Top Surgery News
Dr. Bradley Leshnower Leads in High-Risk Aneurysm Treatment
Department of Surgery faculty members continue to lead the way in developing new lifesaving technologies. Among the many spaces for research and development is the Endospan TRIOMPHE study, which is the development of an aortic arch stent graft system designed to treat chronic aortic dissections and aneurysms.
Also in the News:
Dr. Craig Coopersmith Honored with 2024 Dean's Distinguished Faculty Lecture and Award
Dr. Ravi Rajani Chosen as President-Elect of Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society (VESS)
Dr. Randi Smith Wins $2 Million Grant to Support Violence Intervention Efforts at Grady
Colquitt Regional partners with Emory University for surgical residencies in South GA
Emory selected as Recipient of Federal Funding to support Innovative Health Research
Emory Residents & Faculty Co-Author Comprehensive Review Book on Surgical Diseases
Faculty Spotlights
Steven Kim, MD
Steven Kim, MD, has been awarded a Faculty Development Grant by The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) for the funding period of 2024-2026. The title of the grant that was funded is "Investigating the Role of NK Cells in a Preclinical Model of Pig-to-Nonhuman Primate Xenotransplantation." This is the same study that Dr. Kim received a DOS Pilot Research Award for last year, with much of the preliminary data for the ASTS Faculty Development Grant generated using the funds from the DOS Pilot Research Award.
The ASTS Faculty Development Grant is designed to support a junior faculty member in the development of transplant research so that further funding can be obtained. It provides winners $50,000 over two years to support direct research and educational costs.
Yazan Duwayri, MD
Yazan Duwayri, MD, MBA, has been appointed the role of Chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery, beginning in April 2024. Dr. Duwayri will continue to lead the Division in his permanent leadership role as Chief.
Dr. Yazan Duwayri has been with Emory since 2011 and is a Professor of Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine. He has served in institutional leadership positions including as Medical Director of the Heart and Vascular Service Line at Emory University Hospital, where he promoted operational efficiency and alignment across the cardiovascular units. He also serves as Co-Director of the Emory Aortic Center, one of the highest volume aortic programs in the United States, where he has grown the volume and quality of care of patients with aortic disease through endovascular innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and research trial recruitment.
Trainee Spotlights
Dr. Ayana Ruffin wins Winship Postdoctoral Award and Cancer Research Institute Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
Ayana Ruffin, PhD, won an internal Winship Postdoctoral Award and the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship Award to Promote Racial Diversity.
The CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship to Promote Racial Diversity supports qualified young scientists from underrepresented minorities at leading universities and research centers around the world who wish to receive training in fundamental immunology and cancer immunology.
Dr. Francie Bennett wins 2023 Winship Scientific Symposium Poster Competition
Francie Bennett, MD, won the 2023 Winship Scientific Symposium Poster Competition Award held on Emory's campus on Wednesday, December 6. Dr. Bennett's poster title was "Expanding immunotherapy options in cholangiocarcinoma: Role of CD27 agonist in combination with PD-L1 and MEK inhibition on antitumor effect and CD8+ T cells."
The annual Winship Scientific Symposium seeks to highlight the outstanding research of Winship investigators, deepen our understanding of important topics and provide opportunities to cultivate collaboration.
