Baptist MD Anderson names new surgeon to lead the Division of Surgery

Elbert Y. Kuo, MD, MPH, MMS, FACS, is joining Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center as head of the Division of Surgery and surgeon-in-chief, effective July 14, 2025. His exceptional leadership and clinical expertise, combined with a deep passion for patient care, supports Baptist Health’s dedication to providing innovative and top-quality cancer care to Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia and beyond. Dr. Kuo’s appointment follows a national search and extensive review process.

For more than 20 years, Dr. Kuo has been a respected leader, educator and mentor in the surgical field, where he has consistently earned widespread recognition from his peers. His pioneering work in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery has helped advance surgical techniques and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Kuo will lead the Division of Surgery at Baptist MD Anderson, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and driving initiatives to enhance patient care and surgical outcomes. His expertise in areas such as minimally invasive and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery and lung cancer screening aligns with Baptist MD Anderson’s commitment to providing cutting-edge cancer treatments and compassionate care.

He joins key clinical leaders Joe B. Putnam, Jr., MD, FACS, medical director of Baptist MD Anderson, Tom Dragovich, MD, PhD, head of the Division of Cancer Medicine, and Michael Olson, MD, PhD, head of the Division of Radiation Oncology.

“Dr. Kuo is widely regarded as an effective and respected leader, collaborator and visionary surgeon,” said Dr. Putnam. “We are confident in his ability to build upon our existing solid foundation to further elevate our surgical programs and enhance the care we provide to this community and beyond.”

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Kuo to the team,” said LeeAnn Mengel, RN, MBA, CMPE, FACHE, vice president of Baptist MD Anderson. “We look forward to the valuable expertise, leadership and passion he will bring to Baptist MD Anderson and the patients we are privileged to serve.”

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead such an amazing group of clinicians, scientists, and staff at Baptist MD Anderson. I am committed to helping further Baptist MD Anderson’s efforts to make advanced cancer care accessible to the communities in and around Jacksonville and create an amazing patient experience,” said Dr. Kuo. “We will focus on innovation and collaboration and together we will continue to push the boundaries of cancer medicine, striving to improve outcomes and make a difference in the lives of those in the community affected by cancer.”

Baptist MD Anderson is a partnership between Baptist Health, the region’s most preferred health care provider, and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, one of the world’s largest and most respected cancer centers.

Dr. Kuo comes from Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Arizona, where he served as section chief of Thoracic Surgery and co-director of the Lung Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Program. During his eight-year tenure, Dr. Kuo built a thoracic surgery program that performed more than 1,200 major operations a year and was recognized for being in the top 10% for quality in the U.S. He also led a lung program that saw more than 300 patients annually in a multi-disciplinary setting and established a lung cancer screening program that screens more than 6,000 patients each year.

He is an associate professor of Surgery at the University of Arizona in Tucson, and an adjunct associate professor of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

He received his Doctor of Medicine and Master of Medical Science degrees from Brown University and his Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Harvard School of Public Health. He completed his surgical residency and chief resident year at Barnes-Jewish Hospital at Washington University School of Medicine, followed by a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery with a focus on general thoracic surgery.