Investigators
The UI Department of Surgery has active laboratory investigations in surgical oncology, pediatric surgery and gastrointestinal surgery with National Institutes of Health-funded bench research. There are active clinical research projects in all of the Surgical Divisions. Members of the department have established collaborative investigations with other faculty members throughout the Carver College of Medicine and the core research centers at the University of Iowa.
Wei Chen, MD, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Supermicrosurgical techniques, vascularized lymph node transfer, lymphaticoveno-anastomosis in
treatment of refractory lymphedema.
Near-infrared laser-assisted indocyanine green imaging in microsurgery.
Virtual surgery and stereolithographic modeling in reconstruction of complex facial trauma.
Perforator-based free-style free flap and pedicle flap.
Kent Choi, MD, Division of Acute Care Surgery
Studies obesity in trauma care, epidemiology of trauma injury prevention, surgical infections, and
steroid usage in critical care.
John Cromwell, MD, Division of Gastrointestinal, Minimally-Invasive, and Bariatric Surgery
Conducts clinical research related to complex systems.
Joseph Cullen, MD, Division of Gastrointestinal, Minimally-Invasive, and Bariatric Surgery
Studies treatments for pancreatic cancer.
Hisakazu Hoshi, MD, Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery
Conducts clinical research for colorectal cancer liver metastasis.
James Howe, MD, Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery
Studies the genetic basis of Juvenile Polyposis.
Mohammad Jamal, MD, Division of Gastrointestinal, Minimally-Invasive, and Bariatric Surgery
Studies the effect of obesity on migraines and infertility.
Daniel Katz, MD, Division of Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery
Conducts clinical trials related to immunosuppression, renal transplantation, and liver
transplantation.
G. Patrick Kealey, MD, Division of Acute Care Surgery
Studies thermal burns, chemical burns, and Dermagraft.
Timothy F. Kresowik, MD, Division of Vascular Surgery
Studies physician and hospital performance measures.
Geeta Lal, MD, MSC, Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery
Studies genetic markers that can be used in diagnosing and in predicting prognosis of thyroid cancer
and other endocrine malignancies.
James Mezhir, MD, Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery
Studies pancreatic cancer from both clinical and basic science perspectives.
Mezhir Surgical Oncology Laboratory
Isaac Samuel, MD, Division of Gastrointestinal, Minimally-Invasive, and Bariatric Surgery
Studies the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis with a view to implement new treatment modalities.
Carol Scott-Conner, MD, PhD, Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery
Studies the interaction of pregnancy and breast cancer.
Advisory to NASA for health care issues related to long duration missions beyond Earth orbit thorough
the Institute of Medicine
Mel Sharafuddin, MD, Division of Vascular Surgery
Conducts clinical research to study Post-Thrombotic Syndrome in patients with proximal deep vein
thrombosis.
Joel Shilyansky, MD, Division of Pediatric Surgery
Studies immune response in pediatric cancer patients.
Zoe Stewart, MD, PhD, Division of Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery
Conducts epidemiologic studies of ABO incompatible liver transplant analysis, Liver/pancreas/kidney
graft survival after preservation with HTK versus UW, and Hepatic artery thrombosis analysis/risk
stratification.
Dionne Skeete, MD, Division of Acute Care Surgery
Studies trauma care delivery and surgical critical care.
Ronald Weigel, MD, PhD, Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery
Studies the mechanisms of hormone response in breast cancer.
Lucy Wibbenmeyer, MD, Division of Acute Care Surgery
Conducts clinical research in burn treatment.