Meet John C. Lipham, MD

Dr. John C. Lipham is a gastrointestinal surgeon at Keck Medicine of USC who specializes in benign and malignant diseases of the foregut. 

Here’s what you won’t find on his resume.

Becoming a doctor was his dream.

“From the time I was young, I always knew I wanted to be a surgeon when I grew up.”

The Lipham family loves to stay active.

“I prioritize spending quality time with my family, and we love staying active. We enjoy skiing in the winter and wakeboarding in the summer.” 

If it’s broken, he’ll fix it.

“People may be surprised to learn I grew up in a construction family. I learned those skills growing up, and I enjoy building and fixing things around the house.”

His father is his role model.

“My dad worked as a general contractor and is one of the hardest-working people I have ever met.”

Favorite travel destination?

“I love trekking around Europe.”

His patients motivate him.

“The most rewarding part of my job is the ability to use my skills to help patients through their journeys with cancer.”

The importance of minimally invasive procedures:

“We used to rely on open surgery. Adopting more advanced, minimally invasive techniques has been the most impactful change in my field.”

The medical breakthrough he hopes to experience:

“Esophageal cancer is one of the most challenging cancers to diagnose and treat. I’m hopeful we’ll find and develop more advanced therapies to improve outcomes for these patients.”

He’s involved in research.

“I chose to practice at an academic medical center because of the research opportunities. I am currently involved in clinical trials devoted to improving treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease and esophageal cancer.”

The collaborative environment sets Keck Medicine apart.

“I appreciate the collaborative approach to patient care here at Keck Medicine. We have a phenomenal multidisciplinary team treating esophageal disorders through the USC Digestive Health Institute, and I’m proud to be part of it.”

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