IOWA SPECIALTY SURGEONS - Key Persons

Dr. Paul Conte's professional experiences began in 1987 when he graduated cum laude with a BA/BS in Chemistry from the University of Oregon. Following graduation, he began a career as a synthetic organic chemist at Epitope in Portland, Oregon. Part of his work included formulation of new methylthoribose compounds, which led to joint work with Smith Kline Beacham (now Glaxo Smith Kline). He subsequently went back to medical school, again graduating cum laude from OHSU. Following residency and fellowship at UW Madison, Dr. Conte has been in full-time practice of clinical medicine since 2001. He has had an active and thriving practice in the field of general and thoracic surgery. In 2002, Dr. Conte pioneered the use of the Da Vinci surgical robot in Iowa, first using the system at Iowa Methodist Medical Center to perform an esophageal surgery. In 2003, he was named teacher of the year at Iowa Methodist Medical center's residency program, an award he was again nominated for in subsequent years. In 2004, Dr. Conte expanded his surgical practice and began an office in West Des Moines. As part of this expansion, he began an association with two rural hospitals and expanded their surgical operations and service lines. Dr. Conte's interest in telemedicine was first piqued at this point, and he began to formulate its usefulness in clinical medicine. At this time, he also developed an interest in the intersection of medicine and law, and began to regularly review cases, including complex workers compensation cases, causation review, and expert witness cases. In 2007, Dr. Conte's private practice was acquired by a consortium of the Iowa Health System and two rural hospitals. Subsequently, he has continued in the same type of practice scope, but has expanded the use of telemedicine, conducting regular rural clinics utilizing video telemedicine to expand surgical coverage and follow-up. Telemedicine has the potential to change the whole delivery of health care in the U.S., especially primary care and remote specialty care.

Tim was raised in Cape Girardeau, in southeast Missouri. He completed both medical school and general surgery residency at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. Tim sought further training in advanced laparoscopic surgery in Shawnee Mission, KS, a suburb of Kansas City. After completing his fellowship in 2011, he and his wife Emily moved to West Des Moines to be closer to family. He has become a trusted surgeon in central Iowa, serving the Des Moines metro area as well as surrounding communities. "I enjoy talking with people and making a connection with them. We discuss how a problem has been negatively impacting their life. Then we talk about how I can partner with them to determine the best course of action for each individual, whether that is a surgical or non-surgical treatment. My goal is to get you back to enjoying your life" Dr Mayfield is certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Iowa Medial Society, the Polk County Medical Society, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. Dr Mayfield is a graduate of the American College of Physician Executives Physician Leadership Academy. Dr Mayfield's special interests include hernia and gallbladder surgery. Dr Mayfield is accepting new patients. He does not accept pediatrics.