By TIM UNRUH

Salina Journal

While filling in at Salina Regional Health Center, heart surgeon John J. Kelemen III developed a fondness for the town and the job.

He developed such a fondness, in fact, that Dr. Kelemen, 44, started full time Monday as Salina's cardiothoracic surgeon, moving from a practice with Cedar Surgical Associates, Wichita.

Kelemen had been covering duties when Salina's heart surgeon, Dr. Mace Braxton, was on vacation. When Braxton died Feb. 15, Kelemen began spending more time in Salina.

"I've been pretty much up here three or four days a week for the last six months and also covering for vacations for the last couple years," Kelemen said. "As I spent more time, I liked it better and better and decided to make the switch."

Assuming a lead role on Salina Regional's heart team also was an attraction, he said.

Salina Regional is in the process of securing a surgeon who can cover for Kelemen when he's out of town, said Joel Phelps, chief operating officer of the hospital.

"Our goal for the heart program is to have good outcomes, a quality program that takes care of people and the community and serves their needs," Kelemen said.

The team is adding endovascular surgery, a minimally invasive way to do peripheral vascular surgery, he said, which is operating on abdominal aneurisms and blood vessels in the arms, legs and neck.

Kelemen is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.

Prior to coming to Kansas, Kelemen was in the U.S. Army Medical Corps., most recently in North Carolina. He served deployments in Germany and Kenya.

Kelemen's background and training are pluses for the hospital's heart program, Phelps said.

"We feel like we've had a very solid program over the past 12 years. With the passing of Braxton, Kelemen brings an ability to build on that program, reach out to people in north-central Kansas and build on the strong foundation we currently have," Phelps said.

The advantage of practicing in Salina is building on one program in one hospital, he said, "instead of practicing at four or five hospitals" in a metropolitan area.

Kelemen is in the process of moving to Salina with his wife, Sara, and five children.

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mrbill67401 says....
Welcome to Salina Dr. Kelemen, and a big thank you for being the man who performed my surgery in December, '06!
9/3/2008

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