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The 65th Volume of the Surgical Forum is dedicated to Michael G Sarr, MD, FACS
DEDICATION
The 65th Volume of the Surgical Forum is dedicated to Michael G Sarr, MD, FACS Kaye Marie Reid-Lombardo, Rochester, MN
MD, MS, FACS
The American College of Surgeons Committee for the Forum on Fundamental Surgical Problems selects an esteemed surgeon each year for the dedication of this volume. The awardee is selected from a very competitive group of accomplished surgeons. This individual best exemplifies the virtues of the ideal academician: a history of mentorship, major research contributions, surgical mastery, clinical excellence, administrative leadership, national and international visibility, and most important a tradition of promoting and cultivating the next generation of leaders of American surgery. This year the committee has selected my mentor and friend, Dr Michael G Sarr, a leader of national and international acclaim. I write this dedication not with my own voice, but on behalf of all the trainees, academic surgeons, and private practice surgeons (that number in the hundreds) that Dr Michael Sarr has mentored, nurtured, and sponsored over his illustrious career. This award honors his achievements and legacy. Dr Michael Sarr is the James C Masson Professor of Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. A graduate of Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, Dr Sarr’s storied career in surgery began as a medical student and then resident in the Halsted Surgical Training Program at Johns Hopkins where he trained under the leadership of Dr George Zuidema (seven years) and Dr John Cameron (one year). They would both serve the important role of clinical mentors as he cultivated his academic career. When Dr Zuidema queried what his focus would be in the lab, without hesitation he stated gastrointestinal diseases. After his second year of residency, he left Baltimore to complete a two-year research-training program in gut motility at Rochester, MN at Mayo Clinic with Dr Keith Kelly. Dr Kelly mentored him on the nuances of being a “true surgical-scientist”; and understanding his promise, he was subsequently hired on staff at Mayo Clinic as a surgeon-scientist where he quickly developed a reputation as a staunch promoter of research and education. His leadership capability was quickly recognized, and he has served as the Chair of Gastroenterologic and General Surgery (now Subspecialty General Surgery) (1992-2001), Vice Chair of Research (2005-2011) and as the Chair of the Division of Surgical Research (2007-2011).
ª 2014 by the American College of Surgeons Published by Elsevier Inc.
Michael G Sarr, MD, FACS
Research has been the prominent component of Dr Sarr’s career and he was continually funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as the Principal Investigator or Program Director from 1989 to 2011 for his work on “Enteric Physiology of the Transplanted Gut”. His NIH funding is not limited to enteric physiology; other competitive research awards have included work on pancreatic and bariatric diseases. His research history speaks to his spirit of collaboration and mentorship. Dr Sarr’s academic accomplishments include over 500 peer-reviewed articles, 300 published abstracts and 100 book chapters. He has edited over 20 books with three additional books in press. His most notable textbooks as an Editor include “Mayo Clinic Gastrointestinal Surgery, Operative Techniques in General Surgery, General Principles of Surgery and The Pancreas. A prolific speaker as well as writer, he has been an invited Professor over
S2
ISSN 1072-7515/14/$36.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1072-7515(14)01495-1
Vol. 219, No. 3S, September 2014
100 times and holds numerous honors in his name, including honorary professorships and memberships. Another prominent component of Dr Sarr’s career is leadership in the national arena. He has served as President of five societies: The Society of Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (2000-2001), International Society of Surgery (2007-2009), Minnesota Surgical Society (1998-1999), Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society (1998-1999), Society of Clinical Surgery (2002-2003), and as Co-Director of the Pancreas Club (1995-2000). His editorial board memberships number ten, culminating in the Co-Editor position for the journal Surgery. Education and mentorship are major values that he upholds and he has been rewarded for his efforts. He won the “Teacher of the Year” award at Mayo Clinic thirteen times over two decades. When asked, Dr Sarr will respond that these are the most “prestigious awards” of his career. He is academically “in the know”, and he is generous not only with his time but with his knowledge. In the national arena, he as been a long standing member and leader of the American Board of Surgery serving as Active Director 2001e2006, Senior Director (2006e2015), member of the Executive Committee (2003e2008), and Chair of the Issues Committee (2003e2008). He is also a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Dr Michael Sarr’s accomplishments set a roadmap for young surgeon-scientists’ to follow, but it is his humanity that has the greatest appeal. Each day I am reminded that he has mentored many in my environment and, in fact, many around the world. It is a common occurrence to meet colleagues at meetings who passionately espouse on how Dr. Sarr has helped
Dedication
S3
to cultivate their careers; be it an extensive edit for a manuscript submitted to Surgery, a letter of support for a promotion, connecting researchers, identifying job or academic opportunities, as well as direct mentorship in his lab or clinical practice. Dr Sarr had changed many lives with his research and academic mentorship. He can see past what others may see as barriersdgender, race, religion, and languaged and is able to connect in a deep, meaningful way to identify opportunities in academia for his mentees. In fact, he has trained over 40 residents in his research lab over his career. His trainees have included residents in his own training program to as far away as Germany and Japan. Behind every accomplished individual is often a highly supportive partner who offers opportunities for balance and the love of family. Dr Sarr has this gift in his wife Barbara (“Barb”). They have been married for 38 years and are parents to Lindsay (32 years old) and Chase (29 years old). He and Barb enjoy going to Red Sox and Twins games, traveling, and entertaining local, national and international guests in their home. Dr Sarr’s legacy is his commitment to research and education and most importantly to the future of academic surgery. He has delivered what he learned so thoroughly from his mentors to his mentees: the spirit of collaboration, excellence in research, surgical prowess and the importance of highlighting the individual. It is with great honor that the Committee for the Forum on Fundamental Surgical Problems dedicates the 65th Volume of the Surgical Forum to Dr Michael G Sarr, FACS of Rochester, MN.
The 65th Volume of the Surgical Forum is dedicated to Michael G Sarr, MD, FACS Kaye Marie Reid-Lombardo, Rochester, MN
MD, MS, FACS
The American College of Surgeons Committee for the Forum on Fundamental Surgical Problems selects an esteemed surgeon each year for the dedication of this volume. The awardee is selected from a very competitive group of accomplished surgeons. This individual best exemplifies the virtues of the ideal academician: a history of mentorship, major research contributions, surgical mastery, clinical excellence, administrative leadership, national and international visibility, and most important a tradition of promoting and cultivating the next generation of leaders of American surgery. This year the committee has selected my mentor and friend, Dr Michael G Sarr, a leader of national and international acclaim. I write this dedication not with my own voice, but on behalf of all the trainees, academic surgeons, and private practice surgeons (that number in the hundreds) that Dr Michael Sarr has mentored, nurtured, and sponsored over his illustrious career. This award honors his achievements and legacy. Dr Michael Sarr is the James C Masson Professor of Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. A graduate of Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, Dr Sarr’s storied career in surgery began as a medical student and then resident in the Halsted Surgical Training Program at Johns Hopkins where he trained under the leadership of Dr George Zuidema (seven years) and Dr John Cameron (one year). They would both serve the important role of clinical mentors as he cultivated his academic career. When Dr Zuidema queried what his focus would be in the lab, without hesitation he stated gastrointestinal diseases. After his second year of residency, he left Baltimore to complete a two-year research-training program in gut motility at Rochester, MN at Mayo Clinic with Dr Keith Kelly. Dr Kelly mentored him on the nuances of being a “true surgical-scientist”; and understanding his promise, he was subsequently hired on staff at Mayo Clinic as a surgeon-scientist where he quickly developed a reputation as a staunch promoter of research and education. His leadership capability was quickly recognized, and he has served as the Chair of Gastroenterologic and General Surgery (now Subspecialty General Surgery) (1992-2001), Vice Chair of Research (2005-2011) and as the Chair of the Division of Surgical Research (2007-2011).
ª 2014 by the American College of Surgeons Published by Elsevier Inc.
Michael G Sarr, MD, FACS
Research has been the prominent component of Dr Sarr’s career and he was continually funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as the Principal Investigator or Program Director from 1989 to 2011 for his work on “Enteric Physiology of the Transplanted Gut”. His NIH funding is not limited to enteric physiology; other competitive research awards have included work on pancreatic and bariatric diseases. His research history speaks to his spirit of collaboration and mentorship. Dr Sarr’s academic accomplishments include over 500 peer-reviewed articles, 300 published abstracts and 100 book chapters. He has edited over 20 books with three additional books in press. His most notable textbooks as an Editor include “Mayo Clinic Gastrointestinal Surgery, Operative Techniques in General Surgery, General Principles of Surgery and The Pancreas. A prolific speaker as well as writer, he has been an invited Professor over
S2
ISSN 1072-7515/14/$36.00 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1072-7515(14)01495-1
Vol. 219, No. 3S, September 2014
100 times and holds numerous honors in his name, including honorary professorships and memberships. Another prominent component of Dr Sarr’s career is leadership in the national arena. He has served as President of five societies: The Society of Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (2000-2001), International Society of Surgery (2007-2009), Minnesota Surgical Society (1998-1999), Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society (1998-1999), Society of Clinical Surgery (2002-2003), and as Co-Director of the Pancreas Club (1995-2000). His editorial board memberships number ten, culminating in the Co-Editor position for the journal Surgery. Education and mentorship are major values that he upholds and he has been rewarded for his efforts. He won the “Teacher of the Year” award at Mayo Clinic thirteen times over two decades. When asked, Dr Sarr will respond that these are the most “prestigious awards” of his career. He is academically “in the know”, and he is generous not only with his time but with his knowledge. In the national arena, he as been a long standing member and leader of the American Board of Surgery serving as Active Director 2001e2006, Senior Director (2006e2015), member of the Executive Committee (2003e2008), and Chair of the Issues Committee (2003e2008). He is also a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Dr Michael Sarr’s accomplishments set a roadmap for young surgeon-scientists’ to follow, but it is his humanity that has the greatest appeal. Each day I am reminded that he has mentored many in my environment and, in fact, many around the world. It is a common occurrence to meet colleagues at meetings who passionately espouse on how Dr. Sarr has helped
Dedication
S3
to cultivate their careers; be it an extensive edit for a manuscript submitted to Surgery, a letter of support for a promotion, connecting researchers, identifying job or academic opportunities, as well as direct mentorship in his lab or clinical practice. Dr Sarr had changed many lives with his research and academic mentorship. He can see past what others may see as barriersdgender, race, religion, and languaged and is able to connect in a deep, meaningful way to identify opportunities in academia for his mentees. In fact, he has trained over 40 residents in his research lab over his career. His trainees have included residents in his own training program to as far away as Germany and Japan. Behind every accomplished individual is often a highly supportive partner who offers opportunities for balance and the love of family. Dr Sarr has this gift in his wife Barbara (“Barb”). They have been married for 38 years and are parents to Lindsay (32 years old) and Chase (29 years old). He and Barb enjoy going to Red Sox and Twins games, traveling, and entertaining local, national and international guests in their home. Dr Sarr’s legacy is his commitment to research and education and most importantly to the future of academic surgery. He has delivered what he learned so thoroughly from his mentors to his mentees: the spirit of collaboration, excellence in research, surgical prowess and the importance of highlighting the individual. It is with great honor that the Committee for the Forum on Fundamental Surgical Problems dedicates the 65th Volume of the Surgical Forum to Dr Michael G Sarr, FACS of Rochester, MN.