Umut Sarpel, MD

Umut Sarpel, MD, MSc, is a board-certified surgeon who specializes in Surgical Oncology and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery. She received her Bachelor of Science degree with distinction in research from the University of Rochester and then earned her medical degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Sarpel completed her residency in general surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and then pursued an additional two years of fellowship training in the field of surgical oncology, while attaining a Master of Science in Clinical Research. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Sarpel specializes in the care of patients with cancers of the stomach, pancreas, liver, biliary tree, small bowel, and colon, as well as sarcomas.  Her practice includes open and laparoscopic surgery, as well as robotic surgery.  In addition, she performs Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) for the treatment of carcinomatosis. A compelling story of Dr. Sarpel with one of her patients was featured in the book "Twelve Patients.”

Dr. Sarpel is involved in clinical and outcomes research and was a recipient of a prestigious National Cancer Institute grant to investigate the disparities in the treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, the second leading cause of death from cancer in the world.

Dr. Sarpel is strongly committed to medical education and has been honored with multiple teaching awards. She is a section editor of "Chassin's Operative Strategy" and is the author of “Surgery; An Introductory Guide,” a textbook for medical students on their surgical clerkship, now in its second edition. Dr. Sarpel is the Program Director of the General Surgery residency program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, West Side, overseeing the surgical training of 30 residents.

In the News:

• Dr. Umut Sarpel spoke to News12 The Bronx about a 9/11 first responder who experienced a cancer resurgence during the height of COVID-19. He bravely decided to fight the cancer through the pandemic with Dr. Sarpel's help.

• Dr. Sarpel weighs in on the new study supporting lowering the age of your first colonoscopy.

Videos:

• Hear why Dr. Sarpel chose to perform robotic surgery on 16 year old patient, Isabel. 

• Dr. Sarpel spoke with NBC about physician burn out and how Mount Sinai is recognizing it and helping to make a change.

• Dr. Sarpel explains Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) treatment for cancer patients, and who is an ideal candidate.

• Dr. Sarpel presents her study on barriers to care in cancer.

• Dr. Sarpel treats 9/11 responder for a pancreatic tumor during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Dr. Sarpel discusses her study regarding liver cancer being lethal for black patients.