Last Updated on February 3, 2026 by Social Career Builder
Dr. Allan Tsung is an academic surgical oncologist and physician-scientist specializing in complex cancers of the liver and pancreas.
Academic Surgical Oncologist and Physician-Scientist Dr. Allan Tsung currently serves as Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where he also holds the S. Hurt Watts Professorship. Dr. Tsung is widely recognized for his leadership in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgical oncology — as well as his commitment to advancing multidisciplinary cancer care.
Experience in Academia
Education & Research Training
Dr. Allan Tsung’s research career began early, during medical school, when he was selected as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Scholar at the National Institutes of Health. There, he worked at the National Cancer Institute on cancer immunotherapy research. Dr. Tsung later completed three years of dedicated research training at the University of Pittsburgh, focusing on inflammation biology and innate immune responses in organ injury and cancer — an experience that continues to inform his translational research today.
Research & Academic Leadership
As a clinician-investigator, Allan Tsung, MD leads a broad, integrated cancer research program that bridges laboratory science, clinical outcomes research and clinical trials. His scientific work explores the role of inflammation and the liver microenvironment in cancer development, progression and treatment response. These efforts are aimed at translating biologic insight into tangible improvements in cancer therapy.
In parallel, Allan Tsung, MD conducts research focused on cancer care delivery, examining variations in quality, access and outcomes. His work in this area seeks practical, scalable solutions to improve consistency of care across diverse clinical and institutional settings.
Clinical Focus & Patient Care
Dr. Allan Tsung’s clinical practice centers on the surgical treatment of liver and pancreatic malignancies, including advanced and metastatic disease involving the liver — most commonly from colorectal cancer. He has particular expertise in complex liver and pancreatic procedures and routinely employs robotic and minimally invasive surgical techniques when appropriate. His work is closely integrated with medical oncology, interventional radiology and liver-directed therapies to ensure patients receive comprehensive, coordinated care.
Central to Dr. Allan Tsung’s approach is a strong emphasis on communication and compassion. He believes that technical precision must be matched with thoughtful guidance and emotional support, particularly for patients and families facing life-altering cancer diagnoses. For Dr. Tsung, surgery is not an isolated event, but part of a broader care journey.
