WashU Medicine Department of Surgery

Congratulations to the Department of Surgery faculty and staff recognized at WashU Medicine’s Staff Awards Ceremony for their years of dedicated service. Their commitment, expertise and contributions help advance our mission of excellence in patient care, research and education every day.

Thank you for all you do, and congratulations on these well-deserved career milestones.
Read more: https://surgery.wustl.edu/surgery-staff-recognized-for-career-milestones/

Our thoracic surgeons are advancing minimally invasive care with the establishment of a robotic esophagectomy program (RAMIE).

Led by Drs. Benjamin Kozower and Whitney Brandt, the program offers eligible patients a less invasive approach that may reduce postoperative pain, lower the risk of pulmonary complications, and support a faster recovery while maintaining comparable cancer outcomes.

Learn how this innovative program is advancing care for patients with esophageal cancer. https://bit.ly/4uwugnx

Thoracic surgeons establish robotic esophagectomy program | Department of Surgery | Washington University in St. Louis Divisions and Sections Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Section of Thoracic Surgery Patient Care Cancer Care Thoracic Surgery Our Faculty Thoracic surgeons establish robotic esophagectomy program By Jesus • May 12, 2026May 7, 2026 Thoracic surgeons at WashU Medicine have launched a new robot-ass...

Congratulations to Dr. Varun Puri, chief of thoracic surgery, on being named Investigator of the Year by the VA St. Louis Healthcare System Research and Development Service.

This recognition honors Dr. Puri’s outstanding contributions to research and his commitment to advancing care for veterans through innovation in thoracic surgery and lung cancer treatment.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3RPkhvZ

Jennifer’s weight loss journey is about more than numbers—it’s about reclaiming her health and confidence.
With guidance from Dr. Danny Mou and our bariatric surgery team, she found a sustainable path forward and what she calls a “permanent tool” for long-term success.

Her story highlights the power of multidisciplinary care and patient-centered support in transforming lives.
👉 Read Jennifer’s full journey: https://bit.ly/4dJFtMn

For years, Azra Pervan lived with hyperhidrosis—a condition that caused excessive sweating and shaped how she moved through everyday life, from school to social situations. Her story is one of persistence, adaptation, and ultimately finding care that helped her move forward with more confidence.

She was treated with the support of Dr. Jacob Miller, one of our pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons, whose care helped guide her through evaluation and treatment for this challenging condition. A robotic approach was used to minimize her incisions and support an optimal recovery, and cryo nerve ablation was performed to help minimize postoperative pain.

Azra’s experience highlights the often-overlooked impact hyperhidrosis can have on quality of life—and the difference compassionate, specialized care can make.

Read Azra's story here: https://bit.ly/4vlmsWe

When Tom Williamson faced a life-threatening lung disease, everyday moments became increasingly difficult.

In this patient story, learn how lung transplantation — and the care of Dr. Daniel Kreisel and our transplant team — helped give Tom a second chance at life and a path forward.

Stories like Tom’s remind us of the profound impact of surgical innovation, compassionate care and the people behind it.

Read Tom's story: https://bit.ly/49dBjcS

Congratulations Dr. Joy Jiang on receiving the 2026 Annie T. Randall Innovator Award from the American Statistical Association.

Dr. Jiang, an associate professor of surgery in the Division of Public Health Sciences, was recognized for her early-career leadership and innovation in statistics. Her work co-developing AI technology to improve personalized breast cancer risk prediction through mammogram analysis represents an important advancement in cancer prevention and early detection.

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Jiang’s contributions to advancing data-driven, patient-centered cancer research. Read more: https://siteman.wustl.edu/jiang-recognized-for-statistical-innovation/

Faculty Spotlight 🌟

We are proud to recognize Dr. Bethany Sacks for two outstanding achievements in medical education.

Dr. Sacks has been awarded a Small Grant from the Academy of Educators and Medical Education Research Evaluation Unit (MERE) for her project, “Understanding Expectation Setting on the Surgery Clerkship: A Qualitative Exploration of Student and Resident Experiences.” This work reflects her commitment to advancing surgical education through rigorous inquiry and improving the learning environment for trainees.

In addition, she was honored as Clinical Teacher of the Year, an award voted on by the graduating medical school class in recognition of excellence in teaching and mentorship.

Congratulations to Dr. Katie Rowland on being selected as the recipient of the 2026 APSA Foundation Education Grant.

Her proposal, “Exploring Well-Being, Autonomy, and Educational Experiences in Pediatric Surgery Fellowship: A Comprehensive Longitudinal Survey Study,” was recognized for its important focus on pediatric surgery fellowship training, educational experiences and trainee well-being.

This work reflects a continued commitment to advancing surgical education and better understanding the experiences of future pediatric surgeons. We are proud to see Dr. Rowland recognized by the APSA Foundation for this achievement. Congratulations!

For more than 15 years, Angelia DeClue, CST, has played an integral role in surgical education through the Washington University Institute for Surgical Education (WISE), helping support hands-on simulation training for residents, fellows and medical students.

From WISE’s early days with a single laparoscopic simulator to today’s expansive simulation curriculum, Angelia has helped shape an educational environment where trainees can grow their technical skills, build confidence and learn alongside faculty mentors.

Her dedication, mentorship and passion for surgical education have impacted generations of learners — some of whom she first met as residents and now sees as faculty and program leaders.

Read more about Angelia’s journey and the evolution of WISE: https://bit.ly/4wRBaWS