News Items

Erin King-Mullins, MD, FACS, FASCRS
Faculty/Research Director Northside Hospital Colon and Rectal Fellowship
Georgia Colon and Rectal Surgical Associates, Atlanta, GA 

Why I am a member of ASCRS:

Being a member of ASCRS has helped me to stay abreast of the latest in research and standards of care, as well as providing networking opportunities. Being involved has provided me with countless moments of informal mentorship with surgeons from a variety of practice settings. Membership and participation continues to allow me to expand my practice and become a better resource to my patients, fellows, and home institution.

What do you want your patients to know about you?

My patients should know that I see every day as a new opportunity improve my care for them because by caring for them I am additionally caring for those that depend on them.

Tell us something about yourself that we might not otherwise know.

My two favorite television shows of all time are The Golden Girls and Game of Thrones. I can’t even begin to explain this one :)

Wolfgang B. Gaertner, MD, MSC
Assistant Professor
Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery
Department of Surgery
University of Minnesota - M Health

Why I am a member of ASCRS:

I am a member of ASCRS because of it's strong and diverse leadership, its evidence-based influence on the specialty, and the sense of comradery and support that it instils in its members regardless of background or nationality.  

What advice do you have for future colorectal surgeons?

Details are important. Think 10 steps ahead, BUT, constantly incite work-life balance.

Are you a member of ACS and ASCRS between the ages of 30 and 60? Apply now for a scholarship to attend the Executive Leadership Program in Health Policy and Management at Brandeis University, June 14–20, 2020. 

Deadline: February 3, 2020

Cindy J. Kin, MD, MS, FACS, FASCRS
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Stanford University Medical Center
Stanford, California 

Why I am a member of ASCRS:

If my immediate colorectal family members are my partners at Stanford, then my extended colorectal family is ASCRS, where I can be sure to find friends, collaborators, mentors and mentees...and happily, that eccentric aunt with all the wisdom, that crazy uncle with all the tricks of the trade, and that goofy but brilliant cousin! I am grateful to be part of this vibrant, evolving, and diverse community, where everyone brings something special to the table. 

Why I specialized in colorectal surgery:

I find colorectal surgery to be a very humanizing field. Working with colorectal surgery patients is such an art and they teach us so much—how to really listen and observe, and how to translate that into appropriate treatment (or simply empathy).

I also liked the prospect of enjoying a wide variety of diagnoses, procedures, and patients, while also building a deep expertise about colorectal diseases. In one clinic day, I could see everything from a hemorrhoid in a healthy young person, to cancer in an octogenarian, to inflammatory bowel disease in a middle aged person. In one OR day, I might start off with a couple small anorectal cases and end with a major case involving multiple other surgical services. Yet despite all this variety, I can still be a true expert in this field. 

What other field has such breadth and depth? None other than the awesome field of colorectal surgery! (Also, we have a song about us which pretty much sums up the greatness of our field.) 

Sean J. Langenfeld, MD, FACS, FASCRS
Associate Professor and Chief, Colon and Rectal Surgery
Department of Surgery
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska

Why I am a member of ASCRS: 

This society gives me so much that it’s hard to summarize: scholarship, camaraderie, innovation, and professional support. Most of all, it’s an extremely fun group, and I always look forward to the annual meeting where I can catch up with friends while enjoying an excellent program. I feel privileged to be a part of such a talented and forward-thinking society. I do my best to give back to the ASCRS, but I always end up receiving much more than I ever contribute.

What do you want your patients to know about you?

I want them to know that I am honored that they have chosen me and entrusted me with their care, and I take the responsibility very seriously. My goal is to make sure that they understand their disease and their treatment options well. I have a detailed, methodical approach to clinical problems that ensures I’ve accounted for all the important variables. I work hard to provide the best care possible.