American College of Surgeons - Southwestern PA Chapter

Most Interesting Cases | May 29, 2024

On Wednesday, May 29, 2024, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Surgeons held its annual Most Interesting Case Presentations. This gathering at Eddie Merlot's brought together ACS-SWPA members, their guests, and students and residents from local programs for an evening of networking, dinner, and spirited competition.

The event showcased intriguing case presentations from surgical residents at area training programs. Out of fifteen submissions, the top five were selected for discussion. The resident presenters were:

Christopher Sherry, DO, General Surgery Resident, Allegheny Health Network, presenting “Crystal Appendicitis: Gastrointestinal Complication Secondary to Sevelamer.”
Zihan Feng, MD, General Surgery Resident, UPMC Presbyterian, presenting “Gastropericardial Fistula: The Case of a Broken-Hearted Bypass.”
Bianca Blaettner, MD, General Surgery Resident, UPMC Mercy Hospital, presenting “Aortic Impingement from Thoracic Pedicle Screw.”
David Orozco, MD, General Surgery Resident, UPMC Mercy Hospital, presenting “Acute SBO Due to an Actively Bleeding Meckel’s Diverticulum.”
Evelyn Truong, MD, General Surgery Resident, UPMC Presbyterian, presenting “Urgent Multivisceral Transplantation in an Acutely Injured Patient: A Rare Solution to a Devastating Problem.”

Photo L to R: Richard Fortunato, MD, Chapter President, with presenters David Orozco, MD, Zihan Feng, MD, Bianca Blaettner, MD, Christopher Sherry, MD and Evelyn Truong, MD.

Each presenter had 10 minutes to present their case and engage with the audience in a question-and-answer session. After the presentations, the audience voted live to determine the most interesting case. Evelyn Truong, MD, took 1st place; Bianca Blaettner, MD, was awarded 2nd place; and David Orozco, MD, earned 3rd place. Congratulations to Dr. Truong and all the presenters for their outstanding contributions!

We extend our gratitude to our sponsors—BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), Kerecis, Medtronic, and TELA Bio. Their support was instrumental in making this event a success and demonstrates their commitment to the advancement of our local chapter.

Debates and Dilemmas | March 27, 2024

Photo L to R: Hiram Gonzales-Ortiz, MD, Abhijit Kulkarni, MD,

Richard Fortunato, DO, Ari Reichstein, MD, Chelsea Knotts, MD,

Arshad Bachelani, MD, James Celebrezze, MD and Michael Wach, MD.

On Wednesday, March 27th, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS-SWPA) convened at Eddie Merlots for their second annual Debates and Dilemmas competition and dinner. Over 50 medical students, residents, ACS-SWPA members, and their guests attended this year's event, gathering to network, socialize, and participate in a debate-style competition. Regional faculty and residents engaged in discussions about contemporary surgical dilemmas, fostering an atmosphere of intellectual exchange and collaboration.

After cocktails and networking, the debates started off and lasted through dinner. The first debate, Perforated Diverticulitis: Anastomosis with Diversion vs Hartmann Resection, was argued by Arshad Bachelani, MD of Excela Health (PRO) and Hiram Gonzales-Ortiz, MD of Washington Health System (CON). Following the first debate was Chelsea Knotts, MD, AHN, (PRO) and Michael Wach, MD, UPMC (CON) comparing the pros and cons of HIPEC for Colorectal Cancer. The debates ended with Abhijit Kulkarni, MD, AHN (PRO) and James Celebrezze, MD, UPMC (CON) arguing for and against Endoscopy versus surgery for rectal polypoid lesions. All three debates had time for rebuttal and audience Q&A.

Ari Reichstein, MD, from Allegheny Health Network and Program Committee Chair of the ACS-SWPA chapter, skillfully managed the event as the host, ensuring smooth proceedings throughout the debates. Attendees had the opportunity to cast their votes on each discussion topic and determine an overall winner. Every participant in the debates received gift card prizes, while the prestigious Grand Prize was awarded to Michael Wach, MD, from UPMC, who argued against the utilization of HIPEC for Colorectal Cancer.

Thank you to our sponsors, Axon Medical, BD - Becton, Dickinson and Company, and Medtronic for sponsoring this year’s event. Their sponsorship not only helped facilitate the gathering of medical professionals, students, and enthusiasts but also underscored their unwavering support for the continued growth and success of our local chapter.

Resident Surgical Jeopardy - October 4, 2023

On Wednesday, October 4, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS-SWPA) hosted their second annual Resident Surgical Jeopardy at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, high atop Mt. Washington. Residents from local surgery programs, members of the ACS-SWPA, and their guests, all gathered to network, socialize, and compete in a hilariously fun game show and knowledge-based competition.

Pictured on the left:

Conemaugh Winners: Jessica Biller, DO, Anthony Lam, DO, Arruj Hassan, MD and Shirin Siddiqi, MD with Richard Fortunato, DO (President), and Ari Reichstein, MD (Program Chair).

This year’s Surgical Jeopardy competition and dinner welcomed medical students and residents from Allegheny Health Network (AHN), Conemaugh Health System, UPMC Mercy, and UPMC Presbyterian. After a cocktail reception, dinner and dessert, the event provided surgical residents the opportunity to compete in a game show to vie for the top prize of $500.00 in cash. Ari Reichstein, MD of Allegheny Health Network, and Program Committee Chair of the ACS-SWPA chapter, once again played the role of Jeopardy game show host for the evening. All four teams from AHN, Conemaugh, UPMC Mercy and UPMC Presbyterian, answered questions back and forth on categories such as Weighing on My Mind (Bariatrics), My Heart Will Go On, and Coursing Through my Veins (and Arteries), and more.

In the end, Conemaugh team members: Jessica Biller, DO, Anthony Lam, DO, Arruj Hassan, MD and Shirin Siddiqi, MD, were crowned the winners of ACS-SWPA Surgical Jeopardy 2023 and went home with the $500.00 grand prize.

ACS-SWPA Chapter Members, Richard Fortunato, DO (President) and Jennifer Chen, MD also served as moderators and judges for the evening’s event.

Thank you to our sponsors for the evening: BD Surgical Specialties and Medtronic.

Most Interesting Cases - May 31, 2023

On Wednesday, May 31, 2023, the SWPA Chapter of the American College of Surgeons hosted its annual Most Interesting Case Presentations. Members of the ACS-SWPA and their guests, and students and residents from local programs met again at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto for networking, dinner, and a fun competition.

(In photo left to right: Richard Fortunato, DO, FACS, Chapter President, Michael Paolini, MD, 1st Place Winner, Sarah Burki, MD, 2nd Place, Sowmya Narayanan, MD, PhD 3rd Place, and Ari Reichstein, MD, FACS, Program Chair )

This annual program hosts interesting case presentations by surgical residents from area training programs. Twelve cases were submitted and the top five were selected for discussion at the event.Resident presenters included: Michael Paolini, MD, Department of General Surgery, UPMC Mercy Hospital presented “Cholecysto-colonic fistula causing gallstone ileus”. Brett Szeligo, MD, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Allegheny Health Network presented “An Unusual Case of Complicated Diverticulitis with Mediastinal Air”. Shinichiro Yokota, MD, PhD, Department of General Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital presented “Eosinophilic gastritis in adults complicated by gastric ulcer perforation”. Sarah Burki, MD, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital presented “Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy After Liver Transplant” and Sowmya Narayanan, MD, PhD, Department of General Surgery, UPMC Presbyterian presented “The tall tales of a tailgut cyst”.

Richard Fortunato, DO, FACS, Chapter President and Ari Reichstein, MD, FACS, Program Chair served as moderators and judges for the evening’s event. Michael Paolini, MD received 1^st place for his most interesting case; followed 2^nd place awarded to Sarah Burki, MD and 3^rd place awarded to Sowmya Narayanan, MD, PhD. Congratulations to Dr. Paolini and to all presenters.

Debates & Dilemmas - March 29, 2023

On Wednesday, March 29, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (ACS-SWPA) gathered once again at Monterey Bay Fish Grotto. The event, Debates and Dilemmas, attracted over 45 medical students, residents, ACS-SWPA members and their guests to network, socialize, and compete in a debate style competition where regional faculty and residents discussed current surgical dilemmas.

(In photo left to right:

James Gallagher, MD, Zachary Spigel, MD, Benjamin Kautza, MD, Alessandro Paniccia, MD, Richard Fortunato, DO, ACS-SWPA President, Michael Paolini, MD, and Casey Allen, MD)

Debates and Dilemmas welcomed medical students and residents from Allegheny Health Network, Drexel University, UPMC Mercy, and UPMC Presbyterian. After cocktails and dinner, the debate started off with Michael Paolini, MD, UPMC Mercy (PRO) and Zachary Spigel, MD, AHN (CON) debating on whether residents should unionize. Following the first debate was Casey Allen, MD, AHN, (PRO) and Alessandro Paniccia, MD, UPMC Presbyterian (CON) comparing the pros and cons of neoadjuvant therapy for resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The debates ended with Benjamin Kautza, MD, AHN (PRO) and James Gallagher, MD, AHN (CON) arguing for and against REBOA for Trauma. All three debates had time for rebuttal and audience Q&A.

Ari Reichstein, MD of Allegheny Health Network, and Program Committee Chair of the ACS-SWPA chapter, was a flawless host and kept the debaters in check. Registrants were able to vote on each discussion topic as well as an overall winner. All debate participants walked away with Amazon gift cards and the Grand Prize winner of the coveted Debates and Dilemmas event was Alessandro Paniccia, MD, of UPMC Presbyterian.

Thank you to our sponsor, Guardant Health, who sponsored the dinner portion of the evening.

Surgical Jeopardy Competition & Dinner - November 9, 2022

On Wednesday, November 9, the SWPA Chapter of the American College of Surgeons hosted a Resident Surgical Jeopardy as an in-person meeting. Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, with its stellar views of Pittsburgh, was the perfect setting for members of the ACS-SWPA and their guests to network, socialize, and compete in a hilariously fun game show and knowledge-based competition.

The Surgical Jeopardy welcomed medical students and residents from Allegheny Health Network, Conemaugh Health System, Drexel University, UPMC Mercy, and UPMC Presbyterian. After cocktails and dinner, the event provided surgical residents the opportunity to compete in a game show to vie for the top prize of $500 in cash. Ari Reichstein, MD of Allegheny Health Network, and Program Committee Chair of the ACS-SWPA chapter, was the perfect game show host. UPMC Mercy: Renee Davis, DO, Hannah Medeck, MD, David Orozco, MD and Peter Zak, MD, ended the evening as the winners of Jeopardy and the $500 grand prize.

SWPA Chapter Members, Marc Brozovich, MD, Hiram Gonzalez-Ortiz, MD, and Harry Null, MD served as moderators and judges for the evening’s event.

Jeopardy Winners, UPMC Mercy: Renee Davis, DO, Hannah Medeck, MD, David Orozco, MD and Peter Zak, MD

Winning Team from UPMC Mercy with Richard Fortunato, DO, FACS, Chapter President, Ari Reichstein, MD, Chapter Program Committee Chair, Hiram Gonzalez-Ortiz, MD, Chapter Member and Harry Null, MD, Chapter Member.

Most Interesting Case Presentations - May 31, 2022

On Tuesday, May 31, the SWPA Chapter of the American College of Surgeons hosted the Most Interesting Case Presentations as an in-person meeting. The Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, with its stellar views of Pittsburgh, was the perfect setting for members of the ACS-SWPA and their guests to reconnect and socialize.

The annual program hosts interesting case presentations by surgical residents from area training programs. Eight cases were submitted and the top five were selected for discussion at the event.

Resident presenters included: Cody Woodhouse, MD, Allegheny Health Network, Neurosciences Institute, Department of Neurosurgery. Nathan Esplin, MD, Allegheny Heath Network, Department of Neurosurgery presented the following on behalf of Dr. Woodhouse “Case of Expectorated Screw Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion”; Jonathan Nakata, MD, UPMC Mercy, Department of General Surgery presented, “Cardiac Tamponade From Embolization of a Fractured Inferior Vena Cava Filter”; Kimberly Howell, DO, Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, Department of General Surgery, presented “Portal Mesenteric Thrombosis Following Routine Laparoscopic Surgery”; Renee Davis, DO, UPMC Mercy, Department of General Surgery, presented “Congenital Peritoneal Encapsulation, Volvulus, SMV Thrombosis, and HIT”; and Zachary Spigel, MD, MPH, Allegheny Heath Network, Department of General Surgery. Dr. Spigel’s presentation “Primary Biliopancreatic Limb Gallstone Causing Gallstone Ileus After Roux-en-Y Gastric ByPass” was presented by co-author Johan Van Wyk, DO.

H. Kenneth Williams, MD, FACS, Chapter President and Richard Fortunato, DO, FACS, Program Chair served as moderators and judges for the evening’s event. Renee Davis, DO received 1^st place for her most interesting case; 2^nd place was awarded to Cody Woodhouse, MD and 3^rd place was awarded to Jonathan Nakata, MD. Congratulations to Dr. Davis and to all presenters.

Richard Fortunato, DO, FACS, Program Chair (left) and H. Kenneth Williams, MD, FACS. Chapter President (far right) with resident presenters Nathan Esplin, MD; Jonathan Nakata, MD;

Kimberly Howell, DO; Renee Davis, DO; and Johan Van Wyk, DO

Award recipients (l. to r.) Jonathan Nakata, MD (3rd place); Nathan Esplin, MD (presenting on behalf of Cody Woodhouse, MD - 2nd place) and Renee Davis, DO (1st place).

American College Of Surgeons - Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter

850 Ridge Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Chapter Administrator: Melanie Mayer | mmayer@acms.org