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Celebration Honoring William P. Schecter, MD, Professor Emeritus of Surgery at UCSF and SFGH

On Thursday, December 3, the UCSF Department of Surgery hosted a celebration was held honoring the illustrious career and accomplishments of William P. Schecter, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.C.C.M.

Dr. Schecter joined the UCSF faculty in 1980 as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery. He then served as the Chief of Surgery at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center, Pago Pago, American Samoa (1981-1983) and as a Lecturer in Surgery at the University of Natal, Durban, RSA (1983-1984). Dr. Schecter returned to UCSF in 1984 where he was appointed Chief of Surgery at the San Francisco General Hospital and Vice-Chair of Surgery at UCSF in 1993 serving that capacity until 2008.

The celebration began with a luncheon and scientific session at the UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center moderated by M. Margaret Knudson, M.D., Professor of Surgery in the UCSF Department of Surgery at Zuckerberg SFGH. This was followed by a dinner celebration at AT&T Park in San Francisco. In honor of Dr. Schecter’s dedication and service to SFGH, UCSF has established the “Trauma Resident of the Year” award.

View all photos of celebration

Featured Image: Dr. Darrell Cass, Dr. William Schecter and Dr. Edward Chen

Awards Announced for 28th Annual J. Engelbert Dunphy Resident Research Symposium

The 28th Annual J. Engelbert Dunphy Resident Research Symposium was held on March 11, 2015 at Toland Hall. Jennifer Grandis, MD, Associate Vice Chancellor of Clinical and Translational Research, Director of Clincial and Translational Science Institute, and Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, gave the keynote presentation.

Among the winners was Bian Wu, M.D., the UCSF General Surgery Resident Liaison to the Naffziger Society and member of the executive council. Dr. Wu tied for the Best “Quick-Shot” Presentation.

Read full story at the UCSF Resident Portal

Featured Image: Left to right: Bian Wu, Carlie Thompson, Peter Stock, Gavitt Woodard, Jennifer Grandis, Nancy Ascher, Jessica Cohan, Lily Cheng, Benjamin Howard

Laurence F. Yee, MD Installed as 66th President of UCSF Naffziger Surgical Society

Dr. Yee

Laurence F. Yee, MD, FACS, FASCRS has been elected the 66th President of the UCSF Naffziger Surgical Society for the 2015-2016 term. Dr. Yee is a general and colorectal surgeon and Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at UCSF. He also serves as Director of the Laparoscopic Gastrointestinal Surgery Program at CPMC. Dr. Yee is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, and active in numerous professional societies .

Read full biography

A Personal Tribute to the Late Thomas R. Russell, MD

Thomas Russell, MD

by Dr. Laurence Yee, MD

Read on November 16, 2014 in Bolinas, California

Dr. Thomas Russell is that once in a lifetime person and personality.

The 1 in a billion person.

And it was my great luck to be associated with him.

It is virtually impossible properly thank Dr. Russell for all of the teaching and mentorship he has personally provided me and all the hundreds of UCSF medical students and surgical residents who have had the privilege of working with him.

You have had a career and family that every surgeon aspires for.

Dr. Russell served as a US Navy surgeon during Vietnam, finished as Chief Resident in surgery at UCSF under Dr. William Blaisdell and Dr. JE Dunphy, recruited to join Dr. Peter Volpe in practice of colon and rectal surgery in San Francisco at age 33, succeeded Dr. Carlton Mathewson as Chairman of Surgery at California Pacific Medical Center at age 37, and left his surgical practice in his absolute prime at age 59 as he was recruited to become the Executive Director of the American College of Surgeons in Chicago succeeding Dr. Samuel Wells.

But to me, even more important than what you accomplished as a surgeon, was how you treated all people, whether they were patients, students, nurses, doctors, or even complete strangers.

…with respect, kindness, and compassion.

Read full tribute

UCSF Department of Surgery Presents 27th Annual Dunphy Resident Research Symposium

The UCSF Department of Surgery presented the annual Resident Research Symposium funded by the UCSF Naffziger Surgical Society on April 25, 2014, an event that showcases the research of residents, fellows and medical students in the Department of Surgery and honors the life and accomplishments of J. Engelbert Dunphy, a legendary surgeon and former Chair of the Department. The 2014 Presentation Winners* were Best Basic Science Presentation,James Gardner, M.D., Ph.D.; Best Clinical Science Presentation, Emily Huang, M.D.; Outstanding Basic Science Presentation, Chris Derderian M.D. (Emory University surgical resident); Outstanding Clinical Science Presentation, Carolyn Seib, M.D.; Best Basic Science “Quick-Shot, Cerine Jeanty, M.D.; Best Clinical Science “Quick-Shot, Adam Laytin, M.D.

* Please click image above to enlarge

Complete List of 2014 Resident Research Abstracts

James Constant, MD, FACS Installed as 65th President of UCSF Naffziger Surgical Society

James Contant, MD, FACS

James Constant, MD, FACS was recently installed as the 65th President of the UCSF Naffziger Surgical Society. Dr. Constant is a general surgeon with a practice at Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco where he serves as Assistant Physician in Chief, Surgical Services and Perioperative Quality and NSQIP (National Surgery Quality Improvement Program) Surgeon Champion. Dr. Constant is also an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at UCSF and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

UCSF Surgeon Peter Stock Plays Pivotal Role in Passage of Hope Act

A clinical investigation headed by UCSF transplant surgeon Peter G. Stock, M.D., Ph.D. (pictured far left) has led to the passage of the Hope Act lifting the ban on research into transplanting organs between HIV-positive donors and recipients. Dr. Stock was principal investigator on a large multi-center study testing the safety and feasibility of transplanting kidneys where both the donor and recipients were infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The group previously reported in NEJM that recipients of donated organs fared nearly as well as non-HIV infected recipients of similar transplants. A subsequent paper from Johns Hopkins projected that 500 to 600 H.I.V.-infected livers and kidneys would become available each year if the ban were repealed. Late in 2013, President Obama signed into bill a law overturning the ban on research in the area, a development with the potential to greatly increase the supply of kidneys to HIV-infected patients suffering from renal failure.

Related Links
ABC News Story
Study Prompts Calls to Repeal Ban on Transplanted Organs from HIV-Positive Donors
NEJM – Outcomes of Kidney Transplantation in HIV-Infected Recipients
Kidney transplants Found Safe in HIV patients

George F. Sheldon, MD, FACS, Great Humanist and Icon of American Surgery, Dies at 78

George F. Sheldon

George F. Sheldon, MD, FACS, a great humanist and icon of American surgery at home and abroad, died of heart failure June 16, 2013 in Chapel Hill, NC. He was 78 years old. Dr. Sheldon was the Zack D. Owens Distinguished Professor of Surgery and Chairman of the department of surgery, chief of general surgery, and general surgery residency program director at the University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill.

Dr. Sheldon was a tireless advocate for the American College of Surgeons (ACS). He was elected the 79th President of the organization (1998-1999), after years of service as an ACS Governor and Secretary of the Board of Governors (1979-1982); as a member of the Board of Regents (1983-1992); on key committees and task force groups including the Committee on Trauma, Pre-and Post-Operative Care, and Communications. In 1985, he testified dramatically before Congress on behalf of the College to protect funding for graduate medical education. He was also first Editorial Advisor of the Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons.

Read full tribute with commentary by A. Brent Eastman, MD, FACS, and Anthony A. Meyer, MD, PhD, FACS, FRCS

Carlos Corvera, M.D. Installed as 64th President of UCSF Naffziger Surgical Society

Carlos Corvera, M.D. was recently installed as the 64th President of the UCSF Naffziger Surgical Society. Dr. Corvera is Associate Professor of Surgery and Chief of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery at UCSF. His clinical and research focus is the treatment of benign and malignant hepatobiliary disease. Dr. Corvera earned his MD at UC San Diego School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery residency at UCSF followed by fellowships in surgical oncology and hepatobiliary surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.