
The Hal B. Jenson MD Dean
Professor, Department of Surgery
Biosketch
Paula Termuhlen, MD, FACS, is Dean and Professor of Surgery at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine. Prior to coming to Kalamazoo, Dr. Termuhlen was the regional dean for the Duluth Campus at the University of Minnesota Medical School since 2015, serving more than 130 students in their first two years of medical school and 50 faculty educators and scientists in the mission of training physicians for rural and Native American communities. Prior to that, she was a member of the faculty at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, and the Medical College of Wisconsin. She served as a general surgery residency program director at Wright State University and the Medical College of Wisconsin. She was also vice-chair of the Department of Surgery at Wright State University. While at the Medical College of Wisconsin, she led the development team for the creation of two new regional campuses in Green Bay and Central Wisconsin.
Dr. Termuhlen is a graduate of St. Louis University School of Medicine and completed her general surgery training at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and a surgical oncology fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is widely published in surgical oncology and surgical education. Dr. Termuhlen is a past president of the Association of Program Directors in Surgery and an inaugural member of the Academy of Master Surgeon Educators. Additionally, she has served in a variety of roles for the American College of Surgeons, Association of American Medical Colleges, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, National Board of Medical Examiners United States Medical Licensing Examination.
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Education and Training
- Fellowship 1998, Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Residency 1995, General Surgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
- Research Fellowship 1993, National Institute of Health T-32, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- MD 1989, Saint Louis University
- BS 1985, Saint Louis University
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Research
- Work hour limitations
- Surgical Oncology
- Rural Health Care
- Resident Education
- Native American/American Indian health care
- General surgery education
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Publications
Emanuelson R.D., Brown S.J., Termuhlen P.M. Interhospital transfer (IHT) in emergency general surgery patients (EGS): A scoping review Surgery Open Science. 2022;9:69-79.
Nguyen M., Cerasani M., Dinka L.A., Rodriguez J.A., Omoruan M., Acosta E., Alder K.D., Brutus N.N., Termuhlen P.M., Dardik A., Mason H.R.C., Stain S.C. Association of Demographic Factors and Medical School Experiences with Students' Intention to Pursue a Surgical Specialty and Practice in Underserved Areas JAMA Surgery. 2021;156
Rosenkranz K.M., Arora T.K., Termuhlen P.M., Stain S.C., Misra S., Dent D., Nfosnam V. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Medicine: Why It Matters and How do We Achieve It? Journal of Surgical Education. 2021;78:1058-1065.
Skube S.J., Thorndal N., Boulger J.G., Clark K., Coverdill J.E., Termuhlen P.M., Chipman J.G., Acton R.D. Outcomes and influences of rural-focused integrated clerkship programs in general surgery American Journal of Surgery. 2020;219(2):355-358.
Statz M., Termuhlen P. Rural legal deserts are a critical health determinant American Journal of Public Health. 2020;110(10):1519-1522.
Mercier P.J., Skube S.J., Leonard S.L., McElroy A.N., Goettl T.G., Najarian M.M., Termuhlen P.M., Chipman J.G. Creating a Rural Surgery Track and a Review of Rural Surgery Training Programs Journal of Surgical Education. 2019;76:459-468.
Coverdill J.E., Alseidi A., Borgstrom D.C., Dent D.L., Dumire R., Fryer J., Hartranft T.H., Holsten S.B., Nelson M.T., Shabahang M.M., Sherman S.R., Termuhlen P.M., Woods R.J., Mellinger J.D. Assessing the 16 hour intern shift limit: Results of a multi-center, mixed-methods study of residents and faculty in general surgery American Journal of Surgery. 2018;215(2):326-330.
Coverdill J.E., Shelton J.S., Alseidi A., Borgstrom D.C., Dent D.L., Dumire R., Fryer J., Hartranft T.H., Holsten S.B., Nelson M.T., Shabahang M.M., Sherman S.R., Termuhlen P.M., Woods R.J., Mellinger J.D. The promise and problems of non-physician practitioners in general surgery education: Results of a multi-center, mixed-methods study of faculty American Journal of Surgery. 2018;215(2):222-226.
Stella J.J., Lamb D.L., Stain S.C., Termuhlen P.M. Understanding ACGME scholarly activity requirements for general surgery programs in the era of single accreditation and the next accreditation system American Surgeon. 2018;84(2):E40-E43.
Termuhlen P., Westra R. Survivorship Quality Cancer Care: Survivorship Before, During and After Treatment. 2018:103-117.
Coverdill J.E., Alseidi A., Borgstrom D.C., Dent D.L., Dumire R.D., Fryer J., Hartranft T.H., Holsten S.B., Timothy Nelson M., Shabahang M., Sherman S., Termuhlen P.M., Woods R.J., Mellinger J.D. Professionalism in the twilight zone: A multicenter, mixed-methods study of shift transition dynamics in surgical residencies Academic Medicine. 2016;91(11):S31-S36.
Joshi A.R.T., Vargo D., Mathis A., Love J.N., Dhir T., Termuhlen P.M. Surgical Residency Recruitment—Opportunities for Improvement Journal of Surgical Education. 2016;73(6):e104-e110.
Ragalie W., Termuhlen P., Little A. Changes in Thoracic Surgery Experience During General Surgery Residency: A Review of the Case Logs From the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2016;102(6):2095-2098.
Termuhlen P.M., O-Yurvati A.H., Stella J. Requirements for certification in surgery: A comparison of the American board of surgery and the American osteopathic board of surgery Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 2016;116(10):676-682.
Minter R.M., Amos K.D., Bentz M.L., Blair P.G., Brandt C., D'Cunha J., Davis E., Delman K.A., Deutsch E.S., Divino C., Kingsley D., Klingensmith M., Meterissian S., Sachdeva A.K., Terhune K., Termuhlen P.M., Mullan P.B. Transition to Surgical Residency: A Multi-Institutional Study of Perceived Intern Preparedness and the Effect of a Formal Residency Preparatory Course in the Fourth Year of Medical School Academic Medicine. 2015;90(8):1116-1124.
Yost M.J., Gardner J., Bell R.M.M., Fann S.A., Lisk J.R., Cheadle W.G., Goldman M.H., Rawn S., Weigelt J.A., Termuhlen P.M., Woods R.J., Endean E.D., Kimbrough J., Hulme M. Predicting academic performance in surgical training Journal of Surgical Education. 2015;72(3):491-499.
Amin A., Purdy A.C., Mattingly J.D., Kong A.L., Termuhlen P.M. Benign Breast Disease Surgical Clinics of North America. 2013;93(2):299-308.
Grignol V., Grannan K., Sabra J., Cromer R., Jarman B., Dent D., Sticca R., Nelson T., Kukora J., Daley B., Treat R., Termuhlen P. Multi-institutional study of self-reported attitudes and behaviors of general surgery residents about ethical academic practices in test taking Journal of Surgical Education. 2013;70(6):777-781.
Gustafson J., Fox J., Ouellette J., Hellan M., Termuhlen P., McCarthy M., Thambi-Pillai T. Open versus laparoscopic liver resection: Looking beyond the immediate postoperative period Surgical Endoscopy. 2012;26(2):468-472.
Tuttle R., Miller K.R., Maiorano J.N., Termuhlen P.M., Gao Y., Berberich S.J. Novel senescence associated gene, YPEL3, is repressed by estrogen in ER+ mammary tumor cells and required for tamoxifen-induced cellular senescence International Journal of Cancer. 2012;130(10):2291-2299.
Coverdill J.E., Carbonell A.M., Cogbill T.H., Fryer J., Fuhrman G.M., Harold K.L., Hiatt J.R., Moore R.A., Nakayama D.K., Nelson M.T., Schlatter M., Sidwell R.A., Tarpley J.L., Termuhlen P.M., Wohltmann C., Mellinger J.D. Professional values, value conflicts, and assessments of the duty-hour restrictions after six years: A multi-institutional study of surgical faculty and residents American Journal of Surgery. 2011;201(1):16-23.
Grignol V., Termuhlen P. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor surgery and adjuvant therapy Surgical Clinics of North America. 2011;91(5):1079-1087.
Schenarts P., Termuhlen P., Pasley J., Rose J., Friedell M. A primer on how to select osteopathic applicants to an allopathic general surgery residency Journal of Surgical Education. 2011;68(3):239-245.
Termuhlen P., Damewood R., Dent D., Fuhrman G., Haisch C., Nelson M., Borman K., Friedell M. Development of an industry relations policy by the association of program directors in surgery: A report from the finance committee Journal of Surgical Education. 2011;68(5):347-349.
Tuttle R., Simon M., Hitch D.C., Maiorano J.N., Hellan M., Ouellette J., Termuhlen P., Berberich S.J. Senescence-associated gene YPEL3 is downregulated in human colon tumors Annals of Surgical Oncology. 2011;18(6):1791-1796.
Van Eaton E., Tarpley J., Solorzano C., Cho C., Weber S., Termuhlen P. Resident education in 2011: Three key challenges on the road ahead Surgery. 2011;149(4):465-473.
Coverdill J., Carbonell A., Fryer J., Fuhrman G., Harold K., Hiatt J., Jarman B., Moore R., Nakayama D., Nelson M., Schlatter M., Sidwell R., Tarpley J., Termuhlen P., Wohltmann C., Mellinger J. A new professionalism? Surgical residents, duty hours restrictions, and shift transitions Academic Medicine. 2010;85(10 SUPPL.)
Grignol V., Gans A., Booth B., Markert R., Termuhlen P. Self-reported attitudes and behaviors of general surgery residents about ethical academic practices in test taking Surgery. 2010;148(2):178-180.
Izu B., Monson B., Little A., Termuhlen P. Surgical Practice: Evidence or Anecdote Journal of Surgical Education. 2009;66(5):281-284.
Downey D., Ekeh A., McCarthy M., Johnson R., Termuhlen P. The Practical Application of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's General Competencies through the Formation of a "Trauma Support Group" Journal of Surgical Education. 2008;65(2):133-135.
Termuhlen P., Izu B. What Will We Do for Basic Science Conference This Year? Organs in Depth Journal of Surgical Education. 2008;65(2):137-139.
Izu B., Johnson R., Termuhlen P., Little A. Effect of the 30-Hour Work Limit on Resident Experience and Education Journal of Surgical Education. 2007;64(6):361-364.
Termuhlen P., Mann B. The resident, the student, and the competencies American Journal of Surgery. 2007;193(1):94-95.
Coverdill J.E., Adrales G.L., Finlay W., Mellinger J.D., Anderson K.D., Bonnell B.W., Cofer J.B., Dorner D.B., Haisch C., Harold K.L., Termuhlen P.M., Webb A.L.B. How surgical faculty and residents assess the first year of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education duty-hour restrictions: Results of a multi-institutional study American Journal of Surgery. 2006;191(1):11-16.
Coverdill J.E., Finlay W., Adrales G.L., Mellinger J.D., Anderson K.D., Bonnell B.W., Cofer J.B., Dorner D.B., Haisch C., Harold K.L., Termuhlen P.M., Webb A.L.B. Duty-hour restrictions and the work of surgical faculty: Results of a multi-institutional study Academic Medicine. 2006;81(1):50-56.
Ouellette J., Patterson L., Termuhlen P. Interventional options for malignant upper gastrointestinal obstruction Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2005;8(2):448-449.
Stamp T., Termuhlen P., Miller S., Nolan D., Hutzel P., Gilchrist J., Johnson R. Before and after resident work hour limitations: An objective assessment of the well-being of surgical residents Current Surgery. 2005;62(1):117-121.
Ouellette J., Small D., Termuhlen P. Evaluation of Charlson-Age Comorbidity Index as predictor of morbidity and mortality in patients with colorectal carcinoma Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. 2004;8(8):1061-1067.
Ouellette J., Woodyard L., Toth L., Termuhlen P. Merkel cell carcinoma metastatic to the head of the pancreas Journal of the Pancreas. 2004;5(2):92-96.
Termuhlen P., Kemeny M. Surgery in the older patient. Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.). 2002;16(2)
Termuhlen P., Sweeney-Gotsch B., Berman R., Ellis L., Bucana C., Shen Y., Cleary K., McConkey D. Increased apoptosis in metastatic human colonic adenocarcinomas Cancer Biology and Therapy. 2002;1(1):58-63.
Windham T.C., Termuhlen P.M., Ajani J.A., Mansfield P.F. Adenocarcinoma of the stomach in patients age 35 years and younger: No impact of early diagnosis on survival outcome Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2002;81(3):118-124.
Iwamura T., Shibata N., Termuhlen P., Nagano M., Yamada H., Hatakeyama K., Hayashi T., Toyoda K. Superficial neuroendocrine carcinoma of the esophagus Digestive Endoscopy. 2001;13(4):216-219.
Bold R.J., Termuhlen P.M., McConkey D.J. Apoptosis, cancer and cancer therapy Surgical Oncology. 1997;6(3):133-142.
Bouvet M., Babiera G., Termuhlen P., Hester J., Kantarjian H., Pollock R. Splenectomy in the accelerated or blastic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia: A single-institution, 25-year experience Surgery. 1997;122(1):20-25.
Evans D.B., Termuhlen P.M., Byrd D.R., Ames F.C., Ochran T.G., Rich T.A. Intraoperative radiation therapy following pancreaticoduodenectomy Annals of Surgery. 1993;218(1):54-60.
Termuhlen P.M., Curley S.A., Talamonti M.S., Saboorian M.H., Gallick G.E. Site-specific differences in pp60<sup>c-src</sup> activity in human colorectal metastases Journal of Surgical Research. 1993;54(4):293-298.
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Presentations
- Diversity and Inclusion Beyond Checking the Boxes: Recruiting diversity is not enough, retention is equally important. Termuhlen PM, Association of Program Directors in Surgery 2019 Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, 04/2019
- Training surgeons for rural practice. Termuhlen PM, 48th Annual Webber Day Symposium, Portland, Maine, 04/2019
- Best practices in recruitment and retention. Termuhlen PM, American College of Surgeons 2018 Clinical Congress, Boston, Massachusetts, 10/2018
- Forum on community and volunteer faculty: Setting the stage. Termuhlen PM, American Association of Medical Colleges Forum on Volunteer and Community Faculty, Washington, District of Columbia, 06/2018