Surgeons & Staff

Adrianne L. Bowen, MD

Dr. Bowen, a Minnesota native, recently completed her general surgery residency at the University of Louisville and Affiliated Hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2004. Preceding this, a Bachelor of Science in Genetics was obtained in the year 2000 from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Dr. Bowen’s interest is in broad-based general surgery with an emphasis on laparoscopic, breast, oncologic, endoscopic, and thyroid procedures.

In her free time, Dr. Bowen and her husband Ben enjoy camping, hiking, biking, boating and other outdoor activities with their three dogs.

Dana M. Carlson, MD FACS

Dr. Carlson earned her undergraduate degree in biology from Augsburg College in Minneapolis and received her M.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. She completed her residency at Hennepin County Medical Center. Dr. Carlson is board certified in General Surgery, and her practice involves all aspects of General Surgery-with a special focus on breast surgery. She and her husband, Curt, have two children.

J. Kevin Croston, MD FACS

Dr. Croston earned his B.S. degree at the University of South Dakota, and his M.D. degree at the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Hennepin County Medical Center. He has served as Director of North Trauma Institute at North Memorial Medical Center since 1993 and is board certified in General Surgery, with special interests in laparoscopic, vascular access for dialysis and endocrine surgery. Dr. Croston currently serves as president of SGS and is on the Board of Trustees at North Memorial Medical Center.

Dr. Croston enjoys hunting, fishing and golfing and spending time at his lake cabin in northern Minnesota. He has been active in the Minnetonka youth league as a coach and mentor. His wife, Kathryn, works at North Memorial Medical Center, and stepson, Mitchell is a high school senior at Minnetonka Senior High School and involved in football and baseball. In January 2006, 2007 and 2008 Dr. Croston was named one of the region's Top Doctors through a survey of doctors and nurses conducted by Mpls. St. Paul Magazine.

Erin E. Eyberg, MD

Dr. Eyberg earned her BS in Biology from the University of Puget Sound near Seattle, Washington. She returned to her home state of Minnesota and received her MD from the University of Minnesota. She went on to finish her residency in general surgery at the University of Minnesota as well.

Dr. Eyberg enjoys all aspects of general surgery with a special interest in Laparoscopic, otherwise known as minimally invasive surgery.

In her spare time she enjoys working on remodeling her house and dining out with friends.

Jonathan C. Gipson, MD FACS

Dr. Gipson earned his B.A. degree from Carleton College in 1995 and earned his M.D. degree from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Twin Cities, 2001. He completed his General Surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Medicine in 2006. He is board certified in General Surgery

Dr. Gipson's clinical focus is utilizing minimally invasive surgical techniques to treat general surgical diseases. His practice includes laparoscopic hernia repair, laparoscopic colon resection, and laparoscopic splenectomy. He has a specific interest in laparoscopic bariatric surgical procedures, including laparoscopic gastric bypass and laparoscopic gastric banding procedures. In addition, Dr. Gipson enjoys endocrine surgery, including thyroid, parathyroid as well as adrenal gland resections.

Dr. Gipson is currently serving as the Medical Director of Trauma Services at Unity Hospital in Fridley, MN. In addition, he manages the care of trauma patients at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, MN.

Susan E. Hunt, MD FACS

Dr. Hunt earned her M.D. degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2001 and completed her General Surgery residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2006. She also completed a term as a Specialist Registrar in Surgery at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital in Exeter, England in 2005. She is board certified in General Surgery.

Dr. Hunt is currently serving as the Medical Director of Trauma Services at Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, MN. Her interests include thyroid surgery, breast disease and hernia repair.

In her free time, Dr. Hunt enjoys hiking, swimming, reading and spending time with her family.

Corinne E. Jordan, MD

Dr. Jordan, a native of Minnesota, completed her premedical studies at MIT, with a focus in biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics. She then went on to earn her medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. She remained in the the Big Apple for her general surgery residency training at St. Vincents Catholic Medical Center. Dr. Jordan also completed a Research Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, focusing on Hepatocyte Xenotransplantation for treatment of liver failure, and Stem Cell research. Dr. Jordan has written and presented several articles on diabetic gastroparesis, embryonic stem cell immunology, and metabolic disorders.

Dr. Jordan has been an active participant in many non-profit fundraisers for medical research as well as a volunteer for many charities and organizations. In her free time she enjoys reading, art galleries, fashion, and kick-boxing.

Steven J. Kern, MD FACS

Dr. Kern earned his undergraduate degree in biology and MD from Creighton University in Omaha, NE. He is board certified in General Surgery. During his residency at the University of Kansas in Wichita he particularly enjoyed working with medical education. Dr. Kern has published several articles on the use of ultrasonography in evaluating trauma patients. Dr. Kern's wife, Anne, is an obstetrician. They enjoy water sports and music with their children.

Matthew K. Kissner, MD FACS

Dr. Kissner earned his B.A. in Physics from Gustavus Adolphus College and his M.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed his residency in General Surgery at St. John's Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit, MI. He is board certified in General Surgery

Dr. Kissner has written and presented articles on laparoscopic surgery including laparoscopic colon surgery. Other interests include laparoscopic hernia repair and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as well as surgery of the breast and thyroid.

He and his wife, Neena, have many interests including golf, bicycling, theater, and travel.

Chad R. Laurich, MD

Dr. Laurich earned his B.A. degree from St. Mary’s University in 1999 and his M.D. degree from the University of Minnesota in 2004. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Iowa in 2009 and is also pursuing a vascular surgery fellowship at the University of Iowa with plans to finish in June 2011. Dr. Laurich is board certified in general surgery and maintains a broad interest in general surgery including acute care surgery, laparoscopy and trauma. In his free time he enjoys competing in triathlons and spending time with his wife and twin boys.

Michael H. McLaughlin, MD FACS

Dr. McLaughlin grew up in Golden valley where his father was one of the founding physicians at North Memorial. He received his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and his M.D. from Harvard Medical School.

His surgical training was at the University of California, San Diego. After residency, he served as the ship's surgeon aboard the U.S.S. Ranger aircraft carrier and as an attending surgeon at the Balboa Naval Hospital and University Hospital in San Diego before returning to Minneapolis where he has practiced at North Memorial for over 30 years.

He and his wife Candace recently celebrated their 40th anniversary. They live in Golden Valley and have two grown children in Los Angeles and Barcelona.

Away from the hospital, Dr. McLaughlin enjoys fly fishing, tennis, cooking, and his Irish terrier Flannan (who keeps him on a very short leash).

Paul Scott, MD

Joining SGS July 2010

John J. Stoltenberg, MD FACS

Dr. Stoltenberg attended St. Olaf College as an undergraduate and received his M.D. degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine. He completed his residency at Hennepin County Medical Center, and after serving two years at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Oakland, California, he returned to Minnesota and joined SGS. Dr. Stoltenberg is board certified in General Surgery and has special interests in endocrine and laparoscopic surgery. In the past he has served as president of SGS and Minnesota Surgeons. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children and enjoy golf, tennis, photography, and travel.

Gregory J. Vitas, MD FACS

Dr. Vitas graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in microbiology and biochemistry, summa cum laude. He earned his M.D. degree from The University of Health Sciences/ Chicago Medical School, and his residency in general surgery at the Mayo Clinic. He is board certified in general surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. Vitas is also a past President of the Minnesota Surgical Society and secretary of St. Paul Surgical Society. Over the past twenty years Dr. Vitas has served on multiple administrative and clinical hospital committees throughout the twin cities metro area.

Dr. Vitas provides a wide spectrum of general surgical care, encompassing open and laparoscopic treatment of gastro-intestinal, biliary, thyroid, parathyroid, breast, abdominal wall hernias, and colon and rectal disorders, including endovenous ablation for varicose veins.

Dr. Vitas is an avid military aviation enthusiast, pilot, and bluegrass guitar player.

He and his wife Jewel have two sons, Joey a freshman at The Berklee College of Music in Boston, and Danny a junior at Orono High School.

Elizabeth Becker, RN

Elizabeth earned her B.S. in nursing from the College of St Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has been with SGS for more than seven years, and is a member of Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society of Nursing. Elizabeth works as a registered nurse for SGS, but in her free time enjoys hiking and camping with her husband and their three daughters.

Amy Campeau, CSTFA

Amy has been a Certified Surgical Technologist since 1987 and has worked with Unity Hospital for eleven years. In July of 1999, she became a Certified First Assistant and has worked in that capacity for SGS ever since. Amy enjoys raising her daughter and spending time with family and friends.

Tiffaney Hammer, PAC

Tiffaney, originally a native of Minnesota, received her undergraduate degree from Iowa State University in Exercise Science. She then went on to complete her Masters of Physician Assistant at Des Moines University in Iowa. January of 2009, Tiffaney joined SGS. She was happy to move back to Minnesota and in her free time enjoys the outdoors, traveling, hunting/fishing, and watching her favorite Minnesota Twins with her husband.

Darla Morris-Preble, BS MBA
Administrator

Darla earned an M.B.A. degree from the University of St. Thomas and her B.S.in nursing from Bethel College in Arden Hills, Minnesota. She has a background in quality improvement, managed care, trauma, and critical care. Darla participates in MN Credentialing Collaborative Board and Minnesota Medical Association Medical Practice and Planning Committee along with the Hoban Scholarship Selection Committee; currently a member of Medical Group Managers Association and is past chair of the MMGMA Payer Relations committee. Darla and her husband enjoy hiking, biking and water sports with their two adult children.

Alissa Ventura, PAC

Alissa, originally a native of California, received her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She then went on to complete her Masters of Physician Assistant at the University of New England in Portland, ME. She has been a part of SGS since the summer of 2004 and has enjoyed making Minnesota her home with her husband, Andrew.

Rachel Wilkerson, PAC

Rachel completed her bachelor of science in biology at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. She joined SGS in 2006 after earning her masters in Physician Assistant studies at Rosalind Franlkin University in North Chicago, IL. In her free time Rachel enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with friends and family.