The Department of Surgery includes nine core divisions, and each is led by a dedicated team of physician-scientists.

See below for descriptions of each division. To visit a division section, click a link below.

Acute Care Surgery

Amy Liepert, MD
Amy Liepert, MD, Division Chief

The Department of Surgery’s Division of Acute Care Surgery combines the disciplines of emergency general surgery, trauma care, critical care, elective general surgery and burn. A multidisciplinary team provides patient care, outreach education, and resident and fellowship education, including ACGME-approved surgical critical care fellowship positions. Faculty members are active in both clinical and basic science research.

University Hospital is an American College of Surgeons verified Level I trauma center, one of only three such centers in Missouri. The Frank L. Mitchell, Jr., MD Trauma Center is recognized as meeting and exceeding the highest standards of care for the most critically injured patients. As the only burn center in the region, MU is also a leader in the treatment of patients with burn injuries.

Surgical intensivist coverage in the Trauma-Surgical ICU is coordinated through our division. Our surgeons maintain an active general surgery practice and are available for urgent inpatient and elective outpatient consultations.

Surgical Critical Care Fellowship

Acute Care Surgery clinical information

Acute Care Surgery Division

Cardiothoracic Surgery

John Markley, MD
John Markley, MD, Division Chief

Surgeons at University Hospital performed the first open-heart procedure in mid-Missouri in 1958. Since that time, the hospital has become well-known as one of the state’s most active and respected cardiothoracic referral centers. Our cardiothoracic surgeons perform more than 800 operations each year.

Services include: Surgery for thoracic aortic aneurysms, dissection and trauma, minimally invasive coronary surgery, aortic and mitral valve surgery, complete thoracic surgical oncology, including laser endoscopy, thorascopy and VATS lobectomy, treatment of congenital and acquired cardiac defects, including cardiac conduction disorders and arrhythmias, MAZE procedures; lung, esophageal and chest wall tumors and cancers; endovascular thoracic aortic stenting; and pectus repair and mini sternotomy/keyhole surgery.

Cardiothoracic Surgery clinic information

General Surgery

Andrew Wheeler, MD
Andrew Wheeler, MD, Division Chief

General surgeons at University HospitalWomen's Hospital, Children's Hospital and Ellis Fischel Cancer Center serve patients with a broad range of surgical needs, including bariatric surgery, endocrine surgery, colorectal surgery, high-risk surgical procedures in elderly patients with complex problems, minimally invasive surgery and outpatient surgical services.

General Surgery Residency

General Surgery - Bariatric Surgery Fellowship

General Surgery clinical information

Bariatric Surgery

General Surgery Division

Pediatric Surgery

Ahmed Marwan, MD
Ahmed Marwan, MD, Division Chief

Pediatric surgeons at the University of Missouri have detailed experience in caring for infants and children, both in Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Units and outpatient settings. Backed by the reputation and research of an academic medical center at the region’s only children’s hospital, our pediatric surgeons also work closely with other divisions within the department, including Neurosurgery, Plastic & Reconstructive and Urologic Surgery.

Services include: trauma surgery, transplant surgery, correction of congenital abnormalities or birth defects, endoscopy, cancer surgery, kidney disease, minimally invasive and robotic surgery and outpatient surgery.

Pediatric Surgery Division

Plastic Surgery

Stephen Colbert, MD
Stephen Colbert, MD Division Chief

Our plastic surgeons perform reconstructive surgery to correct birth defects and defects associated with disease or trauma. We also perform aesthetic and cosmetic surgery and have a special interest in hand reconstruction and craniofacial surgery.

The Plastic Surgery residency program is a pioneer of the integrated resident pathway. As one of the five original integrated plastic surgery programs, our innovative apprenticeship model of surgical education provides the opportunity for real mentorship and emphasizes early and significant exposure to plastic surgery.

Plastic Surgery Residency

Plastic Surgery clinical information

Plastic Surgery Division

Surgical Oncology

Photo of Eric Kimchi, MD, MBA, Division Chief
Eric Kimchi, MD, MBA, Division Chief

Physicians in the Division of Surgical Oncology specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and surgical management of solid tumors. Services provided by Ellis Fischel Cancer Center teams include: Treatment for cancers of the breast, gastrointestinal tract and hepatobiliary tracts; complete thoracic surgical oncology, including laser endoscopy, thorascopy and VATs lobectomy; lung, esophageal and chest wall tumors and cancers; endocrine system and soft tissue; treatment for melanoma; comprehensive therapy for complex abnormal tissue masses; and rapid outpatient biopsies.

Surgical Oncology clinical information

Surgical Oncology Division

Shiyou Chen, DVM, PhD
Shiyou Chen, DVM, PhD Division Chief of Surgical Research

Surgical Research

The purpose of the Department of Surgery Research Division is to promote the overall research program in the Department of Surgery.

Surgical Research

Urologic Surgery

Our urologic surgeons are experts in urologic oncology, renal transplant and infertility. Infertile men and their spouses are seen in a joint setting with gynecologic infertility specialists. Surgeons also offer state-of-the art clinical laboratories in urodynamics and andrology, including sperm-banking services and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Photo of Mark Wakefield, MD, Division Chief
Mark Wakefield, MD, Division Chief

Services include: Diagnosis and treatment of urinary incontinence; kidney transplantation; surgical treatment of testis tumors; treatment of bladder, kidney and prostate cancer; treatment of kidney stones, including percutaneous nephrostolithotomy, ureteroscopy and extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy; management of spinal cord injury patients with neurogenic bladder; treatment of impotence and infertility; pediatric urology including treatment for congenital obstructive uropathy and vesicoureteral reflux, and surgical correction of hypospadias; and laparoscopic surgery to treat kidney, ureter, adrenal, bladder and prostate conditions.

Urology Residency

Urology clinical information

Urologic Surgery Division

Photo of Todd Vogel, MD, Division Chief
Todd Vogel, MD, Division Chief

 

Vascular Surgery

The Department of Surgery’s Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery reflects the current model of combining the disciplines of open surgical cases and endovascular procedures.

Vascular Surgery Fellowship

Vascular Surgery clinical information

Vascular Surgery Division