The University of Maryland Hernia Center is made up of skilled general surgeons including:

Adrian E. Park, MD, FRCS, FACS
Chief of General Surgery
Campbell and Jeanette Plugge Professor of Surgery

Dr. Park, a renowned laparoscopic surgeon, joined the University of Maryland after six years with the University of Kentucky, where he was director of the Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, head of surgical endoscopy and chief of the section of gastrointestinal surgery. In addition, he was a professor of surgery and the Commonwealth Professor of Minimally Invasive Surgery, an endowed professorship. Prior to that, Dr. Park was on the faculty in the Department of Surgery at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada.

After completing his bachelor of sciences with honors at the University of Guelph, Dr. Park received his medical degree from McMaster University. Dr. Park continued his training as an intern, resident and chief resident in general surgery. He also completed a fellowship in laparoscopic/endoscopic surgery.

Dr. Park's clinical interests lie in the field of minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery, including the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux, achalasia, hiatal hernia, intestinal disorders and ventral/incisional hernias. He also has extensive experience and interest in laparoscopic splenic and adrenal surgery. He is an active researcher in minimally invasive surgery and has been directly involved in initiating, developing, and applying new techniques and technologies in endoscopic surgery.

Dr. Park is the author of over 150 scientific articles and book chapters, and is internationally known as a leading authority in the field of minimally invasive surgery, "OR of the Future" technology and surgical education.

Stephen Kavic, MD, FACS
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Head of Surgical Endoscopy

Dr. Kavic is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, earning a B.A. in chemistry. He attended medical school at the Yale University School of Medicine. He also received his general surgery residency training at Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he served as administrative chief resident. He completed a two-year fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery at the University of Maryland under Chief of General Surgery Dr. Adrian Park.

Dr. Kavic's clinical interests include minimally invasive abdominal surgery, surgery of the gastrointestinal tract, endoscopy, and the surgical treatment of anorectal disease. He has pursued multiple research projects on colon cell adhesion, clinical outcomes, and quality of life studies.

In addition to being board certified in general surgery, Dr. Kavic has authored or co-authored 25 peer-reviewed scientific papers and chapters. He is also a member of the Association for Surgical Education, Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, the Association for Academic Surgery, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.

Mark D. Kligman, MD
Head, Bariatric Surgery
Assistant Professor of Surgery

Dr. Mark Kligman, an expert in minimally invasive gastric bypass surgery, is head of Bariatric Surgery, assistant professor of surgery, and director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

A trained trauma surgeon, Dr. Kligman developed an interest in bariatric surgery while at the Medical College of Ohio, where he served as division chief of trauma/critical care/emergency services and medical director of the surgical intensive care unit. Eventually, he decided to devote the majority of his practice to weight loss surgery.

He received his medical degree from Wayne State University. In addition to a residency and research fellowship at the University of Maryland, he completed fellowships in trauma surgery and surgical critical care at the University of Miami. He has written many articles and given numerous presentations on laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery

Patricia L. Turner, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery

Patricia Turner is an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Most recently, Dr. Turner was a clinical fellow in minimally invasive and laparoscopic surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center & Weill-Cornell University School of Medicine in New York.

A graduate of the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University, Dr. Turner continued her training as an intern and resident in surgery at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. Also, she was a senior staff fellow at the National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Metabolism.

Dr. Turner specializes in minimally invasive, laparoscopic, gastrointestinal and endocrine surgery, and has a diverse research background, including studying nitric oxide and the kidneys.