Vijay Menon, M.D.

Vijay Menon, M.D., is an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Drexel and attending transplant surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He is a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, and International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association.

"The faculty in the Department are peerless. I fondly look back at the kidney transplants and procurements I performed with all the faculty in transplant surgery, and in particular, Dr. Mekeel. I enjoyed my time at the VA, cherishing the conversations in and out of the operating room with the attendings, especially with Drs. Ardill and Owens. Dr. Clary arrived during my second year and he made his mark on the program with his strong style of leadership and with his weekly Chairman Rounds. I vividly recall doing a hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy procedure (a cancer treatment that involves filling the abdominal cavity with chemotherapy drugs that have been heated) with Dr. Veerapong. Halfway through I asked him 'What do you think?' He peered up and said, 'I think we can get it all'—the case lasted sixteen hours!

There is a sense of pride and empowerment that only the best educators can provide, and they were plentiful at UC San Diego. Dr. Jacobsen, who became program director when I started as an intern, crafted a program with diverse and happy residents, and the camaraderie was wonderful. I made lifelong friends, with two of my seniors being cobest men at my wedding. Overall, I had a wonderful time from 2013-2018 at UC San Diego and it prepared me well for fellowship and a career in surgery."