M.D. Anderson, Baylor combine neurosurgery programs
Lori Williams |
Julie Penne |
HOUSTON -- (
April 5, 2005) --
The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor College of Medicine today announced they are developing a joint neurosurgery program that will bring together top experts in the field in a shared department with one leader - Dr. Raymond Sawaya.
Sawaya, who has chaired the M.D. Anderson neurosurgery department for 15 years, now will also serve as chair of the BCM department .
"This brings together the best of the Texas Medical Center," Sawaya said. "There is a lot of excitement because something like this has never been done before. We hope this will be a model of institutions working together for a common goal benefiting the patient." Video comment
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As chair, Sawaya will be responsible for the neurosurgery programs at BCM's primary affiliated hospitals – St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Ben Taub General Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital and the Michael E. DeBakey Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, in addition to M.D. Anderson's program.
"Combining the neurosurgery efforts of these institutions, under the leadership of a world-renown expert, brings collaboration to a higher level," said Dr. Peter G. Traber, BCM president and CEO. "Working together, we will accomplish more and the results will be faster." Video comment
"Ray Sawaya is a gifted surgeon, compassionate physician and outstanding leader who is acknowledged as a consummate professional and mentor by his colleagues in neurosurgery and throughout M.D. Anderson," said Dr. John Mendelsohn, president of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. "The clinical, professional and personal gifts he possesses ought to be shared, and the new duties he takes on through our newest collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine and their affiliated hospitals will enable more patients, physicians and students to benefit from his expertise." Video comment
Sawaya, an acclaimed physician and scientist, will still serve as director of the Brain Tumor Center at M.D. Anderson, and will see patients and perform surgeries.
"Patient contact and care will always take priority," he said.
Sawaya plans to assume an interim post as chief of service in neurosurgery at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital until he recruits a chief for an expanded, comprehensive program at that hospital.
"The ultimate goal is to build the programs at all of the hospitals to follow what has been done at M.D. Anderson," Sawaya said. "We have a model program at M.D. Anderson, with strong leaders in each area of neurosurgery who are responsible for their programs. It has worked very well and there's no reason it won't work in a new environment."
Neurosurgeons diagnose and perform surgery on the brain, spinal cord and central nervous system. The specialty covers many areas, from brain tumors to Parkinson's disease to pain control.
Sawaya said this collaboration crosses over specialties. For example, he will be working closely with BCM radiology chair Dr. Michel Mawad, an internationally recognized leader in stroke intervention and neuroradiology.
Sawaya's appointment is effective immediately. He will have offices at M.D. Anderson and at Baylor.
Sawaya received his medical degree from St. Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon, and completed residencies in general surgery at Upstate Medical Center State University of New York, in pediatric neurosurgery at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, and in neurosurgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He served as chief resident in neurosurgery at John Hopkins Hospital.