Dr. Paul Hendrick Sugarbaker is a renowned surgical oncologist celebrated for revolutionizing the treatment of peritoneal surface malignancies through innovative surgical techniques. Born in Baltimore on November 28, 1941, he earned his bachelor's degree from Wheaton College in 1963 and completed his medical education at Cornell University Medical College in 1967. Following surgical training at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, where he served as chief resident from 1973 to 1976, he spent a decade as Senior Investigator at the National Cancer Institute's Surgery Branch. He subsequently held leadership positions as head of surgical oncology at Emory University Medical School before joining the Washington Cancer Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, where he established himself as a preeminent authority in abdominal cancer surgery.
Dr. Sugarbaker pioneered the cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) technique, now widely known as the Sugarbaker Procedure, which has transformed outcomes for patients with peritoneal mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and other abdominal malignancies. His landmark research demonstrated that combining HIPEC with interval cytoreductive surgery significantly extends both recurrence-free survival and overall survival for patients with stage III epithelial ovarian cancer without increasing side effects. This comprehensive treatment approach, which involves meticulous removal of visible tumor deposits followed by circulation of heated chemotherapy throughout the abdominal cavity, has enabled numerous patients to achieve remarkable long-term survival exceeding ten years. His methodology has been rigorously documented in over 780 scientific publications and established as the standard of care at mesothelioma specialty centers worldwide.
As founder of the non-profit Foundation for Applied Research in Gastrointestinal Oncology (FARGO) in 1993, Dr. Sugarbaker created a vital platform for advancing gastrointestinal cancer research, education, and patient care. His influential textbook on sarcoma surgery, translated into five languages, and co-authored publications on perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy have educated generations of surgical oncologists. Though retired from active clinical practice at the Washington Cancer Institute, he continues to analyze data from his extensive clinical experience to refine treatment protocols for peritoneal malignancies. Recognized globally as one of the foremost specialists in peritoneal surface oncology, his legacy endures through the countless patients whose lives have been extended and the surgical oncology community that has adopted his transformative approach to abdominal cancer treatment.
