Stanford General Surgery News Center
In the News
– SurgeryINSIDE: PCSA2026
Two general surgery residents won awards at the Pacific Coast Surgical Association's 97th annual meeting this year in Oahu, Hawaii.
– SurgeryExploring the Intersection of Surgery and Cancer Research with Dr. Dan Delitto
Dr. Dan Delitto is an assistant professor of surgery at Stanford University specializes in surgical oncology and holds a PhD in immunology. On this episode, Dr. Delitto reflects on his decision to pursue an MD-PhD pathway during residency and discusses the recent advancements in single-cell RNA sequencing technology that his lab has acquired. He explains the complex role of fibroblasts in cancer development, particularly in pancreatic ductal carcinoma, highlighting how these cells can both promote and hinder tumor growth.
– American Board of Medical SpecialtiesABMS Collaborates with ABS and Stanford University on AMA Grant | American Board of Medical Specialties
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is collaborating with the American Board of Surgery (ABS) and Stanford University, which has been selected as one of 11 teams to receive funding from the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Transforming Lifelong Learning Through Precision Education Grant Program, a $12 million investment by AMA to advance physician training through personalized learning and advanced technology.
– SurgerySpotlight: Dr. Carlie Arbaugh
Meet Carlie Arbaugh MD, MS, Chef. Dr. Arbaugh completed a 4-week clinical rotation at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and the University of Zimbabwe in Harare in October-November 2025.
– SurgeryROC Announces Research Seed Grant Winners
Drs. Stephanie Chao and Alma-Martina Cepika are the 2026 Research Seed Grant winners.
– StanfordTennakoon to serve on PCORI panel
Dr. Lakshika Tennakoon will serve as a scientific reviewer on the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Addressing Violence and Trauma panel. Her research expertise in trauma and intimate partner violence will provide invaluable perspective in evaluating PCORI grant applications under review. Tennakoon will undergo PCORI scientific reviewer training in preparation for this task; she hopes this insider knowledge will be a helpful resource for the department.
– SurgeryDrs. Dawes, Espinosa Receive SCI Community Impact Award
Drs. Aaron Dawes and Patricia Rodriguez Espinosa are recipients of the 2025 Stanford Community Impact Research Cancer Health Equity Challenge Award from the Stanford Cancer Institute (SCI). The $100,000 in funding will support their project “Advocacy, Partnership, Outreach, and Yielding Optimized care for oncology patients (APOYO): A community health worker intervention for Latinx colorectal cancer patients” over the next two years.
– SurgeryGeneral Surgery Premiers New Robotic Surgery Curriculum
Stanford’s General Surgery Residency Program, led by Dr. Aaron Dawes, has announced a new Robotic Surgery Curriculum that includes a pre-console curriculum for PGY1s and 2s.
– SurgeryStanford Surgery × Université de Montréal
Stanford Surgery is proud to announce the beginning of a promising collaboration with the Université de Montréal’s (UdeM) Department of Surgery.
– SurgeryDr. Choi Appointed Research Advisor for Republic of Korea
Dr. Jeff Choi has been appointed as a Research Advisor for two of the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare's government efforts.
– CAP ProfilesDr. Malerie Pratt Promoted
Dr. Malerie Pratt has been promoted to Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of General Surgery effective September 1, 2025.
– Division of General SurgeryAsk Me Anything with Dr. David Spain
General Surgery Residency Program Director Dr. David Spain invited our Instagram Followers to ask him anything, and he does! From what he loves most about Stanford Surgery to when he last had hair, Dr. Spain offers candid responses to each question.
– SurgerySurgery Receives ACS Surgical Adhesions Improvement Project Grant
Drs. Michael Longaker, Eric Appel, Dan Delitto, and Deshka Foster have received a grant from the American College of Surgeons to fund the next phase in an ongoing collaborative project, which explores the application of a sustained release anti-JUN therapeutic for the prevention of post-operative abdominal adhesion formation.
– SurgeryDr. Pugh to Receive AWS Braunwald Award
Dr. Carla Pugh will be presented the Association of Women Surgeons' 2025 Nina Starr Braunwald Award at their annual Gala in October. This award recognizes a surgeon for their sustained, outstanding contributions to the advancement of women in surgery.
– SurgeryCUBES: Robyn Foote
Robyn Foote, an education projects coordinator and simulation specialist, takes us behind the scenes of her above-average Cube located on the third floor of 300p. Welcome to the Goodman Surgical Education Center, where innovation meets education in the field of surgery!
– Ozempic Could Prevent Diabetes. Should It Be Used for That?Ozempic Could Prevent Diabetes. Should It Be Used for That?
New research shows that weight loss medications can stop the progression of prediabetes. Features Dr. Michelle Hauser.
– SurgeryStanford Surgeons Perform Ex-Vivo Liver Surgery to Remove Tumor
Surgeons at Stanford Health Care recently conducted a novel ex-vivo liver surgery to remove a benign tumor from a patient. The procedure involved the complete removal of the liver from the patient, resection of the tumor outside the body, and subsequent re-implantation of the liver.
– Department of Medicine NewsREACH-HBMC Celebrates Summer 2024 Research Mentors
The 2024 RISE (Recognizing Individuals for Support and Empowerment) Awards honor exceptional mentors in the Stanford REACH-HBMC Summer Research Program. Check out the 2024 awardees!
– SurgerySharma Receives U54 Brain MetNet Seed Grant
Saurabh Sharma, PhD has received a grant from the Stanford Brain Metastasis Consortium (SBMC) Seed Grant Program. The $50,000 will fund his project "Melanoma Brain Metastases: Overcoming Key Obstacles."
– SurgerySpotlight: Dr. Brendan Visser
Dr. Visser is one of Stanford Surgery’s Global Surgery icons and is active in promoting surgical skills and the strengthening of HPB training and service development on an international scale.
– SurgeryDrs. Grantcharov and Yeung Receive Funding to develop AI-Assisted Surgery Training
Drs. Teodor Grantcharov and Serena Yeung’s project—Towards AI-Assisted Surgery and Surgical Training—has been selected for funding by AIMI and HAI.
– CAP ProfilesDr. Seib Promoted to Associate Professor
Dr. Carolyn Dacey Seib of the Division of General Surgery has been promoted to Associate Professor, UML effective January 1, 2024.
– SurgeryDr. Hawn Receives Award for Abdominal Wall Reconstruction
Dr. Mary Hawn is the recipient of the 2024 MedStar Georgetown Distinguished Achievement Award in Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (AWR).
– Stanford SurgeryDr. Hindin is Associate Chair of Innovation
Dr. David Hindin, a clinical assistant professor in the Division of General Surgery, will serve as the Department’s inaugural associate chair of innovation. “David will be working alongside [Dr.] Carla Pugh and the innovation council to accelerate the impact of Stanford Surgery on the future of surgery,” wrote Dr. Hawn in her announcement to the faculty.
– SurgeryLabeled Scrub Caps Team Receives 2023 ISP Star Award
The Labeled Scrub Caps Team is the recipient of a 2023 ISP Star Award. This honor recognizes individuals and teams who, through extraordinary effort and immense skill, embody the strategic priorities of Stanford's Integrated Strategic Plan (ISP).
– SurgeryInterdisciplinary Colorectal Team Awarded Equity Seed Grant
Drs. Aaron Dawes, Arden Morris, and Sandra Zaky have been awarded a 2022 Stanford Community Impact Research Cancer Health Equity Seed Grant.
– Surgery"Great Saves" Added to Department M&M
The Department of Surgery is adding a "Great Saves" component to its monthly Morbidity and Mortality Conference (M&M). Starting in 2023, each M&M will begin with a Great Save Presentation highlighting instances when a team works together to achieve an excellent patient outcome.
– SurgeryDr. Maggio Appointed Clinical Professor
Dr. Paul Maggio has been appointed Clinical Professor in Surgery in the School of Medicine effective December 1, 2022.
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– Surgery
General Surgery Residency Leadership Team Updates
Drs. John Gahagan and Cara Liebert have joined the General Surgery Residency Program's leadership team as Associate Program Directors (APDs).
– Third Annual ISSPP Congress 2022Dr. Sun Receives Award at ISSPP22
General Surgery Resident Dr. Beatrice Sun received the award for top plenary by a trainee at the International Society for the Study of the Pleura and Peritoneum (ISSPP) annual meeting. Her abstract was titled: “Safety of Cytoreductive Surgery with Heated Intraperitoneal Gemcitabine and Systemic Dacarbazine for Recurrent Uterine Leiomyosarcoma – Preliminary Results of a Phase 2 Trial." The meeting took place in Huntington Beach, CA on October 13, 2022.
– SurgeryDr. Eisenberg is lead author on new Bariatric Surgery Guidelines
Dr. Dan Eisenberg is the lead author on new guidelines for metabolic and bariatric surgery from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO).
– 2023 Stata Conference StanfordDr. Tennakoon Elected to STATA Scientific Committee
Lakshika Tennakoon, MD, MPhil was elected to the Scientific Committee for the 2023 Stata Conference. The conference will be held on July 20–21 in Stanford, California.
– ACSDr. Wren Elected ACS Secretary
Dr. Sherry Wren has been elected Secretary of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Board of Regents. The ACS Board consists of 24 members. According to their website, the Regents formulate policy and direct the affairs of the college.
– Division of General SurgeryDr. Lin Promoted to Assoc. Professor
Dr. Dana Lin has been promoted to Clinical Associate Professor effective November 1, 2022. Dr. Lin specializes in endocrine surgery in the Division of General Surgery.
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– Surgery
A Journey Around the Globe with Dr. Cara Liebert
Dr. Dana Lin and Dr. Cara Liebert are Co-Principal Investigators awarded the Department of Surgery’s first Center for Innovation in Global Health Global Surgery Seed Grant.
– SurgeryDr. Pugh named VC of Innovation
Dr. Carla Pugh has been named the new Vice Chair of Innovation in the Department of Surgery. Dr. Pugh has been an innovation council member since its inception and is Director of the TECI Center.
– SurgeryDr. Staudenmayer Appointed Vice Chair of the Trauma Systems Evaluation and Planning Committee
Dr. Kristan Staudenmayer has been appointed Vice Chair of the Trauma Systems Evaluation and Planning Committee. The committee is part of the the American College of Surgeon's Committee on Trauma (ACS COT).
– SurgeryDr. Kirane Receives SCI Grant
Dr. Amanda Kirane received a 2022 ACS IRG Pilot Grant from the Stanford Cancer Institute (SCI). The award will support her proposal, “Biomarker Analysis of Neoadjuvant Intralesional Therapy in High-Risk Melanoma."
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– Surgery
Drs. Hawn, Pugh Elected to NAM
Drs. Mary Hawn and Carla Pugh have been elected to the National Academy of Medicine.
– SurgeryDr. Seib Receives K76 Award in Aging
Dr. Carolyn Seib received the National Institute on Aging K76 Paul B. Beeson Emerging Leaders Career Development Award in Aging.
– SurgerySurgery, OBGYN combine for new Global Surgery/OBGYN Rotation
The Departments of General Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology (ObGyn) have combined resources to create a new elective rotation designed to give general surgeons the tools they need to provide life-saving obstetric and gynecologic surgical care in low-resource settings, both abroad and in the US.
– SurgeryDr. Baiu Named Top 10 Finalist for ACS Resident Teaching Award
General surgery resident Dr. Ioana Baiu has been named a Top 10 finalist for the American College of Surgeons Resident Award for Exemplary Teaching for the second year in a row.
– SurgeryDr. Weiser Assumes new Director of Global Engagement Role
Dr. Tom Weiser will serve as the inaugural Director of Global Engagement for the Department of Surgery. In this role, he will facilitate collaboration and expansion in education, research, clinical training, and innovation that can elevate the profile of Stanford Surgery and advance our mission around the globe.
– SurgeryDr. Kirane joins Surgical Oncology
Dr. Amanda Kirane will join the Department's Surgical Oncology Section effective September 1, 2021. She will be the Director of Cutaneous Surgical Oncology.
– SurgeryDr. Forrester Wins SIS Foundation Junior Faculty Clinical Research Fellowship Award
Dr. Joe Forrester received the Surgical Infection Society (SIS) Foundation's Junior Faculty Clinical Research Fellowship Award. The grant will fund his proposal “Using species distribution models to predict the distribution of infection with MRSA and C.difficile in the United States."
– SurgeryDr. Sang Awarded AJT Best Basic Science Paper of the Year
A paper by Dr. Adam Sang has been named the Best Basic Science Paper of the Year by the American Journal of Transplantation.
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– Surgery
Two GenSurg Residents Named 2020 QIPSS Winners
Two general surgery residents were named 2020 Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Symposium (QIPSS) Winners.
– Division of General Surgery3 Residents Awarded PD Funding
Three General Surgery residents have received 2020 General Surgery Professional Development Faculty Awards.
– SurgeryDr. Eisenberg Selected to Serve on ACS Advisory Council
Dr. Dan Eisenberg, an associate professor in the Division of General Surgery was selected by the Pacific Coast Surgical Association to be its representative on the American College of Surgery (ACS) Advisory Council for General Surgery (ACGS).
– SurgeryDr. Pugh Elected President of SBAS for 2021-22
The Society of Black Academic Surgeons announced that Dr. Carla Pugh has been elected president for the 2021-2022 term.
– SurgeryDr. Rajasingh Receives T32 Grant
General Surgery resident Dr. Charlotte Rajasingh has been awarded a T32 grant from the Stanford-AHRQ Health Services Research Program.
– SurgeryPPE Virtual Education Taskforce Teaches Health Care Professionals
On Tuesday, March 31st, surgical residents attended a virtual course to educate them on proper donning, doffing and reuse of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
– SurgeryStanford Deploys New OR Decision Algorithm for COVID-19
Stanford has deployed a new decision algorithm to help triage Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the highest risk situations and keep front line health workers safe during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
– SurgeryKnowlton Appointed to AAS Committee
Dr. Lisa Knowlton, an assistant professor in the Division of General Surgery, has been appointed to the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) Publications Committee.
– SurgeryDr. Staudenmayer Appointed to ACS Committee on Trauma
Dr. Kristan Staudenmayer, an associate professor in the Division of General Surgery, has been appointed to the American College of Surgeons' (ACS) Committee on Trauma (COT).
– SurgeryDr. Jaramillo Wins High-Value Innovation Challenge
Dr. Josh Jaramillo, a resident in the Division of General Surgery, has won the first annual Stanford High-Value Innovation Challenge for his proposal: "Reduction of unnecessary SICU admissions for rib fracture patients."
– SurgeryBariatrics Program Reaccredited For Highest Level of Care
Stanford's Bariatrics Program has been reaccredited for the next three years.
– News CenterTracking the movements, minds of surgeons to improve performance
Stanford scientist Carla Pugh has spent years developing wearable technologies for surgeons. Her goal: Use data to improve surgical decision-making.
– SurgeryDr. Norton Receives Goldman Sachs Grant
Dr. Jeffrey Norton, a professor in the Division of General Surgery, has been awarded a grant from the Goldman Sachs Foundation. The $200,000 in funds will support two years of research studying fibrosis in pancreas and breast cancers. Co-PI's on the grant include Drs. Michael Longaker, Deshka Foster, Irene Wapnir and Howard Chang.
– SurgeryDr. Taylor Matches With NCSP Fellowship
Dr. Kathryn Taylor, a general surgery resident, has been accepted to the National Clinician Scholars Program (NCSP). NCSP is a 2-year research and health policy fellowship.
June 14, 2019
Resident Accepted Into HSR Training Program
Dr. Kirbi Yelorda, a resident in the Division of General Surgeon, has been accepted into the Stanford-AHRQ Health Services Research Program. Supported by a grant from the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, trainees are not only supported financially but intellectually as well through a diverse coterie of mentors. General Surgery Residents Drs. Miquell Miller and Lindsay Sceats are also trainees in the program.
June 4, 2019
Two General Surgery Trainees Awarded Excellence in Research Award from American College of Surgeons
Two General Surgery Trainees have won an Excellence in Research Award from the American College of Surgeons' 2019 Owen H. Wangensteen Scientific Forum.
Dr. Deshka Foster was awarded the excellence in research award in Surgical Oncology for the second year in a row. Her abstract is entitled “Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Persist but Show Decreased Fibroblast Activation Protein Expression after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Human Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.” Dr. Foster is also a PhD candidate in Dr. Michael Longaker's Lab.
Dr. Charles Liu's abstract "Out-of-Pocket Spending by Surgical Patients Following Implementation of the Affordable Care Act Insurance Marketplaces" has been selected for an Excellence in Research Award for the category of Health Services Research.
June 4, 2019
Dr. Poultsides to succeed Dr. Norton as SurgOnc Chief
After almost 16 years, Dr. Jeff Norton will be stepping down as Chief of the Surgical Oncology Section. Dr. George Poultsides will be stepping into the position effective June 1, 2019.
May 24, 2019
Dr. Eisenberg Receives Merit Grant
Dr. Dan Eisenberg, an associate professor in the Division of General Surgery, was awarded a 3-year $750,000 VA HSR & D Merit Grant.
"Appropriate detection and management of obesity in veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI) relies on consistent measurement of body mass index (BMI) and proper interpretation of BMI when it is assessed," said Dr. Eisenberg. "Our goal is to assess the quality of guideline-concordant obesity screening in veterans with SCI who receive care in the Veterans Health Administration to understand why some VA facilities do better than others in screening and to evaluate the need for adjusted BMI-based morbidity risk zones for individuals with SCI."
May 24, 2019
Dr. Wren Invited to Serve on WHO Panel
Dr. Sherry Wren, a professor in the Division of General Surgery, has been invited to serve as a member of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Expert Advisory Panel on Surgical Care and Anaesthesia for a four-year term. According to the WHO website, panel members contribute "by correspondence technical information on developments in his or her field, and to offer advice as appropriate, spontaneously or upon request."
May 2, 2019
Dr. Kebebew new Editor in Chief of Thyroid, the official journal of the American Thyroid Association
Division of General Surgery Chair Dr. Electron Kebebew has accepted the position of the next Editor in Chief of Thyroid, the official journal of the American Thyroid Association. Dr. Kebebew has served as an Associate Editor at Thyroid since 2012. He will take over responsibility from current Editor in Chief Dr. Peter Kopp as of the January 2020 journal issue.
April 24, 2019
General Surgery Residency Program Appoints New Director
Dr. Marc Melcher has decided to step down from his role as Program Director of the General Surgery Residency Program. Click here for the full story.
April 22, 2019
Stanford Surgical Resident Featured in Forbes
For the fully story on Dr. August click here
March 14, 2019
Dr. Seib Joins Endocrine Team
Dr. Carolyn Dacey Seib will join Stanford Division of General Surgery as an Assistant Professor in the MCL effective April 28. Seib earned her medical degree at New York University before completing her residency at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Most recently, she was a clinical instructor at UCSF and Director of their Endocrine Surgery Clinical Immersive Experience (CIEx) rotation for 3rd-year medical students.
"We are delighted to have Dr. Seib join Stanford. She is a gifted surgeon and educator," said Chief of General Surgery Dr. Electron Kebebew. "We also look forward to her scholarly work impacting patient care on the endocrine service."
February 14, 2019
Asia Game Changers Awards West Honors Dr. So
Dr. Samuel So, director of the Asian Liver Center, has been chosen as a 2019 Asia Game Changer West Awards Honoree. Dr. So will officially be given the award at the Asian Game Changer West Gala on April 9. According to their website, the event "identifies and honors true leaders who are making a positive contribution to the future of Asia."
January 18, 2019
Dr. Staudenmeyer Joins MX Advisory Committee.
Dr. Kristan Staudenmeyer, an associate professor in the Division of General Surgery, was recently elected to the Manifest MedEx (MX) Advisory Committee. MX is California’s largest health information exchange. As a committee member, Staudenmeyer will provide MX with guidance on key decisions and policies and in turn will have unique access to the world of health information and policy.
January 14, 2019
General Surgery Residency Announces Clinical Collaboration with Intermountain Health
Starting in May, Stanford’s General Surgery Residency Program will include a new elective surgical endoscopy rotation with Intermountain Healthcare (IMH).
“The Stanford General Surgery Residency Program trains doctors to become the leaders and surgeons of the future,” said said Dr. Mark Ott, chief medical director at IMH. “Part of the surgical future is exposing all of us to a world where different healthcare systems collaborate to deliver even better care locally and at a distance.”
December 6, 2018
Dr. Wren Receives WISA #SheforShe Award
Dr. Sherry Wren was the inaugural recipient of the #SheforShe award from the Women Surgeons in Africa (WISA) for supporting the development of women surgeons in the region.
"I was totally surprised and super excited about this," said Wren. "It has been incredible to see the growth of women surgeons in the COSESCA region."
COSECSA is the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa. This year, 13% of surgery trainees are women—the highest percentage to date.
November 5, 2018
2 General Surgeons Awarded Seed Grants
The Department of Surgery has awarded 6 surgeons grants as part of the new Seed Grant Program. Two of them are from the Division of General Surgery: Drs. Dan Azagury and Marc Melcher were each given between $10,000 and $50,000 to fund their research for the next 12 months.
"The quality of the abstracts submitted was outstanding," said Vice Chair of Basic and Translation Research Dr. Geoffrey Gurtner. "We had 33 submissions and probably 20-25 of them were worthy of funding. We are very disappointed that we could not fund more."
October 24, 2018
Dr. Foster Wins ACSCC Excellence in Research Award
Dr. Deshka Foster, a professional development resident in the Division of General Surgery, received the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress Excellence in Research Award. The award is given to the top scoring abstracts submitted for presentation at the Congress. Dr. Foster won in the surgical oncology category for her abstract "Clonal Analysis of Local Fibroblasts in Wound Healing and Tumor Stroma."
October 8, 2018
ACS Academy of Master Surgeon Educators Selects Three Stanford Surgeons
Three Stanford Surgeons were selected to join the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators: Dr. Jim Korndorffer, vice chair of education, Dr. Jim Lau, director of the Goodman Surgical Education Center, and Dr. Carla Pugh, director of the Technology Enabled Clinical Improvement Center. The academy was created in 2014 "to recognize and assemble a cadre of Master Surgeon Educators of national and international renown who will work closely with the ACS Division of Education to advance the science and practice of avant-garde surgical education and training." Drs. Lau and Pugh were inducted as part of the inaugural class.
October 1, 2018
Dr. Spain Voted President-Elect of AAST
Dr. David Spain, chief of Stanford's Acute Care Surgery Section, was voted president-elect of The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST). Dr. Spain will assume the presidency at the end of the AAST business meeting in September 2019 and will preside over the 2020 meeting in Hawaii.
"This is a great testament to his leadership and impact on the field," said Department of Surgery Chair Dr. Mary Hawn.
September 11, 2018
Dr. Staudenmayer Appointed to HCRT Study Section for AHRQ
Dr. Kristan Staudenmayer, an associate professor in the Division of General Surgery, has been appointed to the Health Care Research Training (HCRT) Study Section for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The study section reviews research training and career development grants.
"[This appointment] is a testament to her outstanding work and being a thought leader in the field," said General Surgery Division Chief Dr. Electron Kebebew.
September 6, 2018
Dr. Hong Receives Immunology T32
Dr. Wan Xing Hong, a professional development resident in the Division of General Surgery, was awarded an Immunology T32 from the National Institutes of Health to study immunotherapy in solid tumors. The grant is for approximately $49,000 for 1 year, with the option to apply for renewal.
"I will be studying neoadjuvant application of locally administered immunotherapy in solid tumors, starting with the triple negative breast cancer mouse model," said Hong. "As a general surgery resident, I frequently help care for patients suffering from a variety of different tumors; these experiences really drive home the clinical relevance of the questions that we ask each day in lab."
September 4, 2018
Dr. Zak Joins General Surgery
Dr. Yulia Zak will join the Division of General Surgery's Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery section as a Clinical Assistant Professor effective December 1, 2018. Dr. Zak graduated from Stanford's General Surgery Residency Program in 2014 before completing her fellowship in MIS at Massachusetts General Hospital. Most recently Dr. Zak was a member of the faculty at Mount Sinai.
August 27, 2018
Dr. Kopecky Wins AΩA Postgraduate Fellowship
General Surgery Resident Dr. Kimberly Kopecky was awarded a 2018 Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Postgraduate Fellowship for her project titled: Interactive Communication Curriculum for Surgical Residents. Kopecky will receive $2,000 over the next two years to support her research.
July 16, 2018
Dr. Chandler Receives Funding From CHRI
Dr. Julia Chandler, a professional development resident in the Division of General Surgery, has been named the Ernest and Amelia Gallo Endowed Postdoctoral Fellow by the Child Health Research Institute (CHRI). Chandler will receive $105,000 to support her study "Improving Care for Pediatric Trauma Patients: Screening and Secondary Prevention for Post-Traumatic Stress."
July 9, 2018
Dr. Choi AAST Receives Research and Education Foundation Scholarship
Division of General Surgery Resident Dr. Jeff Choi (PGY2) was the recipient of one of nine Research and Education Foundation Scholarships from the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST). The scholarship will facilitate Choi's attendance at the AAST's annual meeting.
"This year, the AAST annual meeting will be held in conjunction with the World Trauma Congress in San Diego, where I hope to learn more about trauma surgery and especially, connect with trauma surgeons from South Korea," said Choi.
July 6, 2018
Dr. Shelton Named Colorectal Surgery Section Chief
The Division of General Surgery's Dr. Andrew Shelton has been named Colorectal Surgery Section Chief effective immediately.
"Dr. Andy Shelton has served more than ably as the acting Colorectal Surgery Section Chief since Dr. Mark Welton’s departure one year ago," said General Surgery Chief Dr. Electron Kebebew in his announcement to the Division staff. "We look forward to his continued leadership and growth of the section."
June 22, 2018
2018 Surgery Interns Welcomed With Improved Boot Camp Curriculum
The 2018 Stanford Surgery intern boot camp is unlike any before it, with instructors employing a flipped- classroom model to accommodate all learning styles and expand instruction time.
“Historically, boot camps have lasted a week or four days but because interns have more and more competing interests—learning Epic, onboarding— the physical boot camp schedule has been compressed,” said Dr. Edmund Lee, a Stanford surgical education fellow and visionary behind the novel curriculum. “We asked ourselves: is there a better way?”
June 10, 2018
Stanford Surgery Graduates First IR Interns
For the first time in its history, Stanford Surgery will graduate interns into the field of Interventional Radiology (IR) on June 10, 2018.
“We’re treated exactly the same as how they treat all of the other interns,” said Dr. Lynne Bettinger, one of the three IR interns including Drs. James Hui and Stephan Leung. “I think a lot of people don’t even know that we aren’t general surgery residents.”
May 31, 2018
Faculty Recognized at Annual Stanford Medical Staff Awards Dinner
Several Division of General Surgery faculty members were recognized at the Annual Stanford Medical Staff Awards Dinner on May 31, 2018.
Former Division of General Surgery Chief Dr. Ralph Greco was presented a Lifetime Honorary Medical Staff Award while Clinical Associate Professor Dr. Martin Bronk received a Likelihood to Recommend Award. The Likelihood to Recommend Award is presented to physicians with Likelihood to Recommend top box scores in the 99th percentile, ranked nationally. Drs. Carl Bertelsen, Dan Azagury, Frederick Dirbas, George Poultsides, Jeffrey Norton, and current Department of Surgery Chair Dr. Mary Hawn all received Likelihood to Recommend Honorable Mentions. These physicians' box scores were in or above the 90th percentile, ranked nationally.
May 30, 2018
Residents, Faculty Honored at MD Program Teaching Awards
Three faculty members and two residents from the Division of General Surgery were honored at the 2018 MD Program Teaching Awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 30th.
General Surgery Residents Dr. Ioana Baiu (PGY2) and Dr. Laura Mazer (PGY5) received the Arnold P. Gold Foundation's Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award.
"As surgery residents, we are incredibly lucky to be working with brilliant and motivated Stanford students. This is an integral component of our training as future academic surgeons, allowing us to learn the basics of teaching and mentoring from very early on," said Baiu. "[My students] remind me every day how exciting and interesting my job is and inspire me to be a role-model and a better physician. I owe a large part of my training at Stanford to my students who teach me patience and provide me with an insatiable thirst for knowledge."
Clinical Associate Professor Martin Bronk and Clinical Professor Dr. James Lau both received the Award for Excellence in Promotion of Humanism. Lau also received the Arthur L. Bloomfield Award in Recognition of Excellence in the Teaching of Clinical Medicine along with Associate Professor of Surgery Dr. Kristan Staudenmayer.
May 17, 2018
Dr. Weiser Examines A Decade of the Surgical Safety Checklist
Dr. Thomas Weiser, an associate professor in the Division of General Surgery, was a lead author on the editorial "Ten Years of the Surgical Safety Checklist" published by BJS May 17, 2018. Dr. Weiser will also take part in the May #BJSconnect twitter chat on Thursday, May 24 at 11AM PST.
May 15, 2018
2018 Kountz Fellowship Awarded to Lawrence Brown
The 2018 Samuel L. Kountz Diversity Fellowship has been awarded to Lawrence Brown. Brown is an MD candidate at Meharry Medical School in Nashville, TN. He has an MPH from Yale University and an MHS also from Meharry.
May 13, 2018
Drs. Korndorffer and Morris Elected into ASA
Vice Chair of Education Dr. Jim Korndorffer and S-SPIRE Center Director Dr. Arden Morris were elected into the American Surgical Association as new members.