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Blogs

Community Pediatric surgery

Spanish-Language Pediatric Surgery Clinic Offers Concordant Care for Hispanic Patients and Families

As a native Spanish speaker working in pediatric surgery at Children’s Hospital ColoradoJosé Díaz-Mirón, MD, knows what a difference it makes when a surgeon can communicate with a patient in their native tongue.

Community    Breast Cancer

Why Olivia Munn’s Breast Cancer Reveal Calls For Risk Assessment

Bringing new attention to breast cancer in younger women and the importance of risk assessment, actress Olivia Munn, 43, announced Wednesday that she had been diagnosed with the disease last year. Munn said she has undergone four surgeries in the past 10 months, including a double mastectomy.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 14, 2024
Full Story

Leadership

JoLynn Shinsako Named Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs for APPs for the CU Department of Surgery

To support the growing number of advanced practice providers at the University of Colorado Department of Surgery, JoLynn Shinsako, PA-C, MS, has been promoted to the new role of associate vice chair of clinical affairs for advanced practice providers (APPs).


Author Carie Behounek | Publish Date March 12, 2024
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Urology

March Madness is Prime Time for Vasectomies

If doctor’s orders require you to sit on the couch for a few days, you might as well do it when you can watch the country’s top college basketball teams take the court to battle for the NCAA title.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 08, 2024
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Heart    Transplant Center    Transplant Surgery    Cardiology    Heart Transplant

‘I Am Their Top Priority’: A High-Quality Heart-Transplant Team Sets a New Record

Tim Daly doesn’t mince words when he talks about the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus team that gave him a new heart: “I’m pretty fortunate that I ended up here with these people. They made me a winner.”


Author Mark Harden | Publish Date February 26, 2024
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Research    Patient Care    Lung Cancer    Cardiothoracic Surgery

Setting Realistic Expectations for Recovery After Robotic Lung Surgery

Are surgeons giving patients unrealistic expectations about recovery after robotic lung surgery? That’s what CU Department of Surgery faculty member Robert Meguid, MD, MPH, and surgery resident Adam Dyas, MD, set out to discover after realizing the guidance they were offering patients might be based on outdated or anecdotal information.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date February 20, 2024
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Community    Pediatric surgery

Spanish-Language Pediatric Surgery Clinic Offers Concordant Care for Hispanic Patients and Families

As a native Spanish speaker working in pediatric surgery at Children’s Hospital ColoradoJosé Díaz-Mirón, MD, knows what a difference it makes when a surgeon can communicate with a patient in their native tongue.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date February 13, 2024
Full Story

Community    Cardiothoracic Surgery    Awards    Transplant Surgery

Department of Surgery Members Honored With UCHealth Medical Staff Awards

Five faculty members in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery were honored in January as part of the University of Colorado Hospital Medical Staff Awards. The awards are given annually by UCHealth, one of the surgery department’s partner hospitals.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date February 09, 2024
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Colorectal Cancer    Ovarian Cancer

HIPEC Procedure Pumps Chemotherapy Into the Abdomen to Kill Cancer Cells

Cancers located in the abdomen — including colorectal cancer, appendix cancer, gastric cancer, and gynecologic cancers such as certain types of ovarian cancer — can be difficult to treat with traditional chemotherapy when the tumors spread beyond the organ in which they originated.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date February 08, 2024
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Research    Clinical Trials    Cardiothoracic Surgery

CU Department of Surgery Part of International Trial Examining Bypass Surgery Outcomes in Women

February is American Heart Month — the perfect time to remind women that their risk of cardiovascular disease is just as high as that of men.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date February 08, 2024
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Research    Trauma    GITES

Trauma and Transfusions: Unraveling the Right Approach to Blood Clotting Issues

The blood holds mysteries to healing that we’re only beginning to understand.

Franklin Wright, MD, associate professor of GI, trauma, and endocrine surgery in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery, is advancing what is known about blood – specifically, the balance between too much bleeding and too much clotting.


Author Carie Behounek | Publish Date February 07, 2024
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Press Releases   

Voting for U.S. News & World Report Hospitals Ranking

The University of Colorado School of Medicine is proud of our faculty's work that contributes to UCHealth's annual rankings on the U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals. These rankings are important as many students, residents, faculty, and patients consider these rankings when deciding where to train, practice and receive care.


Author School of Medicine | Publish Date February 01, 2024
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Research    Press Releases    GITES

New Hire Brings Thrombotic Complications Research to CU Department of Surgery

The research portfolio at the University of Colorado Department of Surgery has expanded with the recent arrival of Jessica C. Cardenas, PhD, a researcher who is studying mechanisms of and therapeutics to prevent thrombotic and inflammatory complications — such as blood clots — in patients with traumatic injuries and acute critical illness.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date February 01, 2024
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Community    appendix cancer

Actor’s Death Sheds Light on Appendix Cancer 

The news that actor Adan Canto — known for his roles in "Designated Survivor" and "X-Men: Days of Future Past" — died earlier this month at age 42, after a battle with appendix cancer, is raising awareness of the relatively rare disease.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date January 25, 2024
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Research    Press Releases    Health equity    GITES    Leadership

Catherine Velopulos Named AVC of Health Equity and Health Services Research for CU Department of Surgery 

The University of Colorado Department of Surgery is putting a greater focus on health equity with the appointment of Catherine Velopulos, MD, to the new role of associate vice chair of health equity and health services research. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date January 22, 2024
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Pediatric surgery

Appendicitis: How to Recognize and Treat the Common Condition

Approximately one in 13 people will experience appendicitis in their lifetime. The painful condition, while being quite common, is luckily one that is easy to solve. Low-risk appendectomy surgeries are performed hundreds of thousands of times per year with excellent results, so if you are experiencing intense abdominal pain, don’t panic.


Author Mara Kalinoski | Publish Date January 16, 2024
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Pediatrics    Urology

Does Some Chemotherapy Cause Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Children? 

As an associate professor of urology in the University of Colorado Department of SurgeryNicholas Cost, MD, was used to treating children with urologic cancers such as bladder cancer and kidney cancer. But when he began receiving referrals of children with other types of cancer who were having urinary tract issues, he became curious. Was there something about cancer treatment that was causing these young patients to develop lower urinary tract dysfunction? 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date January 11, 2024
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Research    Community    alcohol

Annual Meeting Brings Alcohol and Immunity Researchers to CU Anschutz Campus

Researchers from around the country gathered on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus earlier this month to share their latest findings on the relationship among alcohol use, immunity, and inflammation.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date December 20, 2023
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Research    COVID-19    Vascular Surgery

CU Surgeons Show Carotid Artery Surgery Was Safe to Postpone During COVID-19 Pandemic 

The COVID-19 pandemic afforded medical researchers a rare opportunity. Since many hospitals delayed scheduled operations at the height of the health crisis, there was an unprecedented opportunity to study the effects of delayed surgeries to make recommendations for future pandemics, natural disasters, or other widespread health emergencies. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date December 19, 2023
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Community    Leadership

CU Department of Surgery Top Stories of 2023

2023 was an exciting year at the University of Colorado, resulting in 85 blogs covering the research, education, and provider care that has been performed over the past months. Our stories this year featured faculty, researchers, and patients as they exemplified the incredible work being accomplished by the Department of Surgery, including a revolutionary transplant surgery and new departmental leadership.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date December 18, 2023
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Research    Diversity    Urology    Equity Diversity and Inclusion

Unraveling Disparities in Pediatric Urology

Learning through a prenatal ultrasound that your baby may or may not need surgery can be scary. Learning the surgeon may have directed the decision based on race and socioeconomic status? Not ideal.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Department of Surgery are taking a deep dive into the decision-making process associated with a condition called ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction after learning the decision to have surgery was largely based on surgeon perceptions.


Author Carie Behounek | Publish Date December 15, 2023
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Community    Pediatrics

Keeping Children Safe From Fireplace Burns 

On a cold winter’s day, few things are as inviting as a warm roaring fire. But if you have toddlers in the home, it’s best to leave your gas fireplace off and watch a festive yule log on TV instead. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date December 14, 2023
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Research    Pediatrics

Examining Health Disparities in Pediatric Surgical Care 

As the child of a mother who immigrated to the U.S. from Peru, Jonathan Hills-Dunlap, MD, MPH, was aware at an early age of the disparities that exist within the health care system. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date December 12, 2023
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Research    Pancreatic Cancer    Surgical Oncology

CU Study Finds Advantage in Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Even in Resectable Pancreatic Cancer Tumors

Chemotherapy is a useful treatment to try to get systemic control in pancreatic cancer. Currently, however, chemotherapy is mostly administered in patients whose tumors are more difficult to remove surgically because of where they are in the anatomy.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date November 30, 2023
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Pancreatic Cancer    Cancer    Surgical Oncology    Whipple procedure

CU Cancer Center Was the Right Destination for a Lifelong Outdoorsman with Pancreatic Cysts

It’s been just over four years since Jim Page entrusted his fate to a University of Colorado Cancer Center surgical oncologist after being diagnosed with precancerous cysts in his pancreas. Four years since he underwent the surgery that he credits with saving his life.


Author Mark Harden | Publish Date November 22, 2023
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Research    Plastic Surgery    Liver Transplant

Why Galectin-3 Is Higher in Cirrhosis and Post-Transplant Infections 

Is there a biomarker that can predict which patients will develop dangerous infectious complications after receiving a liver transplant? Nalu Navarro-Alvarez, MD, assistant professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery, says yes. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date November 21, 2023
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Research    Pilot Award    Urology

Alison Xie, PhD, Named SBUR Young Investigator for 2023 

The Society for Basic Urologic Research (SBUR) has named Alison Xie, PhD, an assistant professor in the Division of Urology in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery, one of its Young Investigators for 2023. The SBUR Young Investigator Awards are given to SBUR members who are under the age of 45, within five years of their first faculty position, and have made significant contributions to urologic research. Xie accepted her award at the organization’s annual meeting in October. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date November 20, 2023
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Research    Plastic Surgery    Retina

What’s the Future of Eye Transplantation?

Doctors in New York this month announced the world’s first successful whole-eye and partial face transplant, a feat Kia Washington, MD, professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, says sets the stage for further advancement in the field and shows promise that patients may one day regain vision after an eye transplant.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date November 16, 2023
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Awareness    Stomach Cancer

A Quick Guide to Your Questions on Stomach Cancer

This November, Stomach Cancer Awareness Month allows us the opportunity to learn more about gastric oncology and dispel anxieties around the disease. While stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, accounts for a little over 1% of all new cancer cases per year, outcomes can be improved with prevention and earlier detection.


Author Mara Kalinoski | Publish Date November 13, 2023
Full Story

Pediatric surgery

CU Pediatric and Fetal Surgeons Move to Minimally Invasive Approach for Closure of Fetal Open Neural Tube Defects 

Fetal surgeons at the University of Colorado Department of Surgery already are among the busiest in the country when it comes to repairing myelomeningoceles (MMC), defects in a developing spine while the baby is still in the womb. MMC is a type of spina bifida that, if not treated, can lead to physical and intellectual disabilities. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date November 06, 2023
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Community    Transplant Surgery

Surgery Fellow’s Book Series Helps Children Understand Their Care 

Maria Baimas-George, MD, MPH, first noticed it early in her residency — doctors, and surgeons in particular, aren’t always the best at explaining complex medical issues to young patients. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date October 30, 2023
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Urology

Vasectomy Reversals: What You Need to Know

Each year, approximately half a million American men undergo vasectomy, a minimally invasive and highly effective option for permanent birth control. However, studies show up to 5% of men will opt for a vasectomy reversal at some point in their lives. While the procedure itself isn’t an incredibly common one, a significant number of men are interested in a vasectomy reversal, making it a vital specialization in the surgical field.


Author Mara Kalinoski | Publish Date October 26, 2023
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Research    Transplant Surgery

Innovative Overnight Advanced Practice Provider Program Transforms Patient Care

JoLynn Shinsako, PA-C, MS, physician assistant in transplant surgery at the University of Colorado Department of Surgery, helped found and currently leads a nocturnal advanced practice provider surgical subspecialty service aimed at optimizing patient care overnight in various surgical subspecialties.


Author Carie Behounek | Publish Date October 23, 2023
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Research    Heart    Transplant Surgery

Are Single-Ventricle Heart Transplant Patients Truly at Higher Risk? 

New research by Syed Shahyan Bakhtiyar, MD, a surgical resident in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery, may help surgeons make more informed decisions about heart transplant surgery for their patients. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date October 20, 2023
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Community    GITES

The Bachelor in Paradise 'Poo Baby,' Explained

It was one of the most dramatic moments in “Bachelor” franchise history. And it wasn’t about a love triangle or an early departure or who would get a rose — it was about whether contestant Sam Jeffries could go to the bathroom.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date October 19, 2023
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Community    Breast Cancer

What Breast Cancer Patients Can Learn From Suzanne Somers’s 23-Year Battle

Actress Suzanne Somers, best known for her iconic role as Chrissy Snow on the 1970s and ’80s sitcom “Three’s Company,” died October 15 after a 23-year struggle with breast cancer. Somers was 76.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date October 18, 2023
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Education    Fellowship

CU Fellowship Program Trains APPs for Careers in Surgery 

Jamie Shatz went to school to become a physician assistant (PA), but once she graduated, she knew she needed more training to pursue the job she really wanted: a surgical PA.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date October 17, 2023
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Research    Urology

Research of Male and Female Stress Urinary Incontinence Devices Underway at CU Department of Surgery

Offering new options for men and women with incontinence issues, the Functional & Reconstructive Urology (FRU) Section in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery is studying two new devices that offer alternatives to polypropylene mesh, pump-operated systems, and other surgical therapies for incontinence that have been in use for the past 30 years. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date October 11, 2023
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Clinical Research    Cardiothoracic Surgery    Announcements

Robert Meguid, MD, Named Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Research for the CU Department of Surgery

Robert Meguid, MD, MPH, FACS, is a professor of cardiothoracic surgery who took on the role of associate vice chair of clinical research for the University of Colorado Department of Surgery last month. His dedication to his research, his patients, and the future of medical science provide the basis for his work on surgical clinical outcomes and processes of care.


Author Mara Kalinoski | Publish Date October 10, 2023
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Research    Education    Equity Diversity and Inclusion

Eliminating Biases Through a Holistic Review Process for Residency Candidates 

Though many medical residency programs have begun using holistic review to evaluate candidates — a process that looks at qualities such as leadership, research aptitude, and volunteerism to get a more well-rounded view of an applicant than grades and test scores can provide — some administrators are still wary that a holistic process may not result in a qualified candidate pool.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date October 06, 2023
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Research    Philanthropy    Breast Cancer    Magazine    Surgical Oncology

Breast Cancer Experience Leads to Donation for Lymph Node Research

At age 47, Wendy Johnson finally started jumping horses. 

Though she had long been interested in the activity — watching her daughters take part in it on the competition field and at the family’s home in Conifer, Colorado — the thought of actually being the one on the back of the graceful beast, guiding it through midair and over a series of obstacles, had always scared her.  

A struggle with breast cancer, however, changed her perspective completely.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date October 05, 2023
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Patient Care    Prostate Cancer    Clinical Trials    Urology

Nanoknife Procedure Preserved Prostate Cancer Patient’s Quality of Life 

James Bird gets emotional talking about it. How he qualified for a clinical trial that, in his view, preserved his manhood after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in late 2022. 

 “The day I went in to see if I qualified, there were 10 other guys out there in the lobby who didn’t get into the trial,” he says. “I felt so sorry for them. One of the technicians who was involved with the trial told me he was getting calls from all over, from guys begging to get in. That’s how important this is.”


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date September 29, 2023
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Patient Care    Thyroid Cancer

Neck Dissection Surgery at the CU Cancer Center Helped Ensure that TV Newsman Danny New Remains Cancer-Free 

“I got lucky that I suck at golf. I threw my back out playing a sport that people usually enjoy in khakis.” 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date September 17, 2023
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Community    Transplant Surgery    Liver Transplant

CU Surgeons Perform Department’s First Robotic Living Liver Donation

Aiming to increase the number of living liver donors by making liver donation surgery easier and quicker to recover from, the University of Colorado Department of Surgery recently performed its first robotic hepatectomy (surgery to remove a portion of the liver) from a living donor. Using a surgical robot to perform the procedure results in a smaller incision, less scarring, less pain, and a faster recovery for the donor. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date August 30, 2023
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Research    Urology

Studying the Role of Glial Cells in Regulating Blood Pressure 

For all the differences between males and females, here’s one Alison Xie, PhD, wasn’t expecting.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date August 29, 2023
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Urology    Leadership    Pediatric surgery

Dan Wood, PhD, Named Associate Vice Chair of Transitional Care for the CU Department of Surgery

Dan Wood, PhD, MBBS, FRCS, is an adolescent and reconstructive urologist bringing his expertise, compassion, and leadership experience to his new role as associate vice chair of transitional care for the University of Colorado Department of Surgery. His work with older adolescent patients transitioning into adult care is an important and steadily developing space in the surgical field. 


Author Mara Kalinoski | Publish Date August 22, 2023
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Education    Community

CU Surgery Faculty Members Urge Training Programs to Consider Young Parents 

Their work developing a set of guidelines for the general surgery residency program in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery led faculty members Nicole Christian, MD, MSCS, and Shannon Acker, MD, to write an editorial on how important it is for surgery training programs to support the young parents in their ranks. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date August 18, 2023
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Research    Press Releases    Community

Department of Surgery Names Mitchell Cohen, MD, Associate Vice Chair of Basic and Translational Research

Mitchell Cohen, MD, has been named associate vice chair of basic and translational research in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery.   


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date August 09, 2023
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Community    Cardiothoracic Surgery

What You Should Know About Pericarditis 

This week, Denver Broncos wide receiver KJ Hamler announced that he had been diagnosed with pericarditis, or inflammation of the heart. Hamler said he started feeling chest pain while working out prior to Broncos training camp.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date August 04, 2023
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Pancreatic Cancer

University of Colorado Leads Work to Standardize Global Guidelines for Cystic Tumor of the Pancreas 

University of Colorado Cancer Center member Marco Del Chiaro, MD, PhD, division chief of surgical oncology, is coordinating a new effort to standardize global diagnosis and treatment efforts for cystic tumor of the pancreas. More frequent than solid lesions, cystic tumors are usually detected incidentally and are often asymptomatic.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date August 03, 2023
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Patient Care    Community   

More Than 200 CU Faculty Members Recognized as 5280 Magazine Top Doctors for 2023

Denver-area magazine 5280 released its list of top doctors for 2023, and CU School of Medicine faculty members continue to be ranked among the best. Congratulations to the more than 200 CU School of Medicine faculty members honored with the title "Top Doctor."


Author School of Medicine | Publish Date July 31, 2023
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Cardiothoracic Surgery

Robotic Surgery Leads to Even Better Outcomes for Mitral Valve Patients at the CU Department of Surgery 

Even before the robot, the University of Colorado Department of Surgery was leading the way when it comes to mitral valve surgery. Morbidity and mortality outcomes for mitral valve repair at CU are well below the national average. In 2019, CU surgeons began using a minimally invasive approach to repair leaky heart valves that affect blood flow in the body and can lead to congestive heart failure.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date July 21, 2023
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Community    Awareness    Transplant Surgery    Organ donation

Completing an Ironman Just Four Months after Donating a Kidney

Six days after Liz Young donated her left kidney to a stranger in Pennsylvania, she and her mom were walking a slow but determined 3.1 miles in the annual Donor Dash 5K.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date June 29, 2023
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Patient Care    Community    Pancreatic Cancer    Multidisciplinary Clinic   

Individualized Care Provides Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Patient with Stage 4 Diagnosis

Barb Spanjer lay on the floor of her office. She had never been so tired. Her stomach and left side ached, and the pain under her left shoulder blade was relentless. She had seen her doctor a couple of times that autumn of 2017, but the medicine for the ulcer he suspected she had wasn’t working. She had been too tired and too busy running the construction company she and her husband, Steve, owned to follow up with the doctor. But it was getting harder to ignore the symptoms. Something just wasn’t right.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date June 26, 2023
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Patient Care    Colorectal Cancer   

Colorectal Cancer Patient Doug Scanlon Grateful for Cutting-Edge Care at CU Cancer Center 

For Doug Scanlon, last year’s Walk to End Colon Cancer was a victory lap. This year, it’s more like a homecoming. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date June 22, 2023
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Research    Breast Cancer    Awards

Clinician Scientist Development Grant From the American Cancer Society Will Help Sarah Tevis, MD, Advance Her Research on Breast Cancer Outcomes 

For the past four years, University of Colorado Cancer Center member Sarah Tevis, MD, has focused her research on the psychosocial outcomes of breast surgery for women with breast cancer — specifically comparing patient-reported outcomes three and six months after receiving a lumpectomy (surgery in which just the tumor and some of the surrounding cells are removed) and a mastectomy (surgery to remove the entire breast). 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date June 14, 2023
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Education    Community

Graduation Ceremony Recognizes Departing Residents and Fellows From the CU Department of Surgery 

The tears flowed almost as freely as the thank-yous at Friday night’s graduation ceremony for residents and fellows in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date June 13, 2023
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Research    Pediatrics    Urology

What is Hypospadias? 

Though it affects around one in every 150 male births, chances are good you have never heard of hypospadias — a condition in which the penis, rather than having a hole at the tip through which urine passes, has a hole on the underside. It’s a condition that can cause issues with urination, as well as sexual function, if it isn’t corrected early. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date June 08, 2023
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Research    Public Health    Trauma    Pediatric surgery

Pediatric Trauma Surgery Patients with Higher Social Vulnerability Experience Worse Post-Surgical Outcomes

The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) is an important tool that ranks each U.S. Census tract on 16 social factors – including poverty, crowded housing, and lack of vehicle access – to help identify communities and populations at greater risk for poor health outcomes during emergencies.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date May 30, 2023
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Community    Burn    GITES

Burn Trip to Uganda and Rwanda Focuses on Building and Strengthening Relationships

An ocean, several countries, and more than 8,000 miles lie between the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Kibogora Hospital in Kirambo, Rwanda. The similarities between the two locations, however, are significant.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date May 26, 2023
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Patient Care    Colorectal Cancer    GITES

Outpatient Colectomy? It’s Possible at the CU Cancer Center

Sean Ryan did everything right. 

Ryan’s father died of colorectal cancer when he was just 45, so Ryan knew he was at high risk for the disease. When he turned 50, he made plans to get a screening colonoscopy. (In 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force lowered the recommended screening age for colorectal cancer from 50 to 45 for men and women at average risk for colorectal cancer.) 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date May 24, 2023
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Research    Education   

Surgery Residents Share Research at Annual Symposium 

From analyzing the effects of social vulnerability and health disparities on postoperative outcomes to mitigating the effects of trauma to evaluating new treatment modalities for pancreatic cancer, the research presented at the annual University of Colorado Department of Surgery Research Symposium on May 22 posed a plethora of new possibilities for patient care.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date May 23, 2023
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Community    Obesity    GITES    Bariatric surgery

Bariatric Surgery Journey Takes Man from Knee Pain to the Lightness of Flying

Danny Naranjo was still several years from his 40th birthday, but he was increasingly aware of that milestone on the horizon.

His body mass index (BMI) was about 80. He had back pain and struggled with lymphedema. His knees hurt when he had to walk even short distances for his job at Elitch Gardens, and he did it only with a steady stream of Tylenol, ibuprofen, and sometimes tramadol. As 40 approached, he knew these concerns might only get more acute, with new ones possibly joining them. He wanted to change what was beginning to feel like an inevitable future.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date May 16, 2023
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Patient Care    Community    Kidney Cancer    Urology

Kidney Cancer Journey Emphasizes Importance of Asking a Doctor when Things Don’t Feel Right

 

To start with, there was his usual schedule of national travel for his job as a Wall Street journeyman – he was always flying somewhere. Add to that moving to Castle Rock from San Francisco, plus a love for concerts and baseball games and whatever else life offers, and it’s no wonder that Lincoln Yersin was feeling run down.

But this run down? This exhausted? He went to see his primary care provider in San Francisco a few times, had a few tests, and the diagnosis was stress.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date May 16, 2023
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Patient Care    Faculty

Cheryl Meguid, DNP, MBA, Wants to Help Other Advanced Practice Providers Succeed in Their Academic Careers 

As a 4-year-old with severe asthma, Cheryl Meguid, DNP, MBA, formed a special bond with the nurses who took care of her in the hospital as she lay, isolated, in a special heated tent. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date May 12, 2023
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Research    Pancreatic Cancer    Surgical Oncology    Transplant Surgery

Data Analysis Offers Promising News for Transplant Patients with Previous Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms Diagnosis

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are cystic lesions that can form by the ducts of the pancreas. They generally are asymptomatic and discovered in the course of testing for other conditions.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date May 10, 2023
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Awareness    Bladder Cancer    Urology

Awareness and Early Detection Key to Good Bladder Cancer Outcomes

In its early stages, bladder cancer can be easy to ignore or write off as something it isn’t – a UTI, a bladder infection, or other conditions that are commonly treated with an antibiotic.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date May 09, 2023
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Research    Public Health    Obesity    Cardiothoracic Surgery

Obesity Associated with Increased Risk of Complications After Surgery

In the United States, almost 74% of adults age 20 and older have overweight or obesity, and of that number almost 42% have obesity.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date April 28, 2023
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Research    Pediatric Cancer    Kidney Cancer    Urology

Research Shows that Lymph Node Sampling During Kidney Tumor Surgery Is Safe

A longstanding approach to surgeries for children with kidney tumors has been an abundance of caution.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date April 26, 2023
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Research    Community    Urology

Growing Urology Education and Awareness on Twitter

Despite its occasional reputation as a place to pick fights with strangers, Twitter can often be a valuable tool – for awareness, for education, for connecting with peers around the world.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date April 25, 2023
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Community    Urology    Awards

Kerri Thurmon, MD, Selected as American Urological Association’s Young Urologist of the Year 

The American Urological Association (AUA) recently named Kerri Thurmon, MD, associate professor of urology in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery, as one of the recipients of its 2023 Young Urologist of the Year Award. The award is presented annually to recognize early-career association members for their efforts and commitment to advancing the development of fellow young urologists. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date April 17, 2023
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Community    Awareness    GITES

Addressing Some Common Questions About Fecal Incontinence

It’s not uncommon for patients to approach their health care providers in blushes and whispers, burdened by the weight of perceived taboos.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date April 14, 2023
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Research    Plastic Surgery    Pediatrics    ColoradoSPH at CU Anschutz   

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Grant Will Help CU Researchers Develop Better Treatment for Craniosynostosis

A $1.9 million grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) will help researchers at the University of Colorado Department of Surgery and Colorado School of Public Health develop better treatment methods for children diagnosed with craniosynostosis, a present-at-birth condition in which a baby’s skull plates fuse together too early, before the brain is fully formed.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date April 12, 2023
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Research    Cardiothoracic Surgery

Case Study Research Emphasizes Importance of Specific Imaging in Cardiac Surgical Care

The continuing move to multidisciplinary surgical care has meant a growing number of approaches to treating surgical issues. In cardiac surgery, the conversations that happen between surgeons, cardiac imagers, and interventional cardiologists have become integral to providing the best care that puts patients at the lowest risk.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date April 11, 2023
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Research    Burn    GITES

Can Alcohol-Associated Burn Injuries Impair Cognitive Function? 

The relationship between alcohol use and burn injuries is a negative one in multiple ways. Not only are about 50% of adults who sustain burn injuries intoxicated at the time of injury, suggesting that alcohol use may have contributed to the incident, but alcohol use among burn-injured patients is associated with more severe complications, delayed recovery, and increased morbidity and mortality. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date April 07, 2023
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Community    Awareness    Urology    Testicular cancer

Early Detection an Important Factor in Highly Treatable Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer is a highly treatable cancer that isn’t always easy to talk about.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date April 04, 2023
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Patient Care    Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal Cancer Patient Traveled From Indiana to Colorado to Receive Care at CU Cancer Center 

Nathan Hammond knew things were getting bad when his doctors had to put the feeding tube in. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date April 03, 2023
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Patient Care    Community    Transplant Surgery

Using More Precise Language to Talk About Organ Transplant Waiting Times

One of the first questions that patients often ask when they enter the list for a transplant organ is, “How long will I be waiting?”


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date March 31, 2023
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Community    Transplant Surgery    Equity Diversity and Inclusion

Program Works to Close Racial Gaps in Kidney Transplantation

Kidney disease is sometimes called the “silent disease” because it can be symptomless in its early stages. An estimated 90% of Americans who have chronic kidney disease (CKD) may not even know they have it until it is advanced.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date March 30, 2023
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Transplant Center    Transplant Surgery

Controversies in Transplantation: A Convention for Groundbreaking Ideas in Transplantation

Earlier this month, the Division of Transplant Surgery in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery hosted its annual Controversies in Transplantation conference (CIT), which gathered the finest minds in transplantation science from around the country in Colorado. For more than two decades, this conference has served as a platform for groundbreaking ideas and discussions within the transplant community.


Author Khushnuma Damkevala | Publish Date March 27, 2023
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Research    Surgical Oncology    Awards

CU Cancer Center Member Named to National Cancer Institute Early-Stage Surgeon Scientist Program 

For her innovative research on how cannabinoids affect the tumor immune microenvironment in melanomaUniversity of Colorado Cancer Center member Camille Stewart, MD, has been named to the 2023 cohort of the National Cancer Institute’s Early-Stage Surgeon Scientist Program (ESSP). The National Cancer Institute coordinates the United States National Cancer Program and is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 24, 2023
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Patient Care    Pancreatic Cancer    Surgical Oncology    Multidisciplinary Clinic   

Enjoying the Gift of Time After a Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis

Before receiving a pancreatic cancer diagnosis eight years ago – a diagnosis that resulted from persistent self-advocacy – Carolyn Degrafinried spent one awful weekend wondering if she was losing her mind.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date March 23, 2023
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Community    Equity Diversity and Inclusion

Caring for Patients on the Business Side

For Stephanie Farmer, MHA, an "a-ha!" moment in her career happened as an undergraduate working in the University of Colorado Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In that role, she began to see how the business and administration aspect of health care can play a significant part in patient care, and how she could have a role in that care.

In honor of Women's History Month, Leah Lleras, MS, director of finance for the Department of Surgery, interviews Farmer, vice chair of administration for the Department of Surgery and the CU Cancer Center, about the path her career has taken since that a-ha moment.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date March 17, 2023
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Community    Breast Cancer    Surgical Oncology

FDA Issues New Mammography Guidelines for Women With Dense Breasts 

For women with dense breasts, getting a mammogram to screen for breast cancer can be something of a double whammy. Not only is cancer more difficult to detect in dense breasts, but dense breasts also are a risk factor for developing breast cancer in the first place. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 15, 2023
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Community    Cardiothoracic Surgery

Smoking and Surgery: Why the Two Don’t Mix 

Doctors are always trying to convince their patients to stop smoking, but it’s a concern that’s especially vital prior to surgery, due to the effects smoking has on the body. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 14, 2023
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Fellowship    Urology

CU Surgery Department on the Forefront When it Comes to Women in Urology

If surgery is often seen as a male-dominated medical specialty, the stereotype goes double for the field of urology, with its focus on male concerns including erectile dysfunction, prostate issues, and vasectomies. A 2020 study from the American Urological Association, for example, found that women accounted for just 10.3% of all practicing urologists in the U.S.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 13, 2023
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Community    Faculty    Equity Diversity and Inclusion

Sharing a Surgical Legacy 

In honor of Women’s History Month, Whitney Herter, PA-C, BS, a senior instructor in surgical oncology at the University of Colorado Department of Surgery,  talked with Elisa Birnbaum, MD, professor of GI, trauma, and endocrine surgery, about her illustrious career.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 10, 2023
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Education    Pancreatic Cancer    Surgical Oncology

Dutch Surgeons Visit University of Colorado to Learn Pancreatic Cancer Procedure

When surgeons from the Netherlands needed help establishing a national program for patients with hard-to-treat pancreatic cancer, they knew just whom to turn to: Marco Del Chiaro, MD, PhD, professor and division chief of surgical oncology in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 09, 2023
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Research    Press Releases    Faculty

Kovacs Named Vice Chair of Research for CU Department of Surgery 

Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD, professor of GI, trauma, and endocrine surgery, has been named vice chair of research in the CU Department of Surgery.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 07, 2023
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Research    Philanthropy    Esophageal Cancer

Gift From Patient’s Family Funds Exploration of New Treatment for Esophageal Cancer 

Funding from the Paul R. O’Hara Seed Grant Fund at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus will allow CU Cancer Center member Akshay Chauhan, MD, to explore new methods of detecting and treating esophageal cancer


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 06, 2023
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Community    Students   

Josue Estrella Pursues Trauma Surgery to Help Underserved Communities 

As the first one in his family to go to college, Josue Estrella had to navigate his own way through his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan, where he first developed his interest in medicine.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 06, 2023
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Research    Education    Diversity    Clinical

Celebrating CU Department of Surgery Women

Each year, since 1987, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation designating the month of March as Women’s History Month. It is significant that the leadership of our country recognizes the importance of reaffirming the historical accomplishments of women with this annual proclamation.

Generations of women have endured hardships, exclusion, and discrimination and despite these challenges have furthered equity and equality in our communities. As a nation, we have made great strides in medicine, technology, social justice, and much more through their unwillingness to surrender their dreams and goals.

We would like to take this time to highlight a few of the great women and their work in the CU Department of Surgery. 


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date March 01, 2023
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Awards    Transplant Surgery    Liver Transplant

Megan Adams, MD, Receives Pipeline Award for Mentorship in Transplant 

Megan Adams, MD, surgical director of pediatric living donor transplantation at the University of Colorado Department of Surgery, has received the 2023 Pipeline Award from the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS). 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date February 28, 2023
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Community    GITES    Equity Diversity and Inclusion

Thriving in the Complexity and Immediacy of Trauma Surgery

When Lauren Steward, MD, was 5, her parents presented her with three career options: doctor, lawyer, or engineer.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date February 23, 2023
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Community    Medicine    Cardiothoracic Surgery

Finding the Heartbeat in Medicine

The career turning point for Michael Wells, PA-C, MPH, came during heart surgery in an operating room at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date February 21, 2023
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GITES

What is a Gallstone, Anyway?

Gallstones are one of the most common problems affecting Americans and are more common the older you get. When gallstones get stuck in the bile ducts, they can cause the gallbladder to back up with bile and become inflamed, often leading to a cholecystectomy, or removal of the organ altogether.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date February 14, 2023
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Research    Cancer    Surgical Oncology

Most People Diagnosed with Cancer Seek Information Even Before Their Appointments

For many people who receive a cancer diagnosis, one of the first things they want is information – about the cancer itself, about treatment options, about side effects they may experience, about what it all means.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date February 13, 2023
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Community    Cardiothoracic Surgery    Equity Diversity and Inclusion

Christian Scott Using His Sports Training as Administrative Director for the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery 

Christian Scott’s dream of working in the sports industry never materialized, but as administrative director for the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the University of Colorado School of Medicine, he still gets to work with an all-star team dedicated to being the best in its field. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date February 01, 2023
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Transplant Surgery    Liver Transplant

CU Surgeons Set Records for Transplants in 2022 

2022 was a record-breaking year for the number of transplants performed by the organ transplant team at the University of Colorado Department of Surgery, with more than 300 kidney transplants, more than 130 liver transplants, more than 60 heart transplants, and 40 lung transplants performed over the past 12 months. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date January 23, 2023
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Innovation    Patient Care    Pancreatic Cancer   

World Traveler Books CU Anschutz for Pancreatic Cancer Journey

Bonnie Dahl knows chance and circumstance played key roles in halting her pancreatic cancer, one of the most deadly and insidious forms of the disease.


Author Debra Melani | Publish Date January 17, 2023
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Leadership    Pediatric surgery

Division of Pediatric Surgery Welcomes New Chief

Today, the Division of Pediatric Surgery in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery welcomes a new chief, one who brings a strong commitment to growing diversity and equity in pediatric surgery and supporting surgeons as research scientists.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date January 16, 2023
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Research    Vascular Surgery

Rare Carotid Artery Blowout Emphasizes Need for Recognition of Symptoms and Swift Treatment

Carotid artery blowout, while rare, is a life-threatening surgical emergency with a mortality rate approaching 60%.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date January 13, 2023
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Community    Cardiothoracic Surgery    Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac Arrest During NFL Game Brings Awareness to Importance of High-Quality Intervention

Editor’s Note: Since this story first published, Damar Hamlin was discharged from a Buffalo, New York, hospital January 11 and on January 28 released a video updating his fans and community on his recovery.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, 24, remained in critical condition Wednesday after collapsing on the football field six minutes into the first quarter of Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date January 04, 2023
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Kidney Cancer    Urology

Ronnie Hillman’s Death Highlights Rare Cancer that Disproportionately Affects Young Black Men

Former Denver Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman, 31, died Wednesday of a rare type of kidney cancer that disproportionately impacts young people who are Black with sickle cell trait or sickle cell disease.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date December 22, 2022
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Research   

CU Department of Surgery Top Stories of 2022

The University of Colorado Department of Surgery had an excellent year in 2022. We posted more than 75 great stories that highlighted the research, patient care, and education done this year by faculty, students, researchers, and staff in the department. 


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date December 19, 2022
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Research    Education    Students

From COVID-19 to Opioids: Medical Students Highlight Studies Completed Through Summer Research Program

In the course of her research, Jamie Burke, a student in the University of Colorado School of Medicine, learned that at least 50% of patients surveyed at a safety net breast surgical oncology clinic were uncomfortable interpreting their own medical results.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date December 16, 2022
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Research    Melanoma

Drug Combination for Stage 4 Melanoma Shows Success in CU Cancer Center Trial

A new multidrug treatment for patients with stage 4 melanoma has proven effective after a three-year clinical trial at the University of Colorado Cancer Center.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date December 15, 2022
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Patient Care    Cardiothoracic Surgery

CU Cardiac Surgeons Develop Pathway to Prevent Acute Kidney Injury After Surgery

Patients receiving cardiac surgery are at higher risk for acute kidney injury following the procedure, which is why the University of Colorado Department of Surgery has implemented a new preoperative pathway to identify patients who are more likely to suffer acute kidney injury (AKI) following elective cardiac surgery and prevent that injury from occurring.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date December 12, 2022
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Research    Innovation    Community    Pediatrics

Button Huggie Wins Shark Tank Award at National Conference

An innovative device designed to secure gastrostomy buttons recently won the Shark Tank challenge at the 2022 North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) annual meeting.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date December 09, 2022
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Education    Fellowship    Burn

New CU Burn Surgery Fellowship Condenses Two Years of Training Into One 

The University of Colorado Department of Surgery recently received accreditation for a new burn surgery fellowship that will allow aspiring burn surgeons to enter the field faster. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date December 07, 2022
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Education    Fellowship

Coaching Program Helps Surgical Interns Through Their First Year of Residency 

During his first year as a resident in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery, Ali Lilo, MD, felt the pressure. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date December 06, 2022
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Research    Community    ATLAS    Firearm Injury Prevention    COMBAT    TRIAD

Center for Combat Medicine and Battlefield Research Hosts Rep. Crow to Highlight Defense Health Research

U.S. Rep. Jason Crow visited the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus on Monday to learn more about current programs and research on the campus that address the U.S. military’s medical needs, including solutions in combat casualty care, critical and emergency care, surgical trauma, and acute mental health. The Center for Combat Medicine and Battlefield (COMBAT) Research hosted the visit that included additional CU leadership and research groups for a supportive discussion on current military medical challenges.


Author Colleen Miracle | Publish Date December 02, 2022
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Transplant Surgery

Robotic Kidney Transplants Offer New Lease on Life to High-BMI Patients 

Historically, the outlook has been grim for obese patients who need kidney transplants. Due to the physical requirements of the operation, those with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher typically have been denied access to the life-saving procedure. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date November 22, 2022
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Community    Pediatrics    Urology

Consistent Bathroom Habits Can Help Minimize UTI Risk in Children

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most commonly diagnosed bacterial infections in children. While the incidence of UTI is highest in a child’s first year, they can be a concern throughout childhood.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date November 21, 2022
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Cardiothoracic Surgery    Awards

Surgical Resident Wins Award for Best Cardiac Presentation 

Cenea Kemp, MD, a general surgery resident in the Department of Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, took home the award for Best Oral Cardiac Presentation at the annual meeting of the Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society in October. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date November 18, 2022
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Community    Clinical surgery

Ideas and Insights Highlighted at Society of Clinical Surgery Annual Scientific Meeting

From its founding in 1903, the Society of Clinical Surgery has pursued general advancement of surgery – seeking to stimulate its members to work along lines of original thought and investigation in the clinic, laboratory, or library.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date November 16, 2022
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Research    Patient Care

Surgery Team Develops Protocol to Lower Number of Aspiration Events

Surgical patients under the care of clinicians at the University of Colorado Department of Surgery are at lower risk of complications brought on by an aspiration event, thanks to a new patient safety protocol led by the Office of Quality & Clinical Effectiveness of the Department of Surgery, as reported by Viviane Leite Abud, MD, a quality and executive leadership resident in the department.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date November 14, 2022
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Patient Care    Awareness    Pancreatic Cancer    Surgical Oncology

Pancreatic Cancer Survivor is Eternally Grateful for her Surgery With Schulick

Laura Foote is now three years out from her pancreatic cancer diagnosis, thanks to a surgery performed by Richard Schulick, MD, MBA, director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center and chair of the Department of Surgery


Author Cancer Center | Publish Date November 08, 2022
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Research    Community    Plastic Surgery

Ongoing Research Aims to Develop Standards for Lymphedema Therapy

Lymphedema is a chronic disease that causes lymphatic fluid to build up in the body, especially in the legs, arms, genitals, face, neck, and chest wall. It can be painful, debilitating, and have significant negative impacts on a person’s quality of life.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date October 28, 2022
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Research    Pediatric Cancer    Blood

Research Finds that Life-Saving Intervention Is Not Risk-Free in Pediatric Patients

Blood transfusion is a vital and lifesaving intervention in a broad range of scenarios, from trauma response to cancer treatment. However, it is not entirely without risk.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date October 24, 2022
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Research    Patient Care    Breast Cancer    Plastic Surgery

Multi-Faceted Treatment Helps Young Breast Cancer Patient Through Her Cancer Journey

Amanda Vegter did not have time for whatever it was that she felt on the side of her left breast.

She was six weeks into her fourth year of veterinary school, she had backpacking trips to go on with her boyfriend, walks to go on with her two dogs, plus plans for a summer externship in South Africa. She was busy and happy and it was probably nothing.

But that firm spot she first felt on her breast in January 2021 while working out at her boyfriend’s house didn’t just go away. Now she can look back and shake her head – of course it was breast cancer.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date October 21, 2022
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Innovation    Patient Care    Clinical Trials

Invisalign for Cleft Palates? Researchers Team Up to Bring Birth-Defect Treatment Home

Just as Invisalign® plastic aligners have revolutionized orthodontic treatment, a team at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus hopes its project using 3D printed plastic molds can transform cleft lip and palate care.


Author Chris Casey | Publish Date October 21, 2022
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Research    Trauma    lungs

Why Older Lungs Don’t Respond as Well to Trauma 

Why are older people at higher risk for lung injury, especially after trauma? The answer may lie in the macrophages, the immune cells that live in the air spaces of the lungs. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date October 17, 2022
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Education    Community    Public Health

Decades-Long Public Health Partnerships in Nepal Supported by University of Colorado Colleagues

It wasn’t his first stroll through a teeming Kathmandu market, his first taste of momos, or even his first view of the Himalayas that weaved a piece of his heart into the fabric of a country 12,000 miles from his Denver home.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date October 05, 2022
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Students    Scholarship    Plastic Surgery

Medical Student Anna Lee Receives ARCS Scholarship

ARCS Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting academically outstanding students in science, engineering, math, technology, and medical research, has awarded a $7,500 scholarship to Anna Lee, a second-year medical student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date October 03, 2022
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Prostate Cancer

Latest Prostate Cancer Imaging Technique Transforms Our Ability to Locate Cancer Cells Hidden with Standard Imaging

Prostate cancer is the second most common and deadly cancer in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 1 in 8 men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. Treatment techniques range from aggressive therapies such as radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy to targeted therapies that treat only the affected cancer cells.


Author Noelle Musgrave | Publish Date September 26, 2022
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Community    Heart   

Recognizing and Preventing Peripheral Artery Disease 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date September 22, 2022
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Research    Telemedicine

CU Research Shows That Telehealth Follow-up After Gall Bladder Surgery is Just as Effective as In-Person Clinic Visits 

A new research study by Danielle Abbitt, MD, a resident in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery, shows that a protocol that started as a necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into a time-saving step for patients recovering from surgery. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date September 21, 2022
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Community    Cardiothoracic Surgery

Thoracic Surgeons Launch Enhanced Recovery Plan for Patients

A new enhanced recovery protocol for patients undergoing lung resection surgery performed by faculty members in the University of Colorado Department of Surgery is resulting in patients going home sooner, experiencing less postoperative pain and complications, and taking fewer opioid drugs to manage their pain.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date September 16, 2022
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Research    Pediatrics    Urology

Pediatric Patients Undergoing Surgical Stent Removal Report Minimal Amounts of Postsurgical Pain

Pediatric patients did not experience a significant difference in pain levels following ureteral stent removal between those who took a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine before the procedure and those who didn’t, new research reports.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date September 15, 2022
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Research    Transplant Surgery    Liver Transplant

Living-Donor Liver Transplant Recipients Gain an Average of 13 to 17 Life-Years Following Surgery

Research recently published in JAMA Surgery demonstrates that living-donor liver transplant (LDLT) recipients gain an additional 13 to 17 life-years following their surgery compared with patients who remain on the donor waitlist.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date September 06, 2022
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Clinical Affairs   

Period of Transition

For children with pediatric-onset chronic conditions, the relationships they form early on with their doctors and care team members often turn out to be among the most important connections of their young lives.

Years later, when those youth are on the cusp of adulthood and required to transition to adult care, the doctor-patient relationship becomes even more important, and thoughtful transition of care is critical. The growing field of transitional care encourages collaboration among doctors to help young patients effectively manage the shift from pediatric to adult care, to encourage those patients to play a greater part in their own health care, and to improve health care systems to make those transitions more seamless.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date September 02, 2022
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Community    Prostate Cancer

Explaining PSA Numbers 

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the prostate gland. The PSA test is a blood test used to measure the amount of this protein found in the blood. Results are reported (ng/mL), which means nanograms of PSA per milliliter of blood. High levels of PSA have been found in men with advanced prostate cancer


Author Noelle Musgrave | Publish Date September 02, 2022
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Community    Awareness    Breast Cancer

U.S. Supreme Court Dobbs Decision Will Harm Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer During Pregnancy

Each year, about 27,000 women age 45 or younger are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. Of those, about 4% are pregnant at the time of their diagnosis.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date August 27, 2022
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What You Need to Know About Inguinal Hernias 

One of the most common surgical procedures worldwide is the repair of inguinal hernias, hernias that occur in the groin. An inguinal hernia is tissue — sometimes intestinal tissue — that bulges out of a weak spot in the abdominal wall, below the belt line. Men are far more likely than women to get inguinal hernias, and the surgery is typically a low-risk, outpatient procedure. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date August 26, 2022
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Research    Transplant Surgery    Liver Transplant

Obesity, Alcohol Use, and Decreased Blood Clotting Associated with Return to Operating Room After Liver Transplant

Liver transplant surgery is a vital and life-saving procedure, but it also is associated with a high rate of postoperative complications. As many as one in four liver transplant patients will return to the operating room (R-OR) within 48 hours of their initial surgery.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date August 24, 2022
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Research    Plastic Surgery    Veteran and Military Health

CU Surgery Faculty Member Receives DOD Grant to Study Transplant Rejection Biomarkers 

Soldiers and others who receive severe injuries to the hands and face often can benefit from a type of transplant known as vascularized composite allograft (VCA) — the transplantation of multiple tissues, including muscle, bone, nerve, skin, and blood vessels, as a functional unit (such as a hand or face) from a deceased donor to a recipient with a severe injury.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date August 23, 2022
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Research    Patient Care    Awareness    Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal Cancer Patient Thriving and Optimistic after Multidisciplinary Care

Less than a year ago, Ken Herfert got a puppy and named her Bailey after the Colorado town where she was born.

This was a big deal for several reasons, including the responsibility of adopting a new family member, but perhaps the biggest was this: About six months after receiving a diagnosis of esophageal cancer in early 2018, Herfert’s oncologist in California told him he had maybe a year to live, maybe less.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date August 16, 2022
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Research    COVID-19

The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Effect on Solid Organ Transplantation 

Solid organ transplants — heart, lung, liver, and kidney — are resource-intensive operations that require patients to take immunosuppressive drugs after the procedure to keep the body from rejecting the new organ.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date August 15, 2022
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Community    Breast Cancer

Olivia Newton-John Dies After 30-Year Breast Cancer Battle 

After a 30-year, off-and-on battle with metastatic breast cancer, Australian-born actress and singer Olivia Newton-John died on August 8 at age 73. Best known for her role as Sandy in the 1978 movie musical “Grease,” Newton-John also hit the music charts with singles like “Physical” and “Magic.” 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date August 09, 2022
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Research    Breast Cancer

Research Shows Low Patient Comprehension of Terms Commonly Found in Electronic Health Information

When the 21st Century Cures Act went into effect in April 2021, health care organizations began releasing electronic health information (EHI) to patients immediately.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date August 04, 2022
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Research    Breast Cancer   

Study Could Lead to Better Education and Treatment of Sexual Health for Breast Cancer Patients

A new study released by the University of Colorado Cancer Center shows that more than 70 percent of breast cancer patients have reported changes that affect their sexual health during and beyond treatment.


Author Laura Kelley | Publish Date August 02, 2022
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Patient Care    Community   

193 CU Faculty Recognized as 5280 Magazine Top Doctors for 2022

Denver-area magazine 5280 recently published its list of top doctors for 2022. On this year’s list, CU School of Medicine faculty members continue to be ranked among the best. We're proud to congratulate the 193 CU School of Medicine faculty members honored with the title "Top Doctor."


Author School of Medicine | Publish Date August 02, 2022
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Research    Patient Care    Plastic Surgery    Pediatrics

Improving Treatment for Infants With Cleft Lip and Palate 

Kristen Lowe, DDS, MS, an assistant professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery in the University of Colorado School of Medicine, has received a grant from Align Technologies, the company that makes the Invisalign tooth-straightening system. The grant will support Lowe in developing more efficient ways to treat infants with cleft lip and palate. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date July 05, 2022
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Education    Faculty    Surgical Oncology

Robotic Curriculum Trains General Surgery Residents in Cutting-Edge Technology 

Camille Stewart, MD, assistant professor of surgical oncology in the University of Colorado School of Medicine, is leading general surgery residents on valuable training with new robotic surgical equipment that is becoming more and more common in the world of medicine. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date July 01, 2022
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Research    Patient Care    lungs

A Better Understanding of Survival Rates for Lung Transplant Recipients

For John Iguidbashian and Alejandro Suarez-Pierre, general surgery residents in the Department of Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the research started as a way to give patients who were eligible for lung transplants more accurate information about their life expectancy after the surgery. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date June 17, 2022
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Patient Care    Community   

U.S. News Ranks Children’s Hospital Colorado Among Top 10 in the Country

Children’s Hospital Colorado is once again ranked among the top 10 children’s hospitals in the country by U.S. News and World Report. The magazine released its 2022–23 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings this week, and Children’s Colorado is ranked number 7 nationally and number 1 in the Rocky Mountain region and state of Colorado.


Author School of Medicine | Publish Date June 15, 2022
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Patient Care    Awareness    Transplant Center    CU Medicine Today

“One in a Billion Odds”

It happened so fast, and it was so unexpected.

In August 2020, Mario Carrasco got what he suspected was COVID-19 and took Tylenol to combat his high fever. When that didn’t work, he took an antibiotic he had received from Mexico and eventually felt better. For several months afterward, he felt fine. He felt like he always does.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date June 15, 2022
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Education    Community    CU Medicine Today    Cardiothoracic Surgery    Fellowship

International Collaborations Bring Rwanda’s Only Cardiothoracic Surgeon to Colorado

Before Maurice Musoni, MD, completed his surgical training in South Africa, his home country of Rwanda had no cardiothoracic surgeon.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date June 14, 2022
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Education    Community

Department of Surgery Honors Graduating Residents and Fellows for Dedication During Challenging Times

The graduating physicians honored Friday at the University of Colorado Department of Surgery Resident and Fellow Graduation navigated portions of their training during an unprecedented time. The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered not only surgery schedules and overall hospital operations, but the landscape of health care.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date June 13, 2022
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Patient Care    Community    Mental Health

Low Testosterone: Separating Fact From Fiction

Men looking for information on their physical and sexual health often turn to the internet, where low testosterone is a commonly searched — and commonly misunderstood — topic.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date June 10, 2022
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Research    Patient Care    Community

Socially Vulnerable Colectomy Patients Are at Greater Risk for Post-Operative Complications

Patients who come from socially vulnerable backgrounds are at greater risk for complications following colon surgery, recently published research has found.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date May 27, 2022
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Research    Education    Community

General Surgery Residents Present Broad Range of Research Findings at Annual Symposium

Through analyzing post-operative outcome data for more than 5.5 million patients, Helen Madsen, MD, found that patients who are overweight or obese are at increased risk for post-operative infection, blood clots, and renal complications.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date May 25, 2022
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Research    Patient Care    Education    Community

Online Assessment Tool Helps Predict ICU Need Following Surgery

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, intensive care unit (ICU) beds were in limited supply, and the pandemic only exacerbated this growing concern. Since the pandemic began, ICU resources have been in such demand that clinicians across the United States and world have struggled to meet the need.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date May 24, 2022
Full Story

Research    Education    Community    Cardiothoracic Surgery

Medical Student Wins Award for Presenting Paper about Surgical Training Tool

It’s not unusual for students to enter medical school with ideas about paths they’d like to pursue in medicine. Those ideas can evolve over time as they delve into course work and clinical rotations, but the initial interests that guided them to medicine in the first place can be significant.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date May 20, 2022
Full Story

Research    Pediatrics

CU Surgery Faculty Member Contributes to Study on Traumatic Injuries Caused By Exploding E-cigarettes 

The dangers of using electronic cigarettes are well known when it comes to the potential for addiction and lung injury, but new research published in the Journal of Surgical Research finds another cause for concern when it comes to e-cigarettes: the potential for the vaping devices to explode during use.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date May 13, 2022
Full Story

Research    Patient Care

How a Leaky Gut Leads to Inflamed Lungs 

Why are older adults more likely to get seriously ill or even die from pneumonia? It turns out the cause may have as much to do with the gut as it does with the lungs. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date May 11, 2022
Full Story

Community    Bladder Cancer

What to Know About Bladder Cancer 

 University of Colorado Cancer Center member Janet Kukreja, MD, assistant professor of urology in the University of Colorado School of Medicine, is taking part in this weekend’s Walk to End Bladder Cancer along with her office staff, fellow physicians, and even some of her patients. For this year’s “virtual” event, hosted by the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network to kick off Bladder Cancer Awareness Month in May, participants walk in their own cities at their own pace, sharing their progress with others around the country. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date May 06, 2022
Full Story

Education    Community    Faculty   

'Learn About Cancer Day' Inspires Local High School Students to Pursue Careers in Science and Research 

The future of cancer research and care got a little brighter on April 22 as more than 50 biomedical science students from Denver-area high schools came to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus for Learn About Cancer Day.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date April 26, 2022
Full Story

Research    Melanoma

A Potential Way Around Immunotherapy Resistance 

The development of the anti-cancer immunotherapy drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors has improved treatment for many cancer patients, but patients with mucosal melanomas — melanomas that occur not on the skin but in the mucous membranes in the head, neck, eyes, respiratory tract, and genitourinary region — are particularly resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors for reasons researchers don’t fully understand. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date April 25, 2022
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Research    Education    Community    Vascular Surgery

Business Studies Help Surgery Resident Plan for a Career that Incorporates Areas Beyond Health Care

The skills that Ryan Gupta, MD, learned during his master of business administration (MBA) studies aren’t necessarily the skills usually associated with vascular surgery: how to understand financial statements, how to conduct market research, how to make difficult decisions about resource allocation.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date April 15, 2022
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Community    Awareness    Public Health    Plastic Surgery

Revised CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids Should Emphasize a Multidisciplinary Approach to Managing Pain

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain, a resource for primary care clinicians who prescribe opioids for chronic pain outside of active cancer treatment, palliative care, and end-of-life care.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date April 12, 2022
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Patient Care    Community    Awareness    Transplant Center

Living Organ Donation Journey Inspires Doctor to Normalize the Experience for Others

At first, she was reluctant to talk about it – a little sheepish, even. The obvious question was, “Why are you doing this?” And though she had answers, none of them were quick or easy.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date April 06, 2022
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Education    Community    Faculty    Vascular Surgery    Cardiothoracic Surgery

Nurturing a Passion for Medicine that Was Born in the Midst of War

Almost a decade into his medical career, amid the daily traumas of war, Mohammed Al-Musawi, MD, began to love his job.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date March 22, 2022
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Research    Education    Community    Students

New Research Shows that Surgical Training Tool Significantly Improves Residents’ Ability to Practice Essential Skills

A tool designed to help surgical trainees practice skills such as knot tying, suturing, vascular and bowel anastomoses, and other techniques has helped eliminate barriers to simulation resources.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date March 16, 2022
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Education    Community   

CU Department of Surgery’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Continues Its Work 

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee in the CU School of Medicine Department of Surgery (DOS) has made great strides over the past year, working toward the department’s goal of becoming the most diverse, equitable, and inclusive department of surgery in the country by 2030.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 08, 2022
Full Story

Research    Melanoma    Surgical Oncology   

Changing the Standard of Care for Stage III Melanoma Surgery 

For years, surgery for patients with stage III melanoma — melanoma that has spread to the lymph nodes — involved removing those lymph nodes along with the primary tumor. Known as completion lymph node dissection (CLND), the surgery was meant to ensure that no cancer remained after surgery.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 04, 2022
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Patient Care    Community    Pediatrics    Urology

Transitioning Pediatric Urology Patients to Adult Care 

For children with urologic disorders, the relationships they form early on with their urologists often turn out to be among the most important connections of their young lives.  


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 02, 2022
Full Story

Community    Awareness    Cancer

6 Years After Bile Duct Cancer Diagnosis, Focus Shifts to Not Wasting Time

There were a lot of things Jim White thought he’d never do: stay in one place long enough to feel roots grow beneath his feet, meet the love of his life, have a child whose daily joy in discovering the world reignites White’s own joy.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date February 22, 2022
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Patient Care    Community    Transplant Center

Navy Veteran Donates Part of His Liver to a Community Member He’d Never Met

Service members join the military with a passion to serve, and that passion remains long after they have fulfilled their formal commitments. Upon their departure from military service, many veterans remain committed to serving others. Their military experience often inspires them to become active in their communities at home.


Author Khushnuma Damkevala | Publish Date February 14, 2022
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Community    Awareness    Trauma and Fractures    GITES

Bob Saget’s Death from Accidental Head Trauma Brings Awareness of Signs to Look for Following Head Injury

Comedian Bob Saget’s death on January 9 was a shock to fans who loved him as Danny Tanner on “Full House” or for his stand-up comedy, and to those who admired and respected him as a colleague.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date February 10, 2022
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Community

Fire Safety in the Kitchen 

As cooking is the number-one cause of all home fires, this year’s Burn Awareness Week — February 6­–12 — has as its theme “Burning Issues in the Kitchen.” 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date February 09, 2022
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Research    Patient Care    Plastic Surgery

New Cosmetic Cream Created at CU Leaves Skin 'Silky' Smooth

From Silly Putty to the microwave oven, there is a long history of consumer products “accidentally” discovered during the scientific discovery process. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date February 03, 2022
Full Story

Patient Care    Quality and Clinical Effectiveness

Reducing Catheter-Caused UTIs in Surgery Patients 

When they realized their number of patients with urinary tract infections caused by urinary catheters was tracking above the national average, urologic oncologist Janet Kukreja, MD, and Shannon Bortolotto, APRN, clinical nurse specialist at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, knew they had to take action. 


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date February 01, 2022
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Research    Patient Care    Community    Surgical Oncology

Research Finds Patients and Providers Differ in Opinions About Immediate Access to Medical Records

While both patients and clinicians prioritize information transparency, a 21st Century Cures Act requirement for the immediate release of test and lab results is proving more controversial, according to recently published survey results of clinicians and patients.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date January 21, 2022
Full Story

Education    Community   

State of the School 2022

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Colorado School of Medicine still had many accomplishments to celebrate in 2021.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date January 13, 2022
Full Story

Education    Community    Students    Medicine

Grandmother’s Experiences During World War II Influence Student’s Decision to Pursue Medicine

Rebecca Henkind grew up seeing the example of her grandmother’s volunteer work with people experiencing homelessness – at the Flemington (New Jersey) Area Food Pantry and with Flemington Presbyterian Church’s shelter.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date January 07, 2022
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Research    Education    Students   

Medical Student Receives Grant to Help With Cannabis Study

Emma Lamping, a second-year student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, has received a $5,000 “Emerging Scientist Award” from the Institute of Cannabis Research in Pueblo, Colorado, for her work on a research study comparing postoperative pain medication requirements and surgical outcomes after major abdominal surgery for the treatment of cancer between daily cannabis users and nonusers of cannabis.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date January 06, 2022
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Patient Care    Faculty    Clinical Research    Clinical Trials

Clinical Trial Allows Participants to Avoid an Ileostomy During Surgery for Rectal Cancer

After the chemotherapy and radiation treatments, when she was discussing necessary surgery with her UCHealth Cancer Center care team, Irma Lechuga learned her rectal cancer surgery would include creation of a temporary ileostomy.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date January 05, 2022
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Research    Patient Care    Education    Community    Faculty

Supporting Surgeon-Scientists in Research to Find New and Better Ways of Caring for Patients

For the 50 years of his career, Ernest Moore, MD, a distinguished professor of surgery, has been eager to go to work ­­– not just caring for patients or the challenges of the operating room, but for the myriad paths of research he has pursued since he was an undergraduate.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date December 20, 2021
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Patient Care    Community    Awareness    Pancreatic Cancer    Vascular Surgery

“You’ve Got to Believe that You’re Going to Get Through It”

“Maybe this getting older thing just sucks and that’s how it is.”


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date December 17, 2021
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Research    Education    Community    Trauma    GITES

CU School of Medicine Surgery Residents Take First, Second Place in Trauma Paper Competition

Two general surgery residents at the University of Colorado School of Medicine — Margot DeBot, MD, and TJ Schaid, MD — placed first and second, respectively, in the District 8 regional competition for the 2022 American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Trauma Paper Competition in early December. DeBot and Schaid are both T32 NIH research fellows in the CU Trauma Lab.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date December 17, 2021
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Research    Patient Care    Education    Community

CU Department of Surgery Top Stories of 2021

The University of Colorado Department of Surgery's commitment to improve every life was spotlighted numerous times by faculty, staff, trainees, and students throughout 2021.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date December 16, 2021
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Innovation    Patient Care    Education    Community    Transplant Center

National and Regional Need for Organ and Tissue Donation Remains Strong

Empower Field at Mile High in Denver seats about 76,000 – a huge space with the population of a small city when filled to capacity.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date December 15, 2021
Full Story

Research    Faculty    Pancreatic Cancer    Funding

Cancer Immunotherapy Research Receives Significant Support from R01 Grant

Some battles begin before a shot is even fired, with an army building bridges and grading roads, clearing and smoothing the path to make the invading force stronger and more effective.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date December 14, 2021
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Education    Community

Confronting Misogyny and Sexism in Medicine Begins with Awareness and Listening

For many women in the medical field, the common pressures associated with the profession – long hours, emotional toll, work/life balance – can be magnified by the added experiences of misogyny and sexism. From making less than their male colleagues to seeing people express surprise that they are the doctor, women’s experiences can be fraught and frustrating.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date December 13, 2021
Full Story

Research    Melanoma    Surgical Oncology

AB Nexus Funds Intercampus Research on Sepsis

Looking to improve methods to treat patients with sepsis, Richard Tobin, PhD, an assistant research professor of surgical oncology in the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Laurel Hind, PhD, an assistant professor in the biomedical engineering program at the University of Colorado Boulder, are teaming up to study the role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in sepsis.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date November 29, 2021
Full Story

Research    Faculty    Pancreatic Cancer    Surgical Oncology

Two CU Cancer Center Members Recognized as World Experts in Pancreatic Neoplasms

Two University of Colorado Cancer Center physicians have been recognized as world experts in in pancreatic neoplasms by the 2021 Expertscape rankings.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date November 19, 2021
Full Story

Patient Care    Community    Prostate Cancer    Bladder Cancer    Urology

Two Urology Experts Explain the Basics of Men’s Health and Why It’s So Important to Talk About It

Happy Movember! No, that’s not a spelling error. Movember has been celebrated each November since 2003 to bring awareness (and funding) to men’s health issues, particularly prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention.


Author Valerie Gleaton | Publish Date November 18, 2021
Full Story

Patient Care    Community    Cardiothoracic Surgery   

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at CU School of Medicine Celebrates a ‘Herstoric’ Moment

With two female cardiothoracic surgeons in its ranks, the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine is ahead of the curve when it comes to gender representation in the field. By one recent estimate, just 8% of cardiothoracic surgeons in the country are female.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date November 17, 2021
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Patient Care    Community    Plastic Surgery   

Gender Affirmation Surgery Helps Patient Feel Whole for the First Time in 71 Years

The victory lap came 50 years after high school, in a female restroom at Denver’s East High School.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date November 15, 2021
Full Story

Patient Care    Community    Lung Cancer

Dealing with Cancer One Step at a Time

It was just a cough – a nagging one, sure, but nothing too serious, Duane Cerniglia thought. Give it some time and it will go away.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date November 12, 2021
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Research    Patient Care    Community

Study Finds that Patients Approach Surgery with Strong, Pre-Formed Ideas about Opioid Use

There’s a significant body of research on opioids ­­– how they’re metabolized, how they react with other drugs, the physiology of addiction, and how they’re prescribed, among the many areas of focus.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date October 27, 2021
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Research    Community    Breast Cancer    Magazine    Surgical Oncology

Breast Cancer Research Gathers Data to Help Women Understand Well-Being Outcomes After Surgery

When a woman receives a breast cancer diagnosis, she may have many questions about her immediate future – the stage of the disease, what treatment she’ll receive, where it will happen.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date October 22, 2021
Full Story

Research    Patient Care    Press Releases   

Fluid Dynamics

The U.S. Department of Defense is funding a study by Arek Wiktor, MD, associate professor of GI, trauma, and endocrine surgery and interim medical director of the UCHealth Burn and Frostbite Center – Anschutz Medical Campus, to aid in treatment of military and civilian burn patients.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date October 19, 2021
Full Story

Patient Care    Community    COVID-19    CU Medicine Today   

Addressing COVID-19 Disparities

From the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, communities of color have been hit hardest by the worst public health crisis in the past 100 years.  


Author Valerie Gleaton | Publish Date October 14, 2021
Full Story

Patient Care    Community    Transplant Center

Transplant Clinic Serves Hispanic Population of Colorado

Research shows that Hispanic patients spend longer on the transplant waiting list than other ethnic groups. They also face higher mortality rates while waiting for a transplant. With a goal to change this disparity in transplantation, Elizabeth Pomfret, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of Transplant Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, created a clinic to better serve the Hispanic community in the Rocky Mountain region.


Author Khushnuma Damkevala | Publish Date October 13, 2021
Full Story

Patient Care    Colorectal Cancer    Surgical Oncology

Erica’s Colon Cancer Didn’t Stand a Chance With Procedure That Kills Microscopic Cancer Cells

Erica Ramsthaler was only given three years to live when she was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer, but after transferring her care to the University of Colorado Cancer Center, she is thriving more than four years later.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date October 08, 2021
Full Story

Patient Care    Awareness    Breast Cancer    Surgical Oncology    Plastic Surgery

Young Mom’s Breast Cancer Journey Highlights Importance of Breast Cancer Screening in Younger Women

Kirsten Stewart was just putting on lotion, like she does every morning after her shower. That particular morning, though, she noticed something different: a lump that hadn’t been there before and that definitely wasn’t normal. She was only 30 years old.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date October 07, 2021
Full Story

Education    Community    Transplant Center

CU Surgeon Inspires the Next Generation of Women Surgeons

As the American Medical Association’s Women in Medicine Month concludes today, the University of Colorado Department of Surgery shines a spotlight on Elizabeth Pomfret, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of Transplant Surgery and the Igal Kam, MD, Endowed Chair of Transplant Surgery.


Author Khushnuma Damkevala | Publish Date September 30, 2021
Full Story

Patient Care    Community    Child & Adolescent    GITES

CU Surgeon Looking to Extend Bariatric Surgery Services to Adolescent Patients

Over the past five decades, childhood overweight and obesity has transitioned from public health concern to public health crisis. In 1971, 5.2% of U.S. children ages 2 to 19 were experiencing obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a number that increased to 19.3% by 2018.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date September 30, 2021
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Community    Pancreatic Cancer    Surgical Oncology

“Sex and the City” Actor’s Death Raises Awareness of Pancreatic Cancer

Actor Willie Garson was probably best known for his role as Stanford Blatch on “Sex and the City,” playing one of Carrie Bradshaw’s New York-savvy best friends.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date September 27, 2021
Full Story

Patient Care    Vascular Surgery

Cyclist Back on Road Thanks to Aortic Valve Expertise at CU Anschutz

Jonathan Fox happily entered his 50s with his identity, stress outlet and social life entwined in a heart-healthy activity – cycling – that would easily propel him into his golden years.


Author Chris Casey | Publish Date September 20, 2021
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Patient Care    Education    Community    Vascular Surgery

New Vascular Surgery Residency Program Allows Residents to Focus on Surgical Specialty for Entire Training

The traditional path for surgeons after they’ve completed medical school is a five-year general surgery residency followed by a two-year fellowship in an area of specialization. Even for surgeons who choose their specialty in medical school, this has been the most common training path.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date September 10, 2021
Full Story

Research    Patient Care    Community    COVID-19    Quality and Clinical Effectiveness   

Multidisciplinary Team Designs Novel Mask in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

Ideas and innovation don’t always co-exist with convenience. On the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, the road to a novel mask design to address the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic took some unexpected twists and turns.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date September 08, 2021
Full Story

Innovation    Patient Care    Pancreatic Cancer    Surgical Oncology

Robotic Whipple Procedure Offers Pancreatitis Patient Relief

After suffering from painful bouts of pancreatitis for more than a decade, Christina Gonzalez felt resigned to a seemingly endless cycle of procedures.


Author Valerie Gleaton | Publish Date August 31, 2021
Full Story

Patient Care    Liver Cancer

Surviving a 1-in-5-Million Liver Cancer

The doctors she saw initially didn’t seem too concerned, but 22-year-old Ella Neal knew something was seriously wrong. A persistent, unusual abdominal pain was keeping her up at night and distracting her from her studies at the University of Colorado Boulder.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date August 25, 2021
Full Story

Patient Care    Pancreatic Cancer    Surgical Oncology

The Pancreatic Cancer Battle That Bonded a Patient and His Physician

Richard Schulick, MD, MBA, director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center, becomes close with all of his patients, but he has a special bond with Gerry Turner, one of Schulick’s surgical patients for pancreatic cancer.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date August 18, 2021
Full Story

Faculty    Cardiothoracic Surgery

“Is There a Physician Onboard?”: Emergency over the Atlantic Reaffirms Surgeon’s Commitment to Helping

You know how it is trying to leave for vacation – there’s always one last thing to do, one last note to write, one last end to tie up before committing to the rest and relaxation.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date August 13, 2021
Full Story

Research    Education    Students

Second Annual Medical Student Summer Research Program Offers Mentorship and Hands-On Research Experience

Of all the lessons she learned during the eight-week Medical Student Summer Research Program (MSRP), Rose Castle, a rising second year at the University of Colorado School of Medicine who is interested in pursuing general surgery, drew her main takeaway outside the operating room.


Author Rachel Sauer | Publish Date August 10, 2021
Full Story

Innovation    Press Releases    Pancreatic Cancer    Magazine

University of Colorado Cancer Center Earns Distinguished Title from National Pancreas Foundation Academic Center of Excellence

The most important factor predicting the survival of pancreatic cancer patients is whether the cancer can be surgically removed (whether the cancer is “resectable”). The answer isn’t always clear.


Author Siyab Khan | Publish Date August 05, 2021
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Patient Care    Community   

138 CU Faculty Recognized as 5280 Magazine Top Doctors

Each year, Denver-area magazine 5280 publishes its list of top doctors. On this year’s list, which came out last week, CU School of Medicine faculty members continue to be ranked among the best. We are proud to congratulate the 138 CU School of Medicine faculty members honored with the title Top Doctor.


Author School of Medicine | Publish Date August 04, 2021
Full Story

Lung Cancer

Kathy Griffin’s Lung Cancer Diagnosis: What Nonsmokers Need to Know

Comedian Kathy Griffin, 60, shared the news with the world Monday via Twitter: She was about to undergo surgery for stage I lung cancer.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date August 04, 2021
Full Story

Patient Care    Community    Plastic Surgery

Young Craniofacial Patient Battles Multiple Surgeries With Positive Outlook

“Basketball, playing with sheep, playing with goats, playing with dogs, horse camp, friends ...”

Nine-year-old Danner Plumhoff is rattling off a list of her summer plans. Many of these activities wouldn’t have been possible for her last summer, when she was fresh off an intensive craniofacial surgery. It was her biggest surgery to date, but as a child with a rare variant of Crouzon syndrome, it was hardly her first.


Author Valerie Gleaton | Publish Date July 20, 2021
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Research    Patient Care    Vascular Surgery

Better Patient Care Through Clinical Pathways

Clinical pathways are a vital tool in providing patients with high-quality, standardized care, as well as improving the value of health care. But they are only helpful if physicians actually use them.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date July 12, 2021
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Research    Patient Care

New Study Explores Opioid Prescribing Preferences and Practices Among Residents and Faculty

Opioid prescribing preferences and practices among surgical residents and faculty differ, according to a new study published in the journal Surgery.


Author Valerie Gleaton | Publish Date July 06, 2021
Full Story

Education    Community   

Viral Tweet Puts Surgery Resident in the Spotlight

Matthew Bartley, MD, MS, has gone viral (as in trending in the world of social media).


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date July 01, 2021
Full Story

Education    Community   

Panel Discusses “Being LGBTQIA+ On Anschutz Medical Campus”

On June 28 the University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Center for Advancing Professional Excellence (CAPE) hosted the third installment in its virtual community event series “Being _____ On Anschutz Medical Campus.” The goal of the series is to connect with the Anschutz community and amplify diverse voices through candid conversations with members of underrepresented groups. Previous events centered on the Black and AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) communities.


Author Valerie Gleaton | Publish Date June 30, 2021
Full Story

Innovation    Melanoma

A New Drug Combination to Treat Mucosal Melanomas

Though people most often think of melanoma as affecting the skin, the cancer can occur anywhere in the body where pigment-producing melanocyte cells are found. That includes mucous membranes in the head, neck, eyes, respiratory tract, and genitourinary region.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date June 23, 2021
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Patient Care    Community   

U.S. News Ranks Children’s Hospital Colorado Among the Nation’s Best

U.S. News and World Report released its 2021–22 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings this week. Children’s Hospital Colorado ranked number 6 nationally and placed seven pediatric specialties in the top 10, including a number-one ranking for gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery. Children’s Colorado is affiliated with the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Together, the institutions are a national center for clinical care and medical research.


Author School of Medicine | Publish Date June 15, 2021
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Research    Innovation    Patient Care   

This Is Breakthrough: Dr. Kia Washington

“To give someone their senses back feels really satisfying,” says Kia Washington, MD, director of research and professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. “To restore form and function in the hand, or restore someone’s vision, appeals to me because you can really change people’s lives. You can change the way they see the world.”


Author Kristen O'Neill | Publish Date June 15, 2021
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Education    Community    Students   

CU School of Medicine Holds Commencement for the Class of 2021

The University of Colorado School of Medicine Hooding & Oath Ceremony took place Friday, May 28, 2021, at 9 a.m. Due to ongoing COVID-19 precautions, the in-person ceremony was limited to the 184 members of the class of 2021, their personal CU School of Medicine faculty hooders, and up to two vaccinated guests each. The event was also livestreamed for friends and family members unable to attend in person.  


Author Valerie Gleaton | Publish Date May 28, 2021
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Research    Patient Care    Esophageal Cancer    Surgical Oncology    Clinical Trials

Investigating a Better Treatment Sequence for Esophageal Cancer

Looking for better ways to treat patients with esophageal cancer, University of Colorado Cancer Center member Martin McCarter, MD, is investigating whether a new treatment sequence will result in better outcomes.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date May 25, 2021
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Community    Students   

Exploring the World Leads to Medicine

Gavi Roda’s journey to medicine was seeded at a young age but didn’t fully blossom until her teenage years. As a child, she traveled frequently with her parents, Veralex and Greg Roda. Her family crisscrossed the world and moved more than eight times, including living in Singapore for four years, before finding a home in Broomfield, Colorado.


Author Chanthy Na | Publish Date May 10, 2021
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Research    Innovation   

Center for Surgical Innovation Celebrates One Year in New Location, Looks Forward to the Future

When Sarah Massena joined the Center for Surgical Innovation (CSI) as executive director in 2007, she saw the role as an ideal way to merge her interests in science and business.


Author Valerie Gleaton | Publish Date May 04, 2021
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Education    Students   

A Game-Changing New Curriculum at the CU School of Medicine

The Class of 2025, whose members arrive on campus in July to begin their first year of medical school, will usher in a new era at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. It will be the first class to experience a reimagined curriculum aimed at getting students into hospitals earlier and connecting them with patients in a more meaningful way, with a renewed focus on community engagement and social determinants of health.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date April 20, 2021
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Patient Care    COVID-19    Vaccinations   

CU School of Medicine Experts on the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Reactions

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday recommended a nationwide pause on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine because six women who received the vaccine have experienced a rare type of blood clot.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date April 16, 2021
Full Story

Research    Surgical Oncology

Tackling Unconscious Bias in Surgical Oncology

Over the past few years, Camille Stewart, MD, assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Surgical Oncology, has conducted research for the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) to examine unconscious bias within the organization. In her studies, Stewart examines unconscious bias and microaggressions by focusing on the subtle differences in introductions of speakers at professional meetings and conferences.


Author Siyab Khan | Publish Date April 15, 2021
Full Story

Research    Awareness    Pediatric Cancer    Kidney Cancer

Research supports the practice of personalized treatment to improve fertility outcomes for pediatric kidney cancer patients

Although rare, kidney cancer is the third most common type of solid tumor affecting children. Thankfully, pediatric kidney tumors are generally treatable and most have high cure rates. Treatment outcomes depend on several factors including age, tumor type, staging, genetics, the overall health of the patient, and the risk of treatment side effects.  


Author Noelle Musgrave | Publish Date April 09, 2021
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Research    Breast Cancer    Surgical Oncology

Improving Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Patients

Though breast cancer patients are now living longer than ever before, treatments for the disease can have wide-ranging effects on their long-term quality of life. Physical, social, and sexual wellbeing all can be impacted by radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, antiendocrine therapy and other challenges that go along with a breast cancer battle.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 23, 2021
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Education    Community    Faculty    Diversity

On a Mission to Create Meaningful Progress on Diversity and Inclusion

Kia Washington, MD, looks back on her undergraduate experience as four years that helped to shape who she is. One of those years in particular stands out as not just formative, but transformative.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date March 08, 2021
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Education    Community   

State of the School Address by Dean Reilly

Dean John J. Reilly, Jr., MD, highlighted some of the CU School of Medicine’s accomplishments over the past five years and outlined key initiatives moving forward in his annual State of the School address on January 13. He also spoke to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.


Author School of Medicine | Publish Date January 15, 2021
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Awareness    Pancreatic Cancer    Magazine    Surgical Oncology

Alex Trebek’s Death Raising Awareness and Questions About Pancreatic Cancer

Longtime “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek announced it to the world on March 6, 2019: Like 50,000 other Americans each year, he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.


Author Greg Glasgow | Publish Date November 11, 2020
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Skin Cancer    Melanoma    Surgical Oncology

Melanoma Care is a Priority for the CU School of Medicine and Cancer Center

If you live in or have visited Colorado, you most likely noticed that the state loves its outdoors. With 300 days of sunshine a year, many enjoy hiking, playing at a park or grabbing a craft brew on a patio. But with that love of sunshine comes an increased risk for skin cancer.


Author School of Medicine | Publish Date October 28, 2020
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Research    Publications    Pancreatic Cancer    Surgical Oncology

Simple blood test may help identify patients most likely to benefit from surgery for pancreatic cancer

In the 1860s, French physician Armand Trousseau noticed that patients with a certain form of abnormal blood clotting often went on to be diagnosed with pancreas or gastric cancers. Unfortunately, at age 66 he noticed these same symptoms in himself and died of gastric cancer only a few months later.


Author Cancer Center | Publish Date October 20, 2020
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Patient Care    Pancreatic Cancer

This Is Breakthrough: Dr. Richard Schulick

“I hate cancer more than anyone,” says Richard Schulick, MD, director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center and chair of the Department of Surgery


Author Staff | Publish Date February 04, 2020
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Patient Care   

Veteran’s Pancreatic Cancer Caught ‘At Just the Right Time’

Steve Becker always looks forward to Veterans Day. He and his father, Don, both did hitches in the Navy, so it’s a special day they set aside to hang out and reflect on their service to the nation.


Author Chris Casey | Publish Date January 16, 2020
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Department of Surgery In the News

UCHealth

Colorado School of Mines Student Returns To Wrestling Team After Car Accident Forced Devastating Leg Amputation

news outletUCHealth
Publish DateFebruary 22, 2024

“Wrestling is a difficult sport. It’s both a team and a one-on-one sport that requires endurance, strength, and mental toughness,” said Matthew Lorio, MD, professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

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CBS4 Denver

Colorado Doctor Hopes To Help Restore Sight of Man Who Went Blind

news outletCBS4 Denver
Publish DateFebruary 02, 2024

Kia Washington, MD, professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery, is hoping she can help a Colorado man who was blinded seven years ago.

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UCHealth

Janet Kukreja, MD, Outlines Key Kidney Cancer Research That Was Presented at This Year’s Society of Urologic Oncology Annual Meeting.

news outletUCHealth
Publish DateDecember 04, 2023

Janet Kukreja, MD, a University of Colorado School of Medicine urologic surgeon, is North America’s most prolific robotic cystectomist.

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The Denver Post

Children’s Hospital Colorado Needed 10 People To Donate Part of Their Livers to Sick Kids. More Than 100 Stepped Forward.

news outletThe Denver Post
Publish DateNovember 21, 2023

So many Coloradans responded to a call to donate pieces of their livers that Children’s Hospital Colorado expects every child in need of a transplant this year will get one.

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