David Santos, M.D., M.S., FACS
Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery
About Dr. David Santos
Dr. Santos completed his medical degree at the University of California at Irvine, College of Medicine. He completed his surgical residency at Kern Medical Center, an affiliate of the University of California at Los Angeles. Dr. Santos received additional fellowship training in Advanced Laparoscopic, Metabolic, and Bariatric Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
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Following his training, Dr. Santos was in practice as a general surgeon at Kaiser Permanente Southern California Medical Group as a high volume clinical surgeon. A desire to pursue a career in academic surgery and apply his extensive clinical experience in acute care surgery and advanced laparoscopy led him to MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he is the section chief of General Surgery.
Dr. Santos has clinical and academic interest in improving the outcome of cancer patients with general surgical issues not directly related to their oncologic disease. Other particular areas of interest include application of advanced robotics abdominal wall reconstruction for hernia repair, splenectomy, complex cholecystectomy, and vascular access for chemotherapy. He is also exploring the relationship between morbid obesity and cancer outcomes.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Assistant Professor, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Associate Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2020 | University of Texas Health Science Center, McGovern School of Medicine, Houston, Texas, US, Clinical Research, M.S |
| 2004 | University of California at Irvine, College of Medicine, Irvine, California, US, MD |
| 1999 | University of California at Davis, Davis, California, US, Physiology, BS |
Postgraduate Training
| 2010-2011 | Clinical Fellowship, Advanced Laparoscopic, Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Fellowship, Cedars – Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California |
| 2006-2010 | Clinical Residency, General Surgery Residency, Kern Medical Center, Bakersfield, California |
| 2005-2006 | Clinical Internship, General Surgery Internship, San Joaquin General Hospital, French Camp, California |
| 2004-2005 | Clinical Internship, General Surgery Preliminary Internship, Cedars – Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California |
Licenses & Certifications
| 2014 | State of Texas |
| 2011 | American Board of Surgery |
| 2006 | State of California |
Experience & Service
Faculty Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2014 - 2021
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Section Chie, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2023 - Present
Other Professional Positions
Associate Surgeon, Kaiser Permanente Southern California Fontana – Ontario Medical Center, Ontario, CA, 2011 - 2014
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Representative – Education Pillar, Minimally Invasive and New Technology in Oncologic Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023 - Present
Faculty Senator, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - 2025
Content Expert Committee Member, Scientific Review Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022 - Present
Innovation Officer, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2021 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2015 - 2016 | Young Fellows Mentee, American College of Surgeons |
| 2009 - 2010 | Jack H. Bloch, MD Surgical Resident of the Year, Kern Medical Center |
| 2007 | Excellence in Teaching Award, Kern Medical Center |
| 2002 - 2003 | Co-President, College of Medicine Class of 2004, University of California at Irvine |
| 1998 | Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society, University of California at Davis |
| Top 1% and Perfect Score National Performance Rating on Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Patient Care Measures | |
| Top 10% and Perfect Score National Performance Rating on Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Patient Care Measures |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
Formal Peers
- 2024. The Surgical Management of Obesity and Cancer – Developing the Field of Oncobariatrics. Cancer Prevention Grand Rounds. Visiting. Houston, TX, US.
- 2021. Innovations in Ventral Incisional Hernia Repair – Perspectives from General Surgeons in A Tertiary Cancer Center, Grand Rounds. Visiting. Houston, TX, US.
- 2021. Santos DA, Newhook T, Jiang SY. Video: Short Stitch Abdominal Wall Closure Technique for Ventral Incisional Hernia Prevention. Invited, US.
- 2020. Robotic Retromuscular Repairs – Early Experience With An Evolving Technique. Visiting. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. Laparoscopic duodenal diverticulectomy. Invited. Irvine, CA, US.
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Wang W, Cai Q, Liu Y, Nie L, Lee HH, Yan F, Fei Y, Yao Y, Li Y, Tan L, Lorenzi PL, Wang YN, Yao J, Chen Z, McIntosh J, Yu CT, Jain P, Jiang V, Vargas J, Li X, Zhang T, Li S, Santos D, Thirumurthi S, Seeley EH, Simon LM, Flowers CR, Ok CY, Wang ML. TCA cycle mode switch determines the fate of pirtobrutinib-tolerant persister cells in mantle cell lymphoma. Blood, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40700581.
- Berkman AM, Andersen CR, Dixon SB, Ramirez A, Gilmore K, Thoman W, Razouki ZA, Santos D, Thosani S, Livingston JA, Hildebrandt MAT, Roth ME. Weight-Related Outcomes Among Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer after Anti-Obesity Medication Initiation. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40452567.
- Maki H, Kim BJ, Kawaguchi Y, Fernandez-Placencia R, Haddad A, Panettieri E, Newhook TE, Baumann DP, Santos D, Tran Cao HS, Chun YS, Tzeng CD, Vauthey JN, Vreeland TJ. Incidence of and Risk Factors for Incisional Hernia After Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastases. J Gastrointest Surg 27(11):2388-2395, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 37537494.
- Santos DA, Zhang L, Do KA, Bednarski BK, Robinson Ledet C, Limmer A, Gibson H, You YN. Chemotherapy and Abdominal Wall Closure Technique Increase the Probability of Postoperative Ventral Incisional Hernia in Patients With Colon Cancer. Am Surg 89(1):31348211011149, 2023. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33877925.
- DiPeri, TP, Newhook, TE, Day, RW, Chiang, YJ, Dewhurst, WL, Arvide, EM, Bruno, M, Scally, CP, Roland, CL, Katz, MH, Vauthey, JN, Chang, GJ, Badgwell, BD, Perrier, ND, Grubbs, EG, Lee, JE, Tzeng, CD, Bednarski, BK, Chen, IB, Comeaux, RJ, Cox, DM, Feig, BW, Fisher, SB, Fournier, KF, Ghebremichael, SJ, Gibson, H, Gourmelon, NC, Graham, PH, Hancher-Hodges, S, Hunt, KK, Ikoma, N, Ivey MPAS, SL, Keung, EZ, Ledet, CR, Limmer, AR, Mansfield, PF, Mayon, L, Messick, C, Popat, KU, Rajkot MPAS, NF, Rodriguez-Bigas, MA, Santos, DA, Skibber, JM, Speer, BB, Soliz, J, Tillman, MM, Torres, KE, Van Meter, A, Williams, UU, You, YN. A prospective feasibility study evaluating the 5x-multiplier to standardize discharge prescriptions in cancer surgery patients. Surgery Open Science 9:51-57, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35663797.
- Santos DA, Zhang L, Limmer AR, Gibson HM, Minetree C, Gollihar SH, Cristo JV, Ledet CR, Tran Cao HS. Protocolized Training of Advanced Practice Providers for Robotic Surgery Improves the Quality of Intraoperative Assistance. JSLS 26(3), 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35967964.
- Wang ML, Jain P, Zhao S, Lee HJ, Nastoupil L, Fayad L, Ok CY, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Hill HA, Yao Y, Hagemeister FB, Westin JR, Fowler N, Samaniego F, Steiner R, Nair R, Iyer SP, Navsaria L, Badillo M, Research Group MC, Feng L, Xuelin H, Nogueras Gonzalez GM, Xu G, Wagner-Bartak N, Thirumurthi S, Santos D, Tang G, Lin P, Wang SA, Jorgensen J, Yin CC, Li S, Patel KP, Vega F, Medeiros LJ, Flowers CR, Wang L. Ibrutinib-rituximab followed by R-HCVAD as frontline treatment for young patients (=65 years) with mantle cell lymphoma (WINDOW-1): a single-arm, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncol 23(3):406-415, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 35074072.
- Jain P, Zhao S, Lee HJ, Hill HA, Ok CY, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Hagemeister FB, Fowler N, Fayad L, Yao Y, Liu Y, Moghrabi OB, Navsaria L, Feng L, Nogueras Gonzalez GM, Xu G, Thirumurthi S, Santos D, Iliescu C, Tang G, Medeiros LJ, Vega F, Avellaneda M, Badillo M, Flowers CR, Wang L, Wang ML. Ibrutinib With Rituximab in First-Line Treatment of Older Patients With Mantle Cell Lymphoma. J Clin Oncol 40(2):202-212, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 34797699.
- Danker S, Mericli A, Rice D, Santos D, Butler C. Patient-specific 3D printed titanium rib sternal implant for reconstruction of a massive composite defect involving chest, diaphragm, and abdominal wall. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34858771.
- Zhang S, Jiang VC, Han G, Hao D, Lian J, Liu Y, Zhang R, McIntosh J, Wang R, Dang M, Dai E, Wang Y, Santos D, Badillo M, Leeming A, Chen Z, Hartig K, Bigcal J, Zhou J, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Ok CY, Lee H, Steiner RE, Zhang J, Song X, Nair R, Ahmed S, Rodriquez A, Thirumurthi S, Jain P, Wagner-Bartak N, Hill H, Nomie K, Flowers C, Futreal A, Wang L, Wang M. Longitudinal Single-Cell Profiling Reveals Molecular Heterogeneity and Tumor-Immune Evolution in Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma. Nat Commun 12(1):2877, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34001881.
- Santos DA, Limmer AR, Gibson HM, Ledet CR. The current state of robotic retromuscular repairs-a qualitative review of the literature. Surg Endosc 35(1):456-466, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 32926251.
- Jain P, Zhang S, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Ok CY, Nomie K, Gonzalez GN, Gonzalez-Pagan O, Hill HA, Lee HJ, Fayad L, Westin J, Nastoupil L, Hagemeister F, Chen W, Oriabure O, Badillo M, Jiang C, Yixin Y, Li S, Tang G, Yin CC, Patel KP, Medeiros LJ, Nair R, Ahmed S, Iyer SP, Thirumurthi S, Champlin R, Xu G, Tinsu P, Santos D, Wang R, Han G, Zhang J, Song X, Neelapu S, Romaguera J, Futreal A, Flowers C, Fowler N, Wang L, Wang ML. Genomic profiles and clinical outcomes of de novo blastoid/pleomorphic MCL are distinct from those of transformed MCL. Blood Adv 4(6):1038-1050, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32191807.
- Santos D, Ledet CR, Limmer A, Gibson H, Badgwell B. Use of non-operative treatment and interval cholecystectomy for cholecystitis in patients with cancer. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open 5(1):e000439, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32420452.
- Al-Temimi MH, Rangarajan S, Chandrasekaran B, Kim EG, Trujillo CN, Mousa AF, Santos DA, Johna SD. Predictors of Failed Transcystic Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration: Analysis of Multicenter Integrated Health System Database. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A 29(3):360-365, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30207856.
- Al-Temimi MH, Kim EG, Chandrasekaran B, Franz V, Trujillo CN, Mousa A, Tessier DJ, Johna SD, Santos DA. Discussion of: "Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration versus endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for choledocholithiasis found at time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Analysis of a large integrated health care system database". Am J Surg 214(6):1080-1081, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 29054446.
- Al-Temimi MH, Kim EG, Chandrasekaran B, Franz V, Trujillo CN, Mousa A, Tessier DJ, Johna SD, Santos DA. Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration versus endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for choledocholithiasis found at time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Analysis of a large integrated health care system database. Am J Surg 214(6):1075-1079, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28939251.
- Santos, David, Chiang, Yi-Ju, Badgwell, Brian. Appendicitis in Cancer Patients Is Often Observed and Can Represent Appendiceal Malignancy. American Surgeon, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Wang ML, Lee H, Chuang H, Wagner-Bartak N, Hagemeister F, Westin J, Fayad L, Samaniego F, Turturro F, Oki Y, Chen W, Badillo M, Nomie K, Rosa MD, Zhao D, Lam L, Addison A, Zhang H, Young KH, Li S, Santos D, Medeiros LJ, Champlin R, Romaguera J, Zhang L. Ibrutinib in combination with rituximab in relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma: a single-centre, open-label, phase 2 trial. Lancet Oncology(S1470-2045(15)00438-6), 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Phillips EH, Santos DA, Towfigh S. Working Port-Site Hernias: To Close or Not To Close? Does It Matter in the Obese?. Bariatric Times 8(6):24-30, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
- Santos DA, Jr MJ, Hohman D, Avik E, Taylor EW. How Often Does Computed Tomography Change the Management of Acute Appendicitis?. American Surgeon 75(10):918-921, 2009. e-Pub 2009.
- Ledet CR, Santos D, Wang X, Gibson H, Limmer A, Badgwell B. Comparison of hernia recurrence and seroma formation in cancer patients undergoing incisional hernia repair with transfascial sutures vs. fibrin glue for mesh fixation. International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research 6(1):42-48.
Other Articles
- Zhang, S, Jiang, VC, Han, G, Hao, D, Lian, J, Liu, Y, Cai, Q, Zhang, RJ, McIntosh, J, Wang, R, Dang, M, Dai, E, Wang, Y, Santos, DA, Badillo, M, Leeming, A, Chen, Z, Hartig, K, Bigcal, J, Zhou, J, Kanagal-Shamanna, R, Ok, CY, Lee, H, Steiner, RE, Zhang, J, Song, X, Nair, R, Ahmed, S, Rodriquez, A, Thirumurthi, S, Jain, P, Wagner-Bartak, N, Hill, H, Nomie, K, Flowers, CR, Futreal, A, Wang, L, Wang, L Author Correction. Nature communications 15(1), 2024. PMID: 39375332.
- Santos DA, Alseidi A, Shannon VR, Messick C, Song G, Ledet CR, Lee H, Ngo-Huang A, Francis GJ, Asher A Management of surgical challenges in actively treated cancer patients. Curr Probl Surg 54(12):612-654, 2017. PMID: 29421024.
Abstracts
- Limmer A, Gibson H, Mohammad M, Ledet CR, Santos DA. Targeted Clinical Training is Essential for Improving Advanced Practice Provider Assistance in Robotic Surgery: A Pilot Study. Southwest Surgical Congress, Maui, HI 2021, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Ledet CR, Bednarski BK, You YN, Limmer AR, Gibson HM, Santos DA. Chemotherapy and Abdominal Wall Closure Technique Increase the Probability of Postoperative Ventral Incisional Hernia in Patients with Colon Cancer. American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress, Virtual. e-Pub 2020.
- Santos DA, Ledet CR, Limmer AR, Gibson HM, Qiao W, Badgwell BD. Abdominal Malignancy, Abdominal Radiation, and Neutropenia Are Associated With Non-Surgical Treatment of Acute Cholecystitis in Cancer Patients. Southwest Surgical Congress, Napa, CA 2018, 2018. e-Pub 2018.
- Santos DA, Qiao W, Badgwell BD. Appendicitis In Cancer Patients Is Often Observed and Can Represent Appendiceal Malignancy. Southern California Chapter American College of Surgeons Annual Academic Meeting, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
- Santos DA, Qiao W, Badgwell BD. Non Surgical Management and Interval Cholecystectomy Is Preferred for Acute Cholecystitis in Cancer Patients. Society of Surgical Oncology Annual Cancer Symposium, Boston, MA 2016, 2016. e-Pub 2016.
Book Chapters
- Santos D, Gibson HM, Ledet CR. Splenectomy for Conditions Other Than Trauma. In: Shackelford's Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, 2 Volume Set, 9th Edition. 9, 2025.
- Lee HJ, Santos DA. Splenectomy for Hematological Disease and Malignant Conditions of the Spleen. In: Fischer’s Mastery of Surgery. 8th, 2023.
- Swords, D Santos DA, Lee HJ. Hematologic Malignancies and Splenic Tumors. In: The MD Anderson Surgical Oncology Handbook. 7, 2023.
- Messick CA, Santos DA. Management of Bowel Surgery Complications. In: Principles of Gynecologic Oncology Surgery, 2019.
- Ledet CR, Santos DA. Acute Abdomen in Cancer Patients. In: Oncologic Critical Care, 2019.
- Sandhu L, Santos DA, Lee HJ. Hematologic Malignancies and Splenic Tumors. In: The MD Anderson Surgical Oncology Handbook, 2018.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified July 22, 2026