Hatem Halabi, MD

Provider is directly employed by MedStar Health

Hatem Halabi, MD, FACS, is a board-certified surgical oncologist and the Chief of Surgery at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and Director of Surgical Oncology for the Baltimore Region. He specializes in complex cancers of the liver, pancreas, and upper gastrointestinal tract with expertise in peritoneal surface malignancy and regional cancer therapies.

Dr. Halabi performs advanced robotic, minimally invasive, and open oncologic surgery, tailoring treatment to each individual patient. He also offers specialized regional therapies such as hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Dr. Halabi works closely with a multidisciplinary team that includes specialists in medical oncology and radiation oncology who are dedicated to providing the best options for cancer patients, whether chemotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or palliative surgery/care. His clinical interests include advanced metastatic liver disease and improving quality of life through palliative surgical care.

His research focuses on improving outcomes for patients with peritoneal surface malignancies by advancing regional drug-delivery techniques and understanding of how cancers spread within the abdominal cavity.

Before joining MedStar Health, Dr. Halabi spent more than a decade at City of Hope, serving as Chair of Surgery and developing the institution's HAI program. Recognized as an expert in his field, he has widely presented and published in national meetings and peer-reviewed journals. He is an active member of the Society of Surgical Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Halabi earned his medical degree, with Alpha Omega Alpha honors, from the American University of Beirut. Afterward, he completed his general surgery residency at the Medical College of Virginia before undertaking a telemedicine research fellowship at the Medical Informatics and Telemedicine Applications Consortium and a surgical oncology fellowship at The Institute for Cancer Care at Mercy Health Services.

A native Arabic speaker, Dr. Halabi enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, hiking, and running.

Philosophy of Care

“I stay connected with my patients throughout their care journey. My role is to help them understand their options, answer every question honestly, and guide them toward the treatment plan that best fits their needs. I believe in compassionate patient-centered care and involve the entire team–the patient, and their families–in the decision-making process.”