University of Utah Department of Surgery

Montana Patient Undergoes Nuss Procedure to Fix Pectus Excavatum: “I have my joy back” While feeling relentless chest pressure that stole his breath, 28-year-old Chris Soto, feared something was terribly wrong. After months without answers, he discovered the true cause: a severe case of...

A Montana patient exclaims, “I have my joy back.” after a life-changing Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum with Dr. Katie Russell, one of our pediatric surgeons. 💙 We’re proud to deliver expert pediatric surgical care across our region. Read more: https://bit.ly/4bmkk8t

Thank you, Dr. Catherine Juillard, for sharing your expertise with our department this morning! We’re grateful for your leadership in advancing surgical equity and for highlighting the vital importance of surgical research in trauma care, globally. @uclahealth.org #GrandRounds

Happy International Women’s Day! We’re celebrating the women who inspire us across our department: surgeons, APCs, learners, and staff. Their dedication, leadership, and compassion shape the care we provide every day.

#InternationalWomensDay #WomenInMedicine

Congratulations to Anna Ibele, MD, and J.J. Horns, PhD, on receiving a University of Utah Research Foundation Grant for their project, “Factors Impacting Obesity-Related Breast Cancer in the University of Utah Comprehensive Weight Management Center Obesity Treatment Cohort.”

Scientists Discover a Hidden RNA “Aging Clock” in Human Sperm The molecular contents of sperm go through similar shifts over time in both mice and humans, which may lead to a rapid, dramatic shift at mid-life.

Scientists Discover a Hidden RNA “Aging Clock” in Human Sperm.

“It's like finding a molecular clock that ticks with age in both mice and humans, suggesting a fundamental, conserved molecular signature of sperm aging.” - Qi Chen, MD, PhD

Full article: https://bit.ly/4qy5VMI

Children with advanced heart failure can’t wait. As a national leader in pediatric VAD care, we’re expanding access to life-sustaining technology, even for kids once considered ineligible. Lucas received two VADs before his transplant and is now thriving. https://bit.ly/4c6tfgi

Happy Heart & Black History Month. In 1893, African American surgeon Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performed one of the first successful open-heart surgeries, laying the foundation for modern cardiac care. Today, we honor his legacy by continuing the work of saving lives and advancing heart health. ❤️

Drs. Sara Lenherr and Christopher LaChapelle were nominated to participate in Gold Humanism Honor Society’s Solidarity Week, leading roundtables with students on humanism and compassionate care. Proud to see our faculty shaping the next generation through connection and empathy.

Transplant Games Bound: Team Mountain West Join me and make a gift to Transplant Games!

Join us for the University of Utah Division of Transplant Crockpot Cook-off Fundraiser!
- February 27
- 6–8:30 PM
Support transplant patients, organ donors & families traveling to the Transplant Games of America in Denver.
Learn more or donate ❤️: donate.utah.edu/transplant-g...

Administrative Director & Mountain Biker What do healthcare administration and mountain biking have in common? For Matt Brady, it’s resilience, mentorship, and putting in the work. As Administrative Director for the Department of Surgery at ...

What do healthcare administration and mountain biking have in common? For Matt Brady, it’s resilience and mentorship. As the Administrative Director for our department, he supports care behind the scenes. #BeyondTheBadge

https://bit.ly/4ktwKzH

👋 Meet Thomas Shoultz, MD, FACS, one of the newest members of our Trauma and Critical Care team. He is a board-certified trauma and surgical critical care surgeon with expertise spanning trauma, emergency general surgery, and critical care. #TraumaSurgery #UofUSurgery

Congratulations to Chris Audu, MD, PhD, recipient of the 2026 VESS Early Career Investigator Award. His funded proposal was recognized for scientific strength, innovation, and research impact. Well deserved!

#ResearchExcellence #VascularSurgery #AcademicMedicine

Physician Assistant & Hobby Farmer From the burn unit to the barn. ⁣Crystal Webb, PA-C, found her calling in burn care after helping treat her brother’s injuries at the U of U Burn Center in 2007. ⁣Beyond the Coat, she is raising baby ...

“I helped care for my brother after his burn injury—and that’s what led me here.” — Crystal Webb, PA-C⁣. From burn care to baby goats, see how compassion drives everything she does. Watch the full video: medicine.utah.edu/surgery/gene...

#BeyondTheCoat #UofUBurnCenter #UofUSurgery

Male infertility contributes to nearly 50% of cases—yet men are often overlooked. “It’s easier to test men than women,” says Kelli Gross, MD. Most tests—like semen analysis and hormone panels—are non-invasive and highly informative, offering real hope for patients.
#menshealth

Fostering better understanding and acceptance of male infertility Men are becoming more aware of the infertility issue. There is hope for even the most difficult cases of male infertility.

Kelli Gross, MD, one of our urology specialists and surgeons, was highlighted in ‪‪@ksl.com‬ for her work advancing the conversation around male infertility and men’s health. Read more via University of Utah Health: ksl.com/article/5133...
#MensHealth #MaleInfertility #UofUSurgery #Urology

To earn the Dr. Larry Kraiss Quality Award, hospitals must receive the Commitment to Vascular Quality Improvement Award for 8+ consecutive years.

We’ve now reached 9 years—a testament to our team's dedication to vascular quality improvement.
#VascularSurgery #UofUHealth

Big news from the VQI@VAM meeting: Our Division of
Vascular Surgery received two national awards—

🏆 The Commitment to Vascular Quality Improvement Award
🌟 The inaugural Dr. Larry Kraiss Quality Award—a tribute to his legacy of excellence.

#VQI2025 #UofUSurgery

We’re excited to welcome T. Clark Gamblin, MD, as the inaugural Chief of Surgical Oncology. His leadership, rooted in discovery, collaboration, and patient-centered care, marks a new chapter in advancing cancer care. bit.ly/45nssUH
@uofusurgery.bsky.social

Early support transforms lives of kids with complex colorectal issues Colorectal surgery in children focuses on treating problems with the lower digestive system—specifically, the bowel and pelvic area responsible for removing was

Michael Rollins, MD, joins @KUTVFreshLiving to highlight how
U of U Health & Primary Children's Hospital are advancing care for kids with complex colorectal conditions. Watch the full segment: kutv.com/features/fre...

#PediatricSurgery #ColorectalCare #UofUHealth #PCPLC #FreshLiving

Tanner Harper, an Idaho farmer, suffered a severe hand injury while working. Thanks to Laura Wong, MD, PhD, and Brian Foster, MD, at U of U Health, he now has stable coverage of his hand.

Read more: healthcare.utah.edu/patient-stor... #UofUHealth #UofUSurgery

Surgeon Sessions: Advancements in Skin Cancer & Melanoma Research with Dr. Elliot Asare YouTube video by University of Utah Department of Surgery

Elliot Asare, MD, MS, CMQ, FACs, discusses advancements in skin cancer research, the challenges of accessing care for rural patients, and how telehealth is improving that access. #SkinCancerAwareness @huntsmancancer.bsky.social

Watch the full interview: youtu.be/GdHsfGofSDU?...

Kicking off the morning with our guest speaker and visiting professor, Luke Funk, MD, MPH, FACS, at our 2025 Annual Fellow, Resident, and Medical Student Research Retreat.

#research #medicalresearch #uofusurgery

Healthcare Champion | Larry Kraiss, MD, University of Utah Health, SLC, Utah The Health Care Champion award was established as a method for U of U Health teams to honor and recognize individuals who champion programs and partnerships to elevate care in their community. The nominees for this award provide leadership and positively impact both people and patient care. Nominee considerations include: 1. Actions the nominee took this year to help the organization meet clinical, operational, patient experience, and financial goals and overcome challenges. 2. Contributions to a culture of innovation and transformation. 3. Leadership, advocacy for improvement, and commitment to quality demonstrated by an individual. Health Care Champion nominees can come from any work area within the U of U Health Affiliate Network. Each calendar year, the Office of Network Development and Telehealth senior leaders select healthcare champions. This award was presented at the 10th Annual Regional Network Symposium, held at the Ken Garff University Club, April 18th, 2025. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/user/UofUHealthCare ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH: University of Utah Health is the only academic medical center in the state of Utah and the Mountain West and provides patient care for the people of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, western Colorado, and much of Nevada. It also serves as the training ground for the majority of the state's physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, and other health care professionals. Consistently, ranked #1 in quality in the nation among academic medical centers, our academic partners at the University of Utah include Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, and Colleges of Nursing, Pharmacy, and Health, which are internationally regarded research and teaching institutions. Our team is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for our staff, students, patients, and partners Share this video with others: https://youtu.be/BDYNP5B88d0 SUBSCRIBE to learn more: https://www.youtube.com/user/UofUHealthCare UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH ACROSS THE WEB: University of Utah Health: https://healthcare.utah.edu/ Facebook: https: https://www.facebook.com/UofUHealth/ X: https://twitter.com/UofUHealth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uofuhealth/

Congratulations to Larry Kraiss, MD, on being named a 2025 Health Care Champion! This award honors his dedication to exceptional care, particularly in rural communities. #HealthcareChampion #RuralCare

Watch the tribute video here: bit.ly/3Yrd5qa

Congratulations to one of our Urology residents, Devon Langston for receiving Best Poster in the Pediatrics II Section at the recent AUA Meeting in Las Vegas. A well-deserved recognition for his impactful work in pediatric urology.

#Urology #UofUSurgery #AUA2025

Big shoutout to our Division of Urology at #AUA2025 with 24 engagements! 🙌 17 faculty & trainees featured in talks, panels, and posters on academic urology, global health, and innovation.
medicine.utah.edu/surgery/urol...

#AcademicMedicine #GlobalUrology #UofUHealth

Beyond the Coat: Fiemu Nwariaku - Surgeon & Squash Player (Full Interview) YouTube video by University of Utah Department of Surgery

What do surgery and squash have in common? For Fiemu Nwariaku, MD, MBA, FACS, it’s all about strategy and precision. 🏆 Watch the full video to see how his passions shape his leadership and patient care. youtu.be/dL5e7lmCeOM

#BeyondTheCoat #SquashAndSurgery #UofUSurgery

🎉 U Giving Day is here! 🎉
Join us in celebrating 175 years by supporting U of U Health's
initiatives that change lives—locally and globally. ❤️ #UGivingDay #U175 #UofUHealth

Give now ➡️ bit.ly/4ljRV71

Today we celebrate our surgical team for #NationalDoctorsDay! From January 2024 to February 2025, our department has seen 27,418 surgical cases—a true reflection of their dedication and expertise. Thank you for shaping the future of surgery. #DoctorsDay #UofUDepartmentofSurgery

Understanding and Treating Droopy Eyelids Explore effective treatments for droopy eyelids with insights from plastic surgeon Dana Johns, MD. Learn about options from non-invasive methods like retinol creams and laser therapy to surgical solut...

Join Dana Johns, MD, on U of U's The Scope Radio as she shares her expertise on treating droopy eyelids, discussing both the clinical implications and available treatment options—from skincare to surgery. #EyelidRejuvenation #UofUHealth

LISTEN HERE: healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/he...

Today, we celebrate the accomplishments of all women, especially those in the Department of Surgery. Your innovation, passion, and tireless commitment shape the future of medicine for all. Happy National Women's Day! #NationalWomensDay #UofUSurgery #UofU #SurgicalExcellence