As I reflect on the journey of the Ohio State Department of Surgery over the past several years, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for the remarkable achievements our team of surgeons, researchers, advanced practice providers, nurses, staff and everyone within the department has accomplished. Our story is one of dedication, innovation and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Throughout my career, I have found that surgeons play a short, but significant, role in the stories of our patients and their families. We are there for a brief chapter, providing the best care in that moment for our patients. We then return to our own stories as surgeons. I find it humbling and inspiring to witness the stories of our Buckeye surgeons. As you will see throughout this year’s Annual Report, our surgeons at Ohio State have amazing stories to share. Their stories and successes are always moving the Department of Surgery forward and contributing to the overall story of the Department of Surgery – a story of high-quality care, excellence and steadfast dedication.
Before you turn the pages to the stories of our Buckeye surgeons, I want to share a little bit of our department’s story. Over the past eight years, we have made significant strides in fostering our talent by prioritizing the professional growth of our faculty, staff and learners. We would not have a story to tell without our talented faculty and staff. The creation of a new Vice Chair role dedicated to faculty development has led to numerous leadership and communication retreats, workshops and national leadership courses. Our department also offers professional development events that empower our team to excel in their respective fields. These efforts are part of our broader story of continuous improvement and aspiration toward excellence.
Advancing quality and safety has been a cornerstone of our mission. We have established a Division Quality Review Scorecard and a Resident Quality Track to drive continuous improvement. Our faculty members actively participate in national quality programs and task forces, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of patient care excellence.
Our department has consistently ranked in the Top 12 for NIH funding, a testament to the groundbreaking research our faculty conducts. We have seen significant growth in research funding, publications and clinical trials. Our faculty members have received numerous awards and grants, further solidifying our reputation as leaders in surgical research.
Since I began my journey at Ohio State, our clinical programs have garnered national recognition for their excellence in patient care, research and community service. Our programs have significantly impacted patient care by providing leading-edge treatments, improving patient outcomes and enhancing the overall patient experience. For example, our Comprehensive Transplant Center has achieved some of the highest success rates in the country, and our Division of Surgical Oncology has been at the forefront of innovative cancer treatments, offering hope to countless patients. As you turn the pages of this Report, you will find many examples of the outstanding care we provide daily.
Our story, the story of the Department of Surgery, is woven with the individual stories of our surgeons, our staff and our patients. Each achievement and every innovation adds a new chapter to our collective narrative. I invite you to delve into this year’s Annual Report and witness the remarkable and inspiring stories that define us as Buckeye surgeons.
Thank you for being an integral part of our story.
Sincerely,
Timothy Pawlik, MD, PhD, MPH
Chair, Department of Surgery
The Urban F. Meyer III and Shelley M. Meyer Chair for Cancer Research
Surgeon in Chief