Washington University welcomes Drs. Niziolek, Panni, Martin, Datta, Brandt and Cullinan to the Department of Surgery.
Department of Surgery New Faculty: September 2023

Profiles and feature stories on WashU Surgery faculty.
Washington University welcomes Drs. Niziolek, Panni, Martin, Datta, Brandt and Cullinan to the Department of Surgery.
Washington University physician-implementation scientist seeks to investigate and eliminate health disparities on a local and global scale.
Washington University general and acute and critical care surgeon Craig Smith accepting new patients now.
Surgeon-scientist also to be surgeon-in-chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Shaina Eckhouse received the award for her leadership in patient-oriented minimally invasive surgery.
Washington University breast cancer specialist honored in memory of renowned surgical oncologist.
Minimally invasive bariatric surgeon reaches personal milestone and continues life-changing surgical work at Washington University.
Leading transplant surgeon Maria B. Majella Doyle, MD, MBA, receives international recognition as an RCSI Honorary Fellow.
Tsuyoshi Kaneko, MD, recognized at Shoenberg Chair Installation ceremony.
Pioneer in peripheral nerve surgery recognized at annual meeting.
Transcatheter cardiac surgeon leads section with innovation in clinical, research and education programs.
AAES Foundation award recognizes Brown’s investigations in new therapies for aggressive thyroid cancer.
Distinguished endowed chair recognizes Doyle’s vital role in transplant surgery.
Kimberly Berni, MD, and Jeffrey Glaser, MD, join Washington University Urology at Progress West Hospital and Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital.
Graduating medical students recognize Michael Awad, MD, PhD, for his commitment to education.
The Department of Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis welcomes Neil Ermitano, DPM, as an assistant professor of surgery in the Section of Acute and Critical Care Surgery.
Dane Johnson, MD, explains what led him to his role as a men’s health, sexual dysfunction and infertility specialist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
When Sean Glasgow, MD, is not serving as a faculty member, he’s serving the United States military as a citizen Airman at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. For Glasgow, being both a surgeon and a member of the medical team at the Air Force Reserve is incredibly rewarding.
Puja Kachroo, MD, has been named surgical director of the Center for Diseases of the Thoracic Aorta at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Kachroo is a leading expert in aortic disease and cardiac surgery.
Susan Mackinnon, MD, the Minot Packer Fryer Professor of Plastic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received the American Association of Plastic Surgeons (AAPS) 2022 Honorary Award.
Washington University pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Jacob Miller, MD, specializes in the surgical treatment of congenital heart and lung conditions at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Miller joins the faculty after completing world-class surgical training at the School of Medicine.
Amit Pawale, MD, joins the department as surgical director of heart transplantation, ventricular assist devices and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery Michael Brunt, MD, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Barnes-Jewish Medical Staff Association.
Michael Brunt, MD, Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery is among 15 fellows inducted into the Academy of Educators at Washington University School of Medicine in 2021.
Mary Klingensmith, MD, transitions to new national leadership role in surgical education as Senior Vice President for Procedural Accreditation at the ACGME.
Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery L. Michael Brunt, MD, receives the Pruett Family Professorship in Surgery.
Steven Strasberg, MD, retires after a seminal 50-year career in HPB-GI surgery.
Alec Patterson, MD, was appointed the new Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
General surgery chief residents recognize Steven Hunt, MD, for his mentorship at 2020-2021 graduation ceremony.
What does the legacy of excellence in endocrine surgery at Washington University School of Medicine and Siteman Cancer Center mean for patients? Our surgical oncologists have experience with a high volume of complex cases, making them experts in endocrine surgery.
Washington University urologist Arnold Bullock, MD, is an accomplished surgeon, public health advocate and mentor to young people in North St. Louis. Bullock discusses the importance of cancer screening, what makes a good patient and the value of mentorship in the local community.
Multidisciplinary research helps surgeons choose the right tool for stroke and peripheral arterial disease patients.
Cardiothoracic surgeon Shuddhadeb Ray, MD, MPHS, brings his expertise in heart, lung, and esophageal surgery to Christian Hospital after a decade of training at Washington University School of Medicine.
Kerri Ohman, MD, who joined the Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery in 2020 as an Assistant Professor of Surgery, shares her journey of becoming a colorectal surgeon and explains why she likes working at Washington University .
The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital celebrates the appointment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Chief Justin Sacks, MD, MBA, as the Chairholder of the Shoenberg Endowed Chair in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Washington University urologist Eric Kim, MD, reaches major milestone with new robotic technology for urologic surgery.
Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery Ralph Damiano, Jr., MD, shares life-saving advances in lung transplant and heart surgery with the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Yin Cao, ScD, MPH, is researching the troubling rise of early-onset colorectal cancer. In a series of publications, Cao’s research points to risk factors for the condition and offers some methods of prevention and improved screening.
Bariatric surgeon Francesca Dimou, MD, MS, helps people achieve their goals with weight loss surgery. Dimou describes the transformative process, offers advice and shares the story of her surgical training.
Erica Traxel, MD, Associate Professor of Urologic Surgery and Director of the Urologic Surgery Residency Program, was among 26 fellows inducted into Washington University’s Academy of Educators in 2020.
Transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon Adeel Khan discusses the growth of the Robotic Transplant Surgery Program at the School of Medicine, the reasons behind its success and the impact on patient care.
For young people with pancreatitis, total pancreatectomy and islet auto-transplant can prevent years of chronic pain. HPB surgeon Chet Hammill, MD, MCR, explains the procedure and encourages people to learn about their options early in life.
Two Department of Surgery faculty receive Skandalaris Center LEAP funding for translational research projects.
Awad recounts the growth of his career as a surgical educator, from beginning as a teaching assistant in college to becoming Director of the Washington University Institute for Surgical Education.
Richard Schuessler, PhD, Director of the Cardiac Surgical Research Laboratory, retires after 35 years at Washington University School of Medicine. Among Schuessler’s innumerable contributions is his involvement in research revolutionizing the treatment of atrial fibrillation.
Shaina Eckhouse, MD, works in collaboration with Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the Healthy Start Clinic at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and fellow surgeons at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis to treat adolescent patients with bariatric surgery.
Keith Brandt’s 50th marathon was unconventional, but unites the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in celebration.
Ida Fox, MD, takes a biopsychosocial approach to medicine, helping people with spinal cord injuries regain hand function.
A new chapter begins for the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery with the arrival of Division Chief Justin Sacks.
Mary E. Klingensmith, MD, the Mary Culver Distinguished Professor and Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Surgery at the School of Medicine, has been named a Vice President of the American Board of Surgery. This follows Klingensmith’s years of leadership in the ABS and the Surgical Council on Resident Education.