Joseph M. Mathews Oration
Guest Lecturers

The Section of Colon & Rectal Surgery has been delighted to welcome the following guest lecturers to its Joseph M. Mathews Oration.

Robert W. Beart, Jr., MD, FACS, FASCRS
A renowned educator for more than 30 years, Dr. Robert Beart, Jr., remains at the forefront of the surgical management of colorectal cancer, diverticular disease, and continence preservation. Beart has fostered the careers of numerous surgeons as chairman of the Department of Colorectal Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and as chairman of the Department of Surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ, respectively.

In 1992, Beart joined the faculty at the University of Southern California as a professor of surgery. He went on to become chairman of the Department of Colorectal Surgery, Keck School of Medicine USC, Los Angeles. He was named USC’s Charles W. and Carolyn Costello Chair for Colorectal Diseases in 1999 and its Skirball-Kenis Chair for Colorectal Diseases in 2003.

During the course of his career, Beart has served as chairman of the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, and as president of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, the Society for Surgery of Alimentary Tract, and the International Society of University Colorectal Surgeons. An author of more than 400 scientific publications, he has served on numerous editorial boards, including "Annals of Surgical Oncology," "Journal of the American College of Surgery," "Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery," "Journal of Laparoendoscopic Surgery," and "Contemporary Surgery."

Beart presented the 2010 lecture,"Evolving Management of Diverticular Disease."

Robin S. McLeod, MD, FRCSC, FACS, FASCRS
Cited as an “inspirational mentor” by the Canadian Medical Association, Dr. Robin S. McLeod is a professor in the Departments of Surgery and Health Policy Management & Evaluation at the University of Toronto and is the surgical lead of the Quality Improvement Program in the Surgical Oncology Program of Cancer Care Ontario. In addition, she heads the Division of General Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital. Her specialty interests as both a clinician and researcher include colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and evidence based medicine. McLeod gave the 2009 lecture, "Translating Evidence into Practice: The Cancer Care Ontario Experience."

Active in medical organizations in Canada, the United States and Great Britain, McLeod is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Colorectal Surgery. Currently, she is a regent of the American College of Surgeons, and vice president of the American Surgical Association. She is past president of the Canadian Association of General Surgeons.

In May 2004, McLeod received the prestigious Canadian Medical Association May Cohen Award for Women Mentors in recognition of her dedication to fostering the careers of many outstanding women.

David A. Rothenberger, MD, FACS, FASCRS
Dr. Rothenberger is the John P. Delaney Chair in Clinical Surgical Oncology and deputy chairman of the Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School (UMMC). He is also the associate director for Clinical Affairs at the University's Comprehensive Cancer Center. Rothenberger gave the 2008 lecture, "Treatment Decisions for Stage II and III Rectal Cancer."

While maintaining a busy colorectal surgical practice at the UMMC, Rothenberger remains active in numerous professional societies. A member of the GI Committee of the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group, he served as past president of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Research Foundation, the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, and the Minnesota Colon and Rectal Foundation. In addition, he was president and CEO of Colon and Rectal Surgery Associates from 1992 to 2002.

A renowned educator, Rothenberger has been at the forefront of the surgical management of inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer for nearly 30 years. He and his wife, Kathy, are actively involved in the Minneapolis-St. Paul community.

Herand Abcarian, MD, FACS, FASCRS
Dr. Abcarian is the Turi Josefsen Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and is the former chair of the Department of Surgery. An innovator in the surgical management of complex anorectal diseases and inflammatory bowel disease, he gave the 2007 lecture, "Alternatives to Fistulotomy in the Treatment of Trans-sphincteric Fistulas."

While serving as executive director of the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Abcarian remains active in numerous professional organizations. He is a member and past president of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons and its Research Foundation, and also is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American College of Surgeons.

A distinguished educator for 35 years—Abcarian is recognized for his contributions to the field of colorectal surgery. In 1991, he became the first U.S. physician to obtain an endowed chair in colon and rectal surgery when the University of Illinois at Chicago appointed him as the Turi Josefsen Professor.

David J. Schoetz, Jr., MD, FACS, FASCRS
For nearly 25 years, Dr. David J. Schoetz, Jr., has been at the forefront of the surgical management of inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. Schoetz is chair of Medical Education and the Designated Institutional Official at the Lahey Clinic, Burlington, Massachusetts, and the former chair of the Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery. He gave the 2006 lecture, "Anal Crohn's Disease."

A distinguished educator and mentor, Schoetz received the Lahey Clinic’s first Sedgwick Mentor's Award—given for mentoring general surgery residents—in 2002.

He remains active in many professional organizations and currently serves as associate executive director of the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. A past president of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Schoetz has also served as a member and chair of the Residency Review Committee for Colon and Rectal Surgery.

Stanley M. Goldberg, MD, FACS
A renowned educator, Dr. Stanley M. Goldberg remains at the forefront of advances in colon and rectal surgery. Goldberg, clinical professor of surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School, gave the 2005 lecture, "Is Local Treatment Adequate Treatment for Rectal Cancer?"

Goldberg is the founding partner of Colon and Rectal Surgery Associates, Ltd., a practice that has a long-standing relationship with the University of Minnesota Medical School. Over 80 colorectal surgeons were trained during his 20-year tenure as director of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at the University of Minnesota.

Goldberg and his wife, Luella Gross Goldberg, continue to serve as ambassadors for Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota—enhancing its profile to a worldwide audience.

Victor W. Fazio, MB, MS
For over 25 years, Dr. Victor W. Fazio has held the positions of chair of the Department of Colorectal Surgery and vice chair of the Division of Surgery at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio. He was appointed as the Rupert B. Turnbull, Jr., MD, Chair in 1995.

Fazio has kept apace of virtually every new advance in surgical technology and research for colorectal diseases during the last 30 years. He is a pioneer of innovative operative techniques—including pelvic floor reservoir procedures for ulcerative colitis and familial polyposis. An expert in the surgical and medical management of inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer, Fazio presented the lecture, "Ileoanal Pouch Operation: Assessing the Risks and Management of Complications," at the 2004 Inaugural Joseph M. Mathews Oration.