March is Women's History Month! Celebrating Women in the Department of Surgery
The Department of Surgery proudly celebrates the remarkable achievements of its female faculty surgeons, both past and present. Today, in 2024, 25 female faculty members are represented in the Department of Surgery!
Explore the milestones below reached by these incredible individuals and delve into the rich history they have helped shape. Join us in honoring their contributions and celebrating their ongoing legacy.
Dr. Nancy Ascher, General Surgery Chief Resident Alumna & Past Clinical Director of the Liver Transplant Program ('82)
Dr. Nancy Ascher - a pioneer in organ transplantation and the first woman in the world to perform a liver transplant. On November 5, 1982, Dr. Ascher assisted former Department of Surgery Chair Dr. John Najarian in performing a successful liver transplant for Jamie Fiske, who received a deceased donor liver at the University of Minnesota when she was only 11 months old. Dr. Ascher then joined the faculty of the Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1982 and was named Clinical Director of the Liver Transplant Program. Jamie Fiske's successful operation and her father's subsequent testimony before Congress helped pass the National Organ Transplant Act, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1984.
(Pictured: Dr. Nancy Ascher holds 11-month-old liver transplant patient Jamie Fiske, and featured left is Drs. Ascher and Najarian performing in the O.R.)
Dr. Amy Reed, Past Division Chief of Vascular Surgery
In July 2022, Dr. Reed was nominated by her peers to serve as Vice president/President of the Society for Vascular Surgery. During the same time, she also received the 2022 Society for Vascular Surgery Presidential Citation Award for Service.
Dr. Nichole Klatt Leads the Division of Surgical Outcomes and Precision Medicine Research
Dr. Klatt and her team’s expertise in the microbiome, pharmacomicrobiomics, microbiology, mucosal biology, immunology, inflammation, model studies and human disease provides the nexus for the development of cross-discipline collaborations at the Medical School. Dr. Klatt’s expertise in these areas also strengthens our commitment to the development of new clinical studies to advance innovative treatments for our patients (March 2021).
Dr. Rosemary Kelly, Executive Vice-Chair of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery
At M Health Fairview, she is a cardiothoracic surgeon and chief of the cardiovascular service line, where she completes surgeries and improves patient care. In May 2022, Dr. Rosemary Kelly was appointed Secretary of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery! She was also named the Executive Vice-Chair of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery. Read the full announcement.
Dr. Melanie Graham, Director of the Preclinical Research Center
In 2022, Dr. Graham was appointed to serve on the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering Committee on “State of the Science & Future Needs for non-human primate model systems,” focused on finding new collaborative methodologies between researchers. Read the full announcement.
Dr. Randi Lassiter Named UME Surgery Clerkship Director
In 2023, the Surgical Education Office announced Dr. Randi Lassiter as the new UME Surgery Clerkship Director. She has a strong interest in medical education, and we look forward to her continued partnership in providing superb surgery education experiences for our 3rd and 4th-year medical students!
Dr. Madhuri Rao Appointed as Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)
We are pleased to announce Dr. Madhuri Rao as the new Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) within the Department of Surgery (DoS). Dr. Rao, Assistant Professor in the Division of Thoracic & Foregut Surgery, will lead the strategic direction of implementing DEIB initiatives and will serve as an advocate for DEIB as Surgery's representative within the Medical School (2024).
