Explore UAB

Dr. Annabelle Fonseca

Associate Professor

Areas of Interest
pancreatic, liver, gallbladder and bile duct diseases and cancers, stomach cancer, small bowel tumors, health disparities research

Biography

Dr. Annabelle Fonseca joined the faculty of the UAB Department of Surgery as an Associate Professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology in October 2023. Dr. Fonseca is dual board-certified in General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology and her clinical focus is in hepatopancreatobiliary and other foregut malignancies.

Dr. Fonseca is a surgeon-scientist with a combined clinical and research appointment. She is a member of the UAB Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship, where she conducts health services research, with a focus on improving the quality and delivery of high-quality complex oncologic care for foregut cancers across the cancer care continuum. Dr. Fonseca’s research is supported by NIH funding.

Board Certifications

American Board of Surgery
Complex General Surgical Oncology

Selected Publications

Association of Medicaid Expansion with Pancreatic Cancer Treatment and Outcomes - Evidence from the National Cancer Database. Fonseca AL, Cherla D, Kothari AN, Tzeng CW, Heslin MJ, Mehari KR, Johnston FM, Cao HT. Ann Surg Oncol 2021 Aug 27. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-10709-4. PMID: 34453259.

The challenge of achieving high quality, equitable care for pancreatic cancer – might Medicaid Expansion be a piece of the puzzle? Fonseca AL, Johnston FM, Cao HT. Ann Surg Oncol 2021 Aug 27. doi: 10.1245/s10434-021-10713-8. PMID: 34448962.

Surgical resection of Colorectal Liver metastases: Attitudes and Practice Patterns in the Deep South. Fonseca AL, Payne IC, Wong SL, Tan MCB. J Gastrointest Surg 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-021-05159-y. PMID: 34647225.

Disparities in Access to Oncologic Care in Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review. Fonseca AL, Khan H, Mehari KR, Cherla D, Heslin MJ, Johnston FM. Ann Surg Oncol 2021. DOI: 10.1245/s10434-021-11258-6. PMID: 35067789.

Palliative Therapies in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: Does Medicaid Expansion make a difference? Khan H, Cherla D, Mehari K, Tripathi M, Butler TW, Crook ED, Heslin MJ, Johnston FM, Fonseca AL. Ann Surg Oncol 2022 Sep 28. https:// doi: 10.1245/s10434-022-12563-4. PMID: 36169753.

Disparities in receipt of palliative therapies for pancreatic cancer – did Medicaid Expansion help? Khan H, Crook ED, Heslin MJ, Johnston FM, Fonseca AL. Ann Surg Oncol 2022. doi: 10.1245/s10434-022-12638-2. PMID: 36245052.

Fragmentation of Care in Pancreatic Cancer: Effects on Receipt of Care and Survival. Khan H, Heslin MJ, Mehari K, Crook ED, Johnston FM, Fonseca AL. J Gastrointest Surg 2022. Oct 11. doi: 10.1007/s11605-022-05478-8. PMID 36221020.

Association between Rural Residence and Processes of Care in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment. Amin K, Khan H, Hearld LR, Chu DI, Prete V, Mehari KR, Heslin MJ, Fonseca AL. J Gastrointest Surg 2023. June 17. 11.10.1007/s11605-023-05764-z

Radiation and its impact on local recurrence in Extremity and Trunk Well differentiated Liposarcomas. Fonseca AL, Roland CL, Cormier JN, Torres KE, Hunt KK, Bishop AJ, Guadagnolo A, Feig BW. Am Surg. 2019 Jan 1;85(1):52-58. PMID 30760345.

Surgical overtreatment of pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: Do the 2017 International Consensus Guidelines improve clinical decision making? Sharib J, Fonseca AL, Swords DS, Jaradeh K, Bracci PM, Firpo MA, Hatcher S, Scaife CL, Wang H, Kim GE, Mulvihill SJ, Maitra A, Koay EJ, Kirkwood KS. Surgery. 2018 Aug 28. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2018.07.014. PMID: 30170819.

Honors and Awards

Shining Star Leadership Coaching Program (2023)

Jeffrey and Joan Matthews Developing Leaders Program (2023)

Society of Asian Academic Surgeons, Junior Faculty Award (2022)

University of South Alabama Red Sash Award (2020-2022)

Yale University Administrative Chief Resident (2014 - 2015)

Education

Medical School
Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College

Residency
Yale New Haven Hospital
General Surgery 

Fellowship
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Complex General Surgical Oncology

Research Fellowship
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
T32 Research Program 

Graduate Degrees
Yale University
Master of Health Science

Contact

Campus Address
BDB 569

Phone
Patient Appointments and Questions: 205-934-3028
Academic Office: 205-934-0849

Email
afonseca@uabmc.edu