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

Skills for Educators: Learning Under Pressure: Shaping Learner Performance with Evidence-Based Teaching Methods

Friday, October 2, 2026 8:30am to 11:30am
University of Iowa Health Care University Campus
This interactive workshop takes the science of learning and translates it into practical teaching strategies that create environments to enhance engagement and optimize learning conditions.
Progress 2026: Learning Together in the 21st Century promotional image

Progress 2026: Learning Together in the 21st Century

Friday, October 2, 2026 (all day)
Hyatt Regency Place

Overview:
Emphasizing the interprofessional team approach to patient care, the annual Progress conference combines internal medicine and pharmacy continuing education programs into a single multi-track program offering plenary sessions, breakout sessions, and hot topics in a combined interprofessional format. This conference will discuss practice changing diagnostic and therapeutic changes in a wide range of clinical medicine.

Topics include:
Cancer in Iowa
AI and Medicine
Alzheimer's Updates
De...

Mobile Clinic - Coralville Public Library promotional image

Mobile Clinic - Coralville Public Library

Sunday, October 4, 2026 12:30pm to 3:30pm
Coralville Public Library
Mobile Clinic

Have a general question or want to learn more?

Reach out to us and we'd be happy to assist