June 4, 2009 – A Message from the Chair

It’s an exciting time for the U-M Department of Surgery.

We have a number of new clinical programs, expanding research, and innovative educational programs. We are prosperous and energized.

Our research has grown impressively, particularly in the areas of cancer stem cell biology, the inflammatory basis for vascular disease, and immunology. We are now ranked 2nd nationally in NIH funding. We are especially excited that the newly announced clinical Destination Programs will provide opportunities to expand the clinical application of our laboratory discoveries.

Last year, we sponsored a new 4th-year medical student elective designed to prepare students for their first year of surgical training. This successful program included technical training, mock patient care pages, anatomic dissections, and lots of hands-on faculty attention. I am particularly grateful to Drs. Paul Gauger and Melissa Brunsvold for the leadership of this effort.

This year, Dr. Steve Buchman was recognized as a U-M Outstanding Clinician of the Year. Dr. Kevin Chung received the Clinical and Health Services Research Award. Dr. Vincent Cimmino won the 2008 Kaiser Permanente Teaching Award. In 2008, Paul Gauger was recognized as the nation’s Outstanding Surgical Teacher by the Association for Surgical Education, and in 2009, Dr. Rebecca Minter received the same award. I am proud to announce that Dr. Robert Merion serves as the President of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons and that Dr. Diane Simeone is currently the President of the Society of University Surgeons.

This newsletter highlights the Medical Innovation Center headed by James Geiger, MD. The MIC hopes to accelerate the transformation of promising medical technologies to products that benefit people throughout Michigan and the world. In this issue, you will also meet the MIC’s first five graduating fellows and learn about their prototype laboratory.

These are wonderful times in the Department of Surgery. I hope that you will share our excitement.

Sincerely,

Michael W. Mulholland, MD, PhD
Frederick A. Coller Distinguished Professor
Chair, Department of Surgery