Dr. Atif Iqbal appointed Surgical Quality Director at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center

HOUSTON (August 20, 2019) – Dr. Atif Iqbal, chief of the Section of Colorectal Surgery in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery (MEDDoS) Division of General Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, has been named Director of Surgical Quality for the department of surgery at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center.

Dr. Iqbal’s responsibilities include providing expert consultation to divisions regarding methods to prevent medical errors, identification and resolution of quality and safety concerns, the creation of surgical quality reports, and the design and maintenance of a culture of safety for our MEDDoS clinical services at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.  He will collaborate with other department leadership in promoting clinical quality improvement opportunities more broadly.

“Dr. Iqbal’s years of surgical, research and leadership experience are invaluable as we look to identify and ensure quality and patient safety in the operating room,” said Doug Lawson, Ph.D, president, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center.

Dr. Iqbal specializes in surgical procedures for benign and malignant pathology of the colon, rectum, and anus. He has a particular interest in advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgical procedures for colon and rectal cancer, including sphincter-saving procedures for low rectal cancer. Besides being nationally recognized for his expertise in colon cancer treatment, Dr. Iqbal currently serves as the surgical expert on the NCI Rectal-Anal Task Force and the Colon task force of the GI steering committee. He is actively involved with the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, and NRG Oncology.

With over 130 research publications, presentations and posters to his name, Dr. Iqbal earned honors for his presentations at the ACS, SAGES and the Commission on Cancer, as well as a medal of achievement in physiology by the Pakistan Physiological Research Organization. He has also won numerous ‘patient nominations’ and awards for the quality of care provided.

Dr. Iqbal has held various leadership positions in the past including Medical Director for the University of Florida outpatient surgical clinics, Program Director for the University of Florida PA residency program, Cancer Liaison Physician for the UF Health cancer network, and the lead robotic surgeon for his division. He earned his medical degree from King Edward Medical University in Lahore, Pakistan, completed his general surgery residency at the University of Missouri, and did a fellowship at Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Dr. Iqbal joined us as Chief of Colorectal Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine earlier this year.

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About Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center

Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center is an 881-bed quaternary care academic medical center that is a joint venture between Baylor College of Medicine and St. Luke’s Health. Located in the Texas Medical Center, the hospital is the home of the Texas Heart® Institute, a cardiovascular research and education institution founded in 1962 by Denton A. Cooley, MD. The hospital was the first facility in Texas and the Southwest designated as a Magnet® hospital for Nursing Excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, receiving the award four consecutive times. Baylor St. Luke’s also has three community emergency centers offering adult and pediatric care for the Greater Houston area.

About the CHI Texas Division

The CHI Texas Division, a member of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), is comprised of three markets―in Houston, St. Luke’s Health (St. Luke’s) is home to eight hospitals, eight emergency centers, Diagnostic & Treatment Center, Radiation & CyberKnife® Center, and numerous Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Group locations throughout Greater Houston; St. Luke’s Health Memorial (three hospitals and a long-term acute care facility in East Texas); and St. Joseph Health (five hospitals and several St. Joseph Medical Group locations across Brazos Valley). In addition, St. Luke’s flagship hospital, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in the Texas Medical Center, is a part of a joint venture agreement with Baylor College of Medicine. Together, St. Luke’s and Baylor College of Medicine are transforming healthcare delivery with a mission to usher in a new era of healthcare to create healthier communities. For more information, visit CHITX.org.

About Catholic Health Initiatives

St. Luke’s Health is a part of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), one of the nation’s largest health systems. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, CHI operates in 17 states and comprises 100 hospitals, including three academic health centers and major teaching hospitals; 30 critical-access facilities; community health-services organizations; accredited nursing colleges; home-health agencies; and other facilities and services that span the inpatient and outpatient continuum of care. Learn more at CatholicHealthInitiatives.org.