The entire Abdominal Transplantation Team at Carolinas Medical Center helped with subject-matter expert review and edits. With an extra special thanks to Mary Alice Boulware CPNP, Vincent Casingal MD, Roger Denny MD, Lon Eskind MD, Vani Gopalareddy MD, David Levi MD, Alisha Mavis MD, Jose Soto MD, and Dionisios Vrochides MD PhD.
Books consulted on: Liver Transplantation, Part One: The Basics; Liver Transplantation, Part Two: Getting Ready for your New Liver; Liver Transplantation, Part Three: Time for Surgery!; Liver Transplantation, Part Four: Taking Care of your New Liver; Liver Transplantation: Your Transition to Care; Biliary Atresia: My Troublesome Tree
Michael Avery DO is a colorectal surgeon, fellowship trained at UT Southwestern. A close friend of Maria’s since residency, he is a natural born leader and technical whiz.
Books consulted on: Colon Cancer: A patient-centered guide to diagnosis & treatment; Rectal Cancer: A patient-centered guide to diagnosis & treatment
Daniel Bambini MD is a pediatric surgeon in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is the Chief of the Pediatric Surgical Associates and is a formidable surgeon, with extra special expertise in hepatobiliary diseases and liver transplantation. He was one of Dr. Maria’s mentors during residency, and his support and collaboration resulted in her very first books!
Books consulted on: Appendicitis: One Angry Worm; G-Tubes: Fuel Me Up!; Pyloric Stenosis: That Time My Stomach Flexed; Gastroschisis: Being Born Inside Out
Rashikh Choudhury MD is an assistant professor of transplant surgery at the University of Colorado in Aurora, CO. He specializes in liver and kidney transplant as well as hepatobiliary surgery and is a research guru. He was Maria’s co-fellow during her surgical fellowship. Their time together led them to become extremely close friends, colleagues, and research partners. He is an exceptional surgeon and an even more exceptional person.
Books consulted on: So you want to donate a piece of your Liver robotically…A guide to Robotic Living Donor Liver Transplant; Organ Donation: A guide to the most generous gift
Kendra Conzen MD FACS is an abdominal transplant surgeon at the University of Colorado. She is the Fellowship Director of Abdominal Transplant. Dr. Conzen mentored Dr. Maria through her fellowship and seeing her compassionate care of patients and their families inspired their collaboration.
Books consulted on: Organ Donation: A guide to the most generous gift
Bradley Davis MD FACS FACRS is a colorectal surgeon practicing in Charlotte, NC. Fellowship trained at Lahey Hospital in Massachusetts, he is the Chief of the Division of General Surgery and Section Chief for Colon and Rectal Surgery for Atrium Health. A true savant of surgery, he is partners with Dr. Kasten (see below), making them the dream team of colorectal care.
Books consulted on: Colon Cancer: A patient-centered guide to diagnosis & treatment; Rectal Cancer: A patient-centered guide to diagnosis & treatment
Lon Eskind MD FACS is an abdominal transplant surgeon at Carolinas Medical Center - Atrium Health. He is the Surgical Director of Adult & Pediatric Liver Transplant. He is also the Associate Medical Director of the OPO in North Carolina - LifeShares Carolinas. Dr. Eskind mentored Dr. Maria through her residency. In fact, he was one of the main reasons she fell in love with transplant surgery and he also inspired their collaboration.
Books consulted on: Organ Donation: A guide to the most generous gift
Kevin Kasten MD FACS FACRS is a colorectal surgeon practicing in Charlotte, North Carolina (NC) at Atrium Health. Fellowship trained at Lahey Hospital in Massachusetts, he is a robotic whiz (and research guru) who takes exceptional care of his patients, providing them with thorough, comprehensive care. Dr. Maria’s experience working with Dr. Kasten in residency, and seeing the care he takes of his patients, inspired their collaboration. Dr. Kasten was instrumental in creating books on colon cancer and rectal cancer.
Books consulted on: Colon Cancer: A patient-centered guide to diagnosis & treatment; Rectal Cancer: A patient-centered guide to diagnosis & treatment
Susan Massengill MD is the Medical Director of Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension at Levine Children’s Hospital at Atrium Health. She has published more than 60 articles and abstracts on renal diseases, helping to advance the field. Dr. Massengill’s work has focused on proteinuric kidney disease with the aim of improving treatment options and outcomes for patients with kidney disease. She has served as a member and chair of the board of directors of the National Kidney Foundation of North Carolina and was the 2023 Clinical Excellence Awardee. She has been a guiding force and supportive adviser throughout Dr. Maria’s journey beginning in residency and continuing on to the present.
Books consulted on: Dialysis: An Aquarium Filter for your Blood; Peritoneal Dialysis: A Bath for my Belly
Thomas Maxey MD FACSis a cardiothoracic surgeon at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina. His primary focus is heart surgery in children and adults with congenital heart disease. He taught Dr. Maria all about congenital heart disease and helped her create an analogy to explain single ventricle heart defects, inspiring their collaboration.
Books consulted on: Single Ventricle: My One Pump Train Station
Claudia Mueller PhD MD is a pediatric surgeon at Stanford University. She is the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC). She and Dr. Maria originally connected over Dr. Mueller’s incredible research focusing on health mindset, which inspired their collaboration. They have since become close friends and research partners.
Books consulted on: Welcome to the NICU; Central Lines, Ports & PICCS: Highways to the Heart; Welcome to the Hospital
Trevor Nydam MD FACS is the interim Chief of Transplant Surgery and the Surgical Director of Liver Transplantation at the University of Colorado. He is well known for being a robotic wizard. As a team with Dr. Pshak, he not only performed the first robotic kidney transplant in the region, but also the first robotic living donor liver hepatectomy. Beyond his robotic prowess, Dr. Nydam takes exceptional care of his patients, providing thorough, comprehensive care, inspiring his partnership with Dr. Maria.
Books consulted on: So you want to donate a Kidney…A guide to Living Donor Kidney Transplant; So you need a Kidney Transplant…A guide to all the ins & outs of getting a new kidney; So you want to donate a piece of your Liver robotically…A guide to Robotic Living Donor Liver Transplant
Elizabeth A. Pomfret MD PhD FACS has a vast and considerably acclaimed international transplant career. She has held many roles including the Executive Director of the Colorado Center for Transplantation Care, Research, and Education (CCTCARE), the Chief of Transplant Surgery at University of Colorado in Aurora, CO and the President of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS). Dr. Pomfret helped to mentor and train Dr. Maria in live donor liver transplantation. It was this experience, and seeing firsthand the care Dr. Pomfret takes of her patients, that inspired their collaboration.
Books consulted on: So you want to donate a piece of your Liver…A guide to Living Donor Liver Transplant
James J. Pomposelli MD PhD FACS has a vast and considerably acclaimed international transplant career. He has held many roles including the Surgical Director of Liver Transplantation at the University of Colorado in Aurora, CO, Chair of UNOS (Liver & Intestine committee), and Chair of the UNOS National Liver Review Board. Dr. Pomposelli specializes in liver transplantation and has mentored and trained Maria in such at the University of Colorado. It was Dr. Maria’s experience working with him, and seeing firsthand his clinical care and technical prowess, that inspired their collaboration.
Books consulted on: So you need a Liver Transplant…A guide to all the ins & outs of getting a new liver
Thomas Pshak MD FACS is the Director of the Minimally Invasive Surgery Program in Transplant Surgery. He is well known for being a robotic wizard. As a team with Dr. Nydam (see above), he not only performed the first robotic kidney transplant in the region, but also the first robotic living donor liver hepatectomy. Beyond his robotic prowess, Dr. Pshak takes exceptional care of his patients, providing thorough, comprehensive care, inspiring his collaboration with Dr. Maria.
Books consulted on: So you want to donate a Kidney…A guide to Living Donor Kidney Transplant; So you need a Kidney Transplant…A guide to all the ins & outs of getting a new kidney
Deba Sarma MD FACS is a breast surgical oncologist at Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, NC who has helped expand breast cancer resources and care in the state. An outstanding clinician and mentor, Dr. Maria’s experience working with her during residency, and seeing firsthand the care Dr. Sarma takes of her patients, inspired their collaboration. Beyond that, Dr. Sarma is a kind, generous person with one of the best bedside manners you could wish for.
Books consulted on: Breast Cancer: A Guide to Your Cancer Journey
Jon Vogel MD FACS FASCRS is the Colorectal Surgery Section head at the University of Colorado. He is an endowed professor and recipient of the Dudley Family Chair in Cancer Excellence – a testament to his expertise. Beyond his academic accomplishments, he is passionate about patient care and education, leading to his collaborations with Dr. Maria.
Books consulted on: Colon Cancer: A patient-centered guide to diagnosis & treatment; Rectal Cancer: A patient-centered guide to diagnosis & treatment
Dionisios Vrochides MD PhD FACS is Maria’s mentor in surgery, transplantation, and life in general! He is an abdominal transplant surgeon at Carolinas Medical Center - Atrium Health. He is the Chief of Transplant Oncology and the Executive Director of IRCAD North America. His magical support and presence has helped shape and guide Maria’s entire surgical training. She was thrilled to be able to create a series of books with his support.
Books consulted on: Liver Transplantation, Part One: The Basics; Liver Transplantation, Part Two: Getting Ready for your New Liver; Liver Transplantation, Part Three: Time for Surgery!; Liver Transplantation, Part Four: Taking Care of your New Liver; Liver Transplantation: Your Transition to Care
Richard White MD FACS was the chief of surgical oncology and co-director of the melanoma and breast programs at Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, NC. He has been awarded the St. George’s Medal from the American Cancer Society for his significant contributions to the first against cancer. His acclaimed career is vast with innumerable clinical and research contributions. He additionally was an incredible advocate and mentor for Maria during her residency career and beyond.
Books consulted on: Breast Cancer: A Guide to Your Cancer Journey
Heidi Yeh MD FACS is the Surgical Director of Pediatric Transplant at Mass General for Children. She is a formidable research force – leading the ASTS in surgeon scientist accomplishments including receiving the ASTS Foundation Collaborative Scientist Grant for her work. She is exceptionally kind and has become an incredible mentor and advocate for Dr. Maria’s work in both transplant and writing books.
Books consulted on: Dialysis: An Aquarium Filter for your Blood; Peritoneal Dialysis: A Bath for my Belly
