About Dr. Paulson
Carter Paulson completed a fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania after finishing her General Surgery Residency. In 1999 she graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.S. in chemistry. She then completed medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. During her two years of surgical research she completed a Master's Degree in Clinical Epidemiology. Her research interests include epidemiology and outcomes studies focusing on GI oncology, particularly and colorectal cancer.
Faculty Appointments
2012 - present
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hospital and Administrative Appointments
2011 - present
Attending Surgeon
Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2011 - present
Courtesy Staff
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Other Appointment
2013 - present
Surgery Residency Program Director
Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Philadelphia
2012 - present
Site Coordinator for the Surgery 200 Clerkship
Veterans Affairs Medical Center of Philadelphia
2011 - present
Customary teaching and clinical responsibilities for attending surgeon, including surgical treatment of patients and teaching of medical students, residents and fellows in the OR, on patient rounds and in the outpatient clinic.
2011 - present
Instructor in Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2007 - 2008
Instructor in Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2003 - 2006
Assistant Instructor in Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2006 - 2008
M.S. University of Pennsylvania
(Clinical Epidemiology)
1999 - 2003
M.D. University of Pennsylvania
1995 - 1999
B.S. University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
(Chemistry, with distinction)
Postgraduate Training and Fellowship Appointments
2009 - 2011
Residency in Colon and Rectal Surgery
Perelman School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2004 - 2009
Residency in Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2003 - 2004
Internship in Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Awards
2008
Jonathan E. Rhoads Research Award, Department of Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
2008
William Y. Inouye Resident Teaching Award, Department of Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
2004
Penn Center of Surgical Excellence Scholar Award, Department of Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
2003
Janet M. Glasgow Memorial Achievement Citation, American Medical Women’s Association, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
2003
I. S. Ravdin Prize, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
2003
Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
1999
Bachelor of Science with Distinction, University of Virginia
1998
Phi Beta Kappa, Junior year inductee, University of Virginia
1995 - 1999
Echols Scholar, University of Virginia
Societies
National/International Societies
2011 - present
American College of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
2007 - 2010
Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
2006 - present
American College of Surgeons
Local/Regional Societies
2012 - present
Pennsylvania Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
Research
2008 - 2009
The Influence of Gender on Colorectal Cancer Surgical Outcomes and Operative Decision-Making
2008
FOCUS/ Dept. of Surgery Junior Faculty Investigator (JFI) Pilot Award for Research in Women's Health & Surgery
Publications
Research Publications, Peer Reviewed
- Paulson EC, Singhal S, Kucharczuk J, Sterman D, Kaiser L, Marshall MB. Bronchial sleeve resection for post-transplant stricture. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 76(6):2075-2076, Dec. 2003.
- Paulson EC, Mahmoud N. Sigmoid colon duplication cysts. American Surgeon 74(3): 750-752, Mar. 2008.
- Ra J, Paulson EC, Kucharczuk J, Armstrong K, Wirtalla C, Rapaport-Kelz R, Kaiser LR, Spitz F. Postoperative mortality following esophagectomy for cancer: Development of a pre-operative risk prediction model. Annals of Surgical Oncology 15(6):1577-1584, June 2008.
- Paulson EC, Mitra N, Wirtalla C, Sonnad S, Kelz R, Armstrong K, Mahmoud N. NCI designation predicts improved outcomes in colorectal cancer surgery. Annals of Surgery 248(4):675-686, Oct. 2008.
- Paulson EC, Ra J, Armstrong K, Wirtalla C, Spitz F, Kelz R. Underutilization of esophagectomy as treatment for resectable esophageal cancer. Archives of Surgery 143(2):1198-1203, Dec. 2008.
- Fitzpatrick JR, Frederick JR, Hiesinger W, Hsu VM, McCormick RC, Kozin ED, Laporte CM, O’Hara ML, Howell E, Dougherty D, Cohen JE, Southerland KW, Howard JL, Paulson EC, Acker MA, Morris RJ, Woo YJ. Early planned institution of biventricular mechanical circulatory support results in improved outcomes compared with delayed conversion of a left ventricular assist device to a biventricular assist device. Journal of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery 137(4):971-977, Apr. 2009.
- Roses RE, Paulson EC, Sharma A, Schueller JE, Nisenbaum H, Weinstein S, Fox KR, Zhang PJ, Czerniecki BJ. HER-2/NEU overexpression as a predictor for the transition from in situ to invasive breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 18(5):1386-1389, May 2009.
- Kelz RR, Tran TT, Hosokawa P, Henderson W, Paulson EC, Spitz F, Hamilton BH, Hall BL. Time of day effects on surgical outcomes in the private sector: A retrospective cohort study. Journal of the American College of Surgeons 209(4):434-445.e2, Oct. 2009.
- Roses, RE, Foley PJ, Paulson EC, Pray L, Kelz RR, Williams NN, Morris JB. Revisiting the rotating call schedule in less than 80 hours per week. Journal of Surgical Education 66(6):357-360, Nov./Dec. 2009.
- Paulson EC, Wirtalla C, Armstrong K, Mahmoud N. Gender influences treatment and survival in colorectal cancer surgery. Diseases of the Colon & Rectum 52(12):1982-1993, Dec. 2009.
- Paulson EC, Mahmoud N, Wirtalla C, Armstrong K. Acuity and survival in colon cancer surgery. Diseases of the Colon & Rectum 53(4):385-392, Apr. 2010.
- Fitzpatrick JR, Frederick JR, McCormick RC, Harris DA, Kim A, Muenzer JR, Gambogi JA, Liu JP, Paulson EC, Woo YJ. Tissue Engineered pro-angiogenic fibroblast scaffold improves myocardial perfusion and function and limits ventricular remodeling following infarction. Journal of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery 140(3):667-676, Sept. 2010.
- Paulson EC, Fu X, Epstein A. Location and timing of care for colon cancer patients in the VA Health System. Journal of Surgical Research. 183:639-644, 3/2013.
- Smith RK, Broach RB, Hedrick TL, Mahmoud NN, Paulson EC. The impact of body mass index on post-operative outcomes in patients undergoing proctectomy for rectal cancer: A NSQIP analysis. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum. Accepted for publication 11 /2013.
Reviews in Peer Reviewed Research Publications
- Paulson EC. Biologic Therapy and Surgery for Crohn’s Disease. Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery. 26:128–134, 2013
Abstracts
- Ra J, Paulson EC, Wirtalla C, Rohrbach J, Kelz R, Cooper J, Rosato E, Gorman J, Kaiser L, Kucharczuk J, Spitz F. Predictors of postoperative course following esophagectomy at a high volume institution. Presented at the 3rd Annual Academic Surgical Congress, Huntington Beach, CA, Feb. 13-15, 2008.
- Paulson EC, Ra J, Wirtalla C, Kucharczuk J, Kelz R, Spitz F. Postoperative mortality following esophagectomy for cancer: Development of a risk prediction model utilizing the SEER-Medicare database. Poster presentation at the Society for Surgical Oncology. 61st Annual Cancer Symposium, Chicago, IL, Mar. 13-16, 2008.
- Roses R, Paulson EC, Sharma A, Czerniecki B. HER-2/neu over-expression as a predictor of invasive breast cancer in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ. Presented at the Society for Surgical Oncology 61st Annual Cancer Symposium, Chicago, IL, Mar. 13-16, 2008.
- Paulson EC, Wirtalla C, Armstrong K, Mahmoud N. Lymph node harvest and survival in rectal cancer. Presented at the Conjoint Scientific Session, Philadelphia Academy of Surgery and the New York Surgical Society, Philadelphia, PA, Apr. 9, 2008.
- Paulson EC, Mitra N, Wirtalla C, Sonnad S, Kelz R, Armstrong K, Mahmoud N. NCI designation predicts improved outcomes in colorectal cancer surgery. Presented at the American Surgical Association 128th Annual Meeting. New York, NY, Apr. 24-26, 2008.
- Paulson EC, Wirtalla C, Armstrong K, Mahmoud N. Lymph node harvest and survival in rectal cancer. Poster presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 44th Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, May 30-June 3, 2008.
- Paulson EC, Wirtalla C, Armstrong K, Mahmoud N. Factors associated with outcomes follow-ing emergent resection for colon cancer: A population-based study. Presented at the American College of Surgeons 94th Annual Clinical Congress, San Francisco, CA, Oct 15, 2008.
- Roses, RE, Foley PJ, Paulson EC, Pray L, Kelz RR, Williams NN, Morris JB. Revisiting the rotating call schedule in less than 80 hours per week. Presented at Surgical Education Week, Salt Lake City, UT, Apr. 28-May 2, 2009.
Editorials, Chapters & Participation in Committee Reports
- Paulson EC, Mahmoud N. Sigmoid colon duplication cysts. [Case Report] American Surgeon 74(3): 750-752, Mar. 2008.
- Paulson EC, Roses RR, Morris JB. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Chap. 12 in Roses RE, Paulson EC, Kanchwala SK, Morris JB (eds.): Gowned and Gloved Surgery: Introduction to Common Procedures. Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2009, 92-101.
- Paulson EC, Mahmoud NN. Colectomy. Chap. 16 in Roses RE, Paulson EC, Kanchwala SK, Morris JB (eds.): Gowned and Gloved Surgery: Introduction to Common Procedures. Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2009, 131-144.
- Paulson EC, Kelz RR. Adrenalectomy. Chap. 19 in Roses RE, Paulson EC, Kanchwala SK, Morris JB (eds.): Gowned and Gloved Surgery: Introduction to Common Procedures. Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2009, 166-176.
- Paulson EC, Sonnad S. Statistics. Section 1, Chap. 6 in Porrett PM, Roses RE, Frederick JR, Kaiser LR (eds.): The Surgical Review: An Integrated Basic and Clinical Science Study Guide, 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2009, 60-70.
- Paulson EC, Mahmoud NN. Evidence-Based decision-making in colon and rectal surgery. Chap. 183 in Yeo C (ed.): Shackelford’s Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, 7th edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2013, 2308-2316.
Books
- Roses RE, Paulson EC, Kanchwala SK, Morris JB (eds.): Gowned and Gloved Surgery: Introduction to Common Procedures. Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences, 2009.