Susan L. Gearhart, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.C.A.S.

Susan L. Gearhart, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.S.C.A.S.

Assistant Professor of Colorectal Surgery

Susan L. Gearhart, M.D. is dedicated to the surgical management of colorectal diseases. Her specific areas of interest include the surgical management of inflammatory bowel disease, both sporadic and hereditary colorectal cancer, and pelvic organ dysfunction. Dr. Gearhart's research interests are in new strategies for managing rectal cancer, prophylaxis for recurrent Crohn’s disease following surgery, fecal continence following pelvic pouch surgery, biomarkers for dysplasa and cancer in inflammatory bowel disease, and radiographic and biologic predictors of response to neoadjuvant therapy for rectal cancer.

Credentials:

• Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI; B.S. degree (1985-1989)
• Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL; M.D. degree (1989-1993)
• Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD; General Surgery Resident (1993-1995)
• Washington University, St. Louis, MO; Research Fellow; Dept of Trauma and Critical Care (1995-1997)
• Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, General Surgery Resident (1997-1998)
• John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK; Specialist Registrar; Dept of Colorectal Surgery (7/98-12/98)
• Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD; Chief Resident General Surgery (1999-2000)
• Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD; Instructor in Surgery, General Surgery (2000-2001)
• Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH; Fellow, Colorectal Surgery (2001-2002)
• Assistant Professor of Colorectal Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD (2002-present)
• Assistant Professor of Oncology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD (2005-present)

Board Certification:

• American Board of Surgery, October 28, 2002
• American Board of Colorectal Surgery, September 20, 2003

Societies:

• Fellow, American College of Surgeons
• Fellow, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
• Member, American College of Surgeons Oncology Group
• Member, Society of Surgical Oncology
• Member, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
• Member, Chesapeake Colorectal Society

Referee:

• Urology
• Diseases of the Colon and Rectum
• Journal of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Techniques
• Annals of Surgery
• Archives of Surgery

Educational Directives:

• Director of Medical Student Education for the division of Surgical Oncology
• Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Curriculum Reform Committee

Committees:

• Clinical Research Steering Committee
• Clinical Operations Committee
• Gastrointestinal Oncology Research Committee

Peer-Reviewed Publications:

• Miles-Thomas J, Gearhart S, Gearhart J. An Initial Evaluation of Pelvic Floor Function and Quality of Life of Bladder Exstrophy Patients who have undergone Ureterosigmoidostomy. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. (Accepted January 2006).
• Gearhart SL, Frassica D, Rossen R, Choti M, Schulick R, Wahl R. Improved Staging with Pre-Treatment PET/CT in Low Rectal Cancer. Journal of Surgical Oncology. (In Press, February 2006).
• Gearhart SL, Hull T, Schroeder T, Church J, Floruta C. Sphincter Defects are not Associated with Long-term Incontinence Following Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis. Diseases Colon Rectum 2005;48(7):1410-5
• Gearhart SL. Symptomatic hemorrhoids. Adv. Surg. 2004;38:167-82
• Gearhart SL. Symptomatic hemorrhoids. Dis Mon. 2004;50(11):603-617 (Permission granted for reprinting)
• Gearhart SL, Delaney CP, Senagore AJ, Remzi FH, Kiran RP, Fazio VW. Prospective Assessment of the Predictive Value of ÿ-GST for Intestinal Ischemia. Am Surg. 2003;69(4):324-329
• Gearhart SL, Hull T, Floruta C, Schroeder T, Hammel J. Manometric Parameters: Predictors of Outcome Following Sphincter Repair? Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. 2005;9(1):115-120
• Gearhart SL, Pannu H, Cundiff G, Buller J, Bluemke D, Kaufman H. Perineal Descent and levator ani hernia: A Dynamic MR Imaging Study. Diseases Colon Rectum. 2004;47(8):1298-304
• Pannu HK, Genadry R, Gearhart SL, Kaufman HS, Cundiff GW, Fishman EK. Focal levator ani eventrations: Detection and characterization by magnetic resonance in patients with pelvic floor dysfunction. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2003;14(2):89-93
• Parson K, Gearhart SL, Gearhart JP. Sigmoid Vaginoplasty for Intersex Conditions; The Hopkins Experience. Journal Pediatric Surgery. Feb 2002
• Kaufman HS, Buller JL, Thompson JR, Pannu HK, DeMeester SL, Genadry RR, Bluemke DA, Jones B, Rychcik JL, Cundiff GW. Dynamic Pelvic Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Cystorcolpoproctography Alter Surgical Management of Pelvic Floor Disorders. Disease Colon Rectum. 2001 Nov;44(11):1575-1584
• DeMeester SL, Buchman TG, Cobb JP. The Heat Shock Paradox: Does NF-kB Determine Cell Fate? FASEB J. 2001 15:270-274
• DeMeester SL, Qui Y, Buchman TG, Hotchkiss RS, Dunnigan K, Karl IE, Cobb JP. Nitric Oxide Inhibits Stress-Induced Endothelial Cell Apoptosis. Crit Care Med. 1998 Sept;26(9):1500-1509
• DeMeester SL, Cobb JP, Hotchkiss RS, Osborne DF, Karl IE, Tinsley KW, Buchman TG. Stress-Induced Fractal Rearrangement of Endothelial Cell Cytoskeleton Causes Apoptosis. Surgery. 1998 Aug;124(2):362-371
• DeMeester SL, Buchman TG, Qui Y, Dunningan K, Hotchkiss RS, Karl IE, Cobb JP. Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate Activates the Heat Shock Response and Thereby Induces Apoptosis In Primed Endothelial Cells. Shock. 1998 July;10(1):1-6
• DeMeester SL, Buchman TG, Qui Y, Jacob AK, Dunnigan K, Hotchkiss RS, Karl IE, CobbJP. Heat Shock Induces IkappaB-alpha and Prevents Stress-Induced Endothelial Cell Apoptosis. Arch Surg. 1997 Dec;132(12):1283-1288
• Jacob AK, Hotchkiss RS, DeMeester SL, Hiramatsu M, Karl IE, Swanson PE, Cobb JP, Buchman TG. Endothelial Cell Apoptosis is Accelerated by Inorganic Iron and Heat Via Oxygen Radical Dependent Mechanism. Surgery. 1997 Aug;122(2):243-25

Chapters:

• Gearhart SL. Solitary Rectal Ulcer Syndrome. Current Surgical Therapy. 8th Edition. Mosby Inc., St. Louis, MO 2003
• Gearhart SL, Bulkley G. Common Disease of the Colon and Anorectum and Mesenteric Vascular Insufficiency. Harrison’s Textbook of Medicine, 16th Edition. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, PA 2003
• DeMeester SL, Choti M. Management of Malignant Colorectal Polyps. Current Surgical Therapy. 7th Edition. Mosby Inc., St. Louis, MO 2001
• DeMeester SL, Magnuson T. Lumbar Hernias. Shacklefords Textbook of Surgery. Edition. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, PA 2000

Invited Lectures:

• The Pathophysiology of Fecal Incontinence, 20th Annual Houston Everett Memorial Course February 20 – 22, 2003
• Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse, 20th Annual Houston Everett Memorial Course February 20 – 22, 2003
• Management of Hereditary Colon Cancer Syndromes, Multidisciplinary Management of Colon Cancer Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions April 3 - 4, 2003
• The Mesorectal Excision Multidisciplinary Management of Colon Cancer, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions April 3 - 4, 2003
• Perianal Crohn’s Disease given at Grand Rounds ,Washington Hospital Medical Center September 22, 2003
• Perianal Crohn’s Disease, Topics in Gastroenterology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine September 24, 2003
• Rectal Prolapse, To Resect or Rectopex. 21st Annual Houston Everett Memorial Course. Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. February 20th, 2004
• Management of Hereditary Colon Cancer Syndromes. 4th Annual Gastroenterology and Hepatology: Viva La Vida, San Juan, Peurto Rico, March 17th-20th, 2004
• Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes, Surgical Prospective. 4th Annual Gastroenterology and Hepatology: Viva La Vida, San Juan, Peurto Rico, March 17th-20th, 2004
• Anal Sphincter Function and Pelvic Pouch Surgery. 4th Annual Gastroenterology and Hepatology: Viva La Vida, San Juan, Peurto Rico, March 17th-20th, 2004
• Management of Rectal Cancer, Johns Hopkins Hospital Grand Rounds, September, 2004
• Ileal Pouch Surgery, Outcomes and Complications, Topics in Gastroenterology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, September, 2004
• Local Excision for Rectal Cancer Multidisciplinary Management of Colon Cancer, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions April 2005
• Multidisciplinary Management of Rectal Cancer, St. Elizabeth Seton Hospital, Cumberland, MD May 2005
• Ileal Pouch Surgery, Outcomes and Complications, Shanghai Jiao tong University, Shanghai, China April 4 – 19, 2005
• Multidisciplinary Management of Rectal Cancer, Shanghai Jiao tong University, Shanghai, China April 4 – 19, 2005
• Controversies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Panel Discussion Baltimore, MD May 2005

Presentations:

• Geahart SL, Frassica D, Rossen R, Choti M, Schulick R, Wahl R. Improved Staging with Pre-Treatment PET/CT in Low Rectal Cancer. Biennial Meeting of the John Hopkins Medical Society, June 1, 2005

• Gearhart SL, Miles-Thomas J, Gearhart J. An Initial Evaluation of Pelvic Floor Function and Quality of Life of Bladder Exstrophy Patients who have undergone Ureterosigmoidostomy. SSAT Meeting, Chicago, IL May 14-19, 2005 (Poster)
• Gearhart SL, Schulick R, Choti M, Frassica D, Wahl, R, Rosen R. Improved Staging with Pre-treatment PET/CT in Low Rectal Cancer. SSO Meeting, Atlanta, GA March 3-6, 2005 (Poster)
• Gearhart SL, Hull T, Schroeder T, Church J, Floruta C. Sphincter Defects do not predict long-term incontinence following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. ASCRS Meeting, New Orleans, LA. June 21-26, 2003 (Poster).
• Gearhart SL, Hull T, Floruta C, Schroeder T, Hammel J. Manometric Parameters: Predictors of Outcome Following Sphincter Repair? ASCRS Meeting, Chicago, IL. June 3-8, 2002 (Poster)
• DeMeester SL. Pannu HK, Cundiff GW, Buller JL, Bluemke DA, Kaufman HS. Dynamic MR Demonstrates Decreased Perineal Descent Following Complex Pelvic Floor Reconstruction. ASCRS Meeting, San Diego, CA. June 7-11, 2001 (Oral/Poster)
• DeMeester SL, Pannu HK, Cundiff GW, Buller JL, Bluemke DA, Kaufman HS. Rectocele is Predictive of Occult Levator Ani Hernia: A Dynamic MR Imaging Study. ASCRS Meeting, Boston, MA. June 24-27, 2000. (Poster)
• DeMeester SL, Cobb JP, Hotchkiss RS, Osborne DF, Karl IE, Buchman TG. Stress-Induced Fractal Rearrangement of the Endothelial Cell Cytoskeleton Causes Apoptosis. Presented at the Society of University Surgeons Meeting, Milwaukee, WS. Feb 12-14, 1998. (Video/Oral Presentation)
• DeMeester SL, Cobb JP, Qui Y, Hotchkiss RS, Karl IE, Buchman TG. Cytochalasin D, an Inhibitor of Actin Polymerization, Induces Endothelial Cell Apoptosis (Abstract). Presented at the Association for Academic Surgeons Meeting, Dallas, TX. December 16, 1997. (Poster)
• DeMeester SL, Buchman TG, Qui Y, Cobb JP. NF-kB Mechanism for Heat Shock Induced Apoptosis in Primed Endothelial Cells (Abstract). Presented at the Shock Society Meeting, Indian Wells, CA. June 15-18, 1997 (Poster)
• DeMeester SL, Buchman TG, Qui Y, Hotchkiss RS, Karl IE, Cobb JP. Heat Shock Induces I-kB and Protects Against Endothelial Cell Apoptosis. Presented at Surgical Infection Society Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA. May 1 1997. (Oral Presentation)
• DeMeester SL, Qui Y, Buchman TG, Cobb JP0. Exogenous Nitric Oxide Blocks Stress-Induced Apoptosis in cultured Endothelial Cells (Absract). Presented at the 4th International Congress on the Immune Consequences of Trauma, Shock and Sepsis - Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches, Munich, Germany. March 4-8, 1997. (Poster)
• DeMeester SL, Qui Y, Buchman TG, Cobb JP. Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate Induces Heat Shock and Apoptosis in Primed Endothelial Cells (Abstract). Presented at the 4th International Congress on the Immune Consequences of Trauma, Shock and Sepsis - Mechanisms and Therapeutic Approaches, Munich, Germany. March 4-8, 1997. (Poster/Oral Presentation)
• DeMeester SL, Buchman TG, Hotchkiss RS, Upadhya GA, Cobb JP. Pyrrolidine Dithiocarbamate (PDTC) Modulates NF-kB Activity and Endothelial Cell (EC) Apoptosis. Presented at the Shock Society Meeting, Grand Traverse Village, MI. June 2-5, 1996 (Oral Presentation)

Honors and Awards:

• Dean's List, Calvin College
• Outstanding Volunteer Award, Calvin College
• Alpha Omega Alpha, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
• Faculty Award for Excellence in Clinical Sciences, Loyoloa University Stritch School of Medicine
• AMWA's Janet M. Glascow Memorial Achievement Citation for Academic Achievement, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine

Scholarships and Grants:

• American College of Surgeons Research Scholarship Award, 1995-1997
• Trauma and Critical Care Training Grant, Washington University School of Medicine, 1995-1997
• General Clinical Research Center - Grant support for clinical research 2004 - present

Contact Information:

The Johns Hopkins Hospital
600 N. Wolfe Street, Blalock 656
Baltimore, Maryland  21287

Phone: (410)  955-7323
Fax: (410) 614-9866
E-mail: sdemees1@jhmi.edu