The Boston Liver, Pancreas and Biliary Center

The Boston Liver, Pancreas and Biliary Center at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center brings the latest and most advanced treatments in the world to patients with liver and pancreas cancer or metastatic colorectal cancer. Working in close collaboration with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute onsite at St. Elizabeth’s, the multidisciplinary group of world-renowned experts is the only team in Boston that offers cutting edge surgical procedures such as laparoscopic, Whipple, advanced robotic liver and pancreas cancer surgery, as well as novel integrated immunologic treatments.

The team is led by surgical oncologist Claudius Conrad, MD, PhD, FACS, and ensures the best possible outcomes for our patients. Our team treats all hepato-pancreato-biliary conditions, including:

• Liver tumors and cancer
• Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)
• Gallbladder cancer
• Duodenal cancer
• Neuroendocrine tumors
• Pancreatic cysts and cancer
• Splenic conditions

Dr. Conrad works closely with a collaborative care team, which includes radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, radiologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, and nurses to develop individualized treatment plans for patients and their families. Patients also have access to the center's dedicated team of medical assistants, nutritionists, pathologists, rehabilitation specialists, and social workers to ensure the best possible care.

Surgical treatment options vary depending on a patient’s treatment plan, with minimal trauma and laparoscopic/robotic-assisted approaches whenever possible.

Procedures include:

• Liver resections
• Pancreas resection, including Whipple procedure, Central and Distal Pancreatectomy and Enucleation
• Bile duct resections
  
   

About Claudius Conrad, MD, PhD, FACS

Dr. Conrad is the chief of General Surgery and Surgical Oncology, and director of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center. In this role, he brings his expertise in the treatment of hepato-pancreato-biliary cancers to patients throughout the Steward Health Care system.

Prior to joining St. Elizabeth’s medical staff, Dr. Conrad worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He earned his medical degree at the University of Munich and Harvard Medical School, after which he completed a residency in general surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston followed by fellowships at Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare, the Institut Mutualist Montsouris in Paris and University of Tokyo. 

Board certified in general surgery and general complex surgical oncology as well as fellowship trained in minimally invasive hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery, Dr. Conrad also brings a robust research program to facilitate clinical innovations, specifically in understanding cancer biology and using music to complement holistic healing of patients. As a classically trained and accomplished concert pianist, he co-founded the field of clinical research on the science of music in medicine. 

 

About Eduardo Vega Pizarro, MD

Eduardo Vega, MD, is a Hepato-Bilio-Pancreatic surgeon in the Department of Surgery at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center and an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Boston University School of Medicine. After completing his residency in general surgery at Hospital Sotero del Rio, Santiago, Chile, Dr. Vega served as Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Surgical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center from 2017 to 2019. He later moved to Boston, Massachusetts to complete a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center/Tufts University. This experience led to multiple publications that found innovative prognostic solutions for stomach, duodenum, liver, gallbladder and pancreatic cancer, which are now being applied to the clinical practice worldwide.

As a gastrointestinal oncologist, Dr. Vega care for patients with benign and malignant (cancerous) diseases of the stomach, duodenum, liver, bile duct, gallbladder, and pancreas. In addition to his time in the clinic and operating room, Dr. Vega has a keen interest in research.

The close and reciprocal relationship between clinical surgery and research is a primary focus for Dr. Vega, who has an ultimate goal of applying innovative solutions to healthcare needs. Dr. Vega’s current research focuses on novel techniques and technologies to treat complex liver and pancreas cancer.

Dr. Vega is currently a member of several national and international organizations including The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, and a combined member of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association and the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.

Dr. Vega tries to share his knowledge and experience with healthcare professionals around the world. “Being of Hispanic heritage comes with me everywhere I go. Unfortunately, there are a lot of Hispanic patients that have either no access or very limited access to health care. I make it part of my Hepatobiliopancreatic practice to increase access to my community in any way I can.”