WINTER 2020
“ON THE CUTTING EDGE” NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY
22 Department of Surgery Residents: The Next Chapter...
06 18 30 Surgical Notes from the Chair Dr. Aziz Merchant Named Division Chief Sharing Perspectives on Mentorship: of General Surgery Providing Structure to Culture Change 08 Gun Violence Prevention: 20 32 It’s Everyone’s Lane Remembering Dr. Eric Muñoz at a Rutgers NJMS Team Performs 64 Surgeries, Rededication of Trauma Center in his Name Trains 300 in “Stop the Bleed” in Peru 10 NJMS Students Select Dr. Joanelle Bailey 22 34 and Dr. David Palange for Humanism Awards Department of Surgery Residents - Graduating Resident Profile: The Next Chapter Dr. Reyna Gonzalez 12 Back to Bedside Grant 24 38 “Cutting Edge” Presentations at Honors and Awards 14 Grand Rounds New Vascular Center 40 and Wound Healing Center 26 New General Surgery Residents Fifth Annual Research Symposium 16 42 Training RJMS Surgery Staff 28 Resident Presentations at ASC to “Stop the Bleed” Welcome Huzaifa A. Shakir, MD, FACS, FACCP 43 Personal Note
The go-to source for exciting developments and major advances in education, research and clinical missions within our Department. Contents
Honors & Awards Welcome Highlights
HUMANISM AWARD DR. HUZAIFA A. SHAKIR, MD, GRADUATING RESIDENT PROFILE: FACS, FACCP DR. REYNA GONZALEZ GME AWARDS NEW RESIDENTS REMEMBERING DR. MUNOZ˜ GOLDEN APPLE
2019 FACULTY AWARDS
On the Scene Speakers Features
FIFTH ANNUAL RESEARCH “CUTTING EDGE” RUTGERS NJMS TEAM SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS AT PERFORMS 64 SURGERIES, GRAND ROUNDS TRAINS 300 IN “STOP THE STAFF STOP THE BLEED” IN PERU BLEED TRAINING NEW VASCULAR AND WOUND ADVOCACY IN DC HEALING CENTER
BACK TO BEDSIDE
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* On the cover - General Surgery Residents Graduate - Dr. Gregory Grimberg, Dr. Kenneth Walsh, Dr. Anastasia Kunac, Program Director; Dr. Paul Johnson, Dr. Akia Caine, Dr. Diana Arellano, Dr. Reyna Gonzalez, Dr. Anne C. Mosenthal, Chair; Dr. Eihab Abdelfatah, Dr. Chetan Merchant.
WINTER, 2020 | 4 Inside this issue ON THE CUTTING EDGE DR. ANNE C. MOSENTHAL DR. STEPHANIE BONNE WINTER, 2020 Surgical Notes Gun Violence from the Chair Prevention: It’s PAGE 6 Everyone’s Lane PAGE 8
Residents Receive Remembering and ACGME Grants Honoring Dr. for “Back to Eric Munoz˜ Bedside” Research at Rededication PAGE 12 of Trauma Center in his Name PAGE 20
5 | WINTER, 2020 SURGICAL NOTES FROM THE CHAIR: Endings and Beginnings and the Power of Mentorship
By Anne C. Mosenthal, MD, FACS Benjamin F. Rush, Jr., MD, Endowed Chair, Department of Surgery
The power of mentorship we provide each other resident) David Palange, D.O. They share their plays an important role in the training of our perspectives on the path to formally integrating residents on the journey to becoming surgeons. mentorship into our culture and what mentorship Both mentors and mentees benefit from these has meant to their careers. relationships. It is part of our Departmental Our graduating Administrative Chief Resident, commitment to Professional Development on Dr. Reyna Gonzalez, drew upon her experience many different levels. and high expectations from a career as an elite We highlight mentorship in special coverage gymnast and coach to a Grand Rounds lecture of a joint Grand Rounds presentation by on “educating millennials.” Professor Dorian Wilson, MD, and PGY 5 Resident (and new administrative chief Coaching and Mentoring Update
WINTER, 2020 | 6 The Professional Development work in coaching Minimally Invasive Surgery. Dr. Merchant we began last year with consultant Dr. Jeffrey brought the division together during his role as Hull continues to evolve and engage all of interim chief. And now as permanent chief, he us as faculty members. Dr. Anastasia Kunac, is developing a strategic vision for the Division Associate Professor of Surgery and General of becoming a leader in surgery outcomes and Surgery Residency Program Director is making an impact on reducing health disparities leading this effort in conjunction with our and improving health equity. mentoring program. Dr. Merchant’s focus on developing others and Multiple faculty and staff have used promoting mentorship of junior faculty in clinical “StrengthsFinder,” and “Pulse 360” feedback and research initiatives is a part of his leadership to advance their personal development. What towards the strategic vision. we have learned has been embraced by many, The vision of including me… it was good to gain a better Dr. Michael Curi, Associate for understanding of how I am perceived by others. Professor and Chief of Vascular Surgery a comprehensive vascular center has been We are training doctors to be more than just realized with the opening of the new Vascular good surgeons, but how to be good people: good and Wound Care center. This is a unique multi- communicators, good collaborators and mentors disciplinary center, collaborating with plastic and building a culture that fosters a learning surgeon Dr. Mark Granick, Professor of Plastic environment for all. and Reconstructive Surgery. The Center offers the added benefit of comprehensive care for I encourage you to read the story about our patients with chronic wounds needing improved “Gold Foundation Humanism Award” winners, vascular flow and plastic surgery care and and to Dr. Joanelle Bailey Dr. David Palange treatment. understand the impact their mentorship had on medical students, Thobekile Ndlovu and Welcome to new cardiothoracic surgeon Justin Sipiora. Dr. Huzaifa Shakir, Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, a longtime and well- We celebrated the life of one of our great mentors known local heart and chest surgery specialist. with the re-dedication of the Dr. Eric Munoz Trauma Center on the tenth anniversary of his Our residents conducted significant research untimely passing. Several speakers lauded the presentations around the country. Look for contributions of the late Dr. Eric Munoz as a highlights in this issue. surgeon, teacher and legislator, and Dr. David ˜ I also call attention to the many awards bestowed Livingston, Professor and Chief of Trauma on well-deserving faculty and residents, and I am and Surgical Critical Care, shared his own honored to receive the “Mentorship Award” from special, personal remembrances. ˜ the Faculty Organization of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
Highlights
Congratulations to Dr. Aziz Merchant on his appointment to Division Chief of General and
7 | WINTER, 2020 DR. STEPHANIE BONNE Gun Violence Prevention: It’s Ever yone’s Lane
“If you ask the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) how many people are shot and live, they don’t know. There is no formal data collected in one location. So how can we think up ways, new ideas, and fresh thinking to solve this problem? That’s what we are doing in New Jersey.” Dr. Stephanie Bonne Dr. Stephanie Bonne Keynotes “Call to Action” Conference
In what she called her “day job” Dr. Bonne, Assistant Professor of to prevent gun violence deaths and as a trauma surgeon, Dr. Stephanie Surgery, Division of Trauma and injuries. The 1996 Dickey Amendment Bonne said stopping the tide of Surgical Critical Care, has taken on to the United States Constitution gunshot victims has to begin an expanded role as the Surveillance prevents federal funding of gun long before the patient reaches Core Director guiding violence research used to promote the Trauma Center and the the collection of all firearm injury gun control. operating room. data in New Jersey. Dr. Bonne said The New Jersey “We have to use a public health model Dr. Bonne cited the data-driven efforts Center on Gun Violence Research versus a medical model to treat the of “Mothers Against Drunk Driving” is bringing together the public affected population with interventions which created “interventions that health and criminal justice resources based on preventions,” Dr. Bonne dramatically reduced motor vehicle of Rutgers University with state and said in her keynote speech to the deaths by million miles traveled.” local officials to identify root causes first conference hosted byThe New of gun violence. Yet, New Jersey is only the second Jersey Center on Gun Violence state in the nation to take a public Research at Rutgers University. health approach to collecting data
WINTER, 2020 | 8 “Gun violence spreads in populations like a disease.”
She referenced a “heat map” of Newark census Dr. Bonne also participated in firstMedical blocks using geospatial tracking data of gun Summit on Firearm Injury Prevention violence at the neighborhood and street level conducted by the American College of Surgeons as one of the tools being employed to create Committee on Trauma. “This event brought intervention strategies and tactics. key leadership from medical organizations to brainstorm the key components needed to As an example, Dr. Bonne said public health data address firearm injury from a public health reveals that many people who commit suicide by perspective,” Dr. Bonne said. “As the medical gun had visited gun ranges prior to their attempt. community continues to seek a public health “The intervention involved talking to people at gun approach to gun violence prevention and with ranges about their mental health, and a public the new funding for The New Jersey Center for service video was created to spread the word,” Gun Violence Research at Rutgers University, I Dr. Bonne said. am encouraged that a public health approach will Focusing on root causes, Dr. Bonne said, “Gun lead us to find meaningful solution to the crisis of violence spreads in populations like a disease.” gun violence in the United States.” Her work will identify at-risk populations At the Gun Violence Prevention Conference including: hosted by Rutgers, New Jersey Governor Phil Women: “Access to a gun in a home raises the Murphy said a next step will be to convene a risk of women being killed by a gun in a domestic summit of mayors of five New Jersey cities; violence death by 500 percent.” Jersey City, Newark, Trenton, Paterson and Camden to discuss strategies to collect data and Children: “Firearm deaths are the number two identify causes of gun violence. The summit will cause of death in children, 12 times more likely be hosted by The New Jersey Center for Gun than any other cause.” Violence Research at Rutgers in partnership with The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Black youth: “Ten times more likely to be murdered by a gun than white youth.” Dr. Bonne said, “this is why we fund this kind of research, so we can use it to stop the next child Mentally ill: “Are more likely to be a victim, being shot in Camden.” not a perpetrator of gun violence.”
As part of the data collection process, Dr. Bonne envisions medical students and residents being engaged in training on how to talk with patients and their family members about the problems of gun violence in their community.
9 | WINTER, 2020 DR. JOANELLE BAILEY & DR. DAVID PALANGE Medical Students Select Dr. Joanelle Bailey and Dr. David Palange for Gold Foundation Humanism Award
“Next year I will be a resident, and I hope that I can be like Dave, and have the same passion for taking care of patients, and the same love and excitement for teaching and helping students.”
Justin Sipiora, MS IV Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Dr. David Palange The Gold Humanism Honor Society Thobekile Ndlovu recalled the (GHHS), sponsored by the Arnold moment when Dr. Bailey asked P. Gold Foundation, honors senior a patient if he wanted his braids re- medical students, residents, role- twisted after he had spent six weeks model physician teachers, and others in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, for “demonstrated excellence in SICU with multiple gunshot wounds. clinical care, leadership, compassion, “In a defining moment in the life of and dedication to service.” Inspiration this patient, he was finally seen. for this society began in the late Joanelle, as his physician, had 1990s as a way of recognizing and reached out and acknowledged that Dr. Joanelle Bailey promoting humanistic attributes his identity, before his trauma, was in medical students. Students are just as important as his health status. selected for this Society by their She acknowledged him.” peers for outstanding clinical and interpersonal skills and attitudes Justin Sipiora said that he and that are essential for excellent another medical student on their patient care. first trauma weekend were on their way to perform a procedure on a Medical students Thobekile Ndlovu patient when they ran into Dave and Justin Sipiora nominated Palange in the hallway. Thobekile Ndlovu, MS IV recipients Dr. Joanelle Bailey and Dr. David Palange: The students “Dave offered to come with us, and highlighted the importance of the he showed us how to complete way Dr. Bailey and Dr. Palange the task (it was our first time) and demonstrated the extent of their watched us perform it. Dave wasn’t personal interactions with patients. even on our service and I’m sure he They also shared stories of the was exhausted from being on service willingness of the doctors to mentor for three liver transplants that week and serve as role models to them and finishing up his weekend shift. as students. But he stayed and took the time to Justin Sipiora, MS IV teach and help us.” “I want“ to say, ‘Thank You’ to Joanelle for teaching me what it means to be confident and compassionate, for showing me how to be powerful and personable and lastly for always reminding her patients that they matter.”
Thobekile Ndlovu, MS IV Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Palliative Care Department of Surgery
Rutgers NJMS Surgery Residents Receive ACGME Grants for “Back to Bedside” Research
Dr. Michele Fiorentino and Dr. Mitigating Moral Distress “Surgical residents Kurun Oberoi are among only 33 Dr. Fiorentino’s research focus is on acknowledge the need residents across the nation chosen surgery performed in the last month as recipients of the “Back to Bedside” to discuss end of life before death “when further medical/ grants from the Accreditation Council issues, but they feel surgical treatment is futile, and for Graduate Medical Education no intervention will alter the inadequately trained to (ACGME). More than 200 residents patient’s outcome.” applied for the grants. do so. The goal is to Dr. Fiorentino said, “Although provide PGY trainees in Said Dr. Anastasia Kunac, studies have examined the years one through three Program Director, General physical and emotional burden of Surgery Residency, “The Back to with the knowledge, non-beneficial surgery on patients, Bedside projects are resident-led comfort and skills there is no literature that examines initiatives to empower residents and the effects on trainees.” to have Goals of fellows to create innovative strategies Care Conversations, for increasing time with patients, She hypothesizes that trainees improving physician and patient who are forced to provide futile (GOCC) with patients,” well-being.” care or care that is not in line with Dr. Fiorentino said. the patient’s preferences may be a Dr. Fiorentino’s project is source of moral distress in trainees. Trauma-Informed Care Curriculum “Mitigating Moral Distress in Dr. Oberoi’s research will examine Surgical Trainees Through The study, to be conducted along the efficacy of providing training Improved Communications Skills.” with PGY-5 Dr. Franchesca Hwang, to help surgical residents improve will investigate whether providing Dr. Oberoi’s project is interaction skills with patients from surgical trainees with the tools and “Implementation of a Trauma- traumatized populations. skills of effective communication Informed Care Curriculum for could help provide care aligned Surgery Residents Caring for with patient goals. Trauma Patients in Newark, NJ.”
WINTER, 2020 | 12 Two Rutgers NJMS Surgery residents, Dr. Michele Fiorentino, PGY-4 and Dr. Kurun Oberoi, PGY-4 have received “Back to Bedside” grants to study the impact on surgical trainees of caring for traumatically injured or terminally ill people and to develop new approaches that enhance patient and physician satisfaction.
“Although there have been studies assessing Trauma Informed Care, (TIC) efficacy in several populations of health care providers, there is a lack of data on surgical trainees,” Dr. Oberoi said.
People who grow up from childhood to adulthood in communities with high rates of violence need care by a well-informed physician team that can appropriately build trust between the health care system and the community, according to Dr. Michele Fiorentino, PGY-4 Dr. Oberoi.
The project will provide trauma-informed care training for general surgery residents; evaluate the attitudes of residents about trauma victims with whom they interact before and after the training; implement a formal trauma-informed care curriculum for the residents and evaluate the experience of patients that are cared for by residents receiving trauma-informed care training compared to residents who have not been trained.
Dr. Kurun Oberoi, PGY-4 New Vascular Center & Wound Healing Center Open at University Hospital
A new Center of Excellence has recently opened using radiofrequency or medical adhesives at The University Hospital featuring a Vascular as less invasive procedures, so patients can Center and Comprehensive Wound Healing avoid surgical therapy. Now we can ablate the Center in one state-of-the-art facility. This damaged or leaky vein with a radio frequency Center provides comprehensive care for patients catheter or with a glue, providing much less pain, in a new space featuring the services of Vascular faster recovery, and better patient satisfaction Surgery, Plastic Surgery, and Podiatry. with these therapies,” Dr. Curi said.
“This is a site where we see two different patient Medical Director of the Wound Center, plastic populations, while using shared resources to surgeon Dr. Mark Granick, Professor of Plastic effectively and efficiently treat patients where and Reconstructive Surgery said, “The Wound multiple specialties can collaborate on complex Center provides care for all kinds of wounds cases,” said Dr. Michael Curi, Chief, Division with support from allied services such as of Vascular Surgery. podiatry, vascular surgery, and the internal medicine specialties.” As an example, Dr. Curi explains, “A patient comes in with a diabetic foot wound and is “Our technicians are very well trained, and we evaluated by a foot and ankle specialist from have the services of a certified wound care nurse the podiatry team. The podiatrist recognizes and an advanced practice nurse. Oscar Alvarez, the patient has a vascular insufficiency, obtains Ph.D., is the Director of Research in the new testing and has the patient see a vascular Wound Center and his unparalleled experience specialist, all in the same space. Patients and knowledge assists with care for the diabetic often will require a procedure to provide better foot under the direction of one of the team blood flow to the foot and in the most complex doctors,” Dr. Granick said. cases, plastic surgery performs a reconstructive What began as a vision of a comprehensive procedure to help heal the wound. All of this Vascular Center, according to Dr. Curi, expanded care is coordinated in one comprehensive to include the Wound Center as space became center, helping patients simplify their complex available to accommodate both the Vascular and medical problems.” Wound Care services. The Vascular Center is a state-of-the-art facility, Dr. Curi says, “Adding this Wound Center to our with six exam rooms, a procedure room and program here at University Hospital not only conference space. “We are correcting venous dramatically improves the care and outcomes for insufficiencies, veins with leaky valves, and
WINTER, 2020 | 14 “This is a site where we see two different patient populations, while using shared resources to effectively and efficiently treat patients where New Vascular Center multiple specialties can collaborate on complex cases,” & Wound Healing Center our vascular patients with wounds, but also provides wave therapy for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers a gravely needed resource for patients suffering with as it effects the oxygen levels of skin adjacent to chronic wounds of all nature.” the wound.
In addition to state-of-the-art care, the center provides “We are similarly studying cutting edge technologies educational opportunities for medical students as well such as fluid distribution materials for managing as surgical trainees in General, Vascular and Plastic wound drainage. Our Wound Center is internationally Surgery by exposing them to the most advanced known for our expertise in surgical wound wound care in the region. debridement and the group is currently studying direct contact ultrasound technology,” Dr. Granick said. “One of the big advantages of putting this all together is for complex limb salvage,” Dr. Curi said. “We Another major emphasis of the Wound Center have saved the limbs of patients who have been told according to Dr. Granick is to explore the elsewhere they need an amputation, and we took care efficacy and utility of new stem cell-based skin of them here.” grafting techniques.
As part of ongoing vascular research, University “Plastic surgery availability in the Wound Center Hospital is one of only five sites in the country that facilitates our interaction with other specialists so is using first-of-its-kind bioengineered blood vessels that we can assist Vascular Surgery in the coverage in clinical trial to replace arteries damaged by of their complex post-surgical wounds and repair severe trauma. revascularized limbs with non-healing wounds. We also work closely with the podiatric surgeons “We were the first site in the country to use this to help them obtain closure for their complex bioengineered blood vessel for reconstructing a diabetic foot wounds.” femoral artery in a patient who had a complex traumatic injury requiring both Vascular and “Overall, the synergy between the medical/surgical Orthopedic surgical reconstruction,” Dr. Curi said. specialists working at the Vascular and Wound Center is of great benefit to our patients and to For Dr. Granick, ongoing research at the Wound the community,” Dr. Granick said. Center includes the study of extracorporeal shock
To make a referral or to request an appointment, please call: 973-972-HEAL, (4325)
15 | WINTER, 2020 Training NJMS Surgery Staff to “Stop the Bleed”
Fifteen staff members from the Department of Surgery participated in “Stop the Bleed” training, conducted by Dr. Brad Chernock, PGY 1
The goal of the nationwide “Stop the Most participants said it was Bleed” training is to teach “immediate the first time they had received responders,” in the general public such training and they felt more to render first aid in a bleeding comfortable knowing what to do emergency before “First Responders” in an emergency. and medical personnel arrive. Rutgers NJMS is working with The Stop the Bleed Campaign was medical students in the Community started by the Committee on Trauma Engaged Service Learning, CESL, From the American College of program to expand “Stop the Bleed” Surgeons in response to incidents training to employers throughout over the years as it relates to active the area. shooter events. The Department of Dr. Adam Fox, Associate Professor Surgery sponsored sessions where Division of Trauma and Surgical the staff learned how to apply direct Critical Care, spearheaded this pressure, perform wound packing program to bring to University and how to use a tourniquet. Hospital and NJMS.
WINTER, 2020 | 16
Dr. Aziz Merchant Named Division Chief GENERAL AND MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY
Dr. Aziz Merchant, Associate through. It includes all aspects of elective and emergency general surgery.” Professor, has been appointed to Division Chief, General and Dr. Merchant’s clinical expertise and areas of interest include minimally invasive surgical Minimally Invasive Surgery at techniques, anti-reflux and hiatal hernia surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical benign esophageal surgery and achalasia, laparoscopic hernia repair, and complex School, Department of Surgery. revisional laparoscopy.
Announcing the appointment, Dr. Anne C. His research interests include surgical outcomes, Mosenthal, FACS, the Benjamin F. Rush Jr. MD patient-centered outcomes, surgical quality Endowed Chair of the Department of Surgery, said improvement, and cost-effectiveness research. “Dr. Merchant has brought the Division together and is developing a strategic vision of Rutgers NJMS From an educational perspective, Dr. Merchant’s becoming a leader in surgery outcomes, reducing interests include surgical residency training health disparities and raising equity.” mentorship and surgical simulation.
Dr. Merchant arrived at Rutgers New Jersey Medical Dr. Merchant currently serves as a committee School in 2013 and prior to his new appointment had member for the Research & Career Development served as interim chief for the Division. and the Publications committees of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic “My main goal is to provide the highest quality of Surgeons. He is an active member of the care we can for patients in surgery and acute care American College of Surgeons and SAGES. and the best resident education experience,” Dr. Merchant said. “Our general surgery service is one of the more important rotations our residents come
WINTER, 2020 | 18 Dr. Merchant completed medical school at Working with medical students, residents and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, biostatisticians, reviewing large databases followed by surgical residency at Georgetown such as the National Readmission Database University. He conducted a fellowship in and National Inpatient Sample, Dr. Merchant said, advanced laparoscopy and bariatric surgery “we ask a lot of different questions about insurance at Emory University. and socioeconomic status at a safety net hospital and how these things affect outcomes on Prior to arriving at Rutgers, Dr. Merchant was different surgeries.” an assistant professor and associate residency program director at Central Michigan University, Working with Dr. Anastasia Kunac, FACS, where he was part of a team that established a Associate Professor of Trauma & Critical Care, Bariatric Surgery program at its affiliate, and General Surgery Residency Program Director, St. Mary’s of Michigan. Dr. Merchant conducts research in surgery simulation and education. New Jersey is home for Dr. Merchant since he arrived at age one from India. “I grew up here “Our surgical simulation research fellowship and have friends and family here, so it was nice includes data collection, publication and manuscript to receive an offer to come back here in 2013,” writing. The trainees or residents we mentored in Dr. Merchant said. the past have had successful Fellowship matches and go on to start their careers in areas that they The impact of health disparities in surgical really enjoy. What you want for your mentees is to outcomes; length of stay, and occurrences of post- open the gate and let them fly.” surgical complications and deaths is a focus for Dr. Merchant’s research interests. As a mentor himself, Dr. Merchant said, “One person who I always remember as a mentor is “We know surgical outcomes are highly affected by my fellowship director Dr. Edward Lin at Emory social determinants; where you live, your income, in minimally invasive. He gave me a great deal of your race, your insurance status, your educational clinical training and career mentorship training. status, sometimes even more so than your actual Whenever I have questions or challenges, I always medical condition.” gravitate to him.” Dr. Merchant said, “The big question is: how do you level the playing field for these patients? What are “When you receive mentorship the things really causing problems for them? How do you value it, and it gives you a you fix their lack of transportation or access to care framework of ways to mentor or educational issues, people not knowing enough someone else,” about their disease?” Dr. Aziz Merchant
19 | WINTER, 2020 Remembering and Honoring Dr. Eric Munoz˜ at Rededication of Trauma Center in his Name “I am honored to be here today at the rededication of the ‘Eric Muñoz Trauma Center’ at the University Hospital. The tenth anniversary of my husband’s passing is of course a difficult time for our friends and family. But the hard work of the doctors and the medical team at the Eric Muñoz Trauma Center provide a daily testament to my husband’s legacy. The countless lives that have been saved here is truly humbling.”
New Jersey State Assemblywoman New Jersey State Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz Nancy F. Muñoz speaks at the rededication of the Trauma the New Jersey General Assembly. Dr. Livingston recalled his friend Dr. Center named after her late He attended Assembly meetings Muñoz as “an incredible guy. He and husband, Dr. Eric Munoz. adorned in his University Hospital I arrived together in 1988. Eric was surgeon’s white coat and a bow tie. hired as both chief medical officer at UH and one of the trauma surgeons, Judith Persichilli, then University For longtime friend and colleague which was very unusual at the time to Hospital Acting President and Dr. David Livingston, the opportunity have both roles.” CEO, said the Hospital is proud to to honor the late Dr. Eric Muñoz was rededicate the Trauma Center in the A prolific academic researcher with a chance to look back and to look name of Dr. Muñoz, “as we work to an interest in health care financial forward at the re-dedication of The expand and enhance the Hospital’s policy, Dr. Muñoz authored more Eric Muñoz Trauma Center at the physical space and emergency than 80 publications, according to University Hospital. services. Dr. Muñoz was an example Dr. Livingston. “I worked with Eric for nearly 15 to us all. He dedicated himself to “He coined the term ‘Surgeonomics’ years and know he would have been saving lives and saving the people in 1984 in the journal Surgery in a incredibly proud of the way trauma of our community and New Jersey.” study evaluating the costs associated care has evolved here at University Dr. Adam Fox, Associate Professor with cholecystectomy and he wrote Hospital, in the Greater Newark of Trauma, Rutgers New Jersey some of the very early and seminal Community and in New Jersey,” Medical School, said, “The publications involving health care said Dr. Livingston, Professor, celebration of National Trauma economics throughout the 1980’s and Chief of Trauma and Awareness Month makes it rather when no one was talking about it. He Surgical Critical Care. fitting that we spend some time was very ahead of his time and was Dr. Muñoz, trauma surgeon and recognizing the Eric Muñoz even a member of the Federal ProPac former Chief Medical Officer at Trauma Center and the outstanding (prospective payment) system.” University Hospital, devoted his life people who make it function on a and career to medicine and public day-to-day basis.” policy representing the 21st District in When Dr. Livingston became Trauma Director the Trauma Nurses, past and present. I think in 1995 while Dr. Muñoz still was Chief Medical Eric would have definitely endorsed this choice,” Officer, he had the opportunity of transitioning Dr. Livingston said, from a colleague to Dr. Muñoz’s ‘boss’ on the trauma service. “Eric was very supportive of me “There are so many Eric stories. in that leadership position. That support was He was just a wonderful man. invaluable to help me make the changes I felt the Like a lot of people, when you service needed at the time. He was a very good surgeon and pretty unflappable; no matter what look backwards at what he walked through the door. When he was on-call accomplished and how he he always greeted everybody warmly and jovially navigated a very complicated even at two in the morning.” political arena, you realize how The legacy of Dr. Muñoz is more than a sign smart and savvy he was.” bearing his name on the Trauma Center said Dr. Livingston. “There is a Trauma Lectureship in “I miss him greatly. Since the politics in health his name that focuses on public policy. Soon after care have not gotten easier, I wish he was around his death, we created a trauma award for the best when I have things that I would want to bounce third year resident on the Trauma Service and off him. His input and advice would be invaluable. given his optimistic outlook on life and medicine Everyone needs people like Eric for some part of named it the ‘Eric Muñoz Future is Bright Award’. your life. That’s just the way it is. When they are The awardee not only gets a check, but a pair of gone, there is a hole that can’t be filled.” sunglasses. For the dedication, we also restarted an annual Trauma Service Award and recognized
21 | WINTER, 2020 DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY RESIDENTS & FELLOWS The Next Chapter...
Eihab Abdelfatah - Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship Surgical Oncology Fellowship Diana Arellano - Baylor Houston Trauma Fellowship Akia Caine - Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY Advanced GI and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship Reyna Gonzalez - UCSF, Fresno Trauma, Critical Care Fellowship Gregory Grimberg - Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland Bariatrics/Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery/Robotics Fellowship Paul Johnson - Florida Hospital, Orlando Colorectal Surgery Attending Chetan Merchant - Guthrie Packer, PA General Surgery Attending Kenneth Walsh - Northwell Health – North Shore/LIJ Vascular Surgery Fellowship
WINTER, 2020 | 22 Urology Residents: DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY RESIDENTS & FELLOWS Dr. Saman Shafaat Talab Plastic Surgery: Dr. Paul Therattil and Dr. Michael Benson and Dr. Alexandra Condé Green The Next Chapter...
Trauma Fellows Graduate
Dr. Devashish Anjaria, Associate Professor; Dr. Michael Callander, Fellow; Dr. Prerna Ladha, Fellow; Alexis Chan, Program Coordinator; Dr. David Livingston, Professor; Dr. Ziad Sifri, Associate Professor and Fellowship Director
Trauma Fellows Urology Residency Graduates
Michael Callander Saman Shafaat Talab Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon Private Practice Orange Park Medical Center Palm Springs, California Jacksonville, Florida Michael Benson Prerna Ladha New Jersey Urology Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon Belleville, NJ Metrohealth Assistant Professor Plastic Surgery Residency Graduates Case Western Cleveland, OH Alexandra Condé Green Private Practice Vascular Fellows Florida Paul J. Therattil Amer Homsi, MD Reconstructive Micro Surgery Fellowship 23 | WINTER, 2020 Private Practice University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA “Cutting Edge” Presentations at Grand Rounds
Welcoming guest speaker Melina R. Kibbe, MD, FACS, FAHA
Anne C. Mosenthal, MD, FACS, the Benjamin F. Rush Jr. MD Endowed Chair, Department of Surgery, greets Dr. Melina R. Kibbe, the Colin G. Thomas Jr. Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina
SPEAKERS
Betty Ferrell, RN, PhD, MA, FAAN, CHPN, Professor, Abbas E. Abbas, MD, MS, FACS, Professor and Director, Division of Nursing Research and Education, Vice Chair, Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Lewis City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte CA, presented the Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, presented “Dr. Pat Murphy Endowed Lecture in Palliative Care” “Advances in Esophageal Surgery: Evolution or entitled “Advances in the Integration of Palliative Care “Devolution”?” in January. in Oncology” in May.
WINTER, 2020 | 24 SPEAKERS
Jeffrey W. Hull PhD, Clinical Instructor of Psychology, Lorena Gonzalez, MD, RPVI, Assistant Professor Harvard Medical School, presented “Building a Culture of Surgery, Department of Vascular and Endovascular of Coaching in Health Care” in December. Services, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, presented “Biologic vs. Chronologic Age in Surgical Outcomes: Why Frailty is More than Just an Index” in January.
Larry Kaiser, MD, FACS, Dean, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University and President & CEO, Melina R. Kibbe, MD, FACS, FAHA, the Colin G. Temple University Health System, presented “From the Thomas, Jr. Distinguished Professor and Chair, Operating Room to the Boardroom: Confessions of a Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Surgeon-CEO” in February. presented “Thinking Outside the Box: One Surgeon’s Journey” in March.
Selwyn O. Rogers, Jr., MD, MPH, Professor and Chief, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, and Director, the Trauma Center at the University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences, presented, “Violence 25 |Seen WINTER, Through 2020 a Public Health Lens” in January. MARCH 2019 Scenes from the Research Symposium
The Fifth Annual Research Symposium for the Department of Surgery featured presentations and posters from Rutgers NJMS Medical Students, Residents and Faculty and Surgery Residents from RWJ Barnabas Health and SBMC.
WINTER, 2020 | 26 27 | WINTER, 2020 PROFESSIONAL PROFILE Huzaifa A. Shakir, MD, FACS, FACCP
Assistant Professor - Cardiothoracic Surgery
Medical School - Boston University School of Medicine
Residency - General Surgery New York University School of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital
Residency - Cardiothoracic Surgery Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Fellowship - Fellow, American College of Surgeons Fellow, American College of Chest Physicians Member, American College of Health Care Executives Member, Society of Thoracic Surgeons Welcome 17 | WINTER, 2020
WELCOME Dr. Huzaifa A. Shakir, FACS, FACCP ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY
Dr. Huzaifa A. Shakir, FACS, In particular, Dr. Shakir anticipates FACCP, joins the Division of “I’m born and raised in opportunities to collaborate with a Cardiothoracic Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey, trained and new interventional cardiologist to New Jersey Medical School at a time worked in this metro expand the scope of cardiac services when “opportunities to collaborate available in the region. with a new interventional cardiologist area since 1999 and I He also sees opportunities to promote in the Department of Medicine feel it is very important cardiac preventative health and lung can help grow our cardiac surgery to serve our population cancer screening. program,” according to Division with University Chief, Dr. Justin Sambol. Hospital’s commitment During his training at Boston University School of Medicine, “Dr. Shakir has been a cardiothoracic to public health.” Dr. Shakir completed a health surgeon in the New Jersey area policy internship in the office of for more than ten years. He has Massachusetts United States Senator tremendous experience in the area this metro area since 1999 John Kerry. Today, at home, Dr. and is well known. We are excited and I feel it is very important Shakir serves on the Health Advisory to have him join us. This is a great to serve our population with Committee for the township of East opportunity for our Division and he University Hospital’s commitment Brunswick. He is participating in the is enthusiastic as well.” to public health.” Rutgers Leadership Academy. “My Dr. Sambol said he is transitioning His experience while training and goal is to acquire the knowledge to his own practice to focus on thoracic practicing at regional community network with service line leaders surgery and devote more attention to hospitals “gave me a vision of a and help better position Rutgers as a his administrative responsibilities as continuum of care for a patient with unique leader in medical education.” Senior Associate Dean for Clinical cardiac disease,” Dr. Shakir said. Dr. Shakir said, “I love what I do. Affairs at Rutgers New Jersey “I have an understanding of the I appreciate the support I have Medical School. collaboration in University Hospital received at the University. Being a setting so that the care A specialist in adult cardiac surgery, local boy helps; knowing the market, of a patient is not relegated to minimally invasive thoracic surgery I have a good understanding of what one specialty, but a range of and electrophysiology surgery, Dr. the challenges are and what patients things within cardiology, as a Shakir said, “I’m born and raised in are looking for. I hope to make an cutting-edge discipline.” WelcomeNew Jersey, trained and worked in impact in the community.” DR. DORIAN WILSON & DR. DAVID PALANGE Sharing Perspectives on Mentorship: Providing Structure to Culture Change
As Professor Dorian Wilson, MD and Administrative Chief Resident David Palange, DO, PGY 5 prepared their joint Grand Rounds presentation on Mentorship, (“Mentoring: Still an Evolving Art in the Setting of Surgical Education”) they drew upon profound personal moments when a faculty member provided mentoring advice that shaped their careers.
Beyond the mentor sharing advice and encouragement with the mentee from their own experience, both doctors Dorian Wilson, MD suggested that a mentor can help the mentee see something in their ability and potential that they might not see in themselves.
Dr. Dorian Wilson, Professor, Department of Surgery and Associate Program Director for the General Surgery Residency Program, recalled being encouraged by the late Dr. Benjamin F. Rush Jr. to pursue a fellowship in transplantation.
“Dr. Rush was the Founding Chair of the Department of Surgery when I was a resident on his service more David Palange, DO, PGY 5 than 30 years ago,” Dr. Wilson said. “Dr. Rush looked at me and said in that gravelly voice of his, ‘You have the necessary equipment and speed to go to Pittsburgh and “Dr. Rush looked at me do liver transplantation.’ and said in that gravelly “I was not even thinking of liver at the time,” Dr. Wilson said. “I had a plane ticket and a job interview lined up voice of his,‘You have to be a junior partner for a busy surgeon at a community the necessary equipment hospital in Ohio. and speed to go to Dr. Rush and Dr. Carrol Leevy, a hepatologist here at that time, called Dr. Thomas E. Starzl, the pioneer of liver Pittsburgh and do transplantation, and said, ‘We’ve got this kid who would liver transplantation.’” be a pretty good transplant surgeon,’ and I went out there to Pittsburgh and trained and came back here and helped start liver transplantation in this state.” For Dr. Wilson, the power of the mentorship Livingston, Professor of Trauma; Dr. Adam support from Dr. Rush “motivated me to sticking Fox, Associate Professor of Trauma but adds, the course. Transplantation is a difficult and “Dr. Mosenthal is my coach.” grueling specialty and there weren’t many people “You pick things up from talking with all of who looked like me doing transplantation then, them, great advice,” Dr. Palange said, adding, so that encouraged me.” “and you try to share it back with the other Both Dr. Wilson and Dr. Palange have been residents, how to get through the daily muck involved since the beginning in the progression of general surgery residency.” of mentorship and coaching in the Rutgers NJMS Dr. Palange particularly appreciates the Department of Surgery, as championed by mentorship and guidance he is receiving from Dr. Anne Mosenthal, the Benjamin F. Rush Jr., Dr. Melissa Alvarez-Downing, Assistant MD Endowed Chair of Surgery and Dr. Professor of Surgical Oncology as he Anastasia Kunac, Associate Professor, pursues a fellowship in Colorectal Surgery. Trauma and Critical Care and General Surgery Residency Program Director. “Dr. Alvarez-Downing took me to Colorectal Surgery meetings this year and introduced me Dr. Wilson said, “We are all involved in to lots of people from around the country. mentorship at some level and we are trying Those personal, face-to-face meetings may be to make this a fundamental mainstay, more how I get to where I want to match. I can say in structured, more expected; a mentoring culture an interview, ‘I met you at the Rock and Roll Hall that is not hit-and-miss. We can better identify of Fame,’ and then we can go from there.” students and residents who may be struggling; it will be easier to identify opportunities for Now Dr. Palange is a mentor to other residents, mentorship and for senior residents to act as holding lunch or breakfast meetings for chats to mentors for junior residents.” discuss subjects such as: “How are you handling things; how are you being more ‘present’ in your As Dr. David Palange begins his administrative work and with your family? How are you engaging chief residency year, he has seen the evolution with patients, and what are you reading at night of the mentorship and coaching program and to stay current?” advocated for more structure during his Rutgers NJMS Surgery training. When he had three medical students shadow him during a major trauma surgery on a man who was “Mentorship has gone through many iterations pinned under a car, Dr. Palange recalled how he since I got here,” Dr. Palange said. “Three years felt compelled “to debrief them after I saw the ago, I went to Dr. Wilson, and Dr. Kunac and Dr. looks on their faces, so we sat down and talked Mosenthal and said: ‘we have to do a better job them through it, about what they had seen and with mentoring and coaching,’ and since then it why we did what we did.” has become a more formal program and keeps getting better and better.” It all ties together and comes full circle, according to Dr. Palange. “What we are trying to do with our Dr. Palange has received mentorship from mentorship is to build the culture of our surgery Dr. Wilson, Dr. Michael Shapiro, Associate program, to make us better, more like-minded in Professor of General Surgery; Dr. David a culture that facilitates learning.” A team of Rutgers NJMS Surgery residents performed 64 free surgeries in May during an ISHI International Surgical Health Initiative trip to Peru.
WINTER, 2020 | 32 Rutgers NJMS Team Performs 64 Surgeries, Trains 300 in “Stop the Bleed” in Peru A team of Rutgers NJMS Surgery residents performed 64 free surgeries in May during an International Surgical Health Initiative, ISHI trip to Peru.
Under the direction of Dr. Ziad C. and critical care attending at University Hospital, is Sifri, Associate Professor and the Director of the NJMS Office of Global Health, Director of Global Health, at NJMS Center for Global Surgery, and global surgery resident Drs. Michele Fiorentino, fellowship program. PGY 4, Jesus Rosado, PGY 4, and Dr. Michele Fiorentino shared, “We went to Madre de Vennila Padmanaban, PGY 4, were Cristo Clinic in Trujillo, Peru. Our team consisted of joined by former resident Dr. Amy doctors, nurses, physical therapists and logistics people. Gore and former Surgical Critical While there, we successfully completed 64 free surgeries. Care Fellow Dr. Konstantin Khariton The majority of the cases performed were hernias and to perform numerous complimentary gallbladders. The team also trained over 300 police surgeries in Trujillo, Peru. officers and security officers in ‘Stop the Bleed,’ which Ziad C. Sifri, MD, FACS, associate gives bystanders and ‘immediate responders’ the skills professor of surgery and a trauma they need to help in a bleeding emergency.”
33 | WINTER, 2020 GRADUATING RESIDENT PROFILE: DR. REYNA GONZALEZ Elite Gymnastics Experience Drives Her Surgical Training and Coaching
to adjust; either I could be the mean resident who doesn’t understand what people are going through or I can figure out how to teach and coach them in the way I want them to be,” Dr. Gonzalez said.
Elite gymnastics training for 20 to 30 hours a week from age three to 14, and then coaching nine years, gave Dr. Gonzalez a unique approach she applied to teaching residents.
“I learned about commitment through coaching with difficult parents, and tons of hours with kids working out 20 hours a week, that you have to be a good teacher and not all kids learn the same. No six-year-old works out for 20 hours a week unless they want to achieve. You have to learn For her Grand Rounds presentation, “The Age to teach, to help them learn.” of the Millennial, Teaching the Next Generation,” The Grand Rounds presentation put into historical described her journey of Dr. Reyna Gonzalez perspective the challenges of training surgical learning to balance high expectations with the residents in an educational program that has not current realities of teaching surgical residents. changed much in 100 years, Dr. Gonzalez said. “I don’t think you go a week without talking with faculty about how different it was when “Where we are today, there is they trained, when dinosaurs roamed the greater productivity pressure on earth,” she laughed. teaching faculty, so there is less “Unintentionally, I used my gymnastics coaching time for them to teach, advise, experience with residents; I had a way of doing things. I had that certain personality that believed conduct research and serve as every person coming in to residency is high mentors,” Dr. Gonzalez said. achieving and works the way I do. I had to learn
WINTER, 2020 | 34 Operating room teaching in an era of less repetition should be re-designed to help residents anticipate “knowing what comes next, choosing the right plane, better handling tissue and recognizing the abnormal in process,” Dr. Gonzalez said.
Born in the 1980s, Dr. Gonzalez calls herself a “transitional millennial, not a full-blown 90’s millennial,” but she identifies with the need to transform educating the “dreaded millennials” to better accommodate their learning styles.
“Millennials are digital native multi-taskers who Reyna Gonzalez as a young gymast work well in teams. Although well-educated, they face a greater potential for personal failure when “My 18 years in competitive being asked to work independently.” gymnastics as an athlete and a coach Dr. Gonzalez, citing the “helicopter parent” always pushed me for excellence generation, said “Millennials are unprepared to receive negative feedback or constructive and perfection. It influenced my criticism. They want to know that you don’t perspective on how surgical think they are an awful person because they did something wrong.” residents are taught.” She learned from participating in coaching and mentoring herself that “it not only makes you a Reyna Gonzalez, MD, Former PGY 5, better resident, but helps you become a better Graduating Administrative Chief Resident person. We can enhance those things that make you a better version of you.” The 2003 reduction in resident duty hours Of her own mentors such as Associate meant 20 percent less patient care experience. Professor Dr. Michael Shapiro and General Dr. Gonzalez cited a national study reporting Surgery Residency Program Director Dr. 25 percent of residents felt a lack of confidence Anastasia Kunac, Dr. Gonzalez said, their in performing eight of 13 types of operations guidance helped her own surgical training and because of a lack of repetition. influenced her teaching style. Changing the teaching approach to be Her frequent e-mail messages with Dr. Kunac more “learner focused” when the traditional were reassuring. “I remember sending one my “immersion method” is less possible could first time as an intern in trauma critical care. I enable technology-savvy Millennials to learn felt overwhelmed and that I wasn’t good enough lower level skills online rather than in the to be there yet. She basically said, ‘you’re doing classroom. “That would allow higher order fine, it is exactly how you are supposed to feel. skills to be taught face-to-face with faculty,” Don’t worry, we know what is going on and we Dr. Gonzalez said. would not let you hurt anyone,’ so that made me feel better.”
35 | WINTER, 2020 Dr. Gonzalez added, “Dr. Shapiro, he never I was getting myself into. I knew I was capable: I hesitates to take a look at what I am doing in the had coached gymnastics nine years for kids three operating room, even when I am not on his team. years old and up. I came up with schedules to get He has never made me feel this approach is not 100 kids into a gym with only so many hours in okay. He always does ‘the teacher thing’ and the day to get these kids in and out, so you learn asks me ‘why?’ He is a great coach. We have so how to do it.” many faculty here who do that for people. I know Next for Dr. Gonzalez is a trauma and acute care “The thing I will miss most, without question, that when I graduate, I could fellowship at UCSF, Fresno. “I wanted to be back call anyone here and ask questions.” “ on West coast close to family, and honestly I just is the people; Dr. Kunac said, “I think Reyna is exactly the loved the program.” type of person I am proud to be graduating. I not just the residents, When she first interviewed for her General remember actively recruiting her to come here Surgery residency here, Dr. Gonzalez recalled my best friends, because she is from Southern California (like I Benjamin F. Rush, Jr. MD am) and she wanted to work someplace busy and Dr. Anne Mosenthal, Endowed Chair, of the Department of Surgery, but the faculty. train in the trenches to pursue a career in trauma “being excited when I said I really just wanted to and acute care surgery.” It is such a nice place to be. work with people I would enjoy spending 80 hours “She has tremendous grit and resilience, a week with as friends and colleagues.” Everyone is so supportive. which may have stemmed from her career So, in her exit interview, Dr. Gonzalez said, as a gymnast. Nothing short of excellence is “The thing I will miss most, is the people; not Everyone wants you to acceptable as a gymnast. When she started to just the residents, my best friends, but the faculty. think of herself as a coach, she realized that reach your potential It is such a nice place to be. Everyone is so she had to figure out how to bring out the best supportive. Everyone wants you to reach your in people, and that made her a very effective and to teach you. potential and to teach you. Somehow, this is a educator,” Dr. Kunac said. department not about them, but about us.” Somehow, As Administrative Chief Resident, Dr. Gonzalez brought her organizational skills to the demands this is a department of scheduling 60 residents in rotations at four hospitals. Dr. Kunac said, “Her attention to detail not about them, kept the program running, I could not do my job without the way she handled the schedule for the but about us.” whole year.”
Again, her gymnastics coaching experience Reyna Gonzalez, MD, Former PGY 5, helped Dr. Gonzalez scheduling residents. Graduating Administrative Chief Resident “Scheduling is not the most fun, but I knew what “The thing “I will miss most, is the people; not just the residents, my best friends, but the faculty. It is such a nice place to be. Everyone is so supportive. Everyone wants you to reach your potential and to teach you. Somehow, this is a department not about them, but about us.”
Reyna Gonzalez, MD, Former PGY 5, Graduating Administrative Chief Resident
37 | WINTER, 2020 NEW ADMINISTRATIVE CHIEF RESIDENTS Honors & Awards
unac a K si a GME AWARDS t s a n
and A Dr. Anastasia Kunac
.
r Dr. Nitin “Nick” Patel were D honored for “Promoting Resident Dr. Pete Johnston Well-being” during the GME Faculty Recognition Awards. Dr. N it in P a t e
l
Dr. David Palange Promotions
NEW PROMOTIONS TO ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR INCLUDE:
Dr. Adam Fox, Trauma and SCC;
Dr. Jonathan Keith, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; Dr. Franchesca Hwang Dr. Anastasia Kunac, Trauma and Surgical Critical Care and Program Director, General Surgery Residency
WINTER, 2020 | 38 Mentoring Award
MENTORING AWARD | Anne Mosenthal, MD, FACS, Benjamin F. Rush, Jr. Endowed Chair, Department of Surgery accepting 2019 Mentoring Award from NJMS Faculty Organization, pictured with Sangeeta Lamba, MD (L); and Stephanie Bonne, MD (R). Golden Apple Award
THE GOLDEN APPLE AWARD IS PRESENTED BY NJMS STUDENTS IN RECOGNITION OF EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING.
Dr. Devashish J. Anjaria, Associate Professor, Director, Surgery Clerkship; Dr. David Palange PGY 5, Administrative Chief Resident; Dr. Ziad, C. Sifri, Associate Professor, Program Director, SCC Fellowship.
39 | WINTER, 2020 WELCOME New General Surgery Residents
Members of the PGY 1 class assemble for a group photo at a welcoming reception.
Pictured below from left, are, Front Row: Ryan Benson, Tolulope Oyetunde, Basel Abdelazeem, Shyamin Mehra, Grace Tsui, Ann Nguyen. Second Row: Syed Haider, Brad Chernock, Matteo Novello, Antony Irungu, Alvand Sehat, Bobby Yu, Kevin Rhee and Alexander Nowicki.
WINTER, 2020 | 40 NJMS Advocacy in DC
A delegation from Rutgers NJMS Department of Surgery and New Jersey Chapter of American College of Surgeons conducted an Advocacy visit to Washington, D.C.
In the group photo from left to right: Dr. Tori Ko, surgical resident; Dr. Michael Spedick, Dr. Amit Joshi, Dr. Stephanie Bonne, Assistant Professor of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care and Dr. Michele Fiorentino, surgical resident.
“We met with multiple staff members of New Jersey congressmen and women, and senators including representatives of Cory Booker.
It was a great experience for me to go to Washington and advocate for issues that are important for surgeons and our patients. I had a great day getting to meet with the representatives of our congressmen and women and 41 | WINTER, 2020 exploring the Hill,” Dr. Fiorentino said. Scenes from the 2019 Academic Surgical Congress
Surgery Residents and medical students from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School presented their academic research work at the Academic Surgical Congress in Houston. On a Personal Note...
CONGRATULATIONS! IT’S A GIRL!
Rutgers NJMS Surgery resident Dr. Victor Costa and wife Jessica announce the arrival of their baby girl Rori, born at the end of April 2019.
April 2019, 20.5 inches, 7 lbs 10 oz.
Copyright 2020 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. All rights reserved
43 | WINTER, 2020 Vol. 1, No.4 WINTER, 2020