Dr. Carlson to direct Center for Advanced Surgical Technology

Mark Carlson, M.D., professor of surgery, is now director of UNMC’s Center for Advanced Surgical Technology (CAST). Dr. Carlson is a surgeon-scientist who has a dual appointment at UNMC and the VA Nebraska Western-Iowa Health Care System.

CAST is a collaborative, multidisciplinary group of surgeons, engineers, and computer scientists from UNMC, University of Nebraska at Omaha and University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Carlson became the director earlier this spring.

“I am honored and privileged to be the director of CAST,” Dr. Carlson said. “We are very excited about the future of CAST, and foresee growth in this center which will benefit science at our university, along with the state of Nebraska and its residents.”

The center was created by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents in 2005. Since its inception, CAST has evolved as a significant contributor to the national effort in advancing surgical technology. CAST builds on current expertise in the University of Nebraska System and has assembled a critical mass of researchers needed to build a nationally prominent biomedical research center for surgical technology in Nebraska.

David W. Mercer, M.D., chair of surgery, praised Dr. Carlson’s appointment: “Dr. Carlson’s research productivity over the last couple of years has been nothing short of phenomenal, and he has built strong collaborative relationships both on and off our campus. Assuming directorship of CAST will strengthen UNMC and this program and will increase innovative research opportunities for faculty, house officers and students at all levels of training.”

Rod Markin, M.D., Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for business development at UNMC and director of UNeTech, was equally effusive: “I have known and worked with Mark for 20 years or so and he has done a great job of directing CAST. We are excited to see what the future will bring under his leadership.”