VCU news

By Michael Ford
University News Services

RICHMOND, Va. - The Board of Visitors of Virginia Commonwealth University has approved the appointment of professor Eric J. DeMaria, M.D., as chair of the Division of General Surgery in the Department of Surgery, in the VCU School of Medicine.

DeMaria had served as interim chair of general surgery since July 1, 2003, following the retirement of the former chair, Harvey J. Sugerman, M.D.  DeMaria was first appointed to the VCU faculty in 1990, after being successfully recruited by H.H. Newsome, M.D., the chair of the general surgery division at that time. 

"Dr. DeMaria has earned national credentials for his work in developing procedures and technologies for laparoscopic surgery in the past decade," said Newsome, now dean of the VCU School of Medicine. "He is a skilled teacher who shows enthusiasm in the operating room and at the lectern."

DeMaria, 44, has been director of the VCU Medical Center's Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery since its inception in 1995.

"My plans include further expansion of laparoscopy as a surgical specialty based upon our highly respected programs in obesity surgery, esophageal surgery, and other areas of complex gastrointestinal surgery," Demaria said. "The future of the Division of General Surgery is clearly "minimally invasive" and VCU will continue to expand on our national leadership in this specialty. Dr. Newsome has been my mentor on the faculty since I arrived. I am very excited to be following in his footsteps as well as those of Dr. Sugerman, my role models and predecessors in this position."

DeMaria's areas of clinical interest include gastrointestinal surgery, advanced laparoscopic and obesity surgery. As a researcher, Dr. DeMaria continues to pursue procedure development and technology development in advanced laparoscopic surgery.

As chair of general surgery, DeMaria will lead a division with dual responsibilities, the educational mission of the School of Medicine and the clinical services that are part of the VCU Medical Center.

DeMaria earned his medical degree in 1983 from Boston University, School of Medicine and completed his postgraduate medical training at Brown University's Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, R.I., from 1983-1990.