Dr. Michael J. Stamos

Dr. Michael J. Stamos, MD, is a leading figure in colorectal surgery and academic medicine, specializing in minimally invasive and sphincter-sparing techniques for colon and rectal cancer, as well as inflammatory bowel disease. He serves as Dean of the UC Irvine School of Medicine and is Professor in the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at University of California, Irvine. Dr. Stamos earned his MD from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and completed a general surgery residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, followed by a colorectal surgery fellowship at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans. He served on the faculty at UCLA, leading the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at Harbor‑UCLA Medical Center and the West LA VA before joining UC Irvine in 2002, later becoming Chair of Surgery and, in 2016, Dean of the medical school.

Dr. Stamos is celebrated for his clinical focus on minimally invasive approaches and sphincter-preserving operations. Over his career, he has authored more than 260 peer-reviewed manuscripts and 38 book chapters, and has served as editor for multiple surgical textbooks, including the ASCRS Textbook of Colon and Rectal Surgery. He has held national leadership positions, including President of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) and the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery.

Beyond his clinical and academic achievements, Dr. Stamos is a dedicated mentor and educator at UC Irvine. As Dean, he has guided the School of Medicine to higher national research rankings and earned full accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. He remains actively involved in training surgical residents nationally and shaping surgical education standards through guideline development and academic leadership.