Doyle to share insights into unique world of organ transplantation

Assembly Series presents tale of Dublin native who became a St. Louis transplant surgeon

The life of a transplantation surgeon will be the focus of a presentation by Maria Bernadette Majella Doyle, MD, for the annual Women’s Society Adele Starbird Lecture.

Doyle

Doyle’s talk, part of the Washington University in St. Louis Assembly Series, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 13, in Graham Chapel. It is free and open to the public.

Almost six years ago, Doyle, assistant professor of surgery at the School of Medicine and a member of the Barnes-Jewish Hospital transplantation team, arrived in St. Louis from her native Ireland for a one-year fellowship in the medical school’s transplant unit. At the time, she had every intention of learning the surgical specialization and returning home.

That intention changed when she found the work stimulating and challenging. Doyle extended the fellowship for two years and, with an offer to continue on the team, decided to stay in St. Louis.

As a member of a five-person transplantation team, Doyle performs abdominal organ transplants for people with advanced liver disease, pancreas-kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. In addition, she performs surgeries to remove tumors of the liver, treat bile duct illness and portal hypertension and provide kidney dialysis access.

Organ transplantation involves issues and concerns unique in surgery. In her presentation, Doyle will discuss the process for determining a donor for a recipient, gauging a good match and assessing the possibility of a positive outcome. She also will talk about the need for organ donors.

Doyle earned a medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin and conducted a fellowship in clinical research at the National University of Ireland and Cork University Hospital in Cork, Ireland. Before coming to St. Louis, she completed a residency in surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons.

For more information on this or other Assembly Series events, visit assemblyseries.wustl.edu or call (314) 935-4620.