Surgeon & Squash Player
An Interview with Fiemu Nwariaku, MD, MBA, FACS
Chair, Department of Surgery, University of Utah | Endocrine Surgeon
Introducing Dr. Nwariaku
“My name is Fiemu Nwariaku. I'm a professor of surgery at the University of Utah and I serve as the chair of the Department of Surgery. I’m also an endocrine surgeon, which means I operate on people with thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal disease.”
What Inspired You to Become a Surgeon?
"My first love was flying, I was going to be a pilot. But I was inspired to pursue surgery because of my mentors. In medical school, a cardiac surgeon I admired deeply demonstrated extraordinary compassion for his patients, remarkable knowledge, and genuine care for his team. Watching him made me realize that surgery might be a career worth pursuing."
Why Endocrine Surgery?
"I initially thought I would become a trauma surgeon. But another mentor during residency was a consummate clinician and educator, and the way he connected with his patients, his surgical skills, and his curiosity about endocrine surgery drew me in. I decided to follow that path."
Passion for Cancer Care
"Patients with cancer often face immense anxiety and uncertainty about their futures. As a surgeon, I meet them at one of the most vulnerable points in their lives. It’s a privilege to walk beside them through that journey, whether that’s working toward a cure or relieving their symptoms. Providing hope and reassurance through their treatment process is one of the most meaningful parts of this work."
Impact on the Field
"Endocrine surgery has existed for over a century. If I can leave an impact, it will be through developing the next generation of endocrine surgeons, people who will keep pushing for better care and deeper understanding of endocrine diseases. I hope to contribute to new knowledge, but more importantly, to train people who will carry the torch into the future."
Research in Endocrine Surgery
"I’ve been involved in research for nearly three decades. Much of our focus has been on adrenal cancer, a rare but lethal disease with poor treatment outcomes. Collaborating with researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute, we’ve developed mouse models showing that adrenal cancer behaves differently in males and females, possibly due to differences in hormones. Our hope is to translate these findings into improved care for patients."
Global Surgery Work
"I was drawn to global surgery because of the severe disparities in surgical outcomes worldwide. While disparities exist in the U.S., they are even more pronounced in lower-resource countries. Since surgery can be curative for things like trauma and cancer, I feel a responsibility to share what we’ve learned, particularly through training and education. My current focus is on reducing deaths from road traffic injuries and improving cancer care in low-resource settings."
Vision for the Department of Surgery, University of Utah
"The Department of Surgery here has been built over decades through the work of my predecessors. The University of Utah serves an enormous landmass and population with limited access to care, and I was drawn to the opportunity to help create a world-class surgical department that impacts both our community and the broader region.
My vision is for the department to excel in three areas:
- High-quality clinical care, especially for rural communities
- Research that makes a real difference for patients and society
- Education that trains the next generation of academic surgeons to advance knowledge and practice
Our department includes eight high-functioning divisions, and my hope is to expand both our clinical programs and our community impact. My goal is that at the end of this, we will be one of the best departments of surgery in the western U.S., if not the entire country.”
Why 'Beyond the Coat'?
It’s really an exciting time for us in the department. I launched this program, Beyond the Coat, because we have a very large department of surgery. But more importantly, each and every member of our team has so much personality behind what they bring to work.
Given the way we live our lives now, it’s difficult for us to truly get to know one another. I learn about my teams every single day, and I’m constantly inspired by what our faculty, APCs, and staff do outside of work. Much of it involves supporting their communities, supporting each other, and investing in personal growth.
This series, I hope, will give us the chance to learn about all the members of our team, what they do not just when they’re in the hospital, but what they do in their personal lives and communities. I believe it will help us function better as a team at work and ultimately, deliver even better care for our patients.”
What Do You Do Beyond the Coat?
“I spend a lot of time staying active. I play some golf when I can, but my real love is squash. That’s my social outlet and my physical activity, and it gives me the most joy outside of work.”
What Do You Love About Squash?
“You play squash with a partner or in a team, and it’s a sport that blends strategy, shot selection, agility, and endurance. It’s physically demanding, but what I enjoy most is the relationships it builds.
It helps me navigate personalities, both on the court and in life. It translates directly to my work, because like squash, surgery isn’t just about skill, it’s about judgment. Knowing when to operate and when not to is often what makes the difference.”
Parallels Between Squash and Surgery
“One of the best parts of squash culture is that even though you’re competing, most people you play with are trying to help you improve your game. It’s not about beating you, it’s about making each other better. That resonates with me in my work with residents and trainees.
The goal isn’t to break them down, but to build them up, help them improve, and become better surgeons. The same applies with my colleagues. Developing people is a huge part of what I do, and squash has reinforced that for me.”
Closing Thought
“I am Fiemu Nwariaku. I’m an endocrine surgeon. Beyond the coat, I want to be a better squash player.”