"Seeing someone like Jeff leave is always bittersweet," Dr. David Stern, dean of the College of Medicine, said, "but I know Mike will step in where he left off and maintain the momentum for superb patient care and research excellence that the department of surgery has achieved under Jeff's direction."

Matthews doubled the department's research funding, elevating UC's department of surgery to 13th in funding from the National Institutes of Health . He also doubled clinical revenue through an expanded clinical trials program, increased surgical weight loss and cosmetic surgery procedures, and multidisciplinary specialized care clinics for pancreatic, liver and vascular disease. The number of UC medical students choosing surgery as their specialty quadrupled as the result of initiatives to attract women and minorities.

Matthews was also instrumental in establishing the Center for Surgical Innovation . This $9.5 million teaching center brings together military, academic and industry experts and focuses on minimally invasive robotic surgery and telesurgery techniques.

Nussbaum, a 26-year faculty member, is professor and vice chairman of clinical affairs in UC's surgery department and chief of staff at University Hospital .

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