Theodore N. Pappas

Theodore N. Pappas serves as Associate Vice Dean for Department and Center Evaluations and Distinguished Professor of Surgical Innovation at Duke University School of Medicine. His extensive leadership roles include Director and Founder of the U.S. Surgical Endosurgical Center, Chief of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Program Director for General Surgery Residency, and Interim Chairman of the Department of Surgery.

His educational background includes:

• Bachelor of Science, John Carroll University (1977)
• Master of Science and MD, The Ohio State University College of Medicine (1981)
• Internship/Residency, Brigham and Women’s Hospital (1988)
• Gastrointestinal Research Fellow, University of California (1983-1985)
• Clinical Fellow, Harvard Medical School (1985-1988)

Dr. Pappas specializes in gastrointestinal surgery with clinical focus on peptic ulcer disease and cancers of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, and bile ducts. His surgical innovation work spans endosurgery techniques and advanced oncologic procedures, significantly influencing minimally invasive surgical standards through his founding of the U.S. Surgical Endosurgical Center.

His professional recognition includes:

• Leonard Palumbo Jr, Faculty Achievement Award (2015)
• David C. Sabiston Teaching Award (1994, 2006)
• F.D. Moore Resident Teaching Award

As an educator, he directed Duke's General Surgery and Physician Assistant Surgical Residency programs while serving on editorial boards of major surgical journals. His professional leadership extends to past Vice Presidency of the American Surgical Association, Presidency of the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, and Senior Directorship of the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Pappas has edited eight textbooks and authored over 400 scholarly publications.

He maintains active clinical leadership through the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Durham and Duke Faculty Practice, driving surgical quality improvement initiatives across multiple healthcare systems.