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Innovative anesthesiology practice improves diagnosis, medical management and quality of life for patient. If you are preparing for a surgical procedure, you have probably given a lot of thought to the education, training and experience of the surgeon performing the procedure. But you may not have thought much about the physician anesthesiologist or the importance of his or her medical expertise in your procedure — before, during and after — to keep you safe and comfortable. "Our leadership team has thought a lot about physician anesthesiologists over the past year,” says Sy Johnson, MBA, President and Chief of Staff for Renown Health. “As the region’s only not-for-profit integrated healthcare network and trauma center, we are trusted and chosen by patients as the top provider of inpatient care, including surgeries, for northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. To serve the needs of hundreds of surgeons and thousands of patients with safe, high quality and effective anesthesia coverage, we now employ fifty-six anesthesiologists through our Department of Surgery and have established Renown Medical Group Anesthesiology, a new local practice for northern Nevada.” “Renown Medical Group anesthesiologists provide 24 hour surgical and procedural coverage based on clinical skill sets, surgeon preference and patient preference. Patients who choose Renown for their care can feel certain that they are receiving anesthesia care from a physician anesthesiologist who has attained board certification. Renown Health hospitals are pleased to provide patient care exclusively by physician anesthesiologists,” says Thomas Graf, MD, FAAFP, CEO, Chief Clinical & Quality Officer of Renown Health and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. “We are the doctors trained to administer and manage anesthesia given to a patient during a surgical procedure to ensure anesthesia care is as safe and effective as possible,” says Nariman Rahimzadeh, MD. Dr. Rahimzadeh serves as Medical Director and Chief of Staff for Renown South Meadows Medical Center, is a member of the new group and has practiced in Reno for fifteen years. “We also play a key role in taking care of patients who are having minor surgery or who may not require general anesthesia, such as women in labor who need to be awake and alert but require effective pain management.” “Our innovative anesthesiology practice is now staffed by fifty-six anesthesiologists. We are serving patients and surgeons at Renown Health hospitals with one fully integrated model of care to improve diagnosis, medical management and quality of life,” says Christos Galanopoulos, MD, MBA, MSc, FACS; Chair, Department of Surgery and Vice President at Renown Health. “We strive to advance anesthesia through clinical excellence, education, innovation and people. Our nationally recognized medical staff and dedicated support team perform the majority of anesthesia procedures in our market, and evaluate, monitor, and supervise patient care before, during, and after surgery to deliver effective anesthesia and ensure optimal patient safety.” “Physician anesthesiologists have 12 to 14 years of education, including medical school, and 12,000 to 16,000 hours of clinical training,” adds Scott Parkhill, MD, FASA, who serves as a Medical Director and Vice Chief of Staff at Renown Regional Medical Center and is a member of the new group. “Physician anesthesiologists in the United States complete a four-year undergraduate college degree that includes satisfying pre-med requirements. Like other medical doctors, they must follow undergraduate education with four years of medical school. After medical school, a physician specializing in anesthesiology completes a four-year anesthesiology residency program. Following completion of a residency program, residents are eligible to sit for the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) exam. We are pleased that all of our Renown Medical Group anesthesiologists are board certified.” Adds Kelsey Larsen, MBA, Chief Operating Officer for Renown Medical Group, “We are thrilled to welcome and employ forty-two physician anesthesiologists who started with us on April 1. An additional nine physicians joined last week and five other physicians have requested to start over the summer for a total of 56 anesthesiologists that have joined Renown Health to provide services to patients.” Patients served include those at Renown Regional Medical Center, the only Level II Trauma Center between Sacramento and Salt Lake City, and named #1 Hospital in the State of Nevada by U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital Rankings for 2021. Physician anesthesiologists will also provide services to patients at Renown South Meadows Medical Center, named #1 Best Hospital for 2020 by U.S. News & World Report; and to patients at Renown Rehabilitation Hospital, northern Nevada’s only Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accredited hospital, specializing in the treatment of patients with brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke. Renown Health is integrated with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Nevada’s first medical school, which serves to enhance the health of the community through increased access to care, innovative health care delivery, expansion of clinical research and training for the next generation of physicians and health care professionals. 51 ANESTHESIOLOGISTS WHO JOINED RENOWN IN APRIL 2022: Samuel Beck, MD Heber Becker, MD  Peter Billharz, MD  Kara Bjur, MD  Brian Brewer, MD Brian Buehler, MD Carrie Buehler, MD Catherine Burton, MD Joshua Cartinella, MD  Nicholas Cirac, MD  Gordon Curry, MD  Scott Dougan, MD  JoAnn Ellero, MD  Daryl Fenio, MD  Dirk Fletcher, MD  Tobey Gansert, MD  Benjamin Garol, MD  Jeffery Grudzinski, MD  Keith Hanson, MD  Min Hein, MD  Mark Janes, MD  Scott Jeannes, MD  Kevin Lasko, MD  Sarah Lim, MD  Jay Markin, MD John Marshall, MD  Eric Moody, MD  John Mortensen, MD  Jobin Nash, MD Mel Nutter, DO      Scott Parkhill, MD   Nariman Rahimzadeh, MD   Suresh Raman, MD   Shaina Richardson, MD   Alan Sarabia, MD   Heidi Sarabia, MD   Mitch Seman, MD   Daniel Sorensen, MD   Ryan Stites, MD   Aaron Wallace, MD   Duncan Browne, MD   Tyler Hartley, MD   Jie Lan, MD  Pamela Russell, MD  Scott Reineck, MD   Brian Landreth, DO      Kara Sievert, MD   Chiaki Nakanishi, MD  Philip Phu, MD  Matthew Sabatini, MD   Robert Kyper, MD  About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org

Read More About 56 Anesthesiologists Join Renown Health to Provide High Quality Services to Area Patients and Surgeons

Providing Access to the Latest Advances in Surgery and Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Care Renown Health, the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated academic health care system serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California is proud to announce the appointment of Matthew Crapko, MD and Michael Scott Thomas, MD, PhD to the Department of Surgery. Drs. Crapko and Thomas bring essential and advanced expertise in colorectal care, further enhancing Renown’s commitment to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care to the community. Both Drs. Crapko and Thomas are nationally recognized surgeons and have served thousands of patients across northern Nevada for years. They joined Renown on Nov. 11, 2024, and were formerly with Western Surgical Group. “The rise in colorectal health issues across our state, and the U.S., is a growing concern, as conditions like colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease and other gastrointestinal disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent,” says Brian Erling, MD, MBA, President and CEO, Renown Health. “At Renown Health, we are addressing this need by investing in advanced surgical experience and state-of-the-art, minimally invasive robotic technology. By employing highly skilled and respected local surgeons like Dr. Matthew Crapko and Dr. Michael Scott Thomas, we can ensure patients have access to the highest quality care close to home. Keeping care local improves patient outcomes and provides comfort and convenience to people experiencing challenging health conditions.” “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Crapko and Dr. Thomas to the Renown Health family,” says Rahul Mediwala, MD, MBA, CEO of Renown Medical Group. “They join Christos A. Galanopoulos, MD, MBA, MSc, FACS, VP, Chairman, Department of Surgery to lead a multidisciplinary team of specialists dedicated to providing comprehensive colon and rectal care. From evaluation and preparation for surgery and post-operative care, our team oversees every aspect of the patient’s journey. Together, they have combined, over 30 years’ experience in performing successful colon and rectal surgeries and are dedicated to a multidisciplinary approach, compassionate care and improving quality of life.” Matthew Crapko, MD Dr. Crapko specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of colorectal and general surgical conditions, including colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, anorectal disease, gallstones, diverticulitis and hernias. He is highly skilled in performing minimally invasive and robotic surgeries, which allow for faster recovery times and improved outcomes for patients. Dr. Crapko earned his medical degree from Medical College of Wisconsin with honors in research. Dr. Crapko completed his residency in general surgery at Boston University Medical Center and at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He went on to pursue advanced fellowship training in Colon and Rectal surgery at Baylor University Medical Center, where he gained specialized expertise in the latest surgical techniques.  Dr. Crapko is affiliated with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine as a clinical assistant professor of surgery and is involved with educational and research efforts through UNR. He served as co-director of the third-year medical student clerkship from 2021-2024. He is board-certified through the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. Michael Scott Thomas, MD, PhD Dr. Michael Scott Thomas earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston, TX. He also earned a PhD in the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology from UT Med. Dr. Thomas completed his residency in general surgery at Tulane University and advanced fellowship training in Colon and Rectal Surgery at Ochsner Medical Center, both in New Orleans. Prior to attending medical school, Dr. Thomas taught chemistry as a high school teacher in Corpus Christi, TX. He also served in the United States Navy as a hospital corpsman with the First Marine Division. Dr. Thomas has conducted extensive medical and scientific research including advanced minimally invasive techniques for tumor removal, and research insights into environmental toxicology, developmental biology and aging. He has research grants and an extensive portfolio of authored textbook chapters. He is board-certified through the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. “Drs. Crapko and Thomas have stellar reputations for excellence in patient care, with a holistic approach that emphasizes surgical outcomes and post-surgery support, nutrition, and lifestyle changes for long-term success,” says Dr. Christos A. Galanopoulos, VP and Chairman Department of Surgery at Renown Health. “We are fortunate they have chosen to join our team. The addition of colon and rectal surgery aligns with our mission to provide comprehensive and essential healthcare services to our growing community. Drs. Crapko and Thomas are superb clinicians, skilled investigators and effective educators. Their expertise is a critical resource for people looking to achieve healthier, more fulfilling and active lives.”  Clinical Experience Provided by Renown Surgical Care Now Includes:      Diagnostic and Preventative Services Colonoscopy: Screening and diagnostic procedures to detect colon cancer, polyps and other abnormalities. Endoscopic Procedures: Minimally invasive techniques to diagnose gastrointestinal issues.  Cancer Risk Assessment: Evaluating patients with family histories of colorectal cancer or genetic conditions.  Surgical Treatment Colorectal Cancer Surgery: Removing cancerous tissues from the colon or rectum, often using minimally invasive or robotic-assisted techniques.  Diverticulitis Treatment: Surgical intervention for severe or recurrent diverticulitis. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Surgery: Managing Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis through resections or other specialized procedures.  Hernia Repairs: Treating abdominal or inguinal hernias. Management of Benign Conditions Hemorrhoid Treatment: non-surgical and surgical management of internal and external hemorrhoids.  Fistula and Fissure Repair: Addressing anal fistulas and fissures with advanced techniques.  Abscess Drainage: Treating perirectal or anal abscesses.  Pilonidal Disease Management: Treating cysts near the tailbone.  Pelvic Floor Disorders Constipation Management: Diagnosing and addressing chronic constipation caused by structural or functional issues.  Rectal Prolapse Repair: Correcting rectal prolapse through minimally invasive surgery.  Minimally Invasive and Advanced Techniques Laparoscopic Surgery: Using small incisions for faster recovery and reduced scarring.  Robotic-Assisted Surgery: Enhancing precision and outcomes in complex procedures.  Trans anal Surgery: Removing polyps or early-stage rectal cancer through the anus without external incisions.  The Region's Leader in Robotic Surgery Renown Health offers physician-guided da Vinci Robotic Surgery. Benefits may include less pain after surgery, minimal to no scarring, a shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery.  Dr. Crapko and Thomas are now accepting new patients. If you are a physician and would like to refer patients, or a person who wishes to be screened for surgery by Dr. Crapko or Dr. Thomas, please contact Renown Surgery Care at 775-982-6270. The surgeons see patients at Renown Surgery at 1500 E 2nd St, Ste 300 in Reno, NV.  As the region’s only Level 2 Trauma Center for adults and children, Renown serves over 1 million people and 100,000 square miles. In U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital Rankings, Renown Regional Medical Center is named #1 Hospital for the State of Nevada for 2024, 2023 and 2022.  Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated academic health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,500 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health.

Read More About Renown Health Welcomes Two Nationally Recognized Colo-Rectal and General Surgeons