SEPTEMBER, 2018

“ON THE CUTTING EDGE” NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY

Feature Stories:

DR. JONATHAN KEITH: First Phalloplasty in New Jersey

DR. STEPHANIE BONNE: Preventing Gun Violence is Personal

DR. JAMES GUARRERA: Liver Transplant DR. ANNE MOSENTHAL: Program Exceeds Progress Toward Expectations Strategic Vision

1 Contents

Honors & Awards Welcome Highlights

GOLDEN APPLE AWARD DR. ASHLEY IGNATIUK DR. HOSSEIN SADEGHI-NEHAD AOA HONORS DR. GORE DR. DUSTIN CUMMINGS DR. ADAM FOX PROMOTIONS DR. JOSEPH OLIVER DR. JESSICA ROUAN GRADUATES NEW RESIDENTS DR. ADAM FOX & DR. FRANK PADBERG WHERE ARE THEY NOW JONATHAN BATISTA

RETIREMENTS

On the Scene Speakers On a Personal Note

WASHINGTON ADVOCACY NATIONAL SPEAKERS AT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM GRAND ROUNDS

Have a great story to tell?

SHARE IT WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES: CONTACT DONNA SHORE, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CHAIR, [email protected]

SEPTEMBER, 2018 Inside this issue:

People doing

DR. JONATHAN KEITH: DR. ANNE MOSENTHAL: DR. STEPHANIE BONNE: First Phalloplasty Progress Toward Intervening with in New Jersey Strategic Vision gunshot victims in Page 16 Page 4 “teachable moments” Page 18

People doing

ALIKAH GREEN: DR. JAMES GUARRERA: Welcome New “Big Sister” Helps Liver Transplant Surgeons Gun Victims To Program Exceeds Page 6 New Path Expectations Page 20 Page 28

U.S. Senator Cory Booker Visits NJMS U.S. Senator Cory Booker, D- New Jersey, receives a “Gun Violence is a Public Health Issue” T-shirt from Dr. Stephanie Bonne during a visit to Rutgers NJMS. SEPTEMBER, 2018

OUR STRATEGIC VISION: To Raise the Rutgers NJMS Surgery Profile in the Region Through Research, Education, and Specialty Care

4 SURGICAL NOTES FROM THE CHAIR: Progress Toward Strategic Vision

By Anne Mosenthal, MD, FACS, Chair, Department of Surgery

I hope you share my excitement at the ongoing results of our journey to raise the regional profile of the Rutgers NJMS Department of Surgery as you will see in this newsletter.

As we expand the reach of our specialty practices out into We had many distinguished visiting professors the region, the department is seeing the impact of our efforts conduct Grand Rounds lectures this year, including to recruit more people who bring research and innovation an important talk on gun violence in The Dr. Eric such as Dr. James Guarrera. Since his arrival in February Muñoz Memorial Lecture given by Dr. Rochelle as Chief of Abdominal, Liver and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Dr. Dicker from UCLA and attended by New Jersey Guarrera has reinvigorated the Transplant program, Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz, wife of the late performing 20 liver transplants. Read more of the interview Dr. Muñoz. with Dr. Guarrera in this issue. We are excited to announce new physicians who The Rutgers Center for Transgender Health has performed are joining our team: hand surgeon Dr. Ashley gender affirming surgery on its first two patients, including Ignatiuk in Plastic Surgery, Dr. Dustin Cummings, the first phalloplasty in New Jersey. This is an exciting a minimally invasive surgeon and Dr. Joseph program for us, a collaborative center that will provide a full Oliver, one of our former graduates, in general spectrum of medical, psychiatric and surgical care for the surgery. transgender person. Read more in the story with program co-founder Dr. Jonathan Keith, assistant professor in We celebrated retirements of two longtime, stalwart the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. members of our faculty and wish farewell to Dr. Paul Bolanowski, and Dr. Anne Sheffet. As surgeons, especially in Trauma, we seek hope in efforts to reduce the impact of the epidemic of gun violence. Many I am extremely proud of our residents and they are of our colleagues participated in The Student Walkout featured throughout our newsletter. We graduated for Gun Violence Awareness in March. A new program another cohort of spectacular residents and you can within Trauma, led by Dr. Stephanie Bonne, is making see the amazing places where they are going next. gains in helping victims of gun violence find a new path. At the same time, we welcomed in the new class Read more about Dr. Bonne’s work and collaboration with —one of our most diverse groups and you can meet caseworker Alikah Green. them here.

Within the past year, we have begun work on integrating our I appreciate hearing story ideas from several of practices with University Hospital as an opportunity to focus you who reached out after the first issue of “On the on delivering a consistently high-quality experience with more Cutting Edge,” which you will see published. patient-centered care. To further enhance our capabilities, we are also launching a new performance improvement initiative.

5 Welcome New Surgery Department Physicians

Dr. Ashley Ignatiuk Brings “Wide Awake Hand Surgery”

Ashley Ignatiuk, MD, MSc, FRCSC Dr. Ignatiuk said he is excited about looks forward to bringing new capability “Wide awake hand the opportunities “to join a great group” in “wide awake” hand surgery and a surgery is more like as part of the Division of Plastic and brachial plexus clinic to the Division of going to the dentist Reconstructive Surgery. “They are Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery as doing fantastic stuff with trauma, cancer a primary specialist in hand and wrist using local anesthesia and burn reconstruction. I look forward surgery. He is an Assistant Professor for treatment of to test my skills with the type of cases of Plastic Surgery and an Attending at carpal tunnel and that come in.” University Hospital. trigger finger.” In addition to hand surgery for carpal Dr. Ignatiuk comes to Rutgers NJMS tunnel and trigger fingers, Dr. Ignatiuk Surgery from the University of Colorado “It is better for the patients and for will perform breast reconstruction, head Hospital in Denver. Board-certified me, they can participate and talk and neck reconstruction, and treat in Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery, with me during the surgery. It is more Raynaud’s Syndrome and Spasticity. he completed a Fellowship at the cost effective and has better patient University of Texas Southwestern outcomes,” Dr. Ignatiuk said. Medical School. He completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at In partnership with orthopedist Dr. the University of Western Ontario Michael Vosbikian, Dr. Ignatiuk said and earned his medical degree at the they will launch a brachial plexus and University of Saskatchewan College peripheral nerve clinic. “It will be a big of Medicine. part of limb restoration and limb salvage programs for high energy injuries such as in motorcycle crashes.” 6 Dustin Cummings, MD, M.P.H., Joseph Oliver, MD, M.P.H Asst. Bariatric Surgeon Professor, General Surgery

Dr. Dustin Cummings has joined the Former Administrative Chief Department of Surgery as Assistant Resident Dr. Joseph Oliver returns Professor, General Surgery. With to Rutgers NJMS Surgery after experience in bariatric surgery, Dr. a Fellowship at the University of Cummings will predominately provide Southern California. clinical services at New Bridge Medical Center, NBMC. Dr. Oliver, an Assistant Professor, General Surgery, will practice Dr. Cummings comes to Rutgers predominately at New Bridge Medical NJMS Department of Surgery from Center, NBMC. a fellowship in minimally invasive foregut/bariatric surgery at the Prior to completing his residency in University of Washington in Seattle. General Surgery at Rutgers, NJMS, He completed a residency in general Dr. Oliver was a Research Fellow in surgery at Icahn School of Medicine the Department of Surgery, Division at Mount Sinai Health System. of Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery at Rutgers NJMS. Dr. Cummings earned his medical degree and a Master of Public Health A graduate of Rutgers New Jersey in epidemiology at the University of Medical School, Dr. Oliver earned an Michigan Medical School. MPH in Quantitative Methods, Biostatistics at Rutgers School of Public Health, and his undergraduate degree from Lafayette College. Welcome Introducing New Finance Manager JONATHAN BATISTA, MBA, MPA

Jonathan Batista, MBA, MPA joins the Department of Batista said, “I was attracted to this opportunity in that it Surgery as the new Finance Manager. is a new position, Rutgers’ reputation, its leadership in the community, and the accomplishments of the Department Batista comes to Rutgers NJMS Department of Surgery from and faculty.” the Science Division of City College of New York where his nine years of service included roles as Finance Manager, Sr. Batista, who started July 2 said he will be interviewing all the Budget Advisor to the Provost and Administrative Executive division chiefs and their staff members to understand their Coordinator. Previously Jonathan was a Senior Analyst at JP needs for financial reporting for day-to-day decisions, and Morgan Chase. with the UPA staff, about their financial needs. Consolidating financial reporting efforts from others who have done the Batista earned an MPA, Masters’ in Public Management work for their own divisions will be important, Batista said. & Public Policy at Baruch College, an MBA in Accounting, and is pursuing his CPA. “My goal is to bring experience and best practices to this role to make sure we have enough resources for capital purposes, This is a new position for the Department of student aid and facilities’ needs,” Batista said. Surgery, reporting to Larry Gold, Interim Vice Chair, Administration. Batista will be responsible for overseeing the Little known fact: At CCNY Jonathan frequently saw financial management of the department, supporting and renowned theoretical physicist and professor Dr. Michio Kaku developing the annual operating budget, financial planning, in the halls or the elevator. “I noticed how often we got the reporting, analysis and forecasting. Financial oversight of same ‘M&Ms’ out of the vending machine.” sponsored and non-sponsored funds and representing the department to the school administration are also part of Batista’s responsibilities.

SEPTEMBER, 2018 Welcome New Residents

In June we hosted a welcome reception for our newest residents. We look forward to all their accomplishments.

FRONT ROW: Rachel Berger, Parvin-Nejad Parnian, Mario Figueroa, Najib Allababbi, Elgamma Fatima, Laura Bloom, Sofia Gilels. BACK ROW: Karen Mann, Thomas Bachman, Eddie Ndichie, Posada Erazo, Rawan Sharma, Yu Yasong, Edwin Suarez, Steven Cai, Thomas Hwang, Maya Jackson, Abigail Morris.

SEPTEMBER, 2018 9 Prominent National Speakers In the first half of 2018, the Highlight Grand Department of Surgery Grand Rounds hosted outstanding external Rounds Presentations speakers of national prominence.

SPEAKERS

The Eric Muñoz, MD, Memorial Lecture

Andre Muñoz, Dr. Stephanie Bonne, Dr. Anne Mosenthal, Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz, Dr. Rochelle Dicker, and Dr. David Livingston gather for The Eric Muñoz, MD, Memorial Lecture. The event honors the former Rutgers Trauma surgeon, administrator and assemblyman. His wife, In January, Dr. Carla Pugh, Professor of Surgery from Nancy Muñoz, assumed the legislative seat upon his death Stanford, spoke to a full house regarding the use of sensor and then won re-election. Their son, Andre Muñoz, is a NJMS technology to assess technical skills medical student.

r. Steven Stain, Professor and Henry and Sally Schaffer In March Dr. Julie Freischlag, the Dean, Wake Forest School Chair Department of Surgery at Albany Medical College of Medicine, CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, presented and lead a discussion in February on Surgical and a nationally sought-after speaker discussed aspects of Residency. leadership and lunched with residents. SEPTEMBER, 2018

Also, in March Dr. Michael Rotondo, Professor, Division of Dr. Gregory Jurkovich, Professor of Surgery, Lloyd F. Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, The School of Medicine and Rosemargaret Donant Chair in Trauma Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, spoke to many and Trauma Research, University of Callifornia, Davis residents and faculty regarding service to the country. presented on Surgical M&Ms.

Our Transplant team had a great day planned in May Dr. Rochelle Dicker, Chief of Surgical Critical Care, for Dr. Jeffrey Matthews, Chair, Department of Surgery at Associate Chief of Trauma and Emergency General Surgery University of Chicago. Dr. Matthews spoke on HPB topics at UCLA was the featured speaker at The Eric Muñoz, MD of Pancreatitis and complimented the resident presentations Memorial Lecture, discussing Hospital Violence given the night before. Prevention. Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz, wife of the former Trauma Surgeon and Assemblyman attended.

Planning is underway for an equally exciting Grand Rounds schedule for 2018-2019. Highlights

Dr. Sadeghi-Nejad Serving On Urology Exam Board

Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad, MD, FACS, the main affiliate of the American Urological Professor of Surgery/Urology has been Association, with a focus on male and female selected to serve on the national examination sexual health. committee of the American Board of Urology. He is the Chief of Urology at VA New Jersey In May, Dr. Sadeghi-Nejad became the Health Care System. President of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America. This organization is

12 Dr. Adam Fox Interim Director New Jersey Trauma Center, Section Chief

Dr. Adam Fox has been appointed Interim after practicing in the divisions of Trauma/ Director of the New Jersey Trauma Center Critical Care and Emergency Surgery at the at University Hospital and Section Chief of University of Pennsylvania and Penn State Trauma, effective July 1 according to an University. announcement from Dr. Anne Mosenthal, Chair, Department of Surgery. He is an instructor and course director for multiple trauma and critical care related Dr. Fox will oversee all clinical, operational, courses. He is an active member of The quality and regulatory aspects of the International Medical Surgical Response NJ Trauma Center. Team (IMSuRT) and Mobile Acute Care Strike Team (MAC-ST) of the National Dr. David Livingston will continue to be Disaster Medical System (NDMS). He has the Division Chief of Trauma/Critical Care also provided surgical care on multiple and Acute Care Surgery and represent the medical missions around the world. Trauma Center on the state level as Vice Additionally, he provides medical care and President of the State Trauma Systems education to the Newark FBI SWAT Team. Council. Dr. Fox sits on the editorial board of several Dr. Fox is an Assistant Professor in the journals and is the author of multiple journal Department of Surgery at Rutgers New articles and has presented at conferences Jersey Medical School and faculty in the both nationally and internationally. His Division of Trauma Surgery and Critical interests include leadership in trauma, Care. Dr. Fox joined the faculty in 2011 education, and global trauma and disaster response.

13 Resident Jessica Rouan, MD, Poster Presentation, 2018 Vascular Annual Meeting in Boston

“Side Branch Ligation Improves Function of Arteriovenous Fistula”

“We looked at non-maturing AVF with evidence of side branches presumed to be diverting flow and took them for ligation. Ligation was performed as either an open procedure or via coil embolization. We reviewed pre- and post-ligation vein diameter and flow volumes using duplex ultrasound and found that post-ligation values were statistically significantly increased for both. Additionally, functional patency was improved post-ligation possibly due to increased vein diameter and flow volumes.”

Pictured Left: Frank Padberg, MD, Jessica Rouan, MD, Michael Curi, MD, Frank Caputo, MD, a recent NJMS residency graduate, currently Vascular Surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic. SEPTEMBER, 2018

DR. ADAM FOX AND DR. FRANK PADBERG Department of Surgery physicians

Attended Surgical Lecture Series NJ-ACS Pilgrimage to Bologna, Italy

The event was held in a renaissance building, The Rizzoli Institute, decorated with ceiling frescos from its previous life as a monastery. Dr. Fox spoke on Disaster Management and the US and Italian Surgeons discussed comparative training for surgical residents.

15 An Epicenter for Transgender Care and Surgery DR. JONATHAN KEITH

Now that Dr. Jonathan The mission of the Rutgers Center for Transgender Health “is to Keith has performed establish an epicenter in New Jersey New Jersey’s first that will improve the health and well-being of transgender people successful female to through evidence-based clinical male gender affirmation care, research and education.” The surgery, a phalloplasty, vision is to “create fellowships in transgender medicine and surgery.” he continues to study the progress of patient While Dr. Keith spent three years planning the phalloplasty for patient Elijah Stephens as he Elijah Stephens his interest and plans similar surgeries, training in gender affirmation surgery is some 13 years in the making. academic research and

“teaching others how to In 2005 Dr. Keith witnessed his first perform the operation.” vaginoplasty in Pittsburgh and wrote in a recent Op-Ed article published in USA Today, that after the surgery, “I Dr. Keith is Assistant Professor came to understand that the in the Division of Plastic and transformative power of the gender Reconstructive Surgery at Rutgers, affirming surgery was much more NJMS and co-founder, co- than physical, the patient could finally director of The Rutgers Center for live as she felt inside.” Transgender Health along with Dr. Mark Einstein, Chair of Obstetrics, In May, Dr. Keith performed the first Gynecology and Women’s Health at vaginoplasty in northern New Jersey. Rutgers, NJMS A team of surgeons led by Dr. Jonathan Keith, Assistant Professor, Divsion of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, performs gender affirmation surgery for Elijah Stephens at St. Barnabas Hospital.

“I had never experienced such a demonstrable need for urgent medical intervention outside the Trauma Bay. My patients were at death’s door and needed someone to act.”

He wrote, “the patient told me that and vaginectomy, leaving only the Dr. Keith joined the Division of she would now celebrate her birthday labia and urethra, in preparation for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery on the anniversary of her surgery.” the phalloplasty. at Rutgers NJMS in 2012 following a seven-year residency in the plastic The 14-hour phalloplasty operation To create the penis, Dr. Keith surgery training program at the at St. Barnabas Hospital involved removed skin and tissue from the University of Pittsburgh. urologist Dr. Nitin Patel and plastic patient’s left forearm. He used the surgeon Dr. Edward Lee among 7 tissue to create a “tube within a His training included the 2012 physicians and 8 residents. tube,” to extend the urethra to carry Stephen S. Kroll Fellowship in urine to the tip of the penis. microsurgery at the University Dr. Keith told NorthJersey.com that Hospital of Gent, Belgium where Elijah Stephens recovered quickly Dr. Keith told NewJersey.com that he gained expertise in microsurgery after the surgery and is able to stand he grafted nerves from Elijah’s and gender affirmation surgery. to urinate and achieve orgasm. forearm to a nerve in the clitoris to The phalloplasty followed hormone create feeling in the new phallus. Dr. Keith wrote in his USA Today therapy, testosterone, for Stephens He transferred arteries and veins op-ed that he views his work beginning 10 years ago. Then “top from the forearm, attaching the as “life-saving” for people with surgery,” a double mastectomy in them to the femoral artery for blood gender dysphoria for whom the 2016 at University Hospital. circulation to the penis. He used psychological distress has driven labial tissue to create a scrotum. An nearly 40 percent of the trans Last August, Dr. Keith performed operation will implant an inflatable population to attempt suicide. “bottom surgery,” a hysterectomy pump to create an erection. 17 DR. STEPHANIE BONNE: Preventing Gun Violence is Personal

“I have seen a lot of firearm injury and death since medical student days and as a trauma surgeon. Then as a mother myself, the impact of having to tell another mother that her child had died, that really changed it for me. I got so fed up, I felt I had to do something, so I don’t have to have these conversations with mothers, anymore. It really is the most awful thing we have to do as physicians.”

Participating in the national school In the Trauma Center at University caseworker to help mitigate risk and walkout with her colleagues to bring Hospital, Dr. Bonne and navigate community resources, after attention to gun violence is just one caseworker Alikah Green (see hospital discharge. of many proactive initiatives story below) engage one-on- Dr. Stephanie Bonne, Assistant one with gunshot victims “in that “This is a ‘warm handoff’ for the Professor Division of Trauma teachable moment after trauma when victims to talk with someone what are and Surgical Critical Care, has individuals are more receptive to the risk factors in their life that may undertaken to get beyond what she discussion about prevention, lead to an increased risk of becoming calls “secondary prevention,” of a and maybe willing to discuss the risk a victim of violence,” Dr. Bonne said. public health epidemic. “It was a factors,” related to the shooting, positive time to reflect and raise Dr. Bonne said. More than sixty people have been awareness, to come together as a enrolled in the program and positive university, to recognize that this is a She obtained a pilot foundation outcomes are already taking place. problem everybody cares about,” grant from the Healthcare “People are getting counseling Dr. Bonne said. Foundation of New Jersey to that otherwise would not. People establish a Hospital-Based Violence in wheelchairs from their injuries Intervention Program, HVIP, that are getting support and learning matches the gunshot victims and about self-care. One person finished “If you help people with other social outcomes in their life, they will be less at risk and have better post-discharge outcomes,”

a GED, one enrolled in college. Two patients received Now, Dr. Bonne is interested in research funding to probation from a judge instead of jail time since investigate the impact of stress biomarkers, cortisol levels, our caseworker went to court and advocated for them,” TNF alpha, testosterone, interferon gamma and other Dr. Bonne said. things related to stress and depression and social and psychological problems. As part of her research on best practices to establish HVIPs, Dr. Bonne received the American College of Surgeons, ”Can we reduce the levels of the Claude H. Organ, J. MD, FACS Traveling Fellowship and biomarkers when we give people a visited “The Wraparound Project” at the University of San Francisco, UCSF, San Francisco General Hospital. positive social network with their She spent one week meeting case managers who work prevention and health outcomes?” with gunshot victims, and met with community-based organizations that provide assistance to clients needing She is encouraged that the New Jersey legislature passed follow-up social services. funding for a gun violence research center to be based at Rutgers, although details are not finalized. “I learned it would be important to develop relationships with Newark organizations that offer job training, Dr. Bonne said, “I think it is great that the Governor has employment and mental health services.” insight into the problems of gun violence research. Of the - Dr. Stephanie Bonne 2600 trauma patients we see each year, 40 percent are the result of interpersonal violence. Among the root causes, In an article published in “The Bulletin” of the American domestic violence, poverty, child access to guns, the gun is College of Surgeons, “Trauma Surgeon uses Traveling a vector that is highly lethal.” Fellowship to Learn about HVIPs” Dr. Bonne wrote: “I began to recognize my own implicit bias, that clouded On a personal level, Dr. Bonne still feels saddened and the way I defined ‘recovery’ for victims of violence… As motivated by a school shooting 20 years ago that killed her surgeons we see patients for a few postoperative visits, chemistry lab partner at Kalamazoo College. but we may have an incomplete understanding of how long it takes someone to heal from the psychosocial trauma “Maggie Wardle was a friend of mine, and she was killed by of being a victim of violence and how that affects their her boyfriend in the dorm with a shotgun and then he killed recovery.” himself. It really deeply affected everybody. I have always carried that with me. I’m still mad about it.” Data from other HVIPs in the National Network of Hospital Violence Intervention Programs, suggests recidivism is She channels her personal experience with firearm injury to reduced, that fewer repeat gunshot victims are seen as look for public health-based solutions to firearm injury and a result of the intervention. “If you help people with other death in the United States. social outcomes in their life, they will be less at risk and have better post-discharge outcomes,” Dr. Bonne said. 19 ALIKAH GREEN: “Big Sister” Helps Gun Victims To New Path

Every morning caseworker Alikah Green checks in with the Trauma Center at University Hospital “and they give me a list of guys who have been shot,” so she can help create a pathway to protect them from further violence.

A “civilian” working in the Hospital Violence Intervention Program under the direction of Dr. Stephanie Bonne, (see story above) Green relies on her experience in the community to create trusting relationships with the gun violence victims.

“When I was in high school, lots of my friends were passing away. I wanted to know, where are the people who can help these guys? I was tired of all the violence, and then I heard about this job opening. I know I can’t stop gun violence all by myself, but I’m trying my best to help one person at a time.” Alikah Green

“I walk the community. Everybody knows me from working for the city of Newark. I engage with the victims, one on one, to help them find jobs, school, housing, mental health services.”

Green said her involvement extends beyond meeting the clients in the hospital. She provides six months of follow up.

20 “I just talk and help them open up and be more comfortable in my presence. After a while they see that I really care. I’m like a big sister, like a mom figure.”

She recalls a client who was “standoffish to me. I’m a stranger. A couple days went by, I kept making him feel comfortable, and then he tells me he wants to go to school and to work. I went with him on the search and found a school that would pay him to get a GED. He’s been there ever since, getting a paycheck every two weeks and he will graduate. It is a big impact on my life that I could help and make a difference.”

Green said that when clients get discharged, “they leave here with appointments. I call, I check in on them, I grab lunch. I help clients get a state ID card, social services, mental health care. I go out to make connections to help these people. I do the footwork, we build relationships to help find jobs. I teach them there are lots of positive ways to make lots of money, go to school and get the knowledge.”

A client who wanted to build elevators is getting assistance from Green to go to a technical school.

Progress and outcomes are a series of small steps.

“It can be very discouraging to see new clients every day, but I’m here to help.”

21 PROMOTIONS

Honors and Awards

Dr. Anthony Scholer AOA NJ Honors Wins Golden Apple Dr. Amy Gore Teaching Award Administrative Chief Resident Amy Dr. Ravi Chokshi, to Gore, MD, a recent 2018 graduate, Anthony Scholer, M.D., recent was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, Associate Professor, residency graduate, is presented NJ Beta Chapter. She was inducted Surgical Oncology the Golden Apple Teaching Award on April 17. From Left to Right by Asmi Panigrahi, MD from the 2019 are: Dr. Frank Padberg, Dr. Augustine NJMS students. Anastasia Kunac, Tawadros, President AOA; Dr. Amy M.D. FACS, Program Director, Gore, Dr. Amy Weiss, Vice-President General Surgery Residency, said, AOA and Dr. Michael Shapiro.

“We had so many resident nominees and I am proud that so many of our surgical residents were honored with nominations. Teachers affect eternity; no one can tell where their influence stops. Each of you is shaping the future Dr. Edward Lee, to of our profession. Thank you for your Associate Professor, Plastic Surgery commitment to our students and for being excellent surgical educators.” Pictured Left Dr. Anthony Scholer, M.D., recent residency graduate, is presented The Golden Apple Teaching Award by Dr. Asmi Panigrahi, from the 2019 NJMS students.

Amy Gore, MS, Former Administrative Chief Resident, a 2018 graduate, was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, NJ Beta Chapter, Attending are: Dr. Frank Padberg, Dr. Augustine Tawadros, President AOA; Dr. Amy Gore, Dr. Amy Weiss, Vice-President AOA and Dr. Michael Shapiro.

23 Congratulations 2018 NJMS Surgery Graduates Celebrating their residency graduation, from left to right: Congratulations Christopher McGreevy, MD; NJMS SURGERY GRADUATES! Anthony Scholer, MD; Amy Gore, MD; Anne Mosenthal, MD, Chair; Anastasia Kunac, MD, Program Director; Edward Andraos, MD; Dhaval Chauhan, MD; Neil King, MD. Not pictured: Vijayaumar Tanjavur, MD JUNE 2018 RESIDENCY GRADS: Where are they Going?

Division of General Surgery

Edward Andraos, MD - Houston Medthodist for Vascular Surgery Dhaval Chauhan, MD - Montefiore Medical Center in NYC for Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship Amy Gore, MD - University of Colorado for Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship Neil King, MD - Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC for Laparoscopic and Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery Fellowship Christopher McGreevy, MD - University of Pennsylvania for Breast Oncology Fellowship Anthony Scholer, MD, MBS - John Wayne Cancer Institute in California for Surgical Oncology Fellowship Vijayaumar Tanjavur, MD - Staten Island University Hospital for Vascular Surgery Fellowship

SEPTEMBER, 2018 25 2018 Retirements

Ceremonies Honor Long-Time Retiring Doctors

DR. PAUL BOLANOWSKI, MD DR. ALICE SHEFFET, PH.D. SEPTEMBER, 2018

Ceremonies Honor “There are not many here Lecturer at University of New Mexico, who have not had the Brandeis Institute in California, Long-Time University of Albuquerque, Drew Retiring Doctors pleasure of learning and University and NYU. working with him.” At Rutgers Dr. Sheffet was among Paul Bolanowski, MD, Dr. Mosenthal said, “Paul received the principal designers of Carotid Cardiothoracic Surgeon his MD degree at this institution, Revascularization Endarterectomy and after his surgery residency, he vs. Stenting Trial, CREST, working came back to New Jersey for his with the initial PI, former chief of Ceremonies marking the retirements cardiothoracic residency and loved vascular surgery Dr. Robert Hobson. of Paul Bolanowski, M.D. and Alice it so much he decided to never Sheffet, Ph.D. highlighted their leave.” He was a specialist in thoracic She supervised the $21 million NIH- significant contributions to Rutgers oncology, tracheal reconstruction funded CREST study conducted NJMS as faculty members in the and chest wall reconstruction. at 117 clinical sites involving 2,522 Department of Surgery. patients in the U.S. and Canada from Dr. Bolanowski served two years as 2000 to 2017. Dr. Bolanowski, a cardiothoracic a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical surgeon and Professor of Surgery, Corps in Viet Nam and received the Dr. Sheffet published 33 research devoted 48 years of his medical Army Commendation Medal and a works as a result of the study and co- career to Rutgers, NJMS and Bronze Star. authored papers in the New England received many awards including Journal of Medicine and other “Top Docs in New Jersey,” “Best “As an avid member and President leading medical journals. The FDA Doctors in New York” and “Best of the Alumni Association, Paul approved the Acculink and Accunet Doctors in America.” continues to serve the Rutgers stent systems in 2012 based on data NJMS community,” Dr. Mosenthal reported from the CREST study. Dr. Sheffet, an Associate Professor said. “Paul’s expertise and skills of Surgery, worked 29 years at are carried on for future generations Rutgers NJMS, highlighted by her Dr. Mosenthal said, “Dr. of surgeons.” service as Director of the multi- Sheffet’s leadership of this million-dollar CREST grant. (Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy Alice Sheffet, Ph.D. research changed the delivery vs. Stenting Trial) of treatment for carotid Dr. Sheffet earned her Ph.D in artery disease worldwide.” “Paul is an icon here at NJMS,” said Education at New York University Anne Mosenthal, M.D., Chair of the and came to Rutgers NJMS in 1989 Department of Surgery. after work as an Instructor and

27 The Liver Transplant Team has performed 20 liver transplants since the arrival of Dr. James Guarrera in February. DR. JAMES GUARRERA: Liver Transplant Program Exceeds Expectations

In February Dr. James Guarrera joined Rutgers NJMS led to the completion of a fully portable perfusion device and University Hospital as Program Director of Liver that can be brought to the donor hospital via ground or air Transplantation “with a lot of confidence that there would be transport. Organ Recovery Systems will be sponsoring the great potential.” Since performing his first liver transplant at upcoming trial under Dr. Guarrera’s leadership. As part of University Hospital March 20, by mid-July the program has the clinical trial sample tissue and blood will all be analyzed already completed 20 transplants. here in our lab, and biopsies studied by the department of pathology here, Dr. Guarrera said. “There is a great referral base of liver Dr. Guarrera has also proposed starting a living donor disease patients and also many organ transplant program at University Hospital “which may allow donors in New Jersey and we projected more people to get better access to transplants, before they doing about 30 cases in the first year and get too sick,” he said.

now we are on target to do over 50 Liver There are currently no living donor transplant programs in Transplants.” Dr. James Guarrera New Jersey, Dr. Guarrera said.

Dr. Guarrera, Professor of Surgery and Division Chief of Liver “Due to upcoming policy changes in organ distribution, we Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, previously Surgical may in the near future have to go further for donor organs Director of Adult Liver Transplantation at Columbia University and be a little more creative about what donor organs we Hospital, said “I’m excited to continue my research in new can obtain; these initiatives may help protect and position strategies to expand access to transplantation by working on us to be successful,” Dr. Guarrera said. organ preservation, and living donor transplantation.” The program has recruited another surgeon to join the The holder of seven patents from his research and transplant and hepatobiliary team. Dr. Flavio Paterno from development, including “Machine Perfusion for Liver University of Cincinnati Health will be joining in October. Preservation,” Dr. Guarrera said he will be the Principal “In addition to his being an experienced transplant surgeon, Investigator for an upcoming multicenter clinical trial of 10 Dr. Paterno has an MPH and is an accomplished outcomes centers that will study use of his portable perfusion device researcher who will help us grow our research endeavors” to extend the life of livers for potential transplant. Dr. Guarrera said.

He was previously federally funded and ran two clinical trials Recruitment is also underway to add additional staff such to develop the device and more recently has partnered with as Physician Assistants, transplant coordinators and an Organ Recovery Systems, the industry leader experienced transplant administrator as the program in Organ Preservation technology. This collaboration has continues to grow.

SEPTEMBER, 2018

29 Research Symposium Scenes

In late February, the Department of Surgery conducted its fourth annual Research Symposium, highlighting the accomplishments of nearly 30 faculty, researchers, residents and students.

30 31 Rutgers NJMS Surgery Staff Conduct Advocacy Visits to Washington, DC

Members of the Rutgers NJMS Surgery Congressman Leonard Lance (R-NJ 7th District) met with delegates to discuss the issues. Dr. Frank Department visited Congressional Padberg, ACS Governor, Professor of Vascular Surgery, Leaders in Washington during the NJMS; Dr. Stephanie Bonne, Assistant Professor, Trauma, Critical Care, Young Surgeons Association; American College of Surgeons (ACS) Representative Leonard Lance; Dr. Joseph Cauda, Governor’s Meetings and Leadership Vice-President NJ-ACS, Dr. Diana Arellano, 4th year and Advocacy Summit, held May 18-22. Surgery Resident NJMS; Dr. Justin Sambol, President NJ ACS, Associate Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery, NJMS.

An enthusiastic leadership session on Sunday included Chapter Success stories and motivational talks. Monday presented several sessions on the state of health care in the country and how ACS Advocacy may be most beneficial. Tuesday was reserved for visits to Capitol Hill. Each Congressional Office--Senators, Congressmen, and Congresswomen--was visited. In most offices, physicians met with the Health Care Assistant but two congressmen personally hosted the delegation.

32 On a Personal Note

Congratulations and best wishes to Residents Dr. Young Mee Choi and Dr. Dhaval Chauhan CONGRATULATIONS on their recent wedding.

BEST WISHES

Former Vascular Surgery Instructor, Dr. Ben Chandler, Dr. Laurel Karian, Plastic Surgery Residency graduate,

welcomed their baby girl in March!

Copyright 2018 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. All rights reserved

33 Vol. 1, No.2 | Summer 2018