News & Stories
Meet Our Cooper Red Hot Gala Host Committee Docs!
What inspired them to become doctors? What music is on their operating room playlist? What do they enjoy doing when they’re not working? Get to know the following Cooper doctors on our Red Hot Gala Host Committee with this short Q & A.
Umur M. Atabek, MD
Division Head, Surgical Oncology
Q. Who inspired you to become a doctor?
A. The idea first came to me from my father. Thanks, Dad!
Generosa Grana, MD
Director, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper
Q. If you weren’t a doctor, what would you be?
A. I would be involved in international relations. I think it harkens back to my being an immigrant and coming to the United States as a child.
Joseph V. Lombardi, MD
Division Head, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
Director, Cooper Aortic Center
Q. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
A. I have a koi pond in the yard that I take care of. It’s a high maintenance job, but I enjoy it.
Steven J. McClane, MD
Division Head, Colorectal Surgery
Co-Director, Gastrointestinal Cancer Program
Q. What three words best describe you?
A. Approachable, humble and driven.
John M. Porter, MD
Division Head, Trauma Surgery
Director, Center for Trauma Services
Q. What is one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you?
A. Most people think I’m rough. They think that as a trauma surgeon, I walk around like I know everything and own the place, but I’m really a softy. Don’t tell anybody.
Steven E. Ross, MD
Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery
Q. If you weren’t a doctor, what would you be?
A. I would be a basic science biology researcher. That was my plan as I began medical school. During my junior year rotation, caring for the injured fascinated me. To me, it was like MASH, which is the only television medical program I have ever watched on a regular basis.
Allen D. Seftel, MD
Division Head, Urology
Q. Who inspired you to become a doctor?
A. My pediatrician. He was a great man, very bright, warm, congenial, compassionate. And he made house calls.
Brian M. Smith, DMD
Division Head, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Q. If you weren’t a doctor, what would you be?
A. A police officer, like many members of my family.
Al Solina, MD
Chairman & Chief, Department of Anesthesiology
Medical Director of Operating Room Services
Q. What type of music is on your operating room playlist?
A. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, even bands like the Grateful Dead.
Francis R. Spitz, MD
Vice Chief, Department of Surgery
Division Head, General Surgery
Deputy Director, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper
Q. What actor or actress would play you in a movie?
A. Richard Gere.