Christopher R. Connelly

Dr. Christopher R. Connelly is a Professor in the Department of Surgery at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Medicine, specializing in Abdominal Organ Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery. Appointed to the faculty in 2020, he serves as Associate Program Director of the AHPBA Fellowship Council Accredited Hepato-pancreatico-biliary Fellowship and is an active member of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.

Education and Training:

• B.S. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University (2006)
• M.D., Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (2011)
• General Surgery Internship, OHSU (2011-2012)
• General Surgery Residency, OHSU (2012-2018)
• Research Fellowship, Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, OHSU (2014-2016)
• Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery Fellowship, University of Michigan (2018-2020)
• American Board of Surgery Certification (2018)

Dr. Connelly's research focuses on ischemia reperfusion injury, access to transplantation, and transplant outcomes, with particular emphasis on expanding living donation through robotic surgery. His clinical expertise spans adult/pediatric kidney/liver transplantation, living donor procedures, pancreas transplantation, and complex hepatobiliary surgery for benign and malignant conditions. He actively contributes to surgical education and outcomes research.

His recent publications demonstrate consistent contributions to transplant surgery, with trends showing increasing focus on health equity in kidney transplantation, robotic surgery innovation, and ischemia-reperfusion injury mechanisms. Key themes include racial disparities in transplant access, novel preservation techniques, and long-term graft outcomes.

Scientific Awards:

• Best Resident OHSU Transplant Surgery Service – Oregon Health & Science University Graduation Banquet (2017)
• Making a Difference Award, Michigan Medicine Employee Recognition Program (2020)

As Associate Program Director of the Hepato-pancreatico-biliary Fellowship, Dr. Connelly mentors fellows in advanced transplant techniques. His research program includes NIH-funded studies on transplant outcomes and ischemia-reperfusion injury. He is building OHSU's robotic surgery transplant program to expand living donor access. Dr. Connelly maintains active clinical practice at OHSU's Abdominal Organ Transplant Clinic, performing complex multi-organ transplant surgeries while advancing surgical innovation.