Dr. Randolph L. Schaffer, MD, FACS

Expert Publications

• Hepatic intra-arterial infusion of yttrium-90 microspheres in the treatment of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation: a case report.

Media Releases

Get to know Transplant, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgeon Dr. Randolph L. Schaffer, who serves patients in California.

Dr. Schaffer is an expert in liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation surgery, including living donor organ transplantation and advanced laparoscopic surgery. He also provides surgical treatment for complex liver, gallbladder, bile duct, pancreas, and retroperitoneal diseases, including cancers.

A member of the Scripps Green Hospital medical staff since 2003, Dr. Schaffer recently served as the Chief of Staff at Scripps Green Hospital from 2021 through 2023 and is the current Chair of the Scripps Green Hospital Department of Surgery. He is also an attending at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and a volunteer medical staff at the Naval Medical Center San Diego’s Balboa Hospital.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Schaffer has conducted research on primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and on the role of circulating tumor cells and biomarkers in determining candidacy for surgery, transplant and other treatment interventions, as well as predicting response to those treatments. He is also an invited reviewer for numerous medical journals in the field of transplantation. 

Dr. Schaffer believes in taking the time necessary to clearly communicate with patients in a way that makes complex situations and decisions more manageable. He also believes that being a good surgeon requires both technical skills and compassionate care.

An avid educator, he enjoys the opportunity to work with surgical residents, teaching them about the transplant service and educating medical residents on ethics. He is the former Co-Chairman of the Scripps Green Hospital Ethics Committee and served as a member of the Organ Procurement Transplantation Network (OPTN) Ethics Committee. He also served for eight years on the OPTN Living Donor Committee, an experience highlighted by his time as the Committee Chair.

A 1995 graduate of Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Schaffer went on to complete his residency in General Surgery at the said establishment in 2001. He then completed a fellowship in Transplantation Surgery at the University of Chicago Hospitals & Clinics in 2003.

Passionate about his profession, the doctor is board-certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery (ABS). The ABS is an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge.

On a professional level, Dr. Schaffer is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and a member of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, the American Society of Transplantation, the International Liver Transplantation Society, and the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.

Transplant surgery refers to surgical procedures in which tissue or an organ is transferred from one person (the donor) to another person (the recipient). A transplant surgeon is a surgeon who performs organ transplants, while hepatobiliary and pancreas surgeons work with other specialists involved in each person’s care to diagnose and provide timely surgical intervention for complex conditions.

When he is not caring for patients, Dr. Schaffer enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, surfing, snowboarding, and hiking with the family dog. He is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Recommended Articles

• How to Make Cookies Healthier

  Cookies are loaded with calories, without much fiber, particularly if you are on a diet. There are a lot of trans fat in cookies, so if possible, modify the recipe a little bit and make it as healthy as you can.The first change you should make is to cut down the sugar content. In most cookie...

• Military Diet Results: Before and After

  What is the military diet?The 3-day military diet is a plan that is intended to help you lose weight very quickly. It promises to help you shed ten pounds a single week, and is also not as limited as other diet plans. The diet goes by several names, such as the navy diet, ice cream diet, and army...

• Cold Vs. Flu: Can You Tell the Difference?

  A Common Cold: What is it?A cold is one of the most common conditions that causes an individual to miss school and work. A common cold is responsible for 22 million missed school days each year. The symptoms of a common cold may resolve spontaneously and rapidly, or they can last for a few weeks....

• How Do You Contract Meningitis?

  The majority of meningitis is as a result of viruses and bacteria that harbor in our bodies.  These germs normally live in the nose and throat or the intestines and can cause sickness. The bacteria can result in inflammation if they spread to the tissues lining the spinal cord and the brain....

• The Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Heart Issues

  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not just a painful autoimmune disease that can greatly impact an individual’s quality of life. This disease also comes with some increased risk factors that people should be aware of. RA is associated with increased risk of death that is related to an increased risk of...

• Is IBS Linked to Back Pain?

  Irritable bowel syndrome is a common gastrointestinal disorder, which is usually characterized by common symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, constipation, and diarrhea. People suffering from the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) most often report unique symptoms that don’t seem to be...