Message from the Chair

The last two years have been challenging, to say the least. But despite the setbacks brought first by COVID-19 and then (and still!) by staffing shortages, the Department has continued to press forward, demonstrating the resiliency and fortitude of our faculty, trainees and staff. Since 2020, we have added 35 new faculty members to the Department of Surgery and we continue to attract ever-growing numbers of applicants to our residency and fellowship programs; we’ve seen a 19 percent increase in applicants since 2020. In addition, our extramural research funding has experienced a 31% increase with sponsored research funding totaling $10,995,198 since 2020, in spite of an increasingly competitive playing field for research funding. In every way, the Surgery Department has met challenges with an increased sense of resolve, commitment and unwavering focus. I couldn’t be prouder of this team. In addition to growing our clinical, training and research programs, our faculty developed a comprehensive strategic plan to foster a prosperous, diverse and inclusive culture within our department. As part of that plan, Paula Cupertino, Ph.D. has been recruited as Vice-Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and as the Research Director for SHORE (Surgical Health Outcomes Research Enterprise). Dr Cupertino is a nationally recognized and NIH-funded cancer prevention researcher with a special research emphasis in studying and implementing effective cancer prevention strategies for underserved populations. Her work in health equity research will bring a new research focus to SHORE, which will help us attract superb trainees. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank Dr. Rabih Salloum for 10+ highly successful years as the General Surgery Program Director. Rabih’s dedication and his sincere care for the well-being of all of his trainees set the tone for the remarkable growth of our training programs in General Surgery and beyond. Dr. Yan Qi, Associate Professor of Surgery and an Attending Surgeon in the Division of Trauma/Acute Care Surgery, has recently accepted the position of Program Director and brings a fresh sense of enthusiasm and many new ideas to this vitally important leadership role. She has big shoes to fill, but I know Yan will be highly successful in further elevating our training program. With the well-timed lifting of COVID-19 restrictions last November, we were able to gather and host a memorial service to honor and celebrate the life of our friend and mentor, Dr. Sy Schwartz. We waited more than a year after his death, as we were determined to gather in person to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Schwartz, and to share innumerable personal stories of how lives were impacted by his wisdom, his kindness and his dedication to this Department. We were pleased to host many program alumni who came back to Rochester for the memorial service, demonstrating not only a collective admiration for Dr. Schwartz and his many accomplishments, but also a sense of pride in being part of the University of Rochester Department of Surgery. The legacy of Dr. Schwartz lives on in our hallways, including his office which has been converted to a memorial for all to see. These last two years have tested us, and reminded us that sometimes circumstances outside of our control take over and send challenges our way. The real test is not in what happens to us, but in how we respond, and it has been humbling to watch this Department respond with an ongoing passion for teaching, an unwavering commitment to conducting meaningful research, and above all, a fierce devotion to patient care. With the centennial anniversary of the Department just around the corner in 2024, we continue to reflect on our past, and envision our role in the advances that the next century will bring.

David C. Linehan, M.D.

Seymour I. Schwartz Professor and Chairman Department of Surgery University of Rochester Medical Center