2019 Graduation and Award Ceremony

Each year, the Department marks the completion of resident and fellowship programs through a special celebration to recognize high achievement and recognition of outstanding work. This year, the commencement was held on the evening of June 21, 2019 at the Hotel Zaza. The 2019 graduates of the surgery residency programs were presented according to their program and division. Several members of the faculty and staff also received awards for their contributions. Ms. Melanie Gray, who serves on the Baylor College of Medicine’s Board of Trustees, provided our keynote commencement address. Dr. Bradford G. Scott, professor and vice-chair for education, served as emcee for the graduation event.

Dr. Joseph S. Coselli, professor, vice-chair and chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, awarded the thoracic surgery residents: Drs. Corinne Aberle, Swami Gnanashanmugam, Kareem Ibrahim, and Duy Nguyen, and the aortic surgery fellow, Dr. Alice Le Huu.

Dr. Christine O’Mahony, associate professor of Surgery and section chief of Renal Transplantation, presented the liver transplant fellow: Dr. Michael Kueht, II.

Dr. Mark Mazziotti, associate professor of Surgery, presented the pediatric surgery resident: Dr. Ihab Halaweish.

Dr. Shayan Izaddoost, professor of Surgery and director of Network Development, presented the plastic surgery residents: Drs. Erica Bartlett, Matthew Kaufman, and Amy Xue.

Dr. Edward Reece, associate professor and chief of Adult Plastic Surgery, presented the pediatric plastic surgery fellow: Dr. Mohamad Masoumy.

Dr. S. Rob Todd, professor and chief of Acute Care Surgery, presented the surgical critical care residents: Drs. Jacob Holloway, Galina Toneva, Aaron Scott, Mary Tolcher, Erika van Doorn, and Victor Portillo.

Dr. Joseph L. Mills Sr., professor and chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, presented the vascular surgery residents: Drs. Jerry Kim and Zachary Pallister.

Dr. Bradford G. Scott, professor, vice-chair for Education and program director for General Surgery Residency Program, introduced the selected faculty presenting our general surgery chief residents (listed below).

Nestor Arita, MD – presented by Dr. Bradford G. Scott
Jennifer Carpenter, MD – presented by Dr. M. Andrew Davis
Jason Ho, MD – presented by Dr. Hop Tran Cao
Michael Long, MD – presented by Dr. S. Rob Todd
Genna Lubrano, MD – presented by Dr. R. Mario Vera
Meredith Mason, MD – presented by Dr. Nader Massarweh
Oluwabukola Olatubosun, MD – presented by Dr. Christy Chai
Vivekkumar Patel, MD – presented by Dr. Todd K. Rosengart

Outstanding Student in Surgery Award selected by the Department: Dr. Bradford G. Scott/Dr. Ronald Cotton (Kirea Mazzolini, M.D)

Medical Student Award- Best Teaching Resident voted and selected by the 2018-2019 core surgical

medical students: Dr. Bradford G. Scott/Dr. Ronald Cotton (Jessica Mayor, MD)

Medical Student Award-Best Teaching Faculty voted and selected by the 2018-2019 core surgical medical students: Dr. Bradford G. Scott/Dr. Ronald Cotton (R. Mario Vera, MD)

McCollum Academic Achievement Awards selected by the highest scores on the ABSITE: Dr. Scott/Dr. Charles McCollum (Katherine Baugh, MD/Jason Ho, MD/Vivek Patel, MD/Christopher Taylor, MD)

Outstanding Intern Award voted and selected by the 2018-2019 general surgery residents: presented by Dr. Bradford G. Scott (Steven Mehl, MD)

Outstanding Chief Award voted and selected by the 2018-2019 general surgery residents: presented by Dr. Bradford G. Scott (Nestor Arita, MD)

Outstanding VA Chief Resident Award voted and selected by the VAMC faculty presented by Dr. Samir S. Awad (Nestor Arita, MD)

Gene A. Guinn Faculty Teaching Award voted and selected by the 2018-2019 general surgery residents: presented by Dr. Bradford Scott (Cary Hsu, MD)

Chief General Surgery Resident Award-Faculty Member voted and selected by the 2018-2019 general surgery Chief residents: presented by General Surgery Chief Residents (Eugene Choi, MD/ George Van Buren, MD)

Special General Surgery Recognition Award voted and selected by the 2018-2019 general surgery residents: From General Surgery Residents presented by Dr. Verla and Dr. Lau (Oluyinka O. Olutoye, MD)

Thoracic Surgery Award to Faculty Member: Thoracic Surgery Chief Residents voted and selected by the 2018-2019 thoracic surgery Chief residents (Ravi K. Ghanta, MD)

Thoracic Surgery Scholarly Award voted and selected by the 2018-2019 thoracic surgery faculty: presented by Dr. Ravi Ghanta (Corinne Aberle, MD)

Vascular Surgery Award to Faculty Member: voted and selected by the 2018-2019 vascular surgery Chief residents presented by Vascular Surgery Chief Residents (Miguel Montero-Baker, MD)

Noon Professional Award: nominated by the Departmental FAP committee with chair’s approval – presented by Dr. Todd K. Rosengart (William E. Fisher, MD)

DeBakey Distinguished Service Award: nominated by the Departmental FAP committee with chair’s approval – presented by Dr. Todd K. Rosengart (Holly Shilstone)