Dilip Parekh, MD, professor of clinical surgery and director of the Department of Surgery’s cancer program at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, has been appointed to the role of director of external outreach and physician network development for the clinical cancer program at Keck Medicine of USC.

“This is an important new role for our medical enterprise as we work to develop an integrated cancer network,” said Tom Jackiewicz, senior vice president and CEO of Keck Medicine of USC in making the announcement.

Parekh will play the lead role in the development of external strategic sites for oncology programs.

“He will work collaboratively with our department leaders, medical group and hospital leadership to integrate cancer care delivery across the enterprise,” Jackiewicz said.

An esteemed oncologic surgeon who pioneered minimally invasive pancreatic surgery at Keck Medicine of USC and in Southern California, Parekh brings almost three decades of clinical experience, a rich knowledge of clinical activities and proven leadership in the coordination of cancer programs.

Parekh completed medical school and residency in Johannesburg, South Africa, followed by a two-year fellowship in gastrointestinal surgery research in the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas.

He was recruited to USC in 1992 and has since held several leadership positions, including division chief of tumor and endocrine surgery, director of the USC Center for Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases, and section chief for hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery in the division of abdominal transplantation and hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery.

— Tania Chatila