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

SEPTEMBER, 2018

First Phalloplasty in New Jersey

Feature Stories:

Progress Toward Strategic Vision

Preventing Gun Violence is Personal

DR. STEPHANIE BONNE:

DR. ANNE MOSENTHAL:

DR. JONATHAN KEITH:

DR. JAMES GUARRERA:

Liver Transplant Program Exceeds Expectations

ContentsHighlightsHonors & Awards Welcome

On the Scene On a Personal NoteSpeakers

WASHINGTON ADVOCACY

RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

GOLDEN APPLE AWARD

AOA HONORS DR. GORE

PROMOTIONS

GRADUATES

WHERE ARE THEY NOW

DR. ASHLEY IGNATIUK

DR. DUSTIN CUMMINGS

DR. JOSEPH OLIVER

NEW RESIDENTS

JONATHAN BATISTA

DR. HOSSEIN SADEGHI-NEHAD

DR. ADAM FOX

DR. JESSICA ROUAN

DR. ADAM FOX & DR. FRANK PADBERG

NATIONAL SPEAKERS AT GRAND ROUNDS

SEPTEMBER, 2018

Have a great story to tell? SHARE IT WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES:

CONTACT DONNA SHORE, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE CHAIR,

DSHORE@NJMS.RUTGERS.EDU

RETIREMENTS

Inside this issue:People doing

DR. ANNE MOSENTHAL:

Progress Toward Strategic VisionPage 4

DR. JONATHAN KEITH:

First Phalloplasty in New JerseyPage 16

DR. STEPHANIE BONNE:

Intervening with gunshot victims in “teachable moments”Page 18

People doing

DR. JAMES GUARRERA:

Liver Transplant Program Exceeds ExpectationsPage 28

“Big Sister” Helps Gun Victims To New PathPage 20

Welcome New SurgeonsPage 6

ALIKAH GREEN:

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

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

SEPTEMBER, 2018

OUR STRATEGIC VISION:

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SURGICAL NOTES FROM THE CHAIR:

Progress Toward Strategic VisionBy Anne Mosenthal, MD, FACS, Chair, Department of Surgery

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

As we expand the reach of our specialty practices out into the region, the department is seeing the impact of our efforts to recruit more people who bring research and innovation such as Dr. James Guarrera. Since his arrival in February as Chief of Abdominal, Liver and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Dr. Guarrera has reinvigorated the Transplant program, performing 20 liver transplants. Read more of the interview with Dr. Guarrera in this issue.

The Rutgers Center for Transgender Health has performed gender affirming surgery on its first two patients, including the first phalloplasty in New Jersey. This is an exciting program for us, a collaborative center that will provide a full spectrum of medical, psychiatric and surgical care for the transgender person. Read more in the story with program co-founder Dr. Jonathan Keith, assistant professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

As surgeons, especially in Trauma, we seek hope in efforts to reduce the impact of the epidemic of gun violence. Many of our colleagues participated in The Student Walkout for Gun Violence Awareness in March. A new program within Trauma, led by Dr. Stephanie Bonne, is making gains in helping victims of gun violence find a new path. Read more about Dr. Bonne’s work and collaboration with caseworker Alikah Green.

Within the past year, we have begun work on integrating our practices with University Hospital as an opportunity to focus on delivering a consistently high-quality experience with more patient-centered care. To further enhance our capabilities, we are also launching a new performance improvement initiative.

We had many distinguished visiting professors conduct Grand Rounds lectures this year, including an important talk on gun violence in The Dr. Eric Muñoz Memorial Lecture given by Dr. Rochelle Dicker from UCLA and attended by New Jersey Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz, wife of the late Dr. Muñoz.

We are excited to announce new physicians who are joining our team: hand surgeon Dr. Ashley Ignatiuk in Plastic Surgery, Dr. Dustin Cummings, a minimally invasive surgeon and Dr. Joseph Oliver, one of our former graduates, in general surgery.

We celebrated retirements of two longtime, stalwart members of our faculty and wish farewell to Dr. Paul Bolanowski, and Dr. Anne Sheffet.

I am extremely proud of our residents and they are featured throughout our newsletter. We graduated another cohort of spectacular residents and you can see the amazing places where they are going next. At the same time, we welcomed in the new class —one of our most diverse groups and you can meet them here.

I appreciate hearing story ideas from several of you who reached out after the first issue of “On the Cutting Edge,” which you will see published.

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“It is better for the patients and for me, they can participate and talk with me during the surgery. It is more cost effective and has better patient outcomes,” Dr. Ignatiuk said.

In partnership with orthopedist Dr. Michael Vosbikian, Dr. Ignatiuk said they will launch a brachial plexus and peripheral nerve clinic. “It will be a big part of limb restoration and limb salvage programs for high energy injuries such as in motorcycle crashes.”

“Wide awake hand surgery is more like going to the dentist

using local anesthesia for treatment of

carpal tunnel and trigger finger.”

Welcome New Surgery Department Physicians

Ashley Ignatiuk, MD, MSc, FRCSC looks forward to bringing new capability in “wide awake” hand surgery and a brachial plexus clinic to the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery as a primary specialist in hand and wrist surgery. He is an Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery and an Attending at University Hospital.

Dr. Ignatiuk comes to Rutgers NJMS Surgery from the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver. Board-certified in Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery, he completed a Fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Western Ontario and earned his medical degree at the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine.

Dr. Ashley Ignatiuk Brings “Wide Awake Hand Surgery”

Dr. Ignatiuk said he is excited about the opportunities “to join a great group” as part of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. “They are doing fantastic stuff with trauma, cancer and burn reconstruction. I look forward to test my skills with the type of cases that come in.”

In addition to hand surgery for carpal tunnel and trigger fingers, Dr. Ignatiuk will perform breast reconstruction, head and neck reconstruction, and treat Raynaud’s Syndrome and Spasticity.

Dustin Cummings, MD, M.P.H.,Bariatric Surgeon

Dr. Dustin Cummings has joined the Department of Surgery as Assistant Professor, General Surgery. With experience in bariatric surgery, Dr. Cummings will predominately provide clinical services at New Bridge Medical Center, NBMC.

Dr. Cummings comes to Rutgers NJMS Department of Surgery from a fellowship in minimally invasive foregut/bariatric surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle. He completed a residency in general surgery at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System.

Dr. Cummings earned his medical degree and a Master of Public Health in epidemiology at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Joseph Oliver, MD, M.P.H Asst. Professor, General Surgery

Former Administrative Chief Resident Dr. Joseph Oliver returns to Rutgers NJMS Surgery after a Fellowship at the University of Southern California.

Dr. Oliver, an Assistant Professor, General Surgery, will practice predominately at New Bridge Medical Center, NBMC.

Prior to completing his residency in General Surgery at Rutgers, NJMS, Dr. Oliver was a Research Fellow in the Department of Surgery, Division of Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery at Rutgers NJMS.

A graduate of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Dr. Oliver earned an MPH in Quantitative Methods, Biostatistics at Rutgers School of Public Health, and his undergraduate degree from Lafayette College.

Welcome

Introducing New Finance Manager JONATHAN BATISTA, MBA, MPA

Jonathan Batista, MBA, MPA joins the Department of Surgery as the new Finance Manager.

Batista comes to Rutgers NJMS Department of Surgery from the Science Division of City College of New York where his nine years of service included roles as Finance Manager, Sr. Budget Advisor to the Provost and Administrative Executive Coordinator. Previously Jonathan was a Senior Analyst at JP Morgan Chase.

Batista earned an MPA, Masters’ in Public Management & Public Policy at Baruch College, an MBA in Accounting, and is pursuing his CPA.

This is a new position for the Department of Surgery, reporting to Larry Gold, Interim Vice Chair, Administration. Batista will be responsible for overseeing the financial management of the department, supporting and developing the annual operating budget, financial planning, reporting, analysis and forecasting. Financial oversight of sponsored and non-sponsored funds and representing the department to the school administration are also part of Batista’s responsibilities.

Batista said, “I was attracted to this opportunity in that it is a new position, Rutgers’ reputation, its leadership in the community, and the accomplishments of the Department and faculty.”

Batista, who started July 2 said he will be interviewing all the division chiefs and their staff members to understand their needs for financial reporting for day-to-day decisions, and with the UPA staff, about their financial needs. Consolidating financial reporting efforts from others who have done the work for their own divisions will be important, Batista said.

“My goal is to bring experience and best practices to this role to make sure we have enough resources for capital purposes, student aid and facilities’ needs,” Batista said.

Little known fact: At CCNY Jonathan frequently saw renowned theoretical physicist and professor Dr. Michio Kaku in the halls or the elevator. “I noticed how often we got the same ‘M&Ms’ out of the vending machine.”

SEPTEMBER, 2018

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

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

SEPTEMBER, 2018

ProminentNational Speakers Highlight Grand Rounds Presentations

In the first half of 2018, the Department of Surgery Grand Rounds hosted outstanding external speakers of national prominence.

Dr. Steven Stain, Professor and Henry and Sally Schaffer Chair Department of Surgery at Albany Medical College presented and lead a discussion in February on Surgical Residency.

In January, Dr. Carla Pugh, Professor of Surgery from Stanford, spoke to a full house regarding the use of sensor technology to assess technical skills

In March Dr. Julie Freischlag, the Dean, Wake Forest School of Medicine, CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and a nationally sought-after speaker discussed aspects of leadership and lunched with residents.

The Eric Muñoz, MD, Memorial LectureAndre Muñoz, Dr. Stephanie Bonne, Dr. Anne Mosenthal, Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz, Dr. Rochelle Dicker, and Dr. David Livingston gather for The Eric Muñoz, MD, Memorial Lecture. The event honors the former Rutgers Trauma surgeon, administrator and assemblyman. His wife, Nancy Muñoz, assumed the legislative seat upon his death and then won re-election. Their son, Andre Muñoz, is a NJMS medical student.

SPE AKERS

Also, in March Dr. Michael Rotondo, Professor, Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, The School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, spoke to many residents and faculty regarding service to the country.

Our Transplant team had a great day planned in May for Dr. Jeffrey Matthews, Chair, Department of Surgery at University of Chicago. Dr. Matthews spoke on HPB topics of Pancreatitis and complimented the resident presentations given the night before.

Dr. Gregory Jurkovich, Professor of Surgery, Lloyd F. and Rosemargaret Donant Chair in Trauma Medicine and Trauma Research, University of Callifornia, Davis presented on Surgical M&Ms.

Dr. Rochelle Dicker, Chief of Surgical Critical Care, Associate Chief of Trauma and Emergency General Surgery at UCLA was the featured speaker at The Eric Muñoz, MD Memorial Lecture, discussing Hospital Violence Prevention. Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz, wife of the former Trauma Surgeon and Assemblyman attended.

SEPTEMBER, 2018

Planning is underway for an equally exciting

Grand Rounds schedule for 2018-2019.

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Dr. Sadeghi-Nejad Serving On Urology Exam Board

Hossein Sadeghi-Nejad, MD, FACS, Professor of Surgery/Urology has been

selected to serve on the national examination

committee of the American Board of Urology.

In May, Dr. Sadeghi-Nejad became the

President of the Sexual Medicine Society

of North America. This organization is

Highlights

the main affiliate of the American Urological

Association, with a focus on male and female

sexual health.

He is the Chief of Urology at VA New Jersey

Health Care System.

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

Dr. Adam Fox has been appointed Interim

Director of the New Jersey Trauma Center

at University Hospital and Section Chief of

Trauma, effective July 1 according to an

announcement from Dr. Anne Mosenthal,

Chair, Department of Surgery.

Dr. Fox will oversee all clinical, operational,

quality and regulatory aspects of the

NJ Trauma Center.

Dr. David Livingston will continue to be

the Division Chief of Trauma/Critical Care

and Acute Care Surgery and represent the

Trauma Center on the state level as Vice

President of the State Trauma Systems

Council.

Dr. Fox is an Assistant Professor in the

Department of Surgery at Rutgers New

Jersey Medical School and faculty in the

Division of Trauma Surgery and Critical

Care. Dr. Fox joined the faculty in 2011

after practicing in the divisions of Trauma/

Critical Care and Emergency Surgery at the

University of Pennsylvania and Penn State

University.

He is an instructor and course director for

multiple trauma and critical care related

courses. He is an active member of The

International Medical Surgical Response

Team (IMSuRT) and Mobile Acute Care

Strike Team (MAC-ST) of the National

Disaster Medical System (NDMS). He has

also provided surgical care on multiple

medical missions around the world.

Additionally, he provides medical care and

education to the Newark FBI SWAT Team.

Dr. Fox sits on the editorial board of several

journals and is the author of multiple journal

articles and has presented at conferences

both nationally and internationally. His

interests include leadership in trauma,

education, and global trauma and disaster

response.

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

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

“Side Branch Ligation Improves Function of Arteriovenous Fistula”

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

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

DR. ADAM FOX AND DR. FRANK PADBERG

Department of Surgery physicians

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

SEPTEMBER, 2018

An Epicenter for Transgender Care and SurgeryDR. JONATHAN KEITH

Now that Dr. Jonathan Keith has performed New Jersey’s first successful female to male gender affirmation surgery, a phalloplasty, he continues to study the progress of patient Elijah Stephens as he plans similar surgeries, academic research and “teaching others how to perform the operation.”

Dr. Keith is Assistant Professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Rutgers, NJMS and co-founder, co-director of The Rutgers Center for Transgender Health along with Dr. Mark Einstein, Chair of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health at Rutgers, NJMS

The mission of the Rutgers Center for Transgender Health “is to establish an epicenter in New Jersey that will improve the health and well-being of transgender people through evidence-based clinical care, research and education.” The vision is to “create fellowships in transgender medicine and surgery.”

While Dr. Keith spent three years planning the phalloplasty for patient Elijah Stephens his interest and training in gender affirmation surgery is some 13 years in the making.

In 2005 Dr. Keith witnessed his first vaginoplasty in Pittsburgh and wrote in a recent Op-Ed article published in USA Today, that after the surgery, “I came to understand that the transformative power of the gender affirming surgery was much more than physical, the patient could finally live as she felt inside.”

In May, Dr. Keith performed the first vaginoplasty in northern New Jersey.

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and vaginectomy, leaving only the labia and urethra, in preparation for the phalloplasty.

To create the penis, Dr. Keith removed skin and tissue from the patient’s left forearm. He used the tissue to create a “tube within a tube,” to extend the urethra to carry urine to the tip of the penis.

Dr. Keith told NewJersey.com that he grafted nerves from Elijah’s forearm to a nerve in the clitoris to create feeling in the new phallus. He transferred arteries and veins from the forearm, attaching the them to the femoral artery for blood circulation to the penis. He used labial tissue to create a scrotum. An operation will implant an inflatable pump to create an erection.

He wrote, “the patient told me that she would now celebrate her birthday on the anniversary of her surgery.”

The 14-hour phalloplasty operation at St. Barnabas Hospital involved urologist Dr. Nitin Patel and plastic surgeon Dr. Edward Lee among 7 physicians and 8 residents.

Dr. Keith told NorthJersey.com that Elijah Stephens recovered quickly after the surgery and is able to stand to urinate and achieve orgasm. The phalloplasty followed hormone therapy, testosterone, for Stephens beginning 10 years ago. Then “top surgery,” a double mastectomy in 2016 at University Hospital.

Last August, Dr. Keith performed “bottom surgery,” a hysterectomy

Dr. Keith joined the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Rutgers NJMS in 2012 following a seven-year residency in the plastic surgery training program at the University of Pittsburgh.

His training included the 2012 Stephen S. Kroll Fellowship in microsurgery at the University Hospital of Gent, Belgium where he gained expertise in microsurgery and gender affirmation surgery.

Dr. Keith wrote in his USA Today op-ed that he views his work as “life-saving” for people with gender dysphoria for whom the psychological distress has driven nearly 40 percent of the trans population to attempt suicide.

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

A team of surgeons led by Dr. Jonathan Keith, Assistant Professor, Divsion of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, performs gender affirmation surgery for Elijah Stephens at St. Barnabas Hospital.

In the Trauma Center at University Hospital, Dr. Bonne and caseworker Alikah Green (see story below) engage one-on-one with gunshot victims “in that teachable moment after trauma when individuals are more receptive to discussion about prevention, and maybe willing to discuss the risk factors,” related to the shooting, Dr. Bonne said.

She obtained a pilot foundation grant from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey to establish a Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program, HVIP, that matches the gunshot victims and

Participating in the national school walkout with her colleagues to bring attention to gun violence is just one of many proactive initiatives Dr. Stephanie Bonne, Assistant Professor Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, has undertaken to get beyond what she calls “secondary prevention,” of a public health epidemic. “It was a positive time to reflect and raise awareness, to come together as a university, to recognize that this is a problem everybody cares about,” Dr. Bonne said.

caseworker to help mitigate risk and navigate community resources, after hospital discharge.

“This is a ‘warm handoff’ for the victims to talk with someone what are the risk factors in their life that may lead to an increased risk of becoming a victim of violence,” Dr. Bonne said.

More than sixty people have been enrolled in the program and positive outcomes are already taking place.“People are getting counseling that otherwise would not. People in wheelchairs from their injuries are getting support and learning about self-care. One person finished

DR. STEPHANIE BONNE:

Preventing Gun Violence is Personal

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

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“If you help people with other social outcomes in their life, they will be less at risk and have better

post-discharge outcomes,”

a GED, one enrolled in college. Two patients received probation from a judge instead of jail time since our caseworker went to court and advocated for them,” Dr. Bonne said.

As part of her research on best practices to establish HVIPs, Dr. Bonne received the American College of Surgeons, Claude H. Organ, J. MD, FACS Traveling Fellowship and visited “The Wraparound Project” at the University of San Francisco, UCSF, San Francisco General Hospital. She spent one week meeting case managers who work with gunshot victims, and met with community-based organizations that provide assistance to clients needing follow-up social services.

“I learned it would be important to develop relationships with Newark organizations that offer job training, employment and mental health services.” - Dr. Stephanie Bonne

In an article published in “The Bulletin” of the American College of Surgeons, “Trauma Surgeon uses Traveling Fellowship to Learn about HVIPs” Dr. Bonne wrote:“I began to recognize my own implicit bias, that clouded the way I defined ‘recovery’ for victims of violence… As surgeons we see patients for a few postoperative visits, but we may have an incomplete understanding of how long it takes someone to heal from the psychosocial trauma of being a victim of violence and how that affects their recovery.”

Data from other HVIPs in the National Network of Hospital Violence Intervention Programs, suggests recidivism is reduced, that fewer repeat gunshot victims are seen as a result of the intervention. “If you help people with other social outcomes in their life, they will be less at risk and have better post-discharge outcomes,” Dr. Bonne said.

Now, Dr. Bonne is interested in research funding to investigate the impact of stress biomarkers, cortisol levels, TNF alpha, testosterone, interferon gamma and other things related to stress and depression and social and psychological problems.

”Can we reduce the levels of the biomarkers when we give people a positive social network with their prevention and health outcomes?”

She is encouraged that the New Jersey legislature passed funding for a gun violence research center to be based at Rutgers, although details are not finalized.

Dr. Bonne said, “I think it is great that the Governor has insight into the problems of gun violence research. Of the 2600 trauma patients we see each year, 40 percent are the result of interpersonal violence. Among the root causes, domestic violence, poverty, child access to guns, the gun is a vector that is highly lethal.”

On a personal level, Dr. Bonne still feels saddened and motivated by a school shooting 20 years ago that killed her chemistry lab partner at Kalamazoo College.

“Maggie Wardle was a friend of mine, and she was killed by her boyfriend in the dorm with a shotgun and then he killed himself. It really deeply affected everybody. I have always carried that with me. I’m still mad about it.”

She channels her personal experience with firearm injury to look for public health-based solutions to firearm injury and death in the United States.

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ALIKAH GREEN:

“Big Sister” Helps Gun Victims To New Path

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

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

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

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

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

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“I just talk and help them open up and be more

comfortable in my presence. After a while they see that I really care. I’m like a big sister, like a mom figure.”

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

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

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

Progress and outcomes are a series of small steps.

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

Dr. Anthony Scholer Wins Golden Apple Teaching Award

Anthony Scholer, M.D., recent residency graduate, is presented the Golden Apple Teaching Award by Asmi Panigrahi, MD from the 2019 NJMS students. Anastasia Kunac, M.D. FACS, Program Director,General Surgery Residency, said,

Honors and Awards

AOA NJ Honors Dr. Amy Gore

Administrative Chief Resident Amy Gore, MD, a recent 2018 graduate, was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, NJ Beta Chapter. She was inducted on April 17. From Left to Right are: Dr. Frank Padberg, Dr. Augustine Tawadros, President AOA; Dr. Amy Gore, Dr. Amy Weiss, Vice-President AOA and Dr. Michael Shapiro.

Dr. Ravi Chokshi, to

Associate Professor, Surgical Oncology

Dr. Edward Lee, to

Associate Professor, Plastic Surgery

PROMOTIONS

“We had so many resident nominees and I am proud that so many of our surgical residents were honored with nominations. Teachers affect eternity; no one can tell where their influence

stops. Each of you is shaping the future of our profession. Thank you for your commitment to our students and for being excellent surgical educators.”

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

Pictured LeftDr. Anthony Scholer, M.D., recent residency graduate, is presented The Golden Apple Teaching Award by Dr. Asmi Panigrahi, from the 2019 NJMS students.

Congratulations 2018 NJMS Surgery Graduates Celebrating their residency graduation, from left to right :

Christopher McGreevy, MD;

Anthony Scholer, MD;

Amy Gore, MD;

Anne Mosenthal, MD, Chair;

Anastasia Kunac, MD, Program Director;

Edward Andraos, MD;

Dhaval Chauhan, MD;

Neil King, MD.

Not pictured: Vijayaumar Tanjavur, MD

Congratulations NJMS SURGERY GRADUATES!

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JUNE 2018 RESIDENCY GRADS:

Where are they Going?

Division of General Surgery

Edward Andraos, MD -

Dhaval Chauhan, MD -

Amy Gore, MD  -

Neil King, MD -

Christopher McGreevy, MD -

Anthony Scholer, MD, MBS -

Vijayaumar Tanjavur, MD -

Houston Medthodist for Vascular Surgery

Montefiore Medical Center in NYC for Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship

University of Colorado for Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship

Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC for Laparoscopic and Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery Fellowship

University of Pennsylvania for Breast Oncology Fellowship

John Wayne Cancer Institute in California for Surgical Oncology Fellowship

Staten Island University Hospital for Vascular Surgery Fellowship

SEPTEMBER, 2018

2018

Retirements

Ceremonies Honor Long-Time Retiring Doctors

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

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Ceremonies Honor Long-Time Retiring Doctors

Paul Bolanowski, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Ceremonies marking the retirements of Paul Bolanowski, M.D. and Alice Sheffet, Ph.D. highlighted their significant contributions to Rutgers NJMS as faculty members in the Department of Surgery.

Dr. Bolanowski, a cardiothoracic surgeon and Professor of Surgery, devoted 48 years of his medical career to Rutgers, NJMS and received many awards including “Top Docs in New Jersey,” “Best Doctors in New York” and “Best Doctors in America.”

Dr. Sheffet, an Associate Professor of Surgery, worked 29 years at Rutgers NJMS, highlighted by her service as Director of the multi-million-dollar CREST grant. (Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy vs. Stenting Trial)

“Paul is an icon here at NJMS,” said Anne Mosenthal, M.D., Chair of the Department of Surgery.

“There are not many here

who have not had the

pleasure of learning and

working with him.”

Dr. Mosenthal said, “Paul received his MD degree at this institution, and after his surgery residency, he came back to New Jersey for his cardiothoracic residency and loved it so much he decided to never leave.” He was a specialist in thoracic oncology, tracheal reconstruction and chest wall reconstruction.

Dr. Bolanowski served two years as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Viet Nam and received the Army Commendation Medal and a Bronze Star.

“As an avid member and President of the Alumni Association, Paul continues to serve the Rutgers NJMS community,” Dr. Mosenthal said. “Paul’s expertise and skills are carried on for future generations of surgeons.”

Alice Sheffet, Ph.D.

Dr. Sheffet earned her Ph.D in Education at New York University and came to Rutgers NJMS in 1989 after work as an Instructor and

Lecturer at University of New Mexico, Brandeis Institute in California, University of Albuquerque, Drew University and NYU.

At Rutgers Dr. Sheffet was among the principal designers of Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy vs. Stenting Trial, CREST, working with the initial PI, former chief of vascular surgery Dr. Robert Hobson.

She supervised the $21 million NIH-funded CREST study conducted at 117 clinical sites involving 2,522 patients in the U.S. and Canada from 2000 to 2017.

Dr. Sheffet published 33 research works as a result of the study and co-authored papers in the New England Journal of Medicine and other leading medical journals. The FDA approved the Acculink and Accunet stent systems in 2012 based on data reported from the CREST study.

Dr. Mosenthal said, “Dr.

Sheffet’s leadership of this

research changed the delivery

of treatment for carotid

artery disease worldwide.”

SEPTEMBER, 2018

The Liver Transplant Team has performed 20 liver transplants since the arrival of Dr. James Guarrera in February.

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DR. JAMES GUARRERA:

Liver Transplant Program Exceeds Expectations

In February Dr. James Guarrera joined Rutgers NJMS and University Hospital as Program Director of Liver Transplantation “with a lot of confidence that there would be great potential.” Since performing his first liver transplant at University Hospital March 20, by mid-July the program has already completed 20 transplants.

“There is a great referral base of liver disease patients and also many organ donors in New Jersey and we projected

doing about 30 cases in the first year and now we are on target to do over 50 Liver

Transplants.” Dr. James Guarrera

Dr. Guarrera, Professor of Surgery and Division Chief of Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, previously Surgical Director of Adult Liver Transplantation at Columbia University Hospital, said “I’m excited to continue my research in new strategies to expand access to transplantation by working on organ preservation, and living donor transplantation.”

The holder of seven patents from his research and development, including “Machine Perfusion for Liver Preservation,” Dr. Guarrera said he will be the Principal Investigator for an upcoming multicenter clinical trial of 10 centers that will study use of his portable perfusion device to extend the life of livers for potential transplant.

He was previously federally funded and ran two clinical trials to develop the device and more recently has partnered with Organ Recovery Systems, the industry leader in Organ Preservation technology. This collaboration has

led to the completion of a fully portable perfusion device that can be brought to the donor hospital via ground or air transport. Organ Recovery Systems will be sponsoring the upcoming trial under Dr. Guarrera’s leadership. As part of the clinical trial sample tissue and blood will all be analyzed here in our lab, and biopsies studied by the department of pathology here, Dr. Guarrera said.

Dr. Guarrera has also proposed starting a living donor transplant program at University Hospital “which may allow more people to get better access to transplants, before they get too sick,” he said.

There are currently no living donor transplant programs in New Jersey, Dr. Guarrera said.

“Due to upcoming policy changes in organ distribution, we may in the near future have to go further for donor organs and be a little more creative about what donor organs we can obtain; these initiatives may help protect and position us to be successful,” Dr. Guarrera said.

The program has recruited another surgeon to join the transplant and hepatobiliary team. Dr. Flavio Paterno from University of Cincinnati Health will be joining in October.“In addition to his being an experienced transplant surgeon, Dr. Paterno has an MPH and is an accomplished outcomes researcher who will help us grow our research endeavors” Dr. Guarrera said.

Recruitment is also underway to add additional staff such as Physician Assistants, transplant coordinators and an experienced transplant administrator as the program continues to grow.

SEPTEMBER, 2018

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Research Symposium Scenes

In late February, the Department of Surgery conducted its fourth annual Research Symposium, highlighting the accomplishments of nearly 30

faculty, researchers, residents and students.

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Rutgers NJMS Surgery Staff Conduct Advocacy Visits to Washington, DCMembers of the Rutgers NJMS Surgery Department visited Congressional Leaders in Washington during the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Governor’s Meetings and Leadership and Advocacy Summit, held May 18-22.

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

Congressman Leonard Lance (R-NJ 7th District) met with delegates to discuss the issues. Dr. Frank Padberg, ACS Governor, Professor of Vascular Surgery, NJMS; Dr. Stephanie Bonne, Assistant Professor, Trauma, Critical Care, Young Surgeons Association; Representative Leonard Lance; Dr. Joseph Cauda, Vice-President NJ-ACS, Dr. Diana Arellano, 4th year Surgery Resident NJMS; Dr. Justin Sambol, President NJ ACS, Associate Professor, Cardiothoracic Surgery, NJMS.

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On a Personal NoteCongratulations and best wishes to Residents Dr. Young Mee Choi and Dr. Dhaval Chauhan on their recent wedding.

CONGRATULATIONS

Copyr ight 2018 Rutgers, The State Univers i t y of New Jersey, an equal oppor tuni t y, af f i rmat ive ac t ion inst i tut ion. A l l r ights reser ved

BEST WISHES

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

welcomed their baby girl in March!

Vol. 1, No.2 | Summer 2018