Newsletter  - Summer 2006

Welcome to the Department of Surgery Newsletter. We hope you find this information helpful.

From Where l Sit..
Richard L. Gamelli, MD, FACS

The summer months are upon us and as is our department’s tradition we just hosted our annual resident and fellow farewell banquet and welcoming of new residents and fellows to our program. At such a time several thoughts come to mind. First, despite what their ages are, the new class of housestaff looks younger each year.  The second is that this year’s graduates were just as young when they started and during their residency they have developed mature judgment, excellent surgical skill, and have become posed and confident surgeons. They have also grown as individuals with several marrying or become engaged and families started.  While we can easily count their surgical case log it is a bit harder to quantify what we have taught them and what they have learned. For sure we take great pride in what they have accomplished and are confident in their surgical expertise, clinical reasoning, and that they know to do what is right for their patients.  Three of this year’s six chief residents are going on to further fellowship training and three are going into private practice.  This balance between continued advanced training and clinical practice is a longstanding tradition of the department and speaks to the rich clinical training that our residents receive. As it is the expectation that an academic program must also provide well educated surgeons we have continued to develop and broaden our educational programs. This has included the ongoing development of our virtual training programs in the Golen Learning Resource

Center headed by Dr. Sharfi Sarker and advanced operative training with the ATOM course (advanced trauma operative management) directed by Dr. John Santaniello. Fundamental to our ability as surgeons to care for patients and improve patient outcome is the discovery of new knowledge. To do so we must educated the future clinician scientist who will do this important work. We must also address the ethic of what it we do in our conduct of patient care. Along with our surgical resident graduates we have four surgical resident research fellows that have completed their work in the department’s research laboratories. Three of these will be re-entering our clinical program and one will be returning to his home department. These research fellows have earned Ph.D.’s in Cell Biology and Maters Degree in Bioethics. The research that these fellows have done includes the effect of infection on innate immunity, adrenergic control of wound healing, tissue engineering of blood vessels, mast cell control of wound healing, and patient self determination during critical illness. The breath and excellence of their work speaks to the passion and talent of these residents as well as the commitment of their laboratory mentors.  The entering group of three new research fellows will join the senior research fellows and follow in our tradition of advanced training in research supported by the NIH, our NIH Trauma Training Grant, and the Falk Medical Research Trust. The ability to offer surgical residents outstanding clinical and research training is the result of the strategic plan that our faculty has been dedicated to for more than a decade. We have added to our clinical programs and faculty, developed fellowship programs, and built a core of funded research scientist. The pride that we take in these successes fuels our current plans for continued growth of our programs. An important commentary on what we do is the reflection of graduates of our program.  In this newsletter we initiate a new feature highlighting surgical alumni of our program. The first of these is an update on a 1998 graduate, Dr. Jeffrey Zawacki. These commentaries will allow our senior residents to better understand what is before them and can also point to a career path our incoming residents might choose to follow. Success can be quantified in many ways but simply put “Success is not measured by what one brings, but rather by what one leaves.” It is our hope that the talent and energy the department and its faculty bring to this work will be the foundation for the success of our students, residents and fellows.

Feature Articles

Kovacs Named New Vice Chair of Research, Associate Director of Burn and Shock Trauma Institute

The Department of Surgery of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine has appointed Elizabeth J. Kovacs, Ph.D., as the new vice chair of research and associate director of the Burn and Shock Trauma Institute, effective July 1, 2006.

 Internationally recognized, Kovacs has been a Stritch faculty member since 1987, when she joined the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy. In 1992, she began conducting research as an investigator with the Burn and Shock Trauma Institute while maintaining her Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy appointment. In 1998, she was named professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Surgery and the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy.

A native of New York City, N.Y., Kovacs received her Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the University of Vermont, Burlington, in 1984. From 1984 to 1987, she served as a post-doctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute, studying the regulation of gene expression in immune cells.

Since that time, her basic science research has resulted in major accomplishments in three main areas: the effects of alcohol on injury, the aging process and injury, and gender differences in injury response. Currently, Kovacs is the principal investigator  for five grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including an Institutional Training Grant entitled “Training in Neuroimmunoendocrine Effects of Alcohol .

Having authored or co-authored 112 publications and given numerous presentations to groups around the world, Kovacs brings a strong research focus to her new role in the Department of Surgery. “My overall plan is to expand research initiatives within the mission of the Burn and Shock Trauma Institute, including conducting translational research in the areas of trauma, burns, and inflammation. Our hope is to better understand the mechanisms behind tissue injury and repair, so we can improve therapeutic interventions,” she notes.

Research funding for the Burn and Shock Trauma Institute jumped to $4.2 million in fiscal year 2005, from $1.5 million when its research program began. Kovacs aims to continue that trend.

High on her list of priorities is expanding the program exploring the combined effect of alcohol exposure and injury on the immune system, a key area of Kovacs’ own research. Pending approval this summer is a $9 million NIH  P50 Burn Research Center Application entitled “Burn injury and alcohol exposure: Neuroimmunoendocrine interactions.” that would expand on out existing studies on  the combined effect of alcohol exposure and injury on inflammatory and  immune responses. In addition, more investigators will be recruited to the burn and alcohol program.

Other developments include the hiring of Carol Schermer, M.D., M.P.H., who brings NIH-funded research with her. Schermer’s work focuses on how early intervention of patients who come to the Emergency Department with alcohol problems may impact recidivism.

Another faculty member joining the Burn and Shock Trauma Institute team is John Callaci, Ph.D., who just secured an NIH research grant on the effect of alcohol on bone metabolism. Callaci will retain his faculty position in the Stritch Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Services, but will conduct his research in a Burn and Shock Trauma Institute laboratory.

Kovacs also intends to continue the good work of the Injury Prevention Program, directed by Thomas Esposito, M.D., which offers community-based education and prevention programs.

In addition to pursuing her own investigations and managing research for the Burn and Shock Trauma Institute and Department of Surgery, Kovacs also will find time to continue teaching histology to first-year medical students. “I absolutely love working with medical students. I think teaching is a blast,” she adds.

Well-Regarded Visiting Professor Places Loyola’s Surgery Program Among Top 10 in U.S.

When internationally recognized L.D. Britt, M.D., M.P.H., recalls his visit last April as the Puestow-Freeark Visiting Professor of the Department of Surgery of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (Stritch), he focuses on three exemplary surgical leaders.

“Dr. Freeark was my first examiner when I took my surgical board exam,” explains Britt, referring to Robert J. Freeark, M.D., who served as chair of the Stritch Department of Surgery from 1975-1995. “He passed the baton to Dr. Gamelli, who has continued to build an outstanding team at Loyola.” Succeeding Freeark, Richard L. Gamelli, M.D., currently serves as the Robert J. Freeark Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery.

Britt also remembered the major contributions of Charles B. Puestow, M.D., well known surgeon and researcher at the Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Affairs Hospital (Hines), which is located next to Stritch on its Maywood, Ill., campus. The Puestow procedure, performed for chronic pancreatitis, is named after the surgeon, who served as the chief of surgery at Hines from 1945 until he retired in the early 1970s. In the early years of Loyola University Medical Center, Puestow also ran its surgical residency program. Recognizing the surgeon’s outstanding contributions, the Puestow Visiting Professorship was started in the mid-1970s. In 1996, it was renamed the Puestow-Freeark Visiting Professorship to honor Freeark after he stepped down in 1995.

The Puestow-Freeark Visiting Professorship invites surgeons with national and international reputations, such as Britt, to discuss issues of importance to surgeons today.

Britt is the Brickhouse Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at the Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Va., and a graduate of Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health. The author of more than 130 scientific publications and a reviewer for numerous editorial boards, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Annals of Surgery, and Archives of Surgery, among many others, Britt is the recipient of the nation’s highest teaching teaching award in medicine – the Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teaching Award.

He recently was honored by the Association of Surgical Education with its lifetime achievement award, which is the Distinguished Educator Award. This honor is bestowed annually to only one person who is considered by peers to be a true master. Britt also is a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgeons and is the chair of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Residency Review Committee for Surgery.

The well-regarded surgeon has only praise for the Stritch Department of Surgery, which he describes as “comprehensive and very complete” in its programmatic offerings of basic science and clinical research, clinical care, and education. In his role as chair of the ACGME surgical residency review committee, Britt is in a position to evaluate surgical programs nationwide. “I think Loyola’s program is among the top 10 nationally,” he stresses.

As the Puestow-Freeark Visiting Professor, Britt addressed the topic, “Graduate Medical Education in the 21^st Century: A Call for a New Surgical Curriculum.” He believes that since the medical environment has changed, the system needs to be transformed in response. “There have been too many changes in medicine for the system not to change,” Britt explains. “As a whole, medicine has not embraced information technology the way the business community has,” says the surgeon, which has caused health care to lag behind. “In addition, 56 percent of medical students are women,” notes Britt. “Surgery is going to fall behind if we don’t cultivate women.”

“I believe we are in a renaissance period,” adds Britt, who has participated in more than 100 visiting professorships around the world. “We have the potential to make changes for the better.”

Department Unveils Donor Wall

Department of Surgery unveils the Donor Wall. On March 30^th the Department of Surgery held a reception to unveil the newly created Donor Wall and announce the creation of the Surgical Education & Research Endowment. The Donor Wall, located in the department’s newly renovated reception area, honors those individuals who have contributed to the Resident Education Fund over the years and will honor those in the future who contribute to the newly created endowment.  

Dr. Gamelli stated “monies donated to our residents and to research have far reaching implications. They go beyond the initial gift; it touches the lives of all the people they treat over a professional career or helps us advance knowledge that will eventually help patients.” The reception was well attended by current and former faculty, residents, resident alumni, administration and staff. When asked about the donor wall, Dr. Gamelli stated that “its design is open and without borders and that is our hope that we will be able to fill the wall over the next five years.” 

During the reception the department also unveiled a video clip addition to the departmental web site on the department’s residency program. For more information on how you can give to the Loyola Department of Surgery’s Surgical Education & Research Endowment please contact the department’s administrative office at
708 327-2707.  If you wish to view the department’s resident education video please click the link below.

Personal Message from Dr. Gamelli

Surgical Education Video

Clinical Spotlight

Seasoned Surgeon Balances Love of Clinical Care with Administrative Acumen

Steven A. De Jong, M.D., began his association with Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine as a medical student, only to go on to become one of the medical school’s most skilled and productive faculty members in the Department of Surgery.   

Graduating from Stritch in 1984, De Jong served his surgical internship and residency from 1984-89, followed by a fellowship in endocrine surgery from 1989-1990 at Loyola University Medical Center. Since 1990, De Jong has established himself as an esteemed member of the Department of Surgery faculty. In 1994, he was appointed chief of the Section of Endocrine Surgery, and in 2002, took over the leadership of the Division of General Surgery, both of which he continues today. In 2002, he also was named Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs in the Department of Surgery.

Along with strong clinical skills, De Jong brings highly developed administrative skills that help to keep the Department of Surgery’s busy clinical affairs running smoothly, assisting Richard L. Gamelli, M.D., Robert J. Freeark Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery.

First, De Jong maintains a very busy surgical practice for patients who require general and endocrine surgery. The vast majority of endocrine procedures, which total over 300 operations each year, involve the parathyroid, thyroid and adrenal disease. Most adrenal procedures are performed using laparoscopic or minimally invasive techniques, he says, resulting in reduced patient discomfort, earlier discharge from the hospital and less time away from work. Many of the parathyroid procedures also involve smaller incisions and minimally invasive techniques. Over the years, De Jong has maintained high surgical volumes while providing high quality care, with many patients coming from outside the area.  

“When I trained residents and fellows who came from other institutions, they told me that the number of procedures I performed in one week were equal to what other training programs had offered their residents over five years, which made me feel very proud,” the surgeon notes. 

The busy clinical practice is just one part of his total schedule. In his role as Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs for the Department of Surgery, De Jong coordinates the work of faculty, whether they are in inpatient or outpatient operating rooms on the Maywood campus, or at satellite facilities throughout Loyola University Health System. He regularly monitors faculty and overall department performance, assessing the need and methods for program development, expansion and improvement throughout the department. The surgeon-administrator also gets involved in recruitment and new program initiatives. 

But his greatest pride is people – those in the Department of Surgery as well as colleagues throughout the health system, many of whom he has known for years. “I know many people here who work very hard. They put their heart and soul into what they do. These people are our greatest asset,” De Jong says simply.  

The surgeon also enjoys teaching medical students and residents and takes that role very seriously. De Jong conducts formal rounds once a week as part of his teaching duties and holds two formal and many informal sessions each quarter for students performing their surgical clerkships. 

If that isn’t enough, De Jong also keeps up with research and writing articles. Recently he published the Presidential address for the Midwest Surgical Association on leadership entitled “Redefining success through leadership in the new economy” in the March 2006 issue of the American Journal of Surgery (Volume 191, Number 3). Last fall, he published an article on the history of the Stritch School of Medicine Department of Surgery in the Archives of Surgery (Volume 140, October 2005). 

With his long history at Loyola, De Jong has watched in amazement at the growth of the medical center into a health system that spans 7 satellite locations as well as a greatly expanded Maywood campus. Watching Loyola University Health System’s transformation over the years, he feels proud and grateful to be a part of its success. “I’m very privileged to be able to do what I like to do,” says De Jong. 

He describes himself as a surgeon, first. “I still like being in the OR. Every surgeon does,” observes De Jong. “But I also enjoy the role of administrator, teacher and investigator. Dr. Gamelli has entrusted me with a good deal of responsibility and I enjoy contributing to the future success and development of the Department of Surgery.”

Resident Corner

Reflections about Leaving Loyola
Mary Margaret Wolfe, M.D.
Outgoing Chief Resident – June 2006

 I am extremely proud that I have endured five of the most rigorous years of training imaginable.  I am proud that, with my training from Loyola coupled with the expertise of my attendings, I have made the transition from “lowly” intern to Chief Resident.   

Internship was designed to redirect me from book learning to theory application in real-time (and at times at warp speed).  Internship was learning to prioritize, organize, and “play nice in the sandbox.”  I went from feeling responsible for my three or four patients as a medical student to being responsible for 15 to 20 patients on a daily basis.  I had to wend my way through a system that wasn’t always friendly and efficient, and learn to remain professional throughout.  I had to learn to focus on what would work in order to give and get the best care for my patients.  

The next three years I was relieved of the frenzy of intern work by own intern and thus spent this time learning the intricacies of surgical diseases.  I also learned how to approach my patients in a manner that would ease them, reassure them of my knowledge but still enable them to understand what was happening to them.  In addition, my time was spent interacting with students.  Their questions, often brutally to the point, kept me on my toes.  I found that a few sit-down mini lectures were good for teaching.  However, it was the impromptu, at-the-bedside teaching that drew their most sincere appreciation for here was the practical application of book learning first hand.  My reward for this effort was watching some students open to the idea of a career in surgery, while watching others forget their preconceived notions and learn to enjoy my chosen field of medicine.  The strategies for these interactions with patients and students were not learned in a book.  Rather, they were learned by observing the attendings on rounds and in the clinics, supplemented perhaps by a little trial and error. 

Chief year is the “Promised Land”.  I had finally worked my way up to the cases I had so long awaited.  I was able to widen my experience and refine my skills and knowledge.  As the attendings began to treat me as more of a colleague than student, I learned their secrets of balancing great outcomes with those inevitable feelings of failure when, try as I might, I could not offer of my ability to make my patients better.   While I know I won’t always be able to offer a cure, I do know that my experience at Loyola gives me the breadth of knowledge and skill to do the best for my patients.  My gratitude will always be to my attendings for sharing their academic expertise and personal insights to give me the foundation on which I hope to build an excellent surgical career. 

Keeley 2006:  A Pediatric Plastic Surgery Experience
Wellington J. Davis III
Chief Resident, Division of Plastic Surgery

This year I had the distinguished honor of receiving the Keeley Traveling Fellowship Award.  It is funding from the Department of Surgery for a traveling fellowship focused on learning a specialized area of surgery one may not have exposure to during residency  at Loyola.  It is awarded to one or two chief residents or senior fellows each year.  I proposed using the funding to expand my pediatric plastic surgery knowledge and experience.

For the first leg of my journey I spent a few days at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles with Dr. John Reinisch and his partner Sheryl Lewin to learn Dr. Reinisch’s technique of alloplastic ear reconstruction with medpore implants.  I was able to observe first hand and ask questions about his first stage ear reconstructions at each step.  From the principles I learned from Dr. Bauer at Children’s Memorial I was able to understand the ideas behind Dr. Reinisch’s approach.  In the future I think this technique will become more prominent and I hope to integrate this technique into my own practice.  In addition I saw their approach to cleft lip repair and mandibular distraction with Dr. Mark Urata. The team at CHLA was very approachable and receptive to having visitors.  It was truly an outstanding and warm learning experience.

For the second leg of my journey I traveled to Toronto, Canada to spend a week at the Hospital for Sick Children one of the meccas of Craniofacial/Pediatric Plastic Surgery.  I learned that the problems of reduced resources for health care extend universally.  Originally, I planned to observe facial reanimation cases with Ron Zuker, a master in this technique, but due to hospital cutbacks Dr. Zuker had a reduction in OR time and is currently on a partial sabbatical.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get to observe any facial reanimation, but this being said there was still plenty to learn at the Mecca.  I spent a full day in the clinic with Dr. Zuker and every word from his mouth was a pearl.  I witnessed his initial evaluation of facial palsy patients which was very valuable.  In addition I spend some time in the OR with the craniofacial team Dr. Christopher Forrest and Dr. John Phillips.  I observed some very useful techniques some of which are as of yet unpublished.  I also got to observe Dr. David Fischer, a master cleft surgeon, repair a few lips and some post op results which was also invaluable.

During my experience I learned a lot about pediatric plastic surgery but also something about my own personal training experience at Loyola.  I believe that our training at Loyola prepares us well for our future careers.  We are taught the principles of surgery which helps us to understand and talk the talk even with the best in our field.  I felt very comfortable as an observer at these outside institutions and although I was learning new techniques nothing seemed completely foreign or inaccessible.  I’d like to thank the Department for this unique opportunity which has certainly helped to round off my training experience.  I would advise other residents to consider spending time at other institutions when you’re out in practice.  Take advantage of the opportunity to use the Keeley Fellowship.  It helps to reaffirm the things that you’ve already learned and may potentially help to bring your surgical practice and technique to another level.  Currently I’m off to a Craniofacial/Pediatric Fellowship at the Royal Children’s Hospital down under in Melbourne, Australia.  One more year, all the best.

Where They Are Going

The Burn & Shock Trauma Institute of the Loyola Medical Center provides a two year research training grant for individuals that are interested in developing advanced knowledge and skills in basic science research in the field of trauma and burns. The program offers excellent laboratory experience with direct supervision by highly professional faculty that will guide and collaborate with the trainee so that their goals are met. The institute is unique in that M.D.s and PhD.s collaborate together to find novel ways to better care for trauma and burn patients.

Awards

Dr. Juan Angelats, Division of Plastics, was awarded “Citizen of the Year” by Rotary International.  He was also named a Paul Harris Fellow (Founder of Rotary International) for his work on behalf of the World Community.

Dr. Wellington Davis, Division of Plastics, was awarded 2^nd Place in the Annual Senior Residents Competition sponsored by the Chicago Plastic Surgical Society. He submitted a case report on a patient that was treated during the 2006 PAMS Peru Mission trip.  Drs. Angelats, Dado and Cossio were also authors on the case report.

Appointments

 Dr. John Santaniello, Division of Trauma, has been appointed as the Medical Director of the Surgical ICU.  He also has been appointed to the Central Curricular Authority for the Stritch School of Medicine and as Co-Chairman of the hospitals VTE/DVT prophylaxis committee.

Dr. Gerard Aranha, Division of Surgical Oncology, has been named a Governor – American College of Surgeons, Metropolitan Chicago Chapter.

Presentations

Dr. Richard Gamelli recently delivered the commencement address to the Stritch School of Medicine Class of 2006.

Dr. Richard Gamelli was a Guest Lecturer at the Fourth Meeting of the Middle East Burn and Fire Disaster Society in Ankara, Turkey.

Dr. Richard Gamelli was invited to present the Fourth Annual John F. Hansbrough Memorial Lecture to the Department of Surgery – University of California – San Diego. His presentation was entitled – “Hormonal and Pharmacological Enhancement of Nutritional Support”.

Dr. Gerard Aranha recently delivered his Presidential address – “Glorious Past-Uncertain Future” to the Chicago Surgical Society.

Dr. Gerard Aranha presented “The Role of Interventional Radiologist in the Management of the Management of Complications following Pancreaticoduodenectomy” to the Pancreas Club at UCLA.

Dr. Gerard Aranha presented “Quality of Life:  Managing Symptoms” at the Pancreatic Cancer Symposium at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Abstracts

Octtreotide does not present Pancreatic Fistula Formation following Pancreaticoduodenectomy – Poster Presentation at the annual meeting of the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.  Aaron JM, Shoup M, Pickleman J, Aranha GV

Excluded Posterior Right Hepatic Duct Drainage after Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy – Poster Presentation at the Poster Presentation at the annual meeting of the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.  Gruenwald ND, Brems JJ, Pierce K, Aranha GV, Borge M.

Heparin coated stents do not protect cancer patients from cardiac complications following non-cardiac surgery – Poster Presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for Surgical Oncology.  Sherman KL, Obi SH, Aranha GV, Yao K, Shoup M.

The Impact of Clinicopathological Factors on Survival of Patients with Gastric Cancer – Poster Presentation at the 47^th Annual Meeting of the Society of the Alimentary Tract.  Patel J, Dutta S, Shoup M, Pickleman J. Aranha GV.

Publications

Alumni News

Busy Alum Credits Loyola Residency with Teaching ‘Great Surgical Skills’

Jeffrey Zawacki, M.D., who performs up to 1,000 general and colorectal surgical procedures annually, considers his surgical residency at Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC) as an exemplary training ground. “We were trained by very skillful surgeons,” says Zawacki. “As a result, the residents learned great surgical skills.”

Those strong surgical skills have served Zawacki well. He now conducts a busy clinical practice as part of Suburban Surgical Associates in Berwyn, Ill., and has privileges at neighboring MacNeal Hospital, as well as LaGrange Hospital, Hinsdale Hospital, Oak Park Hospital, and Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove, in Illinois. The Oak Park resident also serves as an assistant clinical professor in surgery at the University of Chicago, where he is the academic director of the Surgical Residency Program at MacNeal Hospital, which is affiliated with the University of Chicago.

Combining his clinical practice with teaching suits Zawacki, who considered a career in academic medicine while at Loyola from 1992-1998. During his surgical residency, he took a year off to serve as a research fellow in the Burn and Shock Trauma Institute. Through that experience, he learned how to ask a testable question and set up models to test a hypothesis, among other things. But Zawacki also realized he “strongly disliked” writing papers and decided he wasn’t cut out for an academic career. After finishing his residency, he completed a fellowship in colorectal surgery at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn., in 1999, and then returned to the Chicago area to set up his surgical practice.

Originally from Massachusetts, Zawacki says he was “drawn” to serving his residency at LUMC because of the “sense of family” there. As a resident, when he would try to describe the Loyola culture to incoming interns and residents, he told them that “these are the kind of people you would want to hang out with, like your buddies in college.”

“The residents really cared about the patients,” Zawacki recalls, “and that kind of caring started from the top down, beginning with attending physicians. I thought that they were all good people.” His sense of fraternity continues today. “When I need to refer patients, I don’t hesitate to refer them to attending physicians at Loyola,” the surgeon adds.

“I look back upon my time at Loyola only in a positive light,” says Zawacki, who is now married with four children. His memories include some “tough love” techniques used by his Loyola mentors, Gerard Aranha, M.D., chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology, and Jack Pickleman, M.D., former chief of the Division of General Surgery who retired in 2002 from the Department of Surgery of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Using humor, the surgeons would name procedures after residents who needed to improve their skills performing them, recalls Zawacki, who uses some of the same techniques while training his surgical residents.

Jokes aside, Zawacki continues to hold his teachers in high esteem. “What I thank them for the most, is teaching me how to operate exceptionally well.”