David Zabel, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon; Co-Director Christiana Hernia Center
EDUCATION
- Case Western Reserve University. BS Engineering
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine MD
- General Surgery Residency Christiana Care
- University of California, San Francisco Research Fellowship, Wound Healing
- University of Pittsburgh Plastic Surgery Fellowship
RECOGNITION
- Retired Commander United States Navy Reserves
- Chief of Plastic Surgery Christiana Care
- Medical Director St. Francis Wound Care Center
- Associate Faculty, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware
MEET DR. ZABEL
Dr. Zabel has actively been pursuing his passion for hernia care by combining his interest in engineering and medicine with the concepts of mesh, fixation and abdominal wall reconstruction for almost 20 years after having won a first place research award at the Ohio Valley Plastic Surgery Society for his work on component muscle separation in 1997. Dr. Zabel is pleased to have performed over 800 abdominal wall reconstructions with Christiana Hernia Center. Very few plastic surgeons in the US have performed this many of these complex procedures. He actively participates in publishing the work of the Christiana Hernia Center and is proud to share the team’s results at both national and international symposia.
Specialties: Open abdominal wall reconstruction and ventral hernia repair, abdominoplasty, panniculectomy.
Surgery performed: Christiana Care, St Francis, Delaware Outpatient Center for Surgery.
Dr. Zabel and his wife Kathy live in southeast Pennsylvania. They have four children, the oldest now lives in Dallas, Texas.
ASSOCIATIONS
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons – Member
- Fellow American College of Surgeons – Member
- American Hernia Society – Member
- Delaware Today Top Doctors 2009 -2019 Plastic/Reconstructive Surgery
Michael Conway, M.D.
Board Certified General Surgeon; Co-Director Minimally Invasive Surgery Christiana Hernia Center
EDUCATION
- University of Delaware. BS
- Jefferson Medical College MD
- General Surgery Residency Christiana Care
RECOGNITION
- Chief Surgical Resident Christina Care
- Co-Founder Delaware Surgical Group
- Past Chief General Surgery Christina Care
- Chief General Surgery St Francis Hospital
MEET DR. CONWAY
Dr. Conway’s passion for hernia repair has been present since he began private practice over 20 years ago. Dr. Conway has always offered minimally invasive techniques for hernia patients. Over the past five years robotic surgery has been used as a tool to improve hernia surgery. It is well known in the surgical literature that, “in order to be a good robotic surgeon, you need to have extensive experience in doing open procedures as a surgeon.” Our Hernia Center has performed well over 800 open complex cases with most being multiply recurrent hernias done elsewhere locally or in the tristate area. He continues to create and manage protocols that optimize hernia patients for both open and robotic procedures.
Specialties: Open and robotic abdominal wall reconstruction and ventral hernia repair, open and robotic inguinal hernia repair, umbilical hernia repair
Surgery performed: Christiana Care, St Francis, Limestone Surgery Center, Glasgow Surgery Center
Dr. Conway and his wife Denise live in southeast Pennsylvania. They have two children. The oldest now attends law school at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
ASSOCIATIONS
- Delaware Today Top Doctors 2009 -2019 General Surgery
Eric Kalish, M.D.
Board Certified General Surgeon; Co-Director Christiana Hernia Center
EDUCATION
- University of Pennsylvania. BS
- University of Pennsylvania College of Medicine MD
- University of Pennsylvania Research Fellowship
- General Surgery Residency Christiana Care
- University of Miami School of Medicine Research Fellowship. Surgical Molecular Biology
RECOGNITION
- Chief Surgical Resident Christiana Care
MEET DR. KALISH
Dr. Kalish is a founding member of the Christiana Hernia Center and has been passionate about the field of hernia repair for more than ten years. Dr. Kalish feels that good outcomes in complex problems can only be achieved with years of experience and expertise. His approach to hernias is a firm belief that the team approach is imperative to patient success. Dr. Kalish offers the full spectrum of hernia care from the minimally invasive robotic approaches to the open procedures. His work in the field of outcome analysis is evident by his efforts in participating in the American Hernia Society Quality Collaborative. This work has resulted in Christiana Hernia Center being recognized as a top performer in the national data base. Dr. Kalish is proud to represent the center as an invited speaker at these national symposia.
Specialties: Open and robotic abdominal wall reconstruction and ventral hernia repair, open and robotic inguinal hernia repair, umbilical hernia repair
Surgery performed: Christiana Care, St Francis, Limestone Surgery Center, Glasgow Surgery Center
Dr. Kalish and his wife Holly live in southeast Pennsylvania. They have three children who enjoy competitive swimming.
ASSOCIATIONS
- American Hernia Society – Member
- America Hernia Society Quality Collaborative – Top performer
- Delaware Today Top Doctors 20017 -2019 General Surgery
Joseph Belgrade, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Board Certified General Surgeon; Co-Director Minimally Invasive Surgery Christiana Hernia Center
EDUCATION
- University of Delaware, BS
- Jefferson Medical College, MD
- General Surgery Residency Christiana Care
RECOGNITION
- Chief Surgical Resident Christiana Care
- Past Associate Chief of Surgery Christiana Care
MEET DR. BELGRADE
Dr. Belgrade was born and raised in the Delaware area and follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who were both surgeons. Dr. Belgrade has witnessed and participated in the evolution of hernia repair from the simple to the most complex and recurrent. With evolution, techniques and materials valuable in such surgeries are integrated while others are discarded and modified. Robotic minimally invasive procedures are an example of such change and are offered and performed when appropriate. Dr. Belgrade continues to bring thoughtful understanding to the innovation of our hernia center, by careful discussions about what is always in the best interest of his patients. Dr. Belgrade will always strive to provide hard, honest, compassionate care to those who entrust themselves to him.
Specialties: Open and robotic abdominal wall reconstruction and ventral hernia repair, open and robotic inguinal hernia repair, umbilical hernia repair
Surgery performed: Christiana Care, St Francis, Limestone Surgery Center, Glasgow Surgery Center
Dr. Belgrade lives on a farm in Chesapeake City. He enjoys boating and fishing on the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays.
ASSOCIATIONS
- Fellow of American College of Surgeons – Member
- Medical Society of Delaware – Member
- Christiana Care Top Annual Teaching Attending Award (Twice)
- Christiana Care Top Annual Trauma Attending Award (Twice)
- Delaware Today Top Doctors General Surgery
Christiana Hernia Center