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The second half of the 2014-15 academic year (January 1-June30) saw a number of exciting developments in the Departmentof Surgery. The residency program expansion continued withthe recruitment of eight new individuals joining in the first andsecond years of the residency program. A more detailed reportis included within this E-News. We also had continuedprogress in several other key programs within the Departmentincluding the Rural Surgery Support Program, the Simulationprogram, the Surgical Anatomy program, and the spectrum ofrotation opportunities for our residents. Our medical studentscontinue to do well in the national match with severalmatching into very competitive surgical specialties. A fullreport on the match and UND students is also enclosed. Weall anxiously anticipate the opening of the new medical schoolwhich is just one short year away. The academic yearculminated in a very successful and invigorating ResidentResearch Colloquium and Chief Resident Banquet. We werefortunate to have Dr. Ajit Sachdeva as our Edwin C. JamesLecturer, who is a nationally recognized surgical educator andfounding Director of the Division of Education of the AmericanCollege of Surgeons. Dr. Sachdeva was very impressed andcomplimentary of activities within our program. We hope to

continue and increase ourcollaboration with theAmerican College ofSurgeons in the future.

In summary, the 2014-15academic year was verysuccessful and encouragingfor the continued growth andprogression of theDepartment of Surgery.Please read through the E-News and get moreinformation of all of theexciting developments andevents that occurred duringthis time period.

With best regards,

Robert P. Sticca, MD, FACSChairman and Program Director

From the Chair

Fall 2015

Department of SurgerySchool of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversity of North Dakota501 N. Columbia Rd., Stop 9037Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037P: 701.777.2589F: 701.777.2609www.med.UND.edu/surgery

Upcoming Events• November 19-20 and December 3-4, 17-18: Interviews

with residency program applicants• December 5: Annual Christmas Party at the home of Dr.

Robert Sticca, chair, Department of Surgery.• January 30: ABSITE Exam. Surgery Department faculty may

participate for review of current practice or preparation forAmerican Board of Surgery recertification.

• June 24: Edwin C. James lectureship, Surgical ResidentResearch Colloquium and Graduation Banquet at theRamada Plaza Suites and Conference Center in Fargo. Moredetailed information to follow.

Medical Student Alumni NewsFormer UND medical students who are in surgical specialties,please e-mail Geralyn Lunski with news!

From the Chair.................................................Page 1Upcoming Events.............................................Page 1Mecial Student Alumni News ..........................Page 1Medical Student News.....................................Page 2Residency Program Activities ......................Pages 3-4Program Announcements.................................Page 4Resident Research Colloquium Winners......Pages 5-7Awards ............................................................Page 7Residency Program News ................................Page 8American Board of Surgery Certification ..........Page 8New Incoming Residents.............................Pages 8-9Faculty News ..........................................Pages 10-11Surgical Volunteerism....................................Page 12Residency Program Alumni News..................Page 12

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Medical Student NewsMedical School GraduationThe medical school awards luncheon and graduation wereheld on Sunday May 9, 2015 at the Chester Fritz Auditoriumon the UND Campus in Grand Forks. 54 new physiciansreceived their MD degrees, with 12 (22%) of them enteringGeneral Surgery or surgical subspecialties. Although thesurgical specialties are highly competitive residencies, UNDstudents continue to do well in matching in their desiredspecialties at very competitive programs. The studentsgraduating in 2015 entered several competitive surgicalspecialties including one in General Surgery, four inAnesthesiology, one in Ophthalmology, two in Orthopaedic,one in Otolaryngology, and one in Plastic Surgery. Thefaculty of the Department of Surgery is commended for theircontinued support and inspiration of the medical students whodesire careers in surgical specialties.

The “match”, a national computerized program through theNRMP (National Resident Matching Program), is held eachyear in March and matches prospective residents andresidency programs based on their top choices. This year thefollowing UND students matched in surgical specialties:

General Surgery:Matthew Malek, MD, University of South Dakota

School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Anesthesiology: Thomas Botsford, MD, Cleveland Clinic Foundation,

Cleveland, OhioSean Cooley, MD, University of Minnesota Medical School,

Minneapolis, MinnesotaNathan Hoaglund, MD, University of Pittsburgh

Medical Center Medial Education Program, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Kyle Wilebski, MD, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana

Ophthalmology:Michael Jordan, MD, University of Minnesota,

Minneapolis, MinnesotaOrthopaedic Surgery:

Joshua Johnson, MD, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, Minnesota

Lucas Teske, MD, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Otolaryngology: Philip Gardner, MD, University of Texas Health

Science Center, San Antonio, TexasPlastic Surgery:

Andrew Mills, MD, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Rochester, Minnesota

Department of Surgery Awards Department of Surgery Awards were given to the followinggraduating medical students:

Department of Surgery Outstanding Student Award

This award goes to the senior student who demonstratesexcellence in the specialty of surgery, and is based on a scoringsystem from both their third and fourth year rotations. BrendanBoe MSIV of Grand Forks, North Dakota was the recipient forthe 2014-15 academic year. Brendan matched in Obstetrics-Gynecology at University of Colorado School of Medicine,Aurora, Colorado

Honors Award for 3rd year medical studentsIn order for a student to achieve Honors they must score abovethe 90th percentile on the NBME shelf exam, score 8 or higheron the oral exam and be recommended for honors by themajority of their preceptors. Honors awarded for the 2014-15year: SW Campus in Bismarck – Layne Egan (Leal, ND). Fromthe SE Campus in Fargo: Scott Allen, (North Mankota, MN),Eric Dowling, (Moorhead, MN), Emma Swanson (Fargo, ND ),and Michael Traynor, Jr., (Fargo, ND). From the NE Campusin Grand Forks: David Larson (Austin, MN).

Wayne M. Swenson, MD Award by the North Dakota/SouthDakota Chapters of the American College of SurgeonsMedical students from first to fourth year, attending theUniversity of North Dakota School of Medicine, are eligibleto submit papers on surgery related research. Papers are judgedand selected by a selection committee in the Department ofsurgery for submission to the joint North Dakota/South DakotaChapter meeting. The paper that is selected is presented by thestudent at the joint North Dakota/South Dakota Chaptermeeting. The award recipient will receive a $300 check andthe Wayne M. Swenson, MD, Award plaque.

The 2015 recipient was Eric Dowling, MSIII for his researchpaper “Incidence of Residual Malignancy afterNeoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Adenocarcinoma ofthe Distal Esophagus”

L to R: Dr. Boe, Dr. Szlabick, (Associate Program Director ofSurgery) and Dean Wynne

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Residency Program ActivitiesFrank Low Research DayFrank Low Research Day provides a forum where faculty andstudents can be exposed to the latest research interests andactivities of their colleagues. Held for the first time in the springof 1981, Research Day was dedicated in the name of Frank N.Low, Ph.D., upon his retirement as a gesture of recognition forhis contributions to research at the School of Medicine andHealth Sciences.

Every year for the past few years, we have had surgicalresidents submit their abstracts to the Frank Low Research Dayheld every spring here at UND in Grand Forks. This year Drs.Eric Anderson, PGY IV, Zachary Ernst, PGY IV, DanielPersinger, PGY III, and Travis Swartz, PGY III attended. Beloware some of the pictures taken at Frank Low Research Day.

Residency Program Graduation/End of Year Activities (June26, 2015)

12th Annual Edwin C. James Lectureshipwhich was established in honor of EdwinC. James, MD who was Professor andChairman of the Department of Surgeryfrom 1980-89 and was the founder of theSurgical Residency Program. Each year weinvite a nationally recognized speaker tohonor this lectureship. This year’s Lecturerwas Ajit Sachdeva, MD, Director, Divisionof Education at the American College ofSurgeons. His talk was on Preparation ofResidents for Surgical Practice:

Challenges, Opportunities, and New Directions.

14th Annual Surgical Resident Research Colloquium was heldJune 26th and was attended by over 50 physicians, studentsand friends. The thirteen presentations by the PGY III, IV, andVs were judged by Ajit Sachdeva, MD (Director, Division ofEducation at the American College of Surgeons), CorneliusDyke, MD (Associate Dean of the SE Campus and AssistantProfessor of Surgery), and Jyotika Sharma, PhD, AssistantProfess of Microbiology & Immunology at UND.

To add to the day, posters were made by the PGY I and IIresidents showcasing the preliminary work on their researchprojects. This afforded each resident the opportunity to discusstheir projects with fellow surgeons and researchers to furtherimprove their research.

Dr. Travis Swartz, PGY III with his poster “Medical SuppliesExposed to an Environmental Control System Failure”

Dr. Zachary Ernst, PGY IV with his poster “Incidental Non-Functional Recurrent Parathyroid Carcinoma in the Setting ofMultinodular Goiter: A Rare Presentation of a Rare Malignancy”

Ajit K. Sachdeva,MD, FRCSC FACSEdwin James lecturer

Dr. Jonathan Germscheid, PGYII with his poster titled:“A Community Hospital Experience with LaparoscopicGastric Banding”

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Residency Program Activities (continued)

The top two presenters are honored at the Chief ResidentGraduation Banquet that follows the same evening. This yearwe had a number of excellent presentations, many of whichwill be subsequently submitted for publication or presentationat regional or national meetings. The colloquium also includespresentations that are judged for the North Dakota Chapter ofthe American College of Surgeons Commission on CancerCompetition and the North Dakota Chapter of the AmericanCollege of Surgeon Committee on Trauma Competition.

Dr. Raelene Zospah, Prelim PGY II with her poster titled:“Outcome Disparities in American Indians after CoronaryArtery Revascularization”

Judges for the Surgical Resident Research Colloquium(L to R – Cornelius Dyke, MD, Ajit Sachdeva, MD, and JyotikaSharma, PhD)

Dr. Daniel Persinger,PGYIII presenting hisresearch project titled“Follow up of BiopsyProven Melanoma in aCommunity Hospital:Who is Doing the Biopsyand is Appropriate Carebeing Provided”

Dr. Zachary Ernst, PGY IV presenting his research project titled“Radiologic and Pathologic Features Associated with DelayedDiagnosis of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors”

Program AnnouncementsIn May, the Department of Surgery wasapproved to become a SAGES FES(Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery)Testing Center. The FES test consists of “a

web-based multiple choice exam for evaluating cognitiveknowledge and judgement” as well as “a virtual reality platformto evaluate fundamental technical and psychomotor skills.”Residents graduating in the 2017-2018 academic year will berequired to pass the FES to be eligible for board certification.

The establishment of the FES Testing Center compliments ouralready exiting FLS (Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery)Testing Center which was launched in 2010.

Learn more about the FES Program here.

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2015 Resident Research Colloquium WinnersSurgery Resident Research Colloquium Winners

Colloquium WinnersPresented by Dr. Mary Aaland

1st place: PriscillaThomas, MD PGY-V“14 Year Review of theUND Colloquium.”

Honorable Mention:Christopher Maki, MDPGY-V “NegativePressure Wound Therapyin Acute Care Surgery.”

North Dakota Chapter American College of SurgeonsResident Competitions:

Commission on CancerPresented by Dr. Robert Sticca

1st place: BreAnnNeiger, MD PGY-IV“Breast Nipple Discharge:An Analysis of a SingleSurgeon’s Practice.”

2nd place: DanielPersinger, MD PGY-III“Follow up of BiopsyProven Melanoma in aCommunity Hospital:Who is Doing the Biopsyand is Appropriate Carebeing Provided.”

Committee on TraumaPresented by Dr. Randolph Szlabick

1st Place: Shawn Olson,MD PGY-III “AComparison of theInjuries Sustained andthe Type of ATV-Part 1.”

Honorable Mention:Christopher Maki, MDPGY-V “NegativePressure Wound Therapyin Acute Care Surgery.”

Learn more about the the Edwin C. James Lectureship and theSurgical Resident Research Colloquium here.

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2015 Resident Research Colloquium Winners (continued)

31st Surgical Chief Resident Graduation BanquetThe 31st Surgical Chief Resident Graduation Banquet was heldon Friday, June 26, 2015 at the Ramada Plaza & Suites inFargo. The graduating residents were:

Wen-yu Vicky Haines, MD has joinedthe Winona Health System inWinona, Minnesota.

Christopher Maki, MD has joinedSanford Health Jamestown in Jamestown,North Dakota.

Matthew Nielsen, MD has joined SanfordHealth Bemidji in Bemidji, Minnesota.

Priscilla Thomas, MD will be entering intothe Transition into Practice Fellowship atCrisp Regional hospital in Cordele, Georgia.

Graduating residents with Chair & Program Director Dr.Robert Sticca, and Associate Program Directors Drs. EnejGasevic and Randolph Szlabick.

(L to R) Drs. Wen-yu Vicky Haines, Randolph Szlabick,Christopher Maki, Robert Sticca, Matthew Nielsen, EnejGasevic, and Priscilla Thomas.

Residents, family, and guest at the Graduation Banquet

Dr. David Antonenko and Edwin C. James lecturer, Dr. AjitSachdeva visiting during the Graduation Banquet

Some of our new incoming residents visiting at the GraduationBanquet. (L to R) Celia Benz, Adeseye Adekeye, Erin Clough,and Ann Hulme with many other faculty, residents, family, andfriends in the background

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2015 Resident Research Colloquium Winners (continued)

David R. Antonenko Award is in recognition of andappreciation for the many years of excellence in teaching anddedication to the Surgical Residency Program. Given to theresident who has excelled in clinical performance, knowledge,education, research and scholarly activity in general surgery.

Resident Achievement Award is given to the resident who hasalso accomplished above average milestones in their clinicalperformance, knowledge, education, research and scholarlyactivity in general surgery.

Dr. Cornelius Dyke and past residents Drs. Jay MacGregorand Corey Kroetsch with their wives enjoying some qualitytime visiting

(L to R) Dr. Patrick Lamb, Dr. Karen Luk, Dr. Robert Sticca,Dr. Elleson Schurtz and Dr. Brian Johnson.

Awards

L to R: Dr. David Antonenko presented Dr. Eric Anderson,PGY IV with the David R. Antonenko Award for 2014-15 yearand Dr. Robert Sticca, Chairman and Program Director

L to R: Dr. David Antonenko presented Dr. Wen-Yu VickyHaines, PGY V with the Resident Achievement Award for 2014-15 year and Dr. Robert Sticca, Chairman and Program Director

First Year surgery residents with Dr. Robert Sticca, Chairmanand Program Director after receiving their certificates for theirfirst year.

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American Board of SurgeryBoard Certification ResultsRecent graduates of the UND School of Medicine and HealthSciences Surgical Residency Program have continued to dosatisfactorily on the American Board of Surgery (ABS)Examination. The recently published data from the ABS showthat the UND General Surgery Residency Program’s five-year,first-time-pass rate on the Qualifying Exam (written exam) is 87percent (13/15 passing) and on the Certifying Exam (oral exam)is 77 percent (10/13 passing). Our congratulations to our recentgraduates who have successfully obtained board certification:

• Bree Dewing, MD – 2012 Graduate• Kyle Barker, MD – 2013 Graduate• Andrew McCoy, MD – 2013 Graduate• Irminne Van Dyken – 2013 Graduate• Kayla Burchill – 2014 Graduate• Brady Mullin – 2014 Graduate

Residency Program NewsRaelene Zospah Earns American Association for ThoracicSurgery Scholarship.Raelene Zospah, MD, first-year UNDsurgical resident, has been selected by theAmerican Association for Thoracic Surgery(AATS) for a scholarship to attend the2015 AATS Annual Meeting in Seattle onApril 25–29 as a 2015 AATS Member-for-a-Day Program Participant.

The AATS Member-for-a-Day Program willprovide an opportunity for North American medical students,general surgery residents, and third-year integratedcardiothoracic surgery residents to accompany an AATSMember Mentor, along with a resident member of the ThoracicSurgery Residents Association during portions of the AATSAnnual Meeting. The program is designed to offer insight intothe cardiothoracic surgery specialty and to provide anopportunity to network and build relationships within thecardiothoracic surgical community.

Up to 30 medical students, general surgery residents, and I-6cardiothoracic residents (within their first three years) will beselected to participate in this program.

Eric Anderson earns Scientific Presentation at SouthwesternSurgical CongressEric Anderson, MD, fourth-year UNDsurgical resident submission was selectedfor an oral scientific presentation titled“Experience with New OralAnticoagulations for the Management ofPost-Operative Atrial Fibrillation AfterIsolated Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting”at the Southwestern Surgical CongressMeeting, April 26-29, 2015 in Monterey,CA. Meeting, April 26-29, 2015 in Monterey

Announcements• Patrick Kane, MD, PGY II,

and his wife Dori welcomedtheir daughter Samantha WuKane (pictured) on Jan. 10,2015. Congrats!

• Dr. Shawn Olson, PGY III, andEmilee Froiland are engaged!An Aug. 7, 2016, wedding isplanned. Congrats!

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New Incoming Residents startedJuly 1, 2015Adeseye Adekeye, MD, PhDPG I Categorical. Born in Lagos, Nigeria.Undergraduate: BS, molecular Biochemistryand Biophysics, Illinois Institute ofTechnology, Chicago, IL. Medical School:SUNY Upstate Medical University,Syracuse, NY. PhD- Sunny UpstateMedical University, Syracuse, NY.Dissertation: Retinitis Pigmentosa:Investigating the Role of the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR)Pathway in Regulating Photoreceptor Death.

Cecilia L. Benz, MDPG I Categorical. Born in Guadalajara,Jalisco, Mexico. Undergraduate: BA,Biology – Baylor University, Waco, TX.Medical School: Texas A&M HealthSciences Center, College of Medicine,Station, TX.

Erin H. Clough, MDPG II Preliminary. Born in Thorton, CO.Undergraduate: BS in Biochemistry and BAin Mathematics from University of Denver,CO. Medical School: University ofMedicine & Health Sciences, St. Kitts. Erindid a Preliminary year in General Surgeryat Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI.

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New Incoming Residents started July 1, 2015 (continued)

Dustin L. Evans, MDPG II Categorical. Born in Fort Morgan, CO.Undergraduate: BS in Biology/BiomedicalSciences from Colorado State University,Fort Collins, CO. Medical School:University of Colorado School ofMedicine, Denver, CO. Dustin did twoPreliminary years in General Surgery atUniversity of Colorado, Aurora, CO.

Matthew R. Heberer, MDPG I Rural Categorical. Born in Geneseo,IL. Undergraduate: BS in CommunityHealth with Honors at the University ofIllinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL.Medical School: University of IllinoisCollege of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, IL.

Ann E. Hulme, MDPG I Preliminary. Born in Cleveland, OH.Undergraduate: BS in HealthPromotion/Wellness from University ofWisconsin, Stevens Point, WI. MedicalSchool: University of Toledo College ofMedicine, Toledo, OH. She was acceptedinto Physical Medicine & RehabilitationResidency at University of Pennsylvania inPhiladelphia which will begin July 1, 2016.

Anthony H. Loewen, MDPG I Preliminary. Born in Kansas City,MO. Undergraduate: BA in Biochemistryfrom Tabor College, Hillsboro, KS.Medical School: University of SouthDakota, Sanford School of Medicine,Sioux Falls, SD.

Trent G. Waage, MDPG III Categorical. Born in Aberdeen, SD.Undergraduate: BA in Biology from BlackHills State University, Spearfish, SD.Medical School: University of SouthDakota Sanford School of Medicine,Vermillion, SD. Trent did two years as aPreliminary resident in general surgery atUND Department of Surgery and has nowearned a position as a 3rd year categorical resident.

Mallory J. Yelenich-Huss, MDPG I Categorical. Born in Virginia, MN,Undergraduate: BS in Clinical LaboratoryScience, University of Minnesota,Minneapolis, MN and BA in BehavioralNeuroscience-Psychology, University ofSt. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. MedicalSchool: University of Minnesota MedicalSchool, Minneapolis, MN. Mallory did aPreliminary year in General Surgery at the University ofMinnesota Surgical Residency Program.

Raelene D. Zospah, MDPG I Rural Categorical. Born in Shiprock,NM. Undergraduate: B.S. in Biochemistryfrom Montana State University-Bozemen,MT. Medical School: University of NewMexico School of Medicine –Albuquerque, NM. Raelene did aPreliminary year in General Surgery withus last year and has now earned a ruralcategorical position.

Resident OrientationThe annual resident orientation was held June 30, 2015.Pictured is Dr. Sticca with all 27 surgery residents in thegeneral surgery residency as of July 1, 2015.

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Faculty NewsDyke new associate dean for the Southeast (Fargo) CampusCornelius McKown “Mac” Dyke, MD, hasbeen named associate dean for theSoutheast (Fargo) Campus at theUniversity of North Dakota School ofMedicine and Health Sciences. Dyke is anassistant professor of surgery at UND andan attending cardiothoracic surgeon forSanford Health in Fargo.

Dyke will succeed Dr. Julie Blehm as Southeast Campus dean.She is retiring on June 30. He will begin work at the UNDSMHS on July 1.

“Dr. Dyke has been an outstanding faculty member at UND forthe past four years, and has demonstrated a commitment to theSchool and our medical students and surgical residents,” saidJoshua Wynne, MD, MBA, MPH, UND vice president for healthaffairs and dean of the UND School of Medicine and HealthSciences. “He has a strong commitment to medical educationand will be devoted to this new position. As an added benefit,he also has a strong commitment to clinical research, and justrecently coauthored a paper published in the prestigious NewEngland Journal of Medicine. I am thrilled that he has acceptedour offer to be the next Southeast Campus dean.”

Congratulations to the following faculty on their promotionsAaron J. Chalmers, MDPromoted from Clinical Instructor ofSurgery to Clinical Assistant Professor ofSurgery. He is a General & VascularSurgeon located on the SW Campus inBismarck. Dr. Chalmers serves as the SiteDirector for medical students in theirsurgery rotation at St. A’s in Bismarck

Bree D. Dewing, MDPromoted from Clinical Instructor ofSurgery to Clinical Assistant Professor ofSurgery. She is a General Surgeonspecializing in Bariatrics located on theSW Campus in Bismarck. Dr. Dewingserves at the SW Campus Director forGeneral Surgery medical students on theBismarck Campus.

Timothy L. Pansegrau, MDPromoted from Clinical Assistant toClinical Associate Professor of Surgery. Heis a Cardiovascular Surgeon located on theSW Campus in Bismarck.

WelcomeKayla Burchill, MDClinical Instructor of Surgery and graduateof UNDSHMS Surgery Department is aGeneral Surgeon on the SE Campus inFargo. She trained at University of NorthDakota School of Medicine & HealthSciences, Grand Forks, ND for her generalsurgery residency. She is board certifiedin General Surgery,

Marc E. Eichler, MDClinical Assistant Professor of Surgery is aNeurosurgeon on the SE Campus in Fargo.He trained at Washington UniversitySchool of Medicine, St. Louis, MO for hisNeurosurgery residency and did Fellowshiptraining at University of Southern CaliforniaSchool of Medicine, Los Angeles. He isboard certified in neurosurgery.

Theresa A. Hegge, MDClinical Instructor of Surgery is a Plasticsurgeon on the NW Campus in Williston.She trained at Southern Illinois University,Springfield, IL for her plastic surgeryresidency. She is board eligible.

Ralph A. Highshaw, MDClinical Assistant Professor of Surgery is aUrologist on the NE Campus in GrandForks. He trained at USC/LAC MedicalCenter, Los Angeles, California, PGY 1-2General Surgery/Urology Residency UCDavis Medical Center, PGY 3-6,Sacramento, California, PGY 3-6Department of Urology. He is boardcertified in Urology.

Jeffrey A. Horak, MD, FACSClinical Instructor of Surgery is a Generalsurgeon in Fergus Falls, MN. He trained atWilliam Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak,Michigan for his general surgery residencyHe is board certified in General Surgery.

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Faculty News (continued)

Joshua J. Knudson, MDClinical Instructor of Surgery is a Generalsurgeon on the SW Campus in Bismarck.He trained at the TriHealth GoodSamaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, OH forhis General surgery residency. He isboard certified in General Surgery.

Sapoora Manshaii, MDClinical Assistant Professor of Surgery is aGeneral surgeon with Surgical CriticalCare in Alexandria, MN . She trained at StLouis University Hospital, St. Louis, MOfor her general surgery residency. She alsodid a fellowship in Surgical Critical Careat the University of Maryland in Baltimore,MD. She is board certified in GeneralSurgery and Critical Care.

Tong Yang, MDClinical Instructor of Surgery is aNeurosurgeon on the SE Campus in Fargo.She trained at University of Washington inSeattle, WA for her neurosurgeryresidency. She also did a fellowship inPediatric Neurosurgery at the Children’sHospital of Los Angeles in Los Angeles,CA. She is board eligible.

Joshua G. Yorgason, MDClinical Instructor of Surgery is an ENTsurgeon on the SW Campus in Bismarck.He trained at the University of Utah in SaltLake City, UT for his Otolaryngology,Head & Neck Surgery residency. He did aFellowship in Neurotology-Paprella Ear atthe Head & Neck Institute, University ofMinnesota in Minneapolis, MN. He isboard certified in Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery,

Faculty AwardsThe Following Faculty were honored by receiving the Dean’sSpecial Recognition Award for the Outstanding VolunteerFaculty Award: Congratulation to all.

Dr. Aaron J. Chalmers, Clinical AssistantProfessor of Surgery

Dr. Mark O. Jensen, Professor of Surgeryreceived the Wayne M. Swenson, MDAward for Teaching Excellence.

Dr. Kenyon W. Kruse, Clinical Instructorof Surgery received the Alumnusmembership of the Alpha Omega Alpha(AOA) Honor Medical Society.

Dr. J. DonaldOpgrande, Professorof Surgery receivedthe OutstandingTeacher of the 2014-15 academic year onthe SE Campus.

Dr. Sean S. Russell,Clinical AssociateProfessor of Surgeryreceived theOutstanding Teacherof the 2014-15academic year onthe SW Campus.

Dr. Gary L. Wease, Clinical AssistantProfessor of Surgery

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Surgical Volunteerism within the Department of SurgeryFeed the Starving Children CampaignFor the 2nd year in a row, staff in the Department of Surgery havededicated a several hours to helping pack meals.

Mission WorkDr. Mary Aaland, Associate Professor of Surgery and KatherineSenter, PGY III surgery resident spent a week in January 2015 inSan Lorenzo, Ecuador with the San Lorenzo Clinic which is runby Jane Weaver, MD.

Dr. Robert Sticca, Chair andProgram Director of Surgeryspent a week with his sonJonathan in February 2015 inAmbato, Ecuador with theMedical Mission Ecuador.

Dr. Billie Jo Grieve, Clinical Instructor of Surgery and Dr. BreAnnNeiger, PGY IV spent a week in January 2015 in Pignon, Haitiwith the FM Haiti Medical Mission Team. They were joined byDr. Joel Harris, graduate of UND Surgery program (2010).

(L to R) Lori Anderson, Lisa Steinbrink, Tonya Murphy, andGeralyn Lunski

AnnouncementsDr. Stefan Johnson (2014)and his wife Courtneywelcomed their daughterQuinn Marjorie Johnsonon May 14, 2015. Theoutfit she is wearing wasknitted by a friend. Futuresurgeon! Congrats!

Dr. Andrew McCoy (2013) and his wife Jane welcomed theirdaughter Nora Linn McCoy on March 16, 2015. Her sisterEmma is enjoying being a big sister! Congrats!

Residency Program Alumni News