BRINGING TOGETHER
THE BEST MINDS For caregivers, the building fosters crossfertilization and real-time collaboration. DAVID H. SONG, MD, MBA
David H. Song, MD, MBA, is vice chairman of the Department of Surgery and chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Chicago Medicine. He specializes in reconstructive microsurgery for breast cancer, working in close collaboration with Nora Jaskowiak, MD, director of surgery at the University of Chicago Medicine Breast Center. Q: HOw wILL THE CENTER FOR CARE AND DISCOVERY ENHANCE SURGERY? A: All the technology out there has been crystallized to enhance patient care in the Center for Care and Discovery. For caregivers, the building fosters and promotes cross-fertilization and realtime collaboration.
Q: wHAT SETS THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE APART IN PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY?
Q: wHAT TECHNIQUE DO YOU USE FOR BREAST RECONSTRUCTION AFTER CANCER?
A: We “get” complex. We’re leaders in reconstructive microsurgery — sewing tiny blood vessels under a microscope — in the Midwest. We’re internationally known for complex reconstructive surgery — cleft lip or palate, burns, rebuilding a breast removed after cancer. The aesthetics of the result really are a priority.
A: We specialize in the DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap. Patients from the corners of the earth find us for this. I use abdominal tissue to reconstruct the breast, so essentially the patient also gets a tummy tuck. Most plastic surgeons sacrifice a whole muscle. This technique spares the muscle with minimal pain. The national success rate is 94 to 95 percent. Ours is more than 99 percent — one of the highest in the world.
Q: wHY IS COLLABORATION SO IMPORTANT IN BREAST CANCER RECONSTRUCTION?
The surgical oncologist wants to make sure the cancer is absolutely gone. She knows what she has to do for me to have something to work with; I know what she has to do to make sure the cancer is out. We have the same end goal: the cancer absolutely gone and the reconstruction looking normal or better than normal. A:
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Q: wHAT ENABLES YOU TO ACHIEVE SUCH HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR YOUR PATIENTS? A: Cross-collaboration in real time forms the very fibers of our success, from the completion of the operation to the postoperative follow-up. That’s the main benefit of having a reconstructive surgeon know a lot about cancer, and a cancer surgeon know a lot about reconstruction.