Dr. W. Charles Conway

About W. Charles Conway

Dr. W. Charles Conway joined the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center in 2017 as director of surgical oncology, assembling its first multidisciplinary team to treat peritoneal malignancies such as mesothelioma.

He specializes in cytoreductive surgery in combination with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, often called the HIPEC procedure. This is allowing many of his mesothelioma patients to resume normal lives after being diagnosed with this rare and often aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

Conway treats a range of abdominal diseases, both malignant and benign, involving the pancreas, gallbladder, liver, bowels and esophagus. Many of his surgeries are minimally invasive procedures, including robotic surgery, which shorten recovery time.

Before joining the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, Conway spent eight years at the Ochsner Cancer Center in New Orleans, where he performed the first totally robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy in state history. In 2022, Conway was named as one of three trustees of The Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara.

Expansion of services at the Ridley-Tree Cancer Center — made possible by Conway’s arrival — has eliminated the need for patients to leave the Santa Barbara area to find the first-class, specialized care needed for complex peritoneal diseases.

The intricate cytoreductive surgery, combined with HIPEC, is a procedure that can take up to 12 hours in the operating room, leading to a long but successful recovery. Conway believes that finding a cancer specialty center with the experience his staff brings is critical to surviving a diagnosis of mesothelioma.

“These mesothelioma patients are in a tough spot, but you can make a difference for them with hard work and the experience we have,” Conway said. “It’s a difficult operation, and the post-operative care is difficult. But we are well-equipped to handle it here.”

He earned his medical degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. He completed his internship and residency at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, while also spending time in Ghana for an international studies program. He earned his fellowship in surgical oncology at John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica.

Conway received his certification in general surgery from the American Board of Surgery. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American College of Surgeons and the Society of Surgical Oncology.

Dr. Conway’s Role as Medical Reviewer on Asbestos.com

Conway’s expertise in mesothelioma, and his peritoneal surgical experience qualify him as a contributor and reviewer for The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. He ensures the peritoneal mesothelioma content on Asbestos.com meets the latest medical and scientific standards.

Conway performs a wide range of abdominal surgeries and has been a pioneer in robotic surgery. His vast expertise is sought after by people with peritoneal mesothelioma and other abdominal cancers.  

Specialties of Dr. W. Charles Conway

Experience and Medical Education

Awards and Recognition

Publications of Dr. W. Charles Conway