June 26, 2017

The OHSU Professional Board Operations Group has selected Dr. Erin Gilbert for an Annual Professional Staff Award in the category of: Outstanding contribution to missions of education and research in the clinical setting.

Nominated by residents Derek Rogalsky, M.D., and Missy Desouza, M.D., they describe Dr. Gilbert as embodying the “triple threat of participating in outstanding and complex clinical surgery, thoughtful and direct resident education, and patient-centered research with focus on quality-directed impact.”

In the words of Rogalsky and Desouza:

“Dr. Gilbert is a sought after surgeon who is known for excellent and compassionate patient care. Her expertise spans the breadth of advanced minimally invasive general surgery, to surgical oncology with a focus on management of pancreatic neoplasm with complex disease burden, to a leading role in piloting the heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy program at OHSU. 

Dr. Gilbert is also highly involved in the education of surgical residents and fellows. Since the time of her fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at OHSU, she has taken an active role in teaching the principles of safe laparoscopic surgery, both in the skills lab and in clinical practice. She has enhanced the Department of Surgery through her meticulous selection of Grand Rounds speakers, providing education and collaboration across multiple surgical fields. In her role as an academic surgeon, she serves as a mentor and teacher to residents of all levels. She does this with patience, compassion, and enthusiasm. She fosters confidence in the operating room in addition to providing skilled technical training. On the wards and clinic she garners respect from both her patients and residents in her exceptional delivery of care and ability to teach to all levels. She consistently challenges herself to teach and perform at a higher level, which inspires the same aspirations in those around her. Time and again, residents who have had the opportunity to work with her discuss how it was Dr. Gilbert who helped develop their confidence in the OR as junior residents and hone their clinical judgement on the wards.

Dr. Gilbert takes a strong interest in providing the best outcomes for her patients. She has received a Master's of Clinical Research from OHSU and is published in such fields as minimally invasive management of adrenal disease, esophageal disease, and bariatric surgery. As part of her work for the Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, she is investigating the use of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for both the screening of pancreatic cancer and the assessment of treatment response in hopes to improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Gilbert will continue to be an example to her colleagues and trainees of a dedication to patient care, education, and clinical research. We thank you for helping to recognize such an outstanding mentor of ours and all she has done to advance surgical training here at OHSU.”