Skip to main content
Michael Cavnar, MD, General Surgery, Lexington, KY, University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital

MichaelJosephCavnarMD

General Surgery Lexington, KY

Surgical Oncology (Other than Breast)

Physician

Overview of Dr. Cavnar

I am a board-certified general surgeon and surgical oncologist. I started at the University of Kentucky as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery, Section of Surgical Oncology in July 2017. I have expertise in treatment liver, biliary, pancreas, and upper GI malignancies, as well as intraabdominal sarcoma. My research interests include translational studies of immune and targeted therapy in colorectal liver metastases and in gastrointestinal stromal tumor. I am also interested in developing and running clinical trials of optimal strategies in neoadjuvant treatment of pancreas cancer.

Education & Training

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
    Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterFellowship, Complex General Surgical Oncology, 2015 - 2017
  • NYU Grossman School of Medicine
    NYU Grossman School of MedicineResidency, Surgery, 2007 - 2015
  • Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
    Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsClass of 2007

Certifications & Licensure

  • KY State Medical License
    KY State Medical License 2017 - 2025
  • NY State Medical License
    NY State Medical License 2008 - 2018
  • American Board of Surgery Surgery
  • American Board of Surgery Complex General Surgical Oncology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • Clinical Teaching Award University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 2017-2018
  • Chairman’s Award for Clinical Research Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2015-2017
  • NYU Department of Surgery Research Award New York University School of Medicine, 2015
  • Join now to see all

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Press Mentions

  • 'I’m Just Grateful to Be Here' – Markey Patient Perseveres Against Rare Disease
    'I’m Just Grateful to Be Here' – Markey Patient Perseveres Against Rare DiseaseMarch 2nd, 2020
  • Markey Patient, Culinary Author Enjoying Life "One Bite at a Time"
    Markey Patient, Culinary Author Enjoying Life "One Bite at a Time"December 7th, 2019
  • UK HealthCare No. 1 Again in Ky., Cancer Care Moves up in U.S. News & World Report Rankings
    UK HealthCare No. 1 Again in Ky., Cancer Care Moves up in U.S. News & World Report RankingsJuly 27th, 2022

Research History

  • Surgical Oncology Research Training Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterBasic science lab fellowship under the mentorship of Dr. Ronald DeMatteo, studying tumor immunology and targeted therapy in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)2009 - 2012

Professional Memberships

Hospital Affiliations