Virginia Business Magazine's Top Docs

More than 240 VCU Health doctors named

‘Virginia’s Top Doctors’ by Virginia Business

This is the second year Virginia Business has compiled a list of providers from across the commonwealth, highlighting expertise in nearly 90 specialties.

Congratulations to our Surgery providers that were recognized as 'Virginia's Top Doctors' this year!

General Surgery Resident News

Resident Selected to Represent VCUHS DEI at Conference

We are excited to announce that Dr. Vasti Bandy (General Surgery) has been selected by the VCUHS DEI Committee to represent VCU Health System at the upcoming AMEC/SNMA Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, from April 16-18, 2025. Her dedication to fostering an inclusive environment is truly impressive, and we are confident she will be an excellent representative for both our current and future Housestaff.

New VCUHS Level One Trauma Center Offices

VCU Health’s Level I trauma center has a new unified location for critical care for the city, region, and state. The opening of the new administrative office for VCU Health’s trauma team brings together hospital leadership and the critical care team.

Messages of the power of compassion, skilled healing, and collaboration were expressed at the open house for VCU Health Trauma Surgery’s new Administrative Office Building late last year. 

Held in the building’s central meeting space that still smelled of fresh paint and newly laid carpet, the gathering featured speeches by hospital leadership to mark the special occasion. They highlighted how the new facility will bring together VCU Health team members who are united in their work to heal those impacted by trauma.

As the only comprehensive Level I trauma center in the region verified in adult, pediatric, and burn trauma, VCU Health has made a significant impact, with more than 70 years of excellence and leadership in trauma and burn care said Marlon Levy, MD, senior vice president of VCU Health Sciences and chief executive officer of VCU Health System. 

“This team begins a new chapter in this physical space, which is really exciting to see, and to see both where it's come from and where it's headed,” Levy said. 

Read more...

New Robotic Innovation Revolutionizing Living Donor Transplants at VCU

The latest innovation in robotic technology at VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center is transforming the recovery process for living liver donors.

VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center is the first transplant center in the world to use a technology that ensures living donors can go back to their lives faster and without complication.

In the quest to encourage living donation, surgeons performed the world’s first living donor liver retrieval, known as a hepatectomy, using state-of-the-art robotic technology. This groundbreaking achievement marks a significant leap in minimally invasive transplant surgery, setting a new standard for precision, safety and care for living donors. 

“Living organ donors are the true heroes. It is of the utmost importance that we take every step to make their experience as comfortable as possible. With this robot, we can achieve that goal and save more lives,” said David Bruno, MD, FACS, director of Hume-Lee Transplant Center.

Read more...

Capstone Renamed Transitions to Residency (TTR)

Formerly known as Capstone, an annual program intended to prepare 4th year medical students for residency training, is now referred to as Transitions to Residency or TTR. Each year the Department of Surgery hosts a combination of didactic and skills sessions to prepare students who plan to enter surgical training in July. Our TTR for surgery provides training not only for those planning to enter general surgery and surgical sub-specialties such as urology, plastics, and vascular, but also for those planning to enter Orthopaedic, Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology residencies. In addition to the general didactic sessions, specialty specific skills sessions are provided for all participants. The didactic sessions include topics such as “How to be a Good Intern”, “Common Post-Op Complications” and “Anatomy of Notes”, while the skills sessions focus on skills such as the placement of Foley catheters, NG tubes, chest tubes, etc.

This year’s TTR for surgery will be hosted the latter part of April and the first part of May. A skills session will be hosted in the VCU Center for Human Simulation and Patient Safety on Wednesday, Mary 7, 2025 which will include simulation practice in suturing. Please be on the lookout for a recruitment email which will be coming soon and if available, please join us! This is always a great session and the students are very appreciative of the time and effort provided by our surgical attendings.

Congratulations!

Dr. Emily Rivet has been selected to participate in a course titled: ACS Surgeons as Leaders: From Operating Room to Boardroom.

This course is limited to 72 applicants and is designed for surgeons who currently serve in leadership positions, or aspire to such positions, and who seek to enhance their leadership skills across a wide variety of settings, from operating room to boardroom.

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Notice to Researchers:



NNIH to require SciENcv for Common Forms - May 2025

At the May 2024 Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) meeting, the NIH announced a significant update regarding biosketches and Current and Pending Other Support (CPOS). Effective May 2025, both documents will be required to be generated using SciENcv. Additionally, the ORCID ID will serve as the persistent digital identifier (PDI) in accordance with NSPM-33. The format for these documents will align with the OMB-approved "Common Forms."

This update has been anticipated for several years, particularly as the National Science Foundation (NSF) has already made SciENcv a requirement. Now is the time for academic units to develop a plan to assist faculty with this transition.

Action Steps:

• Assessment of Resources: Within OVPRI and VCU Libraries, we are evaluating additional guidance resources, including an expansion of the VCU Libraries' Researcher Support page.
• SciENcv Help Manual: NIH currently offers a SciENcv Help Manual that outlines how to populate fields through various methods, including manual data entry, existing biosketches, and external systems like ORCID.

NSF Biosketch Overview:

For context, the NSF biosketch is a required component of NSF proposals, summarizing an individual's professional qualifications, experience, and accomplishments. It typically includes:

1. Personal Statement: An overview of the individual's background and expertise.
2. Positions and Honors: A list of past and current positions and any awards received.
3. Products: Significant contributions to the field, such as publications and patents.
4. Synergistic Activities: Engagement in broader impacts and community involvement.

Please note that the NSF has specific formatting guidelines for the biosketch, including page limits and font requirements. Compliance is essential for proposal submissions.

Support for Clinical Faculty:

To facilitate this transition for our clinical faculty, we request that all clinical faculty add the following individuals as delegates in SciENcv:

• Amanda Jabri (amanda.adair@vcuhealth.org)
• Nicole Nielsen (nicole.nielsen@vcuhealth.org)
• Megan Malstrom (malstromml@vcu.edu)
• SOMRESADMIN (somresadmin@vcuhealth.org)

Thank you for your attention to this important update. We appreciate your cooperation as we prepare for these changes.

Sharron Hawkins

Administrative Staff Specialist

Transplant Surgery

How long have you been with Surgery?

I’ve been with surgery for two weeks now. I was previously with The Virginia Transplant Center at HCA.

Describe your role in your own words.

I am still learning my role and currently trying to navigate my new position here at VCU.

Most exciting and/or challenging part of your position?

The most exciting part of my new position is getting to work with such an amazing team

What gives you the greatest satisfaction in your job?

I receive the most satisfaction from knowing my role helps our team save lives.

What do you do for fun outside of work?

I enjoy being outdoors, spending time with my family, and I love to garden.

Save the Date

Third Annual VCU/RVA Aortic Symposium

Saturday, March 1, 2025

7:30am - 4pm

Richmond Marriott | VCU Sanger Hall

The 3rd Annual VCU/RVA Aortic Symposium will take place on March 1st at the Richmond Marriott. This event will bring together leading specialists from the Tri-Cities region, as well as renowned institutions such as UVA, Sentara, EVMS, and Bon Secours. Join us for a day focused on the latest advancements in the field, covering critical topics such as aortic arch repairs, open and endovascular thoracoabdominal aortic surgeries, neuro monitoring, and genetic arthropathy management. This event includes both lectures and labs. To learn more, visit the event webpage.

Research Day

Thursday, May 22, 2025

MMEC Learning Theater

Reception: Wednesday, May 21

Featured Speaker: Richard Schulick, MD, MBA

Got Research?

VCU SOM Research Opportunities & News

Research Questions?

Please contact: Amanda Jabri

Have a story to tell? Please Contact Us!

Department of Surgery | Virginia Commonwealth University | (804) 828-7874 surgweb@vcu.edu

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