Residency: University of Wisconsin, Medical School, Madison, WI

Fellowship: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Certifications: General Surgery, Surgical Oncology

Area of Expertise: Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas and endocrine glands (thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal)

Kaitlyn Kelly, MD, is a surgical oncologist with board certification in general surgery and surgical oncology. Her expertise includes treating benign and malignant gastrointestinal tumours including those of the oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, and endocrine glands.

Dr. Kelly joined the Division of Surgical Oncology at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center in 2013 after completing a Medical Education-accredited fellowship in complex surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan – Kettering Cancer Center. Her clinical interests include the development of oncologically-sound, minimally-invasive approaches to upper GI cancers including laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques. During her surgical residency at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Kelly spent two years doing basic science and translational research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering where she and her colleagues investigated the use of oncolytic viruses for the treatment of multiple human cancers. They also developed and optimized assays for early detection of peritoneal carcinomatosis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and virally-mediated fluorescence.

In addition to training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, one of the world’s most prestigious cancer centers, she did additional training in cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC therapy at the University of Pittsburgh with Dr. David Bartlett. At UC San Diego, Moores Cancer Center she serves as the principal investigator for a clinical trial looking at the use of minimally invasive (laparoscopic) HIPEC surgery. She will also serve as principal investigator for an upcoming clinical trial investigating the use of vaccinia virus to treat patients with high-risk gastrointestinal tract cancers including those whose disease has spread to the peritoneal surfaces.

Dr. Kelly is a member of numerous societies including the Society of Surgical Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American College of Surgeons, the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, and the Americas Hepatopancreaticobiliary Association.

When not at work, Dr. Kelly enjoys long distance running, biking, camping, and watching football.