Departmental, Faculty, and Staff Achievements
ADMINISTRATION
Stephen M. Cohn, MD, FACS - Professor and Chairman
- Witten B. Russ Chair
- Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
- Fellow of the American Surgical Association
- Best Doctors in San Antonio 2006
- Duane G. Hutson Lifetime Achievement in Education: Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami School of Medicine - 2004
- The Alvarez Award for Excellence in Medical Writing: American Medical Writer's Association - 2000
- The Edward H. Storer, M.D.: Yale Surgical Residency Award for Excellence in Surgical Teaching - 1994
- Frederick J. McCready: University of Massachusetts Teacher of the Year - Surgical Residents - 1990
- Lester F. Williams: Boston University, Medical Student Teaching Award, Surgery - 1986
Michelle Price, M.Ed., PhD
- The Society for Public Health Education and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Student Fellowship in Injury Prevention 2005
- Reviewer, College and University Drinking and Driving Prevention Award, 2005
- UTHSCSA Excellence in Service Award, 2001
Notable Events
Physician and educator shares his love of the art and science of surgery: Bob Esterl, MD, Surgery Medical School Education Director and Professor of Surgery (Transplant), is featured in the first edition of the School of Medicine's Future magazine. Since 1994, Dr. Esterl has been sharing his experience, knowledge and skills as a transplant surgeon, and has won numerous teaching awards, many of them awards from the students themselves. Read article (4-30-08)
On Sunday, March 9, 2008, Basil A. Pruitt, Jr., MD, FACS, FACM, will be awarded the 2008 King Faisal International Prize for Medicine in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Dr. Pruitt has been an innovator in trauma and burn management for nearly 50 years while caring for thousands of American soldiers. Read complete press release. | SA Biz Journal article (3-5-08)
Steven Wolf, MD, Bob & Betty Kelso Distinguished Chair in Burn Research and Professor of Trauma, has been appointed Vice Chairman for Research for Department of Surgery, Stephen Cohn, MD, Surgery Chair, announced today. Dr. Wolf was selected for this role based on his extensive research and administrative experience. Click here to read more. (2-29-08)
Johnson Center for Surgical Innovation opening ceremonies were held on June 21, 2007. More than three years of research, planning and development have culminated in a state-of-the-art training facility for surgical training for our medical students, residents, fellows and faculty. The Department of Surgery established The Stewart M. Johnson and Hugh M. Johnson Center for Surgical Innovation (JCSI) in the UTHSCSA School of Medicine (1300 square feet of space) to provide state-of-the-art surgical training and research facility for UTHSCSA students, residents, and faculty. The Johnson family endowed $300,000 to this center. (June 2007)
Congratulations to Steven Wolf, MD, Trauma, awarded the Betty and Bob Kelso Distinguished Chair in Burn and Trauma Surgery, announced May 29, 2007, by William Henrich, MD, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Francisco Cigarroa, MD, University President. (May 2007)
Congratulations to Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, John Calhoon, MD, who has been chosen as an Outstanding Physician – one of San Antonio's Health Care Heroes in 2008 – by the San Antonio Business Journal, recognizing health care professionals who make a difference in health care in San Antonio. (4-23-08)
Congratulations to Susan Robinson, Surgery Research Coordinator, who was awarded a service award plaque for 25 years of service to the Health Science Center. [Susan, an avid pilot, died in October 2007, when her plane crashed on takeoff. She is missed by all of us in the Department of Surgery.]
Dr. John Calhoon, Professor and Chief, honored by the American Heart Association at the 22nd Annual Heart Ball on March 30, 2007, in gratitude for his outstanding work in cardiovascular public education and supporting the mission of the AHA.
Surgery research medical student Rachel Giese and research resident Dr. Oscar Ochoa earned 1st Place at UTHSCSA 6th Annual Medical Student Research Day for the presentation on "Muscle Regeneration and Inflammation in Aging MCP-1 -/- Female Mice". These two researchers work with Linda McManus, PhD, Pathology, and Dr. Paula Shireman, Vascular Surgery.
Ewing Halsell Foundation bestowed the Department of Surgery with $175,000 in funding for capital equipment for the Johnson Center for Surgical Innovation (JCSI).
Srey Ram Kuy, General Surgery Resident, was awarded 2 years of protected research time at Yale University by the Robert Wood Johnson Health Scholars Program.
Spring 2007 Employee Recognition Awards
Twenty-Five Years of Service: Susan Robinson, Surgery Research
Fall 2006 Employee Recognition Awards
Twenty-Five Years of Service: Cynthia Garza, Accounting; Patti Ruffin, Trauma
Fifteen Years of Service: Gloria Garcia, Trauma
Ten Years of Service: Daniel Dent, Trauma; Alfredo Gonzalez, South Texas Poison Center
Five Years of Service: Thelma Aguirre,Transplant;
John Kodosky, Emergency Medicine;
Dr. James Morgan, Emergency Medicine;
Reenie Lopez, Emergency Medicine;
Kenneth Galfo, Emergency Medicine;
Larry Wooldridge, Emergency Medicine;
Daniel Mozingo, Vascular;
Gregory Goodwiler, Trauma;
Jerlad Wells, Emergency Medicine
CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY
John H. Calhoon, MD - Professor and Chief
- Castle Connelly America's Top Doctors 2006-2007
- Scene in San Antonio Monthly, November 2006 - Top Doctors
- Super Doctors of Texas (Texas Monthly), 2006
- Best Doctors in San Antonio 2006 (San Antonio Magazine Feb-March 2006)
- Cardiac Examination Chair, American Board of Thoracic Surgery, 2005
- Presidential Clinical Excellence Award, UTHSCSA Department of Surgery, 2004
- President's Council Chair for Excellence in Surgery, 2003
- Outstanding Teaching to Residents, UTHSCSA Department of Surgery, 2000
- Super Doctors of Texas (Texas Monthly), 2006
- Super Doctors of Texas (Texas Monthly), 2005
- Best Doctors in America, 2005-2006
- Scene in San Antonio Monthly, November 2006 - Top Doctors
- Texas State Board of Examiners of Perfusionists, appointment by Gov. Rick Perry with Texas Senate confirmation, 2004-present
- Lung Councilor for the Texas Transplantation Society, 2003
- Outstanding Teaching to Residents, UTHSCSA Department of Surgery, 2000
- Outstanding Faculty Member, School of Medicine Graduating Class, 2000
V. Seenu Reddy, MD, MBA - Assistant Professor
- 2007-2008 American Heart Association Board of Directors
- San Antonio Scene Monthly, November 2006 - Top Doctors
- Super Doctors of Texas (Texas Monthly), 2006
- Scene in San Antonio Monthly, November 2006 - Top Doctors
- Best Doctors in America, 2005-2006
- Vice-President, San Antonio Cardiovascular Society, 2000
- Surgical Education Research Fellowship, 1999
- Outstanding Faculty Member, Presented by the 1998 graduating class at UTHSCSA Medical School
Renata Bastos, MD - Assistant Professor
- Recipient, Dr. Witten B. Russ Developmental Research Grant for 2007
Luis F. Angel, MD - Assistant Professor
- Scene in San Antonio Monthly, November 2006 - Top Doctors
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
David Hnatow, MD - Associate Professor and Chief
- Fellow, elected by American College of Forensic Examiners, 2007
- Consumers' Research Council of America "Guide to America's Top Emergency Medicine Physicians"
- Physician's Recognition Award, American Medical Association
- 2006 American Psychiatric Association Gold Award, along with the Center for Health Care Services & UHS- Jail Diversion Program and Crisis Care Center
- 2006 Awards of Excellence, Excellence in Service Delivery, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare - Crisis Care Center
- Physician's Recognition Award, American Medical Association
- Diplomate of American Board of Forensic Examiners
Charles Bauer, MD - Clinical Professor
- Chair, Texas Medical Association EMS/Trauma Committee, 2 year appointment
- Senior Medical Officer and Deputy Commander, Texas State Guard, Texas Medical ReserveCorps, (Texas Medical Rangers)
Stephen W. Borron, MD, MS - Clinical Professor, Director of Research for the Division of Emergency Medicine
- Chairman, Medichem: Occupational and Environmental Health in the Production and Use of Chemicals (an international scientific organization comprising of 300 members)
- Board of Directors, American College of Medical Toxicology
- Regional Director, Region 3, Advanced Hazmat Life Support National Faculty.
Charles P. Davis, MD, PhD - Professor
- Associate Editor, Medical Microbiology
- Grant Reviewer, National Institutes of Health
- Physician's Recognition Award, American Medical Association
Miguel C. Fernandez, MD - Associate Professor, Director, South Texas Poison Center
- Chair, Community and Tribal Subcommittee, for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry/National Institute for Environmental Health Board of Scientific Counselors at the CDC (continuing appointment by the U.S. Secretary of Health).
- Advanced Hazmat Life Support National Certification Course, Regional Director (reappointed)
- National Hispanic Medical Association, National Advisory Board, Chair, United States-México Border Health Committee
Barbara Fishman, MD - Associate Professor
- Appointed, Selections Subcommittee of UTHSCSA Medical School Admissions Committee
- Workshop Committee, Southern Regional Society of General Internal Medicine Meeting
John Scott, MD - Assistant Professor, Assistant Research Director
- 2006 Emergency Medicine House Staff Rotation "Excellence in Teaching" Award
John G. McManus, MD
- President, Government Services Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (2006-07)
- Chair, Society of Academic Emergency Medicine's Disaster Medicine Committee
- State of Texas Governor's Trauma and EMS Medical Director Advisory Council
Juan M. Nieto, MD
- National Advisory Board, National Hispanic Medical Association
Mark Sparkman, MD
- State of Texas Governor's Trauma and EMS Medical Director Advisory Council
Ralph N. Terpolilli, MD
- Oral Board Examiner, American Board of Emergency Medicine
GENERAL and LAPAROENDOSCOPIC SURGERY
Kenneth Sirinek, MD, PhD - Professor and Chief, General Surgery
- Scene in San Antonio Monthly - Best Doctors in San Antonio, 2007
- Chair, Blood-Borne Infection Committee of the Board of Governors, American College of Surgeons
- Honorable Mention for Medical Student Teaching 2006
- Best Doctors in America 2006
- Best Doctors in San Antonio 2006 (San Antonio Magazine Feb-March 2006)
- Super Doctors of Texas (Texas Monthly), 2006
- President-Elect, South Texas Chapter, American College of Surgeons
- American Board of Surgery Examiner
- Western Surgical Association Councilman
- Western Surgical Association Membership Committee
Wayne Schwesinger, MD - Professor
- Best Doctors in America 2006
- Best Doctors in San Antonio 2006 (San Antonio Magazine Feb-March 2006)
- Super Doctors of Texas (Texas Monthly), 2006
- Vice - President 2006, Western Surgical Association
- Editor, Surgical Endoscopy
- Associate Editor, Current Surgery
- Editorial Board, Liver Transplantation and Surgery
- Counselor, Southwestern Surgical Congress (SWSC)
- Board of Directors, SAGES Education and Research Foundation
Juliane Bingener-Casey, MD - Assistant Professor
- Awarded NOSCAR (National Orifice Surgery Consortium for Assessment and Research) research grant of $89,000. NOSCAR is a joint initiative supported by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES).
- Director of the MIS Fellowship
- ASE Education Research Committee
- SSAT Program Subcommittee
- Fellowship Council
- SSAT traveling fellowship for surgeons in academic practice 2004
- SERF research fellowship 2005
- Student teaching honor roll 2003
- Association for Academic surgery institutional representative
- SAGES resident education committee
- SSAT abstract review subcommittee
Peter P. Lopez, MD - Clinical Assistant Professor
- Honorable Mention for Medical Student Teaching 2006
- CME Committee
- Texas Academic Family Practice
- Surgical Endoscopic Committee of SAGES
Kent R. Van Sickle, MD - Assistant Professor
- Institute Director, Johnson Center for Surgical Innovation
Research & Grant Funding:
- Juliane Bingener, MD, General and Laparoendoscopic Surgery on her recent URC funding award for her project titled, "The physiologic and immunologic effects of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) in a porcine model: A comparison of the cardiopulmonary and immunologic effects of NOTES with standard laparoscopy." (June 2007)
Surgical Oncology Section:
Thelma Hurd, MD - Associate Professor, General Surgery
- Best Doctors in America 2006
- Best Doctors in San Antonio 2006 (San Antonio Magazine Feb-March 2006)
- Co- Editor for Symposium Monograph 2006
- First Trans Atlantic Collaborative with Nigeria
Professors Emeritus:
Arthur S. McFee, MD, MS, PhD - Professor Emeritus
- President 2006, Western Surgical Association
- President, Western Surgical Association for 2004-2005, the 94th year of the WSA. Dr. McFee presided at the Western Surgical Association's annual meeting November 6-9, 2005.
Carlos Pestana, MD, PhD - Professor Emeritus
- Alpha Omega Alpha - Distinguished Professor Award
- Naming of the Carlos Pestana Lecture Hall
- Carlos Pestana, MD, PhD, Scholarship Established by the Medical Alumni Association with an Endowment of $100,000
- Avery Medal Awarded by UTHSCSA
- Outstanding Professor, Sophomore Curriculum
- Outstanding Faculty Member, Medical Class of 1998
J.B. Aust, MD, PhD - Clinical Professor
- Distinguished Medical Alumnus, University of Buffalo
- Dean's Council, University of Buffalo
- Editorial Board, Journal of Surgical Oncology
- Chair of Advisory Membership Committee, American Surgical Association
- Veterans Administration National Risk Management Study, Executive and National Advisory Consultants Committees
- Harwell Wilson Surgical Society Professor
- Roswell Park Medal, Awarded to an Outstanding Surgeon of the Past Half Century
PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
TRANSPLANT CENTER
Glenn A. Halff, MD - Professor and Division Chief
- Super Doctors of Texas (Texas Monthly), 2006
- Honorable Mention for outstanding teaching to residents, UTHSCSA Department of Surgery, 2000
- Excellence in Teaching Award for outstanding teaching to residents, UTHSCSA Department of Surgery, 1999
- President, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- Surgical Co-Director, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
- Chairman, Community Site Organized Committees, American Heart Association
- Presidential Appointee to National Medal of Science Panel
- Surgical Co-Investigator for Pediatric Oncology Group at Santa Rosa Children's Hospital
- Assistant Marshal at 2006 Medical School Commencement Exercises, 2006
- Excellence in Teaching Student Medical Teaching Award 2005-2006
- Gold Humanism Honor Society, Faculty Member, 2006
- Outstanding Medical School Clinician Award from 2006 Senior Medical School, 2006
- Presidential Teaching Excellence Award, UTHSCSA Department of Surgery, 2004
- Excellence in Teaching Award for outstanding teaching to residents, UTHSCSA Department of Surgery, 2000
TRAUMA and EMERGENCY SERVICES
Ronald M. Stewart, MD - Associate Professor & Chief
- 2006 University Hospital Shining Star!
- Castle Connelly America's Top Doctors 2006-2007
- Super Doctors of Texas (Texas Monthly), 2006
- Scene in San Antonio Monthly, November 2006 - Top Doctors
- Best Doctors in San Antonio 2006 (San Antonio Magazine Feb-March 2006)
- Reviewer, Journal of Trauma
- UTHSC Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2005
- Health Care Heroes - Outstanding Physician: San Antonio Business Journal
- Presidential Clinical Excellence Award, UTHSCSA Department of Surgery, 2004
- America's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd., 2004
- Outstanding Faculty Member, presented by the Medical Class, UTHSCSA, 2003
- Legislative Champion Award: Texas Trauma Coordinators Forum
- Top Doctors, Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd., 2001
- Governor's Appointment to the Texas Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Advisory Council May 2000
- Buffalo Surgical Society Roswell Park Medal, 2007
- President, North American Shock Society, 2007-2008
- Society of University Surgeons Lifetime Achievement Award, Feb 2007
- Received the prestigious Tanner-Vandeput-Boswick (TVB) Burn Prize of $100,000 from the International Burn Foundation awarded at the ISBI Congress in Brazil in September 2006.
- Rudi Hermans Lecturer, 11th European Burns Association Congress, Sept 2005
- Editor, Journal of Trauma, 1995 to PRESENT
- Keynote Speaker German-Speaking Society for Burn Injuries Annual Meeting, Obertauern, Austria, 2001
- Waltman and Phoebe Walters Visiting Professor, Department of Surgery Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ, 2001
- John Tompson Hodgen Lecturer, St. Louis Surgical Society, St. Louis, MO, 2001
- Emmett B. Frazer Lecturer, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Mobile, AL, 2001
- American College of Critical Care Medicine Distinguished Investigator Award, 2000
- Leonard D. Heaton Orator, U. S. Army Medical Corps, Gary Wratton Surgical Symposium, Augusta,GA, 2001
- Honorary Fellow, Philadelphia Academy of Surgery, 2000
- Honorary Fellow, Society of Black Academic Surgeons, 2000
- Invited Lecturer Chinese Academy of Engineering International Conference on Life Sciences and Clinical Medicine, 2000
- Lehman Lecturer University of Virginia School of Medicine, 2000
- G. Whitaker International Burns Prize, 2000
- State-of-the-Art Lecturer Annual Meeting Society of Black Academic Surgeons, Los Angeles, CA, 2000
- Guest Speaker, The Middle East Burn and Fire Disaster Congress, Ankara, Turkey, 2000
- Statesman for Burn Care, American College of Surgeons Centennial Review, 2000
- American College of Critical Care Medicine Distinguished Investigator Award, 2000
- Canizaro Lecturer Texas Tech University Health Science Center, 2000
- President, American Surgical Association, 1999 to 2000
- Medallion for Scientific Achievement, American Surgical Association, 1998
- Danis Prize, Société Internationale de Chirurgie, 1995
- Scudder Orator, American College of Surgeons
- National Highway Traffic and Safety Award
- 2007, Chair, Committee on Committees
- 2006 University Hospital Shining Star!
- Reviewer, Journal of Trauma
- Reviewer, Critical Care Medicine
- Excellence in Teaching: Presented by the Graduating Residents of General Surgery 2005-2006
- Selected as Piper Professor Nominee from UTHSCSA Medical School, 2005
- Excellence in Teaching: Presented by the Graduating Residents of General Surgery 2003-2004
- Outstanding Faculty Member, Presented by the 2003 graduating class at UTHSCSA Medical School
- Outstanding Faculty Member, Presented by the 2001 graduating class at UTHSCSA Medical School
- Outstanding Faculty Member, Presented by the 1998 graduating class at UTHSCSA Medical School
- Member, Medical Admissions Committee 2000-present:
John G. Myers, MD - Assistant Professor
- Reviewer, Journal of Trauma
- Secretary/Treasurer J. Bradley Aust Surgical Society, 2004
Steven E. Wolf, MD - Professor
- 2007 - Betty and bob Kelso Distinguished Chair in Burn and Trauma Surgery
- 2004-present Editor-in-Chief, Burns
- 2005-present Member, American Burn Association Multicenter Trials Group Steering Committee
- 2003-present Principal Investigator, NIH RO-1 Grant #GM063120
- 2005, Keynote Speaker - 3rd Conference on Stem Cells and Wound Healing, Singapore
Grant funding:
The Trauma Institute of San Antonio Texas (TRISAT) received Congressional funding: the Trauma Division is pleased to announce that in TRISAT has received $1 million in Congressional FY07 funds. The appropriations request was sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith. Dr. Ronald Stewart is Chairman of the TRISAT Board and PI of this grant.
Drs. Ronald Stewart (PI), Basil Pruitt, Stephen Cohn, Brad Pollock and Joel Michalek were awarded $1.35 million for the "USA/ISR Feasibility Study and Demonstration Project for Joint Military/Civilian Trauma Institute with a Burn Center" by the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.
VASCULAR SURGERY
Boulos Toursarkissian, MD - Associate Professor and Chief
- 2006 Health Policy Scholar by the American College of Surgeons, Society for Vascular Surgery Health Policy Scholar
- Recipient of 2007 Presidential Clinical Excellence Award
- Residents' Teaching Award, 2005
- Board Certification in Vascular Surgery
- Board Certification in Endovascular Surgery
- Distinguished Reviewer, Journal of Vascular Surgery
Paula Shireman, MD - Assistant Professor
- Distinguished Reviewer for the Journal of Vascular Surgery. The Journal provides cardiothoracic, vascular, and general surgeons with the most recent information in vascular surgery on behalf of the Society for Vascular Surgery, and ranks in the top 5% of the almost 6000 scientific journals most frequently cited.
- Reviewer, Journal of Surgical Research
- Principal Investigator of a basic science lab studying ischemia and muscle regeneration. External funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Veterans Administration
- Member of Study Section 4A for the American Heart Association's Western Review Consortium
- Reviewer for the Journal of Surgical Research and the Journal of Vascular Surgery
- Member of the Education and Research Committee for the American Vascular Association
- Board Certified in General and Vascular Surgery
- Member, Association for Academic Surgery
- Fellow, American College of Surgeons
- Presidential Junior Research Scholar Award, 2004
Phyllis Gordon, MSN, APRN BC - Clinical Nurse Specialist
- UTHSCSA President's Award for Excellence in Service, 2005
- Board of Director for the National Society for Vascular Nursing
- Board of Director for the Texas Nursing Association
- Board of Director for the Texas Health Insurance Risk Pool


