• Surgical Specialties: Expert Surgeons, State-of-the-Art Technology

Surgical Specialties

Expert surgeons, state-of-the-art technology, advanced surgical options

District Medical Group (DMG) surgeons provide a complete range of surgical services and specialties to treat patients of all ages. Providing inpatient and outpatient services, our surgeons have expertise and resources to manage the most challenging surgical procedures using the latest techniques and technology. Depending on the type of surgery, traditional and/or minimally invasive (laparoscopic and robotic) procedures may be available, and your DMG surgeon will share all surgical options to determine what’s right for you. Our surgeons perform inpatient procedures at Valleywise Health Medical Center.

DMG general surgeons have a combination of practical experience and fellowship training in traditional and minimally invasive surgery.  When possible, laparoscopic and/or robotic techniques will be utilized resulting in smaller incisions, less pain and faster recovery for the patient. DMG general surgeons perform procedures addressing:

Breast Surgery

As part of your multispecialty care team, which likely includes your primary care physician and oncologist, DMG breast surgeons perform the following procedures:

  • Biopsy, including sentinel node

  • Breast reconstruction

  • Lumpectomy

  • Mastectomy, including total and modified radical mastectomies

  • Minimally-invasive removal of small benign (non-cancerous) breast masses

  • Neoadjuvant chemotherapy

  • Ultrasound-guided biopsy (may be done in an operating room by a DMG surgeon or at an outpatient center by a DMG radiologist)

Medical Education Programs

As part of the Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance and in partnership with Valleywise Health, DMG offers the following graduate education programs in surgical specialties:

In addition, DMG offers undergraduate education through the following electives available to fourth-year medical students:

  • Burn Surgery

  • General Surgery

  • Hand Surgery

  • Neurological Surgery

  • Otolaryngology

  • Plastic Surgery

  • Surgical Critical Care

  • Trauma

For more information on DMG’s commitment to educating Arizona’s future healthcare professionals, click here.

General Surgery

DMG general surgeons have a combination of practical experience and fellowship training in traditional and minimally invasive surgery. When possible, laparoscopic and/or robotic techniques will be utilized resulting in smaller incisions, less pain and faster recovery for the patient. DMG general surgeons perform surgeries addressing:

  • Acute surgical disease

  • Cancer

  • Colorectal disease

  • Digestive tract examination through upper and/or lower endoscopy

  • Diseases and tumors of the bile ducts, liver, and pancreas (hepatobiliary and pancreatic conditions)

  • Esophageal/foregut disease

  • Gallbladder

  • Gastrointestinal conditions

  • Hernia repair

  • Soft tissue lesions/masses

Hand Surgery

Our fellowship-trained hand surgeons use traditional and minimally invasive surgical options to treat the following:

  • Carpal tunnel

  • Congenital deformities

  • Dupuytren’s contracture (a deformity occurring over years resulting in a bent finger)

  • Flexor tendon repair

  • Trauma and burn reconstruction

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

DMG plastic and reconstructive surgeons care for patients of all ages.  Our team includes fellowship-trained pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgeons who care exclusively for children at DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services (DMG CRS).

DMG plastic and reconstructive surgeons repair facial and body defects caused by birth disorders, disease, trauma and burns to improve appearance and restore physical functionality for the patient.  Our surgeons specialize in:

  • Craniomaxillofacial reconstructive surgery (surgeries to reconstruct issues with the mouth)

  • Extremity (lower limb) trauma reconstruction

  • Head and neck cancer reconstruction

  • Skull base surgery

  • Tumors and oncology-related issues

DMG CRS pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgeons also perform procedures to address:

  • Cleft lip and palate

  • Craniofacial anomalies

  • Polydactyly, syndactyly and microtia reconstruction

Our plastic and reconstructive surgeons work closely with the patient and other medical specialists to develop a customized care plan, and carefully considering safe, effective, and appropriate treatment options.

Trauma Care and Surgical Critical Care

DMG trauma and critical care surgeons are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year to care for critically injured patients at Valleywise Health Trauma Center.  Located at Valleywise Health Medical Center, the Trauma Center is the only trauma center in Maricopa County verified by the American College of Surgeons to treat adults and children keeping families together in their hour of need.

Coordinating care and treatment with other DMG medical specialists, such as neurologists and neurosurgeons, DMG trauma surgeons provide immediate, life-saving treatment to patients of all ages 24/7. We provide:

  • Level 1 Adult Trauma Care: The highest level of surgical care

  • Level 2 Pediatric Trauma Care: Immediate care service from general surgeons as well as different specialties such as orthopedics, radiology, and critical care

Vascular Surgery

DMG vascular surgeons are trained to correct blood flow issues in blood vessels, which include both arteries and veins.  Using the most current and high-tech medical equipment, our specially trained vascular surgeons diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, including:

  • Angiography

  • Aorta bypass graft to optimize blood flow through the abdomen

  • Aortic aneurysm/dissection repair, including:

    Abdominal aortic aneurysms
    Aortic descending thoracic aneurysm repair

  • Arteriovenous (AV) fistula or graft

  • Carotid artery disease (CAD)

  • Endovascular grafting

  • Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

  • Varicose veins

  • Vascular trauma

  • Vein problems

  • Wound care

Locations

Meet Our Surgery Providers

Kevin Foster, MD, MBA, FACS
Kevin Foster, MD, MBA, FACS
Medical Director, Valleywise Health Arizona Burn Center
Program Director, General Surgery
Medical Specialty: Burn Surgery
General Surgery
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, OH
Certification: American Board of Surgery
Complete bio
Alexzandra Hollingworth, MD, FACS
Alexzandra Hollingworth, MD, MEd, FACS
Associate Professor, Surgery, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ
Geriatric Surgery Director
Quality Improvement Officer, Creighton University Phoenix Health Education Alliance
Vice Chair, Surgery
Vice Chief of Staff, Valleywise Health Medical Center
Medical Specialty: Acute Care Surgery
General Surgery
Surgical Critical Care
Trauma Surgery
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine, Portsmouth, Dominica
Certification: Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, American Board of Surgery
Complete bio
Gaby-Iskander-MD
Gaby Iskander, MD, MS, FACS
Division Chair, Surgery
Interim Medical Director, Trauma Services
Medical Specialty: General Surgery
Surgical Critical Care
Medical School: Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt
Certification: General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, American Board of Surgery
Complete bio
Ramin Jamshidi, MD
Ramin Jamshidi, MD
Chief and Medical Director, Pediatric Surgery
Medical Specialty: General Surgery
Pediatric Surgery
Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver
Certification: Pediatric Surgery and Surgery, American Board of Surgery
Complete bio
Paola Pieri, MD, FACS
Paola Pieri, MD, FACS
Associate Director, Trauma Services
Director, Surgical Intensive Care Unit
Program Director, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance, Phoenix
Medical Specialty: General Surgery
Surgical Critical Care
Trauma Surgery
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Certification: Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, American Board of Surgery
Complete bio
Eugene Sidoti Jr., MD
Eugene Sidoti, Jr., MD
Division Chief, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Medical Specialty: Craniofacial Surgery
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Pediatric Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Certification: American Board of Plastic Surgery
Complete bio
Sydney Vail, MD
Sydney Vail, MD, FACS
Associate Professor/Affiliate Faculty, Surgery, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ
Medical Specialty: Burn Surgery
General Surgery
Surgical Critical Care
Trauma Surgery
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington DC
Certification: Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, American Board of Surgery
Complete bio
Paul Zidel, MD, FACS
Paul Zidel, MD, FACS
Director, Burn Hand Reconstruction Services, Valleywise Health Arizona Burn Center
Associate Professor, Surgery, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ
Clinical Associate Professor, Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix
Medical Specialty: Hand Surgery
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Medical School: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark
Certification: Plastic Surgery and Surgery of the Hand, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Complete bio