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.

Administrative Leadership

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

Vice Chairs/Chiefs of Staff

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

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

Divisional Administrators

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

Division Chiefs

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

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