VCU news

By Michael Ford
University News Services

On July 1, Harvey J. Sugerman, M.D., vice chair for the Department of Surgery, will officially retire from Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Health System after 25 years as a faculty member.

Sugerman, David M. Hume professor of surgery, in the VCU School of Medicine, and chief of the Division of General/Trauma Surgery, has gained an international reputation for treating obesity with gastric bypass surgery. The procedure involves making a very small gastric pouch, which is connected to the small intestine, bypassing the majority of the stomach, duodenum and upper small intestine. This limits the amount of food that can be eaten at once and helps patients avoid eating carbohydrates.

"Dr. Sugerman has been an outstanding physician and a generous teacher who has actively shared his knowledge with a new generation of surgeons," said H.H. Newsome, M.D., dean of the VCU School of Medicine. "His gastric bypass work has improved the lives of hundreds of his own patients and thousands of others throughout the world as a result of his published clinical studies and is part of his enduring legacy here at VCU."

Sugerman has written more than 210 articles, 59 book chapters in medical textbooks and 20 books. A partial list of his areas of clinical interest includes surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's Disease), surgery for obesity, laparoscopic GI surgery, pancreatic surgery, trauma surgery, and critical care. His most recent research focused on the effect of intra-abdominal pressure on other systems in the body and its relation to hypertension. He is president of the Western Trauma Association, a national trauma organization, and president-elect of the American Society of Bariatric Surgery, a national society for the surgical treatment of obesity.

In January 2003, Sugerman was featured on an ABC News 20/20 broadcast that focused on obesity among teenagers. The coverage included actual laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery on a 17-year old Richmond teen. Sugerman also provided some synergy for the national broadcast, participating in an on-line chat on ABCNews.com the next day with viewers who had specific questions about gastric bypass surgery and the related risks and complications.

"Because of a few high profile celebrity cases recently, gastric bypass may sound like a magic bullet solution for obesity. It isn't right for every patient and I am proud to be part of the national conversation about gastric bypass and what is involved," said Sugerman. "Every surgery comes with risks and we make sure our patients get all the facts. They must also commit to a change of lifestyle for a successful outcome."

Despite his departure, Sugerman will bring VCU international exposure early next year, when he and several of his patients will be profiled as part of a yearlong National Geographic project on obesity. Sugerman provided considerable access to the National Geographic team. Pre-operation counseling sessions for bypass patients were open to the NG reporter and photographer, patients were interviewed and photographed before surgery, the next day and followed for months afterwards, and two three-hour laparoscopic gastric bypass procedures were photographed.

"This was a big investment of time for me, National Geographic and the patients involved," Sugerman said. But this was an excellent opportunity to obtain thorough coverage of gastric bypass surgery, the procedures, the counseling involved, the diet discipline involved and the overall impact it has on the lives of people. I'm looking forward to the article."

Sugerman earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in 1959, and earned his Master of Science and medical degrees from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1963 and 1966, respectively. His internship in medicine was completed at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia from 1966-1967, and he completed a surgical residency there from 1967-1972. From 1969-1971, Sugerman gained additional training through a clinical shock and trauma fellowship with the U.S. Public Health Service.

Sugerman joined the VCU School of Medicine faculty in 1978 as assistant professor. He was appointed associate professor in 1982 and earned his appointment as a tenured professor in 1985.

Sugerman was appointed David M. Hume professor of surgery at VCU in 1986. He was interim chairman of the Department of Surgery from 1999-2001. His appointments as vice chairman of Surgery and chief of the General Surgery/Trauma Division both occurred in 1998.

When Sugerman turns off the lights in his office for the final time, his longtime assistant Diane Wingo will also head into retirement after 28 years at VCU.