UNC Department of Surgery | Department of Surgery

Latest News

Desai Honored as Triangle Business Journal’s Surgeon of the Year

Chirag Desai, MD, FACS is the Division Chief of Abdominal Transplant Surgery, Professor of Surgery, Executive Medical Director for UNC Healthcare Center for Transplant Care, Surgical Director of UNC’s Liver… Read more

CT Surgery Teammates Honored at UNC Basketball Game

Members of the Cardiothoracic Surgery team were honored in a tribute delivered at the pre-game ceremony of the UNC-NC State Basketball Game on Saturday, March 2, 2024 for their care… Read more

Spanheimer and Collaborators Advance Depth of Exploration in How Breast Tumors Become Resistant to Therapy

Dr. Philip Spanheimer is an Assistant Professor of Surgical Oncology whose work at UNC began in 2019. He specializes in treatment of breast cancers, complex skin cancers, sarcoma, endocrine surgery,… Read more

Kim named to new leadership roles in Department of Surgery, NC Basnight Cancer Hospital

HJ Kim, MD, Division Chief of Surgical Oncology, has been appointed vice chair of academic affairs in the UNC School of Medicine’s Department of Surgery and associate physician-in-chief of the… Read more

Clara Lee, MD, MPP Brings Experience, Grants to UNC Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Clara Lee, MD, MPP, FACS, brings surgical and research experience with her return to UNC as Professor of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Lee began work on an R21 NIH… Read more

Whitman Brings Years of Experience to Division of General Surgery

Marc Whitman brings over 30 years of medical practice experience to UNC’s Division of General Surgery. He attended medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago,… Read more

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News

Providing a Carolina Blue Warmth

Welcome to the Department of Surgery at UNC. Check out our surgery video for information about who we are, our commitment to our patients, trainees and advancing medical science.

Our People

Jonathan Stem, MD

Colorectal surgery was the first general surgery rotation that I had in medical school, and it completely shattered the perception I had of surgeons until that point. I worked with a fantastic surgeon and physician, an extremely caring individual. I saw in him an ability to not only be an excellent surgeon but someone who related to his patients at their bedside. He maintained long-term relationships with them built around an enormous amount of trust. From that day on, I was interested in colorectal surgery.

Read the full interview

Surgical Specialties

Check out our specialties, or divisions, which contain information for patients, referring physicians, and prospective student.

Patient Stories

James January

James January Jr. is a burn survivor whose involvement with UNC Surgery is multi-layered. He survived 3rd degree burns to 85% of his body in 1992. His treatment included xenograft applications, many months in the hospital, and numerous follow-up surgeries of many types. For many years, he has been involved with the Division of Burn Surgery’s North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center as a volunteer. Yet Mr. January lived with peripheral neuropathy, underwent left foot partial foot amputation, and recurring infections in his foot. Avoiding a below the knee amputation, he was referred to UNC Division of Vascular Surgery’s limb salvage clinic for reconstruction, deformity correction and wound closure by Dr. Shrunjay Patel and team. Returning back to volunteering for aftercare programs has provided a circle of healing and involvement with UNC Surgery.

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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

Upcoming Events

May03

The Nathan A. Womack Surgical Society Research Day

Friday 12:00 am

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

Watch our Surgery
Welcome Video