Dr. William R. Jarnagin

Dr. William R. Jarnagin, MD, is a nationally recognized surgical oncologist specializing in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) malignancies, including cancers of the liver, pancreas, bile ducts, and gallbladder. He serves as Chief of the Hepatopancreatobiliary Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and holds the Leslie H. Blumgart Chair in Surgical Oncology. Dr. Jarnagin earned his medical degree from Rush Medical College and completed his general surgery residency at the University of California, San Francisco. He pursued fellowship training in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering, where he has since established himself as a leader in complex abdominal cancer surgery. He is board-certified in General Surgery and widely regarded for his expertise in high-risk HPB operations and multidisciplinary cancer care.

A leader in clinical innovation and surgical research, Dr. Jarnagin has played a key role in advancing the surgical treatment of liver and pancreatic cancers through the development of new operative techniques, imaging technologies, and perioperative management strategies. His research focuses on optimizing surgical outcomes, integrating genomic data into surgical planning, and evaluating biomarkers for early detection and treatment response. He has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications and is the editor of Blumgart’s Surgery of the Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas, one of the foremost reference texts in HPB surgery. His contributions have shaped national and international standards for the surgical management of abdominal malignancies.

In addition to his clinical and scholarly accomplishments, Dr. Jarnagin is a dedicated educator and mentor. He trains surgical oncology fellows and HPB specialists from across the globe and has held leadership roles in major professional societies, including serving as Past President of the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association and Treasurer of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association. He is a member of the American Surgical Association and the Society of Surgical Oncology. Through his commitment to surgical excellence, academic leadership, and collaborative care, Dr. William Jarnagin continues to lead transformative advances in the treatment of hepatopancreatobiliary cancers.