Samuel Han, MD

About Me

As an advanced therapeutic endoscopist, I’m passionate about pancreatic diseases, specifically how endoscopic techniques can be used to help patients with complications of pancreatitis including pancreatic duct strictures, biliary strictures, pancreatic duct stones, pancreatic fluid collections, and walled-off necrosis. I provide the most up-to-date techniques and tools for the endoscopic treatment of pancreatitis to improve quality of life for my patients.

As a chief resident and chief fellow, I’ve always been invested in teaching and that solidified my desire to be in academic medicine. My research and clinical interests, however, remain the primary reason for desiring to be an interventional pancreatologist at an academic medical center. I love performing innovative procedures with the latest technology while also partaking in clinical trials aimed at providing the best care of our patients. Given the lack of treatment options for pancreatic diseases, I’m highly motivated to contribute to this field in understanding how the disease affects patients and how effective endoscopic treatments can be.

My primary research interests are chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic endotherapy, therapeutic endoscopy, endoscopy training and primary sclerosing cholangitis. For my research into the effect of pancreatic endotherapy on quality of life, I received a National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Program Grant. My research has also focused on smoking cessation in patients with pancreatitis.

The pancreas team at Ohio State is a truly amazing group that’s leading the way in research as evidenced by the medical center’s role in major clinical trials funded by the NIH. Having the balance and collaboration of medical pancreatologists, translational pancreatologists, interventional pancreatologists and pancreatic surgeons makes The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center a premier pancreas center. It was a no-brainer for me to join this remarkable group and pursue my clinical and research career supported by world-class physician scientists.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, particularly in traveling around the world. We love being in the water, and scuba diving remains a favorite pastime. A Boston native, I remain an avid fan of the Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox and Bruins.

Highlights

• Trainee Director of the Collaborative Alliance for Pancreatic Education and Research
• Technology Committee Member for the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
• Editor-in-Chief of ACG Case Reports Journal, 2018-19
• Therapeutic Advanced Endoscopy Training at the University of Colorado

Additional Languages I Speak

• Korean
• Spanish

Procedures and Conditions I Treat

• Pancreatitis, Chronic
• Pancreatitis
• Gallstones
• Choledocholithiasis
• Celiac Plexus
• Pancreatic Cancers
• Pancreatic Diseases
• Biliary Tract Diseases
• Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde
• Lithotripsy