Dr. Tsai is a professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery and the Director of the LaBahn Pancreatic Cancer Program. Her clinical practice focused on pancreatic cancer. She completed her medical school and residency training at the University of Michigan. During residency, she completed a clinical research fellowship at the National Cancer Institute in the laboratory of Suzanne Topalian. After residency, she completed a Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. While in fellowship, she also received a Master’s in Clinical Investigation from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is the Chief of Hepatopancreaticobiliary Surgery at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. Her clinical expertise is in GI oncology with a focus on pancreatic cancer. Dr. Tsai is active in the pancreatic cancer research program and serves as the Director of the MCW Surgical Oncology Biorepository and Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Database. Her research is dual focused and includes research on blood-based biomarkers in pancreatic cancer and clinical trials in pancreatic cancer.
Selected publications from PubMed
Precision Oncology in Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancer Surgery.
Newhook TE, Tsai S, Meric-Bernstam F
Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2026 Oct;40(5):831-855 doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2026.05.026.
Endoscopic ultrasound guided bypass of malignant afferent limb obstruction with an electrocautery-enhanced lumen‑apposing metal stent.
Perumal KD, Park E, Ramsey ML, Tsai S, Krishna SG, Papachristou GI, Burlen J
Endoscopy. 2026 Sep;58(S 04):E812-E813 doi: 10.1055/a-2900-8823.
ASO Visual Abstract: Multidisciplinary Tumor Board Documentation-Assessing its Frequency, Quality, and Impact.
Riner AN, Alobuia W, Walsh A, Grignol VP, Contreras CM, Pawlik TM, Tsai S, Cloyd JM
Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Sep;33(9):8309 doi: 10.1245/s10434-026-19982-7.
Multidisciplinary Tumor Board Documentation: Assessing its Frequency, Quality, and Impact.
Riner AN, Alobuia W, Walsh A, Grignol VP, Contreras CM, Pawlik TM, Tsai S, Cloyd JM
Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Sep;33(9):8275-8281 doi: 10.1245/s10434-026-19901-w.
ASO Visual Abstract: The Landmark Series-Mutation-Based Therapy of Pancreatic Cancer.
Schaefer ML, Tsai S, Blair AB
Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Aug 23 doi: 10.1245/s10434-026-20458-x.
The intersection of historical systemic policies and healthcare disparities has yet to be fully explored. In this two part-series, the causal link of identity-based historical systemic policies resulting in health care disparities will be explored followed by a discussion of targeted solutions aimed to dismantle and eliminate those disparities to achieve health equity among surgical patients.
With American College of Surgeons
Published
Jul 2023
Welcome and Introduction – Dr. Steven D. Wexner (USA) and Dr. Tracy Wang (USA)Implicit Bias and the Model-Minority Myth – Dr. Tracy Wang (USA)Mentorship and Sponsorship from residency to retirement – Dr. Anai Kothari (USA) and Dr. Jennifer Tseng (USA)Allyship and Advocacy by Affinity Societies – Dr. Kasper Wang (USA) and Dr. Susan Tsai (USA)Addressing health care disparities among Asian Americans – Dr. Lillian Kao (USA)Addressing racial disparities by Research design – Dr. Ankush Gosain (USA)Developing diversity in national and international surgical leadership – Dr. Quan-Yang Duh (USA)Discussion –All faculty moderated by Dr. Eugene Kim (USA) and Dr. Allan Tsung (USA)
Published
Sep 2021
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