- Specialty Peritoneal Mesothelioma
- Procedure Cytoreduction With HIPEC
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Vanderbilt Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery
2220 Pierce Avenue
597 Preston Research Building
Nashville, TN, 37232
Dr. Kamran Idrees
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Expert
Dr. Kamran Idrees serves as chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee. He created and leads the hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) treatment program at the university’s Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.
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Overview
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About Dr. Idrees
Dr. Idrees has extensive experience treating mesothelioma and other cancers. He is the co-founder of the Vanderbilt Surgical Oncology and Health Literacy Association.
His medical expertise includes:
- Clinical research
- Health care information technology
- Surgical oncology
- Translational research
“[Through HIPEC] our patients’ quality of life is vastly improved and survival rates are increased. That gives us all such motivation to continue building and expanding this route of treatment.”
Dr. Idrees is interested in the link between patient literacy — the amount of education a patient has about their own disease — and patient outcomes after surgery.
He speaks English, Urdu, and Pashto.
Dr. Idrees’ Career Highlights
- Co-founder of the Vanderbilt Surgical Oncology and Health Literacy (V-SOHL)
- Director of the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy/HIPEC Therapy Program at Vanderbilt
- Over two decades of medical experience in Pakistan and the United States
- Recipient of the Young Investigator Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology
Professional Background
Dr. Idrees was born in Peshawar, Pakistan, where he began his medical education before permanently relocating to the United States. Since then, he has become a phenomenal surgical oncologist with training at several top-notch medical facilities. He is now considered a top mesothelioma specialist in the United States.
Dr. Idrees received his medical degree from the Aga Khan University Medical College in Pakistan in 1999. He then pursued his internship and residency in general surgery at William Beaumont Hospital, followed by a surgical oncology research fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
He later completed a residency in general surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Following these educational endeavors, Dr. Idrees completed two additional fellowships: a surgical oncologist fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery fellowship at Washington University.
Dr. Idrees has taught surgery at several medical institutions, including:
- Birmingham VA Medical Center
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Washington University
In 2016, Dr. Idrees received the Young Investigator Award for his proposal suggesting a link between patient literacy and surgical outcomes. His research has revealed that patients who better understand their conditions and procedures are more likely to have fast patient recoveries.
Medical Specializations
Dr. Idrees is a board-certified surgeon specializing in:
- Peritoneal mesothelioma
- Peritoneal surface malignancies
- Wide range of gastrointestinal conditions
He also has extensive experience treating:
- Abdominal cancer
- Colon cancer
- Liver cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
As chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery at Vanderbilt, Dr. Idrees has a deep understanding of regional cancer therapy, including HIPEC, also referred to as “heated chemotherapy.”
He helped launch HIPEC treatments at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, making it an option for their mesothelioma patients.
“We are able to use a higher dose of chemotherapy in the peritoneal cavity than we would be able to administer through the bloodstream because of the toxicity. The solution is heated to 42 degrees centigrade (107.6 F) in an attempt to kill any remaining cancer cells.”
Dr. Idrees’ Career Accomplishments
Dr. Idrees has led an impressive career, making notable contributions to the medical community at a younger age than many of his peers.
His research has led to four dozen published articles, and his clinical work enabled him to create the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy division at Vanderbilt’s comprehensive cancer center and become its first director.
Awards & Honors
Dr. Idrees’ awards and honors include:
- National Institute of Health Clinical and Translational Science Award
- Society of Surgical Oncology Foundation Young Investigator Award
Dr. Idrees’ Current Work
From evaluation and diagnoses to staging and treatment, Dr. Idrees applies a coordinated strategy with many oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and support staff to treat patients with mesothelioma and other malignant disorders.
He is respected for his minimally invasive approach toward mesothelioma and other cancers, utilizing both laparoscopic and robotic techniques whenever possible.
He also serves as an associate professor of clinical research and associate professor of surgery, where he continues to educate and train the next generation of surgeons in the United States.
Dr. Idrees is currently a member of:
- American Board of Surgery
- American College of Surgeons
- American Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Association (AHPBA)
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- American Society of Peritoneal Surface Malignancy
- Center for Surgical Quality and Outcomes Research
- Detroit Surgical Association
- International Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Association (IHPBA)
- Society of American Gastrointestinal & Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
- Southeast Surgical Congress (SESC)
- Vanderbilt Surgical Oncology and Health Literacy
Featured Publication by Dr. Idrees
In the study, “Association of Health Literacy With Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery,” Dr. Idrees and his colleagues reviewed patient outcomes in relation to the patient’s original understanding of their medical condition, options, and treatment strategy.
The study reviewed 1239 patients, who had a median education level of 13 years — typically the completion of high school.
Dr. Idrees and his colleagues found that patients with lower health literacy ended up hospitalized for longer after their abdominal surgery, suggesting that health literacy does play a role in overall patient outcomes.
Therefore, patients may need to be fully educated on their conditions and treatment plans before surgery to help improve recovery times. The study ultimately included that health literacy must be evaluated further.
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Mesothelioma Hope has no affiliation with and is not endorsed or sponsored by Dr. Kamran Idrees. Any contact information listed is for informational purposes only. You have the right to contact Dr. Kamran Idrees directly.
Written by:Laura WrightLaura Wright is a journalist and content strategist with more than 15 years of professional experience. She attended college at the University of Florida, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2008. Her writing has been featured in The Gainesville Sun and other regional publications throughout Florida.
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