UK Weight Loss Center earns national accreditation from ACS

Josh Steiner, MD, FACS, FASMBS, director of weight loss surgery at UK HealthCare, announced that the program has received national accreditation under the Metabolic an

Drs. Erin Wolf Horrell, Tim Horrell, Masashi Kawabori, Chris Howell, Helen Wei, and Leah Winer

Five of the department of surgery’s nine clinical divisions welcomed new faculty at the beginning of September. Among them are three UK College of Medicine alumni, two of whom also attended surgery residency programs, who chose to return to the university to teach residents and serve the needs of UK’s patients.

 

Dr. Walsh presenting

Danielle Walsh, MD, professor of surgery, was recently selected as a new fellow of the International Surgical Society (ISS). Dr. Walsh was one of eight surgeons selected worldwide for this prestigious fellowship, and the only woman among this year’s inductees. 

Howard Galbreath driving an ATV vehicle on his farm

By Ashley Scoby Monday, September 9
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Shaun Ring in a white coat.

University of Kentucky Markey Cancer CenterDirector B. Mark Evers, MD, has been elected to the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) Board of Directors.  

Trends in research awards over the last three years

Alongside news of a second record-setting year of grant awards and contracts at the University of Kentucky, the UK Department of Surgery’s Research Division reported a 94.3% increase in funding from FY23 to FY24.

Brittany Levy, MD in her white coat.

A University of Kentucky surgery resident and researcher has been selected to participate in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Regional Entrepreneurship Development

Michelle Zupancic stands outside wearing blue shirt with shoulder-length black hair.

With more than two decades of experience at the University of Kentucky, Michelle Zupancic has become the go-to person for all things related to recruiting and retaining international physicians at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and UK HealthCare. 

Travis Hughes, MD and Maria Ng, MD

New UK Department of Surgery faculty starting their practice in August include a University of Kentucky-trained vascular surgeon and the first clinical instructor in the inaugural year of the General, Endocrine, and Metabolic Surgery (GEMS) Division Fellowship.

Dr. Morgan Jones, Division of Surgical Oncology

Morgan Jones, MD, assistant professor and researcher in the University of Kentucky Division of Surgical Oncology, was selected as a recipient of a Career Development Award from the Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials Award Program.

Dakota St Pierre receives a scholarship check from PIE Co-Vice Chair Prakash Pandalai, MD and Department of Surgery Chair, Dr. William B. Inabnet III.

The UK Department of Surgery’s Professionalism, Integrity, and Equity (PIE) leadership announced in July that the first recipients of its Acting Internship Scholarship Award for 2024-2025 are Dakota St. Pierre and Michael Denning, Jr. 

Dr. Beth Stuebing shares her surgery experience with UK trauma team

Three recent additions to the UK Department of Surgery faculty this summer represent a significant step forward in the department’s commitment to develop and expand its global surgery initiatives. It is progress that has mutual benefit potential for surgery faculty and residents at UK and its partner institutions in eastern Africa.

promotions and tenure 2024

Congratulations to the following University of Kentucky College of Medicine faculty members who received promotions and/or were granted tenure this year. The following list includes faculty from basic science and clinical departments. It is organized alphabetically by department, then by last name.

Faculty Teaching Award Recipients

The UK Department of Surgery concluded the 2023-24 academic year in June with the presentation of its annual teaching awards. 

Dr. Matthia Loebe and Dr. Naureen Narula

Shortly after joining the UK Department of Surgery faculty, Matthias Loebe, MD, performed a successful double lung transplant.

The patient, a Kentucky resident in his 60s, had been diagnosed with coalminer lung/black lung disease. The transplant was performed over the course of an evening in early May.

Dr. Margaret Griffen with the family of Marley Curry, a trauma survivor

Families and UK trauma team members came together in mid-May for the second annual Trauma Survivor’s Celebration, sponsored by the UK HealthCare branch of the Trauma Survivor’s Network. The event paid tribute to patients who not only survived life-threatening trauma through treatment from UK’s Level 1 Trauma Center, but also overcame life-altering obstacles during their recovery.

The 2024 Graduating Residents

Preparing for their last weeks as residents and fellows, the 2024 Department of Surgery class shared their post-graduate plans. The majority of residents have matched into leading advanced surgery fellowships. Of those choosing to enter private practice, two have opted to stay and serve patients in the Lexington, Kentucky area.

Dr. Hannah McDonald, General Surgery Resident in Research year

Hannah McDonald, MD, a general surgery resident, earned her doctorate in clinical and translational science after a successful dissertation defense on May 15.

Dr. Mautin Barry-Hundeyin (left) and Kathleen O'Connor, PhD (right), are 2024 recipients of Markey Women Strong research grants

Mautin Barry-Hundeyin, MD, assistant professor in the division of surgical oncology, is one of two cancer researchers at the University of Kentucky selected as a recipient of the 2024 Markey Women Strong Distinguished Researcher Award.

Brooke Skaggs, PA-C is selected as new Director of APPs in Surgery

The UK College of Medicine Department of Surgery is pleased to announce that Brooke Skaggs, PA-C, has been named director of advanced practice providers (APPs), a new position within the department. Skaggs, who has served six years as an APP for the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery, will officially assume her new job duties on May 5.