Dr. Greg Marchand, formerly of Johnston, is one of two surgeons awarded a Guinness World Record recently for their accomplishment, removal of a 3,200 gram (approximately 7 pound) uterus without resorting to laparotomy (cutting the patient open). This surgery used an advanced minimally invasive surgical technique called laparoscopy, where surgeons use small “keyholes” in the patient’s abdomen to perform the surgery instead of cutting them open. Although laparoscopic surgery and other minimally invasive techniques are being used more and more frequently throughout the country, this is believed to be the largest uterus ever removed without cutting a patient open, shattering the previous record of 3,050 grams. Both physicians are employed by Phoenician Women’s Care, a Phoenix area women’s office for obstetrics and gynecology.

North Kingstown man honored: Thomas Wettergren, of North Kingstown, was named the Naval Sea Systems Command Scientist of the Year at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 17.

Wettergren, who works at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division in Newport, was honored for his contributions to applied mathematics, including major breakthroughs in search path planning which will increase the effectiveness of unmanned vehicles, according to Capt. Michael Byman, commander, NUWC division Newport.