Lee S. Cummings, MD, FACS, FSSO, FICS
Associate Professor of Surgery
Biography
Lee S. Cummings, MD, FACS, FSSO, FICS is an Associate Professor of Surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine. A nationally recognized transplant and hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) surgeon, Dr. Cummings brings over a decade of expertise in kidney, liver, pancreas and multivisceral transplantation, as well as complex open robotic HPB surgery.
Before joining Tulane, Dr. Cummings held key leadership roles at Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City and the University of South Florida, where he helped transform transplant programs into high-performing regional and national centers. As Surgical Director of Kidney and HPB Surgery, he led innovative strategies that expanded access to care for medically complex and underserved patients—growing transplant volume, enhancing cancer services, and optimizing clinical outcomes through multidisciplinary collaboration.
His commitment to advancing health equity is reflected in his national advocacy work. He currently serves on the ASTS Workforce Committee and is Chair of the Advocacy Committee for the Society of Black Academic Surgeons. He is also an active member of the AHPBA, ASTS, and Society of Surgical Oncology.
Dr. Cummings has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and educational resources and has presented at major national conferences on topics including liver transplantation, pancreatic cancer, and healthcare disparities. His research contributions include NIH-supported efforts to eliminate racial disparities in kidney transplantation and ongoing work in robotic liver and pancreas surgery, perfusion technology, and organ preservation.
At Tulane, Dr. Cummings will focus on expanding transplant and HPB surgery programs, driving innovation, and mentoring the next generation of surgical leaders—all while advancing Tulane's mission of excellence in education, research, and patient care.
Dr. Cummings is supported by his wife, Kelly, and their children, Leo and Olivia. Outside the OR, he enjoys golf, cars, and spending time with his family.
