Elizabeth J Lilley, MD, MPH

Dr. Elizabeth Lilley is a surgical oncologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. She specializes in the care of patients with soft tissue sarcomas, including (GIST, liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas) and melanoma. She takes care of patients with new cancer diagnoses as well as those whose cancers have returned or spread. Her practice emphasizes complex robotic and minimally invasive techniques that can mean smaller incisions, faster recovery, and fewer days in the hospital. 

Dr. Lilley is triple board certified in general surgery, complex general surgical oncology, and palliative medicine – one of only a handful of surgeons in the country with this combination of training. Her philosophy of care recognizes both the far-reaching impact of a cancer diagnosis and the singular importance of each patient, who is always much more than their diagnosis. She takes time to understand what matters most to every person she cares for, so that treatment decisions reflect each patient's own goals and values. Her research at the Center for Surgery and Public Health focuses on improving communication and decision-making for patients with advanced cancer.

Dr. Lilley received her BS from Lafayette College, MPH from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and MD from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She completed general surgery training at Brigham and Women's Hospital, palliative medicine fellowship at Harvard, and Complex General Surgical Oncology fellowship at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. A native of New Jersey, Dr. Lilley now lives in Boston, where she enjoys exploring the city's restaurant scene with her husband, spoiling her nephews, and watching Formula 1 racing on the weekends.