Our Surgeons

The surgeons and staff of the Tulane Hernia Center are specialists in adult and pediatric hernia repair and abdominal wall reconstruction, and have extensive experience in the repair of newly diagnosed hernias as well as the ability to address the needs of patients with complex and recurrent hernias. Each surgeon is a teaching faculty member of the Tulane University School of Medicine and stays current with the latest hernia surgical techniques and materials. Our surgeons are focused on providing a safe, compassionate and effective result that is tailored to each patient’s needs.

	Dr. James Brown, M.D. Dr. James Brown attended medical school at the Tulane University School of Medicine and completed his residency in General Surgery at the Tulane University School of Medicine / Charity Hospital in New Orleans. Dr. Brown is a Professor of Clinical Surgery at the Tulane University School of Medicine and is certified by the American Board of Surgery. He is a specialist in the repair of complex hernias and abdominal wall reconstruction.
	Dr. Abigail Chaffin, M.D. Dr. Abigail Chaffin is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon that specializes in abdominal wall reconstruction and the management of excess skin that impacts hernias and hernia repairs. After receiving her medical degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, she completed her surgical residency at the Detroit Medical Center followed by a Plastic Surgery Fellowship at the Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Chaffin is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Tulane University School of Medicine and is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
	Dr. James Korndorffer, M.D., FACS Dr. James Korndorffer attended medical school at the University of South Florida and completed his surgical residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, followed by a Fellowship in Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery at the Tulane University School of Medicine. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Korndorffer is Professor and Vice Chair in Tulane's Department of Surgery  He is a specialist in minimally invasive surgical techniques and has a clinical focus on hernia repairs, abdominal wall reconstruction, and the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
	Dr. Rodney B. Steiner, M.D. Dr. Rodney Steiner is the Chief of Pediatric Surgery and an Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery at the Tulane University School of Medicine, and is a specialist in pediatric hernia repair. Dr. Steiner attended medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas, and completed his residency in General Surgery at Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation in New Orleans. Following his General Surgery residency Dr. Steiner completed fellowships in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) at the Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Pediatric Surgery at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Steiner is certified by the American Board of Surgery with Special Qualifications in Pediatric Surgery.