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DIVISIONS |
GENERAL SURGERY
 A major component of the academic mission
of the General Surgery Division is
to foster the development and maturation
of the General Surgeon. This not only
involves clinical experience but an
exposure to and understanding of the
basic physiological principles of surgery.
While the faculty
members in the Division of General
Surgery have the ultimate administrative
and legal responsibility for the patients,
the division’s
philosophy places strong emphasis on
the individual resident’s sense
of responsibility, his/her participation
in unit teamwork, the leadership
capabilities of the Chief Residents
and above all, communication between
all levels to insure optimum patient
care. In addition, the housestaff are
responsible for organizing and conducting
weekly didactic teaching conferences.
 In addition, the housestaff
have a primary participatory role in
over 95% of the operations done
by the service, which average 1500 yearly.
The surgical experience encompasses gastrointestinal,
obesity, endocrine and burn surgeries.
The general categories include 550 GI
cases, approximately 170 each of pancreas/biliary,
hernias and skin grafts; and 275
miscellaneous operations.
Dr.
James W. Maher is
the Division of General Surgery's new
Chairman. He attended University
of Florida College of Medicine and
specializes in laparoscopic
and open foregut surgery.
CLINICAL PROGRAMS
AND PATIENT CARE
 The
General Surgery Division
consists of seven General Surgeons and
the Minimally Invasive Surgery Center.
Surgical procedures undertaken in this
section include laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication
and stretta RF procedures for gastroesophageal
reflux disease, laparoscopic Heller myotomy
for achalasia, laparoscopic and throacoscopic
esophagectomy for cancer, laparoscopic
inguinal hernia repair and incisional hernia
repair, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (including
bile duct exploration), laparoscopic splenectomy,
gastric surgery for morbid obesity including
laparoscopic and open gastric bypass, laparoscopic
total abdominal colectomy and ileoanal
pouch anastomosis for ulcerative
colitis and familial
polyposis, laparoscopic
resections and stricture plasties
for Crohn’s disease,
endocrine, pancreatic,
and biliary surgery.
Residents are expected
to perform these procedures
under close faculty
supervision.
RESEARCH
OPPORTUNITIES
The areas of research in which
a house officer can participate reflect
the clinical interest of the faculty members.
These areas include
nutrition and gastrointestinal physiology,
advances in the therapy of severe obesity,
QOL studies of ileoanal pouch, apotosis
in the colon, telesurgery, intestinal transport,
and laparoscopic training of general surgery
resident
DIVISION CONFERENCES
Monday
Afternoon – Multidisciplinary
GI Conference
Review of GI topics from an integrated
approach with medicine, radiology and
surgery residents and attendings.
Tuesday
Morning – Clinical
Teaching Conference
Case presentations, discussion, and literature review by
surgery residents with radiology and medicine input.
Friday – Clinical
Teaching Conference
Case presentation and literature review
by surgical residents including discussion
with staff and visiting attending physicians.
FACULTY
John M. Kellum, M.D.
James
W. Maher, M.D., Chairman
Ronald C. Merrell, M.D.
Nish
Shah, M.D.
VA Hospital:
Thomas
A. Miller, M.D.
Jeannie F. Savas, M.D.
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