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About Horacio J. Asbun

Dr. Asbun is Chief of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery for Miami Cancer Institute and throughout Baptist Health and the current President of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES). He brings to the role more than 25 years of surgical experience treating cancers and complex diseases of the liver, pancreas, adrenals, gallbladder and biliary system. Dr. Asbun will combine world-class patient care with leading-edge research to provide highly effective, personalized treatment options for patients with pancreatic and biliary disease. The Pancreatic and Liver Disease Program also draws on expertise from the fields of surgery, interventional radiology, oncology, hepatology, interventional oncology, gastroenterology, diagnostic radiology, interventional gastroenterology, radiation therapy, anesthesia and pain management to deliver seamless multidisciplinary care under one roof. Dr. Asbun directs and teaches national courses on surgery and speaks frequently at scientific conferences around the world, with more than 650 presentations to date in the United States and in over six continents. In addition to being a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, he is a member of multiple surgical societies and serves on the Boards and committees of several national and international professional societies, including the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association and the Global Alliance for Surgical, Obstetric, Trauma and Anesthesia Care (G4 alliance).

Positions

2018 - Present Chief of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Baptist Health South Florida ‐ Miami Cancer Institute
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Present Professor of Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
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2008 - 2018 Chairman, Mayo Clinic Florida ‐ General Surgery
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2008 - 2018 Director, Mayo Clinic Florida ‐ Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Program
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2007 - 2008 Co-Director, John Muir Cancer Institute ‐ Gastrointestinal Oncology
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2007 - 2008 Director, John Muir Cancer Institute ‐ Hepato-Biliary and Pancreas Program
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2007 - 2008 Physician Champion, John Muir Health ‐ NSQIP
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2002 - 2008 Director, John Muir Weight Loss Surgery Center ‐ Bariatric Surgery Program
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1999 - 2008 Director, John Muir Health ‐ Minimally Access and Robotic Surgery
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1997 - 2008 Staff Surgeon, John Muir Health ‐ Concord and Walnut Creek campuses
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2002 - 2003 Chairman, John Muir Health ‐ Department of Surgery
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2001 - 2002 Vice-Chairman, John Muir Health ‐ Department of Surgery
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1994 - 2002 Attending Consultant Surgeon, Contra Costa Regional Medical Center - Martinez, CA ‐ Department of Surgery
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1995 - 1999 Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of California Davis ‐ Northern California Health Care System
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1994 - 1997 Physician, Travis Air Force Base - Fairfield CA ‐ David Grant Medical Center
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1993 - 1994 Surgical Post Consultant, American Embassy ‐ Health Unit
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1992 - 1994 Attending Surgeon, Hospital Juan XXIII, University of Nuestra Señora de La Paz ‐ General and Gastrointestinal Surgery Department
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1992 - 1994 Staff Surgeon, Clínica Virgen de La Asuncion ‐ General Surgery Department
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Disciplines

Research Interests

Grants

2013 - 2014 Using biomarkers to develop individualized pancreatic cancer therapy for Mayo Clinic patients
CIM - Center for Individualized Medicine
Role: Program Director / Principal Investigator
2012 - 2013 Retrospective and Prospective Liver Database
Clinical Research Subcommittee
Role: Program Director / Principal Investigator
1998 - 2000 Laparoscopic Hepatico-Jejunostomy in a Porcine Model
David Grant Medical Center CIF Grant
Role: Principal Investigator
1996 - 1998 Laparoscopic vs. Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Exploration for Trauma
Surgeon General’s Office. Research Grant
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
1996 - 1997 Aerosolization of Cancer Cells During Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer: A Multi-Institutional Study
Surgeon General’s Office. Research Grant
Role: Principal Investigator
1996 - 1997 Aerosolization of Tumor Cells during CO2 Insufflation
Surgeon General’s Office. Research Grant
Role: Principal Investigator
1995 - 1997 The Effects of Pneumoperitoneum on Gastric Blood Flow
Surgeon General’s Office. Research Grant
Role: Co-Investigator
1996 - 1996 Computer Equipment Grant
Academic Senate, University of California Davis
Role: Principal Investigator
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Professional Service and Affiliations

2019 - Present President, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
2015 - Present Executive Board Member, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
2006 - Present Board of Governors Member, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
2015 - 2019 Vice-President, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
1996 - 2008 Educational Resources Committee, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
1997 - 2000 California State Chairperson, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
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Honors and Awards

  • Scholarship for Postgraduate Education, Surgery, Instituto de Cooperacion Iberoamericana (ICI), Spain, 1984-1985
  • Intern of the year, Kern Medical Center-University of California San Diego, 1987
  • Resident of the year, ICU, Kern Medical Center-University of California San Diego, 1988
  • Third Place: Clinical Surgeons Award, Society of Air Force Clinical Surgeons, San Antonio, TX, April 1996: The Effects of Pneumoperitoneum on Gastric Blood Flow and Traditional Hemodynamic Measurements
  • Surgeon General’s Award, Critical Care/Trauma Section Society of Air Force Clinical Surgeons, San Antonio, TX, April 1998: Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Exploration for Trauma: A False Sense of Security?
  • Surgeon General’s Award, Basic Science Section Society of Air Force Clinical Surgeons, San Antonio, TX, April 1998: Differential Aerosolization of Tumor Cells in Carbon Dioxide Insufflation, using an In-vitro Model
  • Physician Champion Award. VHA West Coast Clinical Award: For exemplary team leadership and commitment in performance improvement, best practices and evidence based medicine. November 2006
  • US Top Doctor. US News and World Report multiple years
  • Top Doctor Castel Connolly multiple years
  • Jacksonville Business Journal “Health Care Heroes Award” October 2013
  • SAGES 2015 Humanitarian Lecturer
  • Pedro Murillo Award (Highest award giving to an institution or individual by the City of La Paz, Bolivia). 2016
  • Maestro de la Cirugia Boliviana (Highest award given by the Bolivian Society of Surgery) 2016
  • Cleveland Clinic 2019 Robert E. Hermann Lecturer
  • Honorary Memberships: Korean Society of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons, Peruvian Society of General Surgery, Association of India Surgeons, Chilean Society of Surgery, Bolivian Society of Gastroenterology
  • Honorary Memberships: Bolivian College of Physicians, Association of Minimal Access Surgeons of India
  • Member, The Pancreas Club
  • Member, ISGPS

Courses

  • - Laparoscopic Surgery course, Veterans Administration Hospital, Boston, MA 1992
  • - Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery courses, HCA Laser Center, Nashville, TN, 1990-1992
  • - Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery courses, Advanced Laparoscopic Training Center (A.L.T.C.). Marietta, GA, 1990-1992
  • - Gastrointestinal Advances in Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Surgery: Where Are We in 2017? June 16-18, 2016. Mayo Clinic Florid, Jacksonville, Florida
  • Gastrointestinal Advances in Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Surgery: Where Are We in 2016? April 8-10, 2016. Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, Florida
  • - Post Graduate Course: Laparoscopic Surgery of the Liver and Pancreas. Pre-World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery June 25, 2014. Paris France
  • - Mayo Clinic Florida Interactive Surgery Course: Surgical technique Tips and Tricks. September 2011, Atlantic Beach Florida
  • - Surgical Hot Topics Course in 18th Clinical Reviews & Primary Care Update 2011. Mayo Clinic. June 6-10 2011, Amelia Island, Florida
  • - Surgical Hot Topics Course in 17th Clinical Reviews & Primary Care Update 2010. Mayo Clinic. June 7-11 2010, Amelia Island, Florid
  • - Post Graduate Course: Controversies and Techniques in Solid Organ Surgery. Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Scottsdale AZ, April 2009¬
  • - Liver Metastases in Colorectal Cancer. John Muir Cancer Institute and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center. John Muir Medical Center, Concord CA, March 24, 2008
  • - Post Graduate Course: Minimal Access Surgery and Cancer. Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Philadelphia PA, April 2008
  • - Video Program Chairman, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX April 2006
  • - Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Workshops, John Muir Health, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA. May 1998, August 1999, October 2000, and May 2001. University of California Davis, March 2004
  • - Robotic Surgery Workshop. John Muir Health, Concord California. November 2002
  • - Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Course SSG University Hospital, Baroda, India. November 1999
  • - Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy course. Hospital San Juan de Dios. San Jose, Costa Rica, August 1999
  • - Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Workshop, David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB, CA. January 1999
  • - Laparoscopic Surgery Course, Barros Luco Hospital and Johnson & Johnson Experimental Medicine Center, Santiago Chile. April 1998
  • - Third Annual Surgical Review: Minimally invasive Surgery and Trauma for the General Surgeon. University of California Davis - VANCHCS, David Grant Medical Center, Fairfield, CA. September, 1997
  • - Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery course. Carlos A. Bocalandro Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. August, 1997
  • - Second Annual Surgical Review: Surgical Review of Colorectal and Breast Diseases, University of California Davis - VANCHCS, David Grant Medical Center, Fairfield, CA, Aug 1996
  • - Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery Course. University of California Davis, Davis, CA, July 1996
  • - First Annual Surgical Review: Review of Upper Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Diseases, University of California Davis - VANCHCS, David Grant Medical Center, Fairfield, CA, Sept 1995
  • - Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery course, International College of Surgeons, La Paz, Bolivia, August 1993
  • - Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery course Instituto Dexeus course, Barcelona, Spain, Feb1993
  • - Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery course, Santa Cruz Surgical Society, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Jan 1993
  • - Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery courses Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA 1991-1992
  • - Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy course, Bolivian-Japanese Institute of Gastroenterology, La Paz, Bolivia, 1991
  • - Laparoscopic Surgery Course, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago Chile, Nov 1991
  • - Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery courses, Juan XXIII Hospital courses, La Paz, Bolivia, 1990-1993
  • - Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery courses, Kern Medical Center, Bakersfield, CA, 1990-1991

Education

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1991 - 1992 Fellowship Program - Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Lahey Clinic
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1986 - 1991 Residency Program - General Surgery, University of California, San Diego ‐ Kern Medical Center
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1985 - 1986 Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of California at San Diego ‐ Surgical Oncology
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1983 - 1984 Postdoctoral Surgical Fellow, Autonomous University of Barcelona ‐ Hospital de La Santa Cruz y San Pablo
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January 1983 Doctor of Medicine, M.D., University of Chile
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Links

Contact Information

Miami Cancer Institute
8900 N. Kendall Drive
Miami, FL 33176
(786) 596-2000

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