Aaron Saunders, MD, MAS, FACS, FSSO

Chief of Surgical Oncology

Dr. Aaron Saunders is a Board-certified surgical oncologist at Summit Cancer Centers.

Dr. Saunders was the first physician in the inland Northwest with formal board certification in surgical oncology. Dr. Saunders prioritizes thoroughly informing his patients and works with his patients and their families to customize a treatment plan that achieves the greatest quality of life and is most consistent with their goals of care. He considers it a privilege to have been caring for cancer patients in the region since 2018.

Dr. Saunders completed his undergraduate studies in the Northwest before traveling to California for medical school and a general surgery residency at Loma Linda University. He then completed an advanced fellowship training program in complex general surgical oncology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, the world’s oldest institution dedicated solely to the study and treatment of cancer.

His experience at leading academic centers prepared him to offer a full range of multidisciplinary treatment options for cancer, including advanced minimally invasive surgical approaches using laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques. He also specializes in the management of advanced abdominal cancers and is an expert in performing cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC). Dr. Saunders specializes in providing diagnosis and treatment plans for solid tumors growing in the skin, soft tissue of the trunk and extremity, breast, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, adrenal gland, small bowel, colon and rectum.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Saunders is on the faculty of the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University. He completed a master’s degree in global health planning and management from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University and serves on the International Committee of the Society of Surgical Oncology.

Dr. Saunders performs surgeries at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, MultiCare Deaconess Hospital, Providence Holy Family Hospital, MultiCare Valley Hospital and Kootenai Health.

Diseases Treated:

  • Abdominal cancer
  • Adrenal tumors
  • Anal cancer
  • Biliary cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Carcinoid
  • Carcinomatosis
  • Cholangiocarcinoma
  • Colon cancer
  • Desmoid tumor
  • Esophageal cancer
  • Gallbladder cancer
  • Gastric cancer
  • Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
  • Intestinal tumors
  • Liver cancer
  • Melanoma
  • Metastatic cancers
  • Neuroendocrine tumor (NET)
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP)
  • Rectal cancer
  • Sarcoma
  • Skin cancer
  • Small bowel cancer
  • Stomach cancer
  • Other rare and benign tumors of many kinds

Education

Fellowship

Complex General Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center – Buffalo, NY

Residency & Internship

General Surgery, Loma Linda University – Loma Linda, CA

Advanced Degrees

Doctor of Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine – Loma Linda, CA

Master of Applied Science in Global Health Planning and Management, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University – Baltimore, MD

Board Certifications

Surgery, American Board of Surgery

Complex General Surgical Oncology, American Board of Surgery

Memberships

American College of Surgeons, Fellow

Society of Surgical Oncology, Fellow

American Medical Association

Other

Chair, International Committee
Society of Surgical Oncology

Clinical Assistant Professor
Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
Washington State University

Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Washington School of Medicine

Adjunct Assistant Professor
Loma Linda University School of Medicine