Page Updated May 26, 2024

Christopher Aquina, MD

Page Written by

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer

Page Edited by Patient Advocate

Dave Foster

Fact Checked

Dr. Christopher Aquina is a general surgeon and surgical oncologist at AdventHealth in Orlando, Florida. He has a special interest in advanced metastatic cancers originating from the appendix, colon, rectum, small intestine, and peritoneal surface, and has expertise in the complex surgical procedure known as cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, or CRS-HIPEC, which has made a significant difference in outcomes for patients diagnosed with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.[1]

Education and Career

Dr. Aquina’s undergraduate studies took place at the College of the Holy Cross, after which he earned his medical degree at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He completed a General Surgery internship and residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center, also earning a Master’s in Public Health degree and completing a clinical research fellowship at the Surgical Health Outcomes and Research Enterprise during that time. He then completed a fellowship in Complex General Surgical Oncology at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and a Colon and Rectal Surgery fellowship at AdventHealth Orlando.[1]

Awards and Honors

Dr. Aquina’s work has resulted in recognition from multiple professional organizations, including the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Society of Surgical Oncology, and the Appendix Cancer Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Research Foundation.[1] 

Research

Dr. Aquina’s research examines the variation in the quality of cancer care delivery and outcomes. His work has been presented at national and international research conferences and has been published in prestigious peer-reviewed journals.[2] 

His notable publications include:[2]

A Scoping Review of the Classification, Diagnosis, and Management of Hepatic Adenomas. JOURNAL OF GASTROINTESTINAL SURGERY 2022

Is robotic utilization associated with increased minimally invasive colorectal surgery rates? Surgeon-level evidence. SURGICAL ENDOSCOPY-ULTRASOUND AND INTERVENTIONAL TECHNIQUES 2022

Impact of Delay in Adjuvant Therapy for Gallbladder Adenocarcinoma. Journal of hepato-biliary-pancreatic sciences 2022

Liver-Directed Treatment Options Following Liver Tumor Recurrence: A Review of the Literature. FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY 2022

Social determinants of health Z-codes and postoperative outcomes after colorectal surgery: A national population-based study. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY 2022

Disparities in access to care among patients with appendiceal or colorectal cancer and peritoneal metastases: A Medicare insurance-based study in the United States. FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY 2022

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer

Writer

Terri Oppenheimer has been writing about mesothelioma and asbestos topics for over ten years. She has a degree in English from the College of William and Mary. Terri’s experience as the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog gives her a wealth of knowledge which she brings to all Mesothelioma.net articles she authors.

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Dave Foster

Page Editor

Dave has been a mesothelioma Patient Advocate for over 10 years. He consistently attends all major national and international mesothelioma meetings. In doing so, he is able to stay on top of the latest treatments, clinical trials, and research results. He also personally meets with mesothelioma patients and their families and connects them with the best medical specialists and legal representatives available.

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