Surgery is the branch of medicine that deals with the treatment of disease, injury or deformity to manual or instrumental operations. The department provides instruction and training to medical students in both general surgery and the subspecialties and includes etiology, diagnosis, pre- and post-operative care, surgical techniques and research. Facilities and resources are available to support clinical research in a variety of fields. The department directs a general surgery residency program, an orthopedic residency program, and a surgical critical care fellowship program. It conducts and participates in continuing medical education programs for physicians and other health professionals. The program utilizes a large and varied faculty of general and specialty surgeons, as well as numerous local medical centers, giving students and residents ample exposure to surgical disease and therapy.
Message from the Department Chair
Aloha and welcome to the Department of Surgery at the John A. Burns School of Medicine. Our department is built on a shared commitment to caring for the people of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific with compassion, skill, and respect. Every day, I am reminded that what makes this place special is not any one person, but the collective effort of faculty, residents, students, and staff who bring their best to our mission.
We are fortunate to work in a community where collaboration is truly part of the culture. Across our partner hospitals and clinical sites, our teams support one another, learn from one another, and push the boundaries of what we can achieve together. Whether it’s delivering high-quality surgical care, mentoring the next generation of physicians and surgeons, or pursuing research with real impact on patient outcomes, our work is driven by a sense of purpose that reflects the spirit of aloha. I am continually inspired by the dedication and creativity of our teams, and I am proud of the impact we make every day.
Thank you for visiting our website and for your interest in our department. We invite you to explore our clinical and educational programs, meet our faculty, and learn more about the work we are doing to strengthen the health of the communities we serve.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Thomas E. Read, MD, FACS, FASCRS
Thomas J. Whelan Jr. Professor and Chair
