In 2019, the Phoenix Business Journal awarded Dr. Kevin Foster it’s 2019 Healthcare Heroes Innovator Award for his work with Recell, sometimes called “spray-on skin”.

Recell is an autologous cell harvesting device, used to achieve epidermal regeneration and definitive wound closure with sparing use of donor skin.

Dr. Foster was heavily involved in the FDA clinical trial for its use on superficial burns.  During that trial, Dr. Foster noticed that areas where Recell overspray landed onto conventional split-thickness grafts actually did much better.

Dr. Foster appealed for emergency, compassionate use permission from the FDA to use Recell on a patient with a large burn who presented to the Arizona Burn Center, and the results were remarkable.  Dr. Foster noted the spray, combined with conventional skin grafts, improved his patient’s appearance and also shortened her recovery time.

Dr. Foster’s work set the standard of care which has since been followed in Recell use in burn injuries across the country.

Dr. Foster then received FDA approval to use Recell on a local teacher who was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, making her the first patient to be treated with Recell for this condition.  95% of the patient’s wounds were healed, one week after being treated with Recell.   Because of Dr. Foster’s work, Recell is now used nationwide to treat this diagnosis.

Congratulations to Dr. Foster for this recognition of his tireless work!

Read More: Fluid Resuscitation in Burn Patients: Current Care and New Frontiers

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Dr. Hu noted that in consideration of Dr. Caruso’s contributions, his passion and commitment to the education of surgical residents, his research involvement, and his leadership in the Arizona Burn Center and the Department of Surgery at Maricopa Medical Center, the ATA Board of Directors requested the honor to name the STACS research session The Daniel M. Caruso Research Session. 

Dr. Sydney Vail introduces the Daniel M. Caruso Research Session

The STACS Abstract Podium and Poster Session attracts submissions from surgical residents from Arizona and across the country.  This sessions has grown significantly over the years with research projects covering a wide variety of trauma related topics.

The research session, consisting of podium and poster presentations, is held each year on the first day of the conference; the winners of the poster and podium presentations are announced at the end of the conference.

The Arizona Trauma Association was established in 2007 by a group of local trauma surgeons from Level I trauma centers who envisioned an organization dedicated to improving the delivery of health care to severely injured patients in Arizona.  The goal was to achieve continual improvements in trauma care delivery through collaboration, education, research and community outreach from trauma centers across Arizona.

Several Arizona Trauma Association members knew Dr. Caruso for many years and respected him as a surgeon, leader and educator.  As such, the ATA has honored his legacy in a truly amazing manner.  For more information on the ATA, a non-profit organization, visit www.aztracc.org

Dr. Aaron Hechtman PGY3 and Dr. Wendy Liu PGY2 at MIHS

Dr. Caruso’s grandson, Deegan Smith (5)

Dr. Charles Hu, President ATA, Diane Caruso, Deegan Smith and Zack Kreisheimer accept the honor on Dr. Caruso’s behalf.

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The event was held Friday, October 12, 2018, from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Hilton Phoenix East.  Approximately 600 physicians, nurses, EMT’s, physical therapists, respiratory therapists and allied health professionals were in attendance. This year’s event, with record-breaking attendance and 40 vendors and exhibitors, was by far the largest.

Planning has already begun for the 2019 Program scheduled for October 18th at the same Hilton venue.

The Caruso Society was proud to support the Arizona Burn Center through the Burn Symposium, in recognition of all the education and training it provides for the MIHS residency program.

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Dr. Johnson serves as Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology and is Medical Director of Perioperative Services for Maricopa Integrated Health System, where he has practiced for 30 years.

Dr. Johnson had a ten year mathematics and teaching career before venturing into medicine in 1978.  He graduated from George Washington University Medical School in 1982 and completed his anesthesiology residency at The University of Maryland.

Dr. Johnson came to Arizona in 1986 and worked three years at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center and began “moonlighting” at Maricopa Medical Center in 1988.   He was offered a faculty position there in 1989 and, as Dr. Johnson says, “the rest is history”.

Dr. Johnson enjoys the fit of anesthesiology because of its technology focus, but as important, because of the ability it allows him to interact with families.  He feels it was natural to specialize in pediatric anesthesiology because he enjoys having fun with the kids, wearing funny things, teasing them and making them smile.  And he is appreciative when parents thank him for how he cared for their child; he says “to me, that’s a high”.

Dr. Kote Chundu, CEO of District Medical Group, stated “As a physician and anesthesiologist, Bill is superb.  But, he is also a compassionate human being.  His calm, quiet leadership, especially in stressful times, makes him truly deserving of this honor.”

Photo courtesy of Maricopa Health Foundation YouTube

MIHS President and CEO Steve Purves added, “Dr. Bill Johnson is a strong, steady leader who is well respected, not just at MIHS, but across the state and nation.  We are fortunate to have him at MIHS and proud he is being recognized.”

Dr. Johnson and his wife, Leanor, are proud parents of three sons, all who have completed college and have successful careers.  When asked about his legacy, Dr. Johnson said, “I’d like to be remembered by my patients and colleagues as someone who had fun delivering excellent care, and by my family as a loving father, a husband in love with his wife, and as a man who did the very best he could to provide for them.”

The Caruso Society is proud to recognize one of our members, Dr. William Johnson, as the 2018 J. Kipp Charlton Physician of Excellence Award Winner.

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Dr. Vail graduated Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1989 and attended his general surgery residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA, 1989-1995.  Dr. Vail completed a Fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital in 1995-1996, followed by a second Fellowship in Trauma and Emergency Surgery at Jackson Memorial in 1996-1997.

Dr. Vail began his career at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, then was recruited to become the Director of Trauma at St. Mary’s Hospital in Langhorne, PA.  Before long he returned to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital as Director of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care and subsequently became the Vice Chief of Surgical Services.  His rise to MIHS Chairman of the Department of Surgery began in 2008 when he assumed the Director of Trauma position, eventually becoming the Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery.  

Dr. Vail has been a tactical medical provider since 2002 with law enforcement SWAT teams.  He also teaches military, law enforcement and civilian medics about trauma-related topics, including Active Shooter and Stop the Bleed programs.

Dr. Vail’s plans for the Department include growth of surgical volumes, especially for the private practice aspect; reaching new patient populations to use MIHS services who otherwise would have chosen to go elsewhere; and growth in the number of surgeons and their service lines.   Dr. Vail is working on shared accountability to and with the hospital, with the surgeons taking on roles with their hospital administrative counterparts. And finally, he is ensuring the Department has an increased commitment to education with the new Creighton alliance and integrated residency program with St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Dr. Vail has been married for 6 years to Jana “who has made our reality exceed fantasy”.  Together they have three rescue cattle dogs. Dr. Vail has a daughter who is an accountant, another daughter who is an artist, and a son who serves as a Marine.

An “official” welcome to Dr. Vail as our department leader!

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 The robotic platform combines open surgical techniques with the advantages of minimally invasive approaches. It uses an ergonomically designed console where the surgeon sits while operating, utilizing four interactive robotic arms, a high-definition (10 times magnification) 3D vision system and the proprietary EndoWrist® instruments, which have a greater degree of movement than the human wrist. This platform also has dual consoles, meaning that two surgeons could work simultaneously, or more importantly, a resident and surgeon can work together, giving hands-on training in new minimally invasive techniques.

The system at MIHS, named the R.O.S.S. (Robotically Operated Surgical System, suggested by Dr. Robert Dixon and appointed by Dr. Daniel Caruso), has now become a mainstay, and being used by the General Surgery service to provide a variety of operations for MIHS’ patient population. Currently, the General Surgery division is working closely with Intuitive to explore ways to deliver high-quality robotic surgery to MIHS’ unique patient population in today’s cost-saving healthcare environment.

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JUSTIN D. CHANDLER, MD, FACS

It is with great pleasure the Department of Surgery welcomes Dr. Justin Chandler to MIHS!

Dr. Chandler is relocating from Pennsylvania where he practiced as Assistant Professor of Surgery at Penn State MS Hershey Medical Center since 2012.

Dr. Chandler received his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson Medical College and completed his surgical residency at Hahnemann Hospital/Drexel College of Medicine, both in Philadelphia.   In addition, Dr. Chandler completed a Trauma, Acute Care Surgery and Critical Care Fellowship at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami Medical School in Miami, FL.

Dr. Chandler is a Medical Team Manager for FEMA USAR PA-TF1, deploying to Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Irma in 2017.  He is anticipated to be a Rated Instructor FEMA USAT MTT (Med Specialist) this year and also is in progress of a Masters of Professional Studies in Homeland Security, Public Health Preparedness.

Dr. Chandler is married with one son.  He is anticipated to join the Trauma Team with

Drs. Sydney Vail, Paola Pieri, Karole Davis and Alex Hollingsworth on October 1^st.

We are proud to add another skilled surgeon to our department and have the ability to learn from his diverse experience.  Welcome, Dr. Chandler!

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MIHS and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center also have long histories of success in preparing physicians for the medicine of tomorrow. They offer Arizona’s longest running residency programs and train hundreds of physicians every year in a wide range of clinical settings.

With this new partnership, we anticipate some major changes coming in 2018. There will be new facilities, improved resources and greater fellowship opportunities as residents pursue their chosen specialty.

What will not change is the dedicated teaching faculty, the diversity of patient care encounters and experiences, or the commitment to resident education and professional and personal development. The goal is to build a better health care system and a stronger educational institution with shared resources and talent.   More news to follow soon!!

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