Division of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery | Department of Surgery
The Division of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery is a comprehensive team of 15 surgeons focused on the areas of colorectal surgery, esophageal surgery, hernia surgery, treatment of pancreatic cancer and surgical nutrition. Our general surgeons support numerous clinical research trials and actively partner with scientists in the community to develop innovative surgical devices. The general surgery division also encompasses one of the largest residency programs in the country, as well as fellowships in minimally invasive surgery and colorectal surgery.
Go to the Hernia and Abdominal Wall Center at OHSU.
V. Liana Tsikitis, M.D. M.B.A., M.C.R., is the Division Head of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery. She is board certified in General Surgery and Colorectal Surgery with a special clinical interest in colorectal cancer genetics.
Dr. Tsikitis joined the department in 2011 and is a noted expert on the surgical treatment of colon and rectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. She completed her Masters in Clinical Research at OHSU in 2013 and is on the forefront of research into colorectal cancer genetics. She is widely published and a sought-after speaker throughout the country and internationally.
In 2019, Dr. Tsikitis received her MBA in health policy with an eye for building the infrastructure and marketing momentum needed to significantly grow patient volume over the next five years.
Dr. Tsikitis’ leadership within the department includes numerous chair positions as well as serving as Medical Director of the Digestive Health Center from 2014-2018.
Residency opportunities
Learn more about the Department of Surgery's General Surgery Residency Program.
Fellowship opportunities
The Division of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery offers two fellowship programs:
Contact us
Mailing Address
Oregon Health & Science University
3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road
Mail Code: L223A
Portland, OR 97239
Campus Location
Mackenzie Hall 3186
Academic Office
(503) 494-6900
Digestive Health Center
Our general surgeons practice primarily out of OHSU's Digestive Health Center, located on the south waterfront in the Center for Health & Healing Building 2. Learn about digestive health conditions and treatments as well as patient information on preparing for surgery and a surgery walk-through.
General Surgery Research
The Division of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery participates in ongoing research to help find ways to improve health and treat diseases. Clinical research works to help determine the safety and effectiveness of new medications, new devices, or treatment approaches intended for human use. Clinical trials rely on the participation of human volunteers to help answer questions about treatments for diseases and conditions. The Division of General Surgery participates in many different types of research from industry sponsored trials, clinical registries as well as physician initiated research projects.
There are many benefits from participating in clinical research including the ability for participants to play a more active role in their own healthcare, gain access to new research medications or treatments before they are commercially available, as well as to help others by contributing to new innovative research.
Currently the Division of General Surgery participates in research focused on the areas of colorectal surgery, pancreatic surgery, esophageal surgery, hernia surgery, nutrition, and registry databases pertaining to colorectal, esophageal and pancreatic cancers.
For more information pertaining to current research projects or if you are interested in participating in research with the division of general surgery, please contact us to learn more at 503 494-4949.
Faculty Research
Current research within the Division of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery - find an overview of our surgery faculty researchers and their ongoing work.
Our Faculty
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- Lori Cardwell, M.D.
- Assistant Professor of Surgery; Attending/Consultant at OHSU Tuality Healthcare, Hillsboro, OR
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- Carmen Curry, MS, FNP-BC
- Nurse Practitioner
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- Sandy H. Fang, M.D., FACS, FASCRS (she/her)
- Associate Professor of Surgery
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- Erin W. Gilbert, M.D., M.C.R., FACS
- Associate Professor of Surgery
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- Daniel O. Herzig, M.D., M.B.A., FACS, FASCRS (he/him)
- Professor of Surgery
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- Amy Leatherwood, N.P.
- Nurse Practitioner
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- Kim C. Lu, M.D., FACS, FASCRS (he/him)
- Professor of Surgery
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- Robert G. Martindale, M.D., Ph.D.
- Professor of Surgery
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- Vahagn C. Nikolian, M.D.
- Assistant Professor of Surgery
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- Sean B. Orenstein, M.D., FACS
- Associate Professor of Surgery
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- Alia Qureshi, M.Sc., M.D., FACS, FRCSC
- Associate Professor of Surgery
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- J. Lea Ross, M.S., ANP-BC
- Nurse Practitioner
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- Brett C. Sheppard, M.D., FACS
- William E. Colson Chair of Pancreatic Disease Research
- Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care
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- V. Liana Tsikitis, M.D., M.B.A., M.C.R., FACS, FASCRS (she/her)
- Professor and Division Head of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery
- Multidisciplinary Colorectal Cancer Research Team
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- Stephanie G. Wood, M.D., FACS
- Associate Professor of Surgery
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- Patrick J. Worth, M.D., M.C.R., FACS, FSSO (he/him)
- Assistant Professor of Surgery
- the Worth Lab @ OHSU
Our Faculty - OHSU Adventist Health Portland
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- Vahagn C. Nikolian, M.D.
- Assistant Professor of Surgery
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- Sean B. Orenstein, M.D., FACS
- Associate Professor of Surgery
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- Ryland S. Stucke, M.D.
- Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery
Our Faculty - OHSU Hillsboro Medical Center
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- Lori Cardwell, M.D.
- Assistant Professor of Surgery; Attending/Consultant at OHSU Tuality Healthcare, Hillsboro, OR
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- Sergio Toledo Valdovinos, M.D., FACS
- Assistant Professor of Surgery
Our Affiliate Faculty - Columbia Memorial Hospital, Astoria, OR
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- Rachel Van Dusen, M.D.
- Assistant Professor of Surgery
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- Eric Zimmermann, M.D. (he/him)
- Associate Professor of Surgery