Theodore N. Pappas MD

Theodore N. Pappas, MD, is the Vice Dean for Medical Affairs at the Duke University School of Medicine. He also holds the positions of Distinguished Professor of Surgical Innovation and is Chief of the Division of Advanced Oncologic and GI Surgery in the Department of Surgery.

Pappas came to Duke University Medical Center in 1988 as Assistant Professor of Surgery. His clinical interests include gastrointestinal surgery, peptic ulcer surgery, and cancer of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, and bile duct.

He is a 1977 graduate of John Carroll University where he received his bachelors of Science degree. He then simultaneously earned a master’s in science and his MD from The Ohio State University and the School of Medicine in 1981. He completed his internship and residency in 1988 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He received the F.D. Moore Resident Teaching Award while a Chief Resident. He served as the gastrointestinal research fellow at the University of California from 1983 to 1985 and was a clinical fellow in surgery at the Harvard Medical School from 1985 to 1988.

Since joining Duke’s medical staff, Pappas has held the positions of Director and Founder of the U.S. Surgical Endosurgical Center; Chief of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Program Director of General Surgery Residency Program, Program Director of the Duke Physician Assistant Surgical Residency Program, Chief of the Surgical Services for the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Durham, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs for Duke University School of Medicine, Executive Medical Director for the Duke Faculty Practice in the PDC and was Interim Chairman for the Department of Surgery