V. Liana Tsikitis, M.D., M.B.A., M.C.R., FACS, FASCRS (she/her)

  • Professor of Surgery, Division of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery, School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Vassiliki ‘Liana’ Tsikitis joined the Division of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery at OHSU in 2011. During her tenure, she completed her Master’s in Clinical Research in 2013, and was promoted to Associate Professor of Surgery in 2014. In 2019, Dr. Tsikitis obtained her Master’s in Business Administration in Health Policy at Brandeis University and was promoted to Professor of Surgery. She currently serves as Head of the Division of Gastrointestinal and General Surgery and Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Department of Surgery. 

Within OHSU, Dr. Tsikitis additionally serves as the Chair of the School of Medicine’s Promotion and Tenure Committee. Regionally, Dr. Tsikitis serves as the State Chair for the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Nationally, she serves as Colorectal Subcommittee Chair for the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. Furthermore, she serves as a question writer for the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgeons’ written examination and continuous certification assessment (CertLink), and for the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons’ Colon and Rectal Surgery Educational Program (CARSEP). 

Clinically, Dr. Tsikitis specializes in the surgical management of malignant and benign colon and rectal diseases. Her primary focus is on the surgical management of patients with complex inflammatory bowel disease and advanced colon and rectal cancer. Her research focus is on microbial dysbiosis and colorectal neoplasia, and delineating the tumor microenvironment of early onset colorectal cancer. She has received intramural and extramural funding that has supported more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and chapters and has allowed her to serve as a member of editorials boards and as a study reviewer at the NIH. Dr. Tsikitis is an active collaborator and leader on multi-institutional research projects and frequently collaborates with researchers from OHSU’s Department of Cell, Development, and Cancer Biology including the Anand Lab and Wong Lab. She is sought after, regionally and nationally, to lecture on the surgical management colorectal cancer.

Dr. Tsikitis has made significant contributions to service, research, and teaching throughout her career. Her continued dedication has been acknowledged on institutional, regional, and national levels. Her most recent recognitions and accomplishments include being awarded the OHSU Department of Surgery 2022 Distinguished Service Award, being chosen as the Brown University Department of Surgery 2023 Distinguished Alumni Lecturer, and lastly, being selected as a 2022-2023 Fellow of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program. 

Education and training

    • M.D., 2000, Temple University School of Medicine
    • M.C.R., 2013, Oregon Health & Science University
    • M.B.A., 2019, Brandeis University, Heller School for Social Policy and Management
  • Residency

    • General Surgery, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, 2000-2007
  • Fellowship

    • Colon-Rectal Surgery, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, MN, 2007-2008
  • Certifications

    • American Board of Surgery (2007; Recertified 2017)
    • American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery (2009; Recertified 2017)

Memberships and associations:

  • Association for Academic Surgeons, Finance Committee
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Society
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • American College of Surgeons, Fellow
  • American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
  • Association for Academic Surgery
  • European Society of Coloproctology
  • International Society of Digestive Surgeons
  • International Society of Surgeons
  • Pacific Coast Surgical Association
  • Priestley Society of Mayo Clinic, Council Board
  • Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Research Committee
  • Southwest Oncology Group
  • Society of University Surgeons

Areas of interest

  • Colorectal cancer genetics

Honors and awards

  • 2017, American College of Surgeons/American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Health Policy Scholarship recipient: “Leadership Program in Health Policy and Management”
  • 2017, Top Doctors, Portland Monthly Magazine
  • 2013, Department of Surgery Service Excellence Award, Oregon Health & Science University
  • 2010, The Charles F. Zukoski Award for Outstanding Role Model in Surgery, University of Arizona
  • 2007, Haffenreffer Fellow in Medical Sciences, Brown University
  • 2007, Dean's Teaching Excellence Award, Brown University
  • 2007, Brian A. Dorman, M.D., Surgical Education Award, Brown University
  • 2006, Outstanding Resident Physician, Brown University

Publications

Elsevier pure profile

Publications

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