Dr. Carlos Chan, MD, PhD, is a highly accomplished surgeon-scientist who recently transitioned his academic and clinical practice to Emory University. Serving as a surgical oncologist at Emory, his clinical focus centers on the advanced management of complex gastrointestinal malignancies, pancreatic cancer, and peritoneal surface diseases. Prior to joining Emory, Dr. Chan established a stellar reputation as an Associate Professor of Surgery and Radiation Oncology at the University of Iowa, where he became renowned as a leading regional specialist in pancreatic cancer treatment. He gained widespread recognition as one of the few surgical oncologists nationwide to pioneer Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) utilizing the NanoKnife System—a highly technical, non-thermal procedure that uses precise electrical pulses to eliminate complex, otherwise unresectable pancreatic tumors wrapped around critical blood vessels. He is also highly regarded for performing intricate Cytoreductive Surgery combined with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) for advanced peritoneal carcinomatosis and mesothelioma.
Backing his specialized clinical work is an elite educational foundation rooted in McGill University, where he earned both his Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biochemistry. Following his general surgery residency at the McGill University Health Centre, Dr. Chan completed his Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship through Harvard Medical School at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital. He holds formal board certifications from the American Board of Surgery in both General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology.
At Emory, Dr. Chan continues his dual mission of medical innovation and mentorship through basic and translational research and clinical trials. His dedicated research framework explores the complex microbial and immune microenvironment of gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancers to engineer novel immunotherapies and metabolism-driven interventions designed to treat advanced diseases. Dr. Chan's extensive research investigations have produced over 100 peer-reviewed medical publications in leading scientific journals, capturing advanced insights on tumor immunology and oncology treatments. His impactful contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous prominent honors, notably the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Clinical Investigator Award, alongside significant research backing as an NIH/NCI-funded investigator.
Beyond the research and operating room, Dr. Chan is deeply involved in prominent surgical society work and professional leadership initiatives. He is a highly active member of the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO), where he was selected as a recipient of the prestigious Career Catalyst Mentorship Program (CCMP) to help guide and develop the next generation of rising surgical oncology leaders. Additionally, his commitment to advancing global academic surgery includes being honored as a Society of Asian Academic Surgeons (SAAS) Visiting Professor.
Dr. Chan's pioneering work with the NanoKnife system has also been highlighted across various prominent media appearances and regional news broadcasts. His successful treatments of advanced pancreatic cancer patients have featured in dedicated broadcast segments on WQAD Channel 8 News and Yahoo News, where he discussed how this emerging technology overcomes traditional surgical limitations to offer new hope to patients. Committed to shaping the next generation of physicians, Dr. Chan actively mentors undergraduate and graduate scientific researchers, and provides direct clinical training to general surgery residents and surgical oncology fellows during complex abdominal operations.
Titles & Roles
Associate Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery
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