Dr. Carl R. Schmidt

Amer H. Zureikat, MD, is vice chair of surgery for surgical oncology in the Department of Surgery at UPMC, chief of Surgical Oncology at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and UPMC Chair of Clinical Surgery. He is the division chief for gastrointestinal surgical oncology in the Department of Surgery at UPMC and professor of surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Zureikat specializes in cancers and diseases of the pancreas, stomach, liver and duodenum and is an expert in robotic pancreatic surgery. His clinical and academic interests include the multimodality treatment of pancreatic cancer, and comparative effectiveness of open and robotic approaches to gastrointestinal cancers in general and pancreatic cancer in particular. Dr. Zureikat is board-certified in general surgery. He received his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland, completed his general surgery residency at the University of Chicago Medical Center and his fellowship in surgical oncology at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC. Dr. Zureikat is a member of the Society of University Surgeons (SUS), Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO), and the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA). In addition, he is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). Dr. Zureikat is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hereditary Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatic Islet Cell Tumor, Neuroendocrine Tumor, Pancreaticoduodenectomy, and Pancreatectomy.

George K. Gittes, MD, is the Benjamin R. Fisher Chair of Pediatric Surgery, chief of pediatric general and thoracic surgery, scientific co-director of research at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and director of the Richard King Mellon Foundation Institute for Pediatric Research. He is professor of surgery and professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Gittes received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass. He completed his surgical internship and residency at the University of California at San Francisco, Calif, and his fellowship at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo. Dr. Gittes came to Pittsburgh in 2005 from Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he held the Thomas M. Holder/Keith W. Ashcraft Chair in pediatric surgical research. Dr. Gittes’ clinical interests include neonatal surgery and pancreatic surgery. In his lab, Dr. Gittes and his team perform studies using gene therapy to treat diabetes and acetic acid infusions to treat chronic pancreatitis. His team has found that a virus injected into the pancreatic duct of mice will reverse their diabetes, leading to the potential to change the treatment of both juvenile diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Dr. Gittes is a nationally recognized pediatric surgeon and well-established basic scientist who has received numerous honors and awards. He has published over 250 papers and has given seminars across the globe. He is a member of several professional societies including the American Pediatric Surgical Association, the American Surgical Association, the Association of American Physicians, and the Society of University of Surgeons, where he also served as president. View the full list of Dr. Gittes’ publications on PubMed. View Dr. Gittes’ profile at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine – Department of Pediatrics. Learn more about the Gittes Lab for Diabetes and Pancreatitis Research. Dr. Gittes is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hereditary Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Hereditary Pancreatitis, Chronic Pancreatitis, Diphtheria, Pancreatectomy, and Islet Cell Transplantation.

"Kenneth K. Lee, MD, graduated Cum Laude from Harvard University with his BA in Chemistry, and continued on to the University of Chicago where he graduated with his MD in 1981. He also stayed at the University of Chicago for his surgical residency, becoming chief resident in 1987. His certifications include general surgery by the American Board of Surgery and also advanced trauma life support. His honors include being named one of the ""Best Doctors in America"" for 1996 - 2001 and receiving the Henry T. Bahnson Teaching Award in 2002.". Dr. Lee is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hereditary Pancreatitis. His top areas of expertise are Familial Pancreatic Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer, Ampullary Cancer, Pancreatectomy, and Small Bowel Resection.