Skilled BVSA surgeons offer latest techniques

When you have a serious medical condition, you want a highly skilled surgeon. No matter what type of problem you face, you're in expert hands with Boulder Valley Surgical Associates (BVSA) of Boulder Community Health (BCH).

Trained and experienced in the latest surgical techniques, our general surgeons perform a variety of advanced laparoscopic and minimally invasive procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of a broad spectrum of medical conditions. Whenever possible, our general surgeons use da Vinci Xi robotic-assisted surgery, which provides several patient benefits including exceptional surgical precision with small incisions, reduced blood loss, no bones cut, decreased use of pain medication and a quicker recovery.

Some of the most common surgeries performed by the BVSA surgeons include:

• Anti-reflux surgery
• Appendectomy
• Endocrine surgery
• Gallbladder removal
• Hernia repair
• Oncology surgery

Supported by state-of-the-art facilities

Surgical facilities at Foothills Hospital and Foothills Surgery Center to help you quickly get on the path to better health:

• Latest minimally invasive and top-of-the-line technologies
• Fully equipped surgical suites and post-operative intensive care facilities
• Staffed by a team of compassionate, well-trained anesthesiologists, registered nurses and technologists

Meet the BVSA surgeons

The BVSA practice includes esteemed surgeons Susan Hagen, MD, FACS; Kyle Marthaller, MD; and Laura Harmon, MD. We also recently welcomed general and trauma surgeon Bulent Cetindag, MD and general surgeon Lisa Balduf, MD, who has specialized expertise in gastrointestinal and minimally-invasive surgery.

Lisa M. Balduf, MD, FACS
Board-certified general surgeon
Specializes in complex gastrointestinal conditions and minimally-invasive surgery

• Philosophy of care: Known for a compassionate and communicative approach, Dr. Balduf prioritizes taking the time to carefully listen to her patients and explain diagnoses and treatment options so they can actively participate in decision-making related to their care.
• Uses the da Vinci robot for: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment, hernia repairs and colorectal operations.
• Most passionate about treating: Gastroesophageal reflux disease, hiatal hernias and achalasia (an esophageal motility disorder). She also treats other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract such as diverticular disease and neoplasms. The conditions she treats most frequently include gallstones and inguinal and umbilical hernias.
• Keeping an eye on: New weight loss medications (GLP-1 receptor agonists) have been very successful in assisting patients with weight loss. "However, an unfortunate side effect is they have been shown to increase the risk of gallbladder disease – a common condition treated by general surgeons. The gallbladder disease tends to be associated with higher doses, longer use and greater amounts of weight loss," Dr. Balduf says. 

Bulent Cetindag, MD, FACS
Double board-certified general and trauma surgeon
Specializes in abdominal wall reconstruction, hernia repair and robotic-assisted general surgery

• Philosophy of care: As a general surgeon, Dr. Cetindag is guided by a deep respect for patient autonomy and dignity. He strives to create a space where patients feel heard, respected and empowered in every step of their care. He does not view surgery as something to be sold, but as one possible path in a patient’s journey towards healing. He believes his role is to offer honest, informed guidance and to support each patient in making decisions that align with their values, preferences and overall well-being.
• Uses the da Vinci robot for: Many procedures, as he is committed to the most current and available surgical techniques and technologies. Dr. Cetindag introduced and led the robotic surgery program at Mercy Medical Center in Iowa and created a curriculum for residents to learn robotic procedures at University of Iowa’s Hospitals & Clinics – a Level I Trauma Center.
• Most passionate about treating: All conditions related to general surgery with years of experience treating complex hernias – the procedure Dr. Cetindag performs most frequently. In Iowa, he was known as “the hernia doc.” He is also passionate about post-surgical pain reduction with new techniques and avoiding narcotics. In addition to his clinical and academic work, Dr. Cetindag has contributed to opioid addiction prevention initiatives.
• Keeping an eye on: Dr. Cetindag wants the community to know that the surgeons at BVSA are constantly evolving their surgical techniques to favor the outcomes of the patients. He states, “The hernia surgeries I am performing today are not the same surgery I learned during my training. This constant self-improvement allows patients to both shorten their recovery and reduce pain. This provides comfort to patients.”

Susan S. Hagen, MD, FACS
Board-certified general surgeon | Director of Surgical Services, BCH
Specializes in surgical oncology and thyroid conditions

• Philosophy of care: Dr. Hagen strives to provide comprehensive individual care to patients to restore wellness using current data and the most advanced techniques.
• Uses the da Vinci robot for: Many procedures, especially colonic diseases, including benign and cancerous conditions. Dr. Hagen remains in the 90^th percentile nationwide for expertise with the da Vinci robotic system and has performed more than 500 robotic cases. She is also an Intuitive proctor assisting other surgeons in improving their robotic surgical skills.
• Most passionate about treating: As a breast-focused surgeon, Dr. Hagen was selected as a regular host of the podcast, “The Next Breast Thing.” In addition to her varied practice of general surgery and surgical oncology — including a special interest in melanoma care — Dr. Hagen also has a passion for wound care as she assisted in developing BCH’s Wound Healing Center and is a featured speaker nationwide on advanced wound care.
• To note: Dr. Hagen is the sole BVSA surgeon who treats thyroids and parathyroids, including benign and malignant thyroid disease. She also performs parathyroidectomies — the removal of parathyroid gland(s) which can sometimes cause an imbalance in calcium levels in the body.

Laura A. Hamon, MD
Double board-certified general and trauma surgeon
BCH Surgery Department and Trauma Services Committee Chair
Specializes in emergency surgery and critically ill, complex surgical patients
 

• Philosophy of care: Dr. Harmon believes in a holistic approach to patient care. “As your surgeon, I believe it’s my job to give you evidence-based recommendations to treat your medical issue and discuss all available options. Then together, we will decide which option is best for you,” she says.
• Most passionate about treating: Dr. Harmon has a passion for empowering her patients to make the best decisions for their medical care and then providing support during the execution of the care plan. She says: “Sometimes that includes surgery, sometimes that is medical management of a problem and preventing surgery altogether.”
• Most frequently treats:

1. Emergency general surgery – Dr. Harmon says, “When people have a surgical emergency, this is when they will meet me for appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, bowel obstructions or incarcerated hernias.”
2. Elective general surgery – gallbladder issues, hernias, diverticulitis, colon and small bowel issues, and skin bumps and lumps.
3. Trauma – all traumatic injury patients with problems such as concussion or traumatic brain injury.

• Keeping an eye on: Injury prevention. Dr. Hamon is a strong advocate for Stop the Bleed – a grassroots national awareness campaign that encourages bystanders to become trained, equipped and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives – as well as falls awareness. Nationally, one in four adults over the age of 65 will fall this year. Falls are also a leading cause of trauma at BCH’s Level II Trauma Center.

“Education about avoiding injuries before they happen (in the case of falls prevention teaching) and showing community members how to stop hemorrhage (Stop the Bleed) is saving lives.” Dr. Harmon says.

Kyle J. Marthaller, MD
Board-certified general surgeon
Specializes in cholecystectomies, colectomies, hernia repair and trauma surgery

• Philosophy of care: Dr. Marthaller provides comprehensive, tailored patient care using the latest techniques and technologies to deliver the best overall result.
• Utilizes the da Vinci robot for: Almost all types of hernia repair and colectomies using the da Vinci platform. “With minimal incisions, there is a quicker return to home and activity. Virtually all my hernia patients go home the same day and most of my colectomies go home post-operative Day 3 eating a regular diet,” he says. Dr. Marthaller especially enjoys doing minimally invasive robotic hernia surgery as well as minimally invasive robotic colon resections for both benign and cancerous conditions.
• Most passionate about treating: As a general surgeon, he enjoys the opportunity to treat a myriad of conditions from acute conditions like appendectomies and cholecystectomies to planned hernia repairs and colon resections. Cholecystectomies (gallbladder removal), hernia repairs and colectomies (colon removal, full or partial) are Dr. Marthaller’s most performed procedures. “The beauty of general surgery though is the breadth of conditions we treat, and I enjoy the variety that this specialty brings,” he says.
• Keeping an eye on: Artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine and general surgery. “The benefit of this technology is that there is always a surgeon on the other side making the final decision. The da Vinci robot is ultimately an extension of your surgeon’s hands and does nothing autonomously,” says Dr. Marthaller. He also believes further incorporating AI into surgery will likely aid in real-time decision making which will lead to a lower likelihood of complications and overall better patient outcomes.

Note on vascular surgery

With the departure of long-time surgeon Charles Jones, MD, BVSA no longer provides vascular surgery. For patients with vascular needs, we recommend working with the vascular surgeons from Colorado Cardiovascular Surgical Associates who provide both call coverage and clinic time at Foothills Hospital. Their office number is 720-856-3686. Patients with interventional radiology needs should contact Jie Mao, MD at 303-415-7249.

Appointments

It's our honor to know our team can assist you and your families with some of life’s significant challenges.

To make a consultation appointment with one of the BVSA surgeons, call 303-415-4599.