Dr. Foster Joins GenSurg Faculty

April 9, 2025

Deshka Foster, MD, PhD has been appointed Assistant Professor of Surgery: General Surgery in the UML effective September 1, 2025.

Foster completed her general surgery at Stanford in 2023. During that time, she earned her PhD in cancer biology in the Longaker Lab. She then went on to complete dual fellowships in Complex General Surgical Oncology and Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York, NY.

"Dr. Dr. Foster is an amazing surgeon whose advanced training at MSKCC will augment our surgical oncology program” said Department of Surgery Chair Dr. Mary Hawn. “In addition, she is an innovative and talented scientist who will advance our understanding of cancer progression and opportunities to improve care and outcomes for patients suffering from pancreatic cancer.”

Foster is the first author on the study “Postoperative adhesions are abrogated by a sustained-release anti-JUN therapeutic in preclinical models,” which was published last month in the peer-reviewed journal Science Translational Medicine. Her research showed that surgical adhesions can be prevented in mice and pigs by a gel impregnated with a molecule that blocks a key signaling pathway in the formation of scar tissue.

“We’re so thrilled to recruit her back to Stanford and can’t wait to watch what she will accomplish,” said Hawn.

– News Center

An easy-to-apply gel prevents abdominal adhesions in animals in Stanford Medicine study

Up to 90% of abdominal surgeries result in adhesions — abnormal scarring that ties together organs and tissues. A gel developed at Stanford Medicine prevented adhesions in mice and pigs.
– Surgery

Dr. Foster Wins AWS Outstanding Resident Award

Dr. Deshka Foster has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 Dr. Hilary Sanfey Outstanding Resident Award by the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS).
– Surgery

Dr. Foster Awarded 2nd SPARK Grant

Dr. Deshka Foster, a Chief Resident in the General Surgery Residency program, has been awarded her second grant from the SPARK Translational Research Program.

Media Contact

Director of Communications

(650) 723-2301

rebaker@stanford.edu

Bio

As the Director of Communications for Stanford Surgery, Rachel Baker tells the stories of her department's faculty, staff, and trainees. With the help of an amazing team of content creators, she produces and curates original articles, photos, videos, graphics, and even podcasts.She works personally with each division, center, program, and lab within her purview to define their audience and reach their goals while maintaining a consistent brand voice. She hosts quarterly professional development workshops open to all AEM web authors--please email her if you'd like to join! She also offers both 1:1 and group education to faculty and residents on a variety of topics including media training, using social media to advantage, and presentation refinement. Rachel holds a Bachelor's degree in journalism with a focus on photography from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. A transplant from the DC-area, she still misses foliage and argyle but has happily adopted the official NorCal hobbies of visiting wineries, hiking local trails, and eating avocado.

About Stanford Surgery

The Stanford University Department of Surgery is dedicated to inventing the future of surgical care through:

• pioneering cutting-edge research,
• developing the next generation of leaders, and
• healing through incomparable surgical skills and compassion.

To learn more, please visit surgery.stanford.edu

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