The Cutting Edge Fall 2008

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At the Cutting Edge of Surgical Excellence t is my great pleasure to introduce department has taken a leading role in the Ithe first issue of At the Cutting Edge application to general surgery of robotic — newsletter for the Department of technologies, already widely used in urology Surgery at the University of Illinois at and gynecology. Currently a true revolution Chicago. As the new Head of the is taking place at UIC. Complex procedures Department of Surgery, I am partic- such as hepatectomy, Whipple’s, lung resec- ularly proud to share with you the tion, mediastinal tumor excision, and gastric recent achievements of our surgical staff. The resection are routinely done in a minimally department has some of the most talented invasive fashion thanks to the genius of surgeons in the country, in line with a Professor Giulianotti and the most advanced remarkable tradition of excellence. robotic technology. The opening of the The Department of Surgery at the “Advanced Robotic Training Center” will University of Illinois was brought to the fore- allow Professor Giulianotti and his team to front by Warren H. Cole, who was the contribute to the robotic training of other Department Head between 1936 and 1966. faculties and our surgical residents. An In those years, the Department of Surgery impressive number of surgical leaders from was ranked within the top five in the country. the USA, Europe and Asia are currently com- His successor was Lloyd M. Nyhus, Head of ing to Chicago to learn from the best in the Department of Surgery from 1967 to robotic surgery. 1989, one of the foremost surgeons of his time. Professor Nyhus has been a pioneer in ISLET TRANSPLANT PROGRAM gastro-intestinal and hernia surgery and the Under the leadership of José Oberholzer, our author of the most popular surgical technique Islet Transplant Program has achieved textbook, Master of Surgery. Finally, the national and international acclaim. Currently, leader of the Department of Surgery between three phase-three clinical trials in islet trans- 1990 and 2007 was Herand Abcarian, one of plantation (two sponsored by NIH and the the most relevant colorectal surgeons of our other by our own philanthropic “Chicago times. Professor Abcarian is currently very Diabetes Project”) and one phase-two trial are active clinically within our department and ongoing at University of Illinois. Remarkably, represents a great source of support and the UIC program has achieved insulin-inde- advice for everyone. pendence for several patients affected by It is a daunting task and a great honor for labile type one diabetes with single donor islet me to be called to continue the work of such transplant, using a novel protocol pioneered giants of American surgery. I will surely com- at UIC. mit all my energies and enthusiasm to the As you will go through our newsletter, task. you will find that a lot more is going on in While all the divisions of the Department our department. I am looking forward to of Surgery have great faculty and outstanding updating you twice a year regarding this traditions, I would like to feature two of our impressive group of professionals. truly unique programs: Sincerely, ROBOTIC SURGERY Enrico Benedetti MD, FACS The prestigious recruitment of Pier Cristoforo Giulianotti, Lloyd M. Nyhus Warren H. Cole Chair in Surgery Professor and Head Professor of Surgery, as director of General, Department of Surgery Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery, the University of Illinois at Chicago DOSNL-FALL08b 11/12/08 9:46 PM Page 2

division of general, minimally invasive and robotic surgery Pioneering the Robotic Surgery Frontier obotic surgery is a state of the art approach to solving the compli- Rcations of the minimally invasive surgery. In 2000 few innovative minds took the challenge and allowed themselves to explore the break- through surgical possibilities that this new Da Vinci Surgical System had to offer. They established a niche of professionals who dedicated their time to a vision of the future. They were followed by patients that realized the incredible benefits that a robotic approach, versus an open traditional one, can bring in most of the surgical procedures. Dr. Pier C. Giulianotti, a pioneer in robotic surgery, who understood that is not just another way to operate but a much better option in many circumstances, joined The University of Illinois at Chicago, a little over a year ago. With him on board, in a relatively short time, “The possibility of offering all patients, especially transplant donors, a UIC has developed the largest robotic general surgery program in the perfect minimally invasive operation, increasing the accuracy of the United States. With an incredible diversity of procedures performed resection while minimizing operative risk and blood loss, is a major at UIC by the team of surgeons led by Dr. Giulianotti, UIC is num- step forward” said Dr. Giulianotti. ber one in general surgery. The University of Illinois at Chicago has been on the forefront of Furthermore, Dr. Giulianotti and his surgical team take pride in lead- innovative technology performing the highest number of robotic gen- ing the way in performing complex operations. eral surgery procedures not only in the Chicago land area but the entire nation. These are only a few examples of the extraordinary nature of the team that Dr. Giulianotti is building here at UIC: the worlds first ever robot- The field of surgery is constantly evolving, and permanently chang- ic pancreatectomy; the first fully robotic whipple in the Midwest (Dr. ing. The laparoscopic technique has revolutionized the field of surgery Giulianotti personally performed the world’s first-ever robotic whipple in the nineties. Robotic Surgery takes its turn to change the paradigm while still in Italy); the world’s first robotic right hepatectomy for once again. And we are proud to be part of this extraordinary trans- living donor transplantation. formation. Advanced Robotic Research and Training Laboratory n April the Advanced Robotic Research and Training Laboratory It is an UIC now has the only robotic training center in Iwas inaugurated. It has since brought to UIC, several teams of sur- the Midwest region, a center that puts geons interested in specialized complex robotic training. Dr. Pier C. opportunity University of Illinois at Chicago, among the top Giulianotti and his team of surgeons within The Division of to explore the chosen medical institutions when it comes to General Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery are actively par- unlimited general surgery. ticipating in various training programs, be it for students, residents, Within the field, UIC has the equipment and national and international surgeons seeking to learn the art of possibilities of medical professionals to train America’s future robotic surgery. research. generation of surgeons. And we do. The grand opening event aligned a list of speakers that in their own way set a stone that paved the road to this day. Mr. Bruno Pasquinelli, the benefactor to whom we will always be grateful. Dean Joseph Flaherty, MD believes in robotic surgery and sup- ports its presence at UIC. Three patients’ heartfelt testimonials informed the audience about this innovative, state-of-the-art technology. Dr. Enrico Benedetti, Head of the Department of Surgery, brought together an outstanding robotic surgeon and a medical institution open to his new approach. Dr. Pier C. Giulianotti, spoke about his vision of the future, that has now put UIC at the top of the charts. The Advanced Robotic Research and Training Laboratory is an open door to learning, discovering new techniques and attracting new students eager to be a part of this revolutionary approach. It is an opportunity to explore the unlimited possibilities of research. It is a tool, for our surgeons to take one step fur- ther and discover robotic surgery and its benefits. It is the com- mon denominator for professional advancement, patient satisfac- tion and prestige.

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division of cardiothoracic surgery TOTALLY ROBOTIC LOBECTOMIES FOR LUNG CANCER UIC Surgeons Perform Another Illinois First atients diagnosed with lung cancer may ering nicely at home. Pbenefit from a minimally invasive robotic “In our clinical experience, procedure that requires only a few small inci- the benefits to the patient are sions instead of a large open chest incision to substantial,” said Dr. remove a cancerous growth in the lung. Giulianotti, “including Surgeons at the University of Illinois Medical reduced trauma and improved Center at Chicago are performing robotic- immunological function after assisted lung resection surgery using the surgery.” Intuitive da Vinci Surgical System for patients This was Oliver’s second who would otherwise need traditional thora- robotic surgery in less than a cotomy through a standard large incision in month. Surgeons at UIC also the chest wall and the separation or cutting of removed an adrenal gland ribs to access the lungs. tumor, unrelated to her lung cancer, a few weeks prior to her Advanced technologies allow precise physician control over robotic surgical procedures. “New Era in Treatment” robotic lung surgery. The surgical The robotic lung team can be reached through “This is a new era in the treatment of lung can- team involved in Oliver’s care included UIC toll free hot line 1-888-IL-HEART. cer,” said Dr. Pier Cristoforo Giulianotti, Giulianotti, Dr. Fabio Sbrana, Professor University of Illinois Cardio- Lloyd M. Nyhus Professor of Norman J. Snow, and Dr. Edgar G. thoracic Surgery Group; 1-312-996-4942. Surgery and Chief of the division of minimal- Chedrawy. ly invasive, general and robotic surgery at the University of Illinois Medical Center at WELCOME TO OUR NEW FACULTY Chicago, who has performed the first robotic The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery is glad to announce the appointment of Dr. Sunil lung resection for cancer in 2002. Professor Prasad as Assistant Professor of Surgery and the Surgical Director of UIC's Center for Giulianotti has since performed more than 35 Arrhythmia Surgery. Dr. Prasad is a native of Chicago. He attended the University of anatomic robotic lung resections. Chicago Laboratory School and St. Norbert's Grade School. He attended Duke University “Robotic technology allows us to maneu- Graduate School. After receiving his medical degree from UIC, he completed a general sur- ver in the rigid anatomy of the chest to remove gery residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital / Washington University in St. Louis. During that cancerous lesions and lymph nodes in difficult- time, Dr. Prasad spent two years in the research laboratory working on an NIH training grant, performing innovative research in robotics and atrial fibrillation. He then completed his cardiothoracic surgery training at Barnes to-reach areas. This less traumatic procedure Hospital/ Washington University prior to joining UIC in July of 2007. Dr. Prasad has several peer-reviewed significantly reduces blood loss, pain, scarring publications, including the lead authorship on the first FDA robotic surgery trial study in the U.S. He also and recovery time.” helped develop the current technology used in atrial fibrillation surgery. His clinical interests include cardiac sur- Robotic lung resection is performed using gery, atrial fibrillation surgery and robotic surgery. surgical instruments that are introduced The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery would like to announce the appointment of Dr. through special ports and attached to the Edgar Chedrawy as Assistant Professor and director of the Center for Aortic Surgery at UIC. robotic arms of the surgical system. A sur- After graduating from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a Doctor of geon, seated at a console several feet away Medicine in 1997, he joined McGill University in Montreal Quebec to pursue a Masters of from the patient, precisely controls the wrist- Science degree working on stem cell research and gene therapy as they relate to the heart like instrumentation inside the patient while under the mentorship of Dr. Ray Chiu a world pioneer in the field. In 2002, Dr. Chedrawy viewing fine structures of the anatomy in 3D. completed his residency training in cardiac surgery at McGill University and was elected to “A number of patients are eligible for this the fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. In 2003, Dr. Chedrawy joined Stanford University as a clinical fellow in cardiopulmonary transplantation and mechanical circulatory support. procedure even if the cancer is not caught at an early stage,” said Dr. Malek G. Massad, Continued page 9 UIC Professor and Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. More Americans die each year from lung The Center for Atrial Fibrillation cancer than from any other cancer, according The Atrial Fibrillation Center was created by specialized members of the Division of Cardiothoracic to the American Cancer Society. In Illinois, Surgery and the section of Cardiology for the comprehensive Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. At an estimated 6,690 people will die of lung the Atrial Fibrillation Center, a team of Cardiac Electrophysiologists (EP), Nurse Practitioners, cancer in 2007. Research Coordinators, Cardiac Surgeons, and the EP Lab Staff are dedicated to the treatment of Catherine Oliver, 62, of Chicago had the Atrial Fibrillation. Patients will be seen by both an electrophysiologist specialist and an Arrhythmia right upper lobe of her lung removed by robot- Surgeon. The treatment for each patient is individualized and taken into account the severity and frequen- ic surgery at UIC on Sept. 19th. She was dis- cy of symptoms, risk of thromboembolic events, overall cardiac function, and other comorbid conditions. charged from the hospital a few days later with The medical treatment of atrial fibrillation consists of attempts to cardiovert the patient chemically and/or little pain or physical limitations and is recov- Continued page 9

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division of colon and rectal sugery

NEW FACULTY MEMBER: DR. MARK SINGER COLORECTAL DIVISION PERFORMS Dr. Marc Singer is our newest member to the Division FIRST ROBOTIC COLORECTAL PROCEDURE AT UIC of Colon and Rectal Surgery. He attended the The first robotic colorectal procedure at UIC was performed under the University of Illinois, College of Medicine at Chicago leadership of Leela Prasad, M.D. with his robotic team. The robotic where he obtained his doctorate of medicine degree and team consisted of graduated AOA. The UIC General Surgery Residency Jose R. Cintron, Program was then fortunate enough to recruit Dr. M.D., former Chief Singer for a total of eight years. Dr. Marc Singer spent of the Division of five years in the clinical program and three years in research with the Colon and Rectal Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at UIC. He then secured a Surgery at UIC, Colon and Rectal Residency training position at one of the most pres- Marc Singer, M.D. tigious programs in the U.S. under the tutelage of James Fleshman, and Slavi Marecik, M.D. at Washington University and Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. Dr M.D. Singer’s areas of interest include: minimally invasive colon and rectal surgery, robotic colon and rectal surgery, colorectal cancer, complex The da Vinci-S high anorectal diseases, surgery for inflammatory bowel diseases, pelvic floor definition system disorders, fecal incontinence, diverticulitis, chronic constipation, was utilized to per- anorectal ultrasound, and anal manometry. He is currently the form a robotic right Director of the UIC Pelvic Floor Center. hemicolectomy. This robotic system PELVIC FLOOR CENTER TO MOVE TO is the world’s first OUT PATIENT CARE CENTER robotic system with 3D high definition After many years of being located in the University of Illinois Hospital, vision. The da what was known as the “Incontinence Control Service” in the past has Vinci-S sytem pro- changed its name to “The Pelvic Floor Center.” In addition to a name vides a large range of change, the Pelvic Floor Center will get a new facelift and move its motion for the location to the 3F clinic in the Outpatient Care Center. These rooms robotic arms with will be newly renovated and will be equipped with the latest biofeed- extended length back equipment available. The Pelvic Floor Center is under the direc- instruments, which enable multi-quadrant access and hence improved torship of Dr. Marc Singer and manages a number of disorders includ- usability in colorectal procedures in comparison to the first generation ing but not limited to: robot. Since this procedure, other robotic colorectal surgeries have • Rectal prolapse • Incontinence been successfully performed including robotic sigmoid colectomy, robotic APR, and robotic LAR. We will continue to expand the da • Constipation • Rectocele, sigmoidocele, enterocele Vinci robotic system for a variety of colorectal procedures and will also • Pelvic floor disorders (anismus, outlet obstruction, etc.) be involved in clinical and research projects in the robotic lab. • Levator syndrome • Biofeedback Dr. Leela Prasad is Clinical Professor of Surgery, Chief of the • Anal manometry • Endoanal ultrasound Division and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs at University of Illinois at Procedures which may be recommended or performed by the Pelvic Chicago, College of Medicine. Floor Center include anoscopy, colonoscopy, endoanal ultrasound, examination under anesthesia, anal manometry, pudendal nerve studies, EMG, colon transit study, defecography, abdominal X-rays, CT CHICAGO MAGAZINE RECOGNIZES “TOP DOCS” Scans, urodynamics, bowel management program, and electrogalvanic Congratulations to the faculty from the Department of Surgery who stimulation. appeared in the list of “Chicago’s Top Doctors” January issue of RUSSELL DELIVERS FIRST ABCARIAN LECTURE Chicago Magazine: HERAND ABCARIAN (Colon & Rectal Surgery), MARK HOLTERMAN (Pediatric Surgery), MIMIS COHEN (Plastic On October 10, 2007 Dr. Thomas R. Russell, executive director of the Surgery) and Enrico Benedetti (Surgery). American College of Surgeons gave the first Herand Abcarian named lecture at the 93rd Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, New Orleans, La. CASTLE CONNOLLEY NAMES UIC SURGEONS It is a rare circumstance that a named lecture is AMONG TOP DOCTORS approved by the Board of Regents of the College for a living surgeon. This is testament to the world- NATIONAL TOP DOCTORS 2007 included Herand Abcarian, renowned reputation of our illustrious past department Enrico Benedetti, Mark J. Holterman. NATIONAL TOP DOCTORS head and professor emeritus, Herand Abcarian, M.D. The lecture IN CANCER 2007, Herand Abcarian. REGIONAL TOP which was given by Dr Thomas Russell on “Surgical Mentoring” was DOCTORS 2007: Abcarian, Benedetti, Cohen, Holterman, Massad, sponsored by the Advisory Council for Colon and Rectal Surgery. Sharifi, Vitello. BEST DOCTORS IN AMERICA, Abcarian.

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division of pediatric surgery Leading the Effort to Combat Adolescent Morbid Obesity he division of Pediatric Surgery is leading the nationwide effort to autoimmune diabetes. (Diabetes; 2007, 56:2251-2259). Dr. Vasu also Tgain approval for the use of the band for adolescent morbid obesity. continues to develop innovative techniques to control the immune sys- The division currently has the second largest clinical experience in the tem in an antigen-specific way and to understand the immune tolerance country with adolescents and the band. The New Hope Project for the mechanism. In collaboration with Dr. Holterman, and Dr. Prabhakar, treatment of pediatric and adolescent obesity recently completed Head of Microbiology Immunology at UIC, the team recently published enrolling 26 patients for an industry sponsored multi-institutional FDA two research articles on their work in the Journal of Immunology. study on the use of the laparoscopic adjustable band for the treatment of Dr.Vasu’s collaboration with Dr. Bongarzone, Department of Anatomy morbidly obese adolescents. These patients will be followed closely for and Cell Biology, on neurodegenerative diseases has recently led to an the next five years to monitor the safety and efficacy of this surgical important publication in the Journal of Neuroscience. approach for these children. We continue to see many new patients espe- Dr. Sundararajan Jayaraman has developed a novel technique to deter- cially after the New Hope Project was featured on the “Jim Lehrer News mine the viability and function of human insulin-producing pancreatic Hour” last fall and recently one of our patients was featured on the beta cells by flow cytometry. This study will be published in the Journal Oprah Winfrey show. of Cytometry. Dr. Sundararajan Jayaraman has also collaborated with Dr. Research in the Division of Pediatric Surgery runs the gamut from basic Bellur Prabakhar on a recent study published in the Journal of Genomics science studies on methods of inducing antigen-specific control of the on the gene expression profiles of human peripheral blood mononuclear immune system, to stem cell therapy for diabetes, to clinical trials on the cells responding to environmental toxicants. use of the adjustable gastric band for adolescent morbid obesity. Assistant Dr. Mark Holterman’s research team, comprised of Dr. Jayaraman; Dr. Professor Chenthamarakshan Vasu, PhD was recently awarded a three- Yong Zhao, UIC Department of Internal Medicine; and Dengping Yin year JDRF grant to study the trafficking properties of autoreactive T cells of Vanderbilt University; are studying the therapeutic potential of in the bone marrow. His team has recently published a research article on umbilical cord stem cells to facilitate islet cell transplantation. This proj- preferential trafficking of autoreactive T cells in the bone marrow in ect is supported by the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute. WELCOME NEW PEDS FACULTY AINHOA COSTAS, M.D. GENERAL SURGERY — Pursuing a Hand Please join in welcoming two Fellowship. PHILIP CHANG, new pediatric surgeons to help RESIDENCY PROGRAM M.D. — with our expanding practice in Recipient of the Division of Pediatric Surgery: The residency program recently had one of its best 2007-2008 AOA matches over the past ten years. Everyone was pleased Clinical Teaching Robert Arensman, M.D. Award for excel- with the match results — a testament to the ongoing lence in the clin- trained as a UIC resident and competitive status of our program. The following names ical instruction of formerly was the Surgeon in and their medical school of origin are listed below: medical students. Chief at the Children’s MATCHED INTERNS: PHILIP CHANG, M.D. — “Diminishing Memorial Hospital here in ARIANE M. ABCARIAN, M.D. — Eastern Virginia Operative Burn Chicago. Along with his Medical School, email [email protected] Experience During partner, Sri Pillai, M.D., who WEN-TING JEFFREY CHIAO, M.D. — University of General Surgery Pittsburgh email [email protected] trained under Dr. Arensman at Residency: Is Additional Training Needed to Practice WISSAM J. HALABI, M.D. — American University of Children’s, they currently com- Burn Surgery?” Second Place in 2007 American Beirut, email [email protected] College of Surgeons Committee on prise the Division of Pediatric NATHANIEL KOO, M.D. – University of Illinois at Trauma Regional Paper Competition. Surgery at the John Stroger, Jr. Chicago, email [email protected] DUSTIN FANCIULLO, M.D. — Recipient of 2007-2008 Hospital. They also practice at DACIA A. PICKERING, M.D. — Cornell University Weill AOA Clinical Teaching Award for excellence in the St. Alexius Hospital in subur- Medical College, email [email protected] clinical instruction of medical students. CRISTINA M. THORSEN, M.D. — University of Illinois ANTONIO GANGEMI, M.D. — “Potential Utility of ban Hoffman Estates. Their at Chicago, email [email protected] Exenatide in Islet Transplantation: the UIC Protocol,” clinical expertise and enthusi- presented at the Chicago Surgical Society meeting, asm for teaching will be wel- GRADUATING CLASS OF 2008 March 6, 2008. come additions to our growing KENDRA GRUBB, M.D. — Recipient of a 2008 Looking GIDEON MARESKY, M.D. — Starting a residency in to the Future Scholarship awarded by the Society of Division. Plastic Surgery at the Lahey Clinic. Thoracic Surgeons. Congratulations as well to Dr. ALLEN MIKHAIL, M.D. — Starting a residency in JOSE TREVINO, M.D. — Elected to AOA this year by the Ai-Xuan Holterman who has Minimally Invasive Surgery at The Cleveland Clinic. AOA Honor Society. recently become Chief of the JOSE TREVINO, M.D. — Starting a fellowship in JOSE TREVINO, M.D. — “A Genetic Expression Profile Surgical Oncology at Moffitt in Tampa, Florida. of Chemoresistant Pancreatic Cancer,” presented at the Division of Pediatric Surgery at American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association meet- DAVID HONG, D.O. — Starting a residency in Colon and ing in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, March 27-30, 2008. the Rush University Medical Rectal Surgery at SUNY Stony Brook. Center. Dr Holterman will VINIT VARU, M.D. — A recipient of the 2008 Seed Grant FERNANDO ELLI, M.D. — Joining the faculty at UIC in Research Program from the American Medical continue to provide call cover- the Minimally Invasive and Robotic Division. Association Foundation. age at UIC as needed.

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division of plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery Craniofacial Center Receives Generous Philanthropic Support

Medical Center John DeNardo and Medical Director Dr. William FACE THE FUTURE FOUNDATION Chamberlin. Proceeds of these events are used to provide state of the ace the Future Foundation was formed in 2007 as a 501(c) (3) tax- art multidisciplinary care for all our patients and for services not cov- Fexempt organization to raise funds and public awareness to support ered by insurance carriers. the Craniofacial Center at the University of Illinois Medical Center. The Craniofacial Center is one of the oldest and largest facilities of its GRANT RECEIVED FROM kind in the United States. It is dedicated to the comprehensive, mul- BIOMET CORPORATION tidisciplinary team approach for the care of patients with congenital The Biomet Corporation made a multi year research grant to the craniofacial conditions, craniofacial trauma, burns and head and neck Craniofacial Center in the total amount of $200,000. This funding will cancer. The Foundation organizes events to raise funds for the Center. go to support a 3d cone beam CT scanner for the CFC for research and After last year’s benefit, the Board of Directors of the Foundation pre- patient care. The cone beam CT scanner will allow the CFC staff to do sented the Center with a check for $110,000 to University of Illinois improved planning of its craniofacial, orthognathic, and oral and facial President Dr. Joseph White who was present at the ceremony. implant surgery cases. Operating room time will be reduced and surgi- This year’s sold out benefit was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in cal outcomes will be more predictable. The cone scanner has less radi- Chicago. Several members of the leadership of the University and ation exposure and a decreased scanning time than conventional CT Medical Center attended the event, including Interim Chancellor Eric scanners. This valuable instrument will be available to other depart- Gislason, PhD; former Chancellor Dr. Sylvia Manning; CEO of the ments/clinics at the Medical Center, as well as to outside facilities.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW FACULTY Dr. Mimis Cohen Elected Dr. Pravin Patel, Director of Craniofacial Surgery at University of Illinois at Chicago Medical Center was Vice President of the promoted to Full Professor with Tenure. He recently served as guest editor of the “Clinics in Plastic Surgery” American Society of and prepared a volume on orthognathic surgery. Dr. Patel was also elected and serves on the Board of Maxillofacial Surgeons Directors of the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Mimis Cohen, Professor and Chief of the Division of Plastic, Dr. David Morris recently joined the Division as an Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery, Assistant Professor. He is a graduate of Feinberg School was elected Vice President of the of Medicine (Northwestern), completed his General American Society of Maxillofacial Surgery training at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, his Surgeons. He also serves as the Plastic Surgery training at the University of Illinois at President-elect of the American Chicago Medical Center and a Craniofacial Fellowship at Chang Gung Medical Center in Taipei, Taiwan. Dr. Association of Pediatric Plastic Morris is Board Certified in Plastic Surgery and his Surgeons and the Warren H. Cole main clinical interests are pediatric and adult plastic sur- Society. Dr. Cohen was recently gery, including cleft lip and palate, craniofacial and named by Chicago magazine as one of orthognathic surgery. the Best Doctors of 2007.

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division of transplant surgery Oberholzer Selected as New Division Chief osé Oberholzer, MD, iary and pancreatic surgery and transplanta- National Institutes of Health, Juvenile JAssociate Professor of tion. Dr. Oberholzer was the Head of the Islet Diabetes Foundation, Efroymson Fund, Surgery, Endocrinology and Transplant Program at the University of Christopher Family Foundation, Bioengineering at the Geneva and the GRAGIL islet consortium Washington Square Health Care University of Illinois at from 1998 to 2002, completing a significant Foundation, Dr. Scholl Foundation, Grant Chicago (UIC) and Director of number of islet transplants. He has been head- Health Care Foundation, Tellabs the Islet and Pancreas ing UIC’s Islet Transplant Program since 2003. Foundation, Wrigley Foundation, and Transplant Program has been selected as the numerous other philanthropic benefactors. To date, the UIC islet transplant program new Chief of the Division of Transplantation. Dr. Oberholzer is the coordinator of the has performed over 250 human islet isola- He has extensive experience in clinical and Chicago Diabetes Project, an international tions for both transplant and research and experimental islet transplantation, abdominal effort for a functional cure of diabetes. The has successfully completed a phase 1/2 trial organ transplantation, as well as advanced Chicago Diabetes Project is a public non- with 10 patients. UIC is a federally funded hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. Dr. for-profit coalition of international experts islet cell resource center and provides islet Oberholzer is also an expert in advance mini- in a wide variety of domains that are impor- mally invasive and robotic surgery of abdomi- preparation for researchers around the tant to find a functional cure for diabetes. nal organs. He trained at the University of world. UIC is the first center in the US to This effort is funded through grants and Geneva, Switzerland, as well as at the have started a phase-three licensure trial in philanthropic donations and was initiated University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, clinical islet transplantation. with a seed grant by the Washington Square where he completed a fellowship in hepatobil- Dr. Oberholzer’s research is funded by the Health Foundation.

Established in 1968, the Division of Transplant Surgery’s pioneer spirit has sustained the transplant program for almost 40 years, motivating unique and advanced procedures that stand as landmarks in the history of transplantation.

TransplantSurgery We are pleased to announce Living Donor Organ Transplantation, the first comprehensive textbook on organ transplantation. Authored FastFacts by Enrico Benedetti, MD, FACS and Rainer Gruessner, MD, the hardcover book was published by McGraw-Hill Professional in First living donor kidney-pancreas transplant in Illinois (1997) January 2008. See page 10 for a review. First adult-to-adult living donor liver transplant in US (1998) First coronary artery bypass and liver transplant in the same setting (1998) First adult living donor bowel transplant in Illinois (1998) First robotic donor nephrectomy for living donor kidney transplant in the world (2000) First liver and small bowel transplants from same living donor into same recipient worldwide (2004) First combined living donor liver-bowel transplant in the world (2005) First robotic hepatectomy in the US (2005) First paired donation in Illinois for ABO incompatible kidney transplant (2006) First robotic donor pancreatectomy for living donor pancreas transplant in the world (2006) Largest experience in Illinois in living donor kidney transplantation across ABO incompatibility and/or positive cross-match Largest living donor intestinal transplant program worldwide One of two programs worldwide offering living donors for all abdominal organs: kidney liver, pancreas, intestine, combined liver/bowel, combined kidney/pancreas Only program offering combined, liver/bowel living donor transplant from parent to child less than five years of age

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division of vascular sugery Section of Wound Healing and Tissue Repair Created he Section of Wound Healing and Tissue Repair has been created within the Division of Vascular Surgery. THeaded by Dr. William J. Ennis (shown at left), the program is the first academic based wound program to offer a one year clinical fellowship in wound care in the United States. This pioneering fellowship was high- lighted at a three day conference, entitled “Wound Care; Specialization, Science and Technology,” held July 17- 19 in Oak Brook, IL. The conference was co-sponsored by the University of Illinois College of Medicine and chaired by Dr. Ennis. It boasted a world class faculty and attracted 850 attendees from 43 states and 10 coun- tries. Information about the program can be reviewed at the conference web site, www.woundcaresst.com. Dr. Ennis will be establishing clinical trials in wound healing and collaborating with the established basic science focused Wound Repair and Regeneration Center located in the School of Dentistry and headed by Drs. Luisa DiPietro and Philip Marucha. Dr Wesley Valdes, a graduate of the UIC Internal Medicine program, has joined the department as a faculty member. Dr Valdes was instrumental in helping Dr. Ennis develop the pilot fellowship program and is credited with being the first graduate of a formal clinical wound care fellowship in the country. Patients can be seen at the wound clinic at St. James Olympia Fields hospital by calling (708) 679-2473. Inpatient wound consults are currently available at Advocate Christ hospital, St. James Chicago Heights, and St. James Olympia Fields hospital. Sub acute wound care is provided at Crestwood Care center in Crestwood IL. The program will be opening both outpatient and inpatient wound care at UIC this year. Above — attendees at the July 2008 Wound Care SST Education Session.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW FACULTY graduated from the State University of New and completed his General Surgery residency at York at Stony Brook and earned his medical the University of Illinois at Chicago. He subse- We are pleased to introduce additions to the fac- degree at the New York College of Osteopathic quently completed vascular surgical fellowship ulty in the Division of Vascular Surgery, enabing Medicine. He is board certified in general sur- training at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New us to expand coverage and services to off campus gery, vascular surgery and family medicine. Dr. practices sites. York. Dr. Morcos is board certified in General Ennis is the Head of the Section of Wound Surgery and board eligible in Vascular Surgery. Martin Borhani, MD is an Associate Professor Healing and Tissue Repair within the Division He has privileges at Advocate Christ Medical of Clinical Surgery and Chief, Division of of Vascular Surgery at the University of Illinois Center, Advocate Trinity Hospital, the Jesses Vascular Surgery at the University of Illinois at at Chicago. He is Medical Director of the Brown VA Medical Center and Advocate Chicago. He completed his general surgery res- Comprehensive Wound and Disease Illinois Masonic Medical Center. idency at the University of Illinois at Chicago Management Center at St. James Hospital, and vascular surgical fellowship training at Olympia Fields campus, and the Sub-Acute Wesley Valdes, DO specializes in wound care Washington University, St. Louis. Dr. Borhani Wound Unit at Crestwood Care Center. Dr. and tissue repair. He completed the world's first is board certified in general surgery and vascular Ennis is President of the Association for the clinical fellowship in this field at Advocate surgery and has extensive experience in all Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) and Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL. His research aspects of vascular and endovascular interven- was recently named Chairman of the Scientific focuses on advanced wound care treatments, tions. Dr. Borhani is medical director of the Advisory Board for the Department of Defense quality and efficiency strategies for hospital- Vascular Center at Advocate Trinity Hospital Combat Wound Initiative. In addition to the based wound care programs, and utilizing and maintains privileges at Advocate Christ University of Illinois, he is on staff at St. James remote patient care technologies to improve Medical Center, Oak Lawn, and Little Hospital, Chicago Heights and Olympia Fields, patient care. He teaches the Integration, Company of Mary Hospital, Evergreen Park. In and Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn. Interoperability, & Standards class for addition, he has recently joined the staff at Omar C. Morcos, MD is an Assistant Professor Northwestern University's masters program in Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. of Clinical Surgery at the University of Illinois Medical Informatics and speaks internationally William J. Ennis DO, MBA is a Professor of at Chicago. He graduated from the University on applying clinical informatics to improve Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago. He of Illinois at Rockford, College of Medicine, patient outcomes.

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Translational Research We welcome Dr William Ennis, Professor of support from the Department of Health and Surgery, Chief, Wound Healing and Tissue Repair, Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research who has recently initated a translational research and Development Authority (BARDA). In this laboratory in the Department of Surgery. His multi-million dollar contract, she will study the research focuses on unique advanced therapies to manipulation of the bone marrow microenviron- speed wound healing. He has investigated various ment using high dose pulse parathyroid hormone modes of mechanotransduction, which can simu- therapy (PTH). PTH is presently FDA approved to late normal pulsatile blood flow and re-establish treat osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. In adequate microvascular perfusion in revascularized this new application, PTH will be studied for its wounds which fail to heal. As a pioneer in the use of ability to initiate hematopoietic stem cell renewal various scaffold therapy as well as modes of mechan- and proliferation, improved vascular repair, as well otransduction, treatment regimens he is presently increased production of mature hematopoietic ele- using clinically include negative pressure therapy, ments such as platelets. If successful, these studies electrical stimulation, ultrasound therapy, and other Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC, blue nuclei) shown above will be followed by a pivotal trial to secure a new energy-based modalities. His most recent line of diffusely distributed throughout matrix scaffolding, may IND with the FDA. investigation involves the direct introduction of provide a new method for accelerating wound healing. As part of her studies on hematopoietic stem cells mesenchymal stem cells within the wound. and their self-renewing properties, Dr Bartholomew Mesenchymal stem cells can reduce inflammation, Combat Wound Initiative, which is a joint program was also recently awarded an RC1 NIH grant. In participate in endothelial activation and repair, and between Bethesda Medical and Walter Reed. these murine studies, parathyroid hormone will be provide necessary elements of the extracellular Dr. Amelia Bartholomew, in collaboration with Dr. studied for its specific mechanisms on the differen- matrix at sites of injury. Dr Ennis serves as the chair- Alex Lyubimov of the Department of tiation of hematopoietic stem cells into the myeloid person of the scientific advisory board for the Pharmacology, has recently been awarded research and megakaryocyte lineages.

and devising a surgical approach to tion procedures. All of these operations sinus lesion, Electrophysiology ATRIAL FIBRILLATION ablate the arrhythmia and convert the were performed in conjunction with and a right atri- Specialists Continued from page 3 Avitall Boaz MD heart to regular sinus rhythm. Despite another concomitant procedure, most al isthmus electrically, but this is associated with Samuel Dudley, MD its high efficacy, however, the Cox commonly mitral valve replacement or lesion, as Abe Kocheril, MD a relatively low cure rate. When it fails Maze operation with the cut-and-sew repair. No operation was performed described Arrhythmia Surgery to achieve cardioversion, medical Specialists technique has not gained wide accept- for AF alone. The patients included 30 above. There Edgar Chedrawy, MD therapy consists of slowing the irregu- Malek Massad, MD ance because of the complexity of the women and 20 men, with an age range has been no lar ventricular rate with drugs such as Sunil Prasad, MD procedure and the length of time of 48 to 76 years. Three patients had operative mor- beta blockers and calcium channel required to perform it. In the last 10 concomitant coronary artery grafting, tality in this group, with all except for blockers and providing anticoagula- and 47 had concomitant mitral valve two patients resuming sinus rhythm. tion to prevent or minimize the risk years or so, several other alternatives have been developed, using various surgery. With the exception of a All patients were maintained on amio- of stroke; however, anticoagulation is darone for 6–12 months after the sur- forms of energy to achieve transmural patient who underwent surgical pul- associated with its own set of compli- monary vein isolation and one patient gical procedure, and the medication lesions without cutting and sewing, cations and sequelae. who had epicardially applied cryoabla- was discontinued after that. and with variable degrees of success. The fact that pharmacological therapy tion together with coronary bypass These include radiofrequency abla- For referrals to the UICMC Atrial of AF is at best 50% effective has led grafting, the other 48 patients had tion, microwave ablation, cryoabla- Fibrillation Center, the EP specialists to a search for surgical approaches over endocardial application of the energy tion, all of which are currently utilized and surgeons below can be reached the last 20 years. The approaches source to produce transmural lesions. through the UICMC toll free number developed during that time are based by UIC specialists to treat atrial fibril- The lesion set created in these 48 1-888-IL-HEART or through the UIC on the major contributions of Cox to lation refractory to medical therapy. patients consisted of ablation of the left Cardiothoracic Surgery Group office understanding the electrophysiologi- Over the past five years, UIC heart sur- atrial appendage, a left atrial isthmus number at 312-996-4942. cal mechanisms of atrial fibrillation geons performed 50 surgical AF abla- lesion with its attendant coronary

WELCOME Continued from page 3 Northwestern healthcare campus. In 2007, Dr. Chedrawy joined UIC to develop a program in aortic and minimally invasive cardiac surgery. As part of his clinical responsibil- At Stanford, he worked under the tutelage of several world leaders in the field of heart and ities, Dr. Chedrawy oversees UIC's off-campus cardiothoracic surgery prorgram at Louis lung transplantation and mechanical assist devices such as Bruce Reitz the first heart sur- Weiss Memorial Hospital. His expertise includes robotic surgery, surgery for atrial fibril- geon in the world to perform a combined heart-lung transplantation, Dr. Norman lation, complex coronary and heart valve repair and replacement surgery, and surgery for Shumway, the first U.S. heart surgeon to perform a successful human heart transplant in congestive heart failure. In addition, Dr. Chedrawy will continue his efforts in stem cell 1968, and Dr. Philip Oyer, the designer of the Novacor left ventricular assist device to research and gene therapy. By attracting Dr. Chedrawy to UIC and teaming him up with support the failing heart as a bridge to transplantation. Dr. Chedrawy also worked close- our basic science researchers in the field of cardiac physiology and molecular biology, the ly with Dr. Craig Miller, one of the world pioneers in perfecting the surgical technique of department's vision is to create a dream team of basic and clinical researchers to pursue aortic endograft stenting for repair of aortic aneurysms and dissections. He was recruit- solving vexing problems of the heart and the cardiovascular system first at the molecular ed by Northwestern University to join their team of cardiac experts at its Evanston level, then allow translation of the basic research work into the clinical arena.

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BOOK REVIEW spective by a pioneer in the field and followed by contri- This book also contains butions on concerns relevant to the donor and to the a discussion of future Living Donor Organ recipient and a cost analysis. Within each chapter on the alternatives to trans- donor, there are subsections on donor selection and on plantation from living Transplantation operative considerations, including perioperative care, donors as well as an out- donor morbidity and mortality, long-term outcome, and standing two-part socie- BY RAINER W.G. GRUESSNER, ENRICO BENEDETTI psychological considerations. There are similar subsec- tal discourse, which is Edited by Rainer W.G. Gruessner and Enrico Benedetti. tions within each recipient chapter, as well as several my favorite part. Part 1 791 pp., illustrated. New York, McGraw-Hill, 2008. $205. organ-specific discussions, such as a subsection address- discusses the ethical and ISBN 978-0-07-145549-7. ing “small-for-size grafts” in the section on the liver. The legal issues of using liv- As one who works in the field of transplantation, I find book is extremely well organized, and there is remarkably ing donors, including it hard not to be positively predisposed to a book that little redundancy. The operative descriptions are clear the effects of various begins with the dedication, “To all living donors for their enough to allow a nonsurgeon to follow them. religions and cultures vision and courage.” Living donors have always been cru- It is worth noting that within each organ section, there is on donation rates, written by members of those cultures. cial to transplantation. In the beginning, they were vital just as much — or in the cases of the sections on the Part 2 deals with paid legal and illegal organ donation and because preventing rejection depended on immunologic liver and intestine, three times as much — content explores aspects of financial incentives in a point-counter- relatedness rather than pharmacologic firepower. Today, devoted to the recipient as there is to the donor. This point fashion, including an assessment of the impact of the our immunosuppression armamentarium is much more would seem to confirm my belief that the information Internet. Especially thought provoking is Mark Cherry's powerful than it was at the beginning, and we regularly we currently use to reassure donors about the conse- consideration of the implications of adopting paid organ perform transplants between complete immunologic quences of their donation is not only incomplete but at donation as public health policy. strangers. And yet, living donation not only persists but times irrelevant — such as quoting survival data from Living Donor Organ Transplantation has much to recom- is growing in popularity, currently fueled by the success living kidney donors of the 1980s (who were usually mend it. Its publication is timely, since the bylaws regu- of organ transplantation and its superiority over other between 20 and 40 years of age) to the 60-year-old living lating UNOS living donation, requested by the therapies for end-stage organ failure. In Europe and donor of today. The United Network for Organ Sharing Department of Health and Human Services, were adopt- North America, two regions with sophisticated organ- (UNOS) — the U.S. transplant network — does not ed in September 2007. An excellent compendium of the exchange systems, the number of transplantable organs maintain data in its follow-up registry for living donors state of transplantation from living donors, this book will needed far exceeds the number available from deceased beyond 2 years. Many transplant centers do not see the be a valuable resource for the national network, trans- donors; for most of the world, living donation remains donor after an initial postoperative visit. Therefore, the plant centers, referring physicians, and potential living the only option. The editors of this book, Rainer remarkably candid and honest subsections that discuss donors. The composite bibliography from many noted Gruessner and Enrico Benedetti, recognize this reality. donor morbidity and mortality and the long-term out- transplant professionals is a treasure. Readers will save a The book addresses the use of living donors in the trans- comes for transplantation of each organ are a real lot of time searching in PubMed with this reference on plantation of the kidney, pancreas, islets, liver, and intes- strength of this book; for the purpose of enhancing their shelves. tine. The content in the sections on each of these organs informed consent, they should be required reading for all Patricia L. Adams, MD, Wake Forest University School is similar, beginning with an introductory historical per- potential living donors. of Medicine — Winston-Salem, NC.

SAVE THE DATE 5, 2009 FRIDAY, JUNE JONASSAN DR. OLGA SYMPOSIUM

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