Alex G. Little, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Elizabeth Berry Gray Chair and Professor of Surgery
Message from the Chair
The Wright State University School of Medicine was begun in Dayton,
Ohio, in 1974. Dan W. Elliott, M.D., was the
founding chair of the Department of Surgery, and he served in that capacity
from 1975 until 1988. He was succeeded by James
B. Peoples, M.D., who served as chair from 1988 until 2002. Alex
G. Little, M.D., assumed this leadership role in September 2003.
Over this time span and under the initial leadership of Drs. Elliott
and Peoples, the Department of Surgery and its residency have grown and
evolved. During its early years, the department faculty consisted primarily
of clinical volunteer faculty from the local community. Over time, full-time
faculty members with clinical and academic interests have been added,
and the department remains committed to continued development of these
clinical and academic programs. Community volunteer surgeons will continue
to be active faculty in our department as teachers and trainers of medical
students and residents. At the same time, we are dedicated to growing
and enhancing the numbers of academic full-time faculty who will participate
in clinical programatic growth, be active leaders in the teaching and
the training of medical students and residents and actively participate
in academic and scholarly activities including both basic science and
clinical research.
The department and the General Surgery Residency
Training Program will continue to function in six
hospitals in the Dayton area. These hospitals are Miami Valley
Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, Kettering Memorial Hospital, the
Dayton VA Medical Center, Children's Medical Center and Wright-Patterson
Air Force Base Medical Center. Integration of the Air Force residency
program with the Wright State University program has been a very successful
collaboration. This is a mutually beneficial relationship which the
department values and will continue.
The undergraduate curriculum in the Department of Surgery is oriented
around providing students the exposure to an education about surgical
patients and diseases that will enable them to function appropriately
in their chosen career. Third-year medical students have a six-week general
surgery clerkship and a two-week subspecialty clerkship. This is carried
out across the spectrum of all hospitals. Fourth-year electives are available
both for our students and visiting students in all surgical specialties
and are geared for the student choosing a career in surgery, both to
provide an appropriate education and have the type of experiences that
support this career choice.
Our residency is geared to accomplish several goals. It is one of our
goals that all residents finishing our training program be prepared and
sufficiently trained to immediately enter a practice of general surgery
should that be their desire. Maintaining the experience with a variety
of surgeons, academic, community, VA-based and Air Force, ensures that
we meet this first goal. We also feel strongly that our residents should
be competitive for advanced residencies and/or fellowship training programs.
Finally, we are committed to providing the foundation for an academic
career for those who wish to enter academic surgery. This means providing
research opportunities for those that are interested which is why we
have at least one dedicated research position each year, and the capability
to provide this opportunity for others if desired.
For more information, contact:
Alex G. Little, M.D.
Elizabeth Berry Gray Chair and Professor
Paula M. Termuhlen, M.D., F.A.C.S., Program Director
Weber Center for Health Education
Suite 7000
Miami Valley Hospital
One Wyoming Street
Dayton, OH. 45409
Telephone: (937) 208-2177
Fax: (937) 208-2105
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