• Trauma and Acute Care Surgeon, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Mich.
• Faculty, Hurley Medical Center Trauma Surgery Fellowship, Flint, Mich.

It's clear that Dr. Donkersloot likes challenges. He could have been a musician. Or an athlete. Or a bench scientist. But he chose trauma surgery. And Hurley was lucky enough to recruit him to stay in the Flint area after he completed his trauma surgery fellowship at Hurley in 2022.

Dr. Donkersloot is originally from Zeeland, Mich., near his alma mater of Hope College, where his collegiate athletic career included award-winning performances as a pole-vaulter and where he was named most outstanding male athlete of the year. He also won prizes in concerto competitions on the west side of the state and awards for undergraduate research in life sciences.

He has been equally high-performing as a surgeon and educator thus far at Hurley.

Education

• Trauma Surgery Fellowship: Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Mich.
• Critical Care Fellowship: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
  
• General Surgery Residency: St. Joseph of Mercy, Ann Arbor, Mich.
  
• Medical School: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
  
• Undergraduate: Bachelor of science in biochemistry/molecular biology with a minor in philosophy, Hope College, Holland, Mich.

Scholarly Activity

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

• Sandhu H, Foote DC, Evans J, Santosa KB, Kemp MT, Donkersloot JN, et al. “The story I will never forget”: Critical incident narratives in surgical residency. Annals of Surgery. Submitted for publication
• Foote DC, Donkersloot JN, Sandhu G, Ziegler K, Lau J. Identifying institutional factors in general surgery resident wellness and burnout. Am J Surg. 2021 Jul 22:S0002-9610(21)00394-9. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.07.014. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34332743.
• Munz SM, Kim RY, Holley TJ, Donkersloot JN, Inglehart MR. Dental Hygiene, Dental, and Medical Students' OMFS/Hospital Dentistry-Related Knowledge/Skills, Attitudes, and Behavior: An Exploration. J Dent Educ. 2017 Feb;81(2):149-161. PMID: 28148605.
  

BOOK CHAPTERS AND OTHER MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS

• Donkersloot JN, Park PK. Genitourinary Injury – Bladder: Extraperitoneal, Intraperitoneal. Ex. Operative Techniques in Surgery. In development. Book chapter.
• Donkersloot JN, Spoor KA, Cherry-Bukowiec. Nutrition and Assessment of Nutritional Status. Surgical Council on Resident Education, Surgical Critical Fellowship Curriculum. Online chapter.
• Donkersloot JN, Steensma E. Effects of Renal, Hepatic Dysfunction, Obesity, Age, and Critical Illness on Drug Metabolism – and Appropriate Dosing Adjustment. Surgical Council on Resident Education, Surgical Critical Fellowship Curriculum. Online chapter.

PRESENTATIONS & ABSTRACTS

• Obayemi J, Donkersloot JN, Theilander K, Kim G. Educational Needs in Simulation Identified by Surgical Program Directors in Low-Middle Income Countries. EPoster accepted for presentation at SAGES Annual Meeting. July 31, 2021.
• Donkersloot JN. Essential Surgery: What, Where, Why, Who, How. Chief Grand Rounds, St. Joseph of Mercy Ann Arbor. January 21, 2020.
• Donkersloot JN, Roose B, Cropsey R. Jungle Trauma in Africa and Bangladesh. Grand Rounds Presentation, St. Joseph of Mercy Ann Arbor. March 26, 2019.

From Dr Donkersloot himself:

Why Michigan?

I am a Michigan lifer! I stayed in Michigan because the training offered is excellent, and I wanted to stay close to family.

Why did you choose your specialty?

A. I chose General Surgery because:

• I enjoy working with my hands and with my mind
• This specialty gives the physician the ability to fix an acute problem and cure a given disease process
• General surgeons have ownership of the entire patient under their care.

B. Critical care was the next choice, given that I enjoy human physiology and the minute-to-minute care of the critically ill patient.

C. Trauma was the next choice because it combined what I like about both general surgery and critical care.

Family

I am married to another physician. We have a son who is the joy of our lives!

When you're not working, what do you do for fun?

Host dinner parties, play the piano, play board games, and I am an aspiring woodworker!

About the Flint area:

I haven't had a chance to explore much but am looking forward to getting to know more about the surrounding area!

What inspires you?

My family.

How do you keep in touch with family and friends?

I have a list of people to call and when I've called them last. I use the commute to keep in touch.

Favorites:

• Book: The Chronicles of Narnia
• Movie: Ocean's Eleven
• Music: Beethoven
• Restaurant: Wendy's

Favorite quotation:

Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

I enjoy the quote as it emphasizes the importance of attitude in life.

Top 5 favorite things about Michigan?

1. Family being close by
2. Lake Michigan!
3. Small upstate lakes
4. Cost of living is affordable
5. Ann Arbor has great concerts that come into town

Special talents?

I am a former serious pianist who still enjoys playing. I enjoy the attention to detail that is required and that hard work is rewarded. I used to be a high jumper, but have since retired. I enjoyed the teamwork the camaraderie of being on a team; surgery is a big team sport.

Favorite ways to keep work-life balance manageable:

I try to do one thing for myself every day and make sure to keep in touch with family.