The Surgeons at Richmond Surgical Group have successfully operated on thousands of patients using laparoscopic, robotic and open techniques for the following diseases:

• Abdominal Wall Pathology (Inguinal Hernia and Ventral Hernia)
• Breast Diseases (Benign and Malignant)
• Diseases of the Colon (Colon cancer and Diverticulitis)
• Disease of the Esophagus (Heller Myotomy for Achalasia)
• Diseases of the Spleen
• Endocrine Pathology (Thyroid, Parathyroid and Adrenal Surgery)
• Gastric and Appendix Pathology
• Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease-GERD (Nissen Fundoplication)
• Gastrointestinal Oncology
• Hepatobiliary Disease (Gall Bladder and Liver Pathology)
• Non-Gastrointestinal Oncology
• Pancreatic Disease (Benign and malignant)
• Skin Conditions (Benign and malignant)

George A. Knaysi, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Special Medical Focus: breast, thyroid, and parathyroid disease.

After receiving his medical degree from Upstate Medical Center in New York in 1965, Dr. Knaysi completed a 6-year General Surgery internship and residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. He is certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery.

Dr. Knaysi has served as Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at VCU Medical Center, President of the Medical Staff at St. Mary's Hospital, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Richmond Academy of Medicine. Dr. Knaysi also served as Chair of The Board of Directors of Bon Secours Richmond in 2004 and 2005.

Three times his peers chose Dr. Knaysi as Richmond's "Best General Surgeon" according to Richmond Magazine.

Eric P. Melzig, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Special Medical Focus: breast, general, thyroid, parathyroid, and laparoscopic surgery.

Dr. Melzig received his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1972. He completed a 5-year General Surgery Internship & Residency at the Medical College of Virginia and a 1-year Surgery Oncology Fellowship with the American Cancer Society. He is certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery.

Dr. Melzig has served as Chief of Surgery at Henrico Doctors' Hospital-Forest and President of Richmond Surgical Society. He was chosen by his peers as Richmond's "Best General Surgeon" according to Richmond Magazine.

He is the recipient of the 2007 Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation's Kohlenberg Healthcare Service Award for his deep and abiding commitment to the fight against breast cancer.

Read Dr. Melzig's remarks upon receiving this prestigious award.

William E. Kelley, Jr. M.D., F.A.C.S.
Special Medical Focus: da Vinci Robotics, EsophyX, minimally invasive surgery, general, breast, and cancer surgery.

Dr. Kelley received his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine in 1973. He completed a 5-year General Surgery internship and residency at the Medical College of Virginia, and a 2-year Oncology Fellowship at Boston University School of Medicine. He is certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Kelley has served as Chief of Surgery at Henrico Doctors'-Forest, President of the Richmond Surgical Society, and served as Virginia State Chairman of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons for 7 years.

He is also actively involved in post-graduate surgical education and has developed and taught over 100 courses on laparoscopic surgery and minimally invasive breast biopsy techniques.

Dr. Kelley has served as the Director for Minimally Invasive Surgery Center of Virginia, as well as an editor for the Journal of the Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons, and is a trustee and vice-president of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons.

Dr. Kelley is a recognized leader in the surgical treatment of GERD (Acid Reflux and Hearburn) and is one of the first surgeons in the U.S. to use the new EsophyX, a device for incisionless surgical repair of the valve that prevents reflux.

Richard J. Pettit, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Special Medical Focus: breast, general, and laparoscopic surgery .

Dr. Pettit received his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia in 1978. He completed a 2-year General Surgery residency at the Medical College of Virginia, followed by a 4-year General Surgery residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire. He is certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery and as an Advanced Trauma Life Support Instructor.

Dr. Pettit has served as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Missouri Medical School and at Dartmouth Medical School, and has served as Chairman of Henrico Doctors' Hospital Department of Surgery.

Barklie W. Zimmerman, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Special Medical Focus: general, vascular, and breast surgery.

Dr. Zimmerman received his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia in 1980. He completed a 5-year General Surgery internship and residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire, followed by a 1-year Vascular Surgery Fellowship at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston. He is certified in General Surgery and Vascular Surgery by the American Board of Surgery and registered in Vascular Technology.

Dr. Zimmerman has served as Vice President of the Richmond Surgical Society and as President of the Medical Staff at Henrico Doctors' Hospital-Forest. He has also served as Medical Director of the Henrico Doctors' Hospital-Forest, Memorial Regional, and Richmond Surgical Group's Vascular Laboratories

Gerardo Mendez-Picon, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Special Medical Focus: transplant, thoracic, general, and vascular surgery.

Dr. Mendez-Picon received his medical degree from the University of Santiago de Composeia, Spain in 1966. He completed a 1-year General Surgery residency and a 1-year Organ Transplantation Fellowship at the Medical College of Virginia. Dr. Mendez-Picon is certified in General Surgery and Vascular Surgery by the American Board of Surgery.

Dr. Mendez-Picon has served as Professor of Surgery, Division of Vascular and Transplant Surgery at the Medical College of Virginia and served as Director of the Virginia Transplant Center Kidney Program at Henrico Doctors' Hospital-Forest.

Kenneth B. Brown, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Special Medical Focus: transplant, general, and vascular surgery.

Dr. Brown received his medical degree from the University of Virginia Medical School in 1983. He completed a 1-year research fellowship at the University of Virginia, a 5-year General Surgery internship and residency at the Medical College of Virginia, and a 1-year Organ Transplantation fellowship at the Medical College of Virginia. He is certified in General Surgery and Vascular Surgery by the American Board of Surgery.

Dr. Brown has served as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Medical College of Virginia and as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Kidney Foundation of Virginia.

Clifford L. Deal, M.D.
Special Medical Focus: oncology, endocrine, breast, hernias, general, and advanced laparoscopic surgery.

Dr. Deal received his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2000 and completed a 5-year general surgery residency at the Medical College of Virginia. He is certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery.

He has received the Outstanding Resident Physician Leader award from the Richmond Academy of Medicine and the Rising Young Star Award from the Medical Society of Virginia. He holds a faculty appointment at the Medical College of Virginia as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery and serves on the Patient Safety Committee at Henrico Doctors' Hospital-Forest.

Susan Uhle, RN, MSN, Certified Nurse Practitioner (Center for Breast Care)
Special Medical Focus: breast cancer, benign breast disease, high risk management, genetic counseling.

Ms. Uhle received her undergraduate degree in nursing from Medical College of Virginia in 1980 and graduated in Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society. She was awarded the Masters of Science in nursing after studies at Catholic University and Medical College of Virginia, where she received the Temple Award for patient advocacy. She has served as clinical faculty at the School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University.

Her continuing professional passion is addressing emotional concerns of patients during the diagnostic and treatment process.

Erin Bailey, MMS, Physician Assistant
Special Medical Focus: Assisting with general surgery and advanced laparoscopy, Robot-assisted laparoscopy, and breast surgery.

Ms. Bailey received her Bachelor's Degree from James Madison University in Health Sciences and her Master's Degree in Medical Science with a concentration in Physician Assistant Studies from Wake Forest University. Erin maintains current PA certification with the NCCPA and is a member of the American Association of Physician Assistants and the Virginia Academy of PAs.

Her continuing professional passion is addressing emotional concerns of patients during the diagnostic and treatment process.

Ralph E. Layman, M.D.
Special Medical Focus: transplant, hepatobiliary, general, vascular and laparoscopic surgery.

Dr. Layman received his medical degree from the University of Chicago in 2001.  He completed a 5-year General Surgery internship and residency along with a 1-year Research Fellowship in Transplant Immunology at the Medical College of Wisconsin.  During that time he also participated in a surgical exchange program with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.  In 2009 he completed a 2-year Organ Transplantation Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh.  Dr. Layman is certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery and in Organ Transplantation by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.

Dr. Layman is an officer in the United States Army Medical Corps.  He served as a Trauma Surgeon in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

Debra A. Hutchins, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Dr. Debra A. Hutchins earned her undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. She completed her General Surgery training at the University of Colorado, Denver.

Dr. Hutchins is Board Certified in General Surgery. Her special interests include breast, parathyroid and thyroid surgery. She practiced for eight years in Northern Virginia where she was voted by her peers, and the Washingtonian Magazine, as one of the “Washington Area Top Doctors.” She then practiced for two and half years in Dubai, UAE prior to joining Richmond Surgical Group, Inc.