The Duke Department of Surgery is pleased to announce that it has established a new Division of Colorectal Surgery. Formerly a section within the department's Division of Surgical Oncology, the division treats all conditions, both benign and malignant, related to the colon and rectum that require surgical intervention. As a high-volume center for colorectal disease, Duke's colorectal group is the largest in North Carolina and a source of referrals from throughout the Southeast and the world. Duke colorectal surgeons collaborate closely with colleagues in medical oncology, plastic surgery, radiation oncology, urology, and gynecology oncology to tailor treatment to the patient's need. They use minimally invasive surgical approaches when possible, with robotic and laparoscopic procedures making up nearly 80% of their colorectal procedures.
The new division will be led on an interim basis by Julie Thacker, MD, Associate Professor of Surgery, who has served as chief of the Section of Colorectal Surgery since 2021. Dr. Thacker has been at Duke since 2008 and runs a robust clinical practice in diseases of the colon and rectum. She has also served as Director of Duke Surgery's Clinical Research Unit and as surgery lead for the Duke Digestive Disease Program. Jacob Greenberg, MD, EdM, Chief of Minimally Invasive Surgery, will lead the national search for a permanent division chief.
Peter Allen, MD, David C. Sabiston, Jr. Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery, said, "Elevating colorectal surgery into its own division allows Duke Surgery to increase our investment in treating benign and malignant colorectal conditions, and it helps us communicate to patients and referring physicians about the breadth and depth of our offerings in this high-priority space."
Dr. Thacker added, "I am delighted to see Duke formalize its leadership in colorectal surgery, and to lead a group of such skilled, compassionate surgeons providing care to patients in need from this region and around the world."