Surgeon Close to Home Advantage to Patients, Families
Patients at ThedaCare Medical Center-New London don’t have to travel far for general surgery services.
Brian Hong, MD, joined ThedaCare as a general surgeon. He practices primarily in New London but also travels to ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca. “It’s a nice community,” said Dr. Hong, 35. “It’s a nice pace of living. I really like the staff at the hospital. I like working here.”
Dr. Hong earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and a master’s degree in population health sciences from the University of Wisconsin. He received his medical degree at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and completed his general surgery residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago – Metropolitan Group Hospitals. Dr. Hong belongs to the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Hong said he wanted to return to Wisconsin with his family. He hails from New Berlin and his wife was born and raised in Green Bay. “I’ve only been here five months and I love the community,” he said.
New London had been without a general surgeon for some time so having a local surgeon is a benefit to the community, said Dr. Hong. “Having surgery is a major thing,” he said. “Being able to get good quality care close to home and having family come to visit has been very good for patient families.”
Dr. Hong offers a full breadth of general surgery such as upper and lower endoscopy, breast cancer surgery, small bowel and colon surgery, appendix, gallbladder, hernia surgery and more, often performed with minimally invasive surgery techniques.
He enjoys the ability to help patients through a surgery. “Performing surgery gives me a unique opportunity because I can really change people’s lives in terms of illness,” said Dr. Hong, noting he can be with patients through a distressing time by walking patients through the process, keeping them informed, and being there throughout all phases of their care.
He also enjoys the technical aspect of surgery. “Doing something with your hands, and actually fixing a problem and seeing that done in front of you, is what I like about it,” he said.
Dr. Hong works closely with patients to make sure they are informed. “I think patients in this day and age, with all the information out there, are just as invested in their health care as I am,” he said. “It’s a joy working with patients to come to a mutual understanding and decision as far as what the problem is and how I can treat them.”
Outside of the hospital, Dr. Hong spends time with his wife and two children. He and his wife enjoy playing music and watching music and theater events as well as keeping up with Wisconsin sports teams.
For more than 100 years, ThedaCare™ has been committed to finding a better way to deliver serious and complex healthcare to patients throughout Northeast Wisconsin. The organization serves over 200,000 patients annually and employs more than 7,000 healthcare professionals throughout the region. ThedaCare has seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose as well as 34 clinics in nine counties. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving our specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a non-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service. ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center in Appleton opened in February. For more information, visit www.thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter.
