Chief, Surgical Oncology

I’m a surgical oncologist with a specialized focus on liver and pancreatic cancer as well as other cancers of the gastrointestinal tract such as stomach and colorectal cancer. A portion of my practice is dedicated to treating skin and soft tissue cancers. I also treat benign disorders and conditions of the liver and pancreas, including liver and pancreatic cysts, biliary tract stone disease and bile duct injuries. 

During my residency training as a general surgeon, I was drawn to this specialty and became dedicated to removing potentially deadly cancers and helping people gain back their health, and return to their family and friends cancer-free. I truly enjoy performing surgery, educating my patients about their cancer and options, and giving them hope about their condition. I’m honest and forthcoming, and treat each patient as an individual. I keep an open mind when offering treatment options and take into account all aspects of the patient’s life and health. 

I’m currently working to expand Memorial Healthcare System’s cooperative group trials for patients with gastrointestinal cancer. I have also partnered with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, which are great resources for patients.

My patients inspire me every day with their heart and strength. Going through a potentially life-changing cancer operation is not easy in any respect. My patients’ ability to trust me to care for and help them always humbles and amazes me. In return, I work very hard to treat every patient just as I would want my family members to be treated. 

I’m committed to providing my patients with the best surgical cancer care that is available anywhere. I’ve been fortunate to train at the best surgical training facilities with the best surgeons the world has to offer. I know exactly what it takes to provide the quality of care that is needed for optimum treatment of these complex cancers. And that level of care is available right here at Memorial Healthcare System. 

When I’m not with my patients, I enjoy spending time with my family, especially watching my children in their activities.

Hospital Affiliations

• Memorial Hospital Miramar
• Memorial Hospital Pembroke
• Memorial Hospital West
• Memorial Regional Hospital

Gender

• Male

• Liver cancer
• Bile duct cancer
• Pancreas cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Colorectal cancer
• Melanoma/skin cancer
• Benign diseases of liver/bile ducts
• Benign diseases of pancreas

Education

Columbia University, 1998, Surgical Oncology

Residency

University Of Maryland Medical Systems, 2004, Surgery

Fellowships

University Of Texas-MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2007, Surgical Oncology

Certifications

American Board of Surgery-Surgery

Publications

• View Dr. Christopher J Gannon's publications on PubMed

Book Chapters

• Gannon CJ, Curley SA. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Anatomy and Staging. In: D. P. Kelsen, J. M. Daly, S. E. Kern, B. Levin, J. E. Tepper (eds). Gastrointestinal Oncology: Principles and Practice. 2nd Edition; Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2007.

Professional Organizations

• Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
• Society of Surgical Oncology
• American Association for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
• Association of Academic Surgeons
• American Society of Clinical Oncology

Presentations

• Gannon CJ, Napolitano LM, Pasquale M, McCarter R. A Statewide Population-Based Study of Gender Differences in Trauma: Validation of a Prior Single Institution Study. Presented at American College of Surgeons Surgical Forum, October 25, 2000, Chicago, IL.
• Gannon CJ, Genuit T, Nelms C, Napolitano LM. Bile Inhibits LPS-Induced IL-10 and Nitric Oxide Production in Murine Macrophages. Presented at Southeastern Surgical Congress, February 6, 2001, New Orleans, LA.
• Gannon CJ, Malone DL, Napolitano LM. Reduction of IL-10 and Nitric Oxide Synthesis by SR31747A (sigma ligand) in RAW Murine Macrophages. Presented at Society of University Surgeons Annual Meeting Resident’s Session, February 8, 2001, Chicago, IL.
• Gannon CJ, Bochicchio G, Genuit T, McCarter R, Madayag H, Napolitano L. Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: Persistent Increase Despite Infection Control Measures. Presented at Society of Critical Care Medicine 2001 Educational and Scientific Symposium, February 13, 2001, San Francisco, CA.
• Gannon CJ, Engbrecht B, Napolitano LM, Bass BL. Gastric Remnant Carcinoma: Re-evaluation of Screening Endoscopy. Poster presentation at Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons Annual Meeting, April 19-21, 2001, St. Louis, MO.
• Gannon CJ, Malone DL, Royal RE, Bass BL, Napolitano LM. Advanced Proximal Colon Carcinoma: Paucity of Distal Lesions Validates Screening Colonoscopy. Presented at Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons Annual Meeting, April 20, 2001, St. Louis, MO.
• Gannon CJ, Malone DL, Napolitano LM. Reduction of IL-10 and Nitric Oxide Synthesis by SR31747A (sigma ligand) in RAW Murine Macrophages. Presented at Surgical Infection Society 21st Annual Meeting May 4, 2001, Snowbird, Utah.
• Gannon CJ, Napolitano LM, Pasquale M, Tracy JK, McCarter R. Male Gender Increases Risk of Post-Injury Pneumonia. Presented at the American College of Surgeons Surgical Forum, October 10, 2001, New Orleans, LA.
• Gannon CJ, Rousseau DL, Ross MI, Johnson MM, Lee JE, Mansfield PF, Cormier J, Prieto V, Gershenwald JE. Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy after Previous Wide Local Excision Accurately Reflects the Status of the Regional Nodal Basin in Patients with Primary Melanoma. Presented at International Sentinel Node Congress, December 3, 2004, Los Angeles, CA.
• Gannon CJ, Zager JS, Chang GJ, Feig BW, Skibber J, Rodriguez-Bigas M. Pelvic Exenteration Affords Safe and Durable Treatment for Locally Advanced Rectal Adenocarcinoma. Presented at 59th Annual Cancer Symposium of the Society of Surgical Oncology, March 24, 2006, San Diego, CA.
• Gannon CJ, Izzo F, Di Giacomo R, Melucci MT, Cremona F, Ferraro A, Mastro AA, Aloia TA, Curley SA. Prospective Screening Increases Detection of Potentially Curable Hepatocellular Cancer: Results from 5670 High-Risk Patients. Presented at the 7th World Congress of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, September 5, 2006, Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Gannon CJ, F Izzo, S Pignata, G Nasti, EK Abdalla, P Vallone, R Orlando, F Scordino, JN Vauthey, SA Curley. Does Prospective Screening for Hepatocellular Cancer Improve Outcome? Results from 5670 Chronic Hepatitis B or C Virus-Infected Patient. Presented at the 5th International Meeting for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Eastern and Western Experiences, January 12, 2007, Houston, Texas.
• Gannon CJ, Mukherjee P, Curley SA. In vitro Gold Nanoparticle Targeting Enhances Non-Invasive Radiofrequency Destruction of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Presented at the 2007 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium of American Society of Clinical Oncology, January 20, 2007, Orlando, Florida.
• Young G, Gannon CJ, Dombrovskiy V, Carpizo D, Vogel TR. Complications Following Elective Hepatic Resection for Malignancy: Are they associated with institutional volume? Presented at the 63rd Annual Cancer Symposium of the Society of Surgical Oncology, March 5, 2010, St. Louis, Missouri.
• Ang B, Yip D, Kierson D, Gannon CJ, Davidov T. Occult Retroperitoneal Lymphadenopathy from Metastatic Bladder Carcinoma Resulting in Duodenal Obstruction: Report of Two Cases. Presented at 51st Annual Meeting of Society for
• Surgery of the Alimentary Tract at Digestive Disease Week May 3rd, 2010, New Orleans, Louisiana.
• “Emerging Roles of Nanotechnology in Biomedicine:Are Carbon Nanotubes the Future of Nanomedicine?”- International Meeting NanoBioMedicine-Centro Richerche Oncologiche Mercogliano- June 21, 2010, Mercogliano/Naples, Italy
• “The Use of Carboxymethylcellulose in the surgical oncology patient”- 2014 Annual Meeting of the Taiwan Surgical Association-March 15,2014 Taipei, Taiwan

• Gannon CJ, Genuit T, Bochicchio G, Napolitano LM, Roghman MC, Sawyer R, Kriener C, Bass BL. Chlorhexidine Decreases the Incidence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) in Surgical ICU Patients. Presented at Washington Area Critical Care Society Spring Forum, June 8, 2000, Bethesda, MD.
• Gannon CJ, Bochicchio G, Joshi M, Scalea TM. Community Acquired Infections in the Geriatric Trauma Population. Presented at Washington Area Critical Care Society Spring Forum, June 8, 2000, Bethesda, MD.
• Gannon CJ, Genuit T, Buzdon MM, Napolitano LM. Trauma Induces Tissue-Specific Alterations in IL-10 Expression and Exogenous IL-10 Decreases Mortality. Presented at ACS-Committee on Trauma Region XIII (Military) Resident Trauma Competition, August 24, 2000, Bethesda, MD.
• Gannon CJ, Napolitano LM, Pasquale M, McCarter R. A Statewide Population-Based Study of Gender Differences in Trauma: Validation of a Prior Single Institution Study. Presented at ACS-Committee on Trauma Maryland Division Resident Trauma Competition, October 2, 2000, Baltimore, MD.
• Gannon CJ, Genuit T, Nelms C, Napolitano LM. Bile Inhibits LPS-Induced IL-10 and Nitric Oxide Production in Murine Macrophages. Presented at ACS-Committee on Trauma Maryland Division Resident Trauma Competition, October 2, 2000, Baltimore, MD.
• Gannon CJ, Engbrecht B, Napolitano LM. Rectovesical Fistula Repair: Use of Fibrin Sealant and Small Intestine Submucosa in an Irradiated Field. Presented at Surgical Applications of Tissue Sealants, October 21, 2000, Chicago, IL.
• Malone DL, Gannon CJ, Napolitano LM. Novel Applications of Fibrin Sealant in the Surgical ICU Setting. Presented at Surgical Applications of Tissue Sealants, October 22, 2000, Chicago, IL.
• Gannon CJ, Napolitano LM, Pasquale M, McCarter R. A Statewide Population-Based Study of Gender Differences in Trauma: Validation of a Prior Single Institution Study. Presented at ACS-Committee on Trauma Region 3 Competition, December 2, 2000, Shepherdstown, WV.
• Gannon CJ, Engbrecht B, Napolitano LM, Bass BL. Gastric Remnant Carcinoma: Re-evaluation of Screening Endoscopy. Presented at VA Maryland Health Care System Research Day, April 24, 2001, Baltimore, Maryland.
• Gannon CJ, Genuit T, Nelms C, Napolitano LM. Bile Inhibits LPS-Induced IL-10 and Nitric Oxide Production in Murine Macrophages. Presented at VA Maryland Health Care System Research Day, April 24, 2001, Baltimore, Maryland.
• Gannon CJ, Malone DL, Napolitano LM. Reduction of IL-10 and Nitric Oxide Synthesis by SR31747A (sigma ligand) in RAW Murine Macrophages. Presented at Harry L. Sponseller Surgical Forum, University of Maryland Department of Surgery, May 31, 2001, Baltimore, MD.
• Gannon CJ, Genuit T, Nelms C, Napolitano LM. Bile Inhibits LPS-Induced IL-10 and Nitric Oxide Production in Murine Macrophages. Presented at Washington Area Critical Care Society Spring Forum, June 7, 2001, Bethesda, MD.
• Gannon CJ, Bochicchio G, Genuit T, McCarter R, Madayag H, Napolitano L. Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: Persistent Increase Despite Infection Control Measures. Presented at Washington Area Critical Care Society Spring Forum, June 7, 2001, Bethesda, MD.
• Gannon CJ, Zager JS, Chang GJ, Feig BW, Skibber J, Rodriguez-Bigas M. Pelvic Exenteration Affords Safe and Durable Treatment for Locally Advanced Rectal Adenocarcinoma. Presented at Houston Surgical Society, Houston, Texas, April 19, 2006.
• Gannon CJ. Development of Biologically Stable Carbon Nanotubes and Their Application in a Novel Radiofrequency Ablation System. Presented at UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Fellows’ Research Conference, Houston, Texas, August 6, 2006.
• Gannon CJ. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Rising Risk in the U.S., Indications for Screening, and Treatment Options. Presented at the Department of Surgical Oncology Grand Rounds, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, October 25, 2006.
• Gannon CJ. Impacting Hepatocellular Cancer Outcomes: Screening, Surgical Options, and Nanotherapeutics. Presented at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Department of Surgery Grand Rounds, New Brunswick, NJ, January 2, 2008.
• Gannon CJ. Techniques and Outcomes for Surgical Management of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases. Presented at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Medical Oncology Fellowship Lecture Series, New Brunswick, NJ, March 18, 2008.
• Gannon CJ. Colorectal Liver Metastasis: Are all patients surgical candidates? Presented at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Surgery Grand Rounds, New Brunswick, NJ, March 25, 2009.
• Gannon CJ. Colorectal Liver Metastasis: Are all patients surgical candidates? Presented at Bayshore Community Hospital Grand Rounds, Holmdel, NJ, December 10, 2010.
• Gannon CJ. Which Patients Are Surgical Candidates? Presented at Rose Kline Oncology Lecture Pancreas Cancer Program, Capital Health Hopewell Hospital, Pennington, NJ, November 10, 2012.
• Gannon CJ. Neoadjuvant Therapy for Esophageal and EG Junction Cancer:Does it really improve surgical outcomes?, Barrett’s Esophagus and Esophagus Cancer: State-of-the-Art in 2013. Capital Health Hopewell Hospital, Pennington, NJ April 29, 2013.

• Source for “Cancer Therapy Without Side Effects Nearing Trials,” by Jennifer Laloup, Wired.com; April 13, 2008.
• “Colon Cancer Awareness Month” – Physician Spot, New Jersey FM 101.5, March 2009.

Awards

• Yale Summer Research Fellowship, Yale Medical School
• Sir John Templeton Scholar, Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America
• John C. Wood Memorial Scholarship, Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons
• Clinical Award, Resident Trauma Paper Competition, American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma, State of Maryland, Southeast Region
• Basic Science Award, Resident Trauma Paper Competition, American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma, VA Division
• Outstanding Leadership Award, University of Maryland, Department of Surgery Residency Program
• Lotzova Memorial Research Prize, Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Castle Connolly Top Doctors: New York Metro Area, 14th Edition, 2011
• Castle Connolly Top Doctors: New York Metro Area, 15th Edition, 2012
• Castle Connolly Top Doctors: New York Metro Area, 16th Edition, 2013
• Castle Connolly Top Doctors: New York Metro Area, 17th Edition, 2014
• Castle Connolly Top Doctors: New York Metro Area, 18th Edition, 2015
• Inside Jersey Top Doctors for Cancer Care, 2012
• Inside Jersey Top Doctors for Cancer Care, 2013
• Inside Jersey Top Doctors for Cancer Care, 2014
• Inside Jersey Top Doctors for Cancer Care, 2015
• South Jersey Magazine Top Physicians for Women, 2012
• South Jersey Magazine Top Physicians for Women, 2013
• South Jersey Magazine Reader’s Choice Top Physicians, 2012