Itzhak Nir, MD

Meet Itzhak Nir, MD

Dr. Itzhak Nir is a highly respected surgical oncologist with a distinguished career dedicated to the treatment of complex gastrointestinal cancers, including pancreatic and liver malignancies. As Medical Director of HPB Surgery at CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Cancer Center, Dr. Nir leads a comprehensive program focused on delivering high-quality, patient-centered care to communities across New Mexico.

Dr. Nir began his medical journey at Ben Gurion University School of Medicine in Israel, followed by surgical training at Soroka Medical Center and Hadassah Hebrew University. He completed fellowships in abdominal organ transplantation at Mt. Sinai in New York and surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he refined his expertise in advanced cancer care.

Before joining CHRISTUS St. Vincent, Dr. Nir was recruited to The University of New Mexico, where he developed a robust HPB-focused service line addressing the unique needs of New Mexico’s tri-cultural population. His work has been instrumental in reducing health disparities and expanding access to complex surgical care for liver and pancreatic diseases—both benign and malignant.

Dr. Nir’s clinical repertoire includes major surgical procedures such as liver resection (Whipple), esophagectomy, pancreatectomy, and hepatectomy. His leadership is rooted in a multidisciplinary approach, fostering collaboration across specialties to improve outcomes and enhance the patient experience.

In his current role, Dr. Nir is guiding strategic initiatives to advance the GI oncology program, expand clinical research and education, and strengthen outreach efforts throughout the state. He is committed to building lasting partnerships with referring physicians and ensuring that all New Mexicans have access to world-class surgical oncology care close to home.