Surgical Notes
From the Chair
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Colleagues,
July was full of excitement as we said farewell to our most recent graduating class of residents and fellows from across the Department of Surgery and welcomed our newest class to the team. As everyone slowly shifts gears, preparing for Fall and the busyness that academic season brings, I encourage each of you to take time to introduce yourselves and get to know our newest trainees. Your commitment and contributions to their growth and education are invaluable for their continued success here at VCU and beyond.
As we begin the next fiscal year, I again want to thank everyone for their contributions to the Department. We couldn't do what we do without each of you.
Best,
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General Surgery - Residents
Amna Khokar
Ashley Limkemann
Amar Shar
Krista Terracina
Victoria Whitlow
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Bryan Wheeler
Trevor Holleman
Jadon Wood
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Amy Kite
Maryann Martinovic
Cardiothoracic
Luis Velazco Davila
Urology
Eugene D. Bell, III
Sarah C. Krzastek
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Surgical Oncology
Travis Mason
Trauma
Aela Vely
Roberto Castillo
Bariatric & GI
Pedro Gomez
Vascular
Margaret Rigamer
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General Surgery - Categorical
Yahya Alwatari
Christine Bierema
Sally Boyd
Lucas Keller-Biehl
Travis Sullivan
General Surgery - Preliminary
Matthew Brandes
Andrew Carlisle
Theodore Cisu
Tyrell Gardner
Micah Mabe
Diyar Omer
Tito Smith-Harrison
Carolyn Song
William Visser
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Michael Theiss
Sean Eccles
Michael McAdams
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Emily Andersen
Robert Marcaccini
David Nguyen
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Cardiothoracic
Michel Sabra
Surgical Oncology
Charles Peters
Trauma
Charles Grigsby
Raquel Weston
Bariatric & GI
Roshin Thomas
Transplant
Muhammed Khawaja
Vascular
Michele Richard
Urology
William Visser
Theodore Cisu
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Important Updates from ORBIT
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Dear Colleagues
All grant proposals submitted from the Department of Surgery must be reviewed by the internal research committee led by Drs. Mangino and Klausner. This internal review aims to help strengthen your grant for a successful outcome. Please send your proposal a minimum of 30 days prior to internal (eg: School of Medicine or CCTR) as well as external grant submission deadlines to Amanda Jabri.
The Department holds monthly meetings on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month from 4:00 -5:00 PM. This meeting is open to all faculty and we strongly encourage faculty who are interested in research to participate. All division liaisons for research and our research faculty should attend these meetings as well.
Thank you,
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Martin Mangino, PhD
Associate Chair for Basic Research
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Adam Klausner, MD
Associate Chair for Clinical & Translational Research
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Department of Defense Funding
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Professor and Associate Chair for Basic Research,
Martin Mangino
, PhD along with co-Investigator Dr.
Stefan Leichtle
(Assistant Professor with ACSS) were recently awarded funding from the Department of Defense for their proposal titled, "New low volume resuscitation solution customized for pre-hospital and ICU mechanisms of injury in the complex trauma patient."
In collaboration with Drs.
Barry Fowler
(Pulmonary & Critical Care) and
Don Brophy
(Pharmacy), the team will aim to develop two novel treatment approaches used together to improve both acute resuscitation and longer term ICU care by averting the development of critical illness and trauma ICU patients.
The project, to begin October 1st, will be supported by $2.7 million.
Congratulations, Drs. Mangino, Leichtle, and team!
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Congratulations to Dr.
Amit Sharma
, Associate Professor with the
Division of Transplant Surgery
for his recent nomination to the VCU Faculty Senate. Elected by his peers, Dr. Sharma will serve a 3 year term representing the School of Medicine on a myriad of topics and concerns.
Established to provide Faculty from schools across the institution a voice in identifying and discussing pertinent issues facing the University, the VCU Faculty Senate aims to support a culture that promotes "knowledge and professional skills through teaching, study, research, creativity, exhibition, performance, and provision of community service." For more information,
click here
.
Congratulations, Dr. Sharma!
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National Ultrasound Faculty
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Congratulations are due to Dr.
Paula Ferrada
, Professor with the Division of Acute Care Surgical Services, for her appointment as Vice-Chair for Verification and Certification with the American College of Surgeons'
National Ultrasound Faculty
.
Developed in conjunction with the Committee on Emerging Surgical Technologies and Education, the National Ultrasound Faculty aims to provide and promote "
a basic understanding of clinical ultrasound and knowledge of advanced clinical applications tailored to suit surgeons' specific clinical practice"
Dr. Ferrada, as Vice-Chair, will help with verification of knowledge and certification of all surgeons performing ultrasounds.
Congratulations, Dr. Ferrada!
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On Saturday June 23, faculty, trainees, and alumni joined together to celebrate at the annual Isaac A. Bigger dinner.
Established in memory of Dr. Isaac A. Bigger, the first full-time Chair of Surgery and promoter of the first research laboratories at VCU, the dinner serves as an opportunity for residents and faculty to network, reminisce, and celebrate the growth of VCU Surgery and its
incredible history.
Additionally, the 2018 graduating class of trainees were celebrated and Faculty award recipients were acknowledged.
For more pictures from this year's event,
click here
.
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International SCI Nursing Conference
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Her abstract, submitted in collaboration with Dr. Shelly King from Riley's Children's Hospital in Indiana, discusses pediatric SCI in the United States and identifies teaching aids and techniques for pediatric patients as they manage their condition.
At VCU, Ms. Welch practices at our
Stony Point location
with interests in hypospadias, general pediatric urology, and spina bifida.
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National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness Month
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July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness Month, and the team at CHoR at VCU joined in raising awareness about craniofacial conditions and the specialized care and resources available for patients and families. This interdisciplinary team, under the direction of pediatric plastic surgeon
Jennifer Rhodes
, MD, work together to serve patients and families by developing a coordinated and individual care plan to address the surgical, dental, speech, visual and developmental and psychosocial needs of every child.
CHoR joined with organizations from across the country to increase understanding about clefts and craniofacial conditions. Showcasing the amazing kids and the
Center for Craniofacial Care
on social media, the entire month of July highlighted the patients and families on Facebook, Twitter and blogs, and included interviews and videos with some of the many beautiful and special children as they grow up with one of the most common birth differences in the US.
A display in the Main Hospital lobby area highlighted information about cleft lip, cleft palate and craniosynostosis. Families were delighted to participate by sharing their favorite photos of their children, including pre-operative and post-operative pictures.
While July is designated as awareness month, every day is an opportunity for all of us to inspire empathy, compassion and kindness for those born with facial differences
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World Congress of Endourology
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The title of his presentation is "Robotic Pyelolithotomy in a Horseshoe Kidney." This conference, arguably the largest of its kind in endourology, "will provide unparalleled opportunities [for attendees] to expand [their] education, enhance [their] skills and exchange ideas."
Congratulations, Dr. Vince!
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Plastic & Reconstructive Publications & Presentations
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The Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is proud to announce the latest publications and presentations:
Nigro LC, Pozez AL, Merritt W. A novel procedure for chronic sagittal band rupture, permitting immediate active motion and hand use during recovery. Poster Presentation. SESPRS 2018.
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2018 Residency Orientation Week
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As the Department of Surgery welcomes its next class of residents, our new Rams were able to participate in a slew of events to acclimate them to the culture that is Richmond and VCU.
A welcome dinner was held at Southern Railway Taphouse to welcome the new General, Plastics, Urology, and ENT interns, where they played surgical Pictionary outside. Later in the week the group participated in various activities and field trips to include the annual tour of the Capitol and the historic Memorial Hospital Surgical Amphitheater (where a Richmond Times Dispatch photographer joined to take pictures!).
Welcome to VCU, interns! Here's to a successful next few years!
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Luriel Smith-Harrison, MD
Urology
August 1, 2018
Dr. Smith-Harrison joins us from the Medical College of Wisconsin where he completed his Fellowship in Male Infertility and Sexual Medicine. Before Fellowship, he completed his residency at UVA with research interests in oncofertility.
Having grown up in the area, Dr. Smith-Harrison is excited to be back to Richmond and join the VCU Surgery team!
Welcome to VCU, Dr. Smith-Harrison!
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Research Funding Opportunities
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Humera 2019 Dues & Updates
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Meet Kate Best, the Department of Surgery's Administrative Intern.
Kate has been with Surgery since December of 2017 but in the few months following has proven invaluable to Administration in her support of a myriad of department-wide initiatives and programs. These projects include process improvement, strategy and operations, and quality and financial ventures.
When asked what her favorite part of her role was Kate responded, "I love being in an environment of learning. Every day brings a new and exciting project or interaction with one of our team members. One day I'm creating dashboards and another I'm working with leadership on the department's strategic plan. I know that everything I do contributes to the mission and vision of the department and it's satisfying to know I've made a difference."
Her love of learning is quite evident outside of Surgery as well as she is currently pursuing her Master's in Health Administration at VCU. When not working or studying, you can find Kate playing intramural sports and other games as well as spending time with her husband and goldendoodle puppy.
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Trying to lose weight? Both VCU and VCUHS sponsor Weight Watchers at Work support programs for all faculty, staff, and trainees.
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Save the Date: Upcoming DOS Fitness Classes
Thursday August 16, 2018
4:00 - 4:45
Cardio & Core
Main 4-122
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Research Open Forum
Monthly, 2nd Mondays
4:00 - 5:00 PM
West 16 Conference Room (16-103)
All are encouraged to attend!
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Department of Surgery | Virginia Commonwealth University | (804)828-7874 | [email protected]
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