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"Work in Progress" Newsletter A Tale of Two Surgeons At the Monday morning colorectal surgery conference, Susan Galandiuk, MD, and her staff -- including two colorectal surgery residents -- gather around to discuss the latest research findings about digestive diseases. Afterwards, they head down to the operating room, their home for most of the day, and sometimes late into the night.
Best of Both Worlds -- Coming to America
For two years, he researched programs that provide training in the latest medical and surgical techniques for colorectal diseases. He decided to apply for a fellowship at University of Louisville's Section of Colon & Rectal Surgery. In August 2001, Morpurgo, his wife, Roberta, and their daughters, Maddalena, 7, and Benedetta, 3, arrived in Louisville. "I chose the University of Louisville because of the program's expertise and its size," Morpurgo emphasizes, "Here I enjoy more direct one-on-one interaction with faculty than I might at other U.S. medical centers." Since 1997, Morpurgo has served on the faculty of the Hospital Camposampiero's Department of Surgery. As do all surgeons in Italy, he practices general surgery -- from thoracic to abdominal organ transplantation -- but he has a personal interest in inflammatory bowel disease. "My sister-in-law suffers from Crohn's colitis," Morpurgo explains. "Although she is doing well on medication now, I know how devastating this [disease] can be. I hope what I learn here may help her as well as my patients." Lessons in Diversity In 1992, he traveled to Stockholm, Sweden, where he completed a one-year fellowship at Karolinska Institute, Department of Transplant Surgery, Huddinge Hospital. The Institute pioneered liver transplant surgery in 1960. Returning to the University of Padova, he completed his general surgery residency in 1994. Morpurgo selected the University of Louisville, in part, because of its commitment to training physicians from around the world. "I appreciate that U of L welcomes diversity," he says. "I think it enhances the University and it greatly influenced my decision to come here." Best of Both Worlds When not at the hospital, Morpurgo and his family will be in the hills of Padova, tending their small farm and vineyard, which have been in his family for generations. A World of Experience in Caring Hands
Today, at 32, Pennington is still in the business of mending lives. Since July 2001, she has been refining her skills as a colorectal surgery resident at the University of Louisville's Section of Colon & Rectal Surgery. "It's hard to find a residency program that combines the practice of medicine with engaging research," she said. "I believe it's a vital experience, and, at U of L, I'm doing just that. I've not only gained exposure to new surgical techniques, but I've also learned about the latest medications and am participating in needed research." Presently, Pennington and her colleagues are seeking to better understand how the J-pouch functions over time. "While pouch surgery is curative for ulcerative colitis and alleviates the risk for colon cancer, life without a colon is different. Patients need to know what to expect," Pennington stressed. She and her colleagues have gathered questionnaires from nearly 200 patients who have undergone pouch surgery. They hope to publish the results of their data so physicians can help their patients more effectively plan for lifestyle changes. Finding Her Niche As she pursued her general surgery fellowships, Pennington came to realize that she wanted to specialize in colorectal surgery. When she learned about the program at the University of Louisville, she immediately applied. "It has been a very positive experience for me. I hope to follow the example of the U of L surgeons and specialize in colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease," says Pennington. On the Scene Now many people in the tri-city region of Kingsport, Bristol, and Johnson City, must travel to Kentucky, and surrounding states, to receive treatment by colorectal specialists. One of her goals is to offer rectal cancer patients an alternative to having a permanent colostomy. "I find it very rewarding when I can perform an operation that removes the cancer, while avoiding a colostomy," Pennington says. With a world of experience in her hands, Pennington is looking forward to fulfilling her dream: helping patients with colorectal disease to a better life. |
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Why did they choose to become surgeons? How will their experiences at the U of L's Section of Colon & Rectal Surgery benefit patients in their respective hometowns? "Work in Progress" takes you beyond the OR for answers to these questions and more.
Emilio Morpurgo, MD, of Padova, Italy, traveled 4,758 miles in pursuit of a dream: "I longed to come to America for additional medical training so that I could better serve the needs of my patients," he says.
Connie Pennington, MD, has always been quick to lend a pair of helping hands. "Growing up in Roanoke, Virginia, I was very active with the local rescue squad," Dr. Pennington says, "It was a great experience that made me even more determined to become a physician."