Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Download The Full Pdf Of Jefferson Surgical Solutions Fall 2011, Volume 6, Number 2

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Download the full PDF of Jefferson Surgical Solutions Fall 2011, Volume 6, Number 2.

Koniaris Heads Expanding Multi-Disciplinary Surgical Program At Methodist Hospital

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Leonidas Koniaris, MD, FACS, is the newly appointed Chief of Surgery at Methodist Hospital in South Philadelphia, an affiliate of Jefferson that now has the strongest presence of full-time Jefferson faculty surgeons to date. One of the oldest hospitals in the Philadelphia region, Methodist has been treating patients continuously since 1892. Professor of Surgery and Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery at Jefferson Medical College, Dr. Koniaris is leading the effort to help what he describes as “an already great local hospital become an even more essential and integral partof this vibrant community.” Dr. Koniaris replaces Melvin Moses, MD, …

The Surgeon Speaks: Leonidas Koniaris, Md, Facs

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Leonidas Koniaris, MD, FACS Chief of Surgery, Methodist Hospital Vice Chair of Surgery, Jefferson Medical College

The professionalism and work ethic of the Methodist hospital staff are second-to none, and the dedication to superb patient care is a top priority. Over the next three to five years, our focus is to take this existing gem in the Jefferson brand and continue to develop it into a strong top-tier facility.

We have been fortunate to have the support of hospital leadership in meeting our goals and embracing change. Several initiatives – a new endovascular suite and multidisciplinary breast care clinic, coupled …

Overview

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

The academic year 2011/2012 is now four months old, and we are off to a splendid start! We (a) have welcomed several new faculty members and a bolus of categorical interns (see below), (b) had a leadership transition at our Methodist Hospital, (c) are in growth mode at Methodist with initiatives in General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Wound Care and Surgical Oncology (see the cover story), and (d) with the leadership of Dr. Nicholas Cavarocchi have seen remarkable growth in our adult ECMO program with outstanding clinical results and several research projects brought to fruition. Exciting times again this year at …

Surgeon-Led Ecmo Treatment Improves Survival Rates In Surgical Cardiac Care Unit

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

The Jefferson Surgical Cardiac Care Unit (SCCU), reorganized in July 2010, delivers the best survival rates in Pennsylvania for patients plagued by serious lung and/or heart dysfunction. Nicholas Cavarocchi, MD, FACS, FCCP, the SCCU Director and Associate Professor of Surgery, leads a highly trained team that uses extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (an ECMO machine) to provide respiratory and cardiac support to patients whose lungs and/or hearts cannot function on their own. Because of the excellent outcomes – 70 to 80 percent survival rates for patients with life-threatening situations, up from a previous zero-based survival rate – Dr. Cavarocchi believes the Jefferson …

Meet Our Surgical Interns

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

We have welcomed an amazing new group of categorical interns, selected from over one thousand applicants to our program. These doctors, who recently matched with Jefferson Medical College (JMC), started on June 20, 2011. Just a few months into their Jefferson surgical residency, we have all noticed their dedication to patient care, their energy and their excitement in joining the Jefferson community.

Meet Our Surgical Interns

Please welcome (from left to right):

• Christine Feldmeier, MD, JMC
• James Crawford, MD, New York University
• Kate Holoyda, MD, University of Wisconsin
• Vishen Sooppan, MD, SUNY Upstate - Syracuse
• Caitlyn Johnson, MD, JMC
• Jonathan …

National Transplantation Pregnancy Registry Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the National Transplantation Pregnancy Registry (NTPR). Established at Jefferson, this unique registry is a voluntary study, in which transplant recipients (both men and women) report their experiences with conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and the health of the recipient. The NTPR was founded by Principal Investigator Vincent Armenti, MD, PhD, a Jefferson alumnus and former transplant fellow with a dual faculty appointment as Professor in the Department of Surgery (Transplantation Division) and the Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology.

Dr. Armenti’s interest was sparked two decades ago when a transplant recipient told him she …

On The Job: Dr. Karen Chojnacki, Residency Program Director

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Karen Chojnacki, MD, FACS, who has directed the General Surgery Residency Program for the past three years, was a resident at Jefferson from 1995 to 2000 – and loved it. Following a fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at the University of Southern California and a brief stint in private practice, she returned to Jefferson in early 2002, jumping at the chance to capture her “dream job” and buoyed by memories of the institution’s camaraderie and professionalism. “Whoever said ‘You can’t go home again’ didn’t have a home like Jefferson,” she says. “I lead the program that helped make me the …

Alumni Support Jefferson Through Service And Giving

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

On Wednesday, June 29th, the Department of Surgery hosted a reception to recognize Melvin Moses, MD, FACS, for his contributions and many years of service. Dr. Moses graduated from Jefferson Medical College (JMC) in 1962 and remained at Jefferson for his residency training and three separate clinical and research fellowships. He joined the hospital surgical staff in 1970 and became a JMC faculty member in 1982.

In 1990, Dr. Moses was named the Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery, Methodist Hospital Division of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH), where he remained for the duration of his career- a career …

News In Brief

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Gurjyot Bajwa, MD, has joined the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. She is fellowship-trained in Adult Cardiac Surgery, Congenital Cardiac Surgery and General Thoracic Surgery. She also trained in complex adult cardiac surgery and minimally invasive and robotic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.

Patrick Greaney, MD, has joined the Division of Plastic Surgery. He completed his General Surgery residency at Jefferson in 2007, followed by a fellowship in burn reconstruction at the William Randolph Hearst Burn Center of the Weill Cornell / New York-Presbyterian Hospital, a plastic surgery residency and a fellowship in microsurgery. He will provide services at …

Growth Inhibition Of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells By Overexpression Of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2, Zhengyu Wei, Reginald Hurtt, Cataldo Doria

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Summary:

In this study, we investigated a novel approach for HCC treatment by inducing overexpression of GRK2 in human HCC cells. We found that overexpression of GRK2 through recombinant adenovirus transduction inhibits the growth of human HCC cells. BrdU incorporation assay showed that the growth inhibition caused by elevated GRK2 level was due tot he reduced cell proliferation but not apoptosis. To examine the anti-proliferative function of increased GRK2 level, we performed cell cycle analysis using propidium iodide staining. We found that the proliferation suppression was associated with G2/M phase cell cycle arrest by the wild type GRK2 but not …

Utilizing Livers From Donors Older Than 65: A Single Center Experience, Krishnaraj Mahendraraj, Jorge H. Castro, Sean Devitt, Chad Gorn, Cataldo Doria, Adam Frank, Warren Maley, Carlo G. Ramirez

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Conclusions:

Use of liver grafts from older donors presents similar survival outcomes as grafts from younger donor age. Therefore, it offers a viable option to expand the donor pool and increase number of OLTs.

However, there is higher incidence of retransplantation due to primary graft non-function, and longer hospital length of stay observed in the older donor age group.

Further studies using larger patient populations are needed to validate our results.

Bapcap2-1 Does Preoperative Aspirin Improve Outcomes In Cardiac Surgery Patients?, Jian-Zhong Sun, L. Cao, H. Liu, W. Sun, S Silvestry, J. Diehl

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Best Abstracts - Runner-up Session 2 presented at Euroanaesthesia 2011 in the Netherlands.

Background and Goal of Study: The effects of preoperative aspirin on major cardiocerebral and renal outcomes and mortality remain uncertain.

Evaluation Of The Use Of Patient-Focused Simulation For Student Assessment In A Surgery Clerkship., Gerald A Isenberg, Katherine W Berg, Judith A Veloski, Dale D Berg, J J. Veloski, Charles Yeo

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of simulated patients in conjunction with anatomic and tissue task-training models to assess skills.

METHODS: Faculty reviewed the objectives of the clerkship to identify skills to be acquired. Three cases were developed related to rectal examination, suturing, and inserting intravenous lines and nasogastric tubes. Student scores were based on their ability to gather data from simulated patients and perform procedures on simulation models.

RESULTS: A total of 670 students were assessed between 2006 and 2009. Alpha reliability coefficients were .97 for Communication/Interpersonal Skills, .71 for Procedures, and .58 for …

Thomas Dent Mütter: The Humble Narrative Of A Surgeon, Teacher, And Curious Collector., Jennifer A. Baker, B.S., Charles J. Yeo, Md, Pinckney J. Maxwell, Iv, Md

Department of Surgery Gibbon Society Historical Profiles

Thomas Dent Mutter, a beloved teacher, respected colleague, devoted husband, surgical pioneer, and legendary collector, emerged from a tragic childhood as an ambitious young physician who would leave a permanent imprint on medical education (Fig. 1). Dr. Mutter is best known in the Philadelphia area for the museum of medical curiosities, which bears his name. Overflowing with various medical memorabilia, anatomical and pathological specimens, casts, models, watercolors, and historical instruments, the Mutter Museum often overshadows the numerous other contributions Dr. Mutter made during his shortened life.1 A quote from Henry Brooks Adams is quite apropos, ‘‘A teacher affects eternity; he …