Catching up with Steven Fass, MD

t has been 25 years since I finished residency at the U but in many ways it only seems like yesterday. Showing up as a newly graduated medical student and leaving as a general surgeon is one of the most awesome transformations in my life. I cannot tell you how many different people at the U and LDS hospital shaped who I am as a surgeon.

I had contemplated applying for a surgical oncology fellowship when Dr. Nelson sent our 4th year class to a laparoscopic solid organ course at Ethicon headquarters in Cincinnati. The course director asked me what my future plans were. After hearing them he said I was a fool because laparoscopy was the future of our profession (remember that this was the mid 90’s). Right then and there I recognized how right he was and changed course. I became the first U. Of Utah graduate to do a fellowship in advanced laparoscopy matriculating to Los Angeles at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. On my first day there I was told that Cedars was one of the 4 locations for clinical trials in a new procedure known as the lap band. In spite of Dr. McGreevy telling us that weight loss wasn’t a surgical problem, my fellowship altered my future practice.

I joined a private practice of 10 surgeons in Austin, Texas where I have had a general surgery and bariatric practice ever since. I am proud of that fact that I am in my same job since training and have been able to stay self-employed. While that has been a struggle, independence is something that I have always valued. I recently completed 8 years as president of our group. I spent many years teaching residents and now teach other surgeons part time for Intuitive Surgical.

After moving to Austin I met my wife, Laurie. 18 years of marriage later we have 2 teenage boys, Lawson and Hudson, who keep us on our toes. We have traveled the world extensively, 26 countries and counting. Utah taught me the love of mountains and skiing. I still mountain bike which I learned on the trails behind the U. While I gave up many years of road riding (for safety reasons) we are both avid tennis players and ski every year. I have attended nearly every home Texas Longhorn football game the last 25 years.

The friends I made while at Utah still are some my best. When together, we tell stories of the shenanigans of my colleague Dmitry Oleynikov until my sides hurt. The countless residents and friends that I skied, hiked, golfed and fished with over the years make the memories even fonder. I miss so many of you, residents and faculty alike, and think of you often. Austin is home but Utah always holds a special place in my heart.