This page provides information for patients undergoing pancreas surgery in Miami and the surrounding areas of South Florida. More information about Dr. Rodgers can be found at About Dr. Rodgers and at UMiamiHealth.org.
The pancreas is a gland located in the upper abdomen that produces both enzymes used for digestion and hormones that are secreted into the bloodstream. Surgery to remove part of the pancreas (partial pancreatectomy) is most often performed for the treatment of pancreatic cancer or for removal of lesions that have the potential to become cancer. These lesions include neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas (aka islet cell tumors) and mucinous cysts of the pancreas.
When patients are diagnosed with a tumor in the head of the pancreas (i.e., the right side of the pancreas, surrounded by the duodenum), the operation performed is a pancreaticoduodenectomy, or Whipple procedure. This involves removal of ~1/3 of the pancreas, the entire duodenum, a small part of the stomach, and the end of the common bile duct. Tumors in the body and tail of the pancreas (i.e., the left side of the pancreas) are removed by distal pancreatectomy with or without removal of the spleen.
How to Find a Pancreas Surgeon
Pancreas surgery is typically performed by general surgeons who have specialty training in either surgical oncology or hepatobiliary surgery. Specialty training in these areas requires a one- or two-year fellowship after completing a general surgery residency.
Steven E. Rodgers, MD, PhD
Dr. Rodgers is an experienced pancreas surgeon at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center near downtown Miami. He is a general surgeon who completed a 2-year fellowship in surgical oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Rodgers has been in practice since 2006, when he completed his training. He routinely performs pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure) and distal pancreatectomy (both open and laparoscopic). More information about Dr. Rodgers can be found at About Dr. Rodgers and at UMiamiHealth.org.