The University of Iowa Department of Surgery faculty and staff take pride in providing leading-edge patient care, advancing the field of surgery through first-rate research, and delivering superior education and training to the next generation of surgeons.

The department’s surgeons and medical professionals address a wide variety of complex medical issues, from matching donors with recipients in the Organ Transplant Center to providing continuous care for both adult and pediatric trauma victims in one of the state’s two designated Level I Trauma Centers and a certified regional Burn Treatment Center. Specialists provide critical surgical support among comprehensive, multidisciplinary teams for the treatment of cancer, gastrointestinal and colorectal diseases, and vascular ailments, as well as advanced surgical care for the smallest pediatric patients. Skilled plastic and reconstructive surgeons manage complex reconstructive issues resulting from deformities, traumatic injuries, or cancer excision in both adult and pediatric patients, in addition to surgical and non-surgical cosmetic services for adults.

Education

Research

About Us

The department provides critical and unique resources for Iowa. 

Years ago, surgery faculty at Iowa performed the world’s first gastric-bypass surgeries for morbidly obese patients. Today, the department continues its commitment to innovative surgical procedures and techniques in all areas, such as minimally invasive and robotic surgery, while offering advanced technologies like the positive pressure isolation room and state-of-the-art hydrotherapy facility for burn patients.

Patient care in the UI Department of Surgery is informed by basic science and clinical research—translating the latest discoveries from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside as well as into every aspect of education and training. Fellows, residents, and medical students are exposed to revolutionary medicine and surgical techniques that will enhance their skills, and the department’s faculty value the opportunity to shape today’s learners into tomorrow’s best and brightest surgeons.

>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

News

Dr. Dionne Skeete recipient of 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Carver College of Medicine Events

Frontiers in Obesity, Diabetes and Metabolism Seminar - Vitor Lira, PhD  promotional image

Frontiers in Obesity, Diabetes and Metabolism Seminar - Vitor Lira, PhD

Monday, March 30, 2026 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building

Vitor Lira, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Health, Sport and Human Physiology will be giving a talk titled, "Emerging Roles of ULK1/2 in The Dynamic Control of Protein Metabolism in Skeletal Muscle."

Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Seminar, Tatjana Jakobs, MD promotional image

Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Seminar, Tatjana Jakobs, MD

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 9:30am to 10:30am
Bowen Science Building
Spring Panel Series: AI Across the Disciplines promotional image

Spring Panel Series: AI Across the Disciplines

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 12:30pm to 2:00pm
Iowa Memorial Union (IMU)
An interdisciplinary panel on artificial intelligence featuring speakers from medicine, business, and philosophy.

Have a general question or want to learn more?

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