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Surgical Notes
A Newsletter from the VCU Department of Surgery
| | VCU Program for Global Surgery in Hawassa, Ethiopia | |
Dr. Edgar B. Rodas, Dr. Sayuri Jinadasa, and VCU Global Surgery Fellow Dr. Kyle Alexander recently visited Hawassa University Hospital as part of VCU’s ongoing partnership to expand surgical capacity through the American College of Surgeons’ Operation H.O.P.E.
Leading the team was Dr. Rodas, director of the VCU Program for Global Surgery, who established VCU's partnership with Hawassa in 2019.
During their visit, the team engaged in a range of initiatives including:
Education & Research
- Served as examiners for the oral boards of nine graduating chief residents
- Conducted two days of laparoscopic skills simulation for surgical residents, and a Trauma Evaluation and Management (TEAM) course for 10 interns
- Delivered four lectures
- Abstract submission to the ACS with six of ten co-authors from Ethiopia
Patient Care
- Rounded in surgical ward, ED, and ICU, including evaluation of trauma and critical care patients
- Conducted three surgical teaching cases for the local surgeons: two laparoscopic cholecystectomies and one Desarda hernia repair
- Demonstrated use of point-of-care ultrasound (FAST exams and POCUS) to guide patient care in the ED and ICU
System Building & Advocacy
- Presented a five-year trauma capacity assessment to hospital leadership
- Met with key hospital and university leadership, including the president of Hawassa University, hospital director, and surgical program leadership
- Recognized by the president of Hawassa University for contributions
- Continued work on establishing a trauma response team, and plans for several QI projects over the next year
- Developed strategy for continuing TEAM courses and laparoscopic training
The team will return next year, and Dr. Kyle Alexander, the program’s fourth fellow and second to work in Hawassa (the first was Dr. McKenzie Lee), will continue projects in laparoscopic training, trauma education, and system development when he returns next fall.
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A New Lease on Adventure:
How a living donor kidney transplant reignited VCU Health patient Kelsey Bracewell’s freedom to explore the outdoors and compete in the Transplant Games of America.
Kelsey Bracewell has always been drawn to the outdoors. Whether kayaking down a roaring river, hiking remote trails or running ultra-marathons, adventure has been woven into the fabric of her life. But beneath the surface of her active, seemingly limitless pursuits, she didn’t know a silent battle was unfolding – one she inherited through generations of her family.
Polycystic kidney disease was an unwelcomed heirloom passed down from her mother, her grandmother and the women before them. When she was 17, severe abdominal pain revealed the truth: Her kidneys were riddled with cysts, slowly losing their ability to function properly.
Read full article...
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VCU Health Opens a New 39-bed Unit for Comprehensive Liver Care:
The new unit was developed in response to the increase of liver disease seen across the country
VCU Health leaders cut the ribbon on a state-of-the-art Comprehensive Liver Care Unit at VCU Medical Center. The 39-bed facility will open tomorrow, April 1, 2025, and will primarily provide pre- and post-operative care for patients receiving liver transplants through the VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center. It will offer both intensive and intermediate care private rooms with bathrooms.
Always evaluating the need for expanding services and care to the community, the VCU Health System Board of Directors approved $38 million of capital in June of 2023 for the expansion of liver transplant services.
“I think that we were really intentional about how we built our liver program here,” said David Bruno, M.D., FACS, director of Hume-Lee Transplant Center. “We started out trying to serve our community but really what’s happened is that our community has broadened to the region and now we are taking care of patients as far away as California and Hawaii.”
Read full article...
| | Welcome Incoming Surgery Interns! | | |
We're delighted to announce our incoming General Surgery Residents for the 2025–2026 academic year! Below is a poster featuring our incoming class of 6 Categorical PGY-1 residents, 6 Preliminary PGY-1 residents, and on the right is our Preliminary PGY-2 resident.
Additionally, a huge congratulations to our current Preliminary PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents, who have all successfully secured positions for next year. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and outstanding accomplishments!
Please join us in warmly welcoming our new residents and celebrating this exciting milestone.
| | Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency Match | The Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency Program is excited and honored to welcome our incoming intern for the 2025-2026 academic year, Dr. Usman Awan! | | ACSC Shines at 2025 Society of Critical Care Medicine Congress | |
The Division of Acute Care Surgical Services demonstrated exceptional expertise and dedication at the 2025 Society of Critical Care Medicine Congress. The event was a resounding success for the division, showcasing their contributions to advancing critical care medicine.
A Distinguished Honor
Kwame Akuamoah-Boateng DNP, ACNP-BC, received the prestigious Distinguished Excellence Service Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field. This award highlights his commitment to patient care, mentorship, and advancing critical care practices.
Impactful Presentations
Several members of the division delivered insightful presentations on critical topics, including:
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Collin Sprinkler, PA-C presented "Updates in Burn Shock: It's Not Just the Parkland Formula: Crystalloid Versus Colloid in Burn Resuscitation: New Studies."
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Katie Nealon, MD explored "Environmental Aspects of the ICU That Cause Sleep and Circadian Dysregulation and the Current Evidence to Improve Them."
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Craig Saddler, MD contributed to the panel discussion "There's Blood Everywhere Except in the Patient," addressing diagnostics and evaluation of coagulopathy.
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Kwame Akuamoah-Boateng DNP, ACNP-BC led two impactful sessions: "Leading with Your Strengths in Critical Care Medicine" and "From Struggle to Success: Overcoming Immigration Hurdles in Pursuit of Critical Care Excellence."
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Chris Hogan, MD presented "Does True Rapid Sequence Intubation with Neuromuscular Blockade Decrease Complications during Tracheal Intubation?"
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Jennifer Catlin, MD presented "Optimizing Analgesia Strategies in Older Trauma Patients," with Kwame Akuamoah-Boateng serving as moderator.
Notable Abstract Presentations
The following abstracts were shared by division members:
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Kwame Akuamoah-Boateng DNP, ACNP-BC presented the "Immigrant Critical Care Professionals (ICCP) Program: A Novel Mentoring Initiative," highlighting innovative approaches to mentorship.
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Marianna Wills, PA-C presented on "Evaluating Adverse Discharge Dispositions in Geriatric Trauma Patients with Isolated Rib Fractures." Kwame Akuamoah-Boateng DNP, ACNP-BC, and James Whelan, MD collaborated on the abstract.
Celebrating Excellence and Innovation
The Division of Acute Care Surgical Services continues to set new standards in critical care medicine, contributing to research, mentorship, and clinical advancements. Their impressive presence at the congress demonstrates their unwavering commitment to improving patient outcomes and advancing the field.
| | Division of Bariatric and Gastrointestinal Surgery Updates | | |
The Division of Bariatric and Gastrointestinal Surgery continues to provide accessible, multidisciplinary, high-quality, and state-of-the-art care for patients with foregut diseases, severe obesity, and general surgical conditions. In addition to delivering outstanding surgical care, our mission includes advancing surgical science, training surgery residents and a Clinical Fellow and serving Surgical Societies.
Recent notable accomplishments:
1. Bariatric Surgery Program Re-Accreditation
The adult Bariatric Surgical Program received a full re-accreditation as a Comprehensive Center by ACS/MBSAQIP and remains recognized as a Center of Excellence for all commercial payers.
2. Foregut and Bariatric Robotic Surgery
We have established a Foregut and Bariatric Robotic Program to diversify surgical options and expand robotic training to residents and fellows. To date, we have performed approximately 100 robotic procedures, including Richmond’s first Robotic Gastric Bypass using the latest DV-5 Robotic System.
3. National Recognition for Bariatric Surgery Excellence
VCU Medical Center and the adult Bariatric Surgical Program have been named among 'America's Best Weight Loss Clinical and Centers 2025' by Newsweek. This inaugural ranking recognizes 200 facilities nationwide and is based on peer reviewed recommendations, quality measures and ACS/MBSAQIP Accreditation.
(More Details: America's Best Weight Loss Clinics & Centers 2025 - Newsweek Rankings).
4. Regional Leadership in Bariatric Surgery Education
Dr. Jennifer Salluzzo, as President of the Virginia Bariatric Society, will host the 2025 Annual Meeting at the Boar’s Head Resort. Featured faculty includes:
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5. National Leadership and Contributions to Surgical Societies
Dr. Guilherme Campos:
- Elected to the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Research and Education in Esophageal and Foregut Disease
- Course Director for Surgical and Endoscopic Treatment of Gastroparesis at the 2025 SAGES meeting in Long Beach, CA and
- Invited speaker at the 2025 Annual Meetings of:
- The Foundation for Research and Education in Esophageal and Foregut Disease (Honolulu, HI)
- Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (Digestive Disease Week, San Diego, CA)
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (Washington, DC)
- American Foregut Society (Dallas, TX.)
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Dr. Jennifer Salluzzo:
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Faculty speaker the 2024 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Weekend Meeting in Atlanta, GA
6. R01 NIH Grant Recognition
Dr. Guilherme Mazzini (PI) and Dr. Guilherme Campos (co-PI) received a fundable score in their NIH R01 Grant submission and await an NIH funding decision in May 2025.
7. Expansion of Community General Surgery
The Division has established a Section of Community General Surgery, supporting surgeons at VCU Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) in South Hill and VCU Tappahannock Hospital. We welcome the following new faculty:
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CMH: Dr. Michael Tozzi, Dr. Desiderio Rimon, Dr. Yi Wei Zhang
- Tappahannock Hospital: Dr. Rodrigo Roldan Jr.
We are proud of these achievements and remain committed to excellence in patient care, education, research and service.
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Michelle Taylor, a neuroscience PhD candidate in the lab of Dr. Kirsty Dixon, won First Place in the Graduate Student Poster Competition for Excellence in Scientific Discovery and Communication at this year's National Capital Area Neurotrauma Society (NCANS) Annual Meeting.
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Chelsie Poffenberger (below), an MD-PhD candidate also working under Dr. Kirsty Dixon, was recently selected to give an oral presentation at the National Capital Area Neurotrauma Society Symposium at the National Institutes of Health. This presentation was chosen among numerous abstract submissions, usually reserved for postdoctoral fellows and faculty. Her talk focused on the role of inflammatory cytokines on amyloidogenesis and neurological deficits.
| | Bariatric/GI Medical Assistant's Weight Loss Journey | | |
In a person’s weight loss journey, there are experiences known as “non-scale victories.”
For Vanessa Logan, that victory — one not directly tied to the number on a scale — came when boarding a Bahamas-bound plane with her mom. For the first time, Vanessa didn’t have to ask for a seatbelt extender; weight loss surgery had dropped her from a 3XL to an XL.
Now 27, Vanessa has newfound confidence with her slimmer physique — and enjoys a much healthier lifestyle and mental outlook, even if the work to stay that way never stops.
“I love myself a lot more now,” she said. “What's funny is a lot of those bullies from school will come back into your life once you lose all that weight, right? But it’s too late for them. I definitely have more self-confidence and self-love within myself.”
In fact, a few years after her initial 2020 surgery that helped her shed more than 100 pounds, Vanessa applied to and joined the VCU Health Surgical Weight Loss team as a medical assistant and often counsels other patients considering surgery.
Watch Video...
Read more (Intranet)...
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ACSS Provider Appointed to Serve on
Medical Journal Editorial Board
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Kwame A. Akuamoah-Boateng, DNP, FCCM, ACNP-BC, was recently appointed to serve on the Critical Care Explorations (CCE) Editorial Board of the Society of Critical Care Medicine. The CCE Editorial Board comprises internationally recognized researchers who collaborate with the editor-in-chief of Critical Care Explorations 'to produce the number one journal in the field'.
"CCE is a rapid-communication journal with content including traditional articles as well as time-sensitive information about quality and safety, methodological and technical advances, healthcare economics, advances in predictive modeling, and the impact of new studies on evidence-based practice. It is the official open access journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine."
The appointment is for a three-year term (2025-2028).
Congratulations, Kwame!
| The 3rd Annual VCU/RVA Aortic Symposium a Success | |
The 3rd Annual VCU/RVA Aortic Symposium took place on March 1st at the Richmond Marriott. Led by Dr. Josue “Josh” Chery and Dr. Dan Newton, the event featured speakers from institutions across Virginia, along with the keynote speaker, Dr. Brett Reece, from the University of Colorado. The symposium provided a comprehensive learning experience for attendees, covering perspectives from Cardiothoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, and Cardiology, as well as afternoon hands-on labs at Sanger Hall to practice skills.
Thank you to Drs. Chery and Newton for another Aortic Symposium. And thanks to Amanda Jabri, Lily Warden, Dr. Kirsty Dixon, Noah Clough, and Susan Haynes for helping coordinate the event!
| | Urology and Plastic Surgery Admin Teams Join Together To Paint Flower Pots | | |
MUSE, a VCU student organization partnering with VCU Health Arts in Healthcare, offered team art sessions in February. It was a great opportunity for team bonding and de-stressing.
The Urology and Plastic Surgery admin team registered for a session and got to paint flower pots! They had a blast, and were able to relax while painting.
| | Submit Personal Announcements | |
Have a life event you would like in the newsletter? A new marriage, a new child, a birthday?
We have created this form for you to share such events with your colleagues in the newsletter!
Click here to submit!
(Please submit the month of the occasion)
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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:
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Assessment of Resources: Within OVPRI and VCU Libraries, we are evaluating additional guidance resources, including an expansion of the VCU Libraries' Researcher Support page.
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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:
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Personal Statement: An overview of the individual's background and expertise.
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Positions and Honors: A list of past and current positions and any awards received.
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Products: Significant contributions to the field, such as publications and patents.
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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:
Thank you for your attention to this important update. We appreciate your cooperation as we prepare for these changes.
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Lesley Young
Senior Surgery Scheduler/Financial Clearance
VCU Department of Surgery
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How long have you been with Surgery?
I have been with Surgery two years and eight months, I previously worked in Financial Counseling as a Lead Counselor, which was also VCU and transitioned to Ensemble Health Partners.
Describe your role in your own words.
My role as a Senior Surgery Scheduler/Financial Clearance is to assist w/professional development of others role modeling behavior/maintain a positive work environment. Educator to peers, assisting providers when needed. Initiating and expediting the administrative requirements for surgical precertification and forecasting potential conflicts as well as monitoring progress.
Most exciting and/or challenging part of your position?
The most exciting/challenging part of my position is the high-pressure environment along with managing multiple precertifications/and requiring a high-level of organization and attention to detail.
What gives you the greatest satisfaction at your position?
What gives me the greatest satisfaction is the patient’s well-being /building strong relationships with providers /nurses /along with other healthcare professionals. Smooth and efficient precertification approvals/providers satisfaction and teamwork.
What do you do for fun outside of work?
My fun activities outside of work are spending time w/my grandchildren/cooking/and shopping
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Crohn’s Colitis Take Steps Walk
Sunday, May 4th, 2025
2:00PM (Check-in)
Byrd Park
Join the division of Colorectal Surgery and their team, the 'Colon Crusaders', as Dr. Jaime Bohl will be honored as the “Honored Medical Professional”.
This event is part of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s largest nationwide fundraising event, to raise awareness and funds to accelerate research, advance treatments, and provide programs and support to improve the quality of life for those living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
We invite any medical students, residents, fellows or faculty to join us at this important event!
See image below for more details
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Dawson Theogaraj Lectureship (Plastics)
June 12th, 2025
7:00AM - 8:00AM
George Ben Johnston Auditorium
| | Department of Surgery | Virginia Commonwealth University | (804) 828-7874 surgweb@vcu.edu | | | | |
