Surgery
About
University of Minnesota Physicians is an international leader in surgery, pioneering many life-saving procedures: First successful open-heart surgery. First implant of an artificial heart valve. First pancreas transplant.
Our surgeons bring this world-class leadership to every surgery. Because our surgeons develop and utilize the latest technical advances -- including minimally invasive surgery and robotics -- patients can feel secure that they are receiving state-of-the-art surgical care without exception.
Organ transplant surgery
Our Transplant Center is among the world’s oldest and most successful transplant programs. UMPhysicians transplant surgeons help people with diabetes and heart, kidney, liver and lung disease to lead new lives. For example, our kidney program has more than 7,000 transplants, with outstanding success rates. We are worldwide leaders in numbers of transplants from living kidney donors.
Cardiothoracic surgery
University of Minnesota cardiothoracic surgeons have achieved breakthroughs in heart surgeries for nearly 60 years. They bring unmatched experience to all adult and pediatric cardiac surgeries, and are renowned for successfully treating patients with advanced heart failure in our ventricular assist device (VAD) program.
Cancer surgery
UMPhysicians surgeons have excellent outcomes for treating liver, pancreatic, gastric, bile duct, colorectal, breast and bone cancer. Cancer surgeons work closely with colleagues at the Masonic Cancer Center, including oncologists, radiologists, radiation therapists and pathologists to provide advanced evaluation and treatment.
Minimally invasive surgery
The Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery offers state-of-the-art tools, technology and applied research for a wide array of minimally invasive procedures. Advantages are less pain, quicker recovery and fewer complications.
Weight-loss surgery
Our Weight-Loss Surgery Center staff will guide you through surgery, recovery and long-term weight loss. We offer an array of surgeries, with a plan of care thoroughly individualized for each person. Options include adjustable gastric banding, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, duodenal switch, and sleeve gastrectomy — all minimally invasive surgeries.
Thoracic and esophageal surgery
Our experts are dedicated to the treatment of surgical disorders of lungs and esophagus. They are experts in lung and esophageal cancer and work with multidisciplinary groups committed to providing the highest level of surgical care with compassion. They are experts in advanced minimally invasive surgery of the lungs and esophagus with additional specialization in endoscopic diagnosis and therapeutic procedures.
Surgery for children
Surgery tailored to the special needs of children is performed at the child- and family-friendly University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital. Pediatric surgeons offer clinics in Minneapolis, Burnsville, and Maple Grove.
Vascular surgery
Our vascular surgery group serves as a regional resource for outcomes-based, comprehensive vascular management, providing excellent care to patients with a broad spectrum of non-cardiac vascular problems by utilizing the best medical therapy, endovascular interventions, and open surgical repair.
Treatments
- Acute care and trauma surgery
- Cardiothoracic surgery
- Colon and rectal surgery
- Dermatologic surgery
- General surgery
- Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Movement disorders and epilepsy surgery
- Neurological surgery
- Pediatric surgery and transplantation
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Surgical critical care
- Surgical oncology
- Thoracic and esophogeal surgery
- Transplantation
- Vascular surgery
- Weight loss surgery
Clinics & Providers
- Acton, Robert D, M.D.
- Pediatric Surgeon
- Al-Refaie, Waddah B, M.D.
- Surgical Oncologist, General Surgeon
- Anderson, Gregg W. , MD
- Thoracic Surgeon
- Anderson, Sarah, M.D.
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Andrade, Rafael S, M.D.
- Thoracic and Foregut Surgeon
- Banton, Kaysie L, M.D.
- General and Critical Care Surgeon
- Beilman, Greg J, M.D.
- General Surgeon, Critical Care
- Finger, Erik B, M.D., Ph.D.
- Transplant Surgeon
- Brunsvold, Melissa, M.D.
- General and Critical Care Surgeon
- Bryant, III, Roosevelt, M.D.
- Cardiovasular and Thoracic Surgeon
- Buchwald, Henry, M.D., Ph.D.
- Bariatric and General Surgeon
- Buckley, Marie-Claire, M.D.
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
- Byrnes, Matthew C, M.D.
- General Surgeon
- Chipman, Jeffrey G, M.D.
- General Surgeon, Surgical Intensivist
- Choudry, Umar, M.D.
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
- Cunningham, Bruce L, M.D., M.S.
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
- D'Cunha, Jonathan, M.D., Ph.D.
- Thoracic Surgeon
- Davido, Helen, MD
- Critical Care Surgeon
- Evasovich, Maria R, M.D.
- Surgical Oncologist
- Fast, Bethany, PA-C
- Physician Assistant
- Faust, Scott, MS, NP
- Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Granja, Jorge, M.D.
- General and Trauma Surgeon
- Guillaume, Daniel J. , M.D., M.S.
- Neurosurgeon
- Hamlar, Jr., David D, M.D., D.D.S.
- Otolaryngologist, Craniofacial Surgeon
- Harmon, Jr, James V, M.D.
- Critical Care Surgeon, General Surgeon
- Harrison, Alicia K, M.D.
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Her-Yang, Kee, MSPAS, PA-C
- Physician Assistant
- Hess, Donavon J, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.
- Pediatric Surgeon
- Ikramuddin, Sayeed, M.D.
- Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgeon
- James, Mollie M, D.O., M.P.H.
- General Surgeon and Critical Care Surgeon
- Jensen, Eric H, M.D.
- Surgical Oncologist
- Kelly, Rosemary F, MD
- Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon
- Konety, Badrinath R, M.D., M.B.A.
- Urologic Surgeon
- Kwaan, Mary R., M.D., M.P.H.
- Colon and Rectal Surgeon
- Leslie, Daniel B., M.D.
- Weight Loss Surgeon, Minimally Invasive Surgeon and General Surgeon
- Maddaus, Michael A, M.D.
- Thoracic and Foregut Surgeon
- Madoff, Robert D, M.D.
- Colon and Rectal Surgeon
- Maisel, Robert, M.D.
- Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat), Head and Neck Surgeon
- Marsh, Bonnie W. , PA-C
- Physician Assistant
- Melton-Meaux, Genevieve B, M.A., M.D.
- Colon and Rectal Surgeon
- Molina, J. Ernesto, M.D., Ph.D.
- Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon
- Morgan, Patrick, M.D.
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Nakib, Nissrine A, M.D.
- Urologic Surgeon
- Nelson, Bradley J, M.D.
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Odland, Rick, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S.
- Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat), Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
- Ogilvie, Christian, M.D.
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Ogilvie, James, MD, MS
- Colon and Rectal Surgeon
- Ondrey, Frank G, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S.
- Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat); Head and Neck Surgeon
- Payne, William D, M.D.
- Vascular and Transplant Surgeon
- Pena, Fernando A, M.D.
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Polly, David W, Jr., MD
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Pruett, Timothy L, MD
- Transplant Surgeon
- Putnam, Matthew D, MD
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Rothenberger, David A, MD
- Colon and Rectal Surgeon
- Saltzman, Daniel A, MD, Ph.D.
- Pediatric Surgeon
- Santilli, Steven M, MD, Ph.D., M.B.A.
- Vascular Surgeon
- Santos, Edward R.G., MD
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Schneider, Daniel, MD
- Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose and Throat), Head and Neck Surgeon
- Schneider, Donna, RN, MS, CNP
- Nurse Practitioner
- Schwartz, Steven, MD
- Urologic Surgeon
- Segura, Bradley J., MD, Ph.D.
- Pediatric Surgeon
- Shu, Steven, MD
- Surgeon/Family Physician
- Sweet, Robert M, MD, F.A.C.S.
- Urologic Surgeon
- Swiontkowski, Marc F, MD
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Switzer, Julie A, MD
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Tawadros, Patrick, M.D., Ph.D.
- Colon and Rectal Surgeon
- Thompson, Roby C, MD
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Tuttle, Todd M, MD
- Surgical Oncologist
- Van Heest, Ann E, MD
- Orthopaedic Hand Surgeon
- Vickers, Selwyn M, MD, F.A.C.S.
- Surgical Oncologist and Gastrointestinal Surgeon
- Ward, Christina, MD
- Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Ward, Herbert B, MD, Ph.D.
- Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon
- Zahtz, Elliot J. , MD
- Transplant Surgeon
- Zera, Richard, MD, Ph.D.
- Surgical Oncologist
- Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Colon and Rectal Surgery Clinic
- Fibroid Clinic
- General Surgery Clinic
- Institute for Prostate and Urologic Cancers
- Masonic Cancer Clinic
- Surgery Clinic - Riverside
- Trauma Clinic
- Weight Loss Surgery Center
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic
- Thoracic Surgery Clinic
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Vascular Surgery and
Interventional Radiology Clinic
Specialty highlights
Research highlights
Reducing infections after organ transplants
Timothy Pruett, M.D., chief of the Transplantation Division of the University of Minnesota Medical School’s Department of Surgery, seeks to reduce complications from infections after organ transplants. He studies ways to improve outcomes for people receiving a liver transplant after viral hepatitis destroyed their own liver.
Gastric bypass surgery for type 2 diabetes
Surgery as treatment for type 2 diabetes is being studied by Sayeed Ikramuddin, M.D., director of gastrointestinal surgery. In a clinical trial, University researchers investigate whether a specific type of gastric bypass surgery leads overweight people with type 2 diabetes to stop needing insulin injections.
Improving lung transplant survival
Helping people with transplanted lungs avoid rejection of the organs is the focus of research at the University Center for Lung Science and Health. Christine Wendt, M.D., professor of medicine, is identifying the body’s biological markers that indicate rejection of the lung.
Ventricular-assist devices
Cardiothoracic surgeons at the University are improving devices to extend the lives of people with severe end-stage heart disease. The ventricular assist device (VAD) is being implanted at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, one of the nation’s premier centers for this transplant. The VAD is a small pump that takes over the work of a failing heart.
Vascular surgery
Research at the University has shown that using supplemental oxygen after arterial injuries could help prevent loss of limbs or death by reducing intimal hyperplasia, a thickening of the arterial wall.