Robert Krouse, MD, FACS

Staff General and Oncologic Surgeon, SAVAHCS
Professor of Surgery, University of Arizona

 

E-Mail Address: 
robert.krouse@va.gov
Phone Number: 
(520) 792-1450 ext.16145
Fax: 
(520) 629-4603
Short Bio: 
Dr. Robert Krouse is a Surgical Oncologist with the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System, a Comprehensive Member of The University of Arizona Cancer Center, Professor of Surgery with the University of Arizona in Tucson, and Director of Surgical Research at the Tucson VA. He serves on the Executive Committee of the American College of Surgeons Surgical Palliative Care Task Force, whose purpose is to help introduce the precepts and techniques of palliative care to surgical practice and education in the United States and Canada.
 
Dr. Krouse’s interest in issues for patients with advanced cancer began as an Immunotherapy Fellow at the National Cancer Institute. This interest broadened as a Surgical Oncology Fellow at the City of Hope National Medical Center, where he was mentored in techniques related to Surgical Oncology and Quality of Life research. 
 
In 2004 Dr. Krouse organized and was moderator for an international conference on malignant bowel obstruction (R13 CA110771), with the goal of advancing palliative care research through development of a trial protocol using malignant bowel obstruction as a model. He is recognized internationally as an expert in the palliative surgical treatment of patients with advanced cancer.
 
Dr. Krouse participates in many research projects, predominantly related to his major interests in gastrointestinal cancers, skin cancers, quality of life, and end of life care. He was the Principal Investigator of a VA Health Sciences Research and Development Award (IIR 02-221) related to the quality of life for patients with intestinal stomas. He is currently Principal Investigator of an ongoing NCI R01 (CA106912) award for long-term cancer survivors with intestinal stomas in a general population setting. 
 
He is also Principal Investigator of a pilot intervention study (R21
CA133337) for new ostomates to test the feasibility, efficiancy and comprehensibility of a self-management care curriculum based on the Chronic Care Model.
 
Future potential research projects are aimed at developing and testing interventions for ostomy patients, optimal treatment for malignant bowel obstruction, quantitative histology as a prognostic tool for cutaneous squamous cell cancer, and a prevention trial in colon cancer survivors.

 

Clinical Information
Specialty: 
Surgeon
Clinical Focus: 
While I care for patients with a broad range of oncologic issues, my clinical focus is mainly with skin, colorectal, and other GI tumors.
Clinical Practice Sites: 
Southern Arizona VA Health Care System
Research Information
Research Program: 
4. Cancer Prevention and Control
Member Status: 
Member
Year of Membership Acceptance: 
2001
Summary of Research Activity: 
Cancer Survivorship, skin and colorectal cancer prevention
Selected Publications: 
Krouse RS, Herrinton LJ, Grant M, Wendel CS, Green SB, Mohler MJ, Baldwin CM, McMullen C, Rawl, SM, Matayoshi E, Coons SJ, Hornbrook MC., Health-related quality of life among long-term rectal cancer survivors with an ostomy: Manifestations by sex. J Clin Oncol 2009 Oct;27(28):4664-4670.
 
Liu L, Herrinton, LJ, Hornbrook MC, Wendel CS, Grant M, Krouse RS. Early and late complications among long-term colorectal cancer survivors with ostomy or anastomosis. Dis Colon Rectum 2010 Feb;53(2):200-12.
 
Krouse RS, Grant M, Rawl SM, Mohler MJ, Baldwin CM, Coons SJ, McCorkle R, Schmidt CM, Ko CY. Coping and acceptance: the greatest challenge for veterans with intestinal stomas. J Psychosom Res 2009 Mar;66(3):227-233.
 
Krouse R, Alberts DS, Prasad A, Bartels HG, Bartels PH. Progression of skin lesions from normal skin to squamous cell cancer. Anal Quant Cytol Histol 2009 Feb;31(1):17-25.

 
 
Collaborative Research: 
Multiple projects with interdisciplinary teams.
Professional Information
Board Certifications: 

American Board of Surgery, Recertification 2007

Professional Affiliations: 
Society of Surgical Oncology; Association for Academic Surgery; Society of University Surgeons; American College of Surgeons
Honors: 
The Anthony C. Guzaskas Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching, Univ. of Arizona, June 2008
Academic Information
Fellowship: 
Immunotherapy - National Cancer Institute 1993-1994; Surgical Oncology - City of Hope 1997-2000
Residency: 
University of Hawaii 1991-1993; West Virginia University 1994-1997
Medical School: 
Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA 1991