DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY ACADEMIC YEAR 2025-2026
EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMIC SURGERY
The Department of Surgery is committed to providing expert, innovative and compassionate health care — and continuing our department’s proud tradition by training the next generation of surgeon leaders.
OUR MISSION The Department of Surgery will create a positive, substantive impact on human health, through collaboration among clinicians, scientists, medical and business professionals to achieve: Highly effective, compassionate patient care Innovative science and meaningful discovery Superior, engaging education
OUR VISION The Department of Surgery will be the best academic group in the world, dedicated to: Improving patients’ chances of healthy survival while bettering the quality of their care Discovering and developing insights, innovations and tools to prevent and treat disease Educating next generations of surgeons and researchers
OUR VALUES The people of the Department of Surgery are committed to advancing medicine and serving humanity through living and teaching our core values of: Respect and compassion Collaboration Innovation Excellence
LETTER FROM
THE CHAIR Dear Faculty, Staff and House Officers, As we embark on a new academic year, I am reflecting on a new model of academic medicine: building excellence across our missions as teams rather than as individuals. The complexity of clinical care, discovery, and education–and the level of excellence required to meet the high standards of a place like Michigan Medicine–require finding a niche in one of the missions. I believe we have made great progress in this transformative journey, evident in many ways this year. On the clinical front, we invested in a revitalized lung transplant program, recruiting new faculty to support increased activity. We also set a programmatic record in FY26 for liver transplants performed (152) and received record referrals (634) for liver transplants. From coordinating work in the brand-new Pavilion to working across disciplines to care for some of the most medically complex patients, our teams delivered. We demonstrated our commitment to training surgeons. A team of faculty, residents and staff, led by Vice Chair of Resident Professional Development, Dr. Calista Harbaugh, created a comprehensive roadmap to guide residents through the expectations of a rigorous training journey and prepare them for academic development time. We will soon welcome our first trainee in our new 4+3 thoracic surgery training program, accelerating the pathway for residents interested in specializing early. The team’s investment in education is evident in Doximity ranking our general surgery and plastic surgery programs #1 and #4, respectively. Our research teams were incredibly productive, publishing regularly in high-impact journals. More than a dozen investigators’ work was backed by new R01 funding – and our department is once again in the top five nationally for NIH funding. The Center for Clinical Trials ramped up activity in trial enrollment. The center also welcomed its first fellow, providing an opportunity to expose trainees to the rigor of trial design and development. As part of the match process, we are offering a new Surgeon-Scientist Training Pathway for incoming general surgery residents, a new track that provides longitudinal support and mentorship for those interested in pursuing a career as independently funded investigators. While no single person can carry a team, some individuals demonstrated leadership that led them to be tapped for major leadership roles at different institutions. Just this year, two of our faculty members have taken on department chair roles: Dr. Lesly Dossett at the University of Kansas and Dr. Michael Englesbe at the University of Colorado. We don’t lose people, we launch them — and we are committed to continuing to develop future leaders locally and nationally. Work across teams continued and even accelerated as we were hit on multiple fronts with challenges to our funding, our daily work and even our culture. You stepped up and continue to step up in service to our patients and each other, and make this department a special place to work.
Justin B. Dimick, MD, MPH Frederick A. Coller Distinguished Professor Chair, Department of Surgery Michigan Medicine
VICE CHAIRS Michael Englesbe, MD Resident Mentorship
Nabeel Obeid, MD Clinical Operations
Katherine Gallagher, MD Basic & Translational Science
David Odell, MD, MMSc Quality & Safety
Calista Harbaugh, MD, MSc Resident Professional Development
Erin Perrone, MD Faculty Life
Tasha Hughes, MD, MPH Health & Well-Being
Robin Petroze, MD, MPH Global Surgery
Andrew Ibrahim, MD, MSc Health Services Research
Susan Pitt, MD, MPHS Faculty Development
Grace Kim, MD Education
Jenny Shao, MD Culture & Belonging
Jeffrey Kozlow, MD, MS Finance
NEW FACULTY Carrie Baldwin, MD, DMD Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Samantha Seitter, DO Surgical Oncology
David Brown, MD, PhD Plastic Surgery
Whitney Sutton, MD, MHS Thoracic Surgery
Nirbhay Jain, MD Plastic Surgery
Yota Suzuki, MD Thoracic Surgery
Rajiv Parikh, MD, MHPS Plastic Surgery
PROMOTIONS & PROFESSORSHIPS Meredith Barrett, MD Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery
Theodore Kung, MD Clinical Professor of Surgery
Robert Beaulieu, MD, MSE Marion and David Handleman Research Professor of Vascular Surgery
Gifty Kwakye, MD, MPH Clinical Professor of Surgery
Filip Bednar, MD, PhD Maud T. Lane Research Professor of Surgical Oncology
Paige Myers, MD, MPH Dr. Charles Beylard de Nancrede Research Professor of Surgery Education
Mary Byrnes, PhD, MUP Associate Research Scientist
Erika Newman, MD, MBA Professor of Surgery with Tenure
Frank Davis, MD Linda M. Graham, MD, Research Professor of Vascular Surgery
Melissa Pilewskie, MD Clinical Professor of Surgery
Anne Ehlers, MD, MPH Associate Professor of Surgery with Tenure
Alvaro Rojas-Pena, MD Research Associate Professor
Rachel Hooper, MD Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery
K. Elizabeth Speck, MD Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery
David Hughes, MD Clinical Professor of Surgery
EVENTS DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY TAILGATE SEPTEMBER 13, 2025
MENTORSHIP ACADEMY NOVEMBER 21, 2025
MEDICAL SCHOOL GRADUATION LUNCH MAY 15, 2026
MOSES GUNN RESEARCH CONFERENCE JUNE 5, 2026
Remembering Robert Bartlett, ‘Father of ECMO’ Friends, family, colleagues and mentees of Robert H. Bartlett, MD, gathered to celebrate his extraordinary life and legacy on January 25 and 26 at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor. Bartlett died on October 20, 2025 and was known as the “father of ECMO” for his work developing and improving the lifesaving heart and lung support system called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. He was born at University Hospital in Ann Arbor, where he would later spend much of his career. After earning his medical degree at the University of Michigan and completing his surgical training and research studies, Bartlett joined the faculty at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine in 1970, where he advanced work on ECMO. In 1975, his team first successfully used ECMO on a newborn, known as Baby Esperanza, who survived lung damage from meconium aspiration syndrome and went on to live a healthy life. Bartlett returned to the University of Michigan in 1980 and continued to refine ECMO, expanding its use across age groups and conditions. His research also explored artificial organs and methods to extend the viability of transplantable organs. Over five decades, he secured continuous National Institutes of Health funding, published nearly 600 papers, was an inventor on multiple patents, and helped establish U-M’s Extracorporeal Life Support Laboratory. Bartlett’s leadership extended beyond Michigan. He founded the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), which provides education, guidelines, and a global patient registry for ECMO programs.
Today, more than 261,000 patients worldwide have received ECMO support, with over 800 hospitals in 66 countries offering the technology. At U-M, he served in several leadership roles, including chief of the Division of General Surgery, director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and chief of the Trauma/Critical Care Division. He also established the institution’s surgical critical care fellowship and helped expand mobile ECMO services through U-M’s Survival Flight program. Bartlett was also elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2003, and was named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2024 in recognition of his groundbreaking work. The celebration of Bartlett’s life kicked off with an evening concert given by the Life Sciences Orchestra, a group he helped found. The next day, the tributes continued with opening remarks from his daughter, Karen Fischer, and two of his close friends, pediatric surgeon Ronald Hirschl, MD, and cardiothoracic surgeon Joseph (Jay) Zwischenberger, MD. Several people shared stories and memories of their dear friend Bob, as he was widely known, highlighting the ways he inspired them as people, clinicians, researchers and more. Former patients also told their stories and thanked Bartlett for saving their lives, including Hannah Abraham, MD, PhD, a U-M Medical School alum and current hematology and oncology fellow, who later worked in Bartlett’s lab. The day closed with a fitting musical tribute to Bob, which featured Pete Siers & The Kerrytown Stompers, the U-M Men’s Glee Club and the Michigan Fanfare Band.
MICHIGAN PROMISE We recognize that our success is due to the talent, commitment and vision of faculty and residents. We pledge that we will support each individual to achieve their full professional and academic potential. The Michigan Promise ensures that faculty and residents within our department accomplish their goals and reflect our legacy of developing outstanding leaders in academic surgery.
ENVIRONMENT We hosted the eighth Annual Asa Yancey Lecture delivered by Fabian Johnston, MD, Chair of Surgery at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Dr. Johnston delivered a lecture titled “Surgical Palliative Care: How Do We Get Back to the Future.” We also launched Cultural Complications 2.0 for the new academic year, building on the program’s foundation as a forum for examining the intersection of healthcare delivery, equity and culture. Key updates include dedicated time for discussion, more intentional case selection, use of a healthcare inequity classification framework and the inclusion of healthcare equity experts in the conversation. The team looks forward to continued feedback and further iterative improvements as the program evolves.
OUTREACH The Doctors of Tomorrow Program celebrated its 14th year serving high school students at Cass Technical High School and The School at Marygrove. Through longitudinal mentorship with first-year medical students, the program continues to introduce students to careers in medicine while fostering connection, confidence and a sense of belonging. Doctors of Tomorrow hosted its eighth annual Diversity in Medicine Conference in person, titled “More Than a White Coat: Stories That Shape How We Heal.” We also participated in the fifth annual Youth Summit. During the event, faculty, residents, and medical students taught middle and high school students essential “Stop the Bleed” techniques, equipping participants with practical skills while introducing them to the impact and accessibility of surgical education.
INNOVATION Via the Center for Surgical Innovation, we continue to expand opportunities for surgical innovation with courses like the Michigan Surgical Innovation Accelerator (MSIA) and the Resident Innovation Discovery Course (RIDC). This year’s cohorts for both MSIA and RIDC included faculty and trainees across Michigan Medicine. CSI’s partnership with Biomedical Engineering remains strong, fostering sustained, cross-specialty engagement between engineers and clinicians to advance surgical innovation and ultimately improve patient care. CSI members also presented their work at national conferences and continue to cultivate industry partnerships.
ACHIEVEMENT Through the Junior Faculty Exchange Program, the department hosted 10 visiting faculty members from peer institutions, while 10 Michigan faculty members traveled to other institutions to share expertise, build professional networks, and foster new academic collaborations. This year’s Michigan visiting professors included Benjamin Ferguson, MD, PhD (Stanford University), Ryan Howard, MD, MS (Duke), Jenny Shao, MD (The Ohio State University), Joseph Church, MD (Northwestern), Kristen Carter, MD (University of Wisconsin), Lauren Krumeich, MD, MS (Vanderbilt), Hunter Underwood, MD (University of Alabama), Molly Hunter, MD, MSc (Medical College of Wisconsin), Raymond Jean, MD, MA, MHS (University of Washington), and Matthew Iyer, MD, PhD (MD Anderson Cancer Center). The department also continued to strengthen its commitment to faculty mentorship and professional growth through its Launch Team and Boost Team programs. To date, 44 faculty members have received mentorship through a Launch Team, and 22 faculty members have participated in the Boost Team program.
LEADERSHIP We partnered with the University of Colorado Department of Surgery to deliver the Mentorship Academy in Ann Arbor. This one-day session taught participants how to build their mentorship toolbox with sessions on topics like how to handle conflict and differences in mentoring relationships and how to be a good mentor in an evolving landscape. We hosted the third cohort of the Coaching Academy, where 17 faculty and staff members learned coaching competencies to support personal, professional and leadership development.
RECRUITMENT This year, the department’s 15-member Recruitment Committee participated in eight group interview sessions to support the selection of candidates for open faculty positions in the sections of General Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Thoracic Surgery. Through this collaborative process, committee members helped ensure a thoughtful, inclusive and missionaligned approach to faculty recruitment. Faculty and resident representatives from the department also attended the 2026 Student National Medical Association Conference and participated in SiMfest, hosted by the Office of Health Advancement. Department representatives engaged with medical students and residents through hands-on skills instruction, including teaching participants how to suture. These efforts provided an opportunity to connect with future physicians, share surgical expertise and highlight pathways into surgical careers.
EDUCATION
Home to the first teaching hospital in the US, the University of Michigan is a place where medical education has always been integral to our mission of improving human health in service of a life well-lived. Our team of more than 150 faculty are leaders not just in their clinical or research specialty, but also in surgery education.
TRAINING THE FUTURE LEADERS OF SURGERY We are committed to training surgeons who will be future leaders in the field of surgery. We offer numerous highly-ranked surgical residency and fellowship programs across a wide range of specialties. The Department of Surgery is nationally recognized for the excellence of its surgical training programs and consistently attracts outstanding candidates for trainee positions at the house officer and fellowship levels. With more than 100 residents and fellows across 10 specialties and sub-specialties, the learning experience at Michigan provides rich opportunities to learn with and from a diverse cohort. For students interested in pursuing a career in surgery, we offer the M2 clerkship, the SCRUBS medical student surgery interest group, the Student Surgery Leadership Weekend, the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) and the Doctors of Tomorrow program.
124
ACGME-ACCREDITED HOUSE OFFICERS
RESIDENTS
20
FELLOWS
ADVANCED DEGREES HELD
15
117 40
WENT ON TO FELLOWSHIP
RESIDENTS SUPPORTED BY T32 GRANTS
3
8
RESIDENTS SUPPORTED BY F32 GRANTS
UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES IN MEDICINE
53
BY THE NUMBERS
TRAINING PROGRAMS RESIDENCY
General Surgery Residency Hospital Dentistry General Practice Residency Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Integrated Thoracic Surgery Residency Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Orofacial Pain Residency
FELLOWSHIP Colon & Rectal Surgery Residency Craniofacial Surgery Fellowship CSTAR Fellowship Endocrine Surgery Fellowship Gender Surgery Fellowship Global Surgery Fellowship Hand Surgery Fellowship Head & Neck Oncology/Microvascular Surgery Fellowship Microsurgery Fellowship Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Pediatric Surgery Fetal Medicine Fellowship Pediatric Surgery Research Fellowship Polly Suk-Yee Cheung Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Surgical Innovation Fellowship TMJ & Orthognathic Surgery Fellowship Traditional Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Transplant Surgery Fellowship Vascular Surgery Fellowship
NEW RESIDENTS Keerthi Burgi, MD General Surgery
Brittany Landavazo, MD General Surgery
Bradford Sokol, MD General Surgery - Prelim
Grant Chappell, MD General Surgery
Matthew Lowe, DDS Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Kayla Stanley, MD General Surgery
Holly Cordray, MD Integrated Plastic Surgery
Ajitha Mallidi, MD General Surgery
Noelle T. Thompson, MD Integrated Plastic Surgery
Grant Egnatz, DDS Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Araiye Medlock, MD General Surgery
Paola Vargas, MD General Surgery
Ganiat A. Giwa, MD, MPH Integrated Plastic Surgery
Hoon Oh, MD General Surgery - Prelim Interventional Radiology
Barry Wei, MD General Surgery - Prelim
Teryn Holeman, MD Integrated Vascular Surgery
Kellie Phipps, MD Integrated Thoracic Surgery
Sarah Wong, DDS, PhD Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Joanna Hua, MD General Surgery - Prelim
Hecong Qin, MD Integrated Thoracic Surgery
Hannah Xu, MD Integrated Plastic Surgery
William Kay, DMD Orofacial Pain
Mary Reiber, MD General Surgery - Prelim Interventional Radiology
Imadh Khan, MD General Surgery - Prelim Interventional Radiology
Brendan Rosamond, MD General Surgery
RESEARCH Scientific curiosity and a deeply human commitment to improving our patients’ quality of life guide our researchers at the Department of Surgery. The Michigan Medicine Department of Surgery is dedicated to fostering a robust research environment that encourages our faculty, scientists and trainees to pursue discoveries that alter the future of surgery.
DISCOVERING THE FUTURE OF SURGERY We are always striving to provide high-quality, innovative patient care in addition to a cuttingedge training environment, and this depends on supporting the groundbreaking research conducted in the department. Our research spans basic science, translational, and health services investigation, and our impact speaks for itself: We consistently rank in the top five for National Institutes of Health funding. We have more than 60,000 square feet of research space, and more than two dozen labs. The department’s research centers and initiatives provide resources and a sense of community to not only those doing research in the department of surgery but across the institution. Researchers, ranging from undergraduate students to faculty members, come together to discuss work in core areas of focus, such as education research, basic science, health outcomes, or global surgery. Collaboration is key to the success of our research.
$30,554,227 TOTAL FUNDING PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
142
64
ACTIVE GRANTS
NIH AWARDS (R01, R03, K08, UM1, T32 & P30s)
2
AHRQ AWARDS
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AWARDS
2 TOTAL NIH FUNDING
57
3
MDHHS GRANTS
$18,810,078
BY THE NUMBERS
DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY RESEARCH FACULTY Mary Byrnes, PhD Nadejda Bozadjieva Kramer, PhD Ilona Kryczek, PhD Peng Liao, PhD Heng Lin, PhD David Lubman, PhD Andriy Myronovych, MD, PhD Gurjit Sandhu, PhD Randy Seeley, PhD Weichao Wang, PhD Weiping Zou, MD, PhD
RESEARCH CENTERS CENTER FOR BASIC & TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE (CBATS) CBATS provides a platform for basic and translational scientists across specialties to share resources and expertise to drive research advances. CBATS introduced new career development programming to meet the challenges posed by the evolving federal funding landscape and emerging AI technologies. Among our offerings were seminars on alternative funding sources and new NIH requirements, tutorials for faculty during the SciENcv biosketch transition, and a talk on the applications of AI in science and research by Jordan Wean, PhD, who drew a record audience in a year of growing participation in CBATS meetings and events. We welcomed visiting speakers from across the country, including Jen Jen Yeh, MD (University of North Carolina School of Medicine), who led CBATS’ second Grand Rounds. CBATS expanded its grants offerings with a new biannual conference travel award program for trainees, with grants from the inaugural cycle going to Lauren Gerbereux and Oscar Moreno Rocha, MD. It was a banner year for early-stage investigators, with major awards for Donnele Daley, MD (Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract Karen and Josef E. Fischer International Traveling Fellowship), Matthew K. Iyer, MD, PhD (American Society for Clinical Investigation Young Physician-Scientist Award), Lauren Krumeich, MD, MS (Society of University Surgeons Early Stage Investigator Award and CBATS Microgrant), and Nadejda Bozadjieva Kramer, PhD and Orsolya Lautner-Csorba, PhD (Department of Surgery Research Advisory Committee Grants).
CENTER FOR GLOBAL SURGERY The Center for Global Surgery supports goals related to global health education, international surgical care, and world health policy and research. The past year marked a period of meaningful growth and momentum. We welcomed two faculty leaders from the University of Rwanda: Miguel Gasakure, MD, General Surgery Residency Program Director, and Faustin Ntirenganya, MD, Chair of Surgery. We look forward to collaborating with them to launch a general surgery residency rotation with the University of Rwanda in 2027. Resident Phillip Hsu, MD, PhD, was honored with both the Award for Outstanding International Engagement from U-M Global REACH and the Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism Award from the American College of Surgeons. Abigail Engwall-Gill, MD, was our first pediatric surgery fellow to travel to Rwanda for one of only two ACGMEapproved rotations. Transplant surgeon Jeffrey Punch, MD, continues to train kidney transplantation teams in Rwanda, where 100 patients have now received transplants. Acute care surgeon Molly Hunter, MD, MSc, serves as the logistics Workgroup Chair for the ISBI Burn Center Assessment Program. The Center remains an active partner and leader in the ACS HOPE initiative in Lusaka, Zambia. Resident Vanessa Niba, MD, received the inaugural ACS HOPE Lusaka Resident Research Scholarship. Pediatric surgeons Robin Petroze, MD, MPH, Peter Ehrlich, MD, and fellow Cathy Luo, MD, traveled to Nigeria to lead the inaugural Teaching Oncology Surgery for Children in Africa course, strengthening pediatric surgical oncology education across the continent. The center is pleased to welcome resident Yousef Ibrahim, MD, as the next Global Surgery Fellow.
CENTER FOR HEALTH OUTCOMES & POLICY (CHOP) CHOP brings together investigators from throughout the department who conduct outcomes research across a wide array of specialties. CHOP provides a robust array of educational and scholarly exchange opportunities for its members. Programming is structured around Friday seminars, encompassing didactic lectures alongside work-in-progress and feedback sessions. These offerings are complemented by Data and Donuts for the development of quantitative research skills, the Surgical Practice AI Research Community (SPARC) seminar series and the Journal Club on Understanding Methods and Presentation (JUMP). This programming is further enriched by invited speakers from institutions across the country. Additionally, incoming CHOP fellows complete a Health Services Research bootcamp to kick off their research time. CHOP's scholarly output remains substantial, with members averaging roughly one manuscript published per day, 13 investigators holding R01 funding and numerous additional recipients of K awards and society grants.
CENTER FOR SURGICAL INNOVATION (CSI) CSI is a collaborative community that aims to support innovative ideas and entrepreneurship in the field of surgery. The Center for Surgical Innovation continues to mentor its seventh annual cohort of the Michigan Surgical Innovation Accelerator, supporting six funded projects with the assistance of seven innovation interns serving as project managers. We also facilitated our sixth Resident Innovation Discovery Course, where five surgical residents partnered with engineers to explore novel ideas and develop functional prototypes. The NSF IUCRC Medical Innovations in Extended Reality continues into its fourth year with strong industry partnerships and sustained research funding, advancing collaborative innovation in extended reality technologies. In addition to our strong partnerships with Biomedical Engineering faculty, we continue to collaborate across departments at Michigan Medicine to support interdisciplinary design projects and advance surgical innovation through sustained, cross-specialty engagement.
CENTER FOR SURGICAL TRAINING AND RESEARCH (CSTAR) CSTAR is a community of educational scholars conducting research in teaching, learning, assessment, curriculum, and the learning environment. CSTAR continued to expand its impact in surgical education scholarship through major funded projects, including the Michigan Medicine Health Advancement Innovation Grant, Instagram Medicine: Co-Creating “Reel” Health Equity (Picart/Sandhu), and the GME Innovations Program Grant, Integrating Computer Vision-Based Trainee Technical Skills Metrics with Competency-Based Milestones to Advance Surgical Coaching (Abahuje). CSTAR trainees and faculty received several notable honors: Jamila Picart, MD received the Association for Surgical Education (ASE) Outstanding Resident Teacher Award, Alexandra Theall received the ASE Promising Medical Student Surgery Education Research Award, and Hope Jackson, MD, Grace Kim, MD, and Gurjit Sandhu, PhD were appointed members of the American College of Surgeons Academy of Master Surgeon Educators. Andrew Krumm, PhD, was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure and Marquise Singleterry, MD, presented at International Surgical Week 2026 in Mexico City. CSTAR also strengthened its scholarly community through 33 seminars that attracted 438 attendees and supported a growing portfolio of national presentations, publications and collaborative surgical education research projects.
CENTER FOR SURGICAL INNOVATION (CSI) The Center for Surgical Trials aims to support surgeon-investigators across the full spectrum of clinical trial development and execution. Through close collaboration with institutional regulatory partners and dedicated research staff, the Center enables faculty to efficiently conduct innovative, high-quality surgical research that improves patient care. Over the past year, the center has continued to expand its clinical trial portfolio, supporting studies ranging from early-phase first-in-human and feasibility trials to large multicenter cooperative group studies and post-marketing, real-world investigations. The multidisciplinary research team provides expertise across multiple surgical specialties and trial mechanisms, strengthening the department's capacity to lead impactful clinical research. A major milestone this year was the launch of the Clinical Trials fellowship. The program welcomed its first fellow, resident Trever Koester, MD, and provides structured education and hands-on experience in clinical trial design, regulatory processes, study activation, implementation, and leadership. Directed by Christina Angeles, MD, and Melissa Pilewskie, MD, the fellowship is designed to develop the next generation of surgeonscientists and clinical trial leaders while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration throughout the Department of Surgery.
CLINICAL CARE
The Department of Surgery at Michigan Medicine is one of the oldest departments of its kind in the country. Since 1849, our surgeons have been healing patients with a blend of Midwestern compassion and nationally renowned clinical expertise.
EXCELLENCE IN SURGICAL CARE We treat more than 18,000 surgical cases a year, bringing together the combined knowledge and experience of more than 100 faculty physicians across more than 20 specialties. We are highly ranked nationally for the quality of our clinical care, a fact that demonstrates the strengths we draw from our position within Michigan Medicine. We’re able to offer a caliber of care found only in a high-volume academic medical center because of the breadth of resources at Michigan Medicine, including its nearly 2,000 faculty members. Our multidisciplinary programs bring together experts across specialties at the university to provide the best possible care for our patients.
95,098 6,425 608,409 19,677 19,195 7,456 3,411 1,727 3,681 1,208 1,712 CLINIC VISITS
ADMISSIONS
RVUS
VIDEO VISITS
OR CASES
OR CASES (MAIN HOSPITAL)
OR CASES (AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS)
OR CASES (CVC)
OR CASES (MOTT)
OR CASES (PAVILION)
OR CASES (NON-MM)
BY THE NUMBERS
DIVISION OF
ANATOMICAL SCIENCES The division is the educational center for human anatomy at the University of Michigan Medical School. Our faculty design and facilitate curricula supporting the Medical School, School of Dentistry, and numerous undergraduate and graduate colleges. Faculty are involved in anatomical research, pedagogical research and the development of premier tools for learning anatomy.
Kathleen Alsup, PhD, MA Director, Anatomical Sciences
HIGHLIGHTS
FACULTY
This year, our faculty taught more than 1,700 students across the University, with continued enrollment and engagement in courses with a broader global impact through our Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), which reached one million visitors and will be updated and re-released in the fall. Our leadership in open-access anatomy learning resources continues, with our website used by more than 150 institutions worldwide to promote access and equity for anatomy learners. Faculty presented research on curatorial techniques, procedures with legacy osteological collections, and teaching adipose tissue as an organ system at national meetings. The division also completed two successful major reviews and received recognition through a University of Michigan Medical School award.
Glenn Fox, PhD, MS Director, Anatomical Donations Program
David Brzezinski, MD, CGS Amanda Kingston, PhD, MA Mary Orczykowski, PhD Cristina Prall, MS Kelli Sullivan, PhD ACTIVE EMERITUS FACULTY Andrew Barnosky, DO, MPH
SECTION OF
GENERAL SURGERY Dana Telem, MD, MPH Section Head
DIVISION LEADERSHIP Andrew Benjamin, MD Chief, Acute Care Surgery John Byrn, MD Chief, Colorectal Surgery Anne Ehlers, MD, MPH Chief, Minimally Invasive Surgery Paul Gauger, MD Chief, Endocrine Surgery Evan Glazer, MD, PhD Chief, Surgical Oncology Amy Suwanabol, MD, MS Chief, Veterans Administration
CLINICAL FACULTY Elizabeth Alore, MD, MPH Christina Angeles, MD Staci Aubry, MD Filip Bednar, MD, PhD Kristen Carter, MD J. Fintan Cooper, MD Justin Dimick, MD, MPH Benjamin Ferguson, MD, PhD Jonathan Finks, MD Timothy Frankel, MD Brian George, MD, MSE Calista Harbaugh, MD, MS Mark Hemmila, MD Ryan Howard, MD, MS David Hughes, MD Tasha Hughes, MD, MPH Molly Hunter, MD, ScM, MA Andrew Ibrahim, MD, MSc Matthew Iyer, MD, PhD Hope T. Jackson, MD Raymond Jean, MD, MHS Jacqueline Jeruss, MD, PhD Grace Kim, MD Lauren Krumeich, MD, MS Gifty Kwakye, MD, MPH Alisha Lussiez, MD
Few specialties cover as much ground as General Surgery, as we advance life-changing treatments in areas as diverse as trauma, endocrine surgery, surgical oncology and veterans’ surgical care. Underlying our broad responsibility to clinical excellence is our commitment to training the next experts in academic surgery and to developing the knowledge and techniques that drive advancements for the future. Our approach to patient care is built on a model of coordination across multiple specialties, providing patients with a comprehensive experience that coalesces the best medical advice from a team of experts.
GENERAL SURGERY AT A GLANCE RESIDENTS $12.3 MILLION TOTAL FUNDING GRADUATED 7 37,594 CLINIC VISITS OR CASES
7,983
400+ PUBLICATIONS
9 FELLOWS GRADUATED
HIGHLIGHTS Our section remains incredibly busy clinically across all of our locations, and we saw significant growth in capacity after the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Pavilion opened last year. Our residency program was rated number one nationally by Doximity for the sixth year in a row. In research, investigators in our section received 17 new externally funded grants during the 2026 financial year. Several divisions in the section welcomed new chiefs: John Byrn, MD, for the Division of Colorectal Surgery, Evan Glazer, MD, PhD, for the Division of Surgical Oncology and Amy Suwanabol, MD, MS, for the Veteran’s Administration.
SECTION DIVISIONS ACUTE CARE SURGERY The Division of Acute Care Surgery provides care for major trauma and burn patients, as well as the management of emergency surgery and critical care services. Our Level 1 Trauma and Burn Verified Center is recognized by the American College of Surgeons and the American Burn Association as meeting or exceeding the highest standards of care for the most critically injured patients.
COLORECTAL SURGERY The Division of Colorectal Surgery treats benign and malignant conditions of the small bowel, colon, rectum and anus, using both open and laparoscopic surgical techniques. We provide multidisciplinary care through the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Michigan Bowel Control Program.
ENDOCRINE SURGERY
CLINICAL FACULTY (CONT.) Michael McGee, MD Kajal Mehta, MD, MPH Lena Napolitano, MD Hari Nathan, MD, PhD Nabeel Obeid, MD Sean O’Neill, MD, PhD Robert O'Rourke, MD Pauline Park, MD Lauren Perry, MD Melissa Pilewskie, MD Susan Pitt, MD, MPHS Krishnan Raghavendran, MBBS Scott Regenbogen, MD, MPH Naveen Sangji, MD, MPH Michael Sabel, MD Samantha Seitter, DO Jenny Shao, MD Hunter Underwood, MD Gary Vercruysse, MD RESEARCH FACULTY
Established in 1979, the Division of Endocrine Surgery has grown to become one of the largest endocrine surgery divisions in the country. We provide medical and surgical care for patients with thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreatic, and gastrointestinal endocrine disorders.
Sven Holcombe, PhD, MS Orsolya Lautner Csorba, PhD, MSc Yongqing Li, MD, PhD, MS Marina Pasca di Magliano, PhD Joseph Potkay, MS, PhD Shuang Wei, PhD Yaqing Zhang, MD, PhD
MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY
ACTIVE EMERITUS FACULTY
Surgeons in the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery focus on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the abdomen, the abdominal wall and the retroperitoneum — including common conditions such as hernia, gallstones and heartburn. We also have a nationally recognized bariatric surgery program.
Richard Burney, MD Alfred Chang, MD Daniel Hinshaw, MD James Knol, MD
SURGICAL ONCOLOGY The Division of Surgical Oncology provides operative care for cancers of the breast, skin, and gastrointestinal system. We have special expertise in the management of patients with breast cancer, melanoma, pancreatic cancer, metastatic diseases of the liver and soft tissue sarcomas.
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION Our VA Division is rare in that we focus exclusively on veterans’ care, building relationships and programs tailored to their needs. VA surgeons provide bariatric surgery, colorectal surgery, surgical oncology, and general surgical services.
SECTION OF
ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY/HOSPITAL DENTISTRY Sean Edwards, MD, DDS Section Head
CLINICAL FACULTY Sharon Aronovich, DMD Carrie Baldwin, MD, DMD Karen Carver, DDS, MD, MPH Amy Chin, DDS, MD Derek Holecek, DDS, MD Hsiao Hsin Sung Hsieh, DDS, MS Paul Shivers, DMD, MD Brent Ward, DDS, MD Paulo Zupelari Goncalves, DDS, MSc, PhD HOSPITAL DENTISTS Stephanie Munz, DDS Chief, Hospital Dentistry Ennis Bedair, BDS Lavika Mor, BDS Kristine Phillips, DDS Elizabeth Hatfield, DDS COMBINED FACULTY Jonathan McHugh, MD Louise O’Brien, PhD, MS
In Memoriam
Diane Chang, DDS 1983-2026
The Section of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/Hospital Dentistry knows the importance of a holistic approach to health. That’s why our work combines excellence in patient care with the biomedical advances developed through our research to achieve outcomes that improve quality of life, from restoring a smile to easing chronic pain. We are a recognized center of excellence and one of the oldest units of its kind in the country. Our strengths reflect the breadth of academic surgery, from diverse residency and fellowship experiences to skilled clinical care and impactful research.
ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY AT A GLANCE
12,439 1,400
CLINIC VISITS OR CASES
$750,000 20
TOTAL FUNDING
PUBLICATIONS
1
3
RESIDENTS GRADUATED
FELLOW GRADUATED
HIGHLIGHTS Our clinical care has expanded with the addition of a new faculty member, Dr. Carrie Baldwin, MD, DMD. Dr. Baldwin is a University of Michigan alumni and is returning home to us from the University of North Carolina where she brings her expertise treating TMJ patients. We continue to recruit and train exceptional individuals for our OMFS residency and TMJ fellowship programs. Our Head and Neck Oncology fellowship remains strong, marked by the success of our latest graduate and our promising new fellow. Our research mission remains centered on improving care quality, fostering education in evidence-based practice and inspiring a strong culture of curiosity. Our anesthesia simulation project continues to be a recognized national testing and training center.
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PEDIATRIC SURGERY The Section of Pediatric Surgery sets the standard for teamwork, compassion, education and innovation, as we achieve outstanding outcomes for patients, invent novel life-saving treatments, and create a legacy of excellence in the field through advanced medical training.
PEDIATRIC SURGERY AT A GLANCE
4,898 2,214
OR CASES
$143,975
CLINIC VISITS
94
PUBLICATIONS
TOTAL FUNDING
8
FELLOWS GRADUATED
HIGHLIGHTS We remain energized by our shared commitment to advancing excellence in pediatric surgical care and expanding our specialty programs with the goal of becoming a global center of excellence. Our multidisciplinary programs, including the Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Solid Tumor Oncology Program, Endocrine Surgery, Esophageal Surgery and more, reflect the depth of expertise, collaboration and innovation within our team. We continue to extend high-quality care across our regional network, expanding our reach to U-M Health-Sparrow, Trinity Health Oakland and Covenant Hospital. Our inpatient Advanced Practice Provider team has grown to 14 full-time APPs, strengthening our ability to provide outstanding acute care and trauma services. This year, we supported the training and development of 14 outstanding pediatric surgery fellows across the pediatric surgery fellowship, pediatric surgery critical care fellowship, clinical instructor, and research fellowship programs. We also introduced our first (and the United States’ second) ACGME-approved Global Health rotation with the support of Robin Petroze, MD, MPH. This innovative rotation provides pediatric surgery fellows with exposure to complex surgeries in a resource-limited setting. Our faculty continue to display excellence in cutting-edge R01 and T32-funded research focused on surgical care and health equity. George Mychaliska, MD, submitted a new NIH R01 entitled “Preemie ECMO System,” with an exceptional funding score (seventh percentile). Erika Newman, MD received a second percentile/19 impact score from the NIH/NCI R01 for her work investigating the impact of sustained stress on neuroblastoma progression, providing long-term support for a research program that integrates cancer biology, translational science and health equity. The pediatric surgery faculty continue to hold a strong national presence in the field. Dr. Newman is on the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) Foundation Board of Governors and is also the Councilor/Director of the Pediatric Surgery Board for the American Board of Surgery. Meghan Arnold, MD, is the Associate Chief Clinical Officer for C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Ronald Hirschl, MD, is the Chair of the APSA Foundation, and Erin Perrone, MD, is the Secretary.
Erika A. Newman, MD Section Head
CLINICAL FACULTY Meghan A. Arnold, MD Joseph T. Church, MD Peter F. Ehrlich, MD, MSc Samir K. Gadepalli, MD, MBA Ronald B. Hirschl, MD Byron D. Hughes, Sr., MD, MPH Brittany L. Johnson, MD George B. Mychaliska, MD Erin E. Perrone, MD Robin T. Petroze, MD, MPH K. Elizabeth Speck, MD Arul S. Thirumoorthi, MD RESEARCH FACULTY Ejaz Ahmad, PhD, MSc ACTIVE EMERITUS FACULTY Theodore Polley, Jr., MD
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PLASTIC SURGERY Alison Snyder-Warwick, MD Section Head
CLINICAL FACULTY David A. Brown, MD, PhD Steven Buchman, MD Paul Cederna, MD Kevin Chung, MD, MS Robert Gilman, MD, DMD Steven Haase, MD Rachel Hooper, MD Jessica Hsu, MD, PhD Nirbhay Jain, MD Steven Kasten, MD, MHPE Jeffrey Kozlow, MD, MS Theodore Kung, MD William Kuzon, Jr., MD, PhD Lauren Marquette, MD Paige Myers, MD, MPH Rajiv Parikh, MD, MPHS Hannes Prescher, MD Noah Saad, MD Erika Sears, MD, MS Christian Vercler, MD, MA RESEARCH FACULTY Stephen Kemp, PhD
In the Section of Plastic Surgery, our biggest export is knowledge. Our research and clinical breakthroughs improve how plastic surgeons practice everywhere and our training programs produce the next experts in the field. We are one of the largest divisions of its kind in the country. In our busy and rewarding practice, we have a singular focus on excellence in everything we do, constantly striving to provide the highest quality care possible.
PLASTIC SURGERY AT A GLANCE
27,782 3,758
CLINIC VISITS OR CASES
$1.16 MILLION TOTAL FUNDING
191
PUBLICATIONS
4
4
RESIDENTS GRADUATED
FELLOWS GRADUATED
HIGHLIGHTS The Section of Plastic Surgery performed over 3,700 major operations last year and saw over 27,000 patients in our outpatient clinics. Our section collaborates with more than 18 clinical services on over 500 cases annually at the adult hospitals and operates at eight distinct locations. We welcomed David A. Brown, MD, PhD to the team. We have organized the section into six divisions: Breast, Microsurgery, Peds/Craniofacial, Hand, Gender and Aesthetic. Under the leadership of Paige Myers, MD, MPH, and Jessica Hsu, MD, PhD, the Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program was ranked fourth for reputation and second for research output by Doximity. We have eight faculty members with extramural funding, demonstrating our commitment to all our academic missions. Michigan Medicine was selected to host the 2027 Oncological Reconstructive Conference. Dr. Hsu was appointed as the Chief Physician Lead for Ambulatory Surgical Centers. Jeffrey Kozlow, MD, was appointed the Chief Medical Director for Revenue Cycle. Dr. Myers was named the inaugural Dr. Charles Beylard de Nancrede Research Professor in Surgery Education and served as Chair of the Women Plastic Surgeons Forum within the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Paul Cederna, MD, completed his tenure as the President of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons. Robert Gilman, MD, DMD, became President of the Rhinoplasty Society.
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THORACIC SURGERY The Section of Thoracic Surgery draws on a legacy of impact and innovation in the treatment of surgical diseases of the chest as we continue to expand the field’s understanding of thoracic health, translating our discoveries to the clinic, and training the next generation of experts in thoracic surgery. Pioneers of the transhiatal esophagectomy, we continue to lead in the treatment and research of surgical diseases of the trachea, lung, mediastinum, diaphragm and esophagus.
THORACIC SURGERY AT A GLANCE
5,374 1,325
CLINIC VISITS OR CASES
$1.5 MILLION
TOTAL FUNDING
3 35
TRAINEES GRADUATED
PUBLICATIONS
HIGHLIGHTS Rishindra Reddy, MD, was named as the new surgical director of the Michigan Medicine lung transplant program. The program continues to provide high-quality care and performed the 1000th lung transplant in program history this July and the first Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) transplant in program history this August. David Odell, MD, MMSc, performed the first bronchoscopic ablation procedure for lung cancer in the state of Michigan and one of the first in the country. The section now offers this innovative, outpatient, treatment for patients with cancers metastatic to the lung and patients with lung cancers who are not candidates for surgery. Kiran Lagisetty, MD, was named as the new program director for the Thoracic Surgery Fellowship and 4+3 combined programs. His leadership will transform our educational programs and strengthen ties with the general surgery training program. We also welcomed the first 4+3 combined resident, Samatha Savitch, MD, to the program. The section continues to have a broad scientific impact with over 35 publications, including papers in JAMA Surgery, the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Nature Medicine, The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, and the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Two investigators in the section hold R01-level grants, and the section had more than $1.5 million in extramural funding.
David Odell, MD, MMSc Section Head
CLINICAL FACULTY Andrew Chang, MD Chigozirim Ekeke, MD Kiran Lagisetty, MD Jules Lin, MD Rishindra Reddy, MD, MBA Whitney Sutton, MD, MHS Yota Suzuki, MD ACTIVE EMERITUS FACULTY Mark Orringer, MD
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TRANSPLANT SURGERY Michael Englesbe, MD Section Head
CLINICAL FACULTY Meredith Barrett, MD Ben Biesterveld, MD Danielle Haakinson, MD John Magee, MD Jeffrey Punch, MD Kyle Sheetz, MD, MS Christopher Sonnenday, MD, MHS Randell Sung, MD Seth Waits, MD RESEARCH FACULTY Alvaro Rojas-Peña, MD
The Section of Transplant Surgery excels in research, education and clinical care, fostering a collaborative and compassionate approach to patient treatment and a dedication to advancing the field of transplant surgery. As one of the largest transplant centers in the country, we are ranked among the best for clinical outcomes.
TRANSPLANT SURGERY AT A GLANCE
1,088
$2 MILLION OR CASES
58
TOTAL FUNDING
PUBLICATIONS
1
FELLOW GRADUATED
HIGHLIGHTS Our pediatric kidney and liver transplant programs remain focused on expanding access to life-saving organ transplantation. This year, we partnered with Wish Upon a Donor to raise awareness of the need for living donor kidney donation and performed our first pediatric DCD liver transplants using normothermic machine perfusion, expanding the donor pool for children awaiting transplant. We set a programmatic record in FY26 for liver transplants performed (152) and received record referrals (634) for liver transplants. Programmatic growth in our liver transplant oncology (metastatic colorectal, cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma), living donor liver transplant and transplant for alcohol associated liver disease lead the state and have driven our growth. The section also saw strong growth in our living donor kidney transplant program, enabling life-saving transplants and care for more complex patients. We continued to advance our research mission, hosting weekly Transplant Research, Education, and Engagement (TREE) meetings to coordinate projects with medical students, residents, and fellows. We also received several extramural grants and are establishing at least one industry partnership as a device registry coordinator. We collectively published 58 peer-reviewed publications in top journals like Annals of Surgery, JAMA, JAMA Surgery, and the American Journal of Transplantation. The work of the ECLS lab continues more ambitiously than ever under the leadership of Alvaro Rojas-Peña, MD. Dr. Rojas-Peña has taken up the mantle of Robert Bartlett, MD, an icon of American surgery and science, who passed away in October 2025.
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VASCULAR SURGERY The Section of Vascular Surgery is pursuing advances in vascular surgical care that set the standard for our discipline: improving the lives of patients in our clinical practice, making discoveries in our labs and training future surgeon leaders.
VASCULAR SURGERY AT A GLANCE TOTAL GRADUATED 10,628 CLINIC VISITS $3.6 MILLION FUNDING 1 RESIDENT
1,565
OR CASES
74
PUBLICATIONS
1
FELLOW GRADUATED
Peter Henke, MD Section Head
CLINICAL FACULTY Robert Beaulieu, MD, MSE Craig Brown, MD Frank Davis, MD Jonathan Eliason, MD Katherine Gallagher, MD Andrea Obi, MD Nicholas Osborne, MD, MS Nimesh Patel, MD
HIGHLIGHTS
PODIATRY FACULTY
This was our busiest clinical year to date. The Thoracoabdominal Branched Endograft program has now treated more than 20 patients with complex aortic disease. We launched a limb salvage program in partnership with podiatry and established the Michigan Lower Extremity Services (MiLES) Clinic for streamlined access to specialty services.
Noreen Anwar, DPM Stephanie Behme, DPM Christopher Girgis, DPM, DWSP Chrystal Murray-Holmes, DPM, CWSP Michael Munson, DPM Sari Prisand, DPM Gary Rothenberg, DPM Brian Schmidt, DPM Garneisha Torrence, DPM, MHMS
We hosted two vascular surgeons from Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam as part of an international partnership. Resident Andrew Huang, MD, visited Cho Ray Hospital to observe complex trauma cases and learn how surgeons deliver high-quality care in resource-limited settings. Andrea Obi, MD, received a Small Business Technology Transfer grant with Cerulean Scientific to evaluate tethered liquid perfluorocarbon in combating prosthetic graft failure for arterial bypass. Dr. Obi also tested a drug-coated balloon from Surmodics to treat peripheral artery disease. The Figueroa Lab developed a novel model of particle-plasma interactions and a microscopy/AI pipeline to characterize myocardial microvascular networks. The Davis Lab deepened understanding of abdominal aortic aneurysm pathogenesis for development of targeted therapies. Research fellow Sama Salih won a VRIC student travel award. The lab also received a MI-AORTA grant. Robert Beaulieu, MD, MSE, was appointed Marion and David Handleman Research Professor of Vascular Surgery. Dr. Davis received the Joan L. and Julius H. Jacobson II Promising Investigator Award from the American College of Surgeons, the Silver Scalpel Award from the U-M Medical School, and was appointed the Linda M. Graham, MD, Research Professor in Vascular Surgery. Dr. Obi was elected the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission Vascular Testing Board of Directors Secretary. Dr. Osborne was named Director of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Cardiovascular Consortium. Katherine Gallagher, MD, was named the Basic Science Specialist for the Society for Vascular Surgery Executive Board. Peter Henke, MD, is the Chair for the 2026 Vascular Discovery meeting and Vice Chair for the PAD Summit.
RESEARCH FACULTY C. Alberto Figueroa, PhD Daniel Myers, DVM, MPH, DACLAM ACTIVE EMERITUS FACULTY Thomas Wakefield, MD James Stanley, MD
Thinking outside the box: Early career faculty get creative about funding their research To make research happen, money is required. While several faculty researchers in the Department of Surgery have larger federal grants, plenty also find creative ways to support their work through alternate funding sources, including academic medical societies, industry partnerships and more. Grants from these alternate sources are useful to help diversify funding portfolios and sustain research projects for faculty at any career level. But they also come with some added professional benefits, especially for early career faculty working towards larger grants. This is the case for minimally invasive surgeon Ryan Howard MD, MS, and endocrine surgeon Lauren Krumeich, MD, MS, who recently received awards from a few different non-federal sources to support their ongoing projects. HOW THEY GOT THE GRANTS
Howard and his colleague, surgical oncologist Hari Nathan, MD, recently received a $1.2 million grant to fund a three-year project courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), which came from a question about the impact of Collaborative Quality Initiatives (CQIs) on health outcomes in Michigan. “We spend all this time, effort and money on quality improvement in Michigan, but what kind of impact has that had on outcomes?” said Howard. He and Nathan wrote up a proposal and reached out to BCBSM to gauge their interest. After some discussion and further refining of his proposal, they got the funding. Howard’s other grant came from the American Hernia Society Foundation, which was on his radar. He had a project about decision-making around using one mesh type over another for hernia repairs that fit well. Now, he has a year of funding for that project.
Krumeich received two grants from the Society of University Surgeons (SUS) and the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS). She was already aware of the SUS opportunity because of her involvement with the annual Academic Surgical Congress meeting, which is hosted by SUS and the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS). For the AWS grant, one of her colleagues encouraged her to apply. Krumeich studies how hormones in the adrenal gland change the environment to facilitate tumor growth in lung cancer. Each of these grants will support this work, but it’s important to note that there is no scientific overlap because each investigates distinct lung cancer cell lines. “There are lots of genetic mutations in lung cancer that elicit different immune responses. We’re using this opportunity to establish the immune environment in these different contexts, which is part of a bigger picture for a larger project proposal,” said Krumeich. WHY DIVERSIFY RESEARCH FUNDING?
“Generally, I think it’s just good practice. There are lots of places to get support for the research you do,” said Howard. He and Krumeich acknowledge that diversifying funding sources can be especially helpful for early faculty looking to build their repertoire and reputation in their particular field. A lot of society grants, including Howard’s American Hernia Society Foundation grant, are designed to favor early career faculty as they work towards larger grants. Krumeich’s awards are helping fund preliminary research for the NIH career development award she’s currently working toward. The partnership that comes from these awards is something that Krumeich and Howard also find very valuable. “These society grants give a lot of visibility to my research and help me
network with other people who want to support this work,” said Krumeich. She credits her current collaboration with researchers at institutions around the country to the visibility she’s gained from these funding opportunities as they start building a biorepository of metastases to the adrenal gland from different malignancies to support future research. A BUILT-IN SUPPORT SYSTEM
Applying for research funding of any kind comes with plenty of red tape, but faculty have a unique resource embedded in the department to support that: the Surgery Research Office, led by Anne Hathaway, who stepped into the director role in October 2025. The team doesn’t help researchers find funding opportunities, but they are there to help with anything else a researcher may need before and after they get their grants. “Our team enables researchers to focus on their work by taking the administrative burden off their plate,” said Hathaway. This includes help navigating specific rules and regulations from federal organizations, a specific society and the University of Michigan Medical School. The team’s support can also get as granular as combing through hundreds of pages to ensure language and formatting are correct or building out comprehensive project budgets. The support the Surgery Research Office provides is appreciated immensely by faculty like Howard and Krumeich, who have nothing but glowing things to say about the team’s support. “My pre-award specialist goes above and beyond. She is truly my partner in all of this – I could not do this without her,” said Krumeich. HOW TO DIVERSIFY FUNDING SOURCES
For faculty researchers looking for alternate sources of funding for their work, Howard and Krumeich have some thoughts. Be open to whatever comes your way “One thing I always say is just say yes to everything,” said Howard. This worked out in his favor when a senior faculty member in the Division of Surgical Oncology reached out to him with an opportunity to look at the impact of bariatric surgery on cancer survivors with
obesity-related diseases. This wasn’t on his radar at all, but much like the American Hernia Society Foundation grant, it aligned with his research interests, so he said yes. Roughly two weeks later, they submitted a proposal to the Rogel Cancer Center for a $100,000 grant. Tap into your network Krumeich leans into the built-in network among department faculty for guidance about finding support for her research. “Everyone here is so happy to share their experiences and ideas with you,” said Krumiech. Her colleagues and mentors regularly share opportunities and advice about which grants may be a good fit or help her fortify her professional network. Krumeich is also involved with the Center for Basic and Translational Science (CBATS), a research center in the Department of Surgery. It’s been a very helpful community for her, offering opportunities to workshop and refine elements of her career development award application, among other resources. Always be searching and applying There are a lot of mechanisms to match researchers with potential grants, and the University of Michigan does a lot to ensure researchers are aware of available resources. Krumeich is on several email lists, including one that aggregates opportunities specific to her research interests. “Just do everything you can to be aware of opportunities out there,” said Howard. “I’m constantly searching online and checking my email.” Aside from consistently looking out for new ways to fund their research, Howard and Krumeich are always working on new grant applications. They think it’s important to cast a wide net and be ready for funding opportunities that could yield new collaborators or pave the way for future support. “We should always have grants out there. You never know what’s going to stick,” said Krumeich. BY GILLIAN GOLDEN
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DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY