Valentine Nfonsam, MD, FACS, to join Louisiana State University as chair of the Department of Surgery
Please join me in congratulating Valentine Nfonsam, MD, FACS as the new chair of the Department of Surgery at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He will also serve as the surgical quality officer at the University Medical Center. Dr. Nfonsam will relocate from Tucson to New Orleans later this fall. He will be greatly missed by all of us.
Dr. Nfonsam joined the University of Arizona Department of Surgery in 2011. Since then, he has provided leadership in a number of critical roles in the department. His commitment to patient care and training the next generation of surgeons has been exceptional. Dr. Nfonsam served for many years as the program director of the General Surgery Residency Program and has led the Division of Surgical Oncology since October of 2019.
We will be launching a national search for a permanent division chief of surgical oncology in the coming days. I will appoint a chair to lead the search committee, and together they will solicit applicants by casting a wide, national net. Careful consideration will be given to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in the search process.
Until a permanent chief is selected, James Warneke, MD, FACS, has graciously agreed to serve as the interim division chief of surgical oncology. Dr. Warneke has been a long-standing faculty member in the Department of Surgery and has held numerous leadership positions, including a previous stint as interim division chief of surgical oncology and as the vice chair of education. I look forward to working with Dr. Warneke in this position.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Nfonsam and wishing him great success in his new role at LSU.
Geoffrey C. Gurtner, MD, FACS
Professor and Chair
Department of Surgery
Professor of Biomedical Engineering