Dr. Kelly Ellen Kafka, MD

Expert Publications

• Evaluation and Testing of Junctional Tourniquets by Special Operation Forces Personnel: A Comparison of the Combat Ready Clamp and the Junctional Emergency Treatment Tool.

Media Releases

Get to know General & Plastic Surgeon Dr. Kelly Ellen Kafka, who serves patients in San Antonio, Texas.

Specializing in general surgery and plastic surgery, Dr. Kafka is affiliated with Brooke Army Medical Center, the United States Army’s premier medical institution. 

Located on Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Brooke Army Medical Center is a 425-bed academic medical center. It is the Department of Defense’s largest facility and only Level 1 Trauma Center, as well as home to the Center for the Intrepid. Brooke Army Medical Center is staffed by more than 8,000 dedicated soldiers, airmen, sailors, civilians, and contractors dedicated to providing outstanding care to wounded service members and the San Antonio community at-large.

In 2005, Dr. Kafka graduated with her medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences. She then went on to perform her residency within the Plastic Surgery Residency Program at UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine, completing her training in 2019.

Passionate about her profession, she is board-certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery (ABS). The ABS is an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge.

Under the direction of Howard T. Wang, MD, Dr. Kafka and her colleagues earned first place in the Resident Bowl on the largest stage for plastic surgery — the 2018 American Society of Plastic Surgeons meeting in Chicago on Sept. 28-30.

General surgery is a surgical specialty that focuses on abdominal contents including esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, appendix and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland. General surgeons perform operations involving the endocrine system, gastrointestinal tract, liver, colon, and other major parts of the human body.

Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty involving the restoration, reconstruction, or alteration of the human body. It can be divided into two main categories – reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. A plastic surgeon’s primary responsibility is performing surgical and non-surgical procedures, and they use a variety of reparative and reconstructive techniques to get the job done.

Recommended Articles

• What Is Varicose Vein Stripping?

  A vein is a blood vessel that carries blood through your body. Varicose veins are one among a spectrum of chronic vein problems. It is common and can be found in up to 20% of the adult population. The severity of the condition varies and while varicose veins are responsible for significant...

• What to Expect While Undergoing Spinal Stenosis Surgery?

  Spinal stenosis is a condition where two spinal vertebrae separated by an intervertebral disc come closer as the disc wears off due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or trauma. When this happens, the spinal nerve that runs between them becomes compressed causing pain to the individual. The...

• What Is a Partial Hysterectomy?

  In a Complete Hysterectomy, both the Uterus and Cervix are removed to afford symptomatic relief to the patient. When the Cervix remains in the pelvic region after surgery, it then becomes a Partial or Supracervical hysterectomy. The kind of surgery that one opts for is wholly dependent on the health...

• Is There A Link Between Erectile Dysfunction And Prostate Cancer?

  Is There A Link Between Erectile Dysfunction And Prostate Cancer?Being diagnosed with prostate cancer creates a sense of confusion and fear in many men. It is a condition that causes the growth unwanted cells on the prostate gland. The prostate gland is a gland located around the urethra. It is...

• Where Does Appendicitis Pain Occur?

  The human body has numerous skin receptors that transmit signals to the brain 24/7 in an attempt to keep the body and person in sync. These nerve receptors are highly sensitive to pain and different sensations. For example, when the body comes in contact with fire or electricity, the brain...

• Can Males Get Circumcised At Any Age?

  Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin on a male’s penis. It is a controversial issue that has been the subject of much discussion and research. Religious and societal beliefs about the necessity and benefits of the procedure vary in different regions of the world. Another...