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Department of Surgery News and Stories

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Department of Surgery


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    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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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    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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Patient Care    Clinics    Vascular Surgery

New Vascular Surgery Clinic Offers Easier Access to Care

A new vascular surgery clinic opened in February on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, offering easy access for patients with venous disease, peripheral artery disease, and mesenteric and renal artery disease. The clinic also offers hemodialysis procedures for arteriovenous fistula and graft maintenance.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date March 02, 2021
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Education    Community   

Johns Hopkins Director of Surgery Speaks at CU Surgery Department’s First DEI Lecture

“Diversity and inclusion in medicine can save lives.” That was the message from Robert Higgins, MD, MSHA, director of the Department of Surgery and surgeon-in-chief at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date February 25, 2021
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Research    Education   

Medical Student Presents Research at Academic Surgical Congress

Eighteen physicians, residents, and medical students from the University of Colorado School of Medicine presented on their research this week at the Academic Surgical Congress, an annual convention hosted by the Society of University Surgeons.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date February 05, 2021
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Research    Quality and Clinical Effectiveness

Practicing Fire Safety in the Operating Room

Edward Jones, MD, MS, an associate professor of surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, is a nationally recognized expert on preventing operating room (OR) fires.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date January 13, 2021
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Research    Patient Care    Quality and Clinical Effectiveness

Safety and Quality Are a Primary Focus for the CU Department of Surgery

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new attention to the safety of patients during surgery. But long before the concerns brought on by coronavirus, the CU Department of Surgery was working to make patient safety a priority.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date January 06, 2021
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Research    Vascular Surgery

The Pandemic’s Impact on Vascular Surgery

In a normal year, vascular surgeons would never postpone surgeries for patients with aortic or carotid disease or other conditions.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date December 30, 2020
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Research    Patient Care    Community    Prostate Cancer    Urology

Improving Patient Outcomes in Prostate Cancer

Although prostate cancer is treatable when found early, there are common fears that men share concerning prostate cancer.

“I hear from patients all the time stating they do not want to get tested and they do not want to know if they have prostate cancer. Due to the possible side effects associated with treatment,” says Paul Maroni, MD, associate professor in the Department of Surgery, Urology Division, program director of the Urologic Cancer Care Center and University of Colorado (CU) Cancer Center member.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date October 01, 2020
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Research    Patient Care    Community    Prostate Cancer    Cancer    Urology

Former Broncos Punter Wants Men to Share Their Experience With Prostate Cancer

Growing up, Douglas “Bucky” Dilts was all too familiar with the dangers of cancer. “My mother ran a cancer tumor registry at St Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia for over 25 years. She was always telling us about different types of cancer, so cancer was always at the forefront.”  


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date September 23, 2020
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Patient Care    Community

Tips for Men's Health Month

As the end of Men’s Health Month approaches, it is important to acknowledge that men often do not visit the doctor unless there is a serious issue or concern. In addition to exercising and a healthy diet, men need to make sure they are up to date on important health screenings to focus on preventative care and health maintenance.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date June 26, 2020
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Patient Care    Pediatrics

U.S. News Ranks Pediatric Surgical Specialties Provided by DOS Faculty Among Nation’s Best

U.S. News and World Report released its 2020-21 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings this week, placing three pediatric surgical specialties at Children’s Hospital Colorado provided by University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Surgery faculty in the top 10, including No. 1 for gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date June 17, 2020
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Patient Care    Community

2019 Top Doctors

Each year 5280 magazine has asked physicians in the Denver area whom they would trust to treat themselves or a loved one. This year 24 of our surgeons in 12 specialties made the list.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date September 02, 2019
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Patient Care    Community    Trauma    GITES

From Trauma to Triumph

Trapped by a fire in her Aurora apartment building, Alina Miller was forced to jump from a fourth-story window to escape the flames. The fall left her with a broken back and a crushed foot.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date January 09, 2019
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Patient Care    Community

2018 Top Doctors

Every year, Denver's 5280 Magazine polls doctors from the Denver metro area, asking whom they would trust if they needed medical treatment for themselves or a loved one. The results are collected and published in the magazine's annual "Top Doctors" issue.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date December 09, 2018
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Patient Care    Pancreatic Cancer    Cancer

The Power of a Second Opinion: Karen Possehl's Story

Karen Possehl was diagnosed with cancer in November 2016. At the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, her doctor told her that the type of cancer she had was inoperable and wouldn't respond to radiation or chemotherapy. He expected her to live only a few more months.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date November 30, 2018
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Research    Patient Care    Community    Sarcoma

Dr. Breelyn Wilky Joins Sarcoma Team

The CU Sarcoma Clinic is pleased to welcome Breelyn A. Wilky, MD, to our multidisciplinary team. Dr. Wilky joined the Medical Oncology faculty in the cancer clinic on November 1, 2018.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date November 01, 2018
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Patient Care    Community    Trauma    GITES

University of Colorado Hospital recognized as Level I Trauma Center

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the American College of Surgeons have designated UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital a Level I trauma center, making it one of only five hospitals in the state with the highest capabilities for trauma care.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date October 12, 2018
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Community

Lasting Legacy

Dr. Frederick Grover, who brought lung transplantation to University of Colorado Hospital and served as Chair of the Department of Surgery from 2002 to 2012, brings his 27-year career at CU to a close this year. Having made countless contributions to our department over the years, he leaves yet another legacy upon his retirement: the Frederick and Carol Grover Endowed Chair in Surgery.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date October 05, 2018
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Research    Patient Care    Community

Dr. Schulick to lead CU Cancer Center

Dr. Richard Schulick, Chair of the Department of Surgery, has been named Director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date June 29, 2018
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Research    Patient Care    Community

CU Anschutz and GSK Join Forces to Advance Immunotherapies for Cancer

Every year, 14 million people around the world, including 1.7 million Americans, are diagnosed with cancer. One of the major challenges in fighting cancer is to understand and manipulate the response of the body's immune system to cancer cells. Recently, an area that has received growing attention and has shown promise in clinical trials is the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date April 02, 2018
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Patient Care    Community

Saving the Life of a Fellow Fan and Friend

A friendship between two couples that began over CU football games ended up saving a life—and leading to the promise of more lives saved in the future.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date November 01, 2017
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Research    Patient Care    Community

Vaping and Surgery: What are the Risks?

The health hazards of smoking have been documented for decades, but research on “vaping,” the smoking of electronic cigarettes, is still in its infancy.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date January 27, 2017
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Patient Care    Community

Transplant Division Welcomes Wife-Husband Team to Faculty

The Division of Transplant Surgery is pleased to introduce two new faculty members.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date October 09, 2016
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Research    Patient Care    Community

Dr. Gene Moore receives SUS Lifetime Achievement Award

The Society of University Surgeons (SUS) has awarded Dr. Ernest "Gene" Moore its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. Each year since 2005, the Society has conferred this award on a single surgeon who has made substantial contributions to surgical science over the course of a full career. Previous winners include Frank G. Moody, Ben Eiseman, and Patricia K. Donohoe.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date March 22, 2016
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Research    Community

Surgeon Gives Gift to Present and Future Generations

In the course of his long career as a surgeon, Guillermo 'Bill' Aragón saved many lives, but that wasn’t enough for him. Dr. Aragón wanted to continue making a positive impact on the world after his retirement—and, if possible, even beyond his lifetime. This desire led him to endow the Aragón/Gonzalez-Gíustí Chair in Surgery at the University of Colorado.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date May 10, 2015
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Patient Care    Community

Dr. Tom Robinson appointed Chief of Surgery at VA

The Department of Surgery is pleased to congratulate Thomas Robinson, MD, on his promotion to Chief of Surgery at the Denver Veterans Administration Medical Center.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date January 26, 2015
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Community

In Memory of Ben Eiseman, MD

Dr. Ben Eiseman, a longtime faculty member with our department, was a giant in 20th century surgery, beginning with his involvement in World War II from 1943-1946, following graduation from Harvard Medical School and internship at Massachusetts General Hospital. He spent 53 years of his career in Denver, beginning at the Denver VA Medical Center as Chief of Surgery in 1953, following which he was recruited to become the first Chief of Surgery at the University of Kentucky.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date August 05, 2014
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Research    Patient Care    Community

Jean and Joe Barban Donate Endowed Chair

Joe and Jean Barban were so moved by the care they received at the Anschutz Medical Campus that they were inspired to give back so that others may benefit as well. Their gift of an endowed chair allows CU to recognize top faculty’s talents, hard work and achievements. In turn, the top faculty who hold endowed chairs and professorships elevate the entire university community: attracting other passionate teachers and scholars, igniting students’ curiosity and making ground-breaking discoveries that bring us closer to solving some of the most challenging problems we face today.


Author Department of Surgery | Publish Date April 02, 2014
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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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