Stanford Surgery Wrapped 2025
Despite relentless headwinds, Stanford Surgery didn’t just survive 2025 — we thrived. Ask us a question; we’ll find the answer. Show us a problem; we’ll invent a solution. Patient needs a challenging operation; we’re up for it. How do we do this? Together.
Next month I’m presenting to the SHC board about what we do here. The theme is: “We are greater than the sum of our parts.”
When the FDA required Dr. James Dunn to try his bowel-lengthening device in adults first, Dr. Joe Forrester was there to lend a scalpel. When Dr. Kazunari Sasaki performed Stanford’s first robotic liver transplant, Dr. Brendan Visser was at the patient’s bedside. And when Dr. Dung Nguyen was asked to give the world’s first live demonstration of their novel Omental Breast Reconstruction, Drs. Irene Wapnir and Monica Dua hopped a flight to Taiwan. These are just a few examples of how we’re shaping the future. The innovation, quality, and compassion of care provided by our Department is unsurpassed.
Our trainees are the next generation. Watching them perfect their surgical skills, hearing their groundbreaking scholarship, and observing their commitment to excellence is inspiring.
Our scientists’ willingness to ask the tough questions and develop novel approaches to answer them has been demonstrated by so many high-impact publications, grant awards, and podium presentations.
And our staff, who make all the magic happen through their dedication, expertise, and determination.
2026? Time to celebrate our past and dream of what's possible. Our Holman Centennial celebration on August 29 will document our collective history, innovations, and contributions to our fields and allow us to dream big for the next 100 years! I look forward to celebrating with you and welcome any and all involvement in the event.
As always, I’m so grateful for all that you do. I wish you a joyous holiday and happy new year!
-Mary Hawn, MD, MPH
Emile Holman Professor and Chair
Department of Surgery
Highlights
Stanford's Breast Surgery Team gave the world’s first live demonstration of omental breast reconstruction with nipple neurotization at the 2025 Chang Gung Microsurgery Conference in Taiwan last week.
Understanding Pilonidal Disease
Dr. Bill Chiu and the Pilonidal Team in the Division of Pediatric Surgery created an informative video for teens and young adults.
Dr. W. Paul Brown's accidental thumb injury led to a transformative career in anatomy education, leveraging 3D technology to revolutionize teaching methods. His collaboration with Stanford and former NASA scientists resulted in multiple NIH grants and the development of innovative digital anatomy resources.
- News Center
Mental and physical coaching before surgery prepares immune system, reduces complications
News CenterMental and physical coaching before surgery prepares immune system, reduces complications
A Stanford Medicine-led trial found that a few weeks of personalized prehab improved patients’ physical and cognitive resilience before surgery, with noticeable changes in their immune system.
Holman Day 2025
Vascular Surgery hosted the Department's annual Holman Day celebration. View all the presentations.
- Abdominal Transplantation
Dr. Carlos O. Esquivel Receives IPTA Lifetime Achievement Award
Abdominal TransplantationDr. Carlos O. Esquivel Receives IPTA Lifetime Achievement Award
Carlos O. Esquivel, MD, PhD, has been named the 2025 recipient of the International Pediatric Transplant Association (IPTA) Lifetime Achievement Award. The honor recognizes an IPTA member who has made outstanding contributions to the field of pediatric transplantation over the course of their career. Only one award is presented every two years at the association’s Biennial Congress.
Transplant Surgeon Dr. Tom Pham just returned from his most recent trip to Lusaka, Zambia, where he is working to create a kidney transplant program. This time, he was accompanied by fellow Stanford faculty members: Drs. Ken Tran from the Division of Vascular Surgery and Maha Mohamed from the Division of Nephrology in the Department of Medicine.
Resident BIL Retreat 2025
This year the residents' Balance in Life Retreat took place in Huddart Park.
- Vascular & Endovascular Surgery
A Legacy in Vascular Surgery: Father and Son Reunite at Stanford
Vascular & Endovascular SurgeryA Legacy in Vascular Surgery: Father and Son Reunite at Stanford
Dr. Sean Harris joins Stanford’s Division of Vascular Surgery—the same program where his father, Dr. E. John Harris, Jr., built a distinguished career.
Robotic Liver Transplantation
A 52-year-old male with a history of NASH cirrhosis presented with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
Two teams tasked with reducing preoperative LOS for patients undergoing NSTIs or Lap Choles graduated from Stanford’s Realizing Improvement through Team Empowerment (RITE) program. A vascular team with aims to enhance OR efficiency also graduated.
Greg Tiao, MD will join the Stanford Surgery team as a Professor in in the UML effective January 1, 2026. Tiao will be dual-appointed in the Divisions of Abdominal Transplantation and Pediatric Surgery.
An unusual type of fat that forms near the intestines in Crohn’s disease prompts the growth of debilitating scars seen in the condition, a Stanford Medicine-led study showed.
- Surgery
Stanford Surgery Cubes
SurgeryStanford Surgery Cubes
Stanford Surgery Cubes is your one-stop-shop for living vicariously through others! It's the only place where you can get a tour of your favorite colleague’s desk and be jealous of everything they have! Take a look at their tricked-out keyboards, mini-fridges, and crocheted human organs.
- Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
After 20 Years, Dr. James Chang to Step Down as Chief of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Division of Plastic & Reconstructive SurgeryAfter 20 Years, Dr. James Chang to Step Down as Chief of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Dr. James Chang, the Johnson & Johnson Professor of Surgery, announced that he will be stepping down as Chief of the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford University after over 20 years in the role. A national search has been opened to identify his successor.
Stanford’s General Surgery Residency Program, led by Dr. Aaron Dawes, has announced a new Robotic Surgery Curriculum that includes a pre-console curriculum for PGY1s and 2s.
When Stanford School of Medicine students begin their medical training, they learn from individuals who have made a final generous act: donating their bodies to science. Before these students ever pick up a scalpel, Arica Gaitan prepares each donor body with dignity, respect and precision. A licensed embalmer in the Department of Surgery’s clinical anatomy program, Gaitan also leads the anatomical gift program.