“I try to bring a patient-centered approach, where instead of just outlining the risks and benefits, I attempt to tell a ‘story’ of what the range of possible outcomes are after surgery or trauma.”

Areas of Expertise

• General and Trauma Surgery
• Critical Care
• Medical Ethics
• Surgical Education
• Chest wall reconstruction after trauma

I chose trauma/emergency surgery because I enjoy the unique process. I meet someone on what might be their worst day of their life, treat them as I would a family member, and then see them through to their recovery. The most important part of surgery, whether urgent or elective, is often the decision to operate, and I work with patients and their families to come to a collaborative decision about the best path to take.

I have a research interest in surgical decision making, and how patients and their families actually come to make a medical decision. I am also interested in clinical research in emergency surgery and trauma, as I feel there is an ethical imperative to test new interventions to improve the quality of surgical and trauma care.

Certified Specialties

Surgery (General Surgery) - American Board of Surgery

Surgical Critical Care - American Board of Surgery

Faculty Appointments

Assistant Professor - Department of Surgery, Acute Care (SMD)

Assistant Professor - Department of Health Humanities and Bioethics (SMD) - Joint

Assistant Professor - Department of Pediatrics (SMD) - Joint

Credentials

Residency & Fellowship

Fellowship, Surgical Critical Care, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. 2018 - 2019

Residency, Surgery (General Surgery), University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. 2012 - 2018

Internship, Surgery (General Surgery), University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. 2011 - 2012

Education

MD | University of Rochester School of Medicine/Dentistry. 2011

Awards

Seymour I. Schwartz, MD Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. 2022

Publications

Journal Articles

Clindamycin Plus Vancomycin Versus Linezolid for Treatment of Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection.

Dorazio J, Chiappelli AL, Shields RK, Tsai YV, Skinker P, Nabozny MJ, Bauza G, Forsythe R, Rosengart MR, Gunn SR, Marini R, Clarke L, Falcione B, Ludwig J, McCreary EK

Open forum infectious diseases.. 2023 June 10 (6):ofad258. Epub 05/11/2023.

Almagest Again? An Epistemological Critique of Nielsen Busch and Mjaaland.

Shaw MH, Nabozny MJ, Kaufman D

The American journal of bioethics : AJOB.. 2023 February 23 (2):33-35. Epub 1900 01 01.

Sigmoid volvulus: Evaluating identification strategies and contemporary multicenter outcomes.

Loria A, Jacobson T, Melucci AD, Bartell N, Nabozny MJ, Temple LK, Fleming FJ

American journal of surgery.. 2022 August 1 Epub 08/01/2022.

Applying VitalTalk Techniques to Best Case/Worst Case Training to Increase Scalability and Improve Surgeon Confidence in Shared Decision-making.

Weill SR, Layden AJ, Nabozny MJ, Leahy J, Claxton R, Zelenski AB, Zimmermann C, Childers J, Arnold R, Hall DE

Journal of surgical education.. 2022 March 1 Epub 03/01/2022.

Barriers to Goal-concordant Care for Older Patients With Acute Surgical Illness: Communication Patterns Extrinsic to Decision Aids.

Taylor LJ, Johnson SK, Nabozny MJ, Tucholka JL, Steffens NM, Kwekkeboom KL, Brasel KJ, Campbell TC, Schwarze ML

Annals of surgery.. 2018 April 267 (4):677-682. Epub 1900 01 01.

A Framework to Improve Surgeon Communication in High-Stakes Surgical Decisions: Best Case/Worst Case.

Taylor LJ, Nabozny MJ, Steffens NM, Tucholka JL, Brasel KJ, Johnson SK, Zelenski A, Rathouz PJ, Zhao Q, Kwekkeboom KL, Campbell TC, Schwarze ML

JAMA surgery.. 2017 June 1152 (6):531-538. Epub 1900 01 01.

"Best Case/Worst Case": Training Surgeons to Use a Novel Communication Tool for High-Risk Acute Surgical Problems.

Kruser JM, Taylor LJ, Campbell TC, Zelenski A, Johnson SK, Nabozny MJ, Steffens NM, Tucholka JL, Kwekkeboom KL, Schwarze ML

Journal of pain and symptom management.. 2017 April 53 (4):711-719.e5. Epub 01/04/2017.

Patient-reported Limitations to Surgical Buy-in: A Qualitative Study of Patients Facing High-risk Surgery.

Nabozny MJ, Kruser JM, Steffens NM, Pecanac KE, Brasel KJ, Chittenden EH, Cooper Z, McKneally MF, Schwarze ML

Annals of surgery.. 2017 January 265 (1):97-102. Epub 1900 01 01.

Engaging Patients, Health Care Professionals, and Community Members to Improve Preoperative Decision Making for Older Adults Facing High-Risk Surgery.

Steffens NM, Tucholka JL, Nabozny MJ, Schmick AE, Brasel KJ, Schwarze ML

JAMA surgery.. 2016 October 1151 (10):938-945. Epub 1900 01 01.

Trajectories and Prognosis of Older Patients Who Have Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation After High-Risk Surgery.

Nabozny MJ, Barnato AE, Rathouz PJ, Havlena JA, Kind AJ, Ehlenbach WJ, Zhao Q, Ronk K, Smith MA, Greenberg CC, Schwarze ML

Critical care medicine.. 2016 June 44 (6):1091-7. Epub 1900 01 01.

Constructing High-stakes Surgical Decisions: It's Better to Die Trying.

Nabozny MJ, Kruser JM, Steffens NM, Brasel KJ, Campbell TC, Gaines ME, Schwarze ML

Annals of surgery.. 2016 January 263 (1):64-70. Epub 1900 01 01.

Reduction of surgical site infections after laparoscopic gastric bypass with circular stapled gastrojejunostomy.

Shabino PJ, Khoraki J, Elegbede AF, Schmocker RK, Nabozny MJ, Funk LM, Greenberg JA, Campos GM

Surgery for obesity and related diseases : official journal of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.. 2016 January 12 (1):4-9. Epub 03/12/2015.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Benefit to Patients With Metastatic Cancer--Reply.

Schwarze ML, Nabozny MJ, Steffens NM

JAMA internal medicine.. 2016 January 176 (1):142-3. Epub 1900 01 01.

When Do Not Resuscitate Is a Nonchoice Choice: A Teachable Moment.

Nabozny MJ, Steffens NM, Schwarze ML

JAMA internal medicine.. 2015 September 175 (9):1444-5. Epub 1900 01 01.

"Best Case/Worst Case": Qualitative Evaluation of a Novel Communication Tool for Difficult in-the-Moment Surgical Decisions.

Kruser JM, Nabozny MJ, Steffens NM, Brasel KJ, Campbell TC, Gaines ME, Schwarze ML

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.. 2015 September 63 (9):1805-11. Epub 08/17/2015.

How people die in 2014.

Schwarze ML, Nabozny MJ

Annals of surgery.. 2014 December 260 (6):958-9. Epub 1900 01 01.

Long-term results of endoscopic versus open saphenous vein harvest for lower extremity bypass.

Julliard W, Katzen J, Nabozny M, Young K, Glass C, Singh MJ, Illig KA

Annals of vascular surgery.. 2011 January 25 (1):101-7. Epub 1900 01 01.

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