Trial Provides Support for Steroid Withdrawal in Kidney Transplant ...

Summer, 2006
Trial Provides Support for Steroid Withdrawal
in Kidney Transplant Patients
Multicenter Study Led by UC Researchers
Preliminary results of a study led by UC scientists
suggest that reducing corticosteroid treatment in
kidney transplant patients significantly lowers the
toxic side effects of anti-rejection drugs without
affecting survival rates. Dr. Steve Woodle, Chief
of the Division of Transplantation, is principal
investigator for the study. The findings were
reported July 24, 2006, at the World Transplant
Congress in Boston, where UC researchers presented
a total of 55 abstracts and oral presentations,
10 related to the corticosteroid withdrawal
trial.
Left to right: Mr. Charles Doarn, Rep. Steve
Chabot, Dr. David Stern, Dr. Jane Henney, Dr.
Jeffrey Matthews (behind Dr. Henney), Dr. Nancy
Zimpher, Rep. Jean Schmidt, and Dr. William Ball
Rita Alloway, PharmD (left), Steve Woodle,
MD, and Adele Rike, PharmD
This UC-led multicenter trial is the first in which corticosteroids were removed prior to 90
days after kidney transplant and is one of only four double-blind, randomized trials of its kind
ever conducted. The results presented were for the first three years of the projected five-year
investigation being conducted at 26 medical centers across the United States.
Specifically, a seven-day treatment with synthetic steroids known as corticosteroids, in conjunction
with immunosuppressive agents, is as effective as long-term corticosteroid therapy
in kidney transplant patients three years after transplant.
CSI Grand Opening
The Center for Surgical Innovation
(CSI) officially opened on June 1, 2006.
Dr. Jeffrey Matthews (Chairman) and
CSI personnel were joined by US Representatives
Steve Chabot and Jean
Schmidt, UC President Dr. Nancy
Zimpher, UC Provost for Health Affairs
Dr. Jane Henney, UC College of
Medicine Dean Dr. David Stern, and
Biomedical Engineering chairman Dr.
William Ball in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Also attending were representatives
from CSI supporters Stryker,
Trumpf and Ethicon Endo-Surgery.

Physician Assistant Program Continues to Grow
Midlevel providers benefit patients, residents, and faculty
The physician assistant (PA) program in the UC Department of
Surgery continues its success and expansion in its third year.
The faculty, residents, medical students and nursing staff have
welcomed the physician assistants and have been very
impressed with their medical knowledge and work ethic. PAs
currently serve on the General Surgery, Trauma, Vascular, and
Cardiac Surgery services. They have been rapidly integrated
into the healthcare delivery system and provide excellent care to
the surgical patients. The PAs who are assigned to the Division
of Trauma/Critical Care take in-house call several times a
“The addition of a PA on the vascular service has been a
tremendous help. The PAs provide continuity and help us to
focus on our educational mission.” Joseph Giglia, MD,
Interim Chief, Division of Vascular Surgery.
month, reducing the number of on-call nights for the junior residents.
The PAs assigned to the Section of Cardiothoracic
Surgery are on-call and available to the service each night and
on weekends. This enables the residents to leave the hospital
before the 8 pm duty hour requirement and have some weekends
off. In addition, when a service lacks a full complement of residents,
the PAs step in to fill those needs.
As the role of physician assistants in healthcare continues to
increase, legislation has been enacted in Ohio to provide PAs
with a greater range of practice. One of the most important and
favorable aspects of the new legislation is that it provides PAs
with prescriptive authority.
According to Michael
Bowen, a member of the
Physician Assistant Policy
Committee to the State
Medical Board of Ohio,
PAs in Ohio will be credentialed,
licensed, and
granted full prescriptive
authority in Ohio effective
late 2008.
The PAs have commented
that working in the
Department of Surgery
provides great opportunity.
They enjoy the challenges
Shawn Beck, PA, receives the 2006
Physician Assistant Award from Dr.
Andrew Knott
and rewards of working with patients, faculty, residents, students,
and staff. They universally enjoy working at a high level
in an intellectually challenging environment and are completely
committed to excellence in patient care.
“Our PA program has proven to be very successful. We have
a group of talented, skilled, knowledgeable physician assistants
who make substantial contributions to the outstanding
care that our patients receive.” Timothy Pritts, MD, PhD,
Acting Director, Division of Education; Associate Director,
Residency Education Program in General Surgery.
Mayor Mallory Selects “Out of the Crossfire” as a Recipient of $10,000
Flanked by two Kroger representatives are (left to right):
Dr. Jay Johannigman, Dr. Ken Davis, Mr. Melvin Shotten,
and Mayor Mark Mallory.
In April, the Corryville Kroger sold the winning $265 Million Mega
Millions jackpot lottery ticket. For selling the winning ticket, Kroger
earned a $100,000 commission. Kroger decided to donate the entire commission
back into the community. As part of this effort, Kroger invited
Mayor Mark Mallory to choose an organization to receive $10,000.
Mayor Mallory selected the “Out of the Crossfire” program. In May,
Mayor Mallory, the Cincinnati Bar Foundation, and University Hospital
announced the creation of Out of the Crossfire, a program that will provide
gunshot victims with comprehensive social services that will address
all aspects of the victim’s life beyond the physical trauma. Mallory was
joined by Melvin S. Shotten, President of the Cincinnati Bar Foundation,
Dr. Jay Johannigman, and Dr. Ken Davis of University Hospital to accept
the check.
“Out of the Crossfire is an innovative program that we hope will change
the lives of the victims of gun violence one at a time,” Mayor Mallory
said. “This program is going to change Cincinnati by breaking the cycle of violence that too many of our citizens are trapped in.”
“Out of the Crossfire” is in the final stages of recruiting a full-time social worker to coordinate the program.

Dr. James Fidler, Great Surgeon
and Humanitarian, Passes Away
James P. Fidler, MD,
Professor of Surgery and
Director of Endocrine
Surgery in the UC
Department of Surgery, died
of a heart attack in India on
May 18, 2006, while on one
of his frequent humanitarian
missions to the far east. Dr.
Fidler received his medical
degree from the University
Dr. James Fidler of Pennsylvania, then
moved to Cincinnati in 1960 and completed his surgical
residency at UC. After joining the surgical faculty in
1967, the next year Dr. Fidler took a leave of absence to
spend two years as a medical missionary in Liberia,
where he was one of only three surgeons in the country’s
few surgical hospitals. In 1970 he returned to the UC
Department of Surgery as a member of the transplant
team and later as Director of Endocrine Surgery. His
clinical expertise included kidney transplantation, vascular
access, endocrine and general surgery.
Dr. Fidler’s many honors included election to the Alpha
Omega Alpha Honor Society and serving as President of
the Mont Reid Surgical Society. He was known not only
for his technical skills, but also for spending countless
hours with his patients and their families to ensure that
every question was answered. He was also renowned
for his great patience in the operating room, where he
treated medical students and residents with great respect
while grilling them with questions. Dr. Fidler was
recently selected by the general surgery residents as the
Best Educator for the 2005-2006 academic year.
In addition to the two years he spent in Liberia, Dr.
Fidler made numerous trips to India and China to treat
the underserved and train the staffs of local hospitals.
Dr. Fidler’s selfless devotion to the underprivileged in
poor countries around the world has inspired UC medical
students and surgical residents to continue his
humanitarian mission. However, despite his devotion to
others, Dr. Fidler remained a steadfast family man and
completely devoted to his wife and three daughters. He
will be remembered by all as a great surgeon, great
humanitarian, great husband, and great father. Dr. Fidler
will be missed by all who knew him.
UC Surgeons Plays Role in Best
Hospital Rankings
The 2006 U.S. News & World Report annual guide to
“America's Best Hospitals” recently recognized The University
Hospital, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and
The Christ Hospital among the nation’s best hospitals. UC
Surgeons is proud to play a significant role in several of the
patient care rankings.
The University Hospital was ranked in eight categories (one of
only 29 hospitals with 8 or more rankings in the nation), five of
which directly reflect contributions of UC Surgeons. The rec -
ognized programs which encompass UC Surgeons’ specialized
expertise include: Respiratory Disorders #25 (including trauma
and thoracic surgery); Endocrinology #25 (GI/Endocrine and
Bariatrics); Urology #31; Kidney Disease #40 (urology, transplantation);
and Digestive Disorders #41 (GI/Endocrine, Colon
and Rectal Surgery, Pancreatic Disease Center, and Liver
Treatment Center). Cincinnati Children’s Hospital received an
8th-place ranking for pediatrics (which includes Pediatric
Surgery) while The Christ Hospital received rankings in four
categories including digestive disorders #49 , reflecting our surgical
contributions there in GI/endocrine, pancreatic disease,
and colon and rectal surgery.
U.S. News & World Report’s “America's Best Hospitals” ranks
16 different medical specialties at hospitals nationwide. The
standards for ranking in “Best Hospitals” are rigorous. To be
considered for this list, hospitals have to meet any of three standards:
Membership in the Council of Teaching Hospitals; affiliation
with a medical school; or availability of at least nine of
18 key technology-related services. In each specialty, a hospital
must have performed a given number of defined procedures
or had to be recommended by at least one physician responding
to U.S. News & World Report surveys in the past three years.
These hospitals received a score that equally weighed reputation,
death rate and care-related factors such as nursing and
patient services. The 50 hospitals in each specialty with the
highest score are listed.
Drs. Fischer and Sussman to Continue
Dr. Fidler’s Legacy in Endocrine Surgery
Drs. David Fischer (GI/Endocrine division) and
Jeffrey Sussman (Surgical Oncology division)
will continue in the tradition of Dr. Fidler’s
dedication to outstanding patient care. Contact
Dr. Fischer at (513) 475-8787. Contact Dr.
Sussman at (513) 584-0411.

Breast Team at University Pointe
Offers Unique Services
Meg Vostel, 34, of Oxford has a family history of breast cancer.
So when her mother moved to Ohio after surviving stage-1
breast cancer, they decided to make biannual breast exams a priority.
Now the mother-daughter duo schedule their clinical
Meg Vostel (left) and her mother arrive for their biannual
breast exam at University Pointe.
[Photo courtesy of Medical Center Public Relations/D. Davenport.]
breast exams together with Jennifer Manders, MD, a breast
surgeon, at the University Pointe Medical Office Building in
West Chester. Meg says they don’t mind driving a little further
to get what she calls “phenomenal” care.
“Dr. Manders helps us stay on top of our health without living in
fear,” explains Vostel. “It’s like having an exercise buddy, and
she’s our coach. I completely trust Dr. Manders’ judgment, and
I know she always has our best interests in mind.”
Dr. Jennifer Manders
***************************
Jennifer Manders, MD, Assistant
Professor in the Division of Surgical
Oncology, was accepted to attend the
American Association for Cancer
Research/American Society of Clinical
Oncology (ASCO) workshop July 22-28,
2006, at the Vail Marriott Mountain
Resort in Vail, Colorado. This annual
workshop is an intensive program that
teaches the essentials of clinical trial design and introduces
improved agents for cancer therapy and prevention.
Annual Breast Conference Will Be Held at
Kingsgate Conference Center
The 10th annual comprehensive breast cancer conference will be held
on Saturday, October 28, 2006. For information, call (513) 584-3829.
Silent Auction to Raise Funds for
Surgical Oncology Research
On October 14, 2006, Vito's Café will host the second annual
silent auction fundraiser to benefit the research efforts of Dr.
Andrew Lowy, Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology.
Many of the guests at “A Night of Silence and Singing” have
been patients of Dr. Lowy and will come from various corners
of the United States. Dr. Lowy will be the guest speaker and
share his research efforts concerning cancer of the appendix.
For information on donating items for auction or attending
this event, please contact Traci Wansack at (440) 378-4145 or
by e-mail at tawansack@yahoo.com.
Dr. Andrew Lowy (far left) with cancer survivors at a
luncheon celebration held on June 19, 2006
“Oncoplastic” Clinic to Open at University
Pointe
Drs. Jennifer Manders and Anu Bajaj will offer a combined
oncologic and plastic surgery clinic at University
Pointe in the fall. This clinic is designed to create a more
collaborative approach to treating breast cancer patients,
with a reduced risk of complications.
The clinic will combine
surgical removal of the cancer by
oncologic surgeon Dr. Manders
with plastic surgical techniques
by plastic surgeon Dr. Bajaj—
such as breast reduction,
mastopexy, and breast recon-
Drs. Anu Bajaj (left) and
Jennifer Manders
struction—to improve the aesthetic
outcome for women with
breast cancer. Following the pro-
cedure, patients will undergo appropriate radiation and/or
chemotherapy as necessary. For more information about this
procedure or the clinic, please call Pam at (513)-475-8787.

Colorectal Surgeon Offers STARR Procedure
Stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) offers improved results for
patients with obstructed defecation syndrome
Janice Rafferty, M.D., Chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal
Surgery, is the first in the Tristate to perform the STARR procedure, a
minimally invasive procedure to treat obstructed defecation syndrome
(ODS). Dr. Rafferty performed the first procedure June 21 on patient
Margaret Day, 52, of Newtown.
The STARR procedure is used to treat patients who cannot defecate due
to structural abnormalities of the pelvic floor. ODS is more common in
women than in men because of childbirth. During the STARR procedure,
the surgeon uses two circular staplers to remove the rectal wall that
has become overdistended by chronic constipation; the healthy rectum
is reconstructed into a reservoir of more normal capacity, making evacuation
much easier.
“Prior to STARR, diet, laxatives, and physical therapy were the only
treatment options available to patients suffering from ODS,” said Dr.
Rafferty. “These measures are not successful in alleviating the symptoms
of obstructed defecation in certain people; these patients now have
a minimally invasive treatment option.”
Dr. Janice Rafferty with Dr. Don Buie from Alberta, Canada, at
the 2006 American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
(ASCRS) meeting. Dr. Buie was program chair of the meeting,
while Dr. Rafferty served as co-chair.
Division of Thoracic Surgery Continues Innovative Clinical Trials and Procedures
The study by Dr. John Howington for the early detection of lung cancer using spiral-computed tomography has closed to new
accrual. Dr. Lynn (Chip) Huffman, fourth year surgical resident, won first place honors for his presentation of the early results at
the Cincinnati Surgical Society in May.
Dr. Howington also is co-principal investigator for the ACOSOG Z4031 trial looking at serum proteomic profiles in patients with
solitary pulmonary nodules. This study completed accrual early with 1074 patients enrolled nationwide. The data is being reviewed
currently with plans for an abstract submission later this year. Dr. Howington has emerged as a leader in the screening and early
detection of lung cancer, with interviews and invited presentations including a recent talk for the Primary Care Physicians
Conference in May at the Kingsgate Conference Center.
Drs. Sandra Starnes (center) and Michael Reed
(far right) conducting a VATS course.
All of the surgeons in the Division of Thoracic Surgery are on the cutting edge in the
use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for the treatment of early-stage lung
cancer. Dr. John Howington presented these techniques at a meeting for U.S. Surgical
and Tyco Healthcare in Chicago, and Dr. Sandra Starnes has begun to collate patient
information for a database to study the effectiveness of VATS lobectomies for the treatment
of early-stage lung cancer. Mark Lucia, a second year medical student at UC, is
collating the data for possible use in presentations and publications. All three thoracic
surgeons have moderated numerous VATS Lobectomy Courses and laboratories for
physicians and residents.
Dr. Michael Reed is at the forefront of surgical treatment for lung diseases including
lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and Swyer-James Syndrome. Under Dr. Reed's
mentorship, Chris Lyons, a third year medical student, presented research and findings
regarding surgical treatment and obstacles to lung transplants for patients with LAM at the LAM Foundation Research Conference
and the American Thoracic Society International Conference this past spring. Dr. Joshua Mammen, chief resident, presented
results at the May 2006 Association of V.A. Surgeons Scientific Symposium of a case study involving a pneumonectomy (surgical
removal of the lung) in a young patient with Swyer-James Syndrome.

Urology Division Opens New Cystoscopy Suite
Division is recognized for the fourth consecutive year
in US News & World Report Best Hospitals edition
The Division of Urology, comprising Drs. James Donovan, Thomas Bell, Bruce Bracken, John Babcock, and Ahmad Hamidinia,
were honored for the fourth consecutive year by being listed among the top urology divisions (#31) in US News & World Report
2006 Best Hospitals edition. The Division recently opened a new state-of-the-art Cystoscopy Suite at The University Hospital.
Dr. Ahmad Hamidinia (third from left) operates in the new
Cystoscopy Suite at The University Hospital.
Prostate Working Group Meets
The Division of Urology hosted another in a series of Prostate
Working Group meetings at the Kingsgate Conference Center
on June 21, 2006. The meetings, founded by Dr. Bruce
Bracken, are held 2-3 times per year and comprise nearly 70
clinical and research experts from a variety of disciplines at
UC and the community to exchange ideas and discuss new
advances in the treatment of prostate cancer.
Drs. Bruce Bracken (left) and Ahmad Hamidinia at the Prostate
Working Group meeting.
Urology Division Gives Honors,
Awards to Graduating Residents
Graduating residents of the Division of Urology were honored
and presented with annual awards at a celebration held at Devou
Park in June. Eric Geisler, MD, won the Art Evans Award.
Gwen Roesel, MD, was given the Outstanding Achievement
Award. The Director’s Achievement Award went to James
Colombo, MD.
Urology faculty and residents at graduation party.
Graduating chief residents (l-r) Drs. Gwen Roesel, Rebecca
Roedersheimer, Davinder Sekhan, James Colombo, and Eric Giesler.

Center for Surgical Innovation (CSI) in the News
Advanced Center for Telemedicine and
Surgical Innovation (ACTSI)
Research activities are underway within the ACTSI, using the
core facilities of the CSI and in partnerships with academia and
industry. Four projects
focusing on telesurgery
embrace the
concept of bench to
bedside to battlefield
through the integration
of telemedicine and
telesurgery. These initiatives
include: (1)
Robotic surgery during
flight; (2) Trauma
(Left to right) Rep. Steve Chabot, Dr.
Timothy Broderick, and Dr. Jeffrey
Matthews at the CSI Grand Opening.
Pod telesurgery emulation
using the da
Vinci; (3) Advanced
medical care and
research facility for extreme environments, working with UC’s
DAAP to design a medical facility for the SeaOrbiter; and (4)
Evaluation of haptics in surgical simulation.
High Altitude Platforms for Mobile Robotic
Telesurgery (HAPsMRT)
Drs. Timothy Broderick and Lynn (Chip) Huffman, Mr. Charles
Dr. Timothy Broderick operates the controls in HAPsMRT test.
Doarn and Mr. Brett Harnett recently conducted a series of
experiments in the high desert of Simi Valley, CA. Through a
US Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research
Center (TATRC)-funded grant, the HAPsMRT project brought
together an Army-funded prototype surgical robot from the
University of Washington, HaiVision Systems advanced
Compressor-Decompressor for video compression, and an
unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV) from AeroVironment.
Initially the work was done in Simi Valley and then between
Simi Valley and Seattle. This research marked the first time a
military-grade UAV was used to transmit communications to
manipulate a surgical robot, and the first time the UW robot was
deployed outside the laboratory. This experiment demonstrated
that wireless communications and robotics could be deployed in
an extreme environment for surgical care.
Mr. Charles Doarn (far right) demonstrates the da Vinci robot to
Dr. Nancy Zimpher and her husband at UC Showcase 2006.
UC Showcase 2006
The CSI was well represented at UC’s Showcase 2006 on April
21-22. The da Vinci robot was on display in the Great Hall in
Tangeman University Center, and UC President Dr. Nancy
Zimpher and Mr. Charles Doarn discussed robotic surgery and
other initiatives in the CSI. Mr. Doarn also participated in a
panel discussion on Product Innovation along with Dr. William
Ball from Biomedical Engineering.
UC and University of Minnesota Partnership
with National Science Foundation (NSF)
Mr. Charles Doarn and Dr. Randall Wolf are working closely
with Drs. Bala Haridas and Ed Grood from Biomedical
Engineering to develop a NSF Industry/University Cooperative
Research Center known as the Minimally Invasive Medical
Technologies Center (MIMTeC) in partnership with the
University of Minnesota. Each school must establish partnerships
with industry and maintain a level of funding which is
used to support cross-platform technology development. Dr.
Haridas is the Deputy Director, while Mr. Doarn serves as the
Administrative Director for the MIMTeC at UC.

Third Annual Walk from Obesity
On Saturday, September 16, 2006 at Winton Woods, the UC Center
for Surgical Weight Loss is hosting its 3rd Annual Walk from
Obesity beginning at 10:00 AM. More information and registration
can be found at www.walkfromobesity.com. Registration is $25.
Refreshments will be provided and door prizes awarded. All proceeds
go to the American Society for Bariatric Surgeons (ASBS) to
improve awareness, public and professional education, reduce discrimination,
and raise funds for obesity research.
The Walk From Obesity Team
Top, Left to Right: Priscilla Barker (bariatric medical secretary),
April Dostie (academic secretary), Anne Erisman, PA-C (Bariatric
Physician Assistant and Coordinator), and Karen Talmage.
Bottom, Left to Right: Donna Kloth of AmeriMed, Linda Renshaw,
Cathy Walston, and Leslie Baum.
Vascular Surgeon One of First to
Perform Completely Laparoscopic
Aorto-bifemoral Bypass Procedure
Joseph S. Giglia, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery and
Interim Director of the Division of Vascular Surgery, is one of
the first surgeons to perform a completely laparoscopic procedure
for peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition caused
by a buildup of plaque in the artery walls. Surgeons normally
make an incision from the breast bone to the pelvis and
insert a graft to restore blood flow down both thighs. “It
involves sewing to the aorta in the abdomen and then tunneling
a graft down to the femoral arteries on both sides,”
explained Dr. Giglia. However, using the laparoscopic
approach (see photo at right), Dr. Giglia makes several tiny
incisions in the abdomen, resulting in quicker recovery, less
pain, and decreased risk of hernia.
Two local patients have had this laproscopic bypass procedure
performed by Dr. Giglia and are doing well.
Giglia Wins Traveling Fellowship
Joseph S. Giglia, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery and
Interim Director of the Division of Vascular Surgery, was presented
the American Vascular Association’s E. J. Wylie
Traveling Fellowship Award at the 60th Vascular Annual
Meeting on June 1, 2006. This award assists a fellow of the
Society for Vascular Surgery with travel and professional
exchange within established vascular centers in the United
States and abroad. Dr. Giglia was chosen for the E. J. Wylie
Traveling Fellowship Award for his plans to develop a center
for laparoscopic vascular surgery that will help lead the next
revolution in minimally-invasive vascular surgery.
Dr. Giglia plans to travel internationally to broaden his scope of
vascular surgery and minimally invasive techniques.
Dr. Joseph Giglia (far right) receives the E.J. Wylie Traveling
Fellowship Award
Anterior portion of the proximal anastomosis of a completely laparoscopic
aorto-bifemoral bypass.

Surgical Education News
Dr. Robert Bower Portrait is Unveiled at Final Grand Rounds
At Final Grand Rounds, held on June 21, 2006, Dr. Robert Bower’s portrait was unveiled, and a reception and ribbon
cutting were then held in the newly dedicated Bower Conference Room in the Department of Surgery.
Debbie Goettsche, widow of Dr. Robert Bower, assists
Dr. Jeffrey Matthews in unveiling the portrait of Dr.
Bower at Final Grand Rounds.
Resident Research Awards Presented at Final Grand Rounds
Department of Surgery Resident Research Competition:
Mubeen Jafri, MD - First Place: “Down-Regulation of the α2β1 Integrin Reduces Cholangiocyte Susceptibility to
Rotavirus Infection and Mortality in Experimental Biliary Atresia”
Lynn (Chip) Huffman, MD - Finalist: “Early Results from Lung Cancer Screening Using Spiral CT of High-Risk
Individuals”
Prakash Pandalai, MD - Finalist: “Restoration of Myocardial β-Adrenergic Receptor Signaling Following Left
Ventricular Assist Device Support”
Ryan Thomas, MD - Finalist: “The Ron Receptor in Pancreatic Cancer”
Cincinnati Surgical Society 2005-2006 Resident Essay Competition presented at May 3, 2006 Meeting:
Lynn (Chip) Huffman, MD - First Place: “Early Results from Lung Cancer
Screening Using Spiral CT of High-Risk Individuals”
Bryon Boulton, MD - Second Place: “The APC Tumor Suppressor
Regulates Mammary Epithelial Apoptosis and Proliferation”
Mubeen Jafri, MD - Third Place: “Holangiocyte Injury Mediates Temporal
Dependence of Experimental Biliary Atresia”
Ohio Chapter ACS Resident Essay Competition:
Mubeen Jafri, MD - First Place Basic Science
Lynn (Chip) Huffman, MD - Second Place Basic Science
Ryan Thomas, MD - Peter J. Minton Award for Oncology
Drs. Timothy Pritts (left) and David Fischer hang the portrait of Dr. Robert Bower
in the newly dedicated Bower Conference Room.
Resident research awards are presented by Drs.
Joseph Solomkin (second from left) and Jeffrey
Matthews (far right) to Drs. Mubeen Jafri, Chip
Huffman, Prakash Pandalai, and Ryan Thomas

Surgical Education News
New Surgical Interns Welcomed
The Department of Surgery had another excellent match
with the following 2006 general surgery interns:
General Surgery Categorical:
Eric Campion, MD, University of Michigan
Callisia Clarke, MD, University of Cincinnati
Angela Ingraham, MD, Loyola University
Christopher Lundquist, MD, Vanderbilt University
Charles Park, MD, Brown Medical School
Jonathan Thompson, MD, University of Cincinnati
General Surgery + Plastic Surgery Integrated:
Parit Patel, MD, Chicago Medical School
2006 general surgery interns (L-R): Callisia Clarke, MD, Angela
Ingraham, MD, Parit Patel, MD, Jonathan Thompson, MD, Eric
Campion, MD, Christopher Lundquist, MD, Charles Park, MD
Medical Student News:
Medical student awards presented on Honors Day, May
28, 2006, included:
Department of Surgery Award for the student with the
highest overall grade in the clerkship, regardless of career
field: Ben Gibson, MD, who matched at Ohio State for a
preliminary year and will be entering urology.
Cincinnati Surgical Society Award for the student with
the highest grade who will be specializing in surgery:
Ben Wilkins, MD, who matched in general surgery at
Washington University Hospital, St. Louis.
Richard Stevenson, MD, Director of the Student
Clerkship, won the Golden Apple Award given by the
medical students to their favorite teacher. Dr. Stevenson
has won the Golden Apple five times and the Silver
Apple (for second place) once.
Residency Coordinator is TAGME Certified
Andrea Anderson with her TAGME
certificate.
Ms. Andrea Anderson,
Residency Coordinator
for the Department of
Surgery, was recently
awarded certification
by the National Board
for Certification of
Training Administrators
of Graduate Medical
Education Programs
(TAGME). She is the
first coordinator in the
UC Medical Center to
achieve this distinction.
TAGME certification
was created to establish
standards for the profession,
to acknowledge
the expertise needed to
successfully manage graduate medical education programs,
and to recognize those training program administrators who
have achieved competence in all fields related to their profession.
There are approximately 255 surgical programs in
the US, and 27 coordinators have been certified to date.
Ms. Anderson became Residency Coordinator in the
Department of Surgery in 1998. Prior to that, she was the
office manager for a private practice (oral, maxillofacial and
plastic surgery) in northern Kentucky for 25 years.
Graduating Chief Residents
General surgery residency program directors Drs. David Fischer
(far left), Jeffrey Matthews (center) and Timothy Pritts (far right)
with graduating chief residents (left-right) Drs. Russell Juno,
Amod Sarnaik, Andrew Knott, Grady Alsabrook, Donn Spight,
and Kfir Ben-David.

Annual Awards Given at Final Grand Rounds
At Final Surgical Grand Rounds, held in the Surgical
Amphitheater on June 21, 2006, graduating residents and
fellows were honored, new chiefs and interns recognized, and
annual awards given.
Arnold P. Gold Foundation Award for Humanism and
Excellence in Teaching (as voted by 3rd and 4th year medical
students as their best role model): Grady Alsabrook, MD.
Best Teaching Resident Award (as voted by medical students
during 3rd year Surgery Clerkship): Donn Spight, MD.
The Josef E. Fischer Award (by vote of fellow residents) [tie]:
Kfir Ben-David, MD, and Andrew Knott, MD.
The Max Zinninger Award (selected by faculty): Andrew
Knott, MD.
Graduating Chief Resident Donn Spight, MD (far right)
is congratulated by Drs. David Fischer (left) and Jeffrey
Matthews at Final Grand Rounds.
Dr. John Kitzmiller (center) presents graduation
certificates to Drs. Lauren Archer and Thaddeus
O’Neill, chief residents in plastic surgery.
The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Resident
Achievement Award: Kfir Ben-David, MD.
Physician Assistant Award (by vote of the residents): Shawn
Beck, PA.
Outstanding Educator Award (voted by residents): James P.
Fidler, MD.
Grace Z. Mak, MD, was named the 2006-2007 Robert H.
Bower Chief Resident.
Joshua M.V. Mammen, MD, was named the 2006-2007
Resident Representative to the General Surgery Residency
Committee & GME Residency Advisory Committee.
Lauren Archer, MD, graduating resident in plastic surgery,
received the 2006 Inamed Academy Scholarship.
Dr. Jeffrey Matthews displays framed copy of the Cincinnati Business
Courier’s “Lifetime Hero Award” presented to Dr. John B. Flege, Jr.
Dr. Michael Nussbaum (left) presents
the laparoscopic surgery award to
Dr. Kfir Ben-David.
Dr. Amy Reed (left) congratulates graduating
vascular fellow Dr. Catherine Cagiannos.

CSI Holds Cardiothoracic Technology Symposium
The Center for Surgical Innovation (CSI) hosted the inaugural Cardio-Thoracic Symposium in the new CSI space on May
19-20, 2006. The course was initiated by Drs. John Mehall (cardiothoracic resident), Randall Wolf and Walter Merrill.
Comprising didactic and laboratory components, the course was attended by 60 cardiothoracic residents and fellows
from across the US. The CSI provided animate and inanimate labs for presentation and training on minimally invasive
surgical procedures. Several companies were present to showcase their technologies in cardiac and thoracic surgery.
CT Symposium participants in the CSI
Dr. John Mehall (second from left) in the CSI
CT Symposium participants
Cardiac Surgery Division Hosts UC
Summer Surgery Experience Students
The Division of Cardiac Surgery and the Center for Surgical
Innovation (CSI) played hosts to college students participating
in the Summer Surgery Experience at UC (SSE@UC), an
intensive 2-week summer enrichment program held June 12-
23, 2006. The students learn what cardiovascular surgeons do,
Dr. Randall Wolf instructs SSE@UC students on the daVinci robot
the types of diseases they treat and the types of procedures
they perform, including exposure to an open heart operation in
the operating room. In the CSI, students were exposed to new
innovative technical developments in cardiothoracic surgery.
Dr. Walter Merrill (far left) with SSE@UC students
Students also had daily interactions with the surgical staff and
other UC faculty in different health-related professions. In
addition, the students received information about the steps
necessary to prepare for a surgical or medical career.
Dr. John B. Flege, Jr., and Dr. Walter Merrill of the Division
of Cardiac Surgery were co-hosts.

Dr. Syed Ahmad
Dr. Alex Lentsch
Dr. Jeffrey Matthews
Dr. Mark Thomas
Awards and Achievements
Syed Ahmad, MD, Division of Surgical Oncology, was named the Local Program Director for the Annual
Meeting of the Central Surgical Association to be held in Cincinnati on March 5-8, 2008. [Note: A previous
newsletter incorrectly stated the meeting date as 2007 and Dr. Michael Nussbaum as Local Program
Director.]
George F. Babcock, PhD, Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Burn Surgery
and Shriners Burns Institute - Cincinnati, served as a member of the National
Institutes of Health, Center for Scientific Review, ZRG1 PTHA Special Emphasis
Study Section for Shared Instrumentation Program (S10) Grants, June 26-27, 2006.
In addition, Dr. Babcock was invited to chair a workshop entitled “Functional
Analysis” at the XXIII Congress of the International Society for Analytical Cytology
in Quebec, Canada, May 23, 2006.
Alex B. Lentsch, PhD, Director of the Trauma, Sepsis & Inflammation Research
group, was appointed to a special emphasis panel of the National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health. This
panel reviews exploratory research applications investigating the mechanisms of
action of complementary and alternative medicines and therapies.
Jeffrey Matthews, MD, Christian R. Holmes Professor and Chairman, Department
of Surgery, was unanimously elected to a 5-year term on the editorial board of the
Annals of Surgery.
Michael S. Nussbaum, MD, FACS, Associate Professor of Surgery, Vice Chair for
Clinical Affairs and Chief of Staff of The University Hospital, completed his six-year
term on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Surgery (ABS) on June 27,
2006. During his tenure on the ABS, Dr. Nussbaum served on the Certifying
Examination, Plans, and Executive Committees, and he was the Chair of the Plans and
Diplomates Committees. Dr. Nussbaum will continue to serve the ABS as a Senior
Director.
Mark Thomas, MD, Division of Transplantation, was invited to Duke University to
give two lectures on laparoscopic liver transplant and proctor an animal lab for a new
course. The two-day event was attended by 16 general surgeons interested in learning
a new technique.
Brad Warner, MD, Professor of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, completed
the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon on June 4th and raised nearly $14,000 for the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This was the fourth marathon completed by Dr.
Warner over the past 2 years. In addition, Dr. Warner was asked to be a standing member
of the NIH Study Section - NIDDK-C.
Shriners Chief of Staff to Receive Service Award
Dr. Richard Kagan
Dr. George Babcock
Dr. Michael Nussbaum
Dr. Brad Warner runs
for the money in
San Diego
Richard J. Kagan, MD, Director of the Burn Division and Chief of Staff at Shriners Hospital for Children
in Cincinnati, will receive the American Association of Tissue Banks’ (AATB) Jeanne Mowe Distinguished
Service Award. The award will be presented at the association’s annual meeting in September. This annual
award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution in tissue banking or transplantation
medicine in research, education or laboratory improvement; or who has a history of distinguished
service and demonstrated leadership to the Association.
Shriners Hospitals for Children in Cincinnati provides acute and rehabilitation care for pediatric burn
injuries of any size. The pediatric burn care provided is among the most advanced available, and is offered
at absolutely no charge to the patient, family, the US government or any insurance company. For more information
visit the website at www.shrinershq.org or call 800-875-8580.

Babcock GF, Osterburg A, Schwemberger S. “Regulation of Neutrophil Function by HSP72 and GM-CSF.” American Association
of Immunologist Meeting, Boston, MA, May 12-16, 2006.
Bommireddy R, Pathak LJ, Martin J, Boivin GP, Babcock GF, Doetschman T. “Self-antigen Recognition Causes T-cell Activation
and Systemic Inflammation in TGFb1-deficient Mice.” American Association of Immunologist Meeting, Boston, May 12-16, 2006.
Cagiannos C (Vascular Surgery Fellow). “Cerebral Oximetry Can Guide Selective Shunting during Carotid Endarterectomy.”
Association of VA Surgeons pre-symposium postgraduate course, Cincinnati, OH, May 6, 2006.
Doarn CR. “High Altitude Platforms Mobile Robotic Surgery (HAPsMRT) – TATRC Production Line Review.” Advanced
Surgical Technologies, Ft. Detrick, MD, June 2006.
Doarn CR. “NEEMO-9 – Evaluating the Ability of a Surgeon/Non-surgeon Soldier/Astronaut to Adapt to Telecommunication
Latency - TATRC Production Line Review.” Advanced Surgical Technologies, Ft. Detrick, MD, June 2006.
Doarn CR. Panel Presentation: “Living and Working in Space” – iSPACE 2006 – Cincinnati, OH, May 2006.
Doarn CR. Panel Presentation: “Product Innovation” – University of Cincinnati Inaugural Showcase, Cincinnati, OH, April 2006.
Doarn CR. “Living and Working in Space – NEEMO 9.” Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati, OH, April 2006.
Donovan JF, Jr. “Novel Targeted Therapies for the Treatment of Genitourinary Malignancies.” Robotic Technology in Urological
Oncology Symposium at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Blue Ash, OH, Saturday, July 22, 2006.
Giglia JS. “Catheter-Based Interventions in Venous Thrombosis.” Association of VA Surgeons pre-symposium postgraduate
course, Cincinnati, OH, May 6, 2006.
Koizumi T, Leonard CD, Schwemberger S, Babcock GF. “Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Modulates Neutrophil Apoptosis and the
Production of Reactive Oxygen Species.” American Burn Association Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, April 4-7, 2006.
Osterburg A, Schwemberger S, Babcock GF. “Effects of Heat Shock Protein 72 on Neutrophil Function.” International Society for
Analytical Cytology, Quebec, Canada, May 19-25, 2006.
(L-R): Andrea Smiley, MS, Dorothy
Supp, PhD, Jennifer Klingenberg, BS
Recent Presentations
The laboratory of Dorothy Supp, PhD, Adjunct Research Associate Professor, presented a
poster at the 2006 American Burn Association meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, entitled
“Expression of Human Beta Defensin 4 in Genetically Modified Keratinocytes Enhances
Antimicrobial Activity.” The authors were: Andrea Smiley, Jason Gardner, Jennifer
Klingenberg, Alice Neely, Steven Boyce, and Dorothy Supp. Their poster was awarded First
Place in the poster competition at the meeting, and a manuscript describing the work has
been accepted for publication in the Journal of Burn Care and Research.
Warner BW. David Tapper M.D. Memorial Lectureship, Department of Pediatric Surgery,
Children's Hospital of Seattle, University of Washington School of Medicine; Seattle WA,
April 26-28, 2006.
Warner BW and Dr. Barbara Warner (his wife). “New Therapies and Preventive Approaches for Necrotizing Enterocolitis.”
NIH-sponsored workshop at National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, July 10-11, 2006.
Wolf RK. Keynote Address: “Medicine and Magic.” 18th International Conference of the Society of Medical Innovation and
Technology (SMIT), Monterey, CA, May 12, 2006.
Wolf RK. “Atrial Fibrillation – To Slash or to Burn. That is the question.” South Miami Heart Center Conference Series, Baptist
Health South Florida, May 24, 2006.
Wolf RK. “Future of Surgery.” Visionary Program, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, June 2006.
Dr. Wolf also presided over the annual scientific meeting of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgeons (ISMICS) in San Francisco, CA.
Dr. Wolf gave a keynote address “Future of Surgery and ISMICS” and held a panel discussion on atrial fibrillation. Dr. Wolf also
completed his term as the society’s president.

Abdel-Malek ZA, Kadekaro AL, Kavanagh RJ, Todorovic A, Koikov
LN, McNulty JC, Jackson PJ, Millhauser GL, Schwemberger S,
Babcock GF, Hasdell-Luevano C., Knittlel JJ. Melanoma prevention
strategy based on using tetrapeptide α-MSH analogs that protect
human melanocytes from UV-induced DNA damage and cytotoxicity.
FASEB J (Epub ahead of print), 2006.
Allen SR, Ignacio R, Falcone RA, Alonso MH, Brown RL, Garcia VF,
Inge TH, Ryckman FC, Warner BW, Azizkhan RG, Tiao GM. The
effect of a right-sided aortic arch on outcome in children with
esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula. J Pediatr Surg
41:479-483, 2006.
Anvari M, Williams D, Thirsk R, Morin L, Mckinley C, Broderick T,
Kapoor A, Sebajang H, Hall G, Adili A, Dobranowski J. Tele-Surgery
in an extreme environment in the absence of a local physician: the
NEEMO 7&9 missions. Surg Endosc 20(Suppl 1):S278, 2006.
Bernal NP, Stehr W, Coyle R, Erwin CR, Warner BW. EGF receptor
signaling regulates Bax and Bcl-w expression and apoptotic responses
during intestinal adaptation in mice. Gastroenterol 130:412-423, 2006.
Bernal NP, Stehr W, Zhang Y, Profitt S, Erwin CR, Warner BW.
Combined pharmacotherapy that increases proliferation and decreases
apoptosis optimally enhances intestinal adaptation. J Pediatr Surg
41:719-724, 2006.
Doarn CR, Merrell RC. Are you a telemedicine evangelist? [Editorial]
Telemed and E Health 12(3):277-278, 2006.
Erwin CR, Jarboe MD, Sartor MA, Medvedovic M, Stringer K,
Recent Publications
Warner BW, Bates MD. Developmental characteristics of adapting
mouse small intestine crypt cells. Gastroenterology 130:1324-1332,
2006.
Harnett B. Contributing Author: Telemedicine Systems and
Telecommunications. In: Wootton R (ed), Telemedicine Systems and
Telecommunications. London: Royal Society of Medicine Press, 2006,
pp. 15-34.
Hauser JE, Kadekaro AL, Kavanagh RJ, Wakamatsu K, Terzieva S,
Schwemberger S, Babcock GF, Rao MB, Ito S, Abdel-Malek ZA.
Melanin content and MC1R function independently affect UVRinduced
DNA damage in cultured human melanocytes. Pigment Cell
Res 19:303-314, 2006.
Knauf JA, Ouyang B, Knudsen ES, Fukaswa K, Babcock GF, Fagin
JA. Oncogenic ras induces accelerated transition through G2/M and
promotes defects in the G2 DNA damage and mitotic spindle checkpoints.
J Biol Chem 281:3800-3809, 2006.
Merrell RC, Doarn CR. Telehomecare. Where are we? [Editorial].
Telemed and E Health 12(2):79-80, 2006.
Stehr W, Bernal NP, Bernabe KQ, Erwin CR, Warner BW. Absent
STAT1 expression perturbs adaptation and apoptosis after massive
intestinal resection. J Pediatr Surg 41:713-718, 2006.
Stehr W, Bernal NP, Erwin CR, Bernabe KQ, Guo J, Warner BW.
Roles for p21waf1/cip1 and p27kip1 during the adaptation response to
massive intestinal resection. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol
290:G933-G941, 2006.
Department of Surgery Holds 4th Annual Research Retreat
“From the Bench Towards the Bedside”
The Department of Surgery held its fourth annual Research Retreat on Thursday, June 22, 2006, at the Kingsgate Marriott
Conference Center. Faculty, residents, medical students, and research staff were in attendance to present and learn about new basic
and clinical research being conducted in the Department of Surgery.
Dr. Susan Waltz and other participants at the Research Retreat.
PhD student Gina Kavanaugh presents her poster at the Research
Retreat.

Surgical Grand Rounds Schedule
Surgical Grand Rounds will resume in September
Save the Date
September 14, 2006 -- Patient Appreciation Day hosted by Cosmetic Surgery at University Pointe
RSVP (513) 475-8883.
September 16, 2006 -- Walk From Obesity
Winton Woods, beginning at 10:00 AM. Hosted by the UC Center for Surgical Weight Loss. Register at www.walkfromobesity.com.
October 6-7, 2006 -- Cardiovascular Update 2006
Duke Energy Convention Center. Call (513) 558-1810.
October 14, 2006 -- University Pointe Open House
Sponsored by UC Physicians. Call (513) 475-8880.
October 14, 2006 -- Silent Auction Fundraiser to Benefit Surgical Oncology Research
Vito's Café will host the second annual fundraiser. Contact Traci Wansack at (440) 378-4145 or by e-mail at tawansack@yahoo.com.
October 21, 2006 -- CME Course at Manor House
First annual UC Department of Surgery Showcase of innovations in surgical care. Call (513) 558-6548.
October 28, 2006 -- Breast Seminar
Tenth annual comprehensive breast cancer conference. Call (513) 584-3829.