Advancing Surgical Care

At the University of Iowa Health Care Department of Surgery, we are advancing the future of surgery through exceptional patient care, groundbreaking research, and world-class surgical education. Our multidisciplinary teams provide highly specialized care for patients with complex surgical conditions across every stage of life.

Leading Specialized Programs

Department specialists lead advanced programs in transplantation, cancer, vascular, colorectal, pediatric, and reconstructive surgery. Through innovative techniques and collaborative expertise, our teams improve outcomes for patients across Iowa and the region.

Recognized Centers of Excellence

UI Health Care is home to one of Iowa's two designated Level I Trauma Centers, the state's only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, a certified regional Burn Treatment Center, and a nationally recognized Organ Transplant Center. These nationally recognized programs provide patients access to lifesaving care and specialized expertise not widely available elsewhere in Iowa.

Education

Research

About Us

Leading innovation. Advancing surgical care for Iowa.

Pioneering Surgical Advances

The Department of Surgery has a long history of innovation, from performing some of the world's first gastric bypass surgeries to advancing today's minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques.

Driving Research Forward

Department researchers and clinicians work together to translate scientific discoveries into new treatments, technologies, and approaches that improve patient care.

Training Tomorrow's Leaders

Medical students, residents, and fellows learn alongside nationally recognized surgeons and researchers, gaining hands-on experience while preparing to lead the future of surgery.

>41K

Department of Surgery Visits

35

consecutive years ranked as one of the best academic hospitals in the U.S.

# 1

Iowa's #1 hospital as ranked by U.S. news & world report

Carver College of Medicine Events

ASM Graduate Student Group Writing Session promotional image

ASM Graduate Student Group Writing Session

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Bowen Science Building

Degowin Blood Drive @ Medical Center Downtown

Thursday, October 22, 2026 10:00am to 2:00pm
Medical Center Downtown
The DeGowin Blood Center is hosting a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday October 22nd 2026 at the University Center Downtown.

Joseph Walder Memorial Lecture with Dr. Taekjip Ha, Harvard Medical School promotional image

Joseph Walder Memorial Lecture with Dr. Taekjip Ha, Harvard Medical School

Thursday, October 22, 2026 10:30am to 11:20am
Medical Education Research Facility

Dr. Ha will be our speaker for the inaugural Joseph Walder Memorial Lecture.

"Genome Maintenance at Higher Resolution"

Taekjip Ha, Ph.D.
George D. Yancopoulos Professor of Pediatrics in honor of Frederick W. Alt
Harvard Medical School
Boston Children’s Hospital
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Have a general question or want to learn more?

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