Surgical Oncology

The Division of Surgical Oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is committed to nurturing the skills and knowledge of future leaders in our field. Our physicians have a passion for education and a commitment to creating a learning and training environment that ensures our students and residents realize their utmost potential.

The Northwestern Quality Improvement, Research & Education in Surgery (NQUIRES) community is a collaborative health services, outcomes, patient safety and quality improvement research enterprise of which the Department of Surgery is part. NQUIRES research spans all the surgical specialties, with a particular focus on general surgery and surgical oncology. Division faculty members include David J. Bentrem, MD; Shishir K. Maithel, MD; Rebecca L Williams, MD; Juliet S. Lumati, MD; and Akhil Chawla, MD.

Bentrem’s participation with the Northwestern University pancreatic cancer tumor bank continues to be successful, with tissue and blood samples from over 250 cancer patients collected. Given the lack of effective systemic treatment options, the goal of the bank is to develop new treatments for pancreatic cancer. Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) has transformed cancer treatment in recent years; however, response rates for pancreatic cancer to systemic chemotherapy have lagged behind those for other solid tumors. The tumor immune microenvironment influences response to ICT and understanding the differential immune infiltration in ICT-resistant tumor types will guide future treatment strategies. We have found elevated levels of mast cells and inflammatory leukotrienes in human pancreatic tumor tissue and correlated this with worse outcomes from pancreatic cancer treatment.

Lumati’s research at the Havey Institute of Global Health focuses on alleviating cost-related barriers to surgical and oncologic care, both domestically and in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Her work aims to reduce impoverishing expenditures for cancer patients by fostering bidirectional collaborations, developing training programs for SSA investigators, and securing funding to scale interventions. As principal investigator of the clinical trial “Evaluating the Impact of Financial Navigation on Financial Toxicity and Treatment Adherence for Cancer Care: A Randomized Control Trial (COST-FIN),” supported by the Havey Institute of Global Health Catalyzer Grant, Dr. Lumati is assessing the role of financial navigation in mitigating financial distress among cancer patients in Nigeria. Her findings are poised to inform scalable strategies that enhance treatment adherence and improve equitable access to care. 

Dr. Williams, Associate Program Director for the General Surgery Residency, is a dedicated educator shaping the surgical learning environment. Her research focuses on fostering psychological safety for medical students and residents, aiming to enhance their educational experience and professional development. She also explores how compassion and mindfulness practices can improve patient care and provider well-being. Dr. Williams’ influence extends nationally through her service on two American Board of Surgery committees, where she supports the implementation of Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) in residency training, and her leadership as Vice-Chair of the American College of Surgeons Resident and Associate Society (ACS-RAS), alongside roles on ACS committees for resident education and faculty development. Her work is driving innovative approaches to surgical education and compassionate care.

Dr. Chawla, a member of the Division of Surgical Oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, is leading an important clinical trial in pancreas cancer that is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that is enrolling patients from all throughout the country. This trial aims to determine the best treatment strategy for patients with early-stage resectable pancreas cancer and will help answer an important question that has alluded the field for many years.

Dr. Maithel, Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology, also serves as Chair of the Surgery Committee for the ECOG-ACRIN Cooperative Group in the National Clinical Trials Network of the NCI. He has helped lead several important clinical trials throughout the country focusing on novel therapies for bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), gallbladder cancer, pancreas cancer, stomach cancer, and colorectal cancer liver metastases. One of these trials, ECOG-ACRIN 2222 (The PUMP Trial), is a phase III study evaluating hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) pump chemotherapy alongside standard of care systemic therapy for patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases, aiming to improve tumor control and patient outcomes.

Their work exemplifies Northwestern Medicine’s and the Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center’s commitment to discovering more effective therapies, ultimately seeking to improve the quality of life and outcomes for patients with complex cancers.

We strive to provide personalized care in a patient-centered, compassionate environment. At our affiliated hospitals, our faculty stride to lead the fight against cancer by incorporating the latest advances in surgical technology. They are devoted to clinical and basic science research and surgical education.