NEWS RELEASES
November 13th, 2012 -
Congratulations to PGY-1 Resident Dr. Megan Rooney on being awarded the Hay-Gaviser Award. The award is given to medical students rotating on surgical services who demonstrate outstanding compassion toward patients and their families.
Details of the award (PDF)
October 15th, 2012 -
The Department of Surgery continues to make strides in treating pancreatic cancer. Last week, multiple news outlets covered the progress of treating pancreatic tumor cells with a new drug called Minnelide. The drug comes from a Chinese herb that has been used to treat various other ailments. Testing with mice so far has yielded very promising results.
Here are the latest news articles:
October 4th, 2012 -
At the American College of Surgeons 2012 Clinical Congress, general
surgery resident Christopher J Chow M.D., presented a study finding that
patients with colon cancer may have worse outcomes if they live in rural
areas. This study was selected for press release by the ACS
(http://www.facs.org/clincon2012/press/chow.html) and has been picked up
by numerous media outlets: ABC News. Medical Xpress. U.S. News & World Report. KSTP.
Dr. Chow was supported by NIH institutional training grant T32CA132715 under the mentorship of Dr. Waddah Al-Refaie, Dr. Elizabeth Habermann, and Dr. David Rothenberger. Co-authors on the study were Waddah Al-Refaie, MBBCH, FACS; Assunta Anasooya Abraham, MD; Abraham Markin, BA; Wei Zhong, MS; David A. Rothenberger, MD, FACS; Mary R. Kwaan, MD, MPH.
The senior author on the study was Elizabeth B. Habermann, PhD, MPH.
August 23rd, 2012 -
Congratulations to Dr. David Rothenberger who has been awarded the 2012 Harold S. Diehl Award. The Harold S. Diehl Award was established in 1962 to honor the fifth dean of the Medical School Harold Sheely Diehl, M.D. This prestigious lifetime award is granted to individuals who have made outstanding professional contributions to the Medical School, the University, and the community. Recipients are graduates of the University of Minnesota Medical School who have significant experience in the field of medical service or a related field and are currently working in an academic capacity. Prior Department of Surgery recipients of this award include Drs. John Delaney (2007), Bob Goodale (2004), Henry Buchwald (2002), Walt Lillehei (1999), Stan Goldberg (1996), and Owen Wangensteen (1962). Dr. Rothenberger will be honored with this award at the Medical School Alumni Awards Banquet on October 4. For more information about the Harold S. Diehl Award, please visit http://www.mmf.umn.edu/alumni/awards/harold_diehl.cfm.
July 25th, 2012 - Walsh County Press
What a ride: Antique Tractor Ride brings family, friends, doctor, patient together
Dave Praska, a patient who underwent pancreatic surgery at the University last year, decided to show his appreciation to Dr. Jensen by inviting his family to Lankin, North Dakota for the 6th Annual Antique Tractor Ride.
For the full story, click here
June 12th, 2012 - Graduation Day!
Congratulations to Mara Antonoff M.D., Kimberly Clawson M.D., M.S., Wolfgang Gaertner M.D., Kamrun Jensabzedah M.D., Natasha Rueth M.D., Elizabeth Ziemba M.D.!
From left to right: Selwyn Vickers MD, Mara Antonoff MD, Natasha Rueth MD, MS, Kamrun Jensabzedah MD, Wolfgang Gaertner MD, Elizabeth Ziemba MD, Kimberly Clawson MD, and David Rothenberger MD.
May 5th, 2012 -
Abraham Markin's presentation was awarded "best clinical paper" in the resident category at the 2012 meeting of the Association of VA Surgeons.
Abraham Markin is a fourth year medical student who is planning to apply to general surgery residencies in the fall. He recently completed nearly a year of research with the Surgical Outcomes Research Center under the mentorship of Dr. Waddah Al-Refaie and Elizabeth Habermann, and with Surgeons Overseas in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. His research interests include the influence on race and “place” on outcomes following cancer surgery as well as the development and evaluation of surgical systems in low- and middle-income countries.
The project “Rurality and Cancer Surgery in the United States” was motivated by the observation that rural patients are disadvantaged across the continuum of cancer care. We found that while rural hospitals have comparable mortality overall, they deliver significantly poorer outcomes for patients undergoing complex procedures and trended toward worse outcomes for African Americans and the elderly. We additionally noted that the number of procedures performed at rural hospitals has fallen dramatically since 1998, suggesting worsening barriers to care for remote communities.
March 23rd, 2012 -
Dr. Ashok Saluja was recently recognized as the first holder of the Eugene C. and Gail V. Sit Chair in Pancreatic and Gastrointestinal Cancer Research.
Dr Saluja joined the Department of Surgery in 2006 as a Professor and Vice Chair of Research. He is an international leader in research focused on understanding the physiology of the pancreas and the path physiology of pancreatic cancer. He also has been awarded 5 R01 NIH research grants which puts him in a small, elite classification at any academic institution. It was a proud moment for the department to honor Dr Saluja with this inaugural event and look forward to his continued success at the University of Minnesota.
Click here to see Dr. Saluja's profile
January 25th, 2012 -
Anonymous Minneapolis donor prompts chain of kidney transplants
By Christopher Snowbeck, Pioneer Press
The University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, announced Wednesday a recently completed chain of kidney transplants - an unusual sequence of surgeries made possible by an individual who makes an altruistic kidney donation.
The chain included one kidney transplant recipient at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., and two kidney recipients at hospitals in Minneapolis. Local donors and recipients were operated on at the U's Amplatz Children's Hospital and Fairview's university hospital, but officials are withholding some details to preserve the anonymity of the altruistic donor.
January 17th, 2012 -
Minnesota researchers on the cusp of a diabetes cure
by Lorna Benson, Minnesota Public Radio
Minneapolis, Minn. — The cure for diabetes could come from cells from pigs being raised in germ-free pens in Western Wisconsin or from human skin cells in a lab on the University of Minnesota campus.
Those two experiments are part of a joint project launched one year ago by the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic to defeat diabetes within the next 10 years. The effort is called the Decade of Discovery.
Click here for the full story (MPR)
December 9th, 2011 -
John Najarian, M.D.
Medical School
University of Minnesota Physicians
Najarian recently reunited with a man he performed a transplant on 33 years ago, when the patient was just three years old. The Georgia man returned to the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, for a second transplant last week.
Click here for the full story (Fox News)
September 21st, 2011 -
U gets $11M grant to improve training of combat medics
Greg Beilman, MD, Jeffrey Chipman, MD, Connie Schmitz, PhD, and Dick Bianco are among the University of Minnesota Medical School researchers who were recently awarded a three-year, $11 million grant from the United States Department of Defense to study simulation as a technology for training combat medics. Headed by Dr. Robert Sweet, the grant brings together the expertise of the SimPORTAL and the School of Public Health in simulation research and training with the expertise of Surgery and Emergency Medicine faculty in trauma, hemorrhage control, and airway management.
Along with other consortium partners from the military, the team is funded to perform a gap analysis of relevant trauma training technology. The team will then develop and validate assessment tools to evaluate training effectiveness and competence of army medics in pre-hospital Tactical Combat Casualty Care. The end goal is to ensure and maintain combat readiness for military first responders. For the Department of Surgery, this grant represents a unique opportunity to establish reliable and valid assessment tools and performance benchmarks for 12 procedures that we teach on critical care, trauma, and other services. It also represents an opportunity to test current teaching practices and models, and to develop future simulation research and training agendas.
Click here for the full story from the Star Tribune
August 2nd, 2011 -
U of M offering thyroid surgery with no neck scar
MINNEAPOLIS (KARE) - Doctors at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, like surgical oncologist Dr. Maria Evasovich, are now offering robotic thyroidectomies through an incision under the arm for those with thyroid cancer and other thyroid issues.
"We started this in February so we're the first in the Twin Cities to do it and one of the first in the Midwest," Dr. Evasovich said.
Click here for the full story
July 27th, 2011 -
Rare Small Intestine Transplant Performed at U of M
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A little South Dakota boy named Drake Dosch is the lucky recipient of a medical achievement that has only happened 19 times in Minnesota history — the transplant of the small bowel, a critical part of our intestines.
The 2-year-old with a big smile has a large scar on his abdomen as a clue to his life-saving visit to the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital.
Click here for the full story
June, 2011 -
Arthur Matas, M.D. has been elected to membership in the Academic Health Center's Academy for Excellence in Health Research. The Academy is intended to serve as the highest recognition of excellence in AHC faculty research. Those selected have contributed to the reputation of the University of Minnesota through sustained, nationally and internationally recognized health-related research in his/her field. Current members of the Academy act as a jury for selection of members. The Academy serves as an advisory group that addresses issues of competitiveness and research strategy.
April, 2011 -
Jonathan D'Cunha was awarded the prestigious Philip J. Wolfson Outstanding Teacher Award
Jonathan D'Cunha was awarded the prestigious Philip J. Wolfson Outstanding Teacher Award at the Association for Surgical Education recently held in Boston. He received this award among all the national leaders in surgical education which was an outstanding achievement and honor for him as well as our Department.
March 29th, 2011 -
Dr. Robert Dorman's abstract selected for the Digestive Disease Week Press Release
Dr. Robert Dorman's Award winning Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract Plenary Session abstract has been selected for the Digestive Disease Week Press Release. The work entitled "Bariatric Surgery Outcomes in the Elderly Population: An ACS NSQIP Study" by Robert B. Dorman, Anasooya Abraham, Waddah Al-Refaie, Helen Parsons, Sayeed Ikramuddin and Elizabeth Habermann will be highlighted in the Press Release with discussion on the importance of the work and its future implications. The press program highlights some of the most important and newsworthy research being presented at the meeting and is the primary source reporters use to determine which study findings will be of interest to the public. Dr. Dorman will give a presentation of his research to reporters at an onsite press conference during Digestive Disease Week.
February 23, 2011 -
Life-Saving Organs for Twin Cities Girl, Twice
Click on this link to see an amazing story that aired on WCCO-TV:
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2011/02/23/life-saving-organs-for-twin-cities-girl-twice/
The story is about a baby who received two liver transplants in less than 24 hours at Christmas.
Srinath Chinnakotla, MD, clinical director of pediatric transplantation at University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital, was interviewed for the piece.
The story points out the long history of pediatric transplant at the hospital and includes the following statement by the reporter: “Carolyn was in the right place for world-class care.”
Many thanks to Dr. Chinnakotla and folks in the OR for their efforts on behalf of Carolyn and this story.
January 16th, 2011 -
UAB/UMN SPORE in Pancreatic Cancer 2011 Pilot Project Awards
The UAB/UMN SPORE in Pancreatic Cancer’s developmental research program aims to recruit and train junior or new investigators in pancreatic cancer who are committed to translational pancreatic cancer research. The benchmarks for success of the program include participation of awardees in major projects, publication of translational pancreatic cancer research in excellent peer-reviewed journals, and external peer-reviewed funding.
In the fall the SPORE opened the first competitive application process for pilot and career development awards since receiving the P50 award from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in September 2010, NCI grant P50 CA101955. After two rounds of applications with thorough review by members of the SPORE Developmental Research Program Sub-Committee and Career Development Program Sub-Committee, including scientists from both the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the University of Minnesota (UMN), five individuals from UMN were selected for awards this year. They are:
Julia Davydova, M.D., Ph.D.
Department of Surgery, Medical School
Career Development Award Recipient
Adenoviral-mediated Interferon-α Gene Therapy in Combination with Chemoradiation for Pancreatic Cancer
Kristin Anderson, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health
Pilot Project Award Recipient
The Role of Meat-Borne Carcinogens in Pancreatic Cancer Etiology: Pilot Studies
Eric Jensen, M.D.
Department of Surgery, Medical School
Pilot Project Award Recipient
An Investigation of Heat Shock Protein 70 in the Pathogenesis of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Pancreas
Vincent Keng, Ph.D.
Masonic Cancer Center
Pilot Project Award Recipient
A Novel In Vitro Forward Genetic Screen for Human Pancreatic Cancer Genes and its Metastatic Process
Subbaya Subramanian, Ph.D.
Department of Surgery, Medical School
Pilot Project Award Recipient
MicroRNA Gene Regulatory Networks in Pancreatic Cancer.
Funding for these one-year awards began on January 1. With financial support from the Medical School and the Masonic Cancer Center in addition to the funds awarded by the NCI, the SPORE is able to identify and fund developmental research projects which explore innovative ideas with significant potential to reduce the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of pancreatic cancer.
January 16th, 2011
Dr. Steven Santilli, M.D. and Dr. William Payne, M.D. contribute in the Star Tribune article "Bulging Market for Aortic Stents"
The story is about a new Medtronic stent, used to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms.
It features a patient of the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview – a former Olympic speed skater who had the minimally invasive procedure last week.
Steven Santilli, MD, a vascular surgeon with University of Minnesota Physicians, is quoted in the article.
Click here for the full story
January 3rd, 2011
Dr. Todd Tuttle on Newsweek for breast cancer
Click on the following link article about physician variation in breast cancer surgical procedure.
http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/03/getting-info-on-breast-cancer-surgeons-isn-t-easy.html
Link to 2010 Archive
Older News Archive
SURGERY IN THE NEWS
Daniel A. Saltzman, M.D., Ph.D. was quoted in a Star Tribune article (May 2010) regarding research that suggests a new supplemental drug made with fruit and seed oils may have the ability to strengthen cancer treatments.
Paul A. Iaizzo, Ph.D. was quoted in the Minnesota Daily (April 2010) about the Visible Heart Laboratory and its Atlas of Human Cardiac Anatomy, a free database of the unique images of the heart.
Bernhard J. Hering, M.D. was mentioned in Bio-Medicine (April 2010) about his research findings that reversed diabetes in monkeys using transplanted islet cells from pigs.
Henry Buchwald, M.D., Ph.D. was mentioned in ScienceBlog (April 2010) regarding a study that tests the resolution of type 2 diabetes through bariatric surgery.
Sabita Roy, Ph.D. received the Herman Friedman Founder’s Award through the Society of NeuroImmune Pharmacology (SNIP). The Founder’s award was created to recognize individuals whose contributions to SNIP have been visionary and whose efforts have directly contributed to the founding and continued development of the Society.
Sayeed Ikramuddin, M.D. was quoted in The Journal (March 2010) about the obesity epidemic and gastric bypass surgery.
Todd M. Tuttle, M.D., M.S. was quoted in a New York Times article (March 2010) about breast cancer surgical procedures.
Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D. was quoted in Medical News Today (March 2010) about the University’s participation in the EMPaCT program focused on minority recruitment for cancer trials. He was also quoted in R&D Magazine, Bioscience Technology and Bio-medicine.
Selwyn M. Vickers, M.D. was quoted in a press release about a grant received to encourage minority participation in clinical trials, posted on EurekAlert and listed here. He was also on WCCO Radio (March 2010) during noon hour speaking on the same subject.
Robert D. Madoff, M.D. was referenced in a story about colorectal cancer in the Gaylord Hub (March 2010).
Sayeed Ikramuddin, M.D. was on Minnesota Public Radio (March 2010) talking about gastric bypass surgery for children.
Todd M. Tuttle, M.D., M.S. was quoted in a ThirdAge article (March 2010) about a study conducted on male and female surgeons and their likelihood to perform a double mastectomy.
Paul A. Iaizzo, Ph.D. was on WCCO-TV (March 2010) speaking about how his research with hibernating black bears may lead to improved cardiac outcomes for human patients. The story also appeared in the Grand Forks Herald and on bnd.com.
Todd M. Tuttle, M.D., M.S. was quoted in the New York Times (March 2010) about how more women diagnosed with breast cancer also are choosing to have the healthy breast surgically removed. The article also appeared in the Pioneer Press, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
David M. Radosevich, R.N., Ph.D. was a guest on KMOJ-radio and interviewed about organ donation and solid organ transplant in the African American Community.
Arthur J. Matas, M.D. was interviewed for a WCCO-TV segment about kidney donation (February 2010).
Rafael S. Andrade, M.D., Gregory J. Beilman, M.D., Michael A. Maddaus, M.D., Robert D. Madoff, M.D., John S. Najarian, M.D., David A. Rothenberger, M.D., Daniel A. Saltzman, M.D., Ph.D., James D. St. Louis, M.D., and David E.R. Sutherland, M.D., Ph.D. were listed as “Top Docs” in Mpls. St. Paul Magazine (February 2010). These physicians were nominated by their peers as being among the best health-care providers in the Twin Cities.
Todd M. Tuttle, M.D., M.S., was quoted in an article on Colorado’s kdvr.com (January 2010) about his research which found that many women diagnosed with cancer in one breast are opting for double mastectomies.
Michael A. Maddaus, M.D. was interviewed by the Huffington Post regarding his participation in the new PBS series 'This Emotional Life': My Transformation from High School Drop out to Surgeon (December 2009).
