news & events

Three Surgeons Named 2024 Top Doctors by Minnesota Monthly Magazine

September 24, 2024

Kourtney Kemp, MD, FACS; Steven Kern, MD, FACS; and Mallory Yellenich-Huss, MD, FACS, all surgeons at Specialists in General Surgery, have been named Top Doctors for 2024 by Minnesota Monthly Magazine. All three are board certified by the American Board of Surgery and were nominated by their peers for their work in general surgery.

Dr. Kemp holds an MD degree with high honors from Ross University, Dominica, West Indies. She completed her residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. Her special medical interests include esophageal disease and diagnostics, heartburn and reflux, robotic and laparoscopic surgeries, hernia surgery, traumatic injuries, and colon/bowel/gallbladder disease. She is certified in advanced trauma life support, pediatric advanced life support, and advanced cardiovascular life support.

She said, “I enjoy learning about people and understanding how I can best improve their lives. In surgery, we usually can diagnose a technical problem that can be improved or repaired. It gives me joy to be able to help someone in a fixable way.” When she’s not working, Dr. Kemp enjoys spending time with her husband and four sons and restoring antique furniture. She also has served on various medical missions.

Dr. Kern received his MD degree from Creighton University and completed his residency at the University of Kansas. His special medical interests include robotic surgery, gallbladder surgery, hernia surgery, and surgery for esophageal reflux.

He said he chose to become a surgeon because he enjoys the technical nature of the work, including the problem-solving process and helping people through the transition of surgical illnesses. In his spare time, he enjoys music, origami, and endurance sports. Like Dr. Kemp, he has served on several medical missions.

Dr. Yelenich-Huss has an MD degree from the University of Minnesota, and she served her residency at the University of North Dakota. She also completed fellowship training in breast surgical oncology at Baylor University Medical Center. In addition to benign and malignant breast disease management and breast surgical oncology, she specializes in hidden scar surgery, surgical management of skin cancers, soft tissue tumors and lesions, and acute care general surgery. She holds certifications in advanced trauma life support, advanced cardiac life support, and basic life support.

“I discovered breast oncologic surgery as its own field while I was in surgery residency in North Dakota and took the opportunity to rotate at the Cleveland Clinic with its breast program,” she said. “Cancer surgery, and breast cancer surgery in particular, is incredibly rewarding as I can often offer a true cure for the disease.” In her spare time, Dr. Yelenich-Huss enjoys being with her husband and two children, and spending time at the lakes, running, building Lego creations, crocheting, and completing jigsaw puzzles.

All three surgeons also have had numerous Top Doctor recognitions from Mpls. St. Paul Magazine.

The 11 surgeons at Specialists in General Surgery provide diagnostic and treatment options for a wide variety of medical conditions, including breast disease and breast cancer, endocrine disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, gallbladder disease, spleen disorders and certain cancers, including liver, pancreatic, colon and skin cancer. SGS also manages the Twin Cities Hernia Center for the diagnosis and treatment of several kinds of hernias and the Twin Cities Heartburn Center for the diagnosis and treatment of esophageal disease, including achalasia, Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal cancer, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia. SGS providers see patients at clinics in Blaine, Buffalo, Crystal, Edina, Fridley, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Robbinsdale and Saint Anthony.

 

     

©2024 Specialists in General Surgery. All Rights Reserved.