THE MICHAEL E. DeBAKEY DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY 2019 …Scott and Dr. Ronald Cotton: Jessica Mayor, MD Medical Student Award-Best Teaching Faculty voted and selected by the 2018-2019

THE MICHAEL E. DeBAKEY DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY 2019 ISSUE 2

SURGERY NEWS

INSIDE4 Education Notes

7 Clinical Notes

9 Research Notes

10 Leadership Notes

11 In the OR Light

14 Honors

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The Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (MEDDoS) technology incubator program, called INSTINCT℠ (Interdisciplinary Surgical Technology and Innovation Center), celebrated a new double milestone in its two-year history of translating novel ideas into advanced surgical technology. Two of this year’s new devices, EasyScopeTM, and TinystitchTM, funded by the Sue Nguyen Incubator Award, went on to be granted prestigious accolades. EasyScopeTM won a Rice Excellence in Capstone Engineering Design Award at Rice University’s Engineering Design Showcase, held on April 11, 2019; while TinystitchTM took home Silver in the John Hopkins Healthcare Design Challenge. Both devices were demonstrated at the 2019 Rice Engineering Design Showcase.

The Engineering Design Showcase at Rice University is part of The Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK) at Rice, which, as stated on their website, “provides a space for undergraduate students to design, prototype, and deploy solutions to real-world engineering challenges. To create the full circle of real-world experience that has societal impact, interdisciplinary teams tackle problems proposed by industry and partners in the Texas Medical Center and abroad.”

EasyScopeTM, an affordable 3D printed laparoscopic surgical instrument for low-resource settings was developed by four seniors from Rice University Institute for Global Health, Rohan Chardwaj, Safina

Hsu, Ami Sheth, and Ria Sur, along with Dr. Rachel Davis, general surgery resident in the MEDDoS. As Baylor's first Global Surgery Fellow, Dr. Rachel Davis has traveled around the world to destinations such as Guatemala and Malawi to provide surgical care and learn about systems-based challenges in resource-limited environments. EasyScopeTM, which is low-cost, durable, and sterilizable in low-resource settings, reflects her passion and expertise.

The other winning device was TinystitchTM, alaparoscopic micro-suturing device for in-utero fetoscopic surgery. The team behind it included Rice University Engineering students,

Topping the Charts: Department of Surgery Ranked #15 in the Nation by US News and World ReportThe Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (MEDDoS) received a ranking of 15 (tied with Yale University) out of 185 LCME-accredited medical schools in the 2020 US News and World Report (USNWR) report of Best Graduate Schools for Medical Programs and Specialties.

As stated on the USNWR website, “these rankings are based solely on ratings by medical school deans and senior faculty from the list of schools surveyed. Survey respondents each identified up to 15 schools offering the best programs in each specialty area.” Our ranking, the first in the history of the MEDDoS, is therefore indicative of our increasing national reputation. It reflects our Department’s combined hard work and dedication, as well as our diverse and accomplished team of surgeon educators.

INSTINCTSM Projects Win Top Awards

Members of the Easyscope team with Dr. Stuart Corr, center.

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Serena Agrawal, Sarah Cao, Allison Rozich and Marcelo Salinas, in collaboration with Dr. Michael Belfort, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine, and Dr. Corr. TinystichTM is the world’s smallest laprascopic single-user suturing device, with the ability to fit through a 12 French (4 mm) port.

Using the TinystitchTM technology, INSTINCT sent a team to the recent National Science Foundation Southwest Regional I-Corps Program (July 2019) and were successfully invited to apply for the national program - one step away from doubling their chances at being able to secure National Science Foundation (NSF) funding.

“Devices such as the EasyScope and Tinystitch are just a taste of what is currently coming out of INSTINCT. It's taken us almost two years to secure the necessary funding and networks needed to make our ideas a reality, but we're making excellent

progress," said Dr. Corr. These two achievements follow many others, including the release of CorelywareTM – a mild hyperthermia device to reduce positive margins in pancreatic cancer surgery, and PerfCAMTM – a non-invasive imaging system for evaluating peripheral vascular disease in diabetic foot patients.

INSTINCT℠ is a fast-track, Biodesign-based program within the Department of Surgery that takes ideas from concept into reality. To date it has catalyzed the filing of nine US Patent Office provisional disclosures and 32 BCM invention disclosures, and it has garnered $972K in extramural grant funding.

Dr. Stuart Corr, right, members of the Tinystitch team.

Top left: Dr. Oluwabukola Olatubosun; top right: Vascular Surgery; bottom left: Cardiothoracic Surgery; bottom right: Holly Shilstone awarded the DeBakey Distinguished Service Award.

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2019 GRADUATION AND AWARD CEREMONYEach year, the Department marks the completion of resident and fellowship programs through a special celebration to recognize high achievement and outstanding work. This year, the commencement was held on the evening of June 21, 2019, at the Hotel Zaza. The 2019 graduates of the surgery residency programs were presented according to their program and division. Several members of the faculty and staff also received awards for their contributions.

Ms. Melanie Gray, who serves on the Baylor College of Medicine’s Board of Trustees, provided our keynote commencement address. Dr. Bradford G. Scott, professor and vice-chair for education,served as emcee. The evening was a fantastic wayto recognize all of the dedication, hard work, andpersistence involved in the successful completionof the training programs. “It was a beautiful eveningto highlight the career accomplishments of ourtrainees and faculty,” noted Dr. Scott.

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2019 Resident, Faculty and Staff AwardsOutstanding Student in Surgery Award selected by the department, presented by Dr. Bradford G. Scott and Dr. Ronald Cotton: Kirea Mazzolini, MD

Medical Student Award-Best Teaching Resident voted and selected by the 2018-2019 core surgical medical students, presented by Dr. Bradford G. Scott and Dr. Ronald Cotton: Jessica Mayor, MD

Medical Student Award-Best Teaching Faculty voted and selected by the 2018-2019 core surgical medical students and presented by Dr. Bradford G. Scott and Dr. Ronald Cotton: R. Mario Vera, MD

McCollum Academic Achievement Awards selected by the highest scores on the ABSITE and presented by Dr. Bradford G. Scott and Dr. Charles McCollum: Katherine Baugh, MD, Jason Ho, MD, Vivek Patel, MD, Christopher Taylor, MD

Outstanding Intern Award voted and selected by the 2018-2019 general surgery residents and presented by Dr. Bradford G. Scott: Steven Mehl, MD

Outstanding Chief Award voted and selected by the 2018-2019 general surgery residents and presented by Dr. Bradford G. Scott: Nestor Arita, MD

Outstanding VA Chief Resident Award voted and selected by the VAMC faculty and presented by Dr. Samir S. Awad: Nestor Arita, MD

Gene A. Guinn Faculty Teaching Award voted and selected by the 2018-2019 general surgery residents and presented by Dr. Bradford Scott: Cary Hsu, MD

Chief General Surgery Resident Award-Faculty Member voted, selected, and presented by the 2018-2019 general surgery chief residents and presented by George Van Buren, MD and Eugene Choi, MD

Special General Surgery Recognition Award voted and selected by the 2018-2019 general surgery residents and presented by Dr. Verla and Dr. Lau: Oluyinka O. Olutoye, MD

Thoracic Surgery Award to Faculty Member: selected by the 2018-2019 thoracic surgery chief residents: Ravi K. Ghanta, MD

Thoracic Surgery Scholarly Award voted, selected, and presented by the 2018-2019 thoracic surgery faculty and presented by Dr. Ravi Ghanta: Corinne Aberle, MD

Vascular Surgery Award to Faculty Member: voted and selected by the 2018-2019 vascular surgery chief residents and presented by Vascular Surgery Chief Residents: Miguel Montero-Baker, MD

Noon Professional Award: nominated by the Departmental FAP Committee with chair’s approval and presented by Dr. Todd K. Rosengart: William E. Fisher, MD

DeBakey Distinguished Service Award: nominated by the Departmental FAP Committee with chair’s approval and presented by Dr. Todd K. Rosengart: Holly Shilstone

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EDUCATION NOTES2019 Resident Research Day Symposium

Each year, the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery presents an Annual Resident Research Day Symposium to celebrate accomplishments of the department’s residents, fellows, staff and students. For this year’s event, 102 submitted abstracts featured work from all the department’s divisions and affiliated hospitals. There were 63 abstracts from residents and fellows, 28 from students, and 11 from members of the clinical and research staff.

The event began in the evening of Tuesday, June 4, 2019, with a poster session, including a moderated competition presented by the first authors of the top poster abstracts. On Wednesday morning, keynote speaker, Dr. Dory Segev, Marjory K. and Thomas Pozefsky Professor of Surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, professor of Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and associate vice-chair of the Department of Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, gave a lecture titled, "From Artificial Intelligence to Actual Intelligence: Changing Surgical Policy and Practice with Big Data.” After that, the top abstracts in each category gave oral presentations before attendees and a panel of guest physician-scientists, who scored the presentations to determine who would receive the awards.

2019 Research Awardsby CategoryBest Poster - Resident and Fellow - Jessica Mayor, M.D. “Sex-Based Differences in Ten-Year Nationwide Outcomes of Carotid Revascularization” Mentor: Jayer Chung, M.D.

Best Poster - Clinical and Research Staff - Jacqueline Yang “Operationalizing a Sensor-Based Frailty Index to Assess Functional Status in the Older Population” Mentor: Bijan Najafi

Best Poster - Student - Meredith McDowell “Sensing Intracellular Temperature with a BODIPY Molecular Rotor” Mentor: Stuart Corr, Ph.D.

Best Quick Shot Scientific Presentation - Emily Steen, M.D. “A Saliva-based Proteomic Approach for Biomarker Discovery: A Novel View into Gastroschisis Outcomes” Mentor: Sundeep Keswani, M.D.

Best Scientific Presentation – Clinical Research - Nader Zamani, M.D.“Effect of Postoperative Permissive Anemia and Cardiovascular Risk Status on Outcomes after Major General and Vascular Surgery Interventions” Mentor: Panos Kougias, M.D.

Best Scientific Presentation – Basic Science - Daniel Colchado and Hima Vangapandu, Ph.D. “Mechanical Tension Influences the Regulatory Landscape of MSC-Derived Exosomes During Wound Healing” Mentor: Swathi Balaji, Ph.D.

Best Student Quick Shot Presentation - Sri Gopakumar “Intra-Operative Delivery of Oncolytic Virotherapy using Stem Cells after Surgical Resection for the Treatment of Glioblastoma." Mentor: Frederick Lang, M.D.

Dr. Trautner Receives 2019 Robertson Presidential Award Dr. Barbara W. Trautner, professor and director of Clinical and Health Services Research in the Department of Surgery, was the 2019 recipient of the Barbara and Corbin J. Robertson Presidential Award for Excellence in Education. This is the highest educational award made by the college and was presented at the Medical Education Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 16, 2019.

As Director of Clinical Research in the Department of Surgery, Dr. Trautner mentors research projects and grant applications for medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty. She recently launched the SHARE program (Surgical Health services Academy for Research and Education), a collaborative effort between IQuESt (the Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety), and the Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. The SHARE program’s goal is to develop a cadre of independently-funded surgical-investigators in the field of health services research.

Dr. Trautner is also known for her work in antibiotic stewardship. With funding from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), she designed educational materials for front-line personnel at over 500 nursing homes in the United States, creating and delivering content to nurses, pharmacists, infection preventionists, and clinical nurse assistants. She has also provided 26 infection prevention webinars to national audiences.

Dr. Vera Wins John P. McGovern Outstanding Teacher AwardDr. R. Mario Vera has won the John P. McGovern Outstanding Teacher Award for outstanding teaching in the medical school curricula.

Established in 1986, the McGovern Award is given to two faculty members each year – one for pre-clerkship teaching and one for clinical teaching. Each spring, second-, third- and fourth-year medical students vote for faculty members who have been outstanding teachers in the pre-clerkship and clinical curriculum. The names of the nominees are forwarded to the Faculty Awards Committee for approval.

Dr. Vera received his doctor of medicine degree from the University of California Davis School of Medicine in 2008 and completed his residency at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in 2013. He went on to do a fellowship in trauma and surgical care at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center before joining Baylor in 2014. Dr. Vera is board certified in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care. His clinical and research interests are in trauma, emergency general surgery, and critical care. He has a strong commitment to teaching and mentorship of medical students and residents, especially those interested in general surgery and trauma.

Medical Students Select Dr. Gordy for Faculty AwardDr. Stephanie D. Gordy won the 2019 Outstanding Faculty Award, given to Baylor College of Medicine faculty by the students of the graduating class. The students chose Dr. Gordy because of her superb dedication to teaching and academic excellence amid high-stress situations.

Dr. Gordy is an acute care surgeon at Ben Taub Hospital in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor. She is also the Director of the Surgery Clerkship. Dr. Gordy received her M.D. from Mercer University School of Medicine and completed her residency at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, GA. After completing a fellowship in surgical critical care at Oregon Health and Science University, Dr. Gordy was hired as an assistant professor of surgery in the Department of Trauma, Emergency General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care at OHSU. She joined the Baylor Department of Surgery in 2013.

Dr. Gordy is board certified in Surgical Critical Care and General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery. She has authored several publications and book chapters and is a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Gordy has leadership roles in national and regional surgical societies, including the National Board of Medical Examiners,’ American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, and Southwestern Surgical Congress’ Graduate Education Committee.

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Two faculty members from the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery won major awards during the 2019 annual Alumni Awards and Recognition Dinner at the St. Regis Hotel in Houston on May 2, 2019. The awards were presented by Dr. Paul Klotman, president, CEO, and executive dean of Baylor College of Medicine, and alumni association president Dr. George Perry, Ph.D., Postdoc '82.

George P. Noon, M.D. ’60, won the Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding service to Baylor College of Medicine and the Baylor College of Medicine Alumni Association. Dr. Noon completed his medical degree and surgical and thoracic residencies at Baylor before being recruited as a faculty member by Michael E. DeBakey, M.D. The duo performed the world’s first multi-organ transplant and developed the heart pump. Dr. Noon has been sought out by several foreign leaders for his surgical abilities and has established several cardiovascular surgery programs worldwide. He currently is president of the DeBakey Medical Foundation and is professor of Surgery in the Division of Transplant and Assist Devices at Baylor.

Kenneth L. Mattox, M.D. '64, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is presented to alumni whose lifelong pursuits have achieved the zenith of accomplishment and who serve as an inspiration to others. Dr. Mattox helped develop the internationally renowned Ben Taub Hospital Emergency Center and Trauma Center and is a professor in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor. As one of the most recognized surgeons around the world, Dr. Mattox has also served as program director for the Las Vegas Trauma, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery Conference and the Medical Disaster Response Conference. He has led several national organizations and frequently helps to form and pass legislation to improve care for trauma patients at the local, state, and national levels.

Surgery Icons Honored by Alumni Association

Dr. George P. Noon (center) presented with the Distinguished Service Award.

Kenneth L. Mattox, M.D. '64, with his Lifetime Achievement Award

Surgery Education RetreatIncreased Teamwork and Harmony in our Workplace The Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery hosted a Surgery Education Retreat called, STITCH: Skills and Tools to Improve Teamwork, Communication and Harmony. The event was held Wednesday, May 1, 2019. Melanie Jagneaux, JD, MBA, BCM Ombudsman Director, was the Keynote Speaker. Her engaging talk was followed by interactive, small-group breakout sessions on topics including managing emotions,

speaking frankly, and active listening. Takeaways for attendees included essential concepts and practice of conflict, conflict resolution, and communication skills.

The Retreat garnered department-wide participation (students, residents, fellows, and faculty) who were presented with a common language and tools to bolster teamwork, efficiency, and morale. As Ms. Jagneaux said, “This was an awesome experience, one that exemplifies collaboration and produced very positive outcomes. Thank you, team Surgery!”

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It's a Match! The MEDDoS Welcomes 2019-2020 New ResidentsJuly 2019 brought a new group of surgery trainees to the Department of Surgery, and this year we were particularly honored to welcome an outstanding group of 50 new residents and fellows to our team of over 120 trainees in 16 surgical residencies and fellowships.

Our 2019 match features top candidates and many “#1” picks across our programs coming from around the country, including our clinical-research-global surgery three-track general surgery residency which was boosted to nine categorical positions last year, including our unique global surgery track.

In addition to the Baylor College of Medicine students and other Texas graduates who have chosen to stay local, the trainees in one of our most diverse of incoming classes come from as far away as the University of Southern California and the University of Miami, as well as Rutgers, Montefiore, and the University of Rochester.

We would like to thank our faculty and residents, as well as the administrative education team, for your continued support during our interview and matching process for our 2019-2020 Residency Programs.

CLINICAL NOTESWe're Growing! The MEDDoS Welcomes Five New Faculty Members Colorectal Cancer Expert Joined Department Dr. Atif Iqbal joined the MEDDoS as Chief of the Section of Colorectal Surgery. He is a fellowship-trained board-certified colorectal surgeon and was also recently appointed as Surgical Quality Director for the MEDDoS and Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center.

Dr. Iqbal earned his medical degree from King Edward Medical University and completed a surgical internship at Mayo Hospital, Pakistan. He then completed a surgical research fellowship at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, followed by a general surgery residency at the University of Missouri and a colon and rectal surgery fellowship at Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Dr. Iqbal became an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida in 2011 and Associate Professor in 2018.

Dr. Iqbal specializes in surgical procedures for benign and malignant pathology of the colon, rectum, and anus. He has a special interest in advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgical procedures for colon and rectal cancer, including sphincter-saving procedures for low rectal cancer. He is a member of the Baylor Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center and offers laparoscopic pouch procedures for ulcerative colitis and minimally invasive surgery for Crohn’s disease. Dr. Iqbal’s clinical interests include robotic surgery, advanced laparoscopy, pelvic surgery and surgical treatment of rectal cancer, including transanal endoscopic microsurgery. His research interests focus on health services and outcome-based translational research in colorectal pathology with a focus on rectal cancer outcomes and institution of enhanced recovery programs after surgery. Dr. Iqbal has over 130 research publications, presentations, and posters.

Dr. Iqbal is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He is recognized nationally as a colorectal cancer expert and is currently serving as an elected surgical expert on the NCI Rectal-Anal Task Force and the Colon Task Force of the GI Steering Committee. He is actively involved with the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, and NRG Oncology. Dr. Iqbal has earned honors for his research presentations to the ACS, SAGES and the Commission on Cancer, as well as a medal of achievement in physiology by the Pakistan Physiological Research Organization. Dr. Iqbal has also won numerous patient nominations and awards for quality of care provided.

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Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplant Specialist Joined DepartmentDr. Philip W. Carrott joined the Divisions of General Thoracic Surgery and Cardiothoracic Transplantation & Circulatory Support. He is board-certified in General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery.

A native of Kansas City, Dr. Carrott completed his undergraduate education at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. He then earned his medical degree at the University of Kansas and went on to complete his general surgery training at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Dr. Carrott then did a research fellowship in esophageal disease at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, before completing his training with a fellowship in thoracic surgery at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. In 2013, Dr. Carrott joined the faculty at the University of Michigan as an assistant professor and now joins us here at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Carrott specializes in thoracic surgery and lung transplantation and treats benign and malignant disorders of the lung, esophagus, and chest wall. He uses minimally invasive techniques (video-assisted thoracic surgery or VATS, and laparoscopic abdominal surgery) whenever possible to treat lung cancer, thymic tumors, esophageal cancer, paraesophageal or hiatal hernias, achalasia, diaphragm paralysis and congenital diaphragm hernias, pectus excavatum deformities, and rib tumors. Dr. Carrott also has extensive experience with recurrent or re-operative hiatal hernias and lung surgery. His research interests include peri-operative nutrition support, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), and ischemic preconditioning of the stomach before esophagectomy.

Dr. Carrott has been involved in resident and medical student teaching and developed a curriculum for nutrition and cardiothoracic surgery for students at the University of Michigan. He was the Chair of the Clinical Competency Committee (CCC) for the Thoracic Surgery Residency and Fellowship at the University of Michigan and has received training from the ACGME in trainee assessment.

Dr. Carrott is also a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society and has been awarded for leadership in medical school and residency.

Welcoming Back our Colleagues Three other new faculty members are joining the Department of Surgery to help meet the growth of our acute care surgery, colorectal surgery and vascular surgery groups. We are proud to note that all three of these individuals spent time training at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Galina Toneva graduated from Rice University with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology in 2008 and earned her M.D. from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 2013. Following medical school, Dr. Toneva completed the General Surgery Residency Program here at Baylor College of Medicine (2013-2018) and then the Critical Care Fellowship (2018-2019). She joins the department as an Assistant Professor of Surgery, practicing in Acute Care Surgery and Surgical Critical Care at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center.

Dr. Yesenia Rojas-Khalil graduated from The University of St. Thomas, Houston. Following college, Dr. Rojas-Khalil earned her medical doctorate from The Universityof Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. She then continued building her career by completing a general surgery residency (at The University of Texas at Galveston), before joining us here at Baylor College of Medicine for a research fellowship (2011-2014), and the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship (2017-2018). This past year, Dr. Rojas-Khalil completed a colorectal surgery fellowship at the University of Louisville. She joins the department as Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of General Surgery and will practice in both the colorectal surgery and acute care surgery sections.

Dr. Zachary Pallister graduated from Texas Tech University in 2008. Following that, he earned his M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch in 2012. Dr. Pallister completed his training at Baylor College of Medicine in 2017 and obtained certification from the American Board of Surgery. Recently, Dr. Pallister completed the Vascular Surgery Fellowship under the direction of Dr. Joseph Mills. He joins the department as Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy.

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RESEARCH NOTESResearchers Receive AHA Collaborative Sciences AwardKetan B. Ghaghada Ph.D., along with Ying H. Shen, M.D., Ph.D., and Scott A. LeMaire, M.D., and are receiving a Collaborative Sciences Award from the American Heart Association. The award is funding their multi-PI, multidisciplinary (radiology and surgery), 3-year ($250,000 per year) study on early detection of aortic degeneration using nanoparticle contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) imaging.

According to the American Heart Association, the purpose of the AHA Collaborative Sciences Award is to foster innovative collaborative approaches to research projects that propose novel pairings of investigators from at least two broadly disparate disciplines. The proposal must focus on the collaborative relationship, such that the scientific objectives could not be achieved without the efforts of at least two co-principal investigators and their respective disciplines.

Dr. Ketan B. Ghaghada is an assistant professor in the Singleton Department of Pediatric Radiology at Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) and the Department of Radiology at Baylor College of Medicine. He is a member of the Translational Imaging Group (TIGr) at TCH. The TIGr Lab designs, builds, and tests novel imaging methods, devices, and materials that could become the medical imaging technologies of the future.

Dr. Ying H. Shen is an associate professor of surgery and director of the Aortic Disease Research Laboratory. She is an NIH and AHA-funded investigator and key architect of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery’s very successful cardiovascular research program. The Aortic Disease Research Laboratory pursues investigations into the causes and progression of aortic disease and maintains one of the world’s most extensive and well-cataloged aortic tissue banks.

Dr. Scott A. LeMaire is the Jimmy and Roberta Howell professor of cardiovascular surgery, professor of molecular physiology and biophysics, and vice-chair of research in the Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. The focus of Dr. LeMaire’ s work, which derives directly from his clinical interest in the surgical treatment of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections, encompasses outcomes after thoracic aortic repair, strategies for preventing perioperative complications, genetic factors related to aortic disease, and the pathobiology of aortic wall degeneration.

NEW GRANTSNew Grants With Funding Since January 2019 Dr. N. Thao N. Galván and Dr. Stuart J. Corr: $25,000 Pediatric Device Faculty Seed Grants from The Southwest Pediatric Consortium at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Ketan B. Ghaghada, Dr. Ying H. Shen & Dr. Scott A. Lemaire (Multi-PI), AHA Grant ID19CSLOI34660145: Multi-PI, Multidisciplinary, “Early Detection of Aortic Degeneration Using Nanoparticle Contrast-Enhanced CT Imaging,” 7/1/19 – 6/30/2022, Surgery Award $371,601; (Total Award $749,949).

Dr. Bryan M. Burt (PI); CPRIT funding for “Novel Endoscopic-cleaning Port for Minimally Invasive Surgery.” Award date 8/21/2019, $1,349,759.

Dr. Michele Loor (PI); Intuitive Surgical Clinical Research Grant Program, “Surgical Approach for Treatment of Small Ventral Hernias,” 1/1/19 – 12/31/2019, $50,000.

Dr. Bijan Najafi (Co-I), Subaward, NIH/NIDILR, 90BISB0011-01-00 “Improving Rehabilitation and Reducing Re-Occurrence of Diabetic Foot Ulcers by Shifting Plantar Pressure with Exo-Tendon & Exo-Skeletal Footwear Systems," 2/1/2019 – 10/29/2020, $40,500.

Dr. Jorge Portuondo, Cancer Prevent & Research, BCM Training Grant #RP160283, 7/1/2019 – 6/30/2020, $67,154.

LEADERSHIP NOTESRecommendations Released for Transition of Senior Surgeons Age-related declines in cognitive function and psychomotor performance are important considerations in many professions, including medicine. However, few guidelines exist for translating performance observations into the medical profession and specifically the appropriate monitoring of physician performance. Following a panel discussion and subsequent survey of their membership, the Society of Surgical Chairs developed recommendations for the transitioning of the senior surgeon. These recommendations were published in JAMA Surgery.

Dr. Todd Rosengart, president of the Society of Surgical Chairs and chair and professor of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, served as the first author of the paper.

“As opposed to many industries that impose mandatory retirement, like the aviation industry where the competency of operators can impact client safety, such measures, as detailed in our paper, do not exist in the healthcare industry,” Rosengart said.

Currently, there are no reported age-related mandatory institutional retirement requirements for U.S. surgeons. The Society of Surgical Chairs surveyed its membership in 2018 to collect data on the management of the senior, aging surgeon. The online survey received a response rate of 60 percent, and the recommendations were made based on the survey results and a panel discussion.

“These recommendations represent a fundamental new look at how to address the challenges and opportunities afforded by an increasingly large proportion of the physician population. With this proactive approach, we can significantly enhance the ongoing contributions of senior surgeons and physicians,” Rosengart said.

The paper’s authors recommend that national board certification organizations consider recommendations regarding incorporation of cognitive and psychomotor competency into the hospital recertification process and the leadership of departments of surgery work with hospital leadership toward this goal and the implementation of proposed transition processes into interactions with their medical staff.

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NEW GRANTS

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Dr. R. Taylor Ripley and Dr. Sarah Woodfield: $25,000 (ea) in funding through the Faculty Research Award Program.

Dr. R. Taylor Ripley: Roderick D. MacDonald Research Funding for his protocol titled: “Dynamic BH3 Profiling of Mesothelioma Enables Precision-Based Targeting of the Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathways.”

Dr. Crystal S. Shin (PI), DOD-Discovery Grant, “3D-Fabricated Nitric Oxide Releasing Matrix as an Antimicrobial Dressing," 2/01/2019 – 7/31/2020, $317,000

Dr. Alastair Thompson (PI), Cancer Research UK, “Prevent Ductal Carcinoma In-Situ Invasive Overtreatment Now – PRECISION,” 5/1/2019 – 04/30/2022, $409,186

Dr. Barbara W. Trautner and Dr. Larissa Grigoryan: R01 grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Their project is titled: “Reducing Use of Antibiotics without a Prescription among Outpatients in a Safety Net Healthcare System.”

Dr. Qizhi Yao, CPRIT Subaward RP190019 (PI Dr. Sevick / UTHSC) “Lymphatic Delivery of Checkpoint Blockade Inhibitors for More Effective Immunotherapy," 3/1/19 – 2/28/21, $146,862.

Dr. Qizhi Yao, CPRIT Subaward, PDX-AIM CPRIT Core Developmental Funding, "Rational selection of PDAC samples for evaluating immunotherapy efficacy in PDX-bearing humanized mouse model," 1/1/2019 – 8/31/2019, $50,000.

Dr. Qizhi Yao (PI), VA Merit Review Grant, 1 I01 CX001822-01A2; “Stratification of Pancreatic Cancer Subpopulations for Effective Immunotherapy," 4/1/2019 – 3/31/2023; $1,026,264.

" The measures proposed in our paper are designed to improve the well-being of patients and physicians alike."

S. Rob Todd, M.D., FACS, FCCM Faculty Member

I was born in Austin, Texas. Unlike many who become surgeons, I never knew that it was what I wanted to do. In my high school, there was a High School Health Sciences Program where honors students were able to spend half the day at the hospital observing and learning about healthcare professions. I remember really enjoying that.

My father and my brother are chemical engineers, and my sister is a PA, so I guess you can say that the science gene runs in the family from my father (definitely not from my mother). Still, throughout college, I was thinking I might go into business, so I majored in finance and did all the pre-med courses on the side.

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IN THE OR LIGHTSteven Mehl, M.D. General Surgery Resident

I was born in Southern California, but my family moved to Northwest Arkansas when I was a year old. My father is an interventional cardiologist in Arkansas, and my mother was a microbiologist at the Scripps Research Institute in Southern California before retiring when I was born. I have two older sisters. The oldest works at Notre Dame in the alumni affairs/awards department and the other is a pediatric allergist and immunologist at Texas Children's Hospital. I attended Vanderbilt University for my undergraduate degree, where both of my sisters had also attended. After college, I went back to Arkansas for medical school and now am in the General Surgery Residency Program here at Baylor College of Medicine.

I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare, but did not know if I wanted to pursue a career as a physician or in medical devices/

engineering, so I majored in Biomedical Engineering to keep all options available. It was not until I volunteered at the local children's hospital during my sophomore year in college that I found my passion for helping patients and their families through medicine. After this experience, I knew that I wanted to be directly involved in patient care. When I was a medical student, I remember being particularly drawn to the third-year general surgery residents. The residents were the most "well-rounded" physicians I worked with during my clinical rotations. The general surgery residents could competently take care of any patient in the hospital--from a trauma patient, to a critically ill ICU patient, to a post-operative general surgery patient with diabetes and hypertension. Their skill was also displayed in the operating room as I watched them perform a breadth of procedures as junior and senior residents—from simple appendectomies and cholecystectomies, to esophagectomies. After observing and working with them, I felt like the training I would receive through a general surgery residency would allow me to become a well-rounded and competent physician in today's training environment of increasing early specialization. I currently have a particular interest in specializing in pediatric surgery and/or trauma/critical care.

Outside of work, one of my favorite things to do is have crawfish boils with friends. I also just got married a month ago in New Orleans to my wife, Sarah Beth. It is an exciting time for both of us as she has just started her Obstetrics and Gynecology intern year at UT – Houston. Finally, I am a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan and regularly try to attend a game at Arrowhead every couple of years.

What I love most about Baylor is the fact that all the residents take care of each other. Baylor is unique in that we have the opportunity to provide care across four different hospitals: Ben Taub Hospital, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Texas Children's Hospital, and Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. This is excellent for training due to the wide variety of patient populations we take care of, but it does have the consequence of limiting our ability to work with our respective surgical residents. That said, I believe we collectively do an excellent job of helping each other out and staying close. A perfect

example is in my intern class where we try to coordinate monthly dinners or outings.

Dr. Rob Todd (continued) By the time I graduated from UT Austin, I had decided to move forward with medical school. When I started at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, I was almost certain that I would not go into surgery.

But then, in my third-year rotations, I met a surgical resident named Cesar Peraglie who took me under his wing. The group of surgeons he worked with were very inspiring—they were hands-on, engaged, and taught me so much in a short amount of time. This, I believe, is a testament to the importance of the people you are exposed to in life. It can make all the difference.

I got my first job out of residency as a trauma surgeon with Dr. Fred Moore at The University of Texas. He became a mentor for me in my career and has remained one ever since. I have had several different mentors over the years. I find that as an academic surgeon, it is helpful to have several mentors—one for the administrative side of things, one for the clinical side, another for research, and so on.

One trait that helps me as a trauma surgeon is the fact that I do not get worked up very easily. This is especially important in the operating room. In the OR, the team expects the surgeon to be the leader. If the Ieader loses it, everyone is affected. Of course, everyone, myself included, has our moments, but I think that the best leaders are those who set an example. The same goes for my teaching style. Looking back on my own experience, I realize that the most influential people in my life have been those I observed and thought, "Wow, I want to be like that." They led through their actions and how they handled things.

In 2014, I came to Houston after four years in New York City as an Associate Professor of Surgery and Anesthesiology at NYU School of Medicine and as Chief of Trauma and Emergency Surgery for Bellevue Hospital Center. I was happy to have the opportunity to return to Texas and be closer to my family.

Currently, I serve as Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Section of Acute Care Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. I am also Chief of General Surgery and Director of the Ginni and Richard Mithoff Trauma Center at Ben Taub Hospital and Program Director for the Surgical Critical Care Residency Program at Baylor College of Medicine.

I would say the best part of my job is the fact that it is never repetitive. You rarely see the same thing twice. I also enjoy the fact that as trauma surgeons, we have this strong team mentality. When you have great partners (as I certainly do), it makes the workplace that much better. I also enjoy and feel privileged to work with the

underserved population of Houston at Ben Taub Hospital.

Anuradha Sudhakaran, M.H.A., B.S.A. Staff Member

I grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, and went to college at UT Austin in 2012. My father has a Ph.D. in physical chemistry, my brother is an M.D., and I have always enjoyed math and science. While completing my undergraduate pre-med coursework, I took a business certification program at UT, which I really liked. From there, I realized that healthcare administration would allow me to combine

my desire to be in medicine with my inclination towards business. In 2018, I completed my M.H.A at Texas Woman's University and then started in my current position at Baylor College of Medicine, which is an Administrative Coordinator II in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery. I had been

“ The most influential people I have encountered in my life are those I observed and thought, "Wow I want to be like that." They led through their actions and how they handled things.

IN THE OR LIGHT

“ My approach to work is always to keep a positive outlook, even (and especially) in the midst of challenging moments.”

- Anu Sudhakaran

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Jessica Mayor, M.D. General Surgery Resident

I was born in Clearwater Florida, and then when I was three, my family moved to Boca Raton, where my father worked for IBM. I went to the University of Florida for college and majored in microbiology. I have one younger brother, Mark, who lives in Kentucky and is going into the medical field as a nurse.

One thing you can say about me is that I have always been curious and enjoy learning. For example, when I was in high school, I had this fascination with pandemics, epidemics, and outbreaks. I remember spending hours of my own free time researching everything from Ebola to Smallpox, to Leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease caused by sand flies. To this day, I enjoy documentaries—not just on medicine, but on a variety of different topics.

My path to surgery gained speed in college. I realized quickly that the pre-med track with a major in microbiology was a good fit because it combined my interest in basic science with a wide array of medical career options. On my first day of medical school at the University of Miami, they had us taking lungs out of cadavers. To say the least, I was excited to be doing that right away, but I also realized that had a natural ability for the "hands-on" work and became a leader in my group. I got a lot out of the surgical rotations also, and otolaryngology and surgery became my top choices for training. I came to Baylor as a Preliminary in general surgery. The following year, when I was an intern, I applied and was accepted as a general surgery resident. I am now at the beginning of my 6th year of residency here at Baylor and will be matching in May 2020 for a fellowship in vascular surgery.

Throughout my time in the MEDDoS, I have enjoyed mentoring students, and this year I was given the Medical Student Teaching Award. This was a tremendous honor for me, and I look forward to more teaching in the future. Outside of work, I like to hang out with my cat, Parker, who is huge and sweet and has been with me since my first year of medical school. I also have a great boyfriend who is an engineer.

One of the most important things I have learned so far as a surgeon is that the difficulties you go through are what make you stronger and more capable for the future.

PODCAST: Listen to Dr. Mayor discuss her recent selection as the Editor’s choice in the September issue of the Journal of Vascular Surgery: how the project came about, some stumbling blocks along the way and the wonderful mentorship she received.

Anuradha Sudhakaran (continued) an intern in the Department for one year before that.

I truly enjoy working with surgeons from across all the divisions. In the past two years, I have learned so much from them and from the job itself, and I continuing learning each day. I have even had the chance to observe some operations, which was fascinating. My approach to work is always to keep a positive outlook, even (and especially) in the midst of challenging moments. Being negative and grumpy does not change outcomes.

Outside of the office, I enjoy playing the piano, and when I was in high school, I taught it to little kids. My favorite piece to play is Asturias by Isaac Albéniz.

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" One of the most important things I have learned so far as a surgeon is that the difficulties you go through are what make you stronger and more capable for the future."- Dr. Jessica Mayor

HONORS AND AWARDSDrs. Yao and Chen Funded Over $1M in VA Merit AwardQizhi Cathy Yao, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Surgery and of Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Pathology & Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine, received a $1,026,264 Merit Award by the Department of Veterans Affairs for her project, "Stratification of Pancreatic Cancer Subpopulations for Effective Immunotherapy." Changyi Johnny Chen, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Surgery and Molecular and Cellular Biology, and director of Basic Science and Translational Labs in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, is Co-Investigator on the study.

The major goal of this project is to determine and characterize pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) subtypes that are sensitive to combination immunotherapy using a mesothelin (MSLN) Virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor in preclinical animal models.

Dr. Yao’s lab currently focuses on the study of key molecules in pancreatic cancer, including mesothelin, microRNAs (miR-198), and semaphorin 3E, and their mechanisms of regulation. Her lab also

studies the chimeric virus-like particles vaccine and other combination immunotherapeutic approaches in pancreatic cancer pre-clinical models.

Dr. Chen’s laboratory is actively conducting several basic science and translational research projects that are highly relevant to clinical cardiovascular disease and pancreatic cancer.

Qizhi Cathy Yao, M.D., Ph.D. and Changyi Johnny Chen, M.D., Ph.D.

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Dr. Todd K. Rosengart Elected to International Scientific Advisory Council Dr. Todd K. Rosengart received an appointment to the advisory council for the Leducq Foundation. The Leducq foundation is an international grant-making organization comprised of the Fondation Leducq in Paris, the Leducq Foundation for Cardiovascular Research in Houston (a US-based 501(c)(3)), and the Leducq Corporation, in Boston, MA, which provides administrative services to the grant-making entities.

As stated on their website, the Leducq foundation was "created with the idea that the battle against cardiovascular and stroke should be waged at the international level. By forging scientific alliances that transcend national borders and educating young researchers who thrive in an international context, we hope to promote innovation in cardiovascular and stroke research, and develop long term collaborative relationships that will allow us ultimately to change the way patients with cardiovascular and neurovascular disease are diagnosed and treated."

Dr. Iki Adachi Granted Clayton Endowed Chair of Surgery at Texas Children's HospitalDr. Iki Adachi, associate professor of surgery in the Division of Congenital Heart Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine and director of Mechanical Circulatory Support at Texas Children’s Hospital, has been awarded the Clayton Endowed Chair in Cardiac Transplant and Mechanical Support from Texas Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Adachi received his M.D. from Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine and completed his cardiovascular training at National Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan. As a recipient of the Fontan prize from European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Adachi spent two years conducting clinical studies at the Royal Brompton Hospital and Imperial College London in England.

Dr. Adachi joined Texas Children's Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine in 2010. He has been serving as the Director of VAD program since 2012 and is dedicated to working towards the development of technologies to save the lives of children with severe heart disease.

Faculty Recognition, Appointments and AwardsDr. Mary L. Brandt: The Frank G. DeLuca, M.D., Distinguished Lectureship in Pediatric Surgical Sciences at Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence RI.

Dr. Edward Buchanan: Melvin J. Spira M.D. Endowed Chair of Plastic Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital.

Dr. Changyi Johnny Chen: elected as Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

Drs. Christy Chai, Renata Maricevich, Shola Olorunnipa, Abbas Rana, and Jeremy L. Ward: 2019 Early Career Awards for Excellence in Patient Care at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Joseph S. Coselli was given the Leader of Distinction Award from the Marfan Foundation at their 35th annual conference held in Houston, July 11-15, 2019.

Dr. William E. Fisher: elected into the American Surgical Association at the 2018 annual meeting. He was presented as a fellow at the association’s 139th annual meeting, which took place April 11-13, 2019, in Dallas, Texas.

Dr. Ravi K. Ghanta and Todd K. Rosengart re-elected to the editorial board of the major medical publication, Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

Dr. Shawn Groth elected to Editorial Board of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (JTCVS)

Dr. Marcus Hoffman: Medical Director of the DCDD (Donation after Circulatory Determination of Death) program and Associate Medical Director in the Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Unit at Ben Taub Hospital.

Dr. Gabriel Loor: named Communications Task Force Chair for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS).

Dr. Kenneth L. Mattox: Lifetime Achievement Award from Baylor College of Medicine.

Drs. Kenneth L. Mattox and Eric J. Silberfein join ACS Academy of Master Educators™.

Dr. Mark Mazziotti, M.D.: 2019 Star Award for Excellence in Patient Care at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. George P. Noon: Distinguished Service Award for his outstanding service to Baylor College of Medicine and the Baylor College of Medicine Alumni Association.

Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye: 2019 Gerald Zwiren Visiting Professor at Emory University School of Medicine.

Dr. Kristy Lynn Rialon and Dr. Marcus Hoffman: elected to the Baylor College of Medicine School Curriculum Committee.

Dr. R. Taylor Ripley elected to Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation Board.

Dr. Todd K. Rosengart: elected to the Board of Directors of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery at the 2019 Annual Meeting, May 4-7 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Dr. Bradford Scott: AGCME, Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award.

Drs. Eric J. Silberfein, Konstantinos Makris, Stephanie Gordy, Shayan Izaddoost: 2019 recipients of the 2019 Fulbright Faculty Awards.

Dr. S. Rob Todd: inducted as president of the Southwest Surgical Congress at the 71st annual meeting held April 14-17, 2019, in Huntington Beach, CA.

Dr. Sebastian Winocour will lead the new Medical School Specialty Specific Mentor Program. In this position, Dr. Winocour will be responsible for mentoring medical students according to their interests in a specific specialty and supporting them in building their qualifications for acceptance into a residency program.

Resident/Student Recognition and AwardsDr. Waleed Ageedi: Best Poster Award at 2019 Cardiovascular Research Symposium (CRVI) at Baylor College of Medicine; mentor: Dr. Scott LeMaire

Dr. Brittany Johnson: along with co-investigators, Dr. Eric Rosenfeld, Christi Reeves, Annalyn S. Demello, Dr. David E. Wesson, and Dr. Bindi Naik-Mathuria won best poster award at the South Texas ACS Annual Meeting for their abstract entitled: Accidental Firearm Injuries in Children: Identifying Opportunities for Injury Prevention.

Dr. Jorge Portuondo: BCM CPRIT Training Grant. Mentor, Dr. Nader Massarweh.

Dr. Nader Zamani: Best Overall Abstract Presentation at the Association of VA Surgeons (AVAS) 2019 Annual Meeting; mentor: Dr. Panagiotis Kougias.

T32 Fellow Dr. Waleed Ageedi with mentor Dr. Scott LeMaire.

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HONORS AND AWARDS

Surgery News is a publication of The Michael E. DeBakey

Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine

To be added to the newsletter e-mail database please write to:

Scott Holmes, CMI One Baylor Plaza, MS: BCM390

Houston, Texas 77030

or e-mail: [email protected]

Editor-in-Chief: Todd K. Rosengart, MD

Editors: Scott C. Holmes, CMI and Debbie Sugarbaker

©2019 Baylor College of Medicine

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