From a Diagnosis of Esophageal Cancer to a Walk Down the Aisle: Mike's Story
A cutting-edge esophageal cancer treatment plan based on a clinical trial helped Mike Kaelblein walk his daughter down the aisle.
About Christopher Morse, MD
Dr. Christopher Morse is a Associate Visiting Surgeon in the Dept of Surgery and an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. He serves as the Co-Director of the Gastroesophageal Surgery Program.
Dr. Morse graduated from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He did both his surgical residencies at the MGH, first in general surgery and then in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Morse went on complete a second fellowship in minimally invasive thoracic surgery with a particular emphasis on esophageal surgery. He is Board certified in both Surgery and Thoracic Surgery.
Dr. Morse is clinically very active and sees new patients weekly. His clinical interests revolve around malignancies of the chest, especially lung and esophageal cancer, as well as the treatment a variety of benign esophageal conditions, including achalasia, paraesophageal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Dr. Morse has taken a lead role in the development of a minimally invasive esophagectomy program at MGH. This work has led to a number of manuscripts including a direct comparison of open vs. minimally invasive esophagectomy. He also performs the minimally invasive Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF) procedure to treat GERD.
Dr. Morse serves as the co-director of the MGH Gastroesophageal Surgery program and participates on workforces in several national thoracic societies.
Clinical Interests:
- Barrett's esophagus
- Benign and malignant diseases of the chest
- Esophageal anomalies
- Esophageal cancer
- Esophageal cancer, Barrett's esophagus
- Esophageal disease
- Laparoscopic antireflux surgery/GERD
- Laparoscopic paraesophageal hernia repair
- Laparoscopic re-operative antireflux surgery
- Lung cancer
- Minimally invasive esophageal resections (esophagectomy)
- Minimally invasive pulmonary (lung) resections
- Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF)
Treats:
- Adult
Locations
Mass General Surgery: Thoracic Surgery
55 Fruit St.
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-726-2100
Salem Hospital
81 Highland Ave.
Salem, MA 01923
Phone: 978-741-1200
Medical Education
- MD, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
- Residency, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Fellowship, Massachusetts General Hospital
- Fellowship, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital
American Board Certifications
- Surgery, General, American Board of Surgery
- Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery
Accepted Insurance Plans
- Aetna
- Beech Street
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
- Cigna
- Commonwealth Care Alliance
- Coventry
- Fallon Health
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Humana
- Maine Community Health Options
- Mass General Brigham Health Plan
- MassHealth
- Medicaid ME
- Medicaid NH
- Medicaid RI
- Medicaid VT
- Medicare
- Medicare ACO
- Multiplan
- Railroad Medicare
- Senior Whole Health
- TriCare
- Tufts Health Plan
- United Health Care
- Wellpoint
- WellSense
- WellSense NH
Note: This provider may accept more insurance plans than shown; please call the practice to find out if your plan is accepted.
Research
My research is primarily related to outcomes of the diseases I treat. I am especially focused on esophageal cancer and participate in an international esophagectomy complications consensus group. I have published extensively on minimally invasive esophageal resections. I was also recently the editor of a textbook, Master Techniques in Surgery: Thoracic Surgery, describing detailed techniques of thoracic surgery with an international group of authors.
Publications
-
Select Publications:
- Tapias-Vargas LF, Morse CR. Minimally Invasive Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy after Induction Therapy Yields Similar Early Outcomes to Surgery Alone. Innovations. 2011 Sep;6(5):331-6
- Tapias-Vargas LF, Morse CR. A Preliminary Experience with Minimally Invasive Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy. Dis Esophagus. 2012 Jul;25(5):449-55.
- Sihag S, Wright CD, Wain JC, Lanuti M, Gaissert HA, Donahue DA, Mathisen DJ, Morse CR. Comparison of Perioperative Outcomes Following Open vs Minimally Invasive Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy at Single High-Volume Center. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2012 Sep;42(3):430-7.
- Tapias-Vargas LF, Morse CR. Minimally invasive Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy: Description of a learning curve. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2014 Jun; 218(6):1130-40.
Great
He was very respectful, amazing. I liked him. He explained everything. I would definitely have him for any surgery I ever needed. Thank you very much, Dr. Morse.
Explained everything perfectly
i never met the provider just a phone conversation which went well.
He has been caring for me for over five years and I'm lucky to have a dr with dr morse's experience in his field !!
Entire staff was pleasant polite respectful and helpful
It was very professional
Dr. Morse is an excellent chest surgeon. He has great credentials. He was excellent explaining my problem to me and my husband. Thanks. [redacted]
Very pleased with this Doctor and has staff
This was my first visit with him. It was on the phone but he did explain everything to me and what tests he wants be to have