3 columbushosp.org A great surgeon and a great listener Meet Jacob Oran, MD Jacob Oran, MD, is a general surgeon — a specialty that’s often misunderstood. “When people hear ‘general surgeon,’ they’re still not quite sure what that entails,” he said. General surgeons specialize in treating a wide variety of conditions. Oran, for example, routinely removes diseased gallbladders, operates on the digestive system, performs breast cancer surgery and does emergency appendix and trauma procedures. In other words, general surgeons have to “know a lot about a lot,” Oran said. A special focus on robotic hernia surgery Oran has a special interest in hernias, which occur when a weakened area of muscle allows part of an organ to bulge through the abdominal wall. Hernias can cause pain and anxiety for people. An unrepaired hernia could also become trapped in the abdominal wall, which is a lifethreatening condition. Whenever possible, Oran repairs hernias using the da Vinci® Xi™ robotic system. Robotic hernia surgery requires only small incisions and offers patients a less painful recovery. Oran uses the same da Vinci® Xi™ robotic system offered in metro hospitals. “You’re not getting a lesser surgery because you’re in a smaller community,” he said. Becoming a surgeon Originally from Arizona, Oran moved with his family to Beatrice, Nebraska, when he was in fourth grade to be closer to his grandparents in Lincoln. After high school, he attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, which is where he decided to become a doctor. At the time, he’d been taking courses to prepare for a career in physical therapy. But in one of his physics classes, most of his classmates were pre-medical students. “I was around like-minded people in college and pushing myself to the maximum that I was capable of,” he said. Early on in his medical training, Oran realized he wanted to perform procedures. He earned his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, which also is where he completed his surgical residency. He joined Columbus Community Hospital in 2021. More than a surgeon Oran enjoys getting to know his patients and taking the time to answer their questions. Using a personable approach to patient care is very important to him, and he likes having patients share something about themselves. “I treat everybody on an individual basis and try to be more than just a surgeon,” he said. Family man and sports fan When he’s not at work, Oran spends most of his free time with his family. He enjoys coaching his son’s youth soccer team. “I’m also a die-hard Husker fan,” he said.
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