J. Michael Millis, M.D.

Investigating how hepatocyte transplantation, extracorporeal assist technology, and stem cells can assist in the care of patients with liver disease or liver tumors.

Research Summary

Dr. Michael Millis is an expert in adult and pediatric transplant surgery. His clinical interests include liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery. He has performed more liver transplants than any other surgeon in the region. Dr. Millis has pioneered new techniques of operating on the liver, and his innovations have helped the University of Chicago perform more liver transplants than any other program in the region over the past 15 years.

Selected Papers

Millis JM.  Advances in adult living donor liver transplantation.  Liver Transplantation 2003;9(10 Suppl 2):S1.  Review.

Burke GW 3rd, Kaufman DB, Millis JM, Gaber AO, Johnson CP, Sutherland DE, Punch JD, Kahan BD, Schweitzer E, Langnas A, Perkins J, Scandling J, Concepcion W, Stegall MD, Schulak JA, Gores PF, Benedetti E, Danovitch G, Henning AK, Bartucci MR, Smith S, Fitzsimmons WE.  Prospective, randomized trial of the effect of antibody induction in simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation:  Three-year results.  Transplantation 2004;77(8):1269-75.

Millis JM.  Revisiting an old nemesis.  Liver Transplantation 2004;10(4):548-9.

Garfinkel MR, Connors M, Ostrega D, Jarosz J, Philipson L, Millis JM.  Islet isolation under cGMP conditions:  Replacing the coil.  Transplant Proceedings 2004;36(4):1031-3.

Olthoff KM, Brown RS, Delmonico FL, Freeman RB, McDiarmid SV, Merion RM, Millis JM, Roberts JP, Shaked A, Wiesner RH, Lucey MR.  Summary report of a national conference:  Evolving concepts in liver allocation in the MELD/PELD era.    Liver Transplantation 2004;10(10):A6.

Cronin DC , Millis JM,.  Split liver transplantation:  Coming of age.  Liver Transplantation 2004;10(10):1326.

Bacha EA, Hardin J, Cronin DCC, Brady L, Millis JM, Starr JP, Koenig P, Daves S, Kahana M.  Pediatric open-heart surgery in patients with end-stage liver disease.  Annals Thoracic Surgery 2004 Aug;78(2):e30-3.

Van Ha TG, Funaki BS, Ehrhardt J, Lorenz J, Cronin D, Millis JM, Leef J.  Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt placement in liver transplant recipients:  Experiences with pediatric and adult patients.  American Journal of Roentgenology 2005;184:920-5.

Millis JM and Losanoff J.  Technology Insight:  liver support systems.  Nature Clinical Practice 2005;2(9):398-05 Review.
Losanoff JE and Millis JM.  Procurement of liver and pancreas allografts in donors with anomalous right hepatic arteries.  Transplantation 2005;79(8):988-9.
Losanoff JE, Harland RC, Thisthlethwaite JR, Garfinkel MR, Williams JW, Milner J, Millis JM. Omega jejunoduodenal anastomosis for pancreas transplant.  J Am Coll Surgery 2006 Jun; 202 (6):1021-1024

Losanoff JE, Millis JM, Harland RC, Testa G.  Hepato-spleno-mesenteric trunk.  J Am Coll Surg. 2007 Mar;204(3):511.

Losanoff JE, Reichman TW, Steinberg GD, Millis JM.  Duodenal diverticulum causing xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis with multiorgan involvement: first case report. Digestion. 2006;74(3-4):236-7.

Losanoff JE, Holder-Murray JM, Ahmed EB, Cochrane AB, Testa G, Millis JM. Minocycline toxicity requiring liver transplant.  Dig Dis Sci. 2007 Nov;52(11):3242-4.

Losanoff JE, Vanha TG, Testa G, Ahmed EB, Millis JM.  Endoscopic biliary stent migration to the iliopsoas muscle in a liver transplant recipient: percutaneous removal.  Dig Dis Sci. 2007 Oct;52(10):2508-11. (PMID: 17436093)

Diamond IR, Fecteau A, Millis JM, Losanoff JE, Ng V, Anand R, Song C; SPLIT Research Group.  Impact of graft type on outcome in pediatric liver transplantation: a report From Studies of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT).  Ann Surg. 2007 Aug;246(2):301-10. (PMID: 17667510)

Cronin DC 2nd, Millis JM. Living donor liver transplantation: The ethics and the practice. Hepatology. 2008 Jan;47(1):11-3. (PMID: 181661704)

Losanoff JE, Millis JM. Liver hemangioma complicated by obstructive jaundice. Am J Surg. 2008 Sept;196(3):e3-4. (PMID: 18519125)

Muneer B, Testa G, Millis JM, Mohanty S.  Entecavir  therapy in a hepatitis B-related decompensated cirrhotic patient. Southern Medical Journal 2008 Nov; 101(11) 1-4.
Huang J, Mao Y, Millis JM. Government policy and organ transplantation in China. Lancet. 2008 Dec; 372(9654):1937:38 (PMID: 18849205)

Reichman, TW, Anthony T, Millis JM, Testa G. Uncharacteristically early fatal intraperitoneal rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma following transarterial chemoembolization. Digestive and Liver Disease. 2009 Feb; 41(2)175-76 Epub 2008 Oct 11. (PMID: 18849205)

Fichera A, Testa G, Millis JM, Roughton M.  Laparascopic en bloc resection of locally-advanced colon cancer with involvement of theliver, small bowel, omentum and abdominal wall. Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy and Percutaneous Techniques. 2009 April;  19(2) e38-e40