I am an acute care surgeon board-certified in both surgery and surgical critical care, with clinical focus in trauma, emergency general surgery and surgical critical care. The most important part of my job is providing compassionate surgical care to my patients, who are often acutely injured and/or critically ill. I have a deep awareness of, and empathy for my patients’ suffering, and I do my best to alleviate it. I practice medicine with the golden rule — “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. I believe that an optimal medical decision is the one that integrates information about the patient’s clinical state and circumstances, the available research evidence, as well as the patient’s values and preferences. I also perform laparoscopic surgery, gastrointestinal surgery (small bowel, colorectal and biliary), complex hernia repair, endoscopy and provide wound care.

My scholarly focus is in the area of trauma and critical care-related pathophysiology. In basic science, I was the first to demonstrate that food high in advanced glycation end-products (AGE) and its interaction with the receptor (RAGE) predispose patients for aspiration-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in trauma. In clinical research, I have been pursuing interests in areas of utilization of imaging study in trauma, prevention of blood clot formation in head injury patients, ICU quality improvement. I was a co-investigator on NIH-funded grants for evaluation of aspiration biomarkers in trauma and surgery, as well as on an Surgical Infection Society multicenter study on duration of antibiotics for abdominal infection. I have mentored numerous surgical residents and medical students in research, which has led to them receiving national research awards. I have a bibliography of 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 6 book chapters, in addition to many oral and poster presentations. I am an associate editor for the Journal of Surgical Research, and an member of editorial board for many leading surgical journals.

I have a passion for teaching medical students and residents. I find satisfaction in sharing my knowledge, experience and wisdom with those in the training phase of their careers. The trainees’ inquiries have helped me stay current in the field, and ultimately help me render the best care to my patients. As a surgeon, role model and mentor, I have inspired many medical students to pursue surgery as a career.

Physician Gender:

Male