Surgeons Offer New Procedures for Colon and Rectal Diseases

Spring, 2006 

Surgeons Offer New Procedures for 

Colon and Rectal Diseases 

Minimally invasive techniques benefit patients 

Bradley Davis, MD, and David O’Brien, MD, both 

assistant professors of surgery in the Division of 

Colon & Rectal Surgery, are performing minimally 

invasive and new procedures for colon disease and 

rectal cancers. Both have performed more than 100 

laparoscopic procedures for a wide range of diseases 

including colon and rectal cancers, polyps, Crohn’s 

disease, diverticulitis, endometriosis, ulcerative and 

ischemic colitis, GI bleeding, rectal prolapse, repair 

of colonoscopic perforation, and constipation. (See 

more inside — Advanced Colon Surgery) 

Dr. Davis recently performed the region’s first transanal endoscopic microsurgical (TAM) 

procedure, an alternative to radical surgery for patients with early rectal cancers. 

In collaboration with Gregory Tiao, MD, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Dr. Davis performed 

a total colectomy laparoscopically on a five-year-old child, the first time such an operation has 

ever been performed. 

SBAS Annual Meeting is Held in Cincinnati 

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory (left) 

reads a proclamation honoring SBAS, 

accompanied by Jeffrey Matthews, MD 

(center), and Kenneth Davis, Jr, MD 

Bradley Davis, MD 

The UC Department of 

Surgery was host to the 

Society of Black Academic 

Surgeons (SBAS) annual 

meeting on April 6-8. The 

meeting was attended by 

over 100 African-American 

surgeons from across the 

country. SBAS inspires and 

mentors young surgeons 

and medical students in the 

pursuit of academic careers. 

Each year the society partners 

with a leading department 

of surgery to hold a 

scientific meeting to share 

information about scientific 

and surgical advances. 

David O’Brien, MD 

Mark Mallory, Mayor of 

the City of Cincinnati, read 

a proclamation welcoming 

SBAS to Cincinnati during a 

reception at the National 

Underground Railroad Freedom 

Center, where the 

Society was welcomed by 

the Center’s President, 

Spencer Crew, PhD. At the 

black tie dinner and dance 

held at the Hilton Cincinnati 

Netherland Plaza, Oscar 

Robertson, basketball icon 

and Cincinnati business 

entrepreneur, was the guest 

speaker. [See more photos 

inside back cover.]

Advances in Colon Surgery 

This year, in the United States, nearly 150,000 people will be 

diagnosed with colon cancer, which is the second leading cause 

of cancer-related deaths in the US. Fortunately, if detected and 

treated early, colon cancer is one of the most curable cancers. 

The primary treatment for colon cancer is surgery. In the past, 

most patients underwent “open” surgery for colon cancer. 

However, the New England Journal of Medicine recently published 

a landmark National Institutes of Health (NIH) study, led 

by the Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy (COST) Study 

Group that supports the use of laparoscopic-assisted colectomy 

for patients with colon cancer (N Engl J Med 2004; 350:2050- 

9). UC Surgeons Drs. Bradley Davis and David O’Brien are 

experts in this procedure, having each performed more than 100 

laparoscopic procedures. 

As a result of this 10-year study, the American Society of Colon 

and Rectal Surgeons released a supportive statement saying 

laparoscopic colectomy for curable cancer results in equivalent 

cancer-related survival to open colectomy when performed by 

experienced surgeons. This surgical option now offers many of 

the same benefits of laparoscopic surgery over traditional open 

surgery, including quicker recovery time, less pain and scarring, 

shorter hospital stay, and improved cosmetic results. For patients 

whose cancer is operable, this alternative procedure is a great 

step forward. 

During “minimally invasive” colon surgery, the surgeon makes 

a series of small incisions in the patient's abdomen. A small 

video camera (or “scope”) is placed in one of the incisions, providing 

a magnified view of the internal organs on a television 

monitor. Surgical instruments are placed in the other incisions, 

allowing the surgeon to work inside and remove portions of the 

colon. As with any surgical procedure, there are some risks. For 

more information, log on to www.colonsurgeryinfo.com. 

______________ 

In related news, Bradley Davis, MD, will be an instructor for 

the laparoscopic colectomy course at the national meeting of the 

American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS), of 

which Janice Rafferty, MD, is program co-director. The meeting, 

to be held in June 2006 in Seattle, brings together more than 

1200 colon and rectal surgeons from around the country. This 

year the ASCRS will also be hosting the first allied health symposium 

in conjunction with the ASCRS meeting, dedicated to 

educating the allied health care professionals that work with 

members of the ASCRS. The fee for this program is $60 and registration 

is required. Allied Health Care professionals are welcome 

to attend the entire meeting. Further information about the 

meeting is available at http://www.fascrs.org. 

Drs. Davis and Rafferty are presenting at the annual Crohn’s 

Colitis Foundation meeting of the local chapter in Cincinnati. 

Genetic Tests Can Help Determine 

Risk of Colon Cancer 

After two years of surgery and chemotherapy for her colon 

cancer, Judy Dusing’s doctors thought she might have a 

genetic predisposition for colon cancer. Concerned for her 

children, Judy decided to have genetic testing and consulted 

with Janice Rafferty, MD, Chief of the Division of Colon 

and Rectal Surgery at UC. Dr. Rafferty states that published 

studies show “there are genes that can be detected in certain 

families that tend to have clusters of cancer.” While genetic 

testing is not practical for everyone, this simple blood test 

may be recommended for anyone who has had at least three 

relatives with colon cancer in the last two generations of their 

family. This is especially important if one of them is an 

immediate family member younger than 50 years old. Since 

colon cancer can be detected through precancerous polyps, 

anyone who tests positive should be carefully followed. “If 

we can find the polyps and remove them before the cancer 

develops, then we are in good shape,” said Dr. Rafferty. The 

amazing thing in all this for Judy Dusing was what the gene 

testing didn't find. “They discovered that all of my gene testing 

was negative.” That means she may not have passed on 

an additional cancer risk. 

Breast Cancer Trial Brings Good News 

A study of almost 20,000 post-menopausal women found that 

the osteoporosis drug Raloxifene, also known as Evista, can 

help protect against breast cancer just as well as the leading 

breast cancer prevention drug, Tamoxifen. 

Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, PhD, Division of Surgical 

Oncology, directed the study section in Cincinnati. About 

12% of the Ohio patients were treated in Cincinnati. 

“I think it's very exciting because it opens up the possibilities 

for other women to take this medication. If one can't tolerate 

one drug, they can certainly switch to another.” 

According to Dr. Shaughnessy, the Tamoxifen appears to perform 

better with invasive breast cancers, while Raloxifene 

poses a lower risk of uterine cancer, blood clots and cataracts. 

Dr. Elizabeth Shaughnessy (far left) leads a panel discussion on 

breast cancer at the Kingsgate Conference Center in Cincinnati

Burn Division’s Expertise is Featured 

Steven T. Boyce, PhD, Professor of Surgery, Division of 

Burn Surgery, was featured in an article in the Los Angeles 

Times on January 30, 2006. Dr. Boyce and his colleagues 

are world-renowned experts in creating artificial tissues to 

quickly and seamlessly patch burns and wounds. 

Dr. Boyce also received UC’s Established Entrepreneur 

Award at the Faculty Awards Celebration on May 8, 2006, 

sponsored by the Office of the President and Faculty 

Senate. 

Steven T. Boyce, PhD 

The recent construction of a new operating room at University 

Hospital allowed the opportunity to install videoconferencing 

technology that enhances patient care and resident training. 

The operating room (OR 20, the primary “trauma” OR), was 

fitted with a Stryker Communications Infinity system that is 

configured to connect to one of the Emergency Department 

(ED) bays via video through the Center for Surgical Innovation 

(CSI). The videoconferencing system allows the surgeon to 

actively see the patient's injury, request alternate views and 

view vital signs. This enhances communication with the ED 

staff and provides better care for the patient. 

The system was successfully put into effect the week of April 

17. Dr. Jay Johannigman and Dr. Timothy Pritts (Division 

of Trauma and Critical Care) narrated two different cases: a 

gunshot wound and a splenectomy (the result of a car crash). 

W. Brian Gibler, MD, Chairman, Department of Emergency 

Medicine, and Jay Johannigman, MD, Director of the 

Division of Trauma and Critical Care, collaborated with Brett 

Harnett, Manager of Experimental IT for CSI, to develop the 

pilot system and clinical protocol, which could be fully imple- 

Richard J. Kagan, MD, Director of the Burn Division and 

Chief of Staff at Shriners Hospital, in his capacity as representative 

for the American Burn Association developed 44 new 

CPT codes for application of skin grafts and skin substitutes. 

Kevin Yakuboff, MD, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Shriners 

Hospital, has begun a Brachial Plexus Clinic at the Cincinnati 

Children's Hospital. 

The staff of the Shriners Hospital-Cincinnati, which includes 

UC Department of Surgery faculty and residents, had 20 

abstracts accepted for presentation at the American Burn 

Association annual meeting held in Las Vegas, April 4-7, 2006. 

UC Burn Surgeon Treats Patient from Panama 

Kevin Bailey, MD (center) with 

members of the flight team. 

J. Kevin Bailey, MD, Division 

of Burn Surgery, traveled to 

Panama in February to bring a 

patient to Shriners for expert 

burn care. The 24-year-old 

Panamaniam was injured at 

work; his employer searched the 

U.S. to find a burn unit that 

would care for him without burdening 

the family and company 

with extensive medical bills. 

Shriners stepped in and accepted 

the patient, who was recently 

discharged home to Panama. 

University Hospital and CSI Expand OR Videoconferencing Capabilities 

mented in the remaining ED bays by this summer. 

In addition to patient care advantages, video and audio footage 

can be stored and used for training purposes, while following 

all HIPAA regulations. 

The system is extremely affordable and scalable. By using the 

Health Alliance's existing videoconferencing technology and 

local area network (LAN) with inexpensive software and hardware, 

Harnett and CSI were able to design a system with many 

of the same advantages, but at a more reasonable cost.

Bower Memorial on June 21, 2006 

Please join us for Final Grand Rounds on June 21st at 8:00 a.m. in the Surgical Amphitheater to celebrate the graduation of our 

general surgery chief residents and for the unveiling of the portrait of Dr. Robert H. Bower and dedication of the conference room. 

Dr. Bower’s portrait will be presented at Final Grand Rounds with a ribbon cutting and inauguration of the Bower Memorial 

Conference Room to be held in the Chairman’s office immediately following Grand Rounds. A reception in the Department of 

Surgery will follow. All faculty, alumni and community physicians are invited to attend. 

Cardiothoracic Surgery News 

Walter H. Merrill, MD, 

Director of the Section of 

Cardiothoracic Surgery, played 

a major role at the annual 

meeting of the Society of 

Thoracic Surgeons. In addition 

to his two presentations 

(“Technique of intraoperative 

electrophysiologic mapping 

and identification of ganglionic 

plexi” and “Interim report of 

the Society of Thoracic 

Dr. Walter Merrill Surgeons Task Force on resident 

employment opportunities”), Dr. Merrill presided over 

the Thoracic Surgery Resident Luncheon panel entitled 

“Today’s Job Market: How to Look and What's in Demand” 

and also moderated the “Adult Cardiac Case Presentation” 

Session. 

Dr. Flege Wins “Lifetime Hero” Award 

John B. Flege, Jr, MD, 

Professor of Surgery in the 

Division of Cardiac Surgery, 

was honored as a “Lifetime 

Hero” for his years of service 

to the community. Dr. Flege 

received the Cincinnati 

Dr. John B. Flege, Jr. 

Business Courier's Lifetime 

Health Care Hero award at the 

dinner on February 9. Dr. 

Flege is considered to be the 

“father of cardiac surgery” in 

the Cincinnati area. Dr. Flege 

gratefully acknowledged the 

support of the many nurses and 

hospital staff who helped him build cardiac surgery programs 

at Jewish Hospital, Christ Hospital, University Hospital, and 

St. Elizabeth Hospital in Northern Kentucky. 

Randall Wolf, MD, Professor of Surgery and Biomedical 

Engineering, and Director of the UC Center for Surgical 

Innovation (CSI), won the Innovator award. E. Steve 

Woodle, MD, Professor of Surgery and Director of the 

Division of Transplantation, was a nominee. 

Screening Chest CT Can Identify Early-Stage 

Lung Cancer in High-Risk Individuals 

Early results from the Lung Cancer Screening Study directed by 

John A. Howington, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery and 

Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery, have shown that spiral 

CT (computed tomography) of high-risk individuals can identify 

early-stage lung cancer. The clinical implications are that early 

diagnosis allows surgical resection that is often curative. 

The study, from August 2001 through April 2005, included 131 

high-risk individuals over 50 years old with a minimum 20 packyear 

smoking history, but without symptomatic lung cancer at the 

time of screening or a history of cancer in the past five years. Fiftysix 

percent had at least one non-calcified nodule. Five subjects had 

nodules greater than 12 mm and four underwent biopsy. Three 

patients had stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and one 

had stage IIIA NSCLC. All patients diagnosed with lung cancer 

underwent complete resections: 2 VATS lobectomies, 1 open lobectomy, 

and 1 open bilobectomy. There was no operative mortality. 

To date, no volunteer has undergone biopsy for a benign nodule. 

The study was conducted by Dr. Howington and Michael F. Reed, 

MD, Division of Thoracic Surgery; surgical residents Lynn (Chip) 

Huffman, MD, and Prakash K. Pandalai, MD; thoracic nurse 

Jeffrey Neu; members of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical 

Care Medicine and Division of Hematology & Oncology, 

Department of Internal Medicine, and the Department of Radiology. 

Dr. Huffman won First Place for the abstract in the Cincinnati 

Surgical Society's 2005-2006 Resident Essay Competition. 

John Mehall, MD, cardiothoracic surgery 

resident, presented at the annual meeting of 

the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and his 

comments on job opportunities for thoracic 

surgery residents were featured in the 

March/April issue of Thoracic Surgery 

News. Dr. Mehall is President of the 

Thoracic Surgery Residents Association, as 

well as Program Director for the upcoming Dr. John Mehall 

Cardiothoracic Technology Symposium 

designed for thoracic surgery residents in accredited programs, to 

be held May 19-21, 2006, at the University of Cincinnati Center 

for Surgical Innovation (CSI) and Kingsgate Conference Center. 

For more information, visit www.ctsymposium.org.

Center for Surgical Innovation (CSI) in the News 

Advanced Center for Telemedicine and Surgical 

Innovation (ACTSI) 

The ACTSI was funded by the UC Congress through a grant 

with the US Army's Telemedicine and Advanced Technology 

Research Center (TATRC). Timothy Broderick, MD, is the 

Principal Investigator (PI) and Director of ACTSI. Mr. Charles 

Doarn serves as Co-PI and Deputy Director. The focus is on 

telesurgery and the tools and capabilities that enable advanced 

medical and surgical care on the battlefield. As ACTSI grows in 

stature and capability, the concept of “benchtop to battlefield to 

bedside” will be fully integrated across UC’s medical campus 

and academic campus through mutually beneficial collaborations 

between basic sciences, engineering and medical practices. 

ACTSI will utilize numerous assets, including the CSI. 

Atrial Fibrillation Innovation Center (AFIC) 

Randall K. Wolf, MD, and UC have teamed with the Cleveland 

Clinic Foundation (CCF) to establish the Atrial Fibrillation 

Innovation Center (AFIC) through a three-year $22.8M grant 

from the State of Ohio. A Joint Use Agreement was established 

between UC and the CCF to implement the AFIC project. The 

CSI has a significant science component with Dr. Wolf serving 

as PI. His research will focus on minimally invasive surgical 

technologies for the treatment of atrial fibrillation, including 

robotic applications. Dr. Wolf will serve as a member of the 

AFIC Board of Directors. 

4th BME-Surgery Symposium - “Nanotechnology” 

On January 20, 2006, the Department of Surgery, the 

Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), the Department 

of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science 

(ECECS), and the CSI hosted the fourth Surgery-BME seminar, 

“Clinical Applications of Biomedical Engineering in the 

Surgical Environment: Nanotechnology.” The focus on 

nanoscale science and technology in medicine provided a foundation 

for dynamic presentations from faculty of several interdisciplinary 

departments, including Chemistry, Pharmacology, 

Engineering, Surgery and Electrical Engineering from both UC 

and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Jennifer 

West from Rice University's Department of Biomedical 

Engineering was guest faculty and presented “Future Directions 

in Applied Nanoscience.” Dr. William Ball, Dr. Thomas Mantei, 

and Dr. Randall Wolf served as symposium chairs. More than 

70 people attended the seminar, including faculty and students 

from UC’s medical and academic campuses. 

Faculty Research Grant Awarded 

Brett Harnett, Manager of Experimental Information 

Technology, had his Faculty Research Grant approved by the 

University Research Council. His research focus is “A Mobile 

Neural Network for Real-Time Physiologic Monitoring.” 

NEEMO Educational Outreach Offers Children and 

Adults Opportunity to Speak with Underwater Crew 

A live event was held at the Cincinnati Museum Center on 

Monday, April 10, 2006, at which nearly 300 children were 

invited to speak directly with NASA’s Extreme Environment 

Mission Operations 9 (NEEMO 9) undersea crew, featuring 

Timothy J. Broderick, MD, NASA astronauts Ronald Garan 

and Nicole Stott; Canadian astronaut and mission commander, 

Dave Williams, MD, and habtechs Jim Buckley and Ross Hein, 

who were living for 18 days at 75 feet below the surface of the 

ocean near Key Largo, FL. Dr. Broderick served as crew chief 

and conducted robotic surgical research that will someday help 

treat astronauts on the Moon and Mars. In the short term, this 

technology is used everyday to take better care of patients. 

Live interaction with NEEMO 9 crew at the Cincinnati Museum Center 

3rd Advances in Laparoscopic Hepatic Surgery Course 

The CSI worked closely with Joseph Buell, MD, and the 

Division of Transplantation to conduct the third “Advances in 

Laparoscopic Hepatic Surgery” course, February 23-25, 2006. 

Attendees from the around the world participated in a two-anda-half-day 

course on issues and technologies for supporting 

laparoscopic hepatic surgery. The course involved both didactic 

lectures and hands-on laboratory experience during which the 

participants tested and evaluated various technologies. 

Participants in the “Advances in Laparoscopic Hepatic Surgery” course

Vascular Surgeon Reports That Delayed 

Repair May Be Better for Aortic Injuries 

Patients who survive the first 24 hours of a blunt aortic trauma 

injury may have a better chance of long-term survival if repair to 

the damaged artery is delayed, according to vascular surgeons at 

the University of Cincinnati. 

The finding was reported by Amy B. Reed, MD, Assistant 

Professor of Surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery, at the 

Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society in Chicago, September 15, 

2005, and recently published.in the April 2006 edition of the 

Journal of Vascular Surgery (volume 43, pp. 684-688). 

Dr. Amy B. Reed 

A severe blunt thoracic injury, often 

the result of sudden deceleration 

experienced in an auto accident, can 

jerk the aorta forward and back again, 

causing it to crack. “The real problem 

is that most people die from blunt 

thoracic aortic trauma before ever 

reaching a hospital, and about 50% of 

those who do make it will die within 

a few hours,” Dr. Reed said. 

“Unfortunately, even if the aorta is repaired immediately, the 

patient almost always has other, equally life-threatening injuries 

that jeopardize their overall recovery and survival.” 

Dr. Reed and her colleagues analyzed 51 cases of blunt thoracic 

aortic trauma treated at University Hospital, including severity of 

accompanying injuries, time from trauma to repair, surgical 

method (open versus endovascular) and survival outcomes. Of 

the 24 patients who made it to the operating room, 13 (54%) were 

stabilized and then had successful delayed endovascular repair. 

Nine patients (38%) had immediate open repair, one of whom 

died during the procedure. Two patients (8%) had delayed open 

repair. 

“This data suggests that in some cases it is better to wait and 

repair the thoracic aortic injury with the minimally invasive 

(endovascular) technique,” Dr. Reed said. “If surgeons can take 

care of other injuries (such as bleeding liver or serious head 

injury) first and then safely address the thoracic aortic trauma 

injury when the patient is stabilized, there will be a better chance 

of surviving.” 

Co-authors of the study include Charles (Chip) Crafton, Cindy 

Delvecchio, Dr. Joseph Giglia, and Dr. J. Keith Thompson. 

UC Surgeons at Cancer Education Day 

Several UC Surgeons provided expert commentary and the 

latest information about preventing, detecting and treating all 

types of cancer at the 2nd Annual Community Cancer 

Education Day on March 25. Faculty spoke one-on-one with 

the public about cancer concerns and provided Q&A sessions 

and panel discussions. “The goal is to give people the information 

they want and need in the fight against cancer,” said 

Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of 

Surgery in the Division of Surgical Oncology. 

Elizabeth Shaughnessy, MD, PhD, Division of Surgical Oncology, 

leads a panel discussion at UC’s Cancer Education Day 

Sandra Starnes, MD, Division of Thoracic Surgery, 

speaks with visitors at UC’s Cancer Education Day 

Surgeon Wins “Spirit of Caring” Award 

Kevin Yakuboff, MD, Chief of Plastic 

Surgery at Shriners Hospitals for 

Children, was recently named 2006 

Spirit of Caring honoree. Dr. Yakuboff 

has been with the hospital since 1988. 

Dr. Yakuboff was recognized for “his 

Kevin Yakuboff, MD 

numerous contributions over the years 

to plastic surgery and burn patients and 

his commitment to delivering outstanding medical care to the 

patients in a caring and empathetic way.” Dr. Yakuboff was 

also recognized as a valuable resource in situations requiring 

his expertise in reconstructive and hand surgery as well as his 

ability to handle difficult patient issues with compassion. 

The Spirit of Caring Award recognizes Shrine employees who 

demonstrate an exemplary level of caring and acknowledges 

outstanding employee contributions towards fulfilling the 

mission of providing superior care at the Cincinnati hospital.

Dr. J. Wesley Alexander 

Awards and Achievements 

J. Wesley Alexander, MD, ScD, Professor of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, was a grant reviewer for 

the National Institutes of Health for a Special Emphasis Panel/Scientific Review Group meeting in February. 

Ambikaipakan Balasubramaniam, PhD, Professor of Surgery and Director of the 

Peptide Laboratory, was a member of the organizing committee of the 8th 

International NPY meeting entitled “Neuropeptide Y and Cohorts in Human 

Diseases” held April 22-26, 2006, in St. Petersburg, FL. He chaired a session and presented 

a talk entitled “Peripherally active anorectic peptides based on NPY.” Dr. 

Balasubramaniam also is a member of the Editorial Board for the meeting proceedings 

to be published in a special issue of Peptides (Elsevier Press). 

Joseph S. Giglia, MD, Interim Director of the Division of Vascular Surgery, is the Dr. A. Balasubramaniam 

recipient of the 2006 Lifeline E.J. Wylie Memorial Traveling Fellowship from the 

American Vascular Association. Dr. Giglia will be presented with the award at the Annual Meeting of the 

Society for Vascular Surgery in June, 2006. The fellowship provides funds and opportunities to travel to 

other centers of excellence to learn new advances in vascular surgery. 

Alex B. Lentsch, PhD, Director of Research, is serving as a member of the National 

Institutes of Health Study Section, Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology. This study sec- 

Dr. Joseph Giglia tion reviews grant applications about the cell biology of liver cells; mechanisms of 

repair and regeneration; mechanisms of cell death and inflammation; cholesterol and 

bile salt metabolism; fibrosis and cirrhosis; and viral hepatitis and liver transplantation. In May, 2006, Dr. 

Lentsch will be visiting professor at the Borgess Research Institute in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he will 

present at the Trauma Services Grand Rounds on the topic of ischemia/reperfusion injury. 

(L-R) Dr. M. Anthony Pogrel, Chair of Oral & 

Maxillofacial Surgery at UCSF, Dr. Robert D. Marciani, 

and Dr. William Ware following Dr. Marciani’s 

presentation of the William Ware Lecture 

Dr. Janice Rafferty 

Robert D. Marciani, DMD, Chief of the Division of Dr. Alex Lentsch 

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, was a visiting professor 

and the William Ware lecturer in January 2006 at the University of California, 

San Francisco (UCSF). 

Michael S. Nussbaum, MD, FACS, Associate Professor 

of Surgery, Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs and Chief of 

Staff of The University Hospital, completed his four-year 

term on the Board of Directors of the American Board of 

Emergency Medicine (ABEM) on February 3, 2006. 

During his tenure on ABEM, Dr. Nussbaum served on the 

Assessment of Practice Performance, Test Development, 

and Credentials Committees. Dr. Nussbaum was recent- 

Dr. Michael Nussbaum 

ly elected Secretary of the Central Surgical Association 

for 2006-2009 and will serve as Local Program Director for the annual meeting 

to be held in Cincinnati in 2007. 

Janice Rafferty, MD, Chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, is the program co-chair for the 

national meeting of American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) to be held in June 2006 in 

Seattle. The meeting brings together more than 1,200 colon and rectal surgeons from around the country. 

Amy B. Reed, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery and Director of the Vascular 

Surgery Fellowship Program, was named one of 15 “Businesswomen to Watch” by 

the Cincinnati Enquirer on January 29, 2006. Dr. Reed also was an invited speaker 

at the local program of the recent Society of Black Academic Surgeons meeting in 

Cincinnati, where she spoke on “Vascular Surgery Training in the 21st Century.” 

Dr. Amy Reed

Urology News 

NEW UROLOGY FACULTY HAS EXPERTISE IN MICROSURGERY 

Dr. Ahmad Hamidinia 

Ahmad Hamidinia, MD, has joined UC Surgeons as Clinical Professor of Urology in the Division of 

Urology. Dr. Hamidinia specializes in urologic microsurgery and medical treatment of male reproductive 

evaluation as well as medical and surgical treatment (minimally invasive sling procedures and pelvic floor 

reconstructive procedures) for female incontinence. 

Dr. Hamidinia received his medical degree from the University of Mashhad School of Medicine in Mashhad, 

Iran. He served his general surgery residency at Bridgeport Hospital (affiliated with Yale University) in 

Bridgeport, CT. Dr. Hamidinia completed his urology residency at Southern Illinois University in 

Springfield, IL, where he served on faculty for nine years. He served as Chairman of the Section of Urology 

at Miami Valley Hospital and most recently was Clinical Associate Professor at Wright State University. 

Dr. Hamidinia has won several research and teaching awards. He is a member of the American Urology Association, American 

Fertility Society, American Association of Clinical Urologists, Ohio Urological Society, and a Fellow of the American College of 

Surgeons. He has been invited to teach and perform surgery in China the past four years. Dr. Hamidinia has published articles 

on microsurgical techniques and fertility disorders, in addition to several book chapters and videotape presentations. 

Dr. Hamidinia is certified by the American Board of Urology. He will see patients at the Medical Arts Building and at University 

Pointe. Dr. Hamidinia may be reached at (513) 475-8787. 

Inaugural Arthur T. Evans Visiting Professor 

The Division of Urology hosted the first annual Arthur T. 

Evans Visiting Professor in memory of Dr. Evans, a former 

director of the Division of Urology, on Wednesday, February 

15, 2006. Kevin T. McVary, MD, Professor of Urology at the 

Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, spoke 

at Surgical Grand Rounds on “The Molecular Biology of 

Erectile Dysfunction: From Cavernous Nerve Injury to Sonic 

Hedgehog.” A memorial fund has also been established in Dr. 

Evans’ name to further the training of urology residents. 

New Research Awards 

Glendon Zinser, PhD, 

and Susan Waltz, PhD 

Urology residents and faculty with Kevin T. McVary, MD (fifth from left), the 

first Annual Arthur T. Evans Visiting Professor, at Surgical Grand Rounds 

Glendon Zinser, PhD, post-doctoral fellow in the Division of Research, was awarded a Scholars 

Grant from UC's Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) program. 

Directed by Drs. Ken Clark and Leslie Myatt of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 

the BIRCWH program promotes the career development of independent junior researchers working 

on women's health issues by pairing scholars with senior investigators in a mentored, interdisciplinary 

scientific environment. Dr. Zinser, working under the mentorship of 

associate professor Susan Waltz, PhD, will focus on the cross-talk of nuclear 

hormone receptors and cell surface receptor tyrosine kinases in breast cancer. 

The BIRCWH program was enabled by a five-year, $2.5 million grant award 

to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology by the National Institutes of 

Health Office of Research on Women's Health. 

Karl Matlin, PhD, Director of Research, received a five-year R01 grant award fron the National Institutes 

of Health for his project “Cell-Matrix Interactions in Epithelial Polarization” to begin May 1, 2006. 

Karl Matlin, PhD

Ahmad SA, Wray C, Rilo HR, Choe KA, Gelrud A, 

Howington JA, Lowy AM, Matthews JB. Chronic pancreatitis: 

Recent advances and ongoing challenges. Current Problems 

in Surgery 43(3):124-238, 2006. 

In this invited monograph, faculty members from the UC 

Department of Surgery and the UC Pancreatic Disease Center 

provide an excellent reference to physicians and surgeons who 

wish to gain a more comprehensive understanding of chronic 

pancreatitis and its treatment. Subscribers can see the full text 

online at http://www.sciencedirect.com. 

Alexander JH, Ferguson TB, Joseph DM, Mack MJ, Wolf RK, 

et al. The project of ex-vivo vein graft engineer via transfection 

IV (PREVENT IV) trial: study rationale, design, and baseline 

patient characteristics. Am Heart Journal 150:643-649, 2005. 

Alexander JW, Goodman HR, Alloway RR, Woodle ES. Can 

immunonutrients reduce rejection rates in African-Americans? 

Exp Clin Transplant 3:349-350, 2005. 

Amlal H, Faroqui S, Balasubramaniam A, Sheriff S. 

Estrogen up-regulates neuropeptide Y Y1 receptor expression in 

a human breast cancer cell line. Cancer Research 66:3706- 

3714, 2006. 

The high incidence and activity of the Y1 receptor in human 

breast tumor cells suggests that it may play an important role in 

breast cancer. 

Chance WT, Dayal R, Friend LA, Sheriff S. Possible role of 

CRF peptides in burn-induced hypermetabolism. Life Sciences 

78:694-703, 2006. 

Davis BR, Matthews JB. Diverticular disease of the colon. In: 

Wolfe MM, Davis GL, Farraye FA, et al (eds), Therapy of 

Digestive Disorders, 2nd edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier, 2006; 

pp. 855-869. 

Doarn CR, Merrell RC. A look ahead [Editorial]. Telemed and 

E Health 12:1, 2005. 

Doarn CR, Merrell RC. Telemedicine and e-health for international 

medical issues [Editorial]. Telemed and E Health 11:621- 

623, 2005. 

Doarn CR, Justis D, Chaudhri MS, Merrell RC. Integration of 

telemedicine practice into correctional medicine: An evolving 

standard. J Correctional Health Care 11:253-270, 2005. 

Doarn CR, Merrell RC. Changing of the guard [Editorial]. 

Telemed and E Health 11:415-416, 2005. 

Doarn CR, Nicogossian AE, Merrell RC. Telematic support for 

Recent Publications 

disaster situation. In: Istepanian RSH, Laxminarayan S, 

Pattichis CS (eds), M-Health: Emerging Mobile Health Systems. 

New York: Springer Science+Business Media, Inc., 2006; pp. 

549-559. 

Gillinov AM, Wolf RK. Surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation. 

Prog Cardiovasc Dis 48:169-177, 2006. 

Hanly EJ, Marohn MR, Schenkman NS, Miller BE, Moses GR, 

Marchessault R, Broderick TJ. Dynamics and organizations of 

telesurgery. European Surgery 37:274-278, 2005. 

Harnett BM. Telemedicine systems and telecommunications. 

J Telemedicine and Telecare 12:4-15, 2006. 

Husted TL, Broderick TJ. NASA and the emergence of new 

surgical technologies. J Surg Res 132:13-16, 2006. 

Merrell RC, Doarn CR. Disasters - How can telemedicine help? 

[Editorial] Telemed and E Health 11:511-512, 2005. 

Reed AB, Thompson JK, Crafton CJ, Delvecchio C, Giglia 

JS. Timing of endovascular repair of blunt traumatic thoracic 

aortic transections. J Vasc Surg 43:684-688, 2006. 

Shen H, Schuster R, Stringer KF, Waltz SE, Lentsch AB. The 

Duffy antigen/receptor for chemokines (DARC) regulates 

prostate tumor growth. FASEB Journal 20:59-64, 2006. 

This paper describes an important role for this receptor (the 

DARC) in controlling the development of prostate cancer. The 

majority of African-Americans lack this receptor, and this study 

suggests that the lack of the DARC may be an important contributing 

factor to the higher incidence and mortality of prostate 

cancer in African-American men. 

Thompson JK, Reed AB, Giglia JS. Novel endovascular treatment 

of blunt thoracic aortic trauma with a self-expanding stent 

lined with aortic extender cuffs. Ann Vasc Surg March 21, 2006 

[Epub ahead of print]. 

The authors report successful treatment of blunt thoracic aortic 

trauma with a self-expanding stent lined with commercially 

available aortic extender cuffs. This technique could still have 

utility in emergency settings when approved thoracic endografts 

are available for this indication. 

Nicogossian AE, Lugg DJ, Doarn CR. Civilian telemedicine in 

remote and extreme environments. In: Istepanian RSH, 

Laxminarayan S, Pattichis CS (eds), M-Health: Emerging 

Mobile Health Systems. New York: Springer Science+ Business 

Media, Inc., 2006; pp. 517-529. 

Wolf RK. A perspicacious view. Innovations 1(1):1-2, 2005.

Surgical Education News 

Victim of Hurricane Katrina Finds a 

New Home in UC Surgical Residency 

Jerry Fortuna, MD, who was displaced by Hurricane Katrina from his 

surgical residency program at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, 

Mississippi, was invited to continue his training in the UC Department 

of Surgery’s residency training program. This is his story: 

“A native of Columbia, South Carolina, I graduated from the US Air 

Force Academy in 1995. I attended the University of South Carolina 

School of Medicine, where I graduated in 1999 and completed my 

internship in 2000. I have spent the last 5 years as an active duty Flight 

Surgeon assigned to a combat coded F-15C fighter squadron. After 

multiple tours of duty in the Middle East, I re-entered residency training 

at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS. Very soon, however, Hurricane Katrina 

rendered the hospital non-operational and the residents were displaced 

to other programs across the country. Since my wife is from Louisville 

and is also an active duty physician, we looked for programs close to Air 

Force bases and close to home. Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton and 

the University of Cincinnati were a perfect fit. My younger brother is 

in his last year of residency in Radiology here at UC and the training 

programs here came highly recommended.” 

(L-R) Timothy Pritts, MD, PhD, Acting Director of Surgical Education, with 

surgical residents Tom Husted, MD, Jerry Fortuna, MD, and Jaime Lewis, MD 

“A veteran of several moves with the military, I can easily say that the 

UC Surgery Department has been absolutely outstanding in welcoming 

me and my family into the program and the area. I am ecstatic about 

being in the program and have found my first two months here extremely 

challenging, fulfilling and utterly enjoyable. The staff here have put 

together an impressive group of residents and faculty, and I am honored 

to have been given an opportunity to train at such a reputable institution. 

I will remain on active duty during the duration of my training and will 

complete the remainder of my military commitment to the Air Force 

upon graduation. I am confident that I will have an outstanding educational 

experience here at UC and we are excited to be so close to home 

and family! I look forward to my years of training here at UC and we 

are very appreciative of all the help and support we have received from 

the Department of Surgery.” 

Jerry Fortuna, MD (on behalf of his wife, Sarah, and their children: 

Haleigh, Elizabeth, and Jerry III). 

Match Day 2006 Results 

Two UC College of Medicine students, Callisia Clarke and 

Jonathan Thompson, matched with the UC Department of 

Surgery residency training program in general surgery. 

This year’s incoming interns in general surgery: 

Eric Campion, University of Michigan 

Callisia Clarke, University of Cincinnati 

Angela Ingraham, Loyola University 

Christopher Lundquist, Vanderbilt University 

Charles Park, Brown Medical School 

Jonathan Thompson, University of Cincinnati 

Callisia Clarke opens the envelope, then shows her delight after 

matching with the UC Department of Surgery. 

Jonathan Thompson and his wife celebrate his matching with UC. 

“I am ecstatic about being in the program and 

have found my first two months here extremely 

challenging, fulfilling and utterly enjoyable. I look 

forward to my years of training here at UC and we 

are very appreciative of all the help and support 

we have received from the Department of 

Surgery.” 

Jerry Fortuna, MD

Andrew Knott, MD 

Kelly McLean, MD 

Surgical Education News 

Andrew Knott, MD, and Kelly McLean, 

MD, were chosen by the American 

College of Surgeons and the Advisory 

Council for General Surgery to participate 

in GS08-Surgical Jeopardy during the 

2006 Spring Meeting at the Wyndham 

Anatole in Dallas, on April 23, 2006. The 

“Surgical Jeopardy” competition runs for 

2.5 hours. Teams will compete in rounds 

of competition. The winning teams will 

advance to compete in a final round that 

will include a Jeopardy Round and a Final 

Jeopardy round, the winner of which will 

take all. The degree of difficulty will 

increase with each round of competition. 

Questions will be drawn from SESAP 12. 

Joshua M.V. Mammen, MD, served on a 

panel of key organizations (panelists 

including the heads of the American Board 

of Surgery, American College of Surgeons 

Division of Education, and the Surgery 

Resident Review Committee) at the 

Association of Program Directors in 

Joshua Mammen, MD Surgery meeting in Tucson, as the representative 

of the Resident and Associate 

Society (RAS) of the American College of Surgeons. He serves 

as the Co-chair of the Education Committee and the Member-atlarge 

for General Surgery on the Executive Committee of RAS. 

Grady Alsabrook, MD 

Grady Alsabrook, MD, was one of six 

UC residents voted by UC College of 

Medicine students to receive a Gold 

Foundation Humanism and Excellence in 

Teaching Award. He will be presented 

with a certificate and cash award during 

the Student Clinician Ceremony on June 

30. Other finalists for the award included 

Drs. Kfir Ben-David, Jocelyn Logan- 

Collins, and Brian Pan. 

UC surgical residents took the top three places in the Cincinnati 

Surgical Society’s 2005-2006 Resident Essay Competition. 

Five-minute presentations were given by the winning residents 

at the meeting on May 2, 2006: 

1st Place: Lynn Huffman, MD: “Early Results from Lung 

Cancer Screening Using Spiral CT of High-Risk Individuals.” 

2nd Place: Bryon Boulton, MD: “APC Tumor Suppressor 

Regulates Mammary Epithelial Apoptosis and Proliferation.” 

3rd Place: Mubeen Jafri, MD: “Holangiocyte Injury Mediates 

Temporal Dependence of Experimental Biliary Atresia.” 

There were a total of 19 abstracts submitted and 6 judges. 

Richard Stevenson, MD, Director of the Student Clerkship in 

Surgery, won the Gold Apple Award winner as best teacher in 

the clinical years as voted by the UC Class of 2006. 

Department of Surgery Faculty Continue 

Key Roles in Prestigious Surgical Societies 

For the first time, the Society of University Surgeons (SUS) 

and the Association of Academic Surgery (AAS) held a joint 

meeting, referred to as the first annual Academic Surgical 

Congress. The February 2006 event in San Diego had recordbreaking 

attendance, and the UC Department of Surgery continues 

to play a key role in these organizations. 

Brad Warner, MD (pediatric surgery) and Jeffrey 

Matthews, MD (pancreatic/liver sugery) are past presidents 

of the SUS, serve on the SUS Foundation Exceutive 

Committee, and were on the task force that brought the two 

societies together for the joint meeting. 

Timothy Pritts, MD, PhD (trauma surgery/education) was 

elected to the AAS Education Committee. Michael Reed, 

MD (thoracic surgery) serves on the membership committee 

of the AAS. Andrew Lowy, MD (surgical oncology) and 

Karyn Butler, MD (trauma surgery/cardiovascular research) 

serve on the publications committee of the SUS, and were 

also appointed to the program committee of the SUS. 

New members admitted to the SUS include Timothy 

Broderick, MD (GI/endocrine surgery) and Joseph Buell, 

MD (transplant/liver surgery). Members-elect include 

Jeffrey Sussman, MD (surgical oncology), Thomas Inge, 

MD, PhD (pediatric surgery) and Jeffrey Pearl, MD (pediatric 

cardiac surgery). 

Drs. Karyn Butler, Andrew Lowy, Jeffrey Matthews, and 

Brad Warner were session moderators. Surgery faculty 

made nine presentations at the meeting (see Presentations), 

including three by Timothy Crombleholme, MD (pediatric 

surgery) at the SUS Plenary Session. 

“It is exciting to see the UC Department of Surgery 

play such an important role in these two prestigious 

academic organizations. We are well represented 

across our divisions and specialties, and the success of 

our mission to train the future leaders of American 

Surgery is evident in the number of our rising stars who 

have become active in these prestigious organizations.” 

Jeffrey B. Matthews, MD 

Chairman, UC Department of Surgery

Trauma/Critical Care and CSTARS Faculty Are Honored 

John Heiser (left), President of the AARC, presents the Forrest 

M. Bird Lifetime Achievement Award to Richard Branson 

“Living Proof” Patient Revisits UC Trauma 

Center and Reveals Plan to Become a Doctor 

Rachael Swango, 18, who survived a life-threatening car accident in 

February, revisited the UC Trauma Center on April 17 to thank the 

surgeons and other trauma team members who helped save her life. 

She also revealed her plans to become a doctor. Ms. Swango was 

featured in University Hospital's “Living Proof” ad campaign, and 

was presented with signed posters of the ad by the trauma team, 

including Timothy Pritts, MD, PhD. 

Dr. Pritts said that Ms. Swango suffered a severed vena cava, lacerated 

liver and collapsed lungs in the accident. Such an injury to the 

vena cava or other large veins has a mortality rate of approximately 

75 percent. According to Dr. Pritts, the exceptionally fast and efficient 

care offered by a Level I Trauma Center and its multidisciplinary 

team is best suited to treat multiple-trauma victims. 

Ms. Swango will graduate from Finneytown High School in June 

and plans to attend Concord University in West Virginia. 

Rachael Swango is presented with a signed poster of the “Living 

Proof” poster by Timothy Pritts, MD, PhD, and other members of 

the University Hospital’s Trauma Team who helped save her life. 

Branson Wins Lifetime Achievement Award 

Richard D. Branson, MS, RRT, MBA, FAARC, Associate 

Professor of Surgery in the Division of Trauma and Critical 

Care, received dual honors at the American Association for 

Respiratory Care (AARC) International Respiratory Congress 

which was held in San Antonio, TX, in December 2005. 

Mr. Branson was named a Life Member of the AARC and also 

received the prestigious Forrest M. Bird Lifetime Achievement 

Award from the American Respiratory Care Foundation 

(ARCF). The Award was established in 1983 with a grant from 

Dr. Forrest M. Bird, founder of Bird Products Corporation, to 

acknowledge outstanding individual scientific contributions in 

the area of respiratory care of cardiopulmonary disorders. The 

Life Membership Award is given annually to AARC members 

who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in advancing 

the respiratory care profession. 

Flight Surgeon in Afghanistan Expresses His 

Gratitude for CSTARS/CCATT Training at UC 

“I’d like to recognize the Cincinnati CSTARS [Center for Sustainment 

of Trauma and Readiness Skills] program for really helping to prepare 

me and my team for our recent deployment to Bagram, Afghanistan. 

Of all the Air Force training I’ve received over the last 7 years, I think 

CSTARS was some of the best and most practical. Specifically, the 

hands-on equipment training and the simulated scenarios along with 

the flight exercise really paid off in the field. Our very first CCATT 

[Critical Care Air Transport Team] mission almost exactly mirrored the 

final ‘flight training’ scenario. 

CCATT Simulated C-17 Trainer as part of CSTARS training program at UC 

“The entire 36-hour mission will remain etched in my brain. Incredible 

stress, uncertainty, fatigue, and equipment problems! Fortunately, the 

CSTARS scenarios, equipment training and lectures really paid off for 

our team. Specifically, Dr. Stephen Barnes ran us a scenario during our 

training flight at CSTARS that really helped. I was thanking Dr. Barnes 

and CSTARS the entire harrowing flight from Balad because I and my 

team felt confident and were able to get our patients to Landstuhl alive. 

We would have been lost and really in much bigger trouble and maybe 

lost a patient in flight without CSTARS.” 

Major Peter M. Harding, MD

UC Heart Program Celebrates 20 Years 

Heart transplant recipients at the 20-year celebration of University Hospital’s heart transplant program. 

The University Hospital celebrated its 20th anniversary of performing 

heart transplant surgeries during an event held on 

December 21, 2005, in the hospital's main lobby. Launched in 

December 1985, UC's heart transplant program has treated more 

than 348 patients. 

The first heart transplant locally was performed by David 

Melvin, MD, PhD, on December 17, 1985. The University 

Hospital did one heart transplant in 1985 and 10 in 1989, as 

Cardiac faculty at University Hospital include (l-r) Lynne Wagoner, MD, 

David Melvin, MD, PhD, John Flege, Jr, MD, and Walter Merrill, MD 

cyclosporine dramatically changed the transplant landscape. 

University Hospital did 12 of the 15 heart transplants performed 

in Greater Cincinnati in 2004. The others were done at 

Children's Hospital Medical Center. They are the only two hospitals 

performing heart transplants in Greater Cincinnati. 

Nationally, there were 2,016 heart transplants in 2004. 

“As a team, we have to carefully evaluate patients before we put 

them on the list,” said Dr. Lynne Wagoner, medical director of 

the heart transplant program at the University of Cincinnati and 

University Hospital. “Donor hearts are not sitting on a shelf 

waiting for us. We have to ensure the people who we put on the 

list are going to take care of the heart. We require them to stop 

smoking and insist on diet changes and exercising.” 

The prime organ donor candidate is someone who suffers brain 

death, often from an accident or sudden medical crisis like an 

aneurysm. Fewer than 1% of deaths meet the criteria; thus, 

many more registered donors are needed. Nationally, 17 people 

die every day waiting for an organ transplant. 

As of January 20, 2006, approximately 3,000 patients in the 

nation were waiting for hearts. University Hospital has 20, and 

there are 22 waiting throughout Greater Cincinnati. 

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Division To Welcome New Residents 

The Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery had a very successful match 

with the following: 

Leslie A. Orzech, who will graduate in May from Case Western Reserve 

University School of Dental Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Karen K. Potaczek, who will graduate in May from Marquette University 

School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

They will begin their Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residency training on 

July 1, 2006. 

Leslie Orzech Karen Potaczek

Joseph F. Buell, MD (fourth from right), 

with faculty of McGill University 

Recent Presentations 

Joseph F. Buell, MD, Division of Transplant Surgery, was invited professor 

and spoke on “Laparoscopic Hepatic Resection” at the 2005 McGill 

Hepatopancreatobiliary & Liver Transplant Surgery conference at McGill 

University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, November 7-9, 2005. 

Mr. Charles Doarn, Executive Director of the UC Center for Surgical 

Innovation (CSI), presented “Telesurgery” at the National Virtual 

Telemedicine Grand Rounds via VTC (video teleconference), January 17, 

2006. 

Mr. Doarn also participated in the “Innovation Imperative” symposium in 

Cincinnati on March 3, 2006, comprising a group of international thought 

leaders in a day-long forum to discuss innovation and ways in which universities 

play a key role in the creative economy. 

Harnett BM. “Advanced Network Opportunities for Surgical Tele- 

Robotics.” Center for Computational Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, February, 2006. 

Pritts TA. “Good Medicine in Good Places.” Nursing Education and Professional Practice Group, University Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, 

January 18, 2006. 

Wolf RK. “Surgical Microdevices and Nanodevices.” BME (Biomedical Engineering) Seminar, University of Cincinnati, January 23, 

2006. 

John Howington MD, Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of the Division of Thoracic Surgery, and Ms. J. Rita McNeil, City 

Solicitor for the City of Cincinnati, spoke at the “Closing the Gap” conference on April 12, 2006, about the St. Vincent DePaul (SVDP) 

Charitable Pharmacy opening this summer at the Bank Street location. Patient counseling and advocacy are already taking place with volunteers 

assisting clients in enrollment for Medicare part D and Pharmaceutical Company Assistance programs. Dr. Howington and Ms. 

McNeil are alumni of the Leadership Cincinnati Class of 2003-2004. Ms. McNeil is President of the SVDP Charitable Pharmacy Board 

of Directors, on which Dr. Howington is a Board member along with several other Leadership Cincinnati classmates. 

For the first time, the Society of University Surgeons (SUS) and the Association of Academic Surgery (AAS) held a joint meeting, 

referred to as the First Annual Academic Surgical Congress, held February 7-11, 2006, in San Diego, CA. The following abstracts were 

presented at the meeting (faculty in red) and also published in Journal of Surgical Research 2006;130(2):160-338. 

Boulton BJ, Ebetino MB, Willson TA, Goss KH. “The APC tumor suppressor regulates apoptosis and proliferation in human breast cancer 

cells.” 

Huffman LC, Knight DD, Butler K. “Increased age is associated with reduced survival following trauma to the duodenum or pancreas.” 

Panait L, Merrell RC, Rafiq A, Dudrick SJ, Broderick TJ. “Virtual reality laparoscopic skill assessment in microgravity.” 

Pritts TA, Schuster RM, Chaiken M, Worrell R, Matlin K, Lentsch A, Matthews JB. “Thermal injury increases endotoxin susceptibility 

and intestinal TLR4 expression.” 

Reed MF, Zagorski WA, Dhamija A, Knudsen ES. “Inhibition of RB tumor suppressor activity increases chemosensitivity in lung cancer 

xenografts.” 

Sheng GS, Warner BW. “EGF receptor signaling induces proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells via MAPK-directed increase in P21 

expression.” 

In addition, three papers were presented at the SUS Plenary Session by pediatric surgeon Timothy Crombleholme, MD, and colleagues: 

Marwan A, Parvadia J Vaikunth S, Harkness U, Maldonado A, Kalinowska B, Alaee D, Uzvolgyi E, Crombleholme T. 

“Postpneumonecty compensatory lung growth occurs through an endothelial progenitor cell-mediated mechanism.” 

Parvadia J, Marwan A, Vaikunth S, Harkness U, Maldonado A, Alaee D, Kalinowska B, Ripberger M, Uzvolgyi E, Crombleholme T. 

“Liver regeneration is a salivary VEGF dependent phenomenon.” 

Vaikunth SS, Keswani SG, Parvadia JK, Marwan A, Harkness U, Maldonado A, Alaee D, Kalinowska B, Uzvolgyi E, Crombleholme T. 

“Exogenous endothelial precursor cells (EPCS) correct the wound healing deficit and enhance neovascularization in FVBN-MMP-9 

knock-out mice.”

SBAS Meeting Attracts Prominent Surgeons and Stars 

(L-R) Mr. Oscar Robertson with Drs. 

Jeffrey Matthews and Henri Ford 

James Kingsbury, Executive Director of 

University Hospital (left) with Kenneth 

Davis, Jr, MD, and Jane Henney, MD, 

Provost, UC Medical Center 

(L-R) Anthony Stallion, MD (UC alumnus), 

Kenneth Davis, Jr, MD, Mrs. Oscar (Yvonne) 

Robertson, and W. Lynn Weaver, MD 

Kenneth Davis, Jr, MD, introduces 

Karyn Butler, MD, at local program 

Michael Nussbaum, MD (center) introduces 

Callisia Clarke (recent UC Medical School 

graduate who matched to UC Department 

of Surgery) to Steven Stain, MD (far left) 

(L-R) Selwyn Vickers, MD, SBAS President, 

Mayor Mark Mallory, Jeffrey Matthews, MD, 

and Kenneth Davis, Jr, MD, after reading of 

proclamation by Mayor Mallory at SBAS 

Selwyn Vickers, MD, President of 

SBAS (left), presents Jeff Matthews, 

MD, with Asa Yancey Lecture plaque 

Mr. Oscar Robertson presents guest lecture 

(L-R) Jeff Matthews, MD, Selwyn Vickers, MD, 

Mayor Mark Mallory, and Ken Davis, Jr, MD 

Local SBAS program in Surgical Amphitheater 

UC surgery residents and other guests at SBAS 

(L-R) Eddie Hoover, MD, Walter Merrill, MD, 

and David Melvin, MD, PhD [Drs. Hoover and 

Merrill were thoracic surgery residents together]

Surgical Grand Rounds Schedule 

May 10, 2006 Joseph F. Buell, MD (Transplant Surgery): “Progress in Laparoscopic Liver Transplant Surgery” 

May 17, 2006 Guest Lecturer, Richard A. Hodin, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical 

School; Surgical Director, MGH Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center: “Advances in Surgery for 

Inflammatory Bowel Disease” 

May 24, 2006 Guest Lecturer, Frederick Grover, MD, Chief of Surgery, Denver VA Medical Center; Professor 

and Head, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center: 

“Lung Transplantation: Past, Present, and Future” 

May 31, 2006 Joint Anesthesia/Surgery Grand Rounds - Anesthesia Visiting Professor, Lee Fleisher, MD, 

Robert D. Dripps Professor and Chair, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care; Professor 

of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania: “Strategies to Reduce Cardiac Risk of Noncardiac 

Surgery” [Note time changed to 7:00 a.m.] 

June 7, 2006 Pediatric Surgery 

June 14, 2006 Hector R. Wong, MD (Research), Professor of Pediatrics; Director, Division of Critical Care 

Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital: “Genome Wde Expression Patterns in Pediatric SIRS and 

Septic Shock” 

June 21, 2006 Final Grand Rounds [Grand Rounds will resume in September] 

(l-r) Drs. Mubeen Jafri, Prakash Pandalai, Lynn (Chip) Huffman, and Ryan Thomas 

are the four finalists in the Resident Research Competition. The winner will be 

announced at Final Grand Rounds on June 21, 2006. 

University Surgeon is published September-October, quarterly by UC Surgeons, 2004 Inc. 

Written by Steve Wiesner, 558-4207, steve.wiesner@uc.edu 

Edited by Elizabeth Pierce, 558-1321, elizabeth.pierce@uc.edu 

Spring, 2006

Surgeons Offer New Procedures for Colon and Rectal Diseases

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?