In recognition of his pioneering work improving Whipple procedure outcomes, advancing hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, and influencing the broader field of surgery, John L. Cameron, MD, FACS, will receive the 2025 Wangensteen Scientific Forum Award.
The award, given by the ACS Scientific Forum Committee to a surgeon who embodies excellence in research, education, and clinical practice, will be presented during this morning’s Scientific Forum session, 8:00–9:30 am in Room W-194.
Education and Career
Dr. Cameron was born and raised in Michigan and earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University in 1958, followed by his medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1962. He served from 1963 to 1965 as a research surgeon in the US Army at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, while continuing his training at Johns Hopkins—a professional home that he never left.
By 1971, he was appointed assistant professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins, and in just 7 years rose to the rank of full professor—then a record pace that reflected his surgical skill, educational impact, and commitment to trainees. In 1984, he was named surgeon-in-chief and chair of the Department of Surgery, a position he held for 19 years before becoming the Alfred Blalock Distinguished Service Professor of Surgery, a role he continues to serve in today.
Transforming Pancreatic Surgery
Beginning in the mid-1980s, Dr. Cameron focused intensely on refining the Whipple procedure and reducing its staggering morbidity and mortality rates. Drawing on Halstedian principles—careful tissue handling, meticulous hemostasis, and precise anastomosis—he worked systematically to lower complications such as bleeding, leaks, and infection. He also pioneered the use of closed-suction drainage at the pancreaticojejunal anastomosis, a critical advance that reduced sepsis from pancreatic leaks.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Cameron performed more than 2,000 Whipple procedures, more than any other surgeon worldwide. At his peak, he completed as many as 120–130 of the complex operations per year—sometimes five in a single week. His consistency and innovations helped make Johns Hopkins one of the foremost centers for pancreatic surgery, with perioperative mortality rates dropping to 1% by the 1990s and 2000s. Other high-volume centers have since replicated these outcomes by applying his principles.
Dr. Cameron and his colleagues also secured continuous grant funding from the National Institutes of Health and foundations, advancing knowledge in pancreatic surgery and training hundreds of surgeons, many of whom went on to leadership positions as department chairs, program directors, and deans.
Lasting Legacy
Beyond the OR, Dr. Cameron has shaped the surgical field through his prolific scholarship. He has authored more than 500 scientific papers, 100 book chapters, and 26 books, with a particular focus on diseases of the pancreas, liver, and biliary tract. Among these, his textbook Current Surgical Therapy stands out as a landmark resource. First published in 1984 and now in its 14th edition, the book has been translated into five languages and remains a key reference for surgeons worldwide, including those preparing for the American Board of Surgery Certifying Examination.
Dr. Cameron’s leadership extends deeply into organized surgery. Within the ACS, he served as President (2008–2009), as well as on both the Board of Regents and Board of Governors. His influence also shaped other professional societies, including the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Southern Surgical Association, Society of Surgical Chairs, and American Surgical Association.
The Scientific Forum Award is named after Owen H. Wangensteen, MD, PhD, FACS (1898–1981), who had a transformative influence on the field of surgery. A lifelong active ACS member, Dr. Wangensteen founded the Surgical Forum within the College and served as ACS president (1959–1960).
