General Surgery
General Surgery at UVM Health
If you need surgery, whether it’s a routine procedure or treatment for a complex health condition, you’re in expert hands at University of Vermont Health.
Our highly trained general surgeons draw on deep expertise and use the latest techniques and treatments – including minimally invasive procedures whenever possible. They’ll develop a customized surgical plan to get you back to your daily activities as quickly as possible.
Our team provides inpatient and outpatient surgeries at locations throughout Vermont and northern New York.
Why Choose UVM Health?
Wherever you live, you’re never far from the surgical expertise you need. University of Vermont Health is also home to Vermont’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, for 24/7 access to the most advanced critical care surgical options.
As one of the leading general surgery programs in the region, we bring you:
- Skilled providers: All our general surgeons are board-certified, and many are also designated fellows of the American College of Surgeons. These designations recognize our specialists’ advanced training and proven experience in performing a range of surgeries.
- Advanced surgical techniques: We offer a full range of surgical techniques, including minimally invasive endoscopic, laparoscopic and robotic surgeries that may help you heal faster.
- Team-based care: General surgeons collaborate with specialists throughout UVM Health, including oncologists and gastroenterologists, to provide comprehensive care.
- Research focus: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our physicians are active researchers, many of whom are training the next generation of experts.
What Is General Surgery?
General surgery is a surgical specialty requiring years of education and training in the body and its systems. General surgeons have expertise in the entire surgical process, from diagnosis and preoperative care to treatment planning and postoperative care. They diagnose and treat conditions that affect organs and systems in the:
- Abdomen
- Digestive (gastrointestinal) system
- Endocrine system
- Head and neck
- Skin
- Soft tissues
- Vascular system
General surgeons are also trained in surgical oncology (cancer surgery), trauma surgery and critical care and emergency surgery.
Types of Surgery Our General Surgeons Offer
Our general surgery team offers a full range of surgical techniques and technologies, including minimally invasive options that help you heal faster. Your surgeon will recommend the most appropriate option for your unique condition and needs.
Surgeons use a thin tube with an attached light and camera (endoscope) to view the part of your body they are operating on. They insert tiny surgical instruments through the endoscope and perform surgical procedures to remove or repair tissue. Minimally invasive endoscopic procedures include:
- Bronchoscopy: To treat conditions in the lungs
- Colonoscopy: To view and treat the large intestine (colon)
- Cystoscopy: To view and treat the bladder and urethra
- Upper endoscopy: To treat conditions in the esophagus and stomach
Our surgeons make a small incision (typically less than an inch) in your abdomen. They insert a long tube with an attached camera (laparoscope) into the incision and view the area on a monitor. They pass tiny surgical instruments through the laparoscope to perform procedures including:
- Urologic surgery: To treat the bladder, kidneys and ureters
- Gastroenterology procedures: To treat disorders of the digestive system
- Gynecologic surgery: To treat the fallopian tubes, ovaries and uterus
Surgeons remove and repair tissue using strong beams of light (lasers). Our experts use minimally invasive laser surgery to perform precise operations that preserve nearby healthy tissue. Surgeons may use laser surgery to:
- Remove tumors
- Repair varicose veins
- Treat kidney stones
We offer minimally invasive robotic surgery to treat many health conditions. Surgeons use advanced robotic technology to perform operations with exceptional precision and control. Our surgeons may use robotic surgery to perform bariatric surgery for weight management. They may also use robotic surgery to treat cancers of the:
We also use robotic techniques for neurosurgery to treat conditions of the brain and spine. Some orthopedic surgeries for joint repair and spinal stenosis may also use robotic techniques.
Open (traditional) surgery uses a large incision to allow your surgeon to gain a full view of the area being operated on. Our general surgeons are skilled in open surgery techniques that effectively treat a variety of conditions.
General surgeons treat sudden health conditions like appendicitis and hernia. They also treat injuries like broken bones, burns and head injuries that result from physical trauma (such as a car accident, fall or sports injury).
For severe injuries, our general surgeons may collaborate with our acute care surgeons and orthopedic surgeons. Our Level 1 Trauma Center at University of Vermont Medical Center provides 24/7 access to our trauma surgery team.
Locations near you
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111 Colchester Avenue
Main Campus, Main Pavilion, Level 5
Burlington, VT 05401-1473
214 Cornelia Street
Suite 102
Plattsburgh, NY 12901-2332
116 Porter Drive
Middlebury, VT 05753-8501
133 Park Street
Second Floor
Malone, NY 12953-1244
130 Fisher Road
Suite 3-1
Berlin, VT 05602-9000
