Dr. Vinod P. Balachandran, MD, is a surgical oncologist specializing in the treatment of benign and malignant diseases of the pancreas, bile duct, gallbladder, and liver. He is a faculty member at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), where he first joined in 2006 and has built a distinguished career devoted to the care of patients with pancreatic cancer. Drawing on deep surgical expertise and a commitment to individualized patient care, he and his team approach every case from diagnosis through recovery with the guiding principle of doing it once, doing it right, and doing it efficiently. His work combines a high-volume surgical practice with a relentless focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for one of the most complex and difficult cancers to treat.
Why they are a top doctor
Research papers · PubMed
171
Published, peer-reviewed work, the clearest public measure of expertise in a specialty.
Cited by other doctors
19k
How often other doctors and researchers build on their work.
Known for
Immunotherapy and cancer vaccines
The distinction that sets them apart from other hepatopancreatobiliary surgeons.
Specializes in
Laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery
A narrow focus means they see far more of these cases than a general surgeon.
Background
Education
Medical school: MD, SUNY at Stony Brook
Residency: General Surgery - New York-Presbyterian Hospital
Fellowship: Complex Surgical Oncology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Board certifications: Surgery
Awards
TIME100 Most Influential People in Health (2025)
Washington Post 50 Most Influential People in Health (2025)
FNIH Trailblazer Prize for Clinician-Scientists (2023)