Dr. Dominic E. Sanford is Chief of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic, and Gastrointestinal Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he also serves as Director of the Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) Surgery Fellowship. Dr. Sanford specializes in minimally invasive approaches to complex abdominal diseases, including pancreatic, liver, bile duct, and gastrointestinal cancers.
He earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia and completed his general surgery residency at Washington University. He went on to perform fellowship training in Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic, and Liver Transplantation at Washington University as well as in advanced gastrointestinal minimally invasive surgery at Mayo Clinic Florida.
Dr. Sanford is nationally recognized for his leadership in surgical innovation and patient-centered care. He founded and directs the SPAR Program (Surgical Prehabilitation and Readiness), a multidisciplinary initiative designed to optimize older adults for surgery through physical conditioning, nutritional support, and mental preparedness. The program has received awards for improving outcomes and reducing postoperative complications.
In his dual roles as clinical leader and educator, Dr. Sanford is deeply committed to advancing surgical excellence through mentorship, quality improvement, and holistic patient care.