Getting Closer to a New Chief Surgeon

[SBAimee]

At Jack's cardiology appointment this week we asked Dr. Puchalski if they were getting close to finding a new Chief Surgeon and he said they were down to 2 candidates that they really liked and would hopefully be making a decision in the next month or two. He thought it would then take a few months to get them here, but it's good to hear they are getting close. Just thought I'd pass that along.

[tbulkley]

I didn't know there was a chief surgeon? Did someone retire or leave or something?

[cmooredavis]

Dr Hawkins is on a leave of absence for personal reasons. He was the chief surgeon and did all of the complicated heart surgerys. In his absence some difficult cases have had to go to Boston or California for surgery instead.

We have wonderful talented surgeons at Primary's currently so our children are in good hands. I love that if the surgeons do not feel comfortable doing a complicated surgery they would rather refer them elsewhere rather than try a surgery that they are not yet prepared to do.

At Jacob's cardio appointment last week we were told if he needed to have his Aortic Root replaced in the future (it is dilated) they would have to send us to Boston. Hopefully with a new chief surgeon we could do it here.

[tbulkley]

Dr. Hawkins must have taken leave before we got there. I actually haven't heard of him.

Thanks for the info!

[Lisa Owens]

Thanks for the update! I was wondering how that process was going. Last time we met with Dr. Williams he said we would probably do McKinley's Fontan electively this summer, and I was a little nervous about the surgeon situation.

[mommyhobbs]

We will miss Dr. Hawkins. One of the heart doctors told me yesterday that Dr. Hawkins comes in and consults with the surgeons some evenings. He is enjoying spending time with his family for the first time ever. We are looking forward to a new head surgeon. Our son will need the Fontan soon. We love Dr. Kaza and he feels confident about doing the surgery, but I'd feel better with another surgeon on the team also.