Houston VA names new head of surgery

Listed as one of the best doctors in the nation in the field of critical care medicine, Samir S. Awad, M.D., examines veteran Jimmy Ray Yancey during a recent appointment.

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center of Houston has chosen Samir S. Awad, M.D., as its new Operative Care Line executive.

Awad is an associate professor in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. He has worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs since 2000.

In the past, Awad served as the Operative Care Line associate executive, chief of general surgery, and medical director of surgical intensive care at the hospital. He has also worked with the South Central VA Health Care Network and serves on the VA National Surgical Critical Care Advisory Board.

Awad is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and Surgical Critical Care. He attended medical school at Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Awad’s areas of specialty include liver, pancreas and acute care surgery. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed and invited publications. He has received numerous awards for surgical and research achievements.

“With his strong leadership skills and personal drive, Sam has a proven track record of ensuring VA health care is more attentive to veterans and their families,” said Medical Center Chief of Staff J. Kalavar, M.D., in a press release. “He is an extremely skilled surgeon, teacher and mentor.”

For more information, visit www.houston.va.gov.