New Leaders Oversee Surgery Program and Residents at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center

Rick Waller, M.D.

Ron Wolf, M.D.

Roger Alberty,
M.D.

Oct. 3, 2007

PORTLAND, Ore. — Two experienced surgeons have new leadership responsibilities in the Department of Surgery at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. Rick Waller, M.D., has been named the new chair of the Department of Surgery, and Ron Wolf, M.D., will serve as the new director of the Surgical Residency Program.

“We are honored to have their leadership and talent,” said Janice Burger, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center administrator. “They bring a wealth of skill and experience to our very busy surgery department and residency program.”

Dr. Waller has been an active member of the Providence St. Vincent surgical staff since 1978, and currently serves as medical director of PSVMC’s Quality Management Department. He will continue in that role in addition to his new duties. As surgery department chair, he will oversee more than 25,000 surgeries that are performed at PSVMC each year.

Dr. Waller graduated from the University of Oregon Medical School in 1972. He completed his surgery internship at Moffitt Hospital at University of California, San Francisco, and residencies in neurosurgery at University of Oregon Medical School and microneurosurgery at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh.

As leader of the Surgical Residency Program, Dr. Wolf brings 12 years experience as a physician and surgeon at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center. Prior to joining PSVMC, Dr. Wolf served as a surgeon in the United States Naval Reserve, reaching the rank of lieutenant commander. Wolf currently serves as director of the Surgical Oncology Research Program for Providence Cancer Center. In his new role, Dr. Wolf will oversee and guide more than 60 surgery residents during their rotations at PSVMC each year.

A 1987 graduate of OHSU, Dr. Wolf completed his surgical residency at University of California Davis Medical Center, and clinical and surgical fellowships at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Dr. Waller and Dr. Wolf are assuming the responsibilities of Roger Alberty, M.D., who led the Department of Surgery for the last 12 years.

“Dr. Alberty has been a wonderful part of our surgical community,” said Burger. “I appreciate his long service to our patients and staff.”

In 1969, Dr. Alberty joined Providence as a resident at the old St. Vincent Hospital, which was located in northwest Portland. He continues to support the surgical department in a part-time role, leading Providence St. Vincent Medical Center’s National Surgical Quality Improvement Program efforts and assisting in teaching duties.