Excellence in Pancreatic Cancer Care and Research

The UMass Chan Chan Medical School (UMass Chan) Pancreas Program was established as a multidisciplinary group seeking to advance pancreatic cancer treatment in the Northeast. By integrating groundbreaking basic science and patient-oriented research with improved access to innovative clinical trials and cutting-edge therapies, the UMass Chan Pancreas Program aspires to optimize patient care and outcomes. Clinical disciplines include surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology/radiology, gastroenterology, psychology, palliative care, oncology nursing, and clinical nutrition. This collective spirit of integrated medical expertise also incorporates strong ties with the community through the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance, a local all-volunteer organization comprised of pancreatic cancer patients and families.

Giles Whalen, MD, Chief of Surgical Oncology, is a dedicated pancreatic cancer surgeon and Director of the UMass Chan Pancreas Program. He is also the Chair of the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Quality of Life Committee, has major research interests in tumor-linked databases and in improving survival and quality of life for patients with pancreatic cancer. Alan Rosmarin, MD, Chief of Hematology/Oncology, is committed to the recruitment of the best pancreatic cancer specialists to UMass Chan. Thomas (TJ) Fitzgerald, MD, Chief of Radiation Oncology, contributes to innovations in pancreatic cancer treatment by developing technology- and systems-based analyses to improve outcomes. The basic science component of the UMass Chan Pancreas Program is located at the Lazare Research Building, UMass Chan Medical School. Basic Science research includes the work of Brian Lewis, PhD, whose lab has generated novel animal models for pancreatic cancer and explores signaling pathways and JeanMarie Houghton, MD, PhD a gastroenterologist and scientist who is applying her knowledge and expertise to pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer strikes individuals at the prime of life, robbing patients, their families, and society. Despite the tremendous strides in medical research over the last decades, pancreatic cancer outcomes remain dismal. As a vibrant, innovative pancreatic cancer center, located at the flagship medical school of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we at the UMass Chan Pancreas Program have a mission to improve pancreatic cancer care for all patients.