UNC Department of Surgery | Department of Surgery

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Analiese Lahey, Undergraduate Senior in Rossman Lab receives Fulbright Scholarship

Congratulations to Analiese Lahey, an undergraduate student in the Rossman lab. She received a Fulbright scholarship! Analiese is finishing up her senior year at UNC and will graduate with a… Read more

David Gerber selected for a 2021 Nursing Staff Recognition Week “Friend of Nursing” Award

Congratulations to David Gerber, MD, George F. Sheldon, MD Distinguished Professor of Surgery and Chief of Abdominal Transplantation has been selected for a 2021 Nursing Staff Recognition Week “Friend of… Read more

Leader and Pioneer in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Ross Ungerleider Joins UNC Surgery

Ross Ungerleider, MD, MBA, is a national leader and pioneer in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery programs. He has joined the Department of Surgery as a Professor in our Cardiothoracic Division. Dr…. Read more

Jeffrey Johnson, MD, Surgical Oncology Fellow

Jeffrey Johnson Wins Tracks 2k Pilot Award

Jeffrey Johnson, MD, receives Grant from the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute. Jeffrey Johnson, MD, is a Surgical Oncology Fellow in the Department of Surgery. He received a… Read more

Benjamin Haithcock, MD, Honored as Healthcare Champion

UNC Health and the North Carolina Tar Heels chose Benjamin Haithcock, MD, Profession in the Division Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery as this month’s Healthcare Champion. Dr. Haithcock has been a… Read more

MATCH DAY 2021: Congratulations to our New Trainees!

Congratulations to all of our new trainees! General Surgery Residents | PGY1 Adam Awe, MD University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Laura Burkbauer, MD Perelman School of… Read more

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Providing a Carolina Blue Warmth

Our People

Matthew Eckert, MD

I’m keenly aware while I’m on active duty what my job is, whether I’m in a hospital in the United States or whether I’m overseas; to provide the best care possible in the worst circumstances that you can probably imagine. That is my motivation to do better every day.

The second thing that motivates me is the people. The folks that I work with within my unit are extraordinarily talented and motivated. The people we take care of are awe-inspiring. So, it’s a constant drive and motivation to maintain a diverse set of very high standards that most surgeons don’t have to deal with. Most surgeons aren’t worried about maintaining a seven-minute mile run pace, carrying a hefty backpack, and being able to operate and maintain cutting edge knowledge of what’s going on in surgery and medicine, as well as being able to jump out of an airplane. That’s always at the forefront of my mind, keeping all those skills and capabilities as sharp as possible.

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Patient Stories

Jett Leahy

Little Chance of Survival

Diagnosed with a congenital heart condition while still in utero, Suzi Leahy’s unborn son, Jett, was given “little chance of survival,” yet he beat the odds thanks to the life-saving care of the N.C. Children’s Heart Center at UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC.

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Quick Facts

85
TRAINEES

76
FACULTY

14,000+
SURGICAL CASES

$4,454,787
TOTAL RESEARCH GRANT DOLLARS

$1,285,771
CLINICAL TRIAL DOLLARS

224
PUBLICATIONS

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Committing to Your Education

Our surgical residency and fellowship opportunities have been developed with one goal in mind… to help train outstanding clinical surgeons who are dedicated to providing the best possible patient care.

Educating the
Next Generation
of Surgeons

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