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Friday, Dec. 25, 2009 | 2:02 a.m.
Regarding Marshall Allen’s article in Wednesday’s Las Vegas Sun, in which two surgeons criticized University Medical Center CEO Kathy Silver:
Dr. Joseph Thornton’s comments, in particular, are his own and in no way reflect the overall opinion of the 22 surgeons in the Department of Surgery, University of Nevada School of Medicine. As chairman of the department and a physician leader within the medical school, I interact frequently with UMC administration and our relationship has never been better.
Kathy Silver has supported several surgical programs beneficial to patients in our community, including our training programs — Trauma and Critical Care, Acute Care Surgery (the first program in the country), Plastic and Hand Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Burn Care — and several specialty clinics staffed by my group of talented surgeons, including a Colon and Rectal Clinic, which Dr. Thornton runs.
I am a plastic surgeon with a busy breast reconstruction practice and choose UMC for my patients because the operating room staff and nursing care are excellent. Our department remains committed to UMC as we continue to grow our service and training programs.
The fact that greater than 90 percent of our surgeries as a group are performed at UMC goes against the notion that patients are being redirected to other hospitals.
Dr Zamboni - you're the same idiot who told me that my son didn't need hernia surgery when he was 6. Another doctor said he did. I see you've switched to a more profitable surgery.
Hi Dr. Zamboni, thank you for the letter responding to my story about the surgeons who were critical of UMC. I appreciate the feedback, but have to ask why you did not respond to my phone calls for that story. You could have added important perspective! Your letter is appreciated, but unfortunately it does not allow me to ask any follow up questions to understand how things are working at UMC. If the issue is important enough for you to write a letter responding to the article, it seems it would have been important enough for you to return my calls. Feel free to call me at 259-2330 and we can discuss!
You people are out of your minds. Dr Z. is one of the most talented and skilled surgeons in America. I was there when he re-attached a policeman's arm and saved the extrimity. If you get your hand cut off and want to still be able to count to ten without taking off your shoes you better pray he is on call the day you come in to the trauma center. Merry Christmas!
Look out Rhooster. You have a point. I doubt the likes of Thornton or Spirtos will support much more than their own bottom line. With ten or more Thonton's bringing nine million a year to cash strapped UMC (he said that in his previous article) all us tax payers can be off the hook. Hail Joe. You're next Nick.