Skiff physician named Fellow of American College of Surgeons

Dr. Dominic Formaro, general surgeon at Skiff Medical Center in Newton, was among 1,823 initiates from around the world who became Fellows of the American College of Surgeons during the convocation ceremony held in October at the annual Clinical Congress in Washington, D.C.

By meeting the College’s stringent membership requirements, a fellow of the college has earned the distinguished right to use the designation of “FACS” after their names. Formaro’s new credentials are added to that of FACOS (Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons), which he earned in 2013.

“This is an honor,” Formaro said. “Becoming a fellow isn’t something every surgeon chooses to do, but it says something about the quality of the health care you provide and the ethical standards you uphold. You must open up your practice and your livelihood to the scrutiny of an outside organization to see if you meet their high standards.”

“After we recruited Dr. Formaro in 2010, one of the leaders in his residency program told me he was the best they had ever had come through the program and Skiff was lucky to have him,” said outgoing Skiff CEO Brett Altman. “Dr. Formaro is consistently in the top 1 percent when it comes to patient satisfaction. He has a wonderful bedside manner and is a gifted and talented surgeon.”

In addition to serving as general surgeon in Newton, Formaro has been an adjunct clinical faculty at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Des Moines University for the past four years and has been the assistant professor of surgery since January of this year.

“I give lectures and administer exams,” he said, “and I’m the clinical coordinator for the surgical skills lab that teaches the medical students how to carry out procedures, follow sterile technique and perform successfully in the operating room. I also help with the third-year rotations, serving as a contact person for students and preceptors across the country.”

Dr. Rachel Knudson, Formaro’s colleague at Skiff Medical Center, trained with him during her studies, and she said the designation reflects the extraordinary quality of Formaro’s skills.

“He exemplifies all of the qualities the American College of Surgeons requires for fellowship. He is an incredible asset to our community, something that is repeatedly demonstrated in his excellent surgery outcomes, and high patient satisfaction. He is well respected by our medical community, and our hospital is fortunate to have the benefits of his leadership skills.”

“As a nurse who works with Dr. Formaro and Dr. Knudson each week, I appreciate their attention to detail and the amount of teaching they provide to their patients,” said Jenna Seals, surgical services team lead at Skiff. “Their patients are very well informed regarding their procedures, surgeries and expectations afterward. They thoroughly discuss options with patients and give patients time for questions and comments. Both surgeons have a large part in the Surgical Care Committee, which helps nurses learn, grow and continue to provide safe and effective care. They are well-rounded surgeons with great bedside manner.”

Formaro completed his general surgery internship and residency at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. He received his undergraduate degree at Drake University and attended medical school at the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Des Moines University. His wide array of surgical services includes, but is not limited to, breast-conserving surgery, laparoscopic gallbladder removal, minimally invasive colon surgery and hernia repair.

To learn more about Skiff Medical Center, call 641-78-SKIFF (787-5433), visit www.skiffmed.com or follow them at www.facebook.com/skiffmed.com.