Dr. Umut Sarpel

Dr. Umut Sarpel guides the Division of Surgical Oncology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with a calm assurance that centers every discussion on the whole person rather than on an isolated tumor. Board-certified in general surgery and fellowship-trained in complex oncologic procedures, she convenes hepatobiliary, sarcoma, interventional radiology, anesthesia, nutrition, and rehabilitation specialists in a single conference so each perspective shapes the operative blueprint from the outset. Her clinic navigator captures family questions in real time, and pre-habilitation coaches help patients build stamina before the first incision. By translating imaging and pathology findings into straightforward next-step options—open resection, laparoscopic approach, robotic assist, or active surveillance—she makes certain that medical accuracy and personal values move forward in lockstep. Patients leave the initial visit with a written plan that matches oncologic safety to functional independence, fostering confidence even before treatment begins.

 

At the laboratory bench Dr. Sarpel explores how circulating tumor-DNA and immune-checkpoint signaling reveal microscopic disease long before scans turn positive. Her team cultures organoid models from resected liver, biliary, and peritoneal tumors, testing combinations of checkpoint blockade and stromal-targeting agents that may shrink margins or spare healthy parenchyma. A flagship neoadjuvant study pairs anti-PD-1 therapy with hepatic resection for select hepatocellular carcinoma, collecting serial blood and tissue samples that map immunologic change from diagnosis through recovery. The protocol’s correlative arm layers genomic, radiomic, and patient-reported data, building algorithms that forecast which lesions will respond and which need alternate strategies. This commitment to tightly linked discovery and bedside application speeds the journey from promising mechanism to safe, practical therapy, giving patients earlier access to treatments chosen for both science and safety.

 

Teaching and outreach weave through every facet of her work. Dr. Sarpel mentors surgical residents, oncology fellows, and allied-health trainees in joint workshops that practice difficult-conversation skills alongside advanced operative techniques, ensuring technical excellence never eclipses human connection. She co-creates bilingual video modules that explain liver-cancer warning signs, sarcoma rehabilitation, and clinical-trial participation, distributing them through regional hospitals and advocacy groups so reliable guidance reaches communities far beyond Boston. A regularly updated podcast series, filmed with survivors and caregivers, tackles fears surrounding recovery, nutrition, and return to work—turning lived experience into practical wisdom for those newly diagnosed. By lowering information barriers and amplifying diverse voices, she broadens trust in the medical system and invites more patients to benefit from specialized care close to home.