Study Names Obesity Itself as Actual Cause of MLL Overgrowths

Mark J. Holterman, MD, serves as a professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. In addition to teaching classes in the fields of pediatrics and surgery, Dr. Mark J. Holterman maintains standing as a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons reveals that abnormal lower extremity growths in morbidly obese individuals are the result of a condition called obesity-induced lymphedema (OIL), which is a disease directly caused by morbid obesity.

In the pilot study, researchers sought to find the connection between obesity and lower extremity overgrowths, as little information was previously known on the subject. The typical procedure has been surgical removal of these growths. Researchers found, however, that losing weight through natural means (diet, exercise) or in more difficult cases via bariatric surgery are now the preferred treatment of these growths rather than surgical removal.

The overgrowth condition is called massive localized lymphedema (MLL), and this study is the first to actually link the condition directly to OIL. The recommendation for patients with MLL growths is that they receive weight loss counseling, preferably non-surgical in nature, before surgical treatments are considered.

IPSAC Vietnam Scholarship Program Supports Physicians in Vietnam

 

Mark J. Holterman, MD, serves as a professor of surgery and pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, where he is a member of the surgery department’s division of pediatric surgery. Outside his work with the university’s surgery department, Dr. Mark J. Holterman supports the International Pediatric Specialists Alliance for the Children of Vietnam (IPSAC-VN), which advances the quality of health care in Vietnam through the IPSAC Vietnam Scholarship Program.

Granting awards of $2,500 to eligible Vietnam-based medical persons, the scholarship program focuses on granting access to a tailored education to nurses, allied medical personnel, and licensed and in-training physicians. The scholarship enables recipients to attend a US-based medical institution approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and covers educational expenses associated with clinical practices or translational research training for up to two months. Funds may also go toward travel and room and board.

Eligible applicants must possess a firm grasp of the English language and provide a letter of recommendation from their home institution that highlights the applicant’s dedication to quality health care. Award recipients will receive a certificate from the IPSAC-VN and the host medical institution upon completing the program, and must then return to their original institution in Vietnam. Certificates do not grant license to practice in the US, nor may they apply toward application for a US residency or fellowship program.

Medical Fields - Regenerative Medicine

 

A surgeon and researcher, Dr. Mark J. Holterman pursued original medical research funded through the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute. When not performing research, Dr. Mark J. Holterman teaches up-and-coming MDs as professor of surgery and pediatrics with the University of Illinois at Peoria College of Medicine.

Regenerative medicine seeks to address the underlying causes of illnesses by actually repairing damaged organs or replacing those that cannot be salvaged. Physicians who practice regenerative medicine may, for instance, use techniques to encourage slow-healing organs like the heart to heal faster or more effectively. They may also replace entire organs through transplantation procedures or help the body re-grow damaged tissues through cell-based treatments.

If advances in regenerative treatments continue, the future could hold medical wonders that can improve quality of life and longevity. Regenerative care could one day allow doctors to create functioning pancreases that could then be placed inside patients with diabetes, allowing them to produce insulin as normal. Similar breakthroughs may permit people with spinal injuries to walk unaided.

Mark J. Holterman, MD, PhD

Why did you choose to specialize in pediatric surgery?
All of the challenges and rewards of surgical problems in children.

What do you enjoy most about being a physician at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois? 
Working with other dedicated staff members who take pride in their work.

Tell us something interesting about yourself.
I grew up on a farm.

Tell us something about your family life.I have three sons in college.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of medicine? 
Medical mission work in Vietnam.

General Information

Languages: English, Spanish

Title(s): Professor of Surgery & Pediatrics – University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria

Medical Education: University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)

Internship(s): University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA; 1988-1989)

Residency: University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA; 1989-1993)

Fellowship(s): Pediatric Surgery – University of Washington (Seattle, WA; 1993-1995)

Board Certification(s): Pediatric Surgery – American Board of Surgery

Clinical Interests: Anorectal Malformations, Chronic Abdominal Pain, Airway Issues

Professional Memberships: American Diabetes Association, American Association of Clinical Anatomy, Association of Academic Surgeons, Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies, Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons

Awards & Recognition: Top Doctors in the Nation – Castle-Connelly, National Merit Scholar – Yale University, Medical Scientist Training Program – National Institutes of Health, Innovative Research Award – American Diabetes Association

Philosophy of Care: Find the problem and fix it.

Associated with: Children’s Hospital of Illinois, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center