Dr. Bhandari joined our surgical faculty in the Department of Plastic Surgery, as Assistant Professor, after leaving the world renowned Kleinert Institute of Hand and Microsurgery, Louisville, KY. Dr. Bhandari’s practice will focus on hand and wrist surgery for adult and pediatric patients. He specializes in procedures involving reconstruction and microsurgery for wound coverage.

Research
Dr. Bhandari has extensively researched the role of nerve and vascular repair in surgery of the hand and other extremities. His research has focused on the use of regenerative agents and surgeries involving unique nerve conditions and injuries. Included among his recent publications in numerous peer-reviewed journals are: Management of tourniquet related nerve injury (TRNI): A systematic review, Cureus 2022; Rare case of intraneural lipoma of digital nerve, Case Reports in Plastic Surgery & Hand Surgery 2022; and Use of Integra® as a temporizing measure before definitive flap surgery in mangled extremities requiring revascularization, Cureus 2021. He has authored multiple chapters in Hand surgery books including Hand transplantation.

Memberships and Honors
Dr. Bhandari is board-certified in India in MS General Surgery and MCh Plastic Surgery. He is a member of the American and Indian Medical Associations, the American Society of Reconstructive Transplantation, the Kentucky Medical Association, and the Greater Louisville Medical Society. 

Education
Dr. Bhandari earned his Bachelor of Medicine-Bachelor of Surgery degree at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. His residency in General Surgery was completed at Calicut University, Calicut, Kerala, India, and his residency in Plastic Surgery was completed at Kerala University of Health Sciences, Calicut, Kerala, India. This was followed by fellowships in Facial Plastic Surgery at the Dutch Association of Facial Plastic Surgeons; Erasmus MC and Velthuis kliniek, Rotterdam, Netherlands; in Hand and Microsurgery at the Christine M Kleinert Institute of Hand and Microsurgery; Louisville KY; and in Craniofacial and Pediatric Plastic Surgery at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN.

Contact
Division of Hand Surgery
Department of Plastic Surgery
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Medical Center North, D-4207
1161 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37232-2345
Phone: (615) 936-0160
Fax: (615) 936-0167

Patients
Vanderbilt Adult Plastic Surgery
The Vanderbilt Clinic, Suite 3701
1301 Medical Center Drive
Nashville, TN 37232
Fax: (615) 343-2552
Adult Appointments: (615) 322-2350

Vanderbilt Pediatric Plastic Surgery
Monroe Carrell, Jr. Hospital at Vanderbilt
2200 Children's Way, 9th Floor
Nashville, TN 37232
Fax: (615) 875-1731
Pediatric Appointments: (615) 322-8777

WEBSITE: Department of Plastic Surgery
WEBSITE: Vanderbilt Plastic Surgery

Dr. Duffy joined our surgical faculty in the Department of Surgery, as Assistant Professor of Surgery, following his previous role as Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora, CO. His specialized interests include burn surgery and burn reconstruction for adults and children. Dr. Duffy's responsibilities in these areas will include acute and trauma care, complex skin and soft tissue injury, and laser scar therapy.

Research
Dr. Duffy has extensively researched multiple dimensions of burn treatment, including the use of technology and palliative care. Another focus of his research is transfer protocols for patients at regional burn centers. Included among his recent publications in the Journal of Burn Care & Research are: Triage and transfer to a regional burn center: Impact of a mobile phone app; Early palliative care consultation in the burn unit: A quality improvement initiative to increase utilization; and Remote delivery of thrombolytics prior to transfer to a regional burn center for tissue salvage in frostbite: A single-center experience of 199 patients.

Memberships
Dr. Duffy is board-certified in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care by the American Board of Surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, of which he is also a member. He is also a member of the American Burn Association, the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, the International Society for Burns Injuries, and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.

Education
Dr. Duffy earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO. He received his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH. His internship in General Surgery was completed at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, also in Cleveland, and his residency in Burn Surgery was completed at Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California and UC Davis Medical Center, both in Sacramento, CA. This was followed by a fellowship in Trauma Surgical Critical Care at UC Davis Medical Center.

Contact
Division of Acute Care Surgery
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Medical Arts Building, Suite 404
1211 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: (615) 936-0083

Patients
Vanderbilt Outpatient Burn Clinic
Vanderbilt University Hospital
1211 Medical Center Drive, Suite 11201
Nashville, TN 37232
Fax: (615) 615-936-0185
Adult/Pediatric Appointments: (615) 936-2876

WEBSITE: Division of Acute Care Surgery

WEBSITE: Burn Center

Dr. Robinson joined our surgical faculty in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, as assistant professor of Surgery and assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN upon completion of her fellowship in pediatric surgery at Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA. Dr. Robinson will be responsible for pediatric general and thoracic surgery, including neonates. Her clinical interests include minimally invasive procedures and surgeries of the esophagus, trachea, lungs, and diaphragm. Her other interests include genetic research aided by informatics and electronic health records.

Research
Dr. Robinson has studied extensively how electronic health records can be linked to genotyping and phenotyping to support clinical research. Other research focus areas include the genetic roots of congenital and pediatric surgery diseases, including the roots of obesity. Included among her recent publications in numerous peer-reviewed journals are: A pilot study to determine the incidence, type, and severity of non-routine events in neonates undergoing gastrostomy tube placement, Journal of Pediatric Surgery; Quantifying the phenome-wide disease burden of obesity using electronic health records and Mendelian randomization, Obesity; and Robot-assisted Partial Splenectomy for a Nonparasitic Splenic Cyst in a 15-year-old Female, Videoscopy.

Memberships
Dr. Robinson is board-certified in general surgery and pediatric surgery by the American Board of Surgery. She is a member of multiple surgical associations including the American College of Surgeons, the Association for Academic Surgery, and the Association of Women Surgeons. She is also a member of the American Pediatric Surgical Association, where she has served on several committees, and the International Pediatric Endosurgery Group. 

Her memberships related to additional specialties include the American Medical Informatics Association and the American Society of Human Genetics. From Vanderbilt University Medical Center, she has received the Alfred Blalock Surgical Resident Award and the Vanderbilt General Surgery Harwell Wilson Award, the latter for medical research during her residency. She was also awarded the Dean’s Award for Exceptional Achievement in Graduate Studies while at Vanderbilt University for her graduate thesis. During fellowship, she received the Medical Student Teaching Award at Boston Children’s Hospital and was awarded the Boston Surgical Society Case of the Year. 

Education
Dr. Robinson earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Genetics at the University of Georgia, Athens, GA. She received her medical degree at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN. Her internship and residency in General Surgery were completed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. This was followed by her pediatric surgery fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Robinson also holds a master's degree and PhD in Biomedical Informatics from Vanderbilt University.

Patients and Office
Pediatric Surgery Clinic
2200 Children’s Way 
Doctor's Office Tower, Suite 7100
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt 
Nashville, TN 37232
Fax: (615) 936-1046
Appointments: (615) 936-1050

WEBSITE: Department of Pediatric Surgery
WEBSITE: General & Thoracic Pediatric Surgery

Dr. Appelbaum joined our surgical faculty in the Department of Surgery as an Assistant Professor, upon completion of her fellowship in Surgical Critical Care and American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Acute Care Surgery at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC. Dr. Appelbaum’s patient care interests are in trauma, critical care, and emergency general surgery.

Research
Dr. Appelbaum has extensively researched surgical trauma and related safety practices. Another primary focus of her research is the development of guidelines to improve clinical outcomes in acute care surgery. Included among her recent publications in numerous peer-reviewed journals are: Transitions of Care: Healthcare Handoffs in Trauma, American Journal of Surgery; Improving the Culture of Safety: A Prospective Handoff Initiative from the OR to the Trauma ICU, The American Surgeon; and Management of the Open Abdomen: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Practice Management Guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.

Memberships
Dr. Appelbaum is board-certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery, with an added qualification in Surgical Critical Care. She holds membership and committee positions in the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma and the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. She is also a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the Association for Academic Surgery.

Education
Dr. Appelbaum earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia, Athens, GA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a minor in Spanish. She received her medical degree at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, in Tampa, FL. Her internship and residency in General Surgery were completed at Lehigh Valley Health Network, in Allentown, PA. This was followed by her aforementioned fellowship at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Dr. Appelbaum is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Contact
Division of Acute Care Surgery
Vanderbilt University Medical Center 
Medical Arts Building, Suite 404
1211 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: (615) 936-0083

Patients
Vanderbilt Trauma and Surgical Care Clinic 
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
The Vanderbilt Clinic
1301 Medical Center Drive, Suite 3501 A
Nashville, TN 37232
Fax: (615) 936-0185
Adult Appointments: (615) 322-2063

EMAIL: Rachel.Appelbaum@vumc.org
WEBSITE: Division of Acute Care Surgery

• B.A., Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 1996
• M.S., Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, 1999
• Ph.D., Old Dominion University/EVMS, Norfolk, VA - 2002

Research

Dr. Maiga has a research focus on survivorship and functional outcomes after critical illness or injury, specifically TBI. Included among her recent publications in numerous journals are: Dynamic Predictors of In-Hospital and 3-Year Mortality after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Am J Surg; The Association of Health Care System Resources with lung cancer screening implementation: a cohort study, Chest; and Death following pulmonary complications of surgery before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, The British Journal of Surgery. Dr. Maiga is a Department of Defense-funded co-investigator in a study investigating plasma for TBI patients. She is also an investigator at the Vanderbilt Critical Illness, Brain dysfunction, and Survivorship (CIBS) Center.

Memberships

Dr. Maiga is board-certified in general surgery and surgical critical care by the American Board of Surgery. She is an active member in the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST), the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST), the Association for Academic Surgery (AAS), the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS), the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), and the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

Education

Dr. Maiga earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. She received her medical degree at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC, as well as a Master's of Public Health at the University of North Carolina Gillings School in Chapel Hill, NC. Her internship and residency in General Surgery were completed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN. This was followed by a fellowship in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, also at Vanderbilt.

Patients

Emergency General Surgery/Trauma Surgery Clinic
The Vanderbilt Clinic, Suite 3501 A
1301 Medical Center Drive
Nashville, TN 37232
Fax: (615) 343-2210
Appointments: (615) 322-2063

WEBSITE: Division of Acute Surgery

Education

• MD, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2010 - 2014
• BS in Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2006 - 2010

Fellowship

• University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, Enfolded Fellowship in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery with Joseph Neimat

Dr. Slater joined our surgical faculty in the Department of Plastic Surgery, as Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery and Associate Director of Pediatric Burn Surgery, following her roles as Medical Director of the Burn Center and Assistant Professor of Plastic & Burn Surgery, both at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine / Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.  Dr. Slater’s primary clinical practice spans acute and reconstructive care, including burn surgery, plastic and microvascular surgery as well as hypertrophic scar treatment.

Research
Dr. Slater’s research has involved multiple, multi-center trials funded by the Department of Defense in the areas of acute burn resuscitation. Her work has targeted the impact of oxygen treatment on service member morbidity, in-field logistics, and readiness. Another primary focus of her research is improving breast flap protection and erogenous sensation to improve quality of life for breast cancer patients following mastectomy. Among Dr. Slater’s recent publications in peer-reviewed journals are: Mortality From Burns Sustained on Home Oxygen Therapy Exceeds Predicted Mortality, Journal of Burn Care & Research; Bupivacaine Extended-Release Liposomal Injection Versus Bupivacaine HCl for Early Postoperative Pain Control Following Wrist Operations: A Prospective, Randomized Control Trial, Journal of Hand Surgery (American Volume); and ECMO Therapy in a Patient with Extensive Burns, Inhalation Injury, and Blunt Chest Trauma, The American Surgeon.

Memberships
Dr. Slater is board-certified in plastic surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery. She is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Burn Association, the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgeons, and the International Society of Burn Injuries.

Education
Dr. Slater received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. She earned her MD at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN. She completed residencies in General Surgery at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, and in Plastic Surgery at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, TN. Concurrent with her ETSU residency, she completed a burn fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN. This was followed by an additional fellowship in reconstructive microsurgery at Gent University, Gent, Belgium.

Contact
Department of Plastic Surgery
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
1161 21st Avenue South
Medical Center North, D-4207
Nashville, TN 37232-2345
Phone: (615) 936-0160
Fax: (615) 936-0167

Patients
Vanderbilt Burn Outpatient Clinic
1211 Medical Center Drive, Suite 11201
Nashville, TN 37232
Fax: (615) 343-9897
Appointments: (615) 936-2876

WEBSITE: Department of Plastic Surgery
WEBSITE: Vanderbilt Plastic Surgery
WEBSITE: Vanderbilt Burn Center