ETSU Surgery Department

03/16/2026

Congratualtions to Dr. William Tucker on receiving the Gold Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award! A much-deserved honor for his excellence in caring for patients and teaching those around him!

03/02/2026

Quillen visits Monze Mission Hospital
As part of Quillen’s ongoing commitment to global health initiatives and training, department chairs from Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Psychiatry, and Pediatrics joined other Quillen representatives in traveling to Zambia in late January to spend a week visiting Monze Mission Hospital. Drs. Aleksandr F**s, Brad Feltis, Deidre Pierce, Jason Moore, Allen Musil, and Dawn Tuell learned how their Monze colleagues deliver excellent patient care within a rural setting and with limited resources. While there, Quillen faculty learned from their Zambian colleagues while participating in patient care and resident education. We look forward to exploring future opportunities with Monze.

02/24/2026

Meet Dr. Iqbal, pediatric surgeon at Niswonger Children’s Hospital. 💙

As we prepare for the 14th annual Radiothon on March 5–6, we asked him to share what pediatric surgery means to him:

“In pediatric surgery we save lifetimes. When a pediatric surgeon performs a life-saving procedure on a child, that child will then get to enjoy all the milestones in life such as team activities, get married, having a family, etc."

"There is a famous quote from a pioneering pediatric surgeon, Sir Lancelot Barrington-Ward, ‘The adult may be safely treated as a child, but the converse can lead to disaster.’”

When speaking directly to supporters, he said, “Niswonger Children's Hospital is a true gem for Appalachia. Your support will allow us to continue delivering high-quality care to the children of our region, but more importantly, it will allow us to grow so that we can expand the scope of our services and care for even more children.”

This year, Radiothon funds will help us expand pediatric surgical services so we can care for even more children close to home.

Join us March 5 at 7 a.m. through March 6 at 7 p.m. and help us continue saving lifetimes. Donate at www.niswongerchildrensradiothon.org or call 855-611-KIDS (5437).

Stay tuned to hear from more of our team about why this mission and your support mean so much for local kids.

12/10/2025

Welcome, Dr. Alexis Bowder! She joined the Department of Surgery in October as a pediatric surgeon.

12/10/2025

Welcome, Dr. Jennifer Whittington. She joined the Department of Surgery in September as a surgical oncologist.

10/24/2025

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Ricardo Lopez to Abingdon Surgical Associates — Abingdon!

He will work alongside Dr. William Cummins, Dr. Amy Hitchcock and Dr. Matthew Dorn.

Dr. Lopez was born in Puerto Rico and raised in northeast Georgia, with family roots stretching all the way to West Virginia. He completed his education in Johnson City and chose to stay in the Appalachian Highlands. "My wife and I fell in love with the Appalachian Highlands, and we are thrilled to be able to stay in the region," he says.

Dr. Lopez enjoys the hands-on nature of surgery and the opportunity to make an immediate impact on his patients' health. Inspired by his mother, a veterinarian, he values listening deeply and treating patients like family.

His services include appendectomy, cholecystectomy, colectomy and colon surgery, gastrostomy, hiatal hernia repair, inguinal hernia repair, robotic surgery, skin cancer/skin lesion excision and ventral hernia repair.

10/21/2025

08/01/2025

500 robotic-assisted surgeries completed! 🎉

Congratulations to Dr. Edward Gray and his team at Holston Valley Medical Center for reaching an exciting milestone, completing 500 robotic-assisted surgeries using the da Vinci Xi system!

This advanced technology enables greater precision through smaller incisions, resulting in less pain, faster healing, and a quicker return to daily life for our patients.

Dr. Gray's dedication and surgical expertise, along with the hard work of his entire team, continue to raise the standard of care for our region. We're proud to celebrate this achievement and the many lives impacted along the way.

05/09/2025

Web description: In this episode of Why I Teach, Dr. Christy Lawson reflects on her journey to the operating room and classroom.

05/02/2025

Kleinman authors study evaluating aging retina
Dr. Mark Kleinman, professor in the Department of Surgery, is the corresponding author of a recent publication in the journal Aging Cell. The study explores the role of histone loss and hypoacetylation in the normal aging process of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, offering new insights into the complex biology of the aging retina.

04/10/2025

The Surgery Department is pleased to welcome Dr. John E. Hershman to our Plastic Surgery Division. Dr. Hershman's previous position was the Medical Director of Burn and Reconstructive Centers of Texas.

04/10/2025

The Surgery Department is pleased to welcome Dr. Corey W. Iqbal, M.D. Dr. Iqbal was the previous Medical Director of Pediatric and Fetal Surgery at the Overland Park Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas. He joined the department on January 1, 2025.

A few of Dr. Iqbal's specialties are:
• Intestinal Malrotation and Volvulus
• Pulmonary Malformations
• Pediatric Tumors
• Ovarian Tumors and Cysts
• Diaphragmatic Hernias
• Branchial Cleft and Arch Anomalies
• Gastroesophageal Reflex Disease
• Thyroglossal Duct Cysts and Sinuses
• Pilonidal Disease