The Yale School of Medicine Department of Surgery and Bridgeport Hospital are pleased to announce Dr. Karen E. Gibbs as the next Chair of Surgery at Yale New Haven - Bridgeport Hospital, effective Sept. 1. Dr Gibbs succeeds Dr. Nabil Atweh, a general surgeon with Northeast Medical Group, who is retiring after 30 years at Bridgeport Hospital and stepping down after 20 years as Chair of Surgery and Surgeon in Chief.
“Bridgeport Hospital is a multi-campus clinical, research, and education hub for world-class academic healthcare and Dr. Gibbs’ appointment is an important next step in continuing to drive our progress as a leader in surgery throughout the region,” said President of Bridgeport Hospital and Executive Vice President of Yale New Haven Health System, Anne Diamond.
Bridgeport Hospital is currently home to more than 45 Yale Medicine surgeons and residents across multiple specialties. As Chair of Surgery, Dr. Gibbs will work closely with Department of Surgery leadership to further develop the hospital’s reputation as a destination for the provision of academic surgical care throughout the region.
"The tightly woven nature of our clinical, research, and education missions is fundamental to our culture and brand as an academic health system. The appointment of our academic faculty into leadership positions at our clinical hospitals is a critical part of our shared vision,” said President of Yale New Haven Health, Christopher O’Connor.
Dr. Gibbs joins the Department of Surgery Faculty via Northwell Health, where she currently serves as the Associate Chair, Department of Surgery; Chief of General, MIS & Bariatric Surgery; Director of the General Surgery Residency Program and the Advanced GI MIS Fellowship; Director of Performance Improvement & Quality at Staten Island University Hospital Northwell Health.
“Dr. Gibbs is a skilled surgeon, educator, and researcher. Moreover, it was her authenticity and obvious relatability as a connector and team-builder that impressed the committee and will reinforce our alignment and ability to grow as an academic health system. We are especially grateful for Dr. Atweh’s partnership, and the strong foundation he has helped to build,” said Department of Surgery Chair, Dr. Nita Ahuja.
Dr. Ahuja and Ms. Diamond co-led the search committee, together with clinical and administrative leaders from across the system, including Dr. Greg Buller, Ms. Mary Christoferson, Dr. Michael Dewar, Dr. Mehra Golshan, Dr. Lisa Lattanza, Dr. Victor Morris, Dr. Adam Pearl, Ms. Cynthia Sparer, and Dr. Jill Zafar. Korn Ferry supported the recruitment.