Leah Hendrick, MD, MS

Cancer Focus:
Adrenal Cancer, Adrenal Nodule/Mass, GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor), Sarcoma

Dr. Leah Hendrick is a Surgical Oncologist who specializes exclusively in the surgical management of soft tissue sarcomas throughout the body, including retroperitoneal sarcomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), as well as adrenal masses. Dr. Hendrick’s practice focuses on personalized, evidence-based surgical care for patients with rare and complex cancers.

In her clinic and in the operating room, Dr. Hendrick regularly cares for patients who have been diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma, GIST, and adrenal tumors, providing coordinated care that integrates surgical cancer care with research-driven treatment planning. She is experienced in both open and minimally invasive surgical approaches, emphasizing patient safety, precision, and recovery optimization.

Dr. Hendrick’s translational and basic science research explores how epigenetic alterations drive disease progression and treatment response in soft tissue sarcomas, with the goal of identifying new therapeutic targets that will ultimately improve long-term outcomes. Her clinical research investigates how body composition impacts surgical outcomes in cancer patients, helping refine risk assessment and improve recovery after major oncologic surgery.

She completed her Medical Degree and Surgery Residency at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis, followed by a Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center.

Dr. Hendrick is a compassionate clinician, committed to guiding patients and families through every stage of their cancer journey with expertise and empathy.

Education & Training

Board Certification:

• Surgery - Surgical Oncology

Fellowship:

• Moffitt Cancer Center- Surgical Oncology -

Residency:

• University of Tennessee, Memphis- Surgery -

Medical School:

• University of Tennessee College of Medicine - MD

• Fleming AM, Sheridan B, Doño A, Dinh T, Meyer L, Drake JA, Hendrick L, Dickson PV, Deneve JL, Glazer ES, Fleming MD, Shibata D, Zhao J, Ng T, Yakoub D. Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Versus Chemotherapy for Esophageal Cancer: A Histology-Stratified Update Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 May.33(5):4301-4312. Pubmedid: 41665785.
• Hendrick L, Alhassan S, Yeoh C, Riveron A, Anaya D, Stefanou A. Evaluating the Relationship Between Anemia, Transfusion, and Surgical Outcomes in Patients with Surgical Geriatric Cancer: A National Study. J Am Coll Surg. 2026 Jul.243(1):80-94. Pubmedid: 41730124.
• Stefanou AJ, Hendrick L, Allen K, Hodul P, Denbo J, Fleming JB, Anaya DA. APP-First: A Care Delivery Model Designed to Increase Access and Treatment Opportunities for Patients with Gastrointestinal Malignancies. Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Jan.33(1):22-23. Pubmedid: 41145931.
• Hendrick LE, Naffouje S, Imanirad I, Pereira AL, Biachi T, Sanchez J, Dessureault S, Stefanou A, Dineen SP, Felder S. Incomplete Resection Is Twice as Likely in Locally Advanced Mucinous Compared to Nonmucinous Rectal Adenocarcinoma: A National Propensity-Matched Analysis. J Surg Oncol. 2025 May.131(6):1090-1100. Pubmedid: 39658830.
• Fleming AM, Clark OM, Lee JJ, Dougherty K, Hendrick LE, Raine J, Solsky I, Dickson PV, Glazer ES, Shibata D, Gleeson E, Munene G, Deneve JL. Iterative Cytoreductive Surgery and HIPEC for Peritoneal Metastases from Primary Appendiceal and Colorectal Cancers: An Observational Study. Cancers (Basel). 2025 Jun.17(12). Pubmedid: 40563664. Pmcid: PMC12191129.
• Hendrick LE, Felder S, Imanirad I, Dineen SP. Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Is NOT a Last Resort: Rationale for Early Surgical Referral. JCO Oncol Pract. 2025 Apr.21(4):454-457. Pubmedid: 39418624.
• Fleming AM, Gehle DB, Freitas JP, Hendrick LE, Yakoub D, Abdelhafeez H, Nezakatgoo N, Deneve JL, Langham MR, Glazer ES, Shibata D, Merchant NB, Dickson PV, Murphy AJ. CTNNB1 exon 3 mutations in metastatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas. J Surg Oncol. 2024 Oct.130(5):1051-1061. Pubmedid: 39155692.
• Sheridan B, Dinh T, Hendrick LE, Moran L, Zhao J, Leesley H, Ng T. Critical analysis of outcomes after surgical management of Zenker diverticulum. J Gastrointest Surg. 2024 Nov.28(11):1915-1916. Pubmedid: 39179020.
• Hendrick LE, Fleming AM, Sullivan JW, Usdan LS, Childress RD, Oktaei H, Kode SR, Dickson PV, DeLozier OM. Lithium-associated primary hyperparathyroidism:: An evaluation of screening and referral patterns in a southeastern veteran population. Surgery. 2024 Jan.175(1):187-192. Pubmedid: 37925259.
• Fleming AM, Hendrick LE, Yakoub D, Abdelhafeez H, Deneve JL, Langham MR, Glazer ES, Davidoff AM, Merchant NB, Dickson PV, Murphy AJ. Malignant Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasm of the Pancreas: An Orthogonal Analysis. Ann Surg Oncol. 2024 Jan.31(1):475-487. Pubmedid: 37768414.
• Fleming AM, Hendrick LE, Glazer ES, Murphy AJ, Dickson PV, Shibata D, Yakoub D, Deneve JL. Pancreatic carcinosarcoma: An orthogonal analysis. Surgery. 2023 Oct.174(4):907-915. Pubmedid: 37524640.
• Fleming AM, Phillips AL, Hendrick LE, Drake JA, Dickson PV, Glazer ES, Shibata D, Cleary SP, Yakoub D, Deneve JL. Segmental bile duct resection versus pancreatoduodenectomy for middle and distal third bile duct cancer. A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies. HPB (Oxford). 2023 Nov.25(11):1288-1299. Pubmedid: 37423850.
• Hendrick LE, Fleming AM, Dickson PV, DeLozier OM. Same day discharge after minimally invasive adrenalectomy: a national study. Surg Endosc. 2023 Nov.37(11):8316-8325. Pubmedid: 37679582.
• Hendrick LE, Huang X, Hewgley WP, Douthitt L, Dickson PV, Glazer ES, Behrman SW, Shibata D, Deneve JL. Early Postoperative Extubation is Associated with Shorter Hospitalization and Improved Short-Term Survival in Patients Undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. Am Surg. 2022 May.88(5):887-893. Pubmedid: 35012359.
• Hendrick LE, Zambetti BR, Wong DL, Dickson PV, Glazer ES, Shibata D, Fleming MD, Tsao M, Portnoy DC, Deneve JL. Visceral angiosarcoma: A nationwide analysis of treatment factors and outcomes. J Surg Oncol. 2022 Jun.125(8):1231-1237. Pubmedid: 35234280.
• Berglund A, Muenyi C, Siegel EM, Ajidahun A, Eschrich SA, Wong D, Hendrick LE, Putney RM, Kim S, Hayes DN, Shibata D. Characterization of Epigenomic Alterations in HPV16+ Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2022 Apr.31(4):858-869. Pubmedid: 35064062. Pmcid: PMC8983563.
• Hussain SM, Kansal RG, Alvarez MA, Hollingsworth TJ, Elahi A, Miranda-Carboni G, Hendrick LE, Pingili AK, Albritton LM, Dickson PV, Deneve JL, Yakoub D, Hayes DN, Kurosu M, Shibata D, Makowski L, Glazer ES. Role of TGF-β in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma progression and PD-L1 expression. Cell Oncol (Dordr). 2021 Jun.44(3):673-687. Pubmedid: 33694102.
• Hendrick LE, Buckner JD, Guerrero WM, Shibata D, Hinkle NM, Monroe JJ, Glazer ES, Deneve JL, Dickson PV. What Is the Utility of Restaging Imaging for Patients With Clinical Stage II/III Rectal Cancer After Completion of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation and Prior to Proctectomy?. Am Surg. 2021 Feb.87(2):242-247. Pubmedid: 32927959.
• Wong DL, Hendrick LE, Guerrero WM, Monroe JJ, Hinkle NM, Deneve JL, Dickson PV, Glazer ES, Shibata D. Adherence to neoadjuvant therapy guidelines for locally advanced rectal cancers in a region with sociodemographic disparities. Am J Surg. 2021 Aug.222(2):395-401. Pubmedid: 33279169.
• Elahi A, Ajidahun A, Hendrick L, Getun I, Humphries LA, Hernandez J, Shibata D. HPP1 Ectodomain Shedding is Mediated by ADAM17 and is Necessary for Tumor Suppression in Colon Cancer. J Surg Res. 2020 Oct.254:183-190. Pubmedid: 32450419. Pmcid: PMC7483406.
• Hendrick LE, Levesque RL, Hinkle NM, Monroe JJ, Glazer ES, Deneve JL, Yakoub D, Shibata D, Dickson PV. Restaging Patients with Rectal Cancer Following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation: A Systematic Review. World J Surg. 2020 Mar.44(3):973-979. Pubmedid: 31788724.
• Nezakatgoo N, Hendrick LE, Mesh CL, Vanatta JM, Helmick RA. Chimney-Patch Arterial Graft in Kidney or Pancreas Transplantation for Recipients with Heavily Calcified Iliac Arteries. Ann Transplant. 2019 Feb.24:70-74. Pubmedid: 30728343. Pmcid: PMC6378857.
• Shahan CP, Magnotti LJ, Stickley SM, Weinberg JA, Hendrick LE, Uhlmann RA, Schroeppel TJ, Hoit DA, Croce MA, Fabian TC. A safe and effective management strategy for blunt cerebrovascular injury: Avoiding unnecessary anticoagulation and eliminating stroke. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2016 Jun.80(6):915-922. Pubmedid: 27015579.
• Hendrick LE, Schroeppel TJ, Sharpe JP, Alsbrook D, Magnotti LJ, Weinberg JA, Johnson BP, Lewis RH, Clement LP, Croce MA, Fabian TC. Impact of Beta-Blockers on Nonhead Injured Trauma Patients. Am Surg. 2016 Jul.82(7):575-579. Pubmedid: 27457854.
• Marino KA, Hendrick LE, Behrman SW. Surgical management of complicated pancreatic pseudocysts after acute pancreatitis. Am J Surg. 2016 Jan.211(1):109-114. Pubmedid: 26507289.
• Weinberg JA, MacLennan PA, Vandromme-Cusick MJ, Magnotti LJ, Kerby JD, Rue LW, Angotti JM, Garrett CA, Hendrick LE, Croce MA, Fabian TC, Barnum SR, Patel RP. The deleterious effect of red blood cell storage on microvascular response to transfusion. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013 Nov.75(5):807-812. Pubmedid: 24158198. Pmcid: PMC3831610.
• Sharpe JP, Weinberg JA, Magnotti LJ, Nouer SS, Yoo W, Zarzaur BL, Cullinan DR, Hendrick LE, Fabian TC, Croce MA. Outcomes of operations performed by attending surgeons after overnight trauma shifts. J Am Coll Surg. 2013 Apr.216(4):791-797. Pubmedid: 23313541. Pmcid: PMC3658142.