Department of Surgery

More than 65 faculty and 150 staff members in the UK Department of Surgery are committed to caring for patients, training the next generation of doctors and researchers, and seeking a better understanding of disease and injury. The UK Department of Surgery comprises six divisions and one section.

Faculty in a number of these specialties also play a role in multidisciplinary centers, which draw together faculty and staff from several departments to enhance patient care and research. For example, Surgery's Section of Transplantation, which handles kidney, liver, and pancreas transplants, and the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery play essential roles in UK Hospital's Transplant Center. In the Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS), faculty who specialize in laparoscopic surgery collaborate with engineers and specialists from other disciplines to improve instruments and training techniques.

In 2005-2006, Department faculty participated in 15,114 surgical procedures in the UK Hospital. They saw many patients during emergency service and in specialty, multidisciplinary, and regional office visits. They helped train 87 medical students in the class of 2006 and graduated 19 surgical specialists. And finally, some were devoted to basic research and many carried out clinical trials to improve current methods of treatment.

Departmental Highlights

Surgery Department Gains in National Distinction

Thirteen Department of Surgery physicians were honored with the designation, Best Doctors in America®. This year’s list of Best Doctors in America® includes 106 UK HealthCare physicians, more than any other hospital in Kentucky. The Best Doctors list is derived from a nationwide survey of physicians. They are asked the question, “If you or a loved one needed a doctor in your specialty, to whom would you refer them?” Surgery Department physicians on the list are as follows:

BEST DOCTORS IN AMERICA®
Dr. Sanford M. Archer
Dr. Eric D. Endean
Dr. Deborah R. Erickson
Dr. Richard C. Haydon III
Dr. Joseph A. Iocono
Dr. Raleigh O. Jones
Dr. Paul A. Kearney
Dr. Patrick C. McGrath
Dr. Randall G. Rowland
Dr. David A. Sloan
Dr. Joseph Valentino
Dr. Henry C. Vasconez
Dr. Joseph Zwischenberger

Chairman of the Surgery Department, Dr. Joseph Zwischenberger was recently featured in the WUKY public radio segment, "Dr. Greg Davis On Medicine". He spoke about his research on the artificial lung. Click here to hear the interview.

Deborah R. Erickson, MD, Appointed Associate Editor of Journal of Urology

A hearty congratulations to Deborah R. Erickson, MD who has been appointed Associate Editor of The Journal of Urology. The Journal of Urology is generally considered the most influential and prestigious publication in the field with a longstanding impact factor throughout the world. The impact factor is determined by the number of times a published manuscript is quoted in subsequent papers. Dr. Erickson is no stranger to Journal of Urology: she has published approximately 15 manuscripts with them.The Journal of Urology is published by Elsevier Science.

Dr. Erickson is one of four Associate Editors for the journal and she will be responsible for articles relevant to the four major fields which are her expertise: incontinence, infertility, ED and pelvic prolapse. As Associate Editor, Dr. Erickson will receive papers from clinical and research scientists throughout the world. With each submission, Dr. Erickson chooses three reviewers who have published on the topic. These reviewers criticize and assess the appropriatness for publication. The reviewers have three general categories of response: reject, revise or accept.

“One of the challenges as Associate Editor is to simultaneously support publication of only the best manuscripts while remaining diplomatic and encouraging to those that do not make it,” said Dr. Erickson. “We want to keep the standards extremely high while not alienating or intimidating young writers.”

In addition, Dr. Erickson is responsible for 2-3 editorials annually.

After 7-year search, ENT acquires 2 Pediatric Otolaryngologists

The Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose & Throat) Division has reason to rejoice. After a 7-year search, the division has added not one, but two pediatric otolaryngologists to its roster within a matter of weeks.

“Pediatric Otolaryngologists are few and far between,” said division chief Dr. Raleigh Jones. “Annually, there are normally 15 qualified candidates for approximately 60 openings, 30 in academic positions and 30 in private practice. So we are very fortunate to bring on two superb practitioners at the same time.”

Dr. Maria Veling comes to us from two years of private practice and nine years at the University of Louisville. She also completed medical school and residency training at U of L. She treats children from infancy to 18 years and her special interests include allergies and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Veling also specializes ear infections, tonsillitis, neck masses, congenital abnormalities and hearing loss.

Dr. Abbas Younes was recently in private practice in Beirut, Lebanon. He studied medicine and completed residency training at the American University of Beirut. Dr. Younes completed fellowship studies at Cleveland Clinic and Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. While at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Dr. Younes connected with Dr. Jones but because of visa requirements, it took a few more years before we could bring him to the University of Kentucky. Dr. Younes has special interests in airway obstruction, sinus surgery and hearing loss.

“Children are not small adults,” said Dr. Younes, “and pediatric expertise is necessary to treat their needs.”

Until now, the Otolaryngology Division has treated children with ENT problems by expertise. Dr. Jones ministered to those with complications of the ear; Drs. Joseph Valentino and Sanford Archer treated problems dealing with the airway and Dr. Richard Haydon took care of sinus problems.

“The addition of two pediatric otolaryngologists not only enables us to focus on our expertise, but it also it allows us to grow all around,” said Dr. Jones. “Already we have seen an increase in our adult practice. It enhances the division’s ability to respond to referrals and patient satisfaction is enriched. Last but not least, our resident education benefits tremendously from access to the broad range of specialties.”

For two years running, the Otolaryngology Division has been recognized by US News and World Report as one of the Top 50 programs in the nation. The program advanced for 49th to 41st between 2006 and 2007. Let’s see what they have to say in 2008!