The Question That Never Left: Dr. Allan Tsung on Curiosity, Growth, and Purpose
- Virginia Journal of Medicine
- Feb 12
- 5 min read
A Q&A with Dr. Allan Tsung, MD
Article written by William Lain
In this installment of VJM’s Expert Q&A series spotlighting exceptional surgical faculty and surgeon-scientists, we spoke with Dr. Allan Tsung, Chair of the Department of Surgery at UVA and an internationally recognized surgical oncologist. Dr. Tsung specializes in the treatment of liver, bile duct, and pancreatic cancers and leads a multidisciplinary team focused on providing personalized, comprehensive care. He is an expert in laparoscopic and robotic surgery techniques, providing innovative treatments so patients can recover faster than with traditional surgery and methodology.
As both surgeon and scientist, his work bridges patient-facing innovation and bench-driven discovery, with a lab focused on tumor immunology, liver cancer biology, and translational therapeutic development. He wholeheartedly believes that it’s vital to know what questions need to be answered to treat patients better, and that it’s his role to study and gain new knowledge to answer those questions.
However, Dr. Tsung’s journey to medicine was shaped early by personal loss. The death of his father from metastatic colorectal cancer fueled a lifelong commitment to cancer care. He recounted the treatments of the time that were unable to cure his father and left a feeling of frustration and disappointment with the current state, fueling his career since and creating a long-term dedication to intellectual curiosity, collaboration and growth, and finding purpose and answers to the questions we hold.
On Choosing Surgery:
Dr. Tsung’s interest in medicine began with a close loss. At age twelve, he lost his father to metastatic colorectal cancer, an experience that exposed him to the shortcomings of cancer care and the emotional toll it can take on patients and families. He recalled the difficult treatments that seemed worse than the disease itself.
“I found myself wondering why we couldn’t do better. That question has stayed with me ever since. It led me to medicine and eventually to surgery, where science and compassion meet in moments that truly matter.”
Moreover, he was further drawn to cancer care because it gave him the chance to give back to the families dealing with the same difficulties, struggles, and fear that he and his family had to face. It has allowed him to offer hope and understanding when everything in their world is uncertain.
“Every patient I meet reminds me why I started down this path and why that question still drives me every day.”
On Success and Collaboration:
“To succeed in surgery, you need equal parts discipline, curiosity, and a sense of humor. You will make mistakes, you will feel unsure, and you will be humbled often. What matters most is how you respond.”
In his experience, each case, each patient, each opportunity, especially the hard ones, is a chance to learn and grow. While technical skill will come with time and practice, Dr. Tsung believes that good habits are what truly make a difference, especially resilience and perspective. The students, residents, fellows, and staff who ask thoughtful questions, listen carefully, and practice patience and confidence are the same ones who find the most success.
Moreover, Dr. Tsung believes that teamwork is where growth truly happens. Some of his most formative experiences have come from working alongside others with different perspectives, whether in the OR, research settings, or interdisciplinary clinical teams.
“Collaboration is really at the heart of good medicine…You quickly realize that no one has all the answers, and that is what makes teamwork so powerful.”
He tells students that collaboration begins with the small things—offering help, sharing credit, and being dependable—especially in moments of stress. Building trust early, he says, sets the foundation for lasting professional relationships.
On Research:
“The most meaningful discoveries often begin with uncertainty, with asking a question that does not have an easy answer and being open to wherever the data lead, even when the results are unexpected.”
Dr. Tsung challenges the notion that research is just about confirming what we already know. In his view, the best questions in surgical research begin with doubt, and progress emerges not in straight lines but through iteration, failure, and constant rethinking. He emphasizes that research is not separate from clinical care—it’s a natural extension of the curiosity that defines good medicine.
“Experiments fail, hypotheses evolve, and surprises often teach us the most. I wish more students viewed research not as something separate from patient care but as a continuation of the same curiosity that drives good medicine. It is not about proving yourself right. It’s about being willing to learn, adapt, and keep asking how we can do better.”
On Mentorship:
“Mentoring has always been one of the best parts of my job.”
Dr. Tsung views mentorship as an investment, with every student representing the future of surgery. His approach centers on availability, humility, and honest conversations—often those that happen in passing, like after a long case or during a moment of reflection. He emphasizes that mentorship is less about instruction and more about helping someone recognize their own potential. He loves providing the reassurance that every new student and surgeon feels apprehensive about the operating room and will gain confidence the more time and effort they spend into cultivating their craft.
“The best mentoring moments often come when curiosity turns into confidence or when a setback becomes a turning point. Those moments remind me that teaching is not just about technique; it is about helping someone see what they are capable of.”
He also encourages students to stay grounded and laugh at themselves, as everyone makes mistakes and messes up. He views humility as essential to growth in medicine and in surgery. Surgery will always be serious work, but taking everything too seriously never allows one to grow and truly become a better provider.
Final Takeaway:
“The career will challenge you in ways you can’t predict, but if you hold on to empathy and purpose, it will also give you more than you could ever imagine.”
Dr. Tsung’s career is defined by the question he first asked as a child: Why can’t we do better? Through research, leadership, and mentorship, he continues to answer that question every day—by creating systems of care that are more personalized, more coordinated, and more humane. For students and future surgeons, he offers this reminder: stay curious, stay kind, and don’t measure your success only by milestones. Remember to slow down, as the most important lessons often come in quiet moments. Progress isn’t always measured by achievements or milestones; it’s how you show up, how you support others, and how you stay grounded in the purpose that brought you here.
Stay tuned for more interviews from our Expert Q&A series, where we spotlight faculty across surgical specialties working at the cutting edge of surgical care, research, and education.
Interested in reading more from Dr. Tsung? Check out some of his lab’s recent works!
1. Xia Y, Wang Y, Xiong Q, et al. Neutrophil extracellular traps promote MASH fibrosis by metabolic reprogramming of HSC. Hepatology. 2025;81(3):947-961. doi:10.1097/HEP.0000000000000762
2. Mercante MG, Tocco EG, Kuchimanchi N, et al. Affording Childcare on a Surgical Resident's Salary. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(3):e250708. Published 2025 Mar 3. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.0708
3. Hobeika C, Pfister M, Geller D, et al. Recommendations on Robotic Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery. The Paris Jury-Based Consensus Conference. Ann Surg. 2025;281(1):136-153. doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000006365
4. Sears O, Cao Y, Tsung A. Prehabilitation-A New Standard in Liver Surgery. JAMA Surg. 2025;160(10):1075. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2025.3076
5. Connor Chick R, Ruff SM, Monasterio J, et al. Implementation of Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump Therapy: Real-World Single-Center Experience. J Surg Oncol. 2025;131(2):212-219. doi:10.1002/jso.27859
