UNC Department of Surgery | Department of Surgery

Latest News

Kristalyn Gallagher Elected for Membership in the Society of University Surgeons

Congratulations to Kristalyn Gallagher, DO, Associate Professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery for being elected for membership in the Society of University Surgeons (SUS). Membership into… Read more

Gita Mody Wins One of Only Four Faculty Research Fellowship Awards From the American College of Surgeons

Congratulations Gita Mody, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. The American College of Surgeons and its Scholarship Program Committee announced Dr. Mody, as one… Read more

David Gerber, MD, Honored as Healthcare Champion

UNC Health and the North Carolina Tar Heels chose David Gerber, MD, Division Chief of Abdominal Transplant, and George F. Sheldon, MD Distinguished Professor of Surgery as this months Healthcare… Read more

Milestone Achieved for UNC Chronic Pancreatitis and Autologous Islet Cell Transplant Program

Three years after performing its first case, the program, created and led by Chirag Desai, MD, FACS, has performed its 50th case, making UNC one of the most significant centers… Read more

Avital Yohann, MD, Receives Fogarty Global Health Fellowship Award

Congratulations to Avital (Tali) Yohann, MD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, who was offered a position in the 2020-2021 class of the UJMT Fogarty Global Health Fellowship Program. This mentored training opportunity… Read more

UNC Structural Heart Program in Chapel Hill was ACC Certified as a TAVR Center of Excellence

Today the UNC Structural Heart Program in Chapel Hill was ACC Certified as a TAVR Center of Excellence. This is quite a distinction as we are the first program in… 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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Surgical Specialties

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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.

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