Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Exemplary Teacher award! Eligible faculty are nominated by their department chairs and are selected based on their record of education excellence with medical students, residents and fellows, graduate students, postdocs and mentorship of other faculty. This year’s recipients were: Jeffrey Jacobs, M.D. – professor, Division of Cardiovascular SurgeryCrystal…| surgery.med.ufl.edu
Congratulations to all Department of Surgery members who were published in August! Published faculty were Doctors Mazen Al-Mansour, Thomas Beaver, Dejana Braithwaite, Guoshuai Cai, Michol Cooper, Sergio Duarte, Kirsten Freeman, Thomas Huber, Shama Karanth, Sailesh Konda, Tyler Loftus, Robert Maile, Giles Peek, Steven Raymond, Salvatore Scali, and Gilbert Upchurch. ACS Applied Bio Materials Annals of…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
As part of Sepsis Awareness Month, the University of Florida Department of Surgery is looking at some of the work being done at the Sepsis and Critical Illness Research Center. As many as 30-50% of surgical sepsis patients never return to their previous health status, according to Guoshuai Cai, Ph.D., an assistant professor and director…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
The University of Florida Department of Surgery was well represented at this year’s annual scientific meeting of the Florida Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, held July 10-13 in Key Largo, Florida. Thomas Beaver, M.D., M.P.H., the Grant and Shirle Herron Chair, professor and chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, presided as the society’s…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Congratulations to everybody published in July! Published faculty were Doctors Thomas Beaver, Kevin Behrns, Scott Berceli, Mark Bleiweis, Sergio Duarte, Philip Efron, Kirsten Freeman, Jeffrey Jacobs, George Sarosi, Song Han, Thomas Huber, Steven Hughes, Shawn Larson, Tyler Loftus, Ibrahim Nassour, Mindaugas Rackauskas, Steven Raymond, Martin Rosenthal, Salvatore Scali, Samir Shah, Christiana Shaw, Aditya Shirali, Georgios…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
A small postoperative change in how patients who have undergone bariatric surgery at the University of Florida are treated has produced improvements in comfort and safety, highlighting the Department of Surgery’s emphasis on constant quality improvement. Launched last fall, a quality project that focused on replacing liquid acetaminophen with powder packets has cut medication intolerance…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
A quality project at the University of Florida Department of Surgery is working to improve eligibility for reconstructive breast surgery in cancer patients. Jennifer Fieber, M.D., a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology, said nicotine use represents a significant barrier to reconstructive surgery. “Complication rates from reconstruction in women using nicotine products…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Data-driven care is an essential component of improving patient outcomes. Nobody knows that better than Benjamin Jacobs, M.D., an assistant professor of surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery and the assistant chair for performance improvement. His team’s commitment to quality improvement culminated in national recognition at the 2025 meeting of the Society for Vascular…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Congratulations to everybody who was published in June! Published faculty were Doctors Mohammad Aladaileh, Martin Back, Thomas Beaver, Thiago Beduschi, Mark Bleiweis, Guoshuai Cai, Werviston De Faria, Philip Efron, Thomas Huber, Jeffrey Jacobs, Tyler Loftus, Robert Maile, Eddie Manning, Bruce Mast, Giles Peek, Mindaugas Rackauskas, Martin Rosenthal, Olusola Oduntan, Salvatore Scali, Samir Shah, Zain Shahid,…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
The Department of Surgery is excited to congratulate Alex Yoon, Ph.D., MPH, an assistant professor in the Division of Population Health Sciences, on being awarded a grant from the Southeastern Conference, or SEC, Faculty Travel Program. Established in 2012, the program aims to foster relationships that stimulate collaboration among SEC member universities relative to exchanging…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
The Department of Surgery is pleased to congratulate two general surgery residents on receiving prestigious research fellowship awards from the Frederick A. Coller Surgical Society. Michael Fassler, M.D., and Maksymilian Pilecki, M.D., will each receive $10,000 grants to support their research and will obtain associate membership with the Coller Society. The Coller Society was founded…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
The University of Florida Department of Surgery was honored to send its graduating general surgery residents off with style June 21 at the Hilton UF Conference Center. The graduation ceremony, along with a separate education awards dinner on June 20, celebrated the achievements and accomplishments of residents and faculty. Graduating residents were Kathleen Ehresmann, M.D.,…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Congratulations to our faculty who have received promotions, effective July 1! Our newly promoted multimission-track faculty are Ellen Satteson, M.D., Samir Shah, M.D., MPH, Lisa Spiguel, M.D., Janice Taylor, M.D., MEd and Erin Vanzant, M.D. Spiguel and Taylor were promoted to professor, while Satteson, Shah, and Vanzant were promoted to associate professor. These promotions are…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Congratulations to everybody who was published in May! Published faculty were Doctors Beaver, Beduschi, Bihorac, Bleiweis, Cooper, Duarte, Efron, Jeffrey Jacobs, Jeng, Larson, Loftus, Moldawer, Peek, Samir, Scali, Scarlet, Shah, Stukov, Janice Taylor, Upchurch, and Zarrinpar. Annals of Thoracic Surgery Anticancer Research ASAIO Journal BMC Global and Public Health Circulation. Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes Clinical…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
The Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has been hard at work advancing its quality metrics as it focuses on improving patient experiences and outcomes for the services it provides, from cranioplasty to breast reconstruction surgery. “There are many factors to examine when looking at outcomes,” said Kaylan Dadireddy, M.D., MCh, an assistant professor…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Congratulations to everybody who was published in April! Published faculty were Doctors Braithwaite, Beaver, Bleiweis, Cai, Cooper, Efron, Freeman, Huber, Jeffrey Jacobs, Larson, Loftus, Martin, Moldawer, Peek, Rackauskas, Raymond, Rincon, Rosenthal, Sarosi, Scali, Samir Shah, Sharma, Stukov, and Upchurch. Annals of Thoracic Surgery Annals of Vascular Surgery Canadian Journal of Cardiology Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions Cleft…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Congratulations to everybody who presented at the American College of Surgeons Florida Chapter’s 2025 Annual Meeting & Edward M. Copeland, III, MD, FACS Research Symposium, held May 3-4 in Tampa, Florida. Presenters from the department, all of whom were finalists in the basic science session, were general surgery residents Angel Charles, M.D., and Michael John…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Congratulations to research resident Christine Rodhouse, M.D., on being awarded first place in last week’s Florida Committee on Trauma (FCOT) paper research competition, held May 2 in Gainesville, Fl. Rodhouse joined residents and fellows in the fields of trauma, critical care, and injury prevention from across the state at the FCOT annual meeting. The paper,…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Several Department of Surgery faculty were recognized by the College of Medicine for their excellent contributions and service. We’re excited to congratulate Aditya S. Shirali, M.D., assistant professor of surgery in the Division Surgical Oncology, on receiving the University of Florida College of Medicine Rising Star Award. Each year, the Rising Star Award is given…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Congratulations to Zhihua Jiang, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of surgery, and his team on their recent featured publication in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology! Jiang is senior author on the article, titled “GSDMD Deficiency Attenuates the Development of Ascending Aortic Dissections in a Novel Mouse Model.” The research highlights the development of a…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Congratulations to everybody who was published in March! Published faculty were Doctors Back, Beaver, Beduschi, Berceli, Bleiweis, Cooper, De Faria, Demos, Do, Duarte, Efron, Goldstein, Hess, Huber, Benjamin Jacobs, Jeffrey Jacobs, Jeng, Jiang, Larson, Loftus, Moldawer, Nordenstam, Terracina, Tomas Martin, O’Malley, Peek, Rackauskas, Raymond, Read, Scali, Shah, Shahid, Soma, Spratt, Stukov, Janice Taylor, Terracina, Upchurch,…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Congratulations to Johan Nordenstam, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of surgery, on being recognized by the North Tower operating room team as the April Provider of the Month! Nordenstam was chosen due to his unwavering dedication to patient care, education and teamwork in the North Tower OR. His nominations also highlight the welcoming atmosphere he fosters,…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Several members of the Department of Surgery were honored April 3 at the 25th annual Celebration of Excellence in Medical Education reception. The Society of Teaching Scholars recognizes College of Medicine faculty who exemplify a commitment to fostering the growth of physicians and scientists through education, mentorship and scholarship. Congratulations to Eric Jeng, M.D., M.B.A.,…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
As Match Day 2025 draws to a close, we’re thrilled to welcome the newest members of the University of Florida Department of Surgery! Recruitment season is a challenging time for everyone, and we’re thankful to the many members of the department who helped with interviewing all of the amazing candidates who applied to our residency…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Martin Rosenthal, M.D., an associate professor in the department of surgery at the University of Florida, has been named surgical director of the UF Health Shands ORs.| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
A new research from a consortium of seven major university medical centers led by the University of Florida has identified a way to predict as early as the fourth day of admission whether a septic patient is at an increased risk of dying.| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
He served his country for almost two decades. Then, doctors from UF Health were able to return the favor. Dick’s military journey began in 1979 when he enlisted, first as a helicopter mechanic followed by completing flight school. His service was marked by long hours, unwavering dedication and the camaraderie of a close-knit military community.…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
For Tom Martin, M.D., the UF Health Aortic Disease Center is built around people. From the center’s beginnings in 2018, Martin and his team set three goals: increase case volume, broaden their research and improve the quality of treatment for patients.| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Currently, scientific literature on outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is focused heavily on the technical outcomes of surgery like rates of death, complications and reinterventions. Samir K. Shah, M.D., assistant professor in the division of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy at the University of Florida, would like to add another measure of success. “When…| surgery.med.ufl.edu
As of July 2023, the UF Health liver transplant program and kidney transplant patient outcomes have reached No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation, respectively, as evaluated by the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, or SRTR. Thanks to the leadership of Thiago Beduschi, M.D.; Georgios Vrakas, M.D., Ph.D.; and Ashraf El-Hinnawi, M.D., the programs…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
When it comes to quality initiatives, even the smallest standardization can result in an improvement in patient care. Standardizing operating room notes, for example, is one of the ways surgeons can increase ease of collaboration and leave less room for errors in reporting. “My service often collaborates with other departments, like, for instance, pathology,” said…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Although national guidelines support the use of genetic testing in select populations, a study published in 2019 laid the foundation for the implementation of universal genetic testing, allowing physicians to offer testing for patients who would be otherwise missed. Of the thousand who enrolled in the study and did not meet traditional testing criteria, 7.9%…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
In a new study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, researchers from the UF Department of Surgery examined the safety of outpatient plastic surgery, providing a more holistic comparative evaluation of outcomes and safety. “Even as a state, Florida often tends to see some publicity around serious complications or fatalities surrounding plastic surgery,” pointed out…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Currently, the American College of Surgeons possesses a number of different verification processes to recognize exceptional patient care. The trauma category contains both adult and pediatric categories — each with its own stringent standards programs must meet in order to be considered, let alone approved.| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
For patients with severe obesity and related health issues, like diabetes and advanced cardiovascular disease, bariatric surgery is an increasingly popular option. Now, new guidelines are recommending the procedures become available to more patients who may need them. “An important misconception — and consideration — is that bariatric surgery is for more than just weight…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
For the past several decades, the standard of care for patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis included early elective surgery with the goal of averting the need for an emergency procedure and potential colostomy. Now, with the goal of improving patients’ quality of life, the COSMID (Comparison of Surgery and Medicine on the Impact of Diverticulitis) trial…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Among the possible complications for most cardiac surgical procedures, dysphagia, or trouble swallowing, is one of the most common. The condition can affect patient nutrition, lead to dehydration, and even cause aspiration pneumonia. And, though the latter is a major cause of mortality, it is preventative — with the right early discovery. Now, researchers from…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
A patient’s postoperative length of stay is dependent on many factors — treatment complexity, resources, patient characteristics and more. Now, Melinda Phillips, APRN, and team are turning towards multimedia education mediums to help cardiovascular surgery patients feel confident in their postoperative recovery — and go home sooner. Part of the current issue, Phillips said, is…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
For patients in the ICU who waver between life and death, adhering to necessary — and rigorous — medical treatment plans is a priority. But occasionally, between the frequent movements and different procedures, other markers of recovery can fall behind — like nutrition. After completing the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP), a method that trains…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
First, they save a life. Then, they do their best to make it a good one. For physicians and providers at the UF Health Shands Burn Center, ensuring a patient survives the incident that led to their admission is only the first step. Increasingly, they’re setting the goal posts further — and looking at what…| Department of Surgery » College of Medicine » University of Florida
Despite a push for sustainability and mindful use of surgical resources across the profession, operating rooms can contribute up to 70% of total hospital waste. By designing a targeted intervention around the average costs per surgery, researchers from the UF Department of Surgery sought to drill down the reason for increased operating room costs —…| Department of Surgery
Welcome to the Department of Surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Florida. Our surgeons provide comprehensive surgical care.| surgery.med.ufl.edu
Mindaugas Rackauskas, MD, PhD, is an assistant professor and lung transplant surgery in the University of Florida Department of Surgery. Dr. Rackauskas earned his medical degree and Master’s from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. He trained in cardiac and thoracic surgery at the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. He later served as senior registrar of the cardiothoracic department at Galway University Hospital in Galway, Ireland, and then in the Blackrock Clin...| Department of Surgery
