Dr. Alejandro Mejia Teaches Groundbreaking Pancreatic Cancer Treatment to Latin American Surgeons

Surgeons from Brazil, Chile, Columbia and Mexico City recently traveled to Methodist Dallas Medical Center to learn from and observe surgeon Alejandro Mejia, MD, Executive Medical Director Organ Transplantation, as he performed a Pancreaticoduodenectomy, also known as “Whipple” surgery, utilizing the robotic-assisted da Vinci® Surgical System. Dr. Alejandro Mejia is one of the first surgeons in the United States to perform this advanced, minimally invasive, hepatobiliary surgery for pancreatic cancer treatment, and he is recognized internationally for his expertise in both hepatobiliary and transplant surgery.

Methodist Dallas Medical Center is one of the few epicenters worldwide encompassing complex robotic-assisted hepatobiliary surgeries. Due to Dr. Mejia’s extensive training and experience in hepatobiliary and transplant surgery, he has been selected to lead this epicenter. The epicenter designation recognizes Methodist Dallas’ quality outcomes and compassionate care in treating patients with pancreatic and liver cancer, as well as other diseases of the pancreas, liver and gastrointestinal tract. Find out more about the General Surgery Epicenter designation in this article from Methodist Health System.

Potential benefits of the robotic Whipple surgery over traditional methods are as follows:

• Less pain
• Less blood loss
• Minimal scarring
• Faster recovery
• Ability to begin cancer treatment sooner

The international visiting surgeons’ two-day visit could be the first steps in making it possible for the potentially life-saving surgery to help pancreatic cancer patients in Mexico and South America.

Pictured from left to right: Carlos Chan of Mexico City, Ricardo Jureidini of Brazil, Nicolas Jarufe of Chile, Sergio Hoyos of Colombia, Dr. Alejandro Mejia of Methodist Dallas Medical Center and Oscar Guevara of Columbia.

Request additional information regarding the Whipple or other surgeries using the da Vinci system by contacting Jennifer McRae at 214-947-4653.