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Department of Surgery welcomes Esnaola from M.D. Anderson by Heather Woolwine Public Relations Nestor Esnaola, M.D., Surgical Oncology assistant professor, joined the Department of Surgery in January bringing clinical expertise in gastrointestinal surgical oncology and clinical and outcomes research.   Dr. Nestor Esnaola  “I’m interested in outcomes and quality of life after mutlimodality treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, particularly pancreatic cancer,” Esnaola said. “My goals are to establish retrospective and prospective databases to track patient outcomes and enhance the number of clinical trials for gastrointestinal cancers offered at Hollings Cancer Center.”   Esnaola's wife, Laura Goetzl, M.D., is an assistant professor in Maternal Fetal Medicine in the Department of OB/GYN. “It's not easy to find two great faculty positions at the same medical center at the same time,” Esnaola said. “We feel lucky to be at MUSC. It was a great fit for both of us.”   Indeed, Charleston welcomed Esnaola and his family with its usual charm and  grace.     “We've really enjoyed our move to Charleston. It's got all the amenities of a big city without all the hassles. We spend the majority of our weekends enjoying the outdoors around the area, and we've only scratched the surface,” he said.   Esnaola graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Rice University before earning his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. He completed his general surgery residency at the Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School and received his master’s degree in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health. He completed a three year fellowship at the University of Texas  M.D. Anderson Cancer Center prior to arriving at MUSC.   “The number and complexity of gastrointestinal cancer cases referred to MUSC is remarkable,” Esnaola said. “Our close, working relationship with gastroenterologists at the Digestive Disease Center and medical and radiation oncologists at the Hollings Cancer Center allows us to provide streamlined, state-of-the-art care to these patients. My experience at MUSC has been nothing but outstanding so far. There is a collaborative, multidisciplinary infrastructure for conducting high-quality, clinical research at MUSC that is truly unique.”   Esnaola, although raised in Texas, was born in Caracas, Venezuela and moved with his family to the U.S. when he was 11. As a child, his interaction with his pediatrician inspired him to become a physician.   Esnaola lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife and two children, Gabriela, 7, and Lucas, 5.     Friday, July 8, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.