Digital Commons Network^™

News In Brief

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Alliric I. Willis, MD, has joined the Division of General Surgery. Dr. Willis completed his internship and then two years of surgical residency at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis (WUSTL), Barnes-Jewish Hospital. He then completed a two-year research fellowship in the Department of Surgery at Yale University prior to completing his residency training at WUSTL. Dr. Willis then completed an additional two-year fellowship in Surgical Oncology at the Fox Chase Cancer Center. He is board certified and specializes in the areas of breast, melanoma and endocrine surgery.

Congratulations to Hitoshi Hirose, MD, PhD, FACS, on …

Those Who Give: Nearly 25 Years After Beating Colon Cancer, Grateful Patient Establishes Endowment To Support Cancer Research

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

James Gilmartin can’t believe he’s still alive.

When he was diagnosed with colon cancer in May 1991, Gilmartin was certain that his bout with the disease would have an unfavorable end; so certain that he left his job of 30 years as a public school administrator and began preparing for the worse.

“I didn’t know whether I’d be alive six months later, so I retired,” Gilmartin recalled.

His primary physician at the time – who happened to be a Jefferson graduate – reviewed Gilmartin’s test results and recommended Jefferson as the best place to receive cancer treatment.

Gilmartin was paired …

On The Job: Milagros "Milly" Yax And Dominique Vicchairelli

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

With more than 25 combined years of experience, Dominique Vicchairelli and Milagros “Milly” Yax have made helping others the focus of their careers. Before joining the Department of Surgery, Yax worked as a medical assistant, most recently with Jefferson Internal Medicine in Voorhees, NJ. Since becoming Clinical Coordinator in Surgery last November, she no longer checks patients’ vitals or assists physicians with exams – but she’s found a new way to make a difference. Yax is responsible for assisting patients of Harish Lavu, MD, FACS, and Jordan M. Winter, MD, FACS, who both specialize in pancreatic cancer surgery.

Since 2009 …

Changing Lives Through Research: Clinical Research Team Supports Over 100 Diverse, Complex Trials

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Faculty in the Department of Surgery are currently leading or participating in more than 100 clinical trials. Each has a distinct protocol and requires management of numerous components – from patient recruitment and informed consent to electronic data entry and management of subject care throughout the trial. All of these activities must comply with regulations imposed by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), National Institute of Health (NIH) Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which require the protection of Personal Health Information.

To navigate those complexities, the Department relies on the Clinical Research …

In The Spotlight: Dr. Angela A. Ramirez-Irizarry

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

While in San Juan last February for the American College of Surgeons’ 66th Annual Puerto Rico Chapter Meeting, Jefferson colorectal surgeon Gerald A. Isenberg, MD, FACS, met someone who made history at Jefferson: Angela A. Ramirez-Irizarry, MD, FACS, FACPS, DABPS. Dr. Ramirez introduced herself following Dr. Isenberg’s presentation on diverticular disease and shared her fond memories of Jefferson.

In 1961, Dr. Ramirez was accepted as the hospital’s first female resident in General Surgery. (It was the same year that Jefferson Medical College first accepted women.) Dr. Ramirez later became the first woman in Puerto Rico to be board certified in …

Overview: A Retreat Suggestion Comes To Fruition

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Within this issue of Surgical Solutions, a great story unfolds. A little over one year ago, in March 2015, we held the first Department of Surgery retreat in some years. Several great ideas “bubbled up” out of that retreat, some dealing with clinical matters, some with education, and some with fostering research. One of the intriguing ideas that came out of the retreat was the hope that the Department of Surgery could provide pilot or startup funds to help faculty bring their research ideas to fruition. I want to thank those members of the Department who pushed hard on this …

Division Of Acute Care Surgery Brings Coordinated Care To More Delaware Valley Residents

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Jefferson’s Division of Acute Care Surgery keeps expanding its reach. The Center City campus has long maintained a Level I Trauma Center. Paoli Hospital, part of Main Line Health in Chester County, has been a Level II Trauma Center led by Jefferson surgeons since 2010. Then, the 2015 merger with Abington Hospital brought its established Level II Trauma Center into the Jefferson Health fold. A second Main Line Health hospital, Lankenau Medical Center, is in the final stages of becoming an accredited Level II Trauma Center thanks to its partnership with Jefferson (see “Surgeon Speaks”). And, most recently, Aria Health …