
Kelly Jeanne Lafaro, MD, MPH
Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery
Surgical Oncology
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty
About Kelly Jeanne Lafaro
Primary Academic Title
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Background
Kelly Lafaro, MD, MPH, is a general surgeon with a specialty in gastrointestinal surgical oncology and hepatobiliary surgery. She is part of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.
Dr. Lafaro earned her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine and completed her residency at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Her fellowship in complex general surgical oncology was completed at City of Hope National Medical Center.
Dr. Lafaro’s expertise includes pancreatic adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors, minimally invasive pancreatic and liver surgeries, and colorectal liver metastases. In addition to her clinical experience, Dr. Lafaro is published in the field of liver and pancreatic cancer. She is interested in the improvement of surgical and post-surgical outcomes.
Centers and Institutes
Additional Academic Titles
Assistant Professor of Oncology
Selected Publications
Lafaro KJ and Melstrom LG. The paradoxical web of pancreatic cancer tumor microenvironment. Am J Pathol, 2019 Jan; 189(1):44-57. [RA]
Lafaro KJ, Eng O, Raoof M, Ituarte P, Warner S, Sing G, Fong Y, Melstrom L. A Prognostic Nomogram for Patients with Resected Fibrolamellar Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Accepted. HBSN 2019. [OR]
Blakely A, Lafaro K, Li D, Kessler J, Chang S, Ituarte P, Lee B, Singh G. Lymphovascular Invasion Predicts Lymph Node Involvement in Small Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. Neuroendocrinology. 2019 Aug 9
Gamboa AC, Zaidi MY, Lee RM, Speegle S, Switchenko JM, Lipscomb J, Cloyd JM, Ahmed A, Grotz T, Leiting J, Fournier K, Lee AJ, Dineen S, Powers BD, Lowy AM, Kotha NV, Clarke C, Gamblin TC, Patel SH, Lee TC, Lambert L, Hendrix RJ, Abbott DE, Vande Walle K, Lafaro K, Lee B, Johnston FM, Greer J, Russell MC, Staley CA, Maithel SK. Optimal Surveillance Frequency After CRS/HIPEC for Appendiceal and Colorectal Neoplasms: A Multi-institutional Analysis of the US HIPEC Collaborative. Ann Surg Oncol. 2019 Jun 26.
Konstantinidis IT, Raoof M, Zheleva V, Lafaro K, Lau C, Fong Y, Lee B. Multivisceral robotic liver surgery: feasible and safe. J Robot Surg. 2019 Sep 6
Kotha NV, Baumgartner JM, Veerapong J, Cloyd JM, Ahmed A, Grotz TE, Leiting JL, Fournier K, Lee AJ, Dineen SP, Dessureault S, Clarke C, Mogal H, Zaidi MY, Russell MC, Patel SH, Sussman JJ, Dhar V, Lambert LA, Hendrix RJ, Abbott DE, Pokrzywa C, Lafaro K, Lee B, Greer JB, Fackche N, Lowy AM, Kelly KJ. Primary Tumor Sidedness is Predictive of Survival in Colon Cancer Patient Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery with or without Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: A US HIPEC Collaborative Study. Ann Surg Oncol. 2019 Jul;26(7):2234-2240.
Honors
- Surgical Oncology Top Doctor, 2022 Baltimore Top Doctor
- Appendix Cancer/Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Research Foundation (ACPMP) International Travel Scholarship, 1/1/18
- Chief Administrative Fellow, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, 1/1/18
Locations
- Skip Viragh Outpatient Cancer Center
- 201 North Broadway Street, Viragh BLDG 5th FL, Baltimore, MD 21287
- phone: 410-955-8964
- fax: 410-367-2194
Expertise
Education
City of Hope National Medical Center
Fellowship, Complex General Surgical Oncology, 2019New York-Presbyterian Columbia
Residency, General Surgery, 2017UCI Medical Center
Residency, General Surgery, 2013Tulane University School of Medicine
Medical Education, MD, 2010Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
Graduate School, MPH, 2010Board Certifications
Complex General Surgical Oncology
American Board of Surgery, 2020Surgery
American Board of Surgery, 2017Insurance
- Aetna
- CareFirst
- Cigna
- First Health
- Geisinger Health Plan
- HealthSmart/Accel
- Humana
- Johns Hopkins Health Plans
- MultiPlan
- Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
- Point Comfort Underwriters
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- UnitedHealthcare
- Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)
Ratings & Reviews
5 out of 5
130 ratings, 45 reviewsThe Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/20/2025
Competent. Carding. Precise on surgery. Excellent in follow up with oncology.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/11/2025
Dr Kelly Lafaro was knowledgeable and kind
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/4/2025
Dr Lafaro really made connection with me in explaining my case, her suggestions and answered my questions clearly. She shared her contact info with me for any follow up questions. Knowing I was very concerned about taking MRI contrast, she offered help to talk with radiologist on my need of MRI contrast in the regular follow up tests. I was very appreciative and impressed by Dr Lafaro and John Hopkins in this very first visit!
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 2/4/2025
Dr. Kelly Lafaro is a phenomenal doctor. She is very caring, thorough, professional, and very well skilled. I have received excellent care from her and her team before, during, and after surgery. I am so grateful to have found her.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/28/2025
Very knowledgeable, answered my questions and provided excellent feedback.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/14/2025
I could not think more highly of Dr.Lafaro. She is everything that I could want in a surgeon, especially for this type of operation. From our first consult, she has been kind, compassionate, interested in and respectful of my questions and input, patient with her patient, knowledgeable, understanding, and willing to explain in detail the procedure, the methods used to execute it, the likely outcomes, and the risks. I could not have asked for more from her.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/14/2025
Dr. Lafaro, [Staff] and the team are fantastic
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 1/7/2025
No concerns
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/31/2024
Extremely helpful and professional Dr. Lafaro's assistant was extremely helpful - compassionate
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/17/2024
Very nice and very polite
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/3/2024
Can not say enough good things about her , she's the best ! I feel so blessed !
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 12/3/2024
I'm confident Dr. Lafaro will guide me through whatever the results ofhe annual CTs and EUSes show.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/19/2024
I appreciate Dr. Lafaro's care , concern, and expertise ! Very individual care even though I know she has many many patients.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 11/5/2024
Consultation with Dr Lafaro was very encouraging and we felt comfortable talking with her.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/30/2024
Excellent first impression and very knowledgeable and compassionate
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/29/2024
She is outstanding I have great confidence in her.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/18/2024
Dr. Lafaro was very knowledgeable and was able to address all of my concerns.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/15/2024
Dr. Lafaro listened to and answered all of my numerous questions and those from my wife, as well. She was well-informed about my history and current situation. She was pleasant and attentive, knowledgeable and confident. She gave me confidence in her/Hopkins abilities to treat my safely and effectively treat my condition.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/8/2024
Very professional very understanding very knowledgeable and supportive
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 10/1/2024
Dr Lafaro took time to answer all my questions and concerns. And told me how she would work to address my needs before and after surgery.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/17/2024
Never had a problem with her again very professional
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/10/2024
Very nice
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/10/2024
Excellent doctor and team care
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/3/2024
Gave very detailed insight to the mass, and treatment options, this was a second opinion visit, felt I was in the best hands for my medical concern.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 9/3/2024
Love them. Their good doctors and I'm happy they kept me alive thru cancer .
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/20/2024
She's very good doctor
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/20/2024
Excellent and beyond expectations
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/19/2024
EXCELLENT
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/13/2024
Knowledgeable and professional.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/6/2024
She is an excellent doctor who cares very much for her patients.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/6/2024
Good experiences
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 8/6/2024
Dr. Lafaro and her team are amazing. I highly recommend them and Johns Hopkins. I have never had a provider and their team care so much about my health and the health of all their patients.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/16/2024
Very easy to talk to and inspire confidence
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 7/9/2024
I really appreciate her
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/25/2024
Very attentive and up to date with my file. Trying, with Johns Hopkins Cyst Clinic Committee, to determine the best course of treatment for pancreatic cyst.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/18/2024
Dr Lafaro is friendly, competent, and very caring. Excellent professional and patient skills.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 6/4/2024
I have confidence in her knowledge and capability and she has good people skills.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/7/2024
I would go to no one else but Dr Lafaro
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/7/2024
Dr Lafaro is the absolute best! I trust her completely
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 5/7/2024
Dr. Lafaro is watching the cysts in my pancreas very carefully. I trust her judgement.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/23/2024
She was very knowledgeable about my situation.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/23/2024
Dr Lafaro has my complete confidence. I cannot over emphasize her excellent care.
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/2/2024
Very professional cared about all of my questions made me feel at peace with my problems very thoughtful
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 4/2/2024
Excellent care with an excellent team
- 5 out of 5 starsReviewed on 3/26/2024
Very thorough, respectful and professional in discussing my visit