Christopher John Sonnenday, MD

Specialty: Surgery, Surgical Oncology
Title: Professor
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Christopher John Sonnenday, MD
Surgery
  • About
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  • About

    Christopher Sonnenday, M.D., M.H.S., is the Darrell A. Campbell, Jr, M.D., Collegiate Professor of Transplant Surgery at the University of Michigan and Transplant Center Director for University of Michigan Health. He serves as Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery, Surgical Director of Living Donor Liver Transplantation, and Surgical Director of the Multidisciplinary Liver Tumor Program for Michigan Medicine. He is a Professor in the Department of Surgery, Section of Transplantation, and Professor of Health Management and Policy at the School of Public Health. Dr. Sonnenday received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University in 1997, and completed his General Surgery residency at the Johns Hopkins University in 2005. While a research fellow in transplantation from 2000 to 2003, he completed a Masters of Health Sciences in Clinical Investigation at the Bloomberg School of Public Health. After completion of his residency, Dr. Sonnenday continued at Johns Hopkins as a Fellow in Surgical Oncology and Instructor of Surgery until 2006, and he completed a fellowship in abdominal transplant surgery at the University of Michigan in 2008. His primary academic and research interests include the study of frailty in liver transplant candidates, machine perfusion in liver transplantation, the overlap of transplant and oncology, quality collaboratives in transplantation, and leadership development in academic surgery.

    Clinical Specialization:

    Dr. Sonnenday's clinical interests focus on liver transplantation, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, and general surgery procedures in patients with advanced liver disease. He sees patients in the Multidisciplinary Liver Tumor Clinic at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center and the Transplant Clinic at the Taubman Center.

    Areas of Practice

    Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, surgical oncology, general surgery procedures for advanced liver disease, transplantation of the liver, kidney, and pancreas

    Locations

    • Transplant Clinic | Taubman Center 1500 E Medical Center Dr
      Floor 1 Reception G
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5334
      Get Directions
    • Multidisciplinary Liver Clinic | Rogel Cancer Center 1500 E Medical Center Dr
      Floor B1 Reception E
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5912
      Get Directions
    • Multidisciplinary Pancreatic Clinic | Rogel Cancer Center 1500 E Medical Center Dr
      Floor B1 Reception E
      Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5912
      Get Directions
    • Kidney & Pancreas Transplant Clinic | Detroit Riverview Center Medical Pavilion II 7633 E Jefferson Ave Ste 180
      Detroit, MI 48214-2513
      Get Directions

    Insurance Accepted

    University of Michigan Health participates with most health insurance plans.

    See our insurance details

    Education & Training

    Medical School or Training

    Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1997

    Residency

    Johns Hopkins Hospital, Surgery, 2005

    Fellowships

    Johns Hopkins Hospital, Surgical Oncology, 2006

    Board Certifications

    Surgery

    Research Overview

    Dr. Sonnenday's research interests include investigation of the patterns of utilization and outcomes of hepatobiliary surgery and liver transplantation, geographic and racial disparities in the utilization of and access to solid organ transplantation, treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer, and the multidisciplinary treatment of hepatobiliary malignancies.

    Links

    Michigan Research Experts Website

    Transplant Surgery -Section of Transplant Surgery

    Featured News & Stories

    family posing together
    Health Lab

    Doctors perform first liver transplant in Michigan for colon cancer

    Andrew Sweeney was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer at age 31 and underwent a liver transplant, chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
    Cancer Aware surrounded by a circle of multicolor ribbons
    Cancer Aware

    Cutting edge treatment for advanced colon cancer

    Andrew Sweeney, now 35, was aware of his risk for colorectal cancer – his mother had had been diagnosed with it when she was 41. When he was 31, a CT scan at University of Michigan Health’s University Hospital revealed that Sweeney had a mass in his colon and potential metastases in his liver and lymph nodes. A colonoscopy confirmed that he had stage 4 colorectal cancer. After 1.5 years of chemotherapy, his care team began discussing how they could remove the damaged parts of Sweeney’s liver. They developed a colorectal cancer liver transplant protocol from a deceased donor and Sweeney was the first patient to undergo a liver transplant in Michigan for colon cancer. After minor recurrences of tumors in his lung in 2024, which were treated by surgery and radiation, his scans have been clear.
    Logan raises his arms and smiles widely
    Health Lab

    Logan’s Michigan Answer: A living donor liver transplant at just 15 months old

    Like many newborns, Logan and Connor experienced mild jaundice after birth. As the weeks passed, Amy and Nick noticed Connor’s jaundice appeared to resolve, but Logan’s skin and eyes still appeared yellow. At nine weeks when Logan’s jaundice still hadn’t gone away, Amy and Nick grew concerned.