Gitonga Munene, MD

Gitonga Munene, MD
Gitonga Munene, MD

Division Chief, Surgical Oncology

Chair, Department of Surgical Sciences

Professor, Department of Surgical Sciences

Biosketch

Gitonga Munene, MD, is board certified in general surgeon with West Michigan Cancer Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Surgical Sciences, as well as the Surgical Oncology Division Chief at ³ÉÈËÍ·Ìõ University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and completed a surgical residency at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. He received fellowship training in surgical oncology from Tom Baker Cancer Center in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Dr. Munene’s clinical interests include surgery for gastrointestinal cancers—gastric, hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and metastatic colon—as well as thyroid cancer, melanoma and soft tissue sarcomas. He is also trained to provide treatment for peritoneal-based malignancies using hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) – which is new to the Southwest Michigan region.

  • Board Certification
    • American Board of Surgery (Surgery)

  • Education and Training
    • Fellowship 2011, Surgical Oncology, Tom Baker Cancer Center, University of Calgary
    • Residency 2009, General Surgery, Georgetown University Hospital, Georgetown University
    • Research Fellowship 2004, Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University
    • MD 2002, Northwestern University
    • BS 1998, Premedicine, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

  • Research
    • Surgery, General

  • Publications

    • Al-Assil T., Kalina C., Laird M.C., Olivier R.C., Dawood N., Kumar N.S., Riordan R., Shebrain S., Dickson C., Munene G. Sheltered yet unscreened: Exploring cancer screening rates and barriers in the unhoused (homeless) population American Journal of Surgery. 2025;248

    • Coster S., Shammout A., Chaney M., Folkert K., Grosh K., Shebrain S., Munene G. American Surgeon. 2024;90:1760-1762.

    • Flewelling K., Alfred A., Jose J., Elian A., Norman E., Timmons J., Munene G., Sawyer R., Shebrain S. Journal of Surgical Education. 2024;81:48-55.

    • Shebrain S., Cookenmaster C., Ajine M., Ferrin N., Elian A., Timmons J., Munene G., Sawyer R.G. Journal of Surgical Education. 2024;81:1452-1461.

    • Young L., Vergara R., Henriquez J., Fong A., Al-Assil T., Shebrain S., Munene G. Financial Toxicity in Complex Gastrointestinal Surgery and Correlation with Patient Reported Outcomes Annals of Surgery. 2024

    • Grosh K.M., Folkert K.N., Chou J., Shebrain S.A., Munene G.M. American Surgeon. 2023;89:2350-2356.

    • Khalil S., Jose J., Welter M., Timmons J., Miller L., Elian A., Munene G., Sawyer R., Shebrain S. The importance of USMLE step 2 on the screening and selection of applicants for general surgery residency positions Heliyon. 2023;9

    • Kramme K., Sarraf P., Shebrain S., Munene G. American Surgeon. 2023;89:300-308.

    • Shehadeh A.A., McLaren G.W., Collins J.T., Munene G., Sawyer R.G., Shebrain S.A. American Surgeon. 2023;89:2254-2261.

    • Welter M., Grosh K., Jose J., Khalil S., Muharraq A., Elian A., Munene G., Sawyer R., Shebrain S. Surgical Infections. 2023;24:860-868.

    • Shebrain S., Coster S., Alfred A., De Cecco D., Khalil S., Munene G., Elian A., Timmons J., Sawyer R.G. Journal of Surgical Research. 2022;279:285-295.

    • Tessman D., Chou J., Shebrain S., Munene G. American Surgeon. 2022;88:115-119.

    • Vergara R., Khalil S., Munene G. Case report: Multimodal neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy for hepatic undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma in a young adult Frontiers in Oncology. 2022;12

    • Cookenmaster C., Shebrain S., Vos D., Munene G., Miller L., Sawyer R. American Journal of Surgery. 2021;221:515-520.

    • Kwasny L., Shebrain S., Munene G., Sawyer R. American Journal of Surgery. 2021;221:505-508.

    • Shebrain S., Folkert K., Baxter J., Leinwand M., Munene G., Sawyer R. Journal of Surgical Education. 2021;78:1692-1701.

    • Shebrain S., Nava K., Munene G., Shattuck C., Collins J., Sawyer R. Journal of Surgical Education. 2021;78:740-745.

    • Driedger M., Zyromski N.J., Visser B.C., Jester A., Sutherland F.R., Nakeeb A., Dixon E., Dua M.M., House M.G., Worhunsky D.J., Munene G., Ball C.G. Annals of Surgery. 2020;271:163-168.

    • Kramme K., Sarraf P., Munene G. Journal of the American College of Surgeons. 2020;230:314-321.

    • Lu S., Khatri R., Tanner B., Shebrain S., Munene G. American Journal of Surgery. 2019;218:946-951.

    • Ransome E., Tong L., Espinosa J., Chou J., Somnay V., Munene G. Trends in surgery and disparities in receipt of surgery for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in the US: 2005–2014 Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. 2019;10:339-347.

    • Shebrain S., Arafeh M., Munene G., Shattuck C., Miller L., Lu S., Schutter D. American Journal of Surgery. 2019;217:568-571.

    • Shebrain S., Mahmood G., Munene G., Miller L., Collins J., Sawyer R. Journal of Surgical Education. 2019;76(6):e66-e76.

    • Guerrero W., Munene G., Dickson P., Darby D., Davidoff A., Martin M., Glazer E., Shibata D., Deneve J. Early experience with cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy at a newly developed center for peritoneal malignancy Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. 2018;9:338-347.

    • Guerrero W., Munene G., Dickson P.V., Stiles Z.E., Mays J., Davidoff A.M., Glazer E.S., Shibata D., Deneve J.L. Outcome and factors associated with aborted cytoreduction for peritoneal carcinomatosis Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. 2018;9:664-673.

    • Lamb E.P., Pritchard F., Nouer S.S., Tolley E.A., Boyd B.S., Davidson J.T., Munene G., Fleming M.D. American Surgeon. 2018;84:620-627.

    • Stiles Z.E., Hinkle N.M., Munene G., Dickson P.V., Davidoff A.M., Deneve J.L. American Surgeon. 2018;84:783-788.

    • Tanner B., Lu S., Zervoudakis G., Woodwyk A., Munene G. American Journal of Surgery. 2018;215(3):406-409.

    • Espinosa J., Merlo A., Arafeh M., Munene G. An unusual case of jaundice: Biliary tumor thrombus in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma International Journal of Surgery Case Reports. 2017;36:50-54.

    • Hinkle N.M., Botta V., Sharpe J.P., Dickson P., Deneve J., Munene G. American Surgeon. 2017;83:633-639.

    • Soto-Ferrari M., Prieto D., Munene G. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making. 2017;17

    • Hinkle N.M., MacDonald J., Sharpe J.P., Dickson P., Deneve J., Munene G. American Journal of Surgery. 2016;212:413-418.

    • Kulke M.H., Shah M.H., Benson A.B., Bergsland E., Berlin J.D., Blaszkowsky L.S., Emerson L., Engstrom P.F., Fanta P., Giordano T., Goldner W.S., Halfdanarson T.R., Heslin M.J., Kandeel F., Kunz P.L., Kuvshinoff B.W., Lieu C., Moley J.F., Munene G., Pillarisetty V.G., Saltz L., Sosa J.A., Strosberg J.R., Vauthey J.N., Wolfgang C., Yao J.C., Burns J., Freedman-Cass D. JNCCN Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 2015;13:78-108.

    • Nelson J., Deneve J., Dickson P., Sylvestre P., Munene G. Tumori. 2014;100

    • Paulus E., Fleming M., Hendrix A., Deneve J., Dickson P., Mathew A., Martin M., Munene G. American Surgeon. 2014;80:E322-E324.

    • Munene G., Parker R., Larrigan J., Wong J., Sutherland F., Dixon E. World Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2013;11

    • Munene G., Parker R., Shaheen A., Myers R.P., Quan M.L., Ball C.G., Dixon E. Disparities in the surgical treatment of colorectal liver metastases Journal of the National Medical Association. 2013;105:128-137.

    • Munene G., Francis W., Garland S.N., Pelletier G., MacK L.A., Bathe O.F. Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2012;105:337-341.

    • Munene G., Dixon E., Sutherland F. Open transgastric debridement and internal drainage of symptomatic non-infected walled-off pancreatic necrosis HPB. 2011;13:234-239.

    • Munene G., MacK L., Moore R., Temple W. Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2011;103:175-178.

    • Munene G., MacK L., Temple W. Annals of Surgical Oncology. 2011;18:207-213.

    • Munene G., Knab M., Parag B. American Surgeon. 2010;76:321-324.

    • Crago A., Munene G., Evans S. Gastrectomy with Reconstruction Surgical Pitfalls. 2009:223-235.

    • Crago A.M., Munene G., Evans S.R.T. Gastrectomy with Reconstruction Surgical Pitfalls: Prevention and Management. 2008:223-235.

    • Goldberg R.F., Austen W.G., Zhang X., Munene G., Mostafa G., Biswas S., McCormack M., Eberlin K.R., Nguyen J., Tatlidede H., Warren H.S., Narisawa S., Millán J.L., Hodin R.A. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2008;105:3551-3556.

    • Munene G., Graham J., Holt R., Johnson L., Marshall H. American Surgeon. 2006;72:347-350.

  • Presentations
    • The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA): An iterative approach to optimize residents' performance in the American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam (ABSITE). Ajine M, Shebrain S, Cookenmaster C, Ferrin N, Elian A, Timmons J, Munene G, Sawyer R, 42nd Annual Kalamazoo Community and Health Sciences Research Day, Kalamazoo, United States, 04/2024
    • Morbidity and mortality: Laparoscopic vs. open approaches in acute complications of peptic ulcer disease. Saroya G, Shebrain S, Floth T, Dillon C, Munene G, Sawyer R, 42nd Annual Kalamazoo Community and Health Sciences Research Day, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 04/2024
    • Outwitting colorectal cancer with cutting-edge surgery and immuno-shenanigans. Al-Assil T, Morris T, Laird M, Shebrain S, Munene G, 42nd Annual Kalamazoo Community and Health Sciences Research Day, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 04/2024
    • Mortality and morbidity outcomes in acute appendicitis and generalized peritonitis: A comparative study of laparoscopic and open appendectomy outcomes. Madani R, Christensen B, Rice R, Liu G, Khalil S, Elian A, Munene G, Sawyer R, Shebrain S, 42nd Annual Kalamazoo Community and Health Sciences Research Day, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 04/2024
    • Does gender play a role in HCV and cancer screening among the unhoused?. Al-Assil T, Kalina C, Laird M, Dawood N, Riordan R, Kumar NS, Olivier R, Shebrain S, Dickson C, Munene G, 42nd Annual Kalamazoo Community and Health Sciences Research Day, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 04/2024
    • The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA): An Iterative Approach to Optimize Residence Performance in ABSITE. Shebrain S, Cookenmaster C, Elian A, Timmons J, Munene G, Sawyer R, 41st Annual Kalamazoo Community Medical & Health Sciences Research Day, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 05/2023
    • Perioperative Chemotherapy for Hepatic Undifferentiated Embryonal Sarcoma in a Young Adult: Case Report and Review of the Literature. Vergara R, Khalil S, Munene G, 40th Annual Kalamazoo Community Medical and Health Sciences Research Day, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 04/2022
    • Prophylactic Enoxaparin Adjusted By Anti-Factor XA Peak Levels in Surgical Oncology Patients. Kramme K, Sarraf P, Munene G, 38th Annual Kalamazoo Community Medical and Health Sciences Virtual Research Day, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 04/2021
    • Outcomes of Emergency Laparoscopic vs. Open Surgery for Complicated Acute Peptic Ulcer Disease. Floth T, Dillon C, Shebrain S, Munene G, Sawyer R, 38th Annual Kalamazoo Community Medical and Health Sciences Virtual Research Day, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 04/2021
    • Surgical outcomes of distal pacreatectomy in elderly patients. Chou J, Tessman D, Shebrain S, Munene G, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons 2020 Annual Meeting, Online, Virtual, 08/2020
    • Making an impact on patient recovery: An analysis of an enhanced recovery pathway's use of immunonutrition impact drink before elective hepatoprancreaticobiliary surgery. Chou J, Khalil S, Kramme K, Munene G, The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract 61st Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, 05/2020
    • Should I stay or should I go: The community patient's decision-making process in choosing where to have hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery. Chou J, Khalil S, Kramme K, Munene G, 2019 American College of Surgeons Michigan Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 05/2019
    • Should I stay or should I go: The community patient's decision-making process in choosing where to have hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery. Munene G, Chou J, Somnay V, Woodwyk A, Western Surgical Association 2018 Annual Scientific Session, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, 11/2018
    • Establishing an HPB program in a university affiliated community hospital: appraisal on short-term outcomes and impact on surgical education. Lu S, Khatri R, Tanner B, Shebrain S, Munene G, Central Medical Association and Midwest Surgical Association 2017 Combined Annual Meeting , Chicago, Illinois, 07/2017