NATCHEZ &045; An opportunity to work in a one-year fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center brought Pennsylvania native Dr. Jay H. Schwartz to the South.

Now the doctor is settling into his Natchez office to begin his first private practice in general and laparoscopic surgery as well in a growing new field of surgery known as image-guided minimally invasive tumor ablation surgery, &uot;another way of delivering heat to the tumor,&uot; Schwartz said.

His first year at UMC, spent in plastic surgery, led to friendship with interventional radiologist Dr. Patrick Sewell, a pioneer and world authority in applying radiofrequency ablation in the lung.

&uot;He asked me to join the faculty and work with him. I spent a year and a half with him. Tumor ablation became the focus of my entire career there,&uot; Schwartz said.

The work at UMC, where he was assistant professor of surgery and radiology, will call him back, both to perform the radiofrequency ablation and to teach other doctors the procedure, he said. Now he is clinical professor of surgery and radiology.

&uot;I’m not paid by the hospital but I retain hospital privileges,&uot; he said.

Schwartz became interested in opening a practice in a small town in Mississippi and having the opportunity to perform general surgery, he said.

&uot;I started looking around the state, and a friend of mine, Dr. Patrick Duffy, said I should call here,&uot; Schwartz said.

He called Allen Tyra, then-CEO of Natchez Community Hospital, arranged a visit and liked what he saw.

Like Natchez surgeon Dr. Geoffrey Flattmann, Schwartz will practice at both Natchez Community and Natchez Regional Medical Center, he said.

Before coming to Natchez, he worked from Jackson with Natchez oncologist Dr. Jack Rodriguez.

Now he has met him and looks forward to working closely with him when cancer patients require surgery, including the tumor ablation, Schwartz said.

Surgeons for years have employed tumor ablation, which simply means tumor destruction. The newer method uses a small instrument that goes directly into the tumor, at which time the surgeon deploys a whirl of tiny curved probes.

Connected to a generator, the probes are agitated by the radiofrequency energy. Friction occurs in nearby tissue and within minutes, the heat kills the tissues.

In the percutaneous method, the probe is inserted through the skin and into the tumor, the least invasive method. Using this method, the surgeon follows his instrument to the tumor using a CAT-scan (computerized axial tomography) or ultrasound guidance.

The radiofrequency tumor ablation is a procedure done as part of the patient protocol, Schwartz said.

&uot;Frequently, we get patients looking for an alternative. But this is something to go along with other cancer treatment. It’s not for fringe uses,&uot; he said.

Schwartz looks forward to a practice that calls on all his skills. &uot;I plan to do the full realm of general surgery,&uot; he said.

Already, some interesting questions about what kinds of surgery he will perform have crossed his desk, he said.

&uot;Anyone can feel free to call,&uot; he said. &uot;I’m happy to answer questions. We’re open for business.&uot;

Schwartz’s office is 131 Jefferson Davis Blvd., Suite B. The office phone number is 601-445-4040.