Meet Dr. Prag
Dr. Prag Thirunavukarasu
Surgical Oncologist Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgeon
Dr. Pragatheeshwar Thirunavukarasu — "Dr. Prag" to everyone who knows him — is an American Board of Surgery certified Complex General Surgical Oncologist (a cancer surgeon specialized in dealing with complex cancer conditions) and a fellowship-trained Hepatopancreaticobiliary surgeon (a surgeon with additional training in liver, gallbladder, bile duct, and pancreas surgery).
Dr. Prag currently serves as Medical Director of Surgical Oncology at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, NC. To those who know him, he is committed to thoughtful, patient-centered care — taking the time to listen, explain, and guide each patient through their treatment journey.
When he's not in surgery or clinic, he writes books, gives talks on nutrition and cancer, and teaches students and residents.
Now Practicing At:
1841 Quiet Cove, Fayetteville, NC
Licenses
Since 2020
North Carolina Medical Board Licensure
Since 2019
Fellow of American College of Surgeon
Since 2016
Oklahoma State Medical Licensure
Since 2015
Texas State Medical Licensure
Since 2013
New York Medical Board Licensure
Education & Training
Madras Medical College
Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery
(M.B.B.S) (M.D. Equivalent)
1999-2005
University of Pennsylvania
General Surgery Internship
2006-2007
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
General Surgery Residency
2007-2013
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Research Fellow
2009-2011
Roswell Park Cancer Institute (University of Rochester)
Complex General Surgery Oncology
2013-2015
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery
2015-2016
Publications
Surgical Oncology
Fundamentals, Evidence-based Approaches and New Technology
(ISBN: 978-93-5025-051-8). Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ld. (New Delhi - St. Louis - Panama City - London)
Selected Publications
Talati C, Munjal S, Attwood K, Edge SB, Francescutti V. Effect of Incorporation of Pretreatment Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels into AJCC Staging for Colon Cancer on 5-Year Survival. JAMA Surgery Jun 17, 2015
Aloia TA. Preoperative Assessment and Optimization of Future Liver Remnant. Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America Surg Clin North Am;96(2):197-205 2016 Apr
Sukumar S, Sathaiah M, Mahan M, Pragatheeshwar KD, Pingpank JF, Zeh H, Bartels CJ, Lee KK, Bartlett DL. C-stage in Colon Cancer: Implications of Carcinoembryonic Antigen Biomarker in Staging, Prognosis, and Management. Journal of the National Cancer Institute;103(8):689-97 2011 Apr 20
Sathaiah M, Sukumar S, Bartels CJ, Zeh H 3rd, Lee KK Bartlett DL Meckel's Diverticulum - A high-risk region for malignancy in the ileum. Insights from a population-based epidemiological study and implications in surgical management Annals of Surgery;253(2):223-30 2010 Feb
Sathaiah M, Gorry MC, O'Malley ME, Ravindranathan R, Austin F, Thorne SH, Guo ZS, Bartlett DL. A Rationally Designed A34R Mutant Oncolytic Poxvirus: Improved Efficacy in Peritoneal Carcinomatosis. Molecular Therapy, 2013; doi:10.1038/mt.2013.27February 26, 2013
Gabriel E Attwood K, Kukar M, Hochwald SN, Nurkin SJ. Nationwide analysis of short-term surgical outcomes of minimally invasive esophagectomy for malignancy. International Journal of Surgery Nov 18, 2015