Dr. Brendan C. Visser

Dr. Brendan C. Visser, MD, is a renowned leader in hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgical oncology and Section Chief of HPB Surgery in the Department of General Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. A native of San Francisco, he earned his BS at Cornell University after attending Deep Springs College, followed by his MD from UCSF. He completed his general surgery residency at UCSF and fellowship training in HPB surgery at the University of Edinburgh. Board-certified by the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Visser provides care at Stanford Hospital and the Stanford Cancer Center. He also serves as Medical Director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Care Program and, since 2013, as Program Director of Stanford’s HPB Surgery Fellowship. In 2023, he was promoted to full Professor of Surgery, reflecting his sustained contributions to clinical care and education.

He is recognized for his clinical excellence and innovative research in complex liver, pancreas, and bile duct disorders. Dr. Visser performs advanced surgical procedures, including minimally invasive and robotic resections, for malignancies such as pancreatic adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, and hepatocellular carcinoma. His research integrates translational and technical domains, exploring topics like minimally invasive techniques, pancreatic cyst biomarkers, and microvascular invasion prediction using computational image analysis and genomics. His team also pioneers multidisciplinary management strategies for pancreatic neuroendocrine cancers. He has earned multiple teaching awards including the John Collins Memorial Teaching Award in 2011 and Best Rotation Awards in 2015 and 2020.

Beyond his surgical and research roles, Dr. Visser is an educational leader at local and global levels. He chairs the HPB Surgery Fellowship Program and holds leadership posts with the Americas and International HPB Associations. He serves on editorial boards and the Fellowship Council, and promotes international surgical education through speaking engagements and partnerships in Latin America. His commitment to trainee development, quality surgical outcomes, and cross-border collaboration has solidified his reputation as a top specialist in hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancer surgery.