Teaching tomorrow's surgeons

In collaboration with the University of Vermont Health Network, the Department of Surgery strives to recruit and retain the best faculty members to train our medical students.  The Department provides surgical services and training at the University of Vermont Health Network and is proud to be an integral part of this high quality, cost efficient health care center.  Our mission is to provide excellent patient care, superb resident and medical student training, and to foster research and innovation.   

Faculty and student practice microsutures

Education

From the entering novice medical student to the most experienced practitioner, the educational contribution of our department significantly and positively impacts the quality of care throughout Vermont and the areas throughout the country where our graduates practice. The major focus of our educational programs lies in Medical Student Education, Resident Education, Continuing Medical Education and Skills Labs.

Physicians in the skull base lab

Research

A broad spectrum of activities are directed toward improving the quality of our patient care and toward developing novel, innovative therapies. Through investigator-initiated trials, as well as national cooperative group, and industry-funded trials, department faculty are able to offer our patients access to cutting-edge treatments not otherwise available.

Department Highlights

Brian Sprague, PhD, Division of Surgical Research, was awarded a Health Services Research Pilot Grant from the Larner College of Medicine, for his proposal, “Evaluation of a cancer risk assessment questionnaire to guide cancer screening decision-making in primary care.”

Bruce Leavitt, MD (Cardiothoracic Surgery) and a team of 10 from UVM, are part of Team Heart, a nonprofit focused on bringing cardiac care to people in Rwanda.  Watch the WCAX segment. 

Departmental News

Prikis, Pineda Quoted in WCAX Story on Living Kidney Donors

January 18, 2024 by Lucy Gardner Carson

(JANUARY 18, 2024) Nephrologist Marios Prikis, M.D., associate professor of medicine, and transplant surgeon Jaime Pineda, M.D., assistant professor of surgery, commented to WCAX for a story on living donors for kidney transplants.

Nephrologist Marios Prikis, M.D., associate professor of medicine and medical director of pancreas and kidney transplant programs at UVMMC (left), and transplant surgeon Jaime Pineda, M.D., assistant professor of surgery

(JANUARY 18, 2024) Nephrologist Marios Prikis, M.D., associate professor of medicine, and transplant surgeon Jaime Pineda, M.D., assistant professor of surgery, commented to WCAX for a story on living donors for kidney transplants.

Dozens of Vermonters wait years for kidneys, a process that’s only gotten lengthier. According to the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC), patients on average wait at least two to three years to get a kidney transplant, and in some instances up to seven years.

That’s why doctors are encouraging living donors. Many people may not be aware that the human body, which contains two kidneys, can function perfectly well with just one. Doctors say living donations are better for patient outcomes and have less risk associated with transporting a deceased donor’s kidney from elsewhere.

“It’s thoroughly and strictly investigated, examined for them to be approved. And then similarly the recipient goes through a thorough process,” said Prikis, who is medical director of pancreas and kidney transplant programs at UVMMC. “So both of them and then it’s an elective surgery on an elective day. Both good for the patients but also for the team.”

At UVM, the doctors say 30 percent of their kidney transplants are from living donors, but the goal would be well over 50 percent because a living donor can take years off the wait.

“Our living donors are increasing, but we have a population that probably will be very eager to donate more. And we need many more living donors in our area,” Pineda said.

Officials say 78 patients in the UVM Health Network are currently waiting for a kidney, there were 27 deceased organ donors last year, and there are three scheduled living kidney surgeries this month.

The University of Vermont Medical Center has comprehensive information about becoming a living kidney donor.

Read full story at WCAX-TV

Upcoming Events

Surgery Grand Rounds is held every Thursday during the academic year (September - June) in the Davis Auditorium from 7:30-8:30 am followed by M&M Conference from 8:30-9:30 am.

Visit the detailed department calendar >>