A Newsletter for the Departments of Surgery and Pediatric Surgery

at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston

July 2026

Honoring our 2026 Residency & Fellowship Graduates

This summer, the Department of Surgery proudly celebrated the accomplishments of its graduating residents and fellows across our residency and fellowship programs. These ceremonies recognized years of dedication, perseverance, and clinical excellence while marking the beginning of exciting new chapters in each graduate's career. We are honored to celebrate their achievements and congratulate the Class of 2026 as they join the next generation of surgical leaders.



General Surgery Residency Graduation

The Department of Surgery celebrated the graduation of its General Surgery Residency Program on June 20, honoring 10 chief residents as they completed years of rigorous surgical training and prepared to begin fellowships and careers across the country.

The graduates included Devi Bavishi, MD, who will pursue a Surgical Critical Care fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston; Artem Boyev, DO, who will begin a Surgical Oncology fellowship at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh; Nathaniel Deboever, MD, who matched early into the collaborative 4/3 Thoracic Surgery Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center and will continue his training there; Mario Font Garcia, MD, who will return to Puerto Rico to enter private practice; James Klugh, MD, who will pursue a Burn and Critical Care fellowship at Wake Forest University; Mabel Luciano, MD, who will begin a Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery fellowship at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis; Shiraz Naqvi, MD, who will remain at McGovern Medical School for a Colon and Rectal Surgery fellowship; Areeba Saif, MD, who will pursue a Surgical Oncology fellowship at Loma Linda University; Ryan Yang, MD, who will continue his training with a Burn Surgery fellowship at the U.S. Army Medical Center in San Antonio; and Menghan Zhao, MD, who will begin a Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago.

The celebration also included resident-selected faculty awards recognizing excellence in advocacy, teaching, research mentorship, and role modeling. The Department congratulates this year's graduates and thanks the faculty members whose mentorship and dedication helped shape the next generation of surgeons.

Plastic & Reconstruction Surgery Residency Graduation

The Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at McGovern Medical School celebrated its 2026 Residency Graduation, honoring this year's graduating residents and recognizing outstanding faculty and resident achievements.

This year's graduates included Jacob Burns, MD, and Bora Kahramangil, MD, who successfully completed the Independent Plastic Surgery Residency Program, and Samuel Ruiz, MD, who completed the Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program. Throughout their training, each graduate demonstrated exceptional dedication to patient care, surgical excellence, research, and medical education. We congratulate them on this significant milestone and wish them continued success in the next chapter of their careers.

This year's ceremony also marked the conclusion of Erik Marques, MD, FACS, associate professor and Program Director of the Integrated and Independent Plastic Surgery Residency Programs. In recognition of his exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment to resident education, and years of dedicated service to the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Marques was presented with the Program Director Service Award. His leadership has been instrumental in the growth and success of both residency programs, and his mentorship has left a lasting impact on generations of plastic surgeons.

The evening also recognized faculty and residents for their outstanding contributions to the division. This year's award recipients were:

• David J. Wainwright, MD – Dr. Erik Marques Faculty Teaching Award
• Justin McCarty, DO – Dr. Erik Marques Faculty Teaching Award
• Lauren Jenkins, MD – Highest In-Service Score (Integrated)
• Mustafa Khan, DO – Highest In-Service Score (Independent)
• Emily K. Robinson, MD – Honorary Plastic Surgeon Award
• Donald R. Collins, MD – Community Plastic Surgeon of the Year
• David T. Mitchell, MD – Resident Teacher of the Year

The Division extends its sincere appreciation to all faculty, residents, staff, families, and guests who joined us in celebrating another successful academic year. Congratulations to our graduates and award recipients, and thank you to Dr. Marques for his outstanding leadership and lasting contributions to the Plastic Surgery Residency Programs.

Acute Care Surgery Fellow Graduation

The Division of Acute Care Surgery celebrated the graduation of its fellows on June 27. Three fellows, Wendy Rockne, MD, Bhupaul "Paul" Ramsuchit, MD, and Jared Ourieff, DO, completed the second year of their combined two-year Acute Care Surgery and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship. Blair Lee, MD, completed a one-year Trauma Fellowship, and Henry Caplan, MD, completed a Surgical Critical Care Fellowship to augment his training in general and pediatric surgery. The division wishes all of its graduates the very best as they embark on the next chapter of their careers.

Other highlights of the celebration included:

• A remembrance of Dr. James "Red" Duke, who established the trauma service at Memorial Hermann Hospital–Texas Medical Center and founded Memorial Hermann Life Flight.
• The presentation of challenge coins to the graduating fellows in recognition of their service to patients and as a reminder that they are now part of the Acute Care Surgery "troop."
• Recognition of Bryan Cotton, MD, MPH, FACS, for his 16 years of service as Fellowship Program Director. Dr. Cotton transitioned leadership of the fellowship to David Meyer, MD, FACS, FCCM, a little more than a year ago.

Looking ahead, the division is pleased to welcome five new fellows: Spencer VanDecar, MD, Kyle Gress, MD, Shayan Rakhit, MD, Christopher Gilliam, MD, and Karan D'Souza, MD.

Urology Residency Graduation

The Department of Surgery celebrated the graduation of its Urology Residency Program on June 13, recognizing four residents as they completed their training and prepared for the next stage of their careers.

This year's graduates included Skyler Howell, MD, who will pursue a Men's Health fellowship at Baylor University; Stephen Palasi, MD, who will begin an Endourology fellowship at Kansas City University; Hannah Slovacek, MD, who will remain at McGovern Medical School for a Sexual Medicine fellowship under the mentorship of Run Wang, MD; and Peter Sullivan, MD, who will return to Kansas City for a fellowship in Urologic Oncology.

The ceremony also introduced a new tradition of resident-selected faculty awards recognizing excellence in mentorship, education, and research. Travis Green, MD, received the Wellness Champion of the Year Award; Jason Au, MD, of Pediatric Urology, received the Educator of the Year Award; and Justin Gregg, MD, of MD Anderson Cancer Center, received the Research Champion of the Year Award.

The Department congratulates this year's graduates and award recipients and wishes them continued success in the next chapter of their careers.

Stepping Up Clinical Research Training: 
Congratulations to C-STEP Graduates

Congratulations to this year's Center for Surgical Trials and Evidence-based Practice (C-STEP) graduates! Developed in 2011, C-STEP aims to advance evidence-based practice in surgery by providing young faculty and surgical trainees with formal training in clinical research, mentorship, resources, and funding to perform high-quality research. Trainees obtain a Master's Degree in Clinical Research through the Institute for Clinical Research and Learning Health Care. 

This year's graduates were:


• Renee Walker Green, MD, MS - Her primary mentor was Lillian Kao, MD, MS. An embedded military resident, she will return to surgical residency at McGovern Medical School.
•  Anneliese Hierle, MD, MS - Her primary mentors were Ching-Wei Tzeng, MD, MS, and Naruhiko Ikoma, MD at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She will be transferring from Indiana University School of Medicine to Baylor College of Medicine for her surgical residency.
•  Jeanette Joly, MD, MS - Her primary mentor was KuoJen Tsao, MD; she will be returning to her residency program at Inova.
• William Rieger, MD, MS - His mentors were Lillian Kao, MD, MS, and Krislynn Mueck, MD, MS, MPH. He will be returning to surgical residency at McGovern Medical School.

The C-STEP Steering Committee includes Kevin Lally, MD, MS; Lillian Kao, MD, MS; Jonah Stulberg, MD, PhD, MPH; KuoJen Tsao, MD; and Dalya Ferguson, MD, MS.

2026 Resident Awards

Each year, the Departments of Surgery and Pediatric Surgery recognize outstanding residents and trainees with awards celebrating excellence in research, clinical performance, technical skill, leadership, and patient care.

Research Day Awards: These honors recognize exceptional scholarly achievement at the department's annual Research Day.

• Resident Research Award – Basic Science (1st Place): Rachel Bordelon, MD
• Resident Research Award – Clinical/Health Services Research (1st Place): Jeannette Joly, MD
• Medical Student Research Award (1st Place): Jasie Williams-Roberts

Golden Chopsticks Award: Presented by the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery, this award recognizes the chief resident who demonstrates exceptional technical skill in minimally invasive surgery. This year's recipient was Syed Shiraz Naqvi, MD.

Lazarus Award: Presented by the Trauma Surgery service, this award honors a chief resident whose exceptional clinical judgment and decisive action helped save the life of a critically injured trauma patient. This year's recipient was Areeba Saif, MD.

LBJ Service Awards: The LBJ Surgery service recognizes residents for excellence in operative performance and technical achievement.

• Fastest Gallbladder Award: Syed Shiraz Naqvi, MD
• Most Careful Gallbladder Award: Syed Shiraz Naqvi, MD
• Golden Gallbladder Award: Presented to the PGY-3 resident who performed the highest number of laparoscopic cholecystectomies during the year. This year's recipient was Kylie Holden, MD.

Outstanding Pediatric Surgery Chief Resident: Presented by the Department of Pediatric Surgery, this award recognizes a chief resident for outstanding performance, compassion, and dedication while rotating on the Pediatric Surgery service. This year's recipient was Kelly Sanders, MD.

Excellence in Hernia Care Award: A new award presented by the Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Service, this award recognizes a chief resident who demonstrated exceptional patient ownership, sound surgical judgment, technical excellence, and dedication to abdominal wall reconstruction. The inaugural recipient was James Klugh, MD.

Residency Program Awards: Selected by faculty and residents, these awards recognize outstanding leadership, service, and contributions to the residency program.

• Chief of the Year: Menghan Zhao, MD
• Intern of the Year: Julia Dansby, MD

Congratulations to all of this year's award recipients!

View additional photos from the 2026 Resident Awards on our website.

Cowling Among Faculty Honored as Champions of the Clinical Learning Environment

John C. Cowling, MD, FACS, assistant professor in the Department of Surgery, is one of two faculty members recently recognized by the Office of Professionalism as a Champion of the Clinical Learning Environment. The recognition honors faculty who make a meaningful impact on medical student education through excellence in teaching, mentorship, and professionalism.

In a joint Q&A with fellow honoree Rajesh Gupta, MD, MS, Dr. Cowling discusses his teaching philosophy, strategies for creating meaningful learning experiences, and advice for clinical educators.

Read the full interview.

Christine Hwang, MD, Joins Abdominal Organ Transplantation Division

Please join us in welcoming Christine Hwang, MD, MHCM, FACS, who has joined the Division of Abdominal Organ Transplantation in the Department of Surgery as professor of surgery. She also holds adjunct appointments in the Department of Pediatrics and Department of Pediatric Surgery and serves as Surgical Director of Pediatric Transplantation at the Memorial Hermann Transplant Institute.

Dr. Hwang brings extensive expertise in adult and pediatric abdominal organ transplantation, clinical leadership, and program development. She joins UTHealth Houston after 15 years at UT Southwestern and Children's Medical Center Dallas, where she held numerous leadership roles within the adult and pediatric transplant programs. She completed her pediatric transplant surgery fellowship at Stanford University under the mentorship of renowned transplant surgeon Carlos Esquivel and recently earned a Master of Health Care Management from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

As Surgical Director of Pediatric Transplantation, Dr. Hwang will lead the continued development of pediatric liver and kidney transplant programs, strengthening the comprehensive transplant services available at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. Her recruitment reflects the institution's commitment to expanding specialized care for children with advanced organ disease while advancing the education, research, and clinical missions of the university.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Hwang to Houston and look forward to the expertise, leadership, and vision she brings as we continue building the best transplant program in Texas.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & HIGHLIGHTS

Publications of Note

Erabelli N, Bui E, Hoffman C, Anderton M, Basta A, Banki F. OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE OUTCOMES OF PRIMARY LAPAROSCOPIC HIATAL HERNIA REPAIR WITH TOUPET FUNDOPLICATION VS. FUNDOPEXY. J Gastrointest Surg. 2026 Jun 9:102484. doi: 10.1016/j.gassur.2026.102484. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42263812.

Dunker AM, Williams CM, Basta AV, Do T, Wang E, McHalffey DR, Lyn RV, Moffitt JK, Wainwright DJ, Sobol DL, Greives MR. Mechanisms Matter: Intentional Injury and Its Impact on Pediatric Facial Fractures. J Craniofac Surg. Published online May 29, 2026. doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000012980

McHalffey DR*, Basta AV*, Do T, Williams CM, Dunker AM, Lyn RV, Baker KK, Sobol DL, Greives MR. Restraint Status Influences Fracture Phenotypes and Operative Management in Pediatric MVC-Related Facial Trauma. J Craniofac Surg. Published online June 12, 2026. doi:10.1097/SCS.0000000000013051

Wei S, Swiekatowski KR, Barrera JE, Wang EB, Klugh JM, Talanker MM, Sobol DL, Greives MR. Buccal Flap during Primary Furlow Palatoplasty Decreases Likelihood of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency in Patients with Cleft Palate. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2026 Jul 1;158(1):119-126. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000012618. Epub 2025 Nov 17. PMID: 41247180.

Fajemisin MO, Karpe AS, Martinez Ugarte S, Blakely ML, Khraish G, Sanghvi S, Lee JL, Kao LS, Puzio TJ. Advancing Discussions Using a Video-Based Support Tool About End-of-Life Care (ADVISE): Protocol for a Single-Center Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2026 Jun 18;15:e87690. doi: 10.2196/87690. PMID: 42314159; PMCID: PMC13329328.

Purvis CD, Bavishi D, Rigi M, Foster AP, Clemens EA, Van Gent JM, Clements TW, Cotton BA. What is the Incidence of Early Antibody Formation after Resuscitation of Hemorrhage? A Comparison of RH(D)+ Whole Blood and RH(D)- Red Blood Cells in 3,531 Trauma Patients. Ann Surg. 2026 Jun 23. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000007137. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42328743.

Stoppe C, Hill A, Cancio LC, Day AG, Pruskowski KA, Turgeon AF, Pham T, Bélisle S, Martínez-Jiménez MA, Limper U, Gille J, Wisler J, Savetamal A, Pollack J, Grau Domínguez D, Jennes S, Shupp JW, Jeschke MG, Colpaert K, Hundeshagen G, Beier JP, Muangman P, Echeverri McCandless A, Meybohm P, Grune T, Dresen E, Weber D, Güttler C, Lew CCH, Jiang X, Froese S, Dansereau M, Lee ZY, Heyland DK; VICTORY Study Team. High-Dose Intravenous Vitamin C and Mortality and Organ Dysfunction in Severe Burn Injury: The VICTORY Randomized Clinical Trial.(Harvin JA) JAMA. 2026 Jun 10:e2610616. doi: 10.1001/jama.2026.10616. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42267875; PMCID: PMC13254799.

Van Gent JM, Staudt AM, Gurney JM, Cotton BA. Executing balanced resuscitation in bleeding combat casualties: Good versus good enough? J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2026 Jun 12. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000005057. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42283455.

Williams JM, Redden SC, Sun DJ, Wang YW, McNutt MK, Cardenas JC, Olson SD, Cotton BA. An in vivo assessment of green plasma: The potential hemostatic superiority of a currently discarded blood product. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2026 Jun 15. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000005071. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42296209.

Drucker NA, Monteagudo J, Weiner T, Tsao K, Lally KP, Luks FI, Thirumoorthi AS; American Pediatric Surgical Association Surgical Critical Care Committee. Vascular access in neonates and children: Techniques for the pediatric surgeon. J Pediatr Surg. 2026 Jun;61(6):162975. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2026.162975. Epub 2026 Jan 29. PMID: 41619842.

Drucker NA, Greenleaf EK, Cox CS Jr. Saving limbs and lives: Vascular lessons from the combat zone. Semin Pediatr Surg. 2026 Jul;43:151629. doi: 10.1016/j.sempedsurg.2026.151629. Epub 2026 Mar 18. PMID: 41866255.

Johnson CA, Pivalizza CM, Chan HK, Smith H, Long MK, Lapus R, Tsao K, John S, Ugalde IT. Diagnosis of acute appendicitis at a pediatric emergency department within a general hospital. Emerg Radiol. 2026 Jun;33(3):503-511. doi: 10.1007/s10140-026-02442-w. Epub 2026 Feb 24. PMID: 41733873; PMCID: PMC13233868.

Stephens CQ, Highet A, Yap A, Saito JM, Barry D, Shui AM, Wilson NA, Cockrell H, Wakeman D, Berman L, Cairo S, Greenberg S, Linden AF, Kohler J, Tsao K, Vu L. A national analysis of social drivers of health and post-operative outcomes in previously healthy children. J Pediatr Surg. 2026 May 26;61(8):163217. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2026.163217. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42203140.

Hersh DS, Anuar A, Bennett KA, Clifford CM, Elbabaa SK, Emery SP, Goodnight WH, Hirose S, Jampa A, Lillegard JB, Lim FY, Luks FI, Miller JL, Moehrlen U, Moldenhauer JS, Schenone MH, Shaaban AF, Tsao K, Zaretsky MV, Crombleholme TM; fMMC Consortium sponsored by NAFTNet (North American Fetal Therapy Network). Fetal Myelomeningocele Closure in the Setting of Maternal Body Mass Index 35 to 40. Neurosurgery. 2026 Jun 1;98(6):1278-1287. doi: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003802. Epub 2025 Oct 17. PMID: 41104919.

Sutyak KM, Fletcher SA, Sandberg DI, Lally KP, Speer AL. What About the Gallbladder? A Case Series of Experience and Outcomes in Pediatric Ventriculogallbladder Shunts. J Surg Res. 2026 Jun 18;325:96-101. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2026.05.033. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42320073.

Lakshminrusimha S, Yoder BA, Chowdhury D, Das A, Kirpalani H, Dhawan MA, Snyder JM, Fraga MV, Konduri GG, McNamara PJ, Klein J, Ambalavanan N, Rau CA, Lally KP, Nelin LD, Cotten CM, Higgins RD, Keszler M; milrinone in CDH subcommittee. Correlation of Oxygen Saturation Index with Oxygenation Index in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: in A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial. J Pediatr. 2026 Jun 16:115200. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2026.115200. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42303220.

Guner YS, Martino A, Giron A, Flyer Z, Murthy K, Di Nardo M, Schomberg J, Grover TR, Hammond JD, Yu PT, Goodman LF, Gowda SH, Harting MT, Jancelewicz T, Nguyen DV. Effects of Extracorporeal Life Support Volume on Neonatal Mortality in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: A Retrospective Cohort Study. J Pediatr. 2026 Jun;293:115062. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2026.115062. Epub 2026 Mar 13. PMID: 41831781.

Raval MV, Tian Y, Schäfer W, Balbale SN, Perez MN, Ingram ME, Lehane A, Smith CJ, Sullivan GA, Reiter AJ, Hu A, Borst JM, Blake SC, Close S, Davis TL, Essner BS, Heiss KF, Huang LW, Wymore E, Paniagua-Perez D, Engelhardt KM, Graffy PM, Johnson JK, Lillehei CW, Gray BW, Goldstein SD, Short SS, Pandya SR, Taylor JA, Gayer C, Goldin AB, Boelig MM, Rialon KL, Jancelewicz T, Lipskar AM, Jafri M, Tracy ET, Harting MT, Sulkowski JP, Ham PB 3rd, Vali K, Cina RA, Schindel DT, Islam S, Teeple EA, Shah SR, Gosain A, Rothstein DH, Brockel MA, Chown J, Holl JL. Implementation and Effectiveness of an Enhanced Recovery Protocol for Children Undergoing Surgery: The ENRICH-US Stepped-Wedge Cluster-Randomized Trial. JAMA Surg. 2026 Jul 1;161(7):670-680. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2026.1382. PMID: 42126839; PMCID: PMC13173425.

IN THE NEWS

GRAND ROUNDS

Editorial Team: Dr. Lillian Kao, Dr. Casey Duncan, Dr. Peter Walker, Dr. Elias Chamely, Maryam Broussard, and Sophia M. Solis

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