University of Utah Department of Surgery

06/24/2026

Inside the Dosdall Lab, researchers are tackling one of medicine’s biggest challenges: heart failure.

Led by Derek J. Dosdall, PhD, he and his team are investigating heart failure, where treatments often target symptoms rather than the failing cardiac muscle itself. They are developing and testing a gene therapy to improve the contractility of the heart, studying its mechanical and electrical effects.

This work could help many people who suffer from heart failure, with hopes of moving into clinical trials next year. Learn more about the Dosdall Lab with the link in our bio!

06/17/2026

06/17/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us to mark 20 years since the first liver transplant at University of Utah Health!

It was a beautiful evening full of reflection and connection. A meaningful way to come together with the donors, recipients, and teams who make this work possible. ❤️

06/06/2026

Happy World Transplant Day!

Today, we’re reflecting on one of the most innovative and time-saving ways to save lives. Machine perfusion. This technology is extending viability to donated livers, turning more gifts into new life. By circulating warm, oxygenated blood, livers can remain stable for up to 36 hours, expanding the donor pool.

In just one year, delayed graft function fell from 43% to 24%, and one-year graft failures dropped from 10 cases to just 1. Patients are recovering more quickly, with shorter ICU stays and reduced need for transfusions.

These outcomes show machine perfusion is not just improving efficiency. It is transforming the quality, safety, and longevity of liver transplants.

Read the full story in our annual report here: https://medicine.utah.edu/surgery/transplant/news/2026/05/breathing-new-life-donated-livers

06/01/2026

05/29/2026

Please join us in welcoming Andrew Bain, MD, our new Pediatric Surgery Fellow for 2027–2029!

Dr. Bain is completing his General Surgery residency at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. We’re excited to have him join our team. Welcome, Dr. Bain!

05/29/2026

“Being in a room full of people who do what you do… I wouldn’t be feeling as good as I do without every one of your efforts.”

Former trauma patient Stephen Slater returned to reunite with the teams who cared for him after a devastating semi-truck rollover last February, and even made his way back to the helipad, standing beside the helicopter that transported him that day.

He was found trapped in the cab with both legs pinned, alert and talking as EMS, AirMed, and our trauma team worked together to stabilize him and safely extricate him. His care required rapid coordination across teams, including on-scene surgical support from Sarah Lombardo, MD.

In the hospital, his care continued with the surgeons who helped him heal, including Laura Wong, MD, PhD. Reunited with the people who were there that day, his story is a powerful reminder of what trauma care really is: teamwork, trust, and showing up when it matters most.

05/28/2026

Thank you to everyone who made this year’s APC Education Day such a success! From hands-on simulation and sterile technique to updates in cancer screening, IR, ventilator basics, and clinical documentation, it was a full day of learning, collaboration, and connection.

Grateful to our speakers and APCs for showing up, sharing their expertise, and continuing to push patient care forward.

05/20/2026

In the Pediatric General Surgery Clinic at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, two new paintings are doing more than filling a waiting room; they’re telling a story.

What started as a commission by Dale Johnson endowed chair for pediatric surgery, Eric Scaife, MD, took on new meaning when artist Zachary Proctor was diagnosed with cancer during the process. As he moved through treatment, the work evolved with him, becoming something not just to look at, but to hold onto.

A child leading a parade of animals. A reflection of empowerment, the idea that even in the middle of something overwhelming, you can take charge of what’s happening to you.

Read the full story from KSL: https://ksltv.com/local-news/a-cancer-patient-painting/909862/

05/15/2026

The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery has named Jason Glotzbach, MD, as the inaugural Head of the Section of Adult Cardiac Surgery.

A faculty member since 2016, Glotzbach has helped grow the institution’s adult cardiac and aortic care programs through clinical excellence, research, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

He will formally begin the role on Sept. 1, 2026.