Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Faculty
Chair, AHN Cancer Institute
Dr. David Bartlett is chair of the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute. An internationally recognized cancer surgeon, he is a pioneer in abdominal cancer treatment and a dedicated, prolific researcher. He is past president of the Society of Surgical Oncology.
He served as a senior investigator in the surgery division of the Center for Cancer Research at the National Cancer Institute, where he developed innovative surgical techniques to treat patients with abdominal and liver cancers and performed cutting-edge laboratory research in viral based immune therapies.
Dr. Bartlett received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston and completed his surgical residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He continued his training with a fellowship in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Dr. Bartlett completed research fellowships at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas, and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Program Director, CGSO Fellowship
Dr. Patrick Wagner joined the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute as Director of Complex General Surgical Oncology. He specializes in the surgical treatment of digestive and complex abdominal tumors, including esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, liver, colorectal, and appendix cancers. Dr. Wagner cares for patients with metastatic cancer, including liver and peritoneal metastases, as well as patients with rare tumor types such as sarcoma and neuroendocrine tumors. He holds board certification in pathology as well as surgery. Dr. Wagner's lab focuses on the immune microenvironment of colorectal and peritoneal surface malignancies, with emphasis on the relationship of the tumor microbiome with tumor immunity.
Dr. Wagner is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and received his MD degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed residencies in general surgery and anatomic pathology, and served as administrative chief resident at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He completed his fellowship in surgical oncology, concentrating in translational research, under Dr. Bartlett's leadership at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Dr. Casey Allen specializes in the surgical treatment of complex tumors. He cares for patients with primary and metastatic intra-abdominal cancers, skin and soft tissue malignancies, as well as those with rare diseases including sarcoma and neuroendocrine tumors.
Dr. Allen completed his fellowship in surgical oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He attained his general surgery residency at the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. Prior to his surgical training, Dr. Allen received his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and attended medical school in his hometown at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. With a focus on value-based healthcare delivery, he has published over 70 research papers. Dr. Allen has been the lead author for numerous book chapters and has been invited to speak at national meetings.
Chief Medical Operations Officer, AHN; Chair, AHN Surgery Institute
Dr. Sricharan Chalikonda is the Chief Medical Operations Officer and the Chair of the Surgery Institute at Allegheny Health Network (AHN). Dr. Chalikonda leads clinical operations for the network's physician organization, a role that includes oversight of surgical services provided at AHN's inpatient and outpatient facilities. A nationally recognized physician leader and pioneer in the use of highly advanced surgical procedures for abdominal cancers and other diseases, he maintains his surgical practice as part of AHN's Center for Digestive Diseases and Cancer Institute. Dr. Chalikonda has published dozens of scientific articles, abstracts and book chapters about issues and advancements in his field, including the surgical treatment of pancreatic cancer, the treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies and the minimally invasive treatment of liver disease.
Dr. Chalikonda earned his medical degree from Kasturba Medical College and a master's degree in healthcare administration from Ohio University. He completed his general surgery residency and a fellowship in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, and a surgical oncology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
With more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Howard Edington specializes in the surgical treatment of melanoma and cutaneous and soft tissue malignancies. He is the director of the Allegheny Health Network's (AHN) cutaneous oncology program and of the future AHN melanoma and skin cancer center. He's a pioneer in using oncolytic virus therapy to treat non-resectable melanomas. Dr. Edington completed a surgical oncology fellowship at the surgery branch of the National Institutes of Health (NCI).
Dr. Rebecca Edmonds specializes in the surgical treatment of digestive and complex abdominal tumors, including breast, gastric, pancreatic, liver, colorectal, and appendix cancers. She cares for patients with metastatic cancer, including liver and peritoneal metastases, as well as patients with rare tumor types such as sarcoma and neuroendocrine tumors.
Dr. Edmonds received her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She completed a residency and fellowship in surgical oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Dr. Suzanne Schiffman specializes in treating patients with complex abdominal malignancies. She has a focus on minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery including robotic hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. She earned her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completed her general surgery residency at the University of Louisville where she served as administrative chief resident. Dr. Schiffman completed fellowships in surgical oncology and hepatobiliary surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Throughout her medical training, Dr. Schiffman has received several awards, published in numerous peer-reviewed medical journals and authored multiple textbook chapters.
Dr. Ken Williams provides surgical care for patients with a wide range of conditions, including cancer, hernias, thyroid and parathyroid issues, bowel, gallbladder, and spleen problems. He has a special clinical interest in general and laparoscopic surgery, oncology surgery, and pancreatic surgery. Dr. Williams is a graduate of Washington and Lee University, and received his MD degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville.