Throckmorton Surgical Society

The Throckmorton Surgical Society is a nonprofit society set up to engage in and carry on the support of educational activities for postgraduate physicians specializing in the field of general surgery.

Each spring the Throckmorton Surgical Society, which is the Iowa Methodist Surgical Residency Alumni and Associate members, presents a full day post-graduate course featuring nationally known speakers.

The program each year is focused on a current critical topic in general surgery. Surgeons throughout Iowa and the Midwest attend these meetings, with its educational programs directed toward the continuing educational advancement of its surgery residents, alumni and staff. 

Symposium

Each spring the Society holds a symposium designed to present a comprehensive review of various topics with in depth information on diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical techniques for practicing general surgeons and other physicians who might be interested.

Some topics in the past have included breast, pancreas, hernias, colorectal, hepatobiliary, trauma, upper GI, laparoscopy, critical care and oncologic surgery as well as complications in surgery, controversies in surgery and emerging technologies.

While the conference is set up by the membership, other surgeons and physicians are welcome to attend the symposium. The next Throckmorton event will be May 2, 2025. The topic is "Trauma".

Previous Topics and Speakers

Complex Complications 2024

  • Stephanie F. Heller, MD Associate Professor of Surgery, Chair and Consultant for Division of Trauma, Critical Care & General Surgery, Department of Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN 
  • Sharon L. Stein, MD, FACS, FASCRS General Surgeon University Hospital Case Medical Center and Adjunct Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH 
  • Robert Fitzgibbons, MD Chairman, General Surgeon, Department of Surgery at Creighton University in Omaha, NE 
  • Jacob Weasel, MD General Surgeon, Monument Health in Rapid City, SD 
  • Juan Mira, MD IMMC Surgical Faculty /The Iowa Clinic - Surgical Oncology, Des Moines, IA

Colorectal 2023

  • Muneera Kapadia, MD, MME, FACS, FASCRS Professor of Surgery, University of North Carolina 
  • Alan Thorson, MD, FACS, FASCRS Clinical Professor, Surgery at Creighton University 
  • David Nelms, MD Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center 
  • Amber Tierney, MD The Iowa Clinic - Gastroenterology, Des Moines, IA 
  • Juan Mira, MD IMMC Surgical Faculty/The Iowa Clinic - Surgical Oncologist, Des Moines, IA 
  • Ohmar Coughlin, MD, FACS, FASCRS IMMC Surgical Faculty/The Iowa Clinic, Colorectal Surgery, Des Moines, IA

Surgical Oncology 2022

  • Carlos Chan, M.D., PhD, FACS, FRCS, FSS - University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Assistant Professor of Surgery and Radiation Oncology Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, Free Radical and Radiation Biology Program, Cancer Biology Program, Iowa City, IA
  • James Jakub, M.D., FACS - Mayo Clinic - Jacksonville, General Surgeon and Surgical Oncologist Department of Surgery, Jacksonville, FL
  • Wesley Papenfuss, M.D., FACS - Aurora Surgery - Milwaukee, General Surgeon and Surgical Oncologist, Milwaukee, WI
  • Arshin Sheybani, M.D., - UnityPoint Health - Des Moines, Iowa Methodist Medical Center, John Stoddard Cancer Center, Radiation Oncology and General Radiation Oncology, Des Moines, IA
  • Jason Sicklick, M.D., FACS, - UC San Diego Health | UC San Diego School of Medicine Department of Surgery | Division of Surgical Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, Professor of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Adjunct Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Executive Vice Chair of Research, Department of Surgery, Associate Program Director, General Surgery Residency Program, La Jolla, CA

Endocrine Surgery 2019

  • Chandrakanth Are, M.D. - University of Nebraska Medical Center, JL and CL Varner Professor of Surgical Oncology and Global Health, Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education (DIO) Vice Chair of Education, Department of Surgery, Omaha, NE
  • Gerald Baker, M.D. - Surgery P.C., The Iowa Clinic Surgery Faculty IMMC, UPH - DM, Clinical Associate Faculty, University of Iowa, Des Moines, IA
  • Travis McKenzie, M.D. - Mayo Clinic Rochester, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Rochester, MN
  • Vanitha Singaram, M.D. - Iowa Diabetes and Endocrinology Center, Des Moines, IA
  • Rebecca Sippel, M.D. - University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Vice Chair of Academic Affairs and Professional Development, Chief of Division of Endocrine Surgery, Associate Professor of Surgery, Endocrine Surgery Fellowship Director, Madison, WI

Minimally Invasive, Robotic & Hernia Surgery 2018

  • David Coster, M.D. - Surgical Associates, LLP, General and Bariatric Surgery, Grinnell, IA
  • Michael Liang, M.D. - Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Texas, Houston, TX
  • Robert Martindale, M.D., Ph.D. - Professor and Chief of Surgery, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland, OR
  • Curtis Peery, M.D. - Clinical Assistant Professor, University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Sanford Surgical Associates, Sanford Health General & Bariatric Surgery, Sioux Falls, SD

 Trauma 2017

  • Megan Brenner, M.D. - University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  • Bellal Joseph, M.D. - University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
  • Heather Osterbrink, M.D. - Greater Regional Medical Center, Creston, IA
  • Carlos Pelaez, M.D. - The Iowa Clinic, Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines, IA
  • Richard Sidwell, M.D. - The Iowa Clinic, Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines, IA
  • Brett Waibel, M.D. - University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
  • Scott Zietlow, M.D. - Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

 Breast Surgery 2016

  • Charles Cox, M.D. CEO - McCann Foundation Endowed Professor of Breast Surgery, Tampa, FL
  • Ann Heun, M.S.,CGC - Blank Children's Hospital, John Stoddard Cancer Center, Des Moines, IA
  • Amy Hughes, D.O. - Medical Oncologist, John Stoddard Cancer Center, MOHA—UPH DM, Des Moines, IA
  • Konstantino Lekkas, M.D., FACS - The Iowa Clinic West Des Moines Campus, West Des Moines, IA
  • Rachel Preisser, M.D. - Medical Imaging, The Iowa Clinic West Des Moines Campus, West Des Moines, IA
  • Arshin Sheybani, M.D. - John Stoddard Cancer Center—UPH DM, Des Moines, IA
  • Stephanie Valente, D.O. - Director, Breast Fellowship Program, Cleveland Clinic, Assistant Professor of Surgery Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH

Colon and Rectal Surgery 2015

  • Jeffrey Albright, M.D, FACS - Birmingham Surgical PC, General Surgery, Colon & Rectal Surgery, Birmingham, AL
  • Garnet Blatchford, M.D., FACS - Colon & Rectal Surgery, Inc.,Omaha, NE
  • Sean Lagenfeld, M.D., FACS - University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
  • Matthew Mutch, M.D., FACS - Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • Jan Rakinic, M.D., FACS, FSCRS - Southern Illinois University, Springfield, IL
  • Michael Snyder, M.D., FACS - University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX
  • Cinnamon Sullivan, M.D. - Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, GA

Surgical Oncology 2014

  • Qasiim Chaudhry, MD - The Iowa Clinic Transplant & Hepatobiliary Surgery, Des Moines, IA
  • John M. Kane, III, MD, FACS - Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
  • Thomas Miner, MD - Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI
  • Wesley Papenfuss, MD - Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY
  • Rory Smoot, MD - Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
  • Mark Truty, MD - MD Anderson Cancer Institute, Rochester, MN

Endocrine Surgery 2013

  • James Broome, MD, FACS - Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
  • Herbert Chen, MD, FACS - University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
  • David Schneider, MD, MS, FACS - University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
  • Prashanth Sekhar, MD - The Iowa Clinic-Endocrinology, Des Moines, IA

Minimally Invasive Surgery 2012

  • Sharon Bachman, MD, University of Missouri, Hospitals and Clinics, Columbia, MO
  • Paul Curcillo, II, MD, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
  • Jonathan Dort, MD, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA
  • Jon Gabrielsen, MD, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA
  • Teresa LaMasters, MD, Iowa Health Weight Loss Specialists, West Des Moines, IA
  • Samuel Szomstein, MD, Cleveland Clinic - Florida, Weston, FL
  • Alan Thorson, MD, Creighton University, Omaha, NE

Breast Surgery 2011

  • Peter Beitsch, MD, UT Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX
  • Amy Degnim, MD, Mayo Clinic - Rochester, Rochester, MN
  • Stephen Edge, MD, State University of New York, at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
  • Jeffrey Landercasper, MD, University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse, WI
  • Eleftherios Mamounas, MD, MHP, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
  • Kimberly Van Zee, MD, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY

Trauma/Critical Care 2010

  • Kenneth Azatrow, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center & Children's Hospital & Medical Center, Omaha, NE
  • Kenji Inaba, MD, University of California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
  • James Kessel, MD, University of Missouri Health Care, Columbia, MO
  • Mark Sawyer, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
  • Richard Sidwell, MD, Iowa Methodist Medical Center, General Surgery Residency, Des Moines, IA
  • R. Stephen Smith, MD, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA

Colorectal Speakers 2009

  • Richard M. Devine, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
  • Charles P. Heise, MD, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI
  • Bruce A. Orkin, MD, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
  • Nicholas J. Petrelli, MD, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE
  • Kyle E. Rogers, MD, The Iowa Clinic, Surgery, P.C., Des Moines, IA
  • Anthony J. Senagore, MD, Michigan State University/CHM, Grand Rapids, MI

Oncology Speakers 2008

  • Richard M. Devine, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
  • Charles P. Heise, MD, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI
  • Bruce A. Orkin, MD, The George Washington University, Washington, DC
  • Nicholas J. Petrelli, MD, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE
  • Kyle E. Rogers, MD, The Iowa Clinic, Surgery, P.C., Des Moines, IA
  • Anthony J. Senagore, MD, Michigan State University/CHM, Grand Rapids, MI

Endocrine Disease Speakers 2007

  • Anju Bhargava, MD, Iowa Diabetes & Endocrinology Center, Des Moines, IA
  • Clive Grant, MD, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN
  • Daniel Kollmorgen, MD, Iowa Methodist Medical Center & The Iowa Clinic, Des Moines, IA
  • Geeta Lal, MD, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
  • Richard Prinz, MD, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
  • Geoffrey Thompson, MD, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN

Hernia Speakers 2006

  • James R. DeBord, MD, Peoria Surgical Group, Peoria, IL
  • Robert J. Fitzgibbons, Jr., MD, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE
  • Donald E. Fry, MD, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
  • Michael S. Irish, MD, Blank Children's Hospital, Des Moines, IA
  • Robert D. Kugel, MD, Hernia Treatment Center, Olympia, WA
  • Frederick S. Nuss, MD, The Iowa Clinic West Lakes, West Des Moines, IA
  • Guy R. Voeller, MD, Mid-South Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Memphis, TN

 

Presidents
2025 James Quann, MD
2024 Curtis Peery, MD, FACS
2023 Anne Dietrich, MD, FACS
2022 Michael Person, MD
2019 Jeffrey Dietzenbach, MD
2018 Lisa Owens Johnson, MD
2017 Michael Foley, MD
2016 Scott Hamling, MD
2015 Jennifer Beaty, MD
2014 Thomas Fullerton, MD
2013 Alan Christensen, MD
2012 Michael Hovey, MD
2011 James Swegle, MD
2010 Chris Nielsen, MD
2009 P. Sue Beckwith, MD
2008 Paul Grossman, MD
2007 William Rizk, MD
2006 Richard Sidwell, MD
2005 Michael Niehaus, MD
2004 Robert Brebrick, MD
2003 Steve Cahalan, MD
2002 Anthony Leo, MD
2001 Frederick Nuss, MD
2000 Jay Rusek, MD
1999 Mansour Jadali, MD
1998 Gerald G. Baker, MD
1997 Robert Anderson, MD
1996 Edward B. Grossmann, MD
1995 Robert L. Kollmorgen, MD
1994 Victor T. Wilson, MD
1993 Douglas B. Dorner, MD
1992 Ronald A. Dierwechter, MD
1991 M. Neil Williams, MD
1990 Bernard D. Mouw, MD
1989 Philip M. Porter, MD
1988 Brian F. Luepke, MD
1987 Louis D. Rodgers, MD
1986 Heinz S. Jacobi, MD
1985 Robert M. Kuhl, MD
1984 Warren H. Bower, MD
1983 William H. Myerly, MD
1982 Homer E. Wichern, MD

 

 

History

When the Iowa Methodist Medical Center surgery training program was started in 1946, the impetus came primarily from two surgeons, Dr. Joseph B. Priestley and Dr. Tom D. Throckmorton. These two men provided a great deal of the leadership in the operation of the surgery educational program from its start with Dr. Priestley as director and Dr. Throckmorton as preceptor until Dr. Priestley's retirement in 1966.

Dr. Throckmorton then continued leadership of the program in 1966 with Dr. David Watkins becoming the first full-time director in 1976 serving until the residency received full approval of a 5-year residency in 1981 with Dr. Throckmorton as functional director. Dr. Throckmorton continued as full-time director until his retirement in 1986.

The Throckmorton Surgical Society was set up in Dr. Tom Throckmorton's name in honor of his dedication and continued efforts in carrying on postgraduate medical education in surgery and is now continued in his memory.

Lectureships have been set up in memory of Dr. Joseph B. Priestley for his leadership role in the residency and in honor of Dr. Louis D. Rodgers in recognition of his many years on faculty and in organization of the Society.

While the first surgical residency alumni conference was held in April 1981, the organizational meeting and First Annual Meeting of the Throckmorton Surgical Society were held April 30, 1982. The membership is comprised of alumni members of the Iowa Methodist Medical Center Surgery Residency, surgery resident members and surgery faculty members as associate members. Several noted speakers are included as honorary members.

While the conference is set up by the membership, other surgeons and physicians are welcome to attend the symposium. A conference banquet is held each year where new graduates of the Iowa Methodist Medical Center Surgery Residency are recognized as new alumni members and where alumni, residents, faculty and attendees greet colleagues and renew old friendships.

Contact us

General Surgery Residency Program
1415 Woodland Ave, Suite 140
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Phone: 515-241-4078 

Christa Richards, Surgery Resident Coordinator
christa.richards@unitypoint.org

 

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