KALAMAZOO, MI – Eight general and specialty surgeons are combining skills to create Borgess Surgical Specialties, a diversified team of experts capable of serving many patient needs. The new group is located in Suite 108, North Professional Building on the campus of Borgess Medical Center, and can be reached at (269) 226.5456. (Borgess Trauma Surgeons will also continue serving patients in the Borgess Trauma Services office, Suite 005, Medical Specialties Building, also on the BMC campus.)
Members of Borgess Surgical Specialties include three former members of General and Bariatric Surgery, PC, a division of Healthcare Midwest–James Babel, MD, Daniel Stewart, MD, and Stuart Verseman, MD, the only board-certified bariatric surgeon in Kalamazoo; Maria House, MD, a colorectal surgeon; four members of the Borgess Trauma Surgery Team–Thomas Rohs, MD, Fresca Swaniker, MD, Michael Fiorucci, MD, and Robert Gilmore, MD; and Daniel Barnas, MD, Kalamazoo’s first fellowship-trained breast surgeon.
“Borgess Surgical Specialties is a multispecialty group that brings together general and specialty surgeons, midlevel providers, and vital support staff,” said Dr. Anthony Oliva, Chief Medical Officer, Borgess Health. “Many of today’s complex conditions require more than one surgeon for consultation. A multi-specialty surgical practice promotes interdisciplinary collaboration to offer patients the best possible, coordinated care.”
“We chose to join Borgess Surgical Specialties because Borgess Health is an excellent patient-centered organization,” said Dr. Babel. “It is a challenge to navigate the many changes in health care technology and reimbursement when you’re separate from a regional medical center, even when you’re a member of a consolidated physician group.”
“I’m thankful every day that I have the privilege of serving others as a physician,” said Dr. Daniel Stewart. “Becoming members of Borgess Surgical Specialties allows fellow surgeons of General and Bariatric Surgery to be doctors, while relieving us of increasing amounts of paperwork and business details.
“Patients are the ultimate benefactors of this transition,” said Dr. Stewart. “With this new arrangement, we can focus more on patient care.”
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James Babel, MD, FACS, recently became the first Kalamazoo surgeon to perform a single-incision robotic cholecystectomy. He conducted the surgery on June 15, 2012, at the Borgess Medical Center Robotic Surgery Program using the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System. Specializing in general and laparoscopic surgery, Dr. Babel has served area residents for more than 30 years. After earning his medical degree from Wayne State University, he finished his residency in general surgery through Southwest Michigan Area Health Education Center, Kalamazoo.
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Daniel Stewart, MD, FACS, is the first physician to serve as Chair of the Borgess Health Board of Trustees in the health system’s 122-year history. He has also served as Chief of Surgery and Chief of Staff for Borgess Medical Center. Dr. Stewart specializes in general, neck, breast, laparoscopic abdominal and bowel surgery. He earned his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean and completed his residency through Southwest Michigan Area Health Education Center, Kalamazoo.
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Stuart Verseman, MD, FACS, is the area’s only board-certified bariatric surgeon. Since 2005, he has been the Medical Director of bariatric surgery at Borgess Medical Center. Dr. Verseman specializes in laparoscopic gastric bypass, gastric sleeve and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedures. He also performs general and laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Verseman earned his medical degree from Rush Medical College and completed his residency at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston. Dr. Verseman served in the Navy as a staff surgeon on the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
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Maria House, MD, FACS, is a board-certified colorectal and general surgeon. As a colorectal surgeon, Dr. House offers southwest Michigan residents a new, minimally invasive treatment option for hemorrhoids. Dr. House earned her medical degree from the Ohio State University College of Medicine, and completed a general surgery residency at Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine. Following residency, she earned a fellowship in colorectal surgery at Baylor University Medical Center.
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Daniel Barnas, MD, FACS, is a new community physician who comes to Borgess Health from Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, Pennsylvania. He obtained his medical degree from Northwestern University School of Medicine and completed his general surgery residency at Michigan State University Department of Surgery. He is Kalamazoo’s first fellowship-trained breast surgeon.
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Thomas Rohs, MD, FACS, is Trauma Services Medical Director for the Borgess Level I Trauma Center. He earned his medical degree from University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, and completed his residency and critical care fellowship at University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Rohs is board-certified in general surgery and surgical critical care, and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). Active in general and critical care surgery for 15 years, Dr. Rohs has been an advocate for trauma research studies, as well as the advanced training of physicians and other health professionals.
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Fresca Swaniker, MD, MPH, FACS, is a graduate of University of Ghana Medical School in Ghana, West Africa. She completed her residency training at Loma Linda University Medical Center in California, and fulfilled a surgical critical care fellowship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Swaniker is board-certified in general surgery and surgical critical care. She is the Director of Borgess’ Advanced Trauma Life Support Course, and has been providing emergency surgery and critical care for injured patients since 1997.
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Michael Fiorucci, MD, FACS, is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, and completed a general surgery residency at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. He is board-certified in general surgery, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Fiorucci offers more than 10 years of experience in trauma care, and general and minimally invasive surgery.
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Doctors and health systems align their relationships
Physicians are increasingly joining regional referral systems like Borgess Health. A 2012 national physician recruitment survey (Meritt Hawkins, Irving, TX) revealed that more than three-quarters of newly employed doctors were projected to become hospital employees within two years. “Borgess Health has historically worked closely with many physician groups,” said Patrick Dyson, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Services. “These long-term affiliations are often becoming formal partnerships.
“Borgess Medical Group is composed of about 200 hospital-employed primary and specialty care physicians and over 80 midlevel providers, and this number will continue to grow,” Dyson said. “In an evolving health care environment, physicians and hospitals are aligning their relationships to create a more integrated health care model based on patient needs.”
