Enabling kidney transplant for all
For their work establishing a robotic kidney transplant program for patients with a high body mass index, Trevor Nydam, MD, and Thomas Pshak, MD, from the Division of Transplant Surgery, were presented with the Clinical Innovation Team Award.
Thomas Pshak, MD |
Pshak and Nydam “have revolutionized kidney transplantation for morbidly obese patients,” wrote one nominator for the award. “Their dedication to improving patient care and reducing post-operative pain through minimally invasive approaches, thereby expediting the overall recovery process, has been immeasurably beneficial to our patient population. These patients have a more positive outlook on their health care experience, a shorter hospital length of stay, and a quicker return to normal.”
Pshak, who says his favorite part of his job is “getting people back to the quality of life they desire and deserve,” says the UCHealth award represents the work done by his entire team.
“It feels good to receive recognition for all the hard work it took to get this program off the ground, with excellent results,” he says. “Robotics is truly a team effort, and I wish everyone who has been involved in making this happen could also get recognition.”
Follow the leader
Nydam was also honored with the Medical Staff Leadership Award for his role as interim chief of transplant surgery.
Trevor Nydam, MD
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“Trevor is the surgeon in the transplant division that the other surgeons turn to for support,” one nominator wrote. “Whether it be in the operating room during a difficult case, on the unit with an unclear clinical scenario, amid an issue with team dynamics, or offering advice for professional growth, it is Trevor that the surgeons in our division turn to for help. He is the backbone of our transplant team and was a leader long before taking on a formal leadership role.”
Another nominator called out Nydam’s skill, compassion, and leadership in his field:
“Dr. Nydam's contributions extend beyond the operating room. He has played a pivotal role in enhancing our transplant program, implementing innovative practices that have improved patient outcomes and streamlined surgical procedures,” the nominator wrote.
“His commitment to education and mentorship has inspired many of our surgical APPs, fellows, residents, and students, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration.
“Moreover, Dr. Nydam's involvement in community outreach has significantly raised awareness about organ donation, making a lasting impact on many lives. His ability to lead by example and motivate his peers is truly commendable.”
New techniques for treating limb loss
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Mark Greyson, MD |
Matthew Iorio, MD, and Mark Greyson, MD, from the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, were honored with a UCHealth IMPACT Award for their work with osseointegration — a specialty that addresses complex injuries and reconstructive needs for patients with limb loss. Those techniques include nerve procedures such as targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) and “orthoplastic” surgery, which involves bone and soft tissue.
Matthew Iorio, MD
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“We are proud to perform these types of procedures, and we enjoy the collaborative efforts between orthopedic surgery and plastic surgery that they engender,” Greyson says. “In many instances, we try to save badly injured legs, often utilizing microsurgery. If saving the leg is not possible, targeted muscle reinnervation and osseointegration have revolutionized the care of those who have suffered limb loss, allowing patients to lead full, healthy, and active lives.”
Iorio echoes that sentiment, saying, “It is a great honor to receive this award from the medical staff at UCH, and it is fulfilling to see our work recognized. Extremity reconstruction is a balance of soft tissue stabilization, nerve surgery, and length preservation, and osseointegration is the latest advancement in the effort to restore function and independence for our patients."
In a letter to Greyson, Iorio, and their team notifying them of the award, Jeanie Youngwerth, MD, FAAHPM, associate professor of medicine and medical staff president at University of Colorado Hospital, says the IMPACT Award recognizes members of the University of Colorado Hospital team “who often go unrecognized for their abilities, leadership, actions, and interactions to improve the quality and safety of patient care.
“Being one of only several programs nationally, the Osseointegration Program exemplifies excellence in patient care provided by a multidisciplinary team who are leaders in the field, Youngwerth wrote. “Your program offers state-of-the-art services to patients that achieve dramatic, life-changing improvements in quality of life, function, and mobility.”
