The University of Iowa Department of Surgery faculty and staff take pride in providing leading-edge patient care, advancing the field of surgery through first-rate research, and delivering superior education and training to the next generation of surgeons.

The department’s surgeons and medical professionals address a wide variety of complex medical issues, from matching donors with recipients in the Organ Transplant Center to providing continuous care for both adult and pediatric trauma victims in one of the state’s two designated Level I Trauma Centers and a certified regional Burn Treatment Center. Specialists provide critical surgical support among comprehensive, multidisciplinary teams for the treatment of cancer, gastrointestinal and colorectal diseases, and vascular ailments, as well as advanced surgical care for the smallest pediatric patients. Skilled plastic and reconstructive surgeons manage complex reconstructive issues resulting from deformities, traumatic injuries, or cancer excision in both adult and pediatric patients, in addition to surgical and non-surgical cosmetic services for adults.

Education

Research

About Us

The department provides critical and unique resources for Iowa. 

Years ago, surgery faculty at Iowa performed the world’s first gastric-bypass surgeries for morbidly obese patients. Today, the department continues its commitment to innovative surgical procedures and techniques in all areas, such as minimally invasive and robotic surgery, while offering advanced technologies like the positive pressure isolation room and state-of-the-art hydrotherapy facility for burn patients.

Patient care in the UI Department of Surgery is informed by basic science and clinical research—translating the latest discoveries from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside as well as into every aspect of education and training. Fellows, residents, and medical students are exposed to revolutionary medicine and surgical techniques that will enhance their skills, and the department’s faculty value the opportunity to shape today’s learners into tomorrow’s best and brightest surgeons.

>41K

Department of Surgery Visits

35

consecutive years ranked as one of the best academic hospitals in the U.S.

# 1

Iowa's #1 hospital as ranked by U.S. news & world report

News

'C' To Believe

Friday, April 18, 2025

UIHC Kenny Lab Published in Cell-Press

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Carver College of Medicine Events

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Seminar: Dr. Kara Davis promotional image

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Seminar: Dr. Kara Davis

Thursday, May 1, 2025 10:30am to 11:20am
Medical Education Research Facility
This event is open to the public."Understanding Cellular Predictors of Relapse in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia"Kara Davis, DOStanford UniversityFaculty Hosts: Miles Pufall, PhD and Jessica Zimmerman, MDDavis Lab | https://kldavislab.org/
Hardin Open Workshops - PubMed (In Person and Zoom) promotional image

Hardin Open Workshops - PubMed (In Person and Zoom)

Thursday, May 1, 2025 11:30am to 12:30pm
Hardin Library for Health Sciences
This hands-on session will help you improve your searching through best practices for basic and advanced searching and show you features for saving or exporting citations. The session will also help you understand medical subject headings (MeSH) and how they improve your search as well as the benefits of a MyNCBI account. PLEASE NOTE: Advance registration is required to participate on Zoom. Registrants will be emailed the Zoom link 30 minutes before the class time.

Neuroscience & Pharmacology Workshop - Abigail (Abby) Morrison and Julius Yevdash

Thursday, May 1, 2025 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Medical Education Research Facility
Presented by Abby Morrison Graduate Student in Dr. Kristina Thiel's lab Presented by Julius Yevdash Graduate student in the labs of Drs. Colin Kenny and Robert Weigel

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