Nicole Marie Villafane Ferriol, M.D. Surgical Oncologist

Clinical Biography

Dr. Nicole Villafane Ferriol is a board-certified surgical oncologist and Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. She specializes in the surgical treatment of cancer and enjoys caring for patients with a broad range of malignancies, with particular clinical interest in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary cancers, including liver, pancreatic, and biliary cancers, as well as colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver (colorectal liver metastases).
Her clinical interests include complex liver surgery and innovative approaches to the treatment of liver tumors, including hepatic artery infusion pump (HAIP) therapy and histotripsy. She is equally committed to the comprehensive care of patients across all areas of surgical oncology, tailoring treatment recommendations to each patient’s diagnosis, individual circumstances, and goals.
Dr. Villafane Ferriol completed her general surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, followed by fellowship training in Complex General Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before joining UAMS, she served as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, where she cared for patients at several institutions, including Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, a safety-net hospital serving a diverse and underserved population. This experience helped shape her interest in improving cancer care and understanding the unique challenges faced by Hispanic patients and other historically underserved communities.
Dr. Villafane Ferriol believes that excellent cancer care begins with listening to patients, understanding what matters most to them, and developing a treatment plan grounded in the best available scientific evidence. She strives to provide compassionate, empathetic, and individualized care, helping patients and their families feel informed, supported, and confident throughout their cancer journey.
Fluent in both English and Spanish, Dr. Villafane Ferriol welcomes the opportunity to care for patients from all backgrounds and is committed to ensuring that every patient feels heard, respected, and supported.