Surgery Division Grand Rounds Series
Join us as we honor the Department of Surgery's 100 years of excellence in surgical innovation, education, and patient care through a special Grand Rounds series that highlights each division. Each month will feature an alumni guest speaker who will speak on the history of each division.
The Birth of Minimally Invasive Surgery
7:00-8:00 a.m. on June 12, 2025
The inaugural lecture for the Centennial Grand Rounds Series will be presented by Dr. John Hunter from Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine.
Dr. Hunter served at Emory from 1992-2001 as the General & GI Surgery division chief before transitioning to OHSU to become the Mackenzie Chair of Surgery and Surgeon in Chief of the OHSU Health System.
Grand Rounds may be attended in-person in the Emory University Hospital Auditorium or virtually via Zoom.
The Birth of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Letter from Our Chair
Dear Department of Surgery Faculty, Staff, and Alumni,
As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Emory Department of Surgery, it is both an honor and a privilege to reflect on the remarkable journey that has brought us to this centennial milestone. Our department's legacy is built upon a foundation of pioneering leadership, groundbreaking innovations, and an unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care, education, and research.
The Department of Surgery has existed as a clinical unit since 1925, when it began providing services at Emory University Hospital and in 1930, Dr. Daniel C. Elkin became the first official Chair of the Department of Surgery.
To commemorate this significant 100-year milestone, we have launched several initiatives that honor our rich history and look forward to our future. We have established the William C. Wood Endowment Fund, paying tribute to Dr. William C. Wood's transformative leadership from 1991 to 2009. This fund will support our mission to lead in surgical innovation and care. Our Centennial Tribute Book is being developed to chronicle the department's journey, capturing the stories and achievements that have defined us. Additionally, our Centennial Grand Rounds series will feature division highlights and esteemed alumni speakers, celebrating our legacy and inspiring future advancements. We look forward to sharing more exciting developments as we continue to honor our past and shape the future of surgery.
As we honor our past, we also look forward to the future with a renewed dedication to advancing surgical care, fostering innovation, and training the next generation of surgical leaders. The legacy of excellence established by our predecessors continues to inspire our mission and vision for the years ahead.
Our Centennial milestone is a testament to the unwavering support, dedication, and vision of our alumni, supporters, and the broader Emory community. This historic achievement would not have been possible without the contributions of countless individuals—surgeons, staff, trainees, patients, and partners—who have helped shape the Department of Surgery over the past century. We are deeply grateful to those who have played a role in building our legacy, advancing our mission, and laying the foundation for the next hundred years of innovation, excellence, and service in surgery.
On behalf of Emory Surgery and the hundreds of dedicated faculty and staff who continue to advance its mission, we invite you to join us in celebrating our first 100 years—and in looking ahead to the next century of excellence together.
Sincerely,
Dr. John Sweeney
Joseph Brown Whitehead Professor and Chair
Department of Surgery
Emory University School of Medicine
