are for the Ovarian TCE.

Pancreatic Cancer will afflict over 55,000 people a year in the US. Often referred to as a silent disease because most people do not experience symptoms until its later stages, pancreatic cancer is annually the second most mortal cancer. The 5-year survival rate is just 8% for all patients with the diagnosis, but improves to around 25% if surgery can be performed.

Penn Surgery has one of the strongest, most expert, pancreatic surgical specialty units in the country. Penn Medicine’s group of five surgeons, directed by Dr. Vollmer, performs nearly 200 major operations – including Whipple resections - a year. They provide state-of-the-art surgical expertise which integrates with the other strengths of Penn Medicine including Medical and Radiation Oncology, and associations with basic and translational scientists in the medical school. They also offer the region’s only dedicated multidisciplinary program for pre-malignant pancreatic cysts.

Charles M. Vollmer, MD discusses The Pancreatic Cancer Surgery Center and The Whipple Procedure Program at Penn Medicine.

Andrew Kuntz, MD discusses the shoulder pain protocol and what makes shoulder and elbow orthopaedic care unique at Penn Orthopaedics.