Karen Pineda-Solis, M.D.

“My philosophy is that surgery is not simply a job, it is a mission, a vocation. Surgery demands the total commitment from the surgeon and the patient. When the patient trusts me for an operation, I put all my effort and focus into my patient.”

Areas of Expertise

• Enhanced recovery pathways
• Laparoscopic nephrectomy
• Liver and bile duct surgery
• Liver, kidney, pancreas and multi-organ transplantation
• Living donor kidney transplantation
• Minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery
• Patient-centered care
• Treating bile duct (cholangiocarcinoma), gallbladder and liver cancers, as well as colorectal liver metastasis
• Treating end-stage renal disease
• Treating hepatic cysts, liver cirrhosis, liver failure, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

I found my purpose in life with hepatobiliary surgery and transplantation due to the interesting complexity and the ability to make a profound impact on a patient’s health. Offering someone who is suffering from an end-stage disease a means of extending his or her life is very rewarding and fulfilling.

Transplantation is not about surgery; it is about the people. I love doing surgery to see my patients being able to return to their previous lifestyle in a good state of health. I want to achieve the best outcomes for them that meets their goals, such as being cancer free, no longer requiring dialysis or bringing them back to their previous life before their illness.

My philosophy is that surgery is not simply a job, it is a mission, a vocation. Surgery demands the total commitment from the surgeon and the patient. When the patient trusts me for an operation, I put all my effort and focus into my patient. Above anything else, I am always looking to achieve the perfect surgery tailored to my patient’s requirements.

I have a relentless and curious personality and am always studying to find the newest treatments and surgeries for my patients. I want to offer them the best available treatment possible. My persistence took me to other countries to learn different and novel techniques. For example, I went to France to become skilled in robotic surgery and to Canada to learn a new liver surgery called ALPPS to provide treatment for patients with unresectable tumors. Currently, I am working in research to find ways to deliver better quality of care with Enhancement Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, among other things. I am also enthusiastic to use new technologies that can improve the recovery and outcomes of my patients – an example is to use minimally invasive surgery in the transplant field.

Professional Background

Areas of Expertise

• Enhanced recovery pathways
• Laparoscopic nephrectomy
• Liver and bile duct surgery
• Liver, kidney, pancreas and multi-organ transplantation
• Living donor kidney transplantation
• Minimally invasive surgery and robotic surgery
• Patient-centered care
• Treating bile duct (cholangiocarcinoma), gallbladder and liver cancers, as well as colorectal liver metastasis
• Treating end-stage renal disease
• Treating hepatic cysts, liver cirrhosis, liver failure, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Transplantation is not about surgery; it is about the people. I love doing surgery to see my patients being able to return to their previous lifestyle in a good state of health. I want to achieve the best outcomes for them that meets their goals, such as being cancer free, no longer requiring dialysis or bringing them back to their previous life before their illness.

My philosophy is that surgery is not simply a job, it is a mission, a vocation. Surgery demands the total commitment from the surgeon and the patient. When the patient trusts me for an operation, I put all my effort and focus into my patient. Above anything else, I am always looking to achieve the perfect surgery tailored to my patient’s requirements.

I have a relentless and curious personality and am always studying to find the newest treatments and surgeries for my patients. I want to offer them the best available treatment possible. My persistence took me to other countries to learn different and novel techniques. For example, I went to France to become skilled in robotic surgery and to Canada to learn a new liver surgery called ALPPS to provide treatment for patients with unresectable tumors. Currently, I am working in research to find ways to deliver better quality of care with Enhancement Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, among other things. I am also enthusiastic to use new technologies that can improve the recovery and outcomes of my patients – an example is to use minimally invasive surgery in the transplant field.

Education
MD / National Autonomous University of Mexico

Post-Doctoral Training & Residency
Residency in General Surgery / University of Rochester Medical Center
Multi-Organ Transplantation and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Fellowship / Western University, Ontario, Canada
Minimally Invasive HPB and Robotic Surgery Fellowship / CHU Hopitaux Brabois, Nancy, France
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Fellowship / The National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition “Salvador Zubiran,” National Autonomous University of Mexico
Residency in General Surgery / The National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition “Salvador Zubiran,” National Autonomous University of Mexico

Certifications
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Advanced Trauma Life Support
American Society of Transplant Surgeons, Certification for Liver and Kidney Transplantation and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery

Professional Affiliations
American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association
American Society of Transplant Surgeons
International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association
International Liver Transplant Society
Mexican Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association