He is a board-certified surgeon specializing surgical oncology and pancreatic disorders. Dr. Van Buren earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. During that time period, he spent two years at MD Anderson Cancer Center as a research fellow studying pancreatic, colorectal, and neuroendocrine cancers. He completed his surgical oncology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in the Translational Pancreas Track. He has been involved in both basic science and clinical research and believes heavily in the surgeon’s role as a member of the translational research team.