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CLICK HERE FOR VIDEOS OF THE 2018 SCHWARTZ SYMPOSIUM LECTURES
CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO PAGE OF THE 2018 RICHARD SCHWARTZ MEMORIAL LECTURE AND SURGICAL SYMPOSIUM

The General Surgery residency programs at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville competed in a resident skills competition during the annual meeting of the Kentucky Chapter of the American College of Surgeons on Friday afternoon, October 12. The University of Louisville prevailed as overall competition champion, but individual winners were evenly split between the two programs.

Link to the UKnow article.
By Hilary Brown

UK HealthCare has opened the doors to a new, state-of-the-art simulation facility. The approximately 7,000 square feet space, located on the second floor of University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, will house technology needed for multidisciplinary training and research to advance patient safety and educate today's students and tomorrow's health care providers.

Jamie Ward, Undergraduate Medical Education Coordinator for the Department of Surgery, was honored as one of the top five finalists in the 2018 University of Kentucky Outstanding Staff Awards (OSA) on Tuesday afternoon in a special ceremony at the Woodford Reserve Club in Kroger Field.
The UK Outstanding Staff Awards are sponsored by the UK Office of the President and the UK Staff Senate to recognize the professional accomplishments of staff across the university and the work of their colleges and units.

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The fifth annual Richard W. Schwartz Memorial Lecture and Surgical Symposium will welcome Dr. Michael Edwards, chair of the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Surgery, as its special guest to deliver the Schwartz Memorial Lecture. The annual event will be held at a new location, the Karpf Auditorium in Pavilion A, on Thursday, October 18 from 1:00 – 5:00 pm.

The UK Cardiothoracic Surgery residency ran a wet lab to work with the latest surgical technology in the Center for Advanced Training and Simulation (CATS) lab last September. The wet lab was run by Sean Johnson, MD, and Michael Bolanos, MD, chief residents of the CT Fellowship and I-6 residency programs
The wet lab was sponsored Medtronic, one of the global leaders in medical device and technology development.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine invites applications for the position of chair of the Department of Surgery. The College of Medicine seeks a visionary chair with demonstrated leadership abilities, a strong record in academic medicine, with administrative experience as a division chief or program/center director who could provide strong leadership skills as a listener, decision-maker, humanist and effective advocate for the Department of Surgery and its faculty.

The first presentation of the "Hangin' With Zwisch" research colloquiums for 2018-19 will feature an update on the work of two general surgery residents as well as a tour of the Center for Advanced Training and Simulation (CATS Lab) by the lab manager.
Dr. Roberto Batista will present "Forskolin, a cAMP activator, potential inducer of melanization and DNA repair from UV-B induced DNA injury on Mc1r heterozygous skin."
Dr. Tong Gan will present "PTPRF, a potential novel target for colorectal cancer."

By Kristi Willett
(Aug. 24, 2018) ̶ The executive committee of University of Kentucky Board of Trustees on Aug. 23 approved a plan for UK HealthCare to expand outpatient care throughout the Bluegrass and increase surgical capacity through a joint venture for Lexington Surgery Center.
The joint venture, with UK HealthCare as the majority partner, is with Surgical Care Affiliates, LLC (SCA), the current majority owner of Lexington Surgery Center and part of health services leader Optum.

By Michael McGill
The Kentucky State Loan Repayment Program (KSLRP) is now accepting applications for 2018-2019.
The KSLRP is a loan repayment assistance program that helps to recruit and retain health care providers in rural and underserved communities across the state. Applicants selected to participate in the competitive program agree to work full time for two years providing primary care services at an eligible site located in a Health Professional Shortage Area. Participants receive tax-free student loan repayment for their service commitment.

By Allison Perry
The University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center has named a new chief of surgical oncology. Dr. Joseph Kim is board certified in surgical oncology and specializes in the treatment of hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal cancers.

Dr. Lesley Wong officially took over as the new Director of the UK Plastic Surgery Residency Program in July 2018.
The transition to the leadership role has been an education by itself. Fortunately, Dr. Wong said that she has the benefit and support of Jan Mock, Plastic Surgery Residency Coordinator, to train her for the job. Ms. Mock has been coordinator of the residency program for well over 20 years and knows well the details involved in managing the graduate medical education program.

UK THORACIC SURGERY FELLOW
Mansi Shah, MD
Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
Residency: University of North Carolina

The new class of surgical interns for 2018 began their term with the University of Kentucky in July. In the Department of Surgery, there were six new categorical interns in general surgery, two new residents in Plastic Surgery, and a new resident in Cardiothoracic Surgery's I-6 program.
Click here for information on General Surgery Categorical Interns and Residents.

By Kristi Willett
(See story and other breaking news on UKnow)
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 14, 2018) — UK HealthCare’s University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital remains the No. 1 hospital in Kentucky and the Bluegrass Region, according to the 2018 U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals Rankings released today.

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) awarded Dr. Tessa London a scholarship to participate in the James L. Cox Fellowship in atrial fibrillation surgery. She is one of only seven surgeons selected to participate in this fellowship training in 2018.
By Loretta Stafford, UKnow
Click here for the story on UKnow

At the end of June, Department of Surgery chief residents and fellows will transition to advanced training or begin their professional surgical practice.
Among the 2018 class, the Department of Surgery will welcome two into faculty positions in Vascular Surgery and the division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Kentucky will also gain a practicing general surgeon and plastic surgeon out of this class.

During the 2018 Surgery Teaching Awards program Wednesday morning, May 30, The UK Department of Surgery paid special tribute to Dr. David Victor, a retiring vascular and general surgeon from Morehead, Kentucky.