Raza Dilawari, MD, FACS, has been named associate chief medical officer for UTMG, as well as professor and chairman of the UTHSC Department of Surgery and vice chairman for Methodist University Hospital in the Department of Surgery.
Steve J. Schwab, MD, executive dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), and Steven Burkett, chief executive officer, UT Medical Group (UTMG), announced the appointment of Raza Dilawari, MD, FACS, as associate chief medical officer for UTMG. In addition, Timothy Fabian, MD, Harwell Wilson Alumni professor and chairman of the Department of Surgery, has appointed Dr. Dilawari to the Division of Surgical Oncology and as vice chairman for Methodist University Hospital (MUH) in the Department of Surgery. The appointments will be effective on October 1.
Dr. Dilawari currently serves as professor of Surgery and associate director of the surgical training program at MUH. A regionally renowned general and oncologic surgeon, Dr. Dilawari has built a robust referral practice founded on patient and referring-physician service. He has also fostered a remarkable working relationship between the College of Medicine and the Methodist University Hospital.
Dr. Dilawari is certified by the American Board of Surgery and performed his oncologic surgery training at the University of Rochester, Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, N.Y., and Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, N.Y.
“In his new role, I look to Dr. Dilawari, acting with his colleague Dr. James “Lacey” Smith, UTMG chief medical officer, to lead a major evaluation, restructuring, and implementation of physician policies and procedures at UTMG,” stated Burkett. “Our goal is to create an optimal patient-friendly and referring-physician-friendly UTMG. We believe Dr. Dilawari’s private practice experience and understanding of patient and referring-physician expectations make him an ideal person for these important duties,” he added.
“Dr. Dilawari is a key component to enhancing the academic stature of MUH due to his strong scholastic and private practice background,” stated Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE, chief executive officer, MUH. “Combining that with his insight into enhancing overall physician relations, Dr. Dilawari will complement and reinforce the mission at MUH to continue to provide high-quality, cost-effective health care to benefit the communities we serve,” he noted.
Dr. Dilawari has been a key mentor and figure in the training and supervision of medical students and surgical residents on the College of Medicine campus in Memphis since 1976. He will remain as associate surgical program director for MUH.