Executive Summary
The Section of Surgical Disciplines comprises two distinct academic surgical departments at Duke: the Department of Surgery and the Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences (HNS&CS).
In 2021, the Department of HNS&CS formally created and announced its 7 divisions, encompassing the breadth and depth of clinical and academic specialties within the department.
Together, the Departments of Surgery and HNS&CS carry out the Section’s vision of unity across all disciplines and specialties, in the interest of our patients.
Allan D. Kirk, MD, PhD
Vice Dean | Section of Surgical Disciplines
Chair | Department of Surgery
Howard W. Francis, MD, MPH
Chair | Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences
Katherine Stanley, MBA
Associate Dean | Section of Surgical Disciplines
Vice Chair of Administration | Department of Surgery
Chris Tobias, MPA
Chief Administrator | Department of HNS&CS
Ben Pratt, MHA
Associate Chief Administrator
Department of Surgery
Cynthia K. Shortell, MD
Executive Vice Chair
Shelley Hwang, MD, MPH
Vice Chair of Research
Michael E. Lipkin, MD
Vice Chair of Clinical Operations
John Migaly, MD
Vice Chair of Education
Department of HNS&CS
Seth M. Cohen, MD, MPH
Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Operations
Bradley J. Goldstein, MD, PhD
Vice Chair of Research
David M. Kaylie, MD
Vice Chair of Clinical Operations
Walter T. Lee, MD, MHS
Chief of Staff
Brian Brejnik
Division of Surgical Oncology
Pamela A. Keels, MBA
Division of Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Division of Pediatric Surgery
Division of Plastic, Maxillofacial & Oral Surgery
Shelley Opila, MPH
Division of Urology
Lauren Shields
Division of Surgical Sciences
Division of Abdominal Transplant Surgery
Katie Troxler
Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
Lowell C. Tyler, FACHE
Division of Emergency Medicine
Division of Trauma, Acute, and Critical Care
Division of Vascular Surgery
Department of Surgery
Suresh K. Agarwal Jr., MD
Chief, Division of Trauma, Acute, and Critical Care Surgery
Peter Allen, MD
Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology
Edward Po-Chung Chen, MD
Chief, Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
Gary J. Faerber, MD
Interim Chief, Division of Urology
Charles J. Gerardo, MD
Chief, Division of Emergency Medicine
Jeffrey R. Marcus, MD
Chief, Division of Plastic, Maxillofacial, and Oral Surgery
Dana D. Portenier, MD
Chief, Division of Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery
Henry E. Rice, MD
Chief, Division of Pediatric General Surgery
Cynthia K. Shortell, MD
Chief, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
Debra L. Sudan, MD
Chief, Division of Abdominal Transplant Surgery
Kent J. Weinhold, PhD
Chief, Division of Surgical Sciences
Department of HNS&CS
Seth M. Cohen, MD, MPH
Chief, Division of Laryngology
Kimberly W. Irby, MS
Co-Chief, Division of Communication Sciences
David W. Jang, MD
Chief, Division of Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery
David M. Kaylie, MD
Chief, Division of Otology, Neurotology, and Skull Base Surgery
Walter T. Lee, MD, MHS
Chief, Division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology
Eileen M. Raynor, MD
Chief, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology
Sherri L. Smith, PhD, AuD, CCC-A
Co-Chief, Division of Communication Sciences
Charles Woodard, MD
Chief, Division of Comprehensive Otolaryngology
Chief, Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Trinitia Y. Cannon, MD
Vice Chief, Division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology
Visit our websites to learn more about each of our departments, training programs, and current initiatives.
