General Surgery
At Lawrence General Surgery, we treat many health problems – from simple to complex. We use the latest tools and minimally invasive methods when we can. This helps you heal faster.
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Expert surgery care in Lawrence
At Lawrence General Surgery, we treat many health problems – from simple to complex. We use the latest tools and minimally invasive methods when we can. This helps you heal faster.
We focus on you first. We listen, explain your choices and build a care plan just for you.
What to expect
We know anticipating surgery can be stressful. Our team is here to help you feel at ease.
Your care plan depends on your needs and health. You may have:
- Outpatient surgery: Go home the same day
- Inpatient surgery: Stay overnight for care
When possible, we use small incisions and advanced tools. This can help:
- Lower pain
- Reduce scarring
- Speed recovery
- Get you back to daily life sooner
Common procedures
We perform many types of surgery, including:
- Appendix removal
- Hernia repair (belly button, groin and more)
- Gallbladder removal
- Cancer surgery (colon, breast and skin)
- Minimally invasive and robotic intestine surgery
- GERD (acid reflux) surgery
- Port placement for chemotherapy or dialysis
- Biopsies and removal of lumps or tumors
Advanced procedures
We also offer advanced care, such as:
- Abdominal wall repair
- Emergency robotic surgery
- Hemorrhoid treatment (including THD)
- Thyroid and parathyroid surgery
- Surgery of the adrenal glands, pancreas and spleen
- Feeding tube placement
Conditions we treat
We care for a wide range of health issues:
- Abdomen: Hernias and problems with the liver, pancreas and spleen
- Anorectal: Hemorrhoids, fissures and fistulas
- Colorectal: Non-cancer and cancer care
- Dialysis access: Procedures to support ongoing treatment
- Digestive system: Acid reflux, hernias, gallbladder, stomach and intestine issues
- Skin: Non-cancer and cancer growths
Minor procedures
We also offer simple in-office care, including:
- Draining abscesses
- Removing cysts
- Removing skin growths
Meet Our Care Team
Blake V Conklin, DO, FACOS
General Surgery
Dr. Conklin graduated with distinction from the University of Kansas with a degree in Human Biology and a minor in Chemistry. He earned his medical degree from Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Conklin then completed his general surgery residency at Doctors Hospital and Grant Medical Center in Columbus, OH with subspecialty training at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. After residency, he completed a fellowship in minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgery, with emphasis in advanced GI and bariatric cases at Sinai Hospital and Northwest Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Conklin is a board-certified general surgeon, a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES).
Dr. Conklin and his wife, Larisa, live in Lawrence with their children and dogs. They enjoy being very active in the community and their church, Corpus Christi Catholic Church. He is very involved with his children’s activities and is a coach for several of their youth sports teams. When time allows, Dr. Conklin and his wife enjoy traveling as a family to a few destinations yearly.
Chad Tate, MD, FACS
General Surgery
Dr. Chad Tate was a valedictorian of his high school class. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in accounting. He earned a CPA license working for Price Waterhouse in Dallas. After completing a science curriculum at the University of Texas in Austin, he earned his medical degree from the University of Texas – Southwestern in Dallas. He then completed his surgical internship and residency at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, a Level I trauma and major transplant center. He is a board-certified general surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
At LMH Health, he serves as the chairman of the cancer committee and led the effort to achieve Commission on Cancer accreditation. Currently, he is also serving as the Chief of the Surgery Department.
Dr. Tate co-instructs a course about healthcare policy and medical ethics for the University of Kansas Honors program.
Dr. Tate has many surgical interests, including a passion for minimally invasive surgery and surgical oncology. He received extensive laparoscopic training during his residency, followed later by robotic surgical training in 2011. He began performing robotic surgery at LMH Health in 2013.
“Our entire group is committed to good outcomes and doing the right thing for each patient. There are many things that contribute to excellent care: medical knowledge, effective communication, technical excellence and compassion. All of these things contribute to good outcomes and patient experiences. We often encounter people during a difficult time of their life, often marked by discomfort and fear. Hopefully (and usually!), there is an opportunity to restore them to better health and let their story continue. That opportunity is both a great responsibility and privilege.”
He is passionate about rural living, including preservation of native prairie, riding American Quarter horses and wood working – beginning from the moment a fallen tree is discovered. Dr. Tate enjoys cycling. He was born and raised in southwest Kansas (Garden City). His father was a farmer and rancher and his Grandfather Tate was a district court judge who presided over the Clutter trial.
Jared A. Konie, MD, FACS
General Surgery
Dr. Konie completed his surgical residency at the University of Missouri in Columbia and earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas. He graduated cum laude with a degree in psychoneuroimmunology and a minor in chemistry from Lake Forest College. Dr. Konie is a board-certified general surgeon, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the American Medical Association.
Dr. Konie and his wife Kate, a Lawrence native, have two children and enjoy spending time at Clinton Lake. Dr. Konie is an Eagle Scout and the leader of his son’s Cub Scout den, he plays piano, speaks some Japanese, likes power tools and DIY projects around the house and likes to travel to warm places with good scuba diving.
What Dr. Konie wants patients to know: “It’s said over and over again but it can’t be overstated, one of the most important things is to listen to patients and understand them as individuals. This is done by finding out what they need, what’s important to them, what outcomes they expect, what they know and what they don’t know and making sure they understand everything and get all their questions answered. It really takes a comprehensive approach to understand patients as individuals before we can decide, together, if surgery can help.”
Ralph Park, MD, FACS
General Surgery
Dr. Park earned his bachelor's degree in cell biology from the University of Kansas, and he earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He completed his residency in General Surgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Park has been a surgeon in the Topeka and Shawnee Mission areas since 2002. He is board-certified in general surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.