Gitonga Munene, MD

Division Chief
Surgical Oncology​

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Gitonga Munene is division chief of surgical oncology at WMCC.

Dr. Munene attended the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse for his undergraduate studies and Northwestern University in Chicago for medical school. He completed his internship and general surgery residency at Georgetown University Medical Center, where he served as chief resident during his final year. During his residency, he completed a research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. After completing his general surgery residency, he completed a fellowship in surgical oncology at the University Of Calgary, Tom Baker Cancer Center. He has practiced at West Michigan Cancer Center since 2015 and has been awarded a Castle Connolly Top Regional Doctor distinction since 2019.

Dr. Munene is chair of the Department of Surgical Sciences at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed). This department includes six divisions: general surgery, medical engineering, gynecologic oncology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopaedic surgery and surgical oncology, of which he is chief. He also serves as an associate professor at WMed. Dr. Munene is also a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology, NRG oncology, and sits on the surgical oncology sub-committee of NRG Oncology.

Dr. Munene has written chapters in surgical texts and published numerous manuscripts in national and international journals. He conducts clinical research at WMCC and at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M. D. School of Medicine to improve outcomes for surgical oncology patients in our community. His research is recognized and published in numerous medical journals. Click on the following links to learn more: Cancerology, PubMed.
  • Medical School
    Northwestern University
    Evanston, IL
  • Internship & Residency
    Georgetown University Hospital
    Washington, DC
  • Fellowships
    Tom Baker Cancer Center
    Calgary, Alberta, Canada
    Massachusetts General Hospital
    Boston, MA
  • Board Certification
    General Surgery 

Surgery for gastrointestinal cancers including pancreatic cancer, gastric, liver, bile duct and gallbladder cancer, metastatic colon cancer, and the treatment of peritoneal-based malignancies using hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Surgery for thyroid diseases, benign pancreas and biliary disorders, melanoma, and soft tissue sarcomas. Dr. Munene has expertise in robotic-assisted surgery, laparoscopic surgery, and open surgery.

WMCC is accredited by the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation as a center of excellence for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.