Department of Surgery Celebrates Graduation of Chief Surgical Residents

Amid pomp and circumstance, plus some red carpet flair, this year’s chief surgical residents celebrated their graduations from the General Surgery Training Program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery.

From left, Timothy J. Dickhudt, M.D., Abdullah A. Alhaddad, M.D., Laura E. Hudson, M.D., Omaida C. Velazquez, M.D., Danny Sleeman, M.D., professor of surgery, vice chairman of surgical education and director of the Surgical Education Program, Shevonne S. Satahoo, M.D., Evan J. Valle, M.D., and Salman K. Alsafran, M.D.

The gala for the six physicians took place in June at the Kimpton Epic Hotel Downtown Miami. The graduates and their guests strolled the red carpet, enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dancing, and an art exhibition by local artist Leah Guzman.

“Tonight we celebrate the graduation of six outstanding chief residents who I know will go on to do important work in the field of surgery,” said Omaida C. Velazquez, M.D., professor and chair of the DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, the David Kimmelman Endowed Chair in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, and surgeon-in-chief at UHealth/Jackson Health System.

The General Surgery Training Program is recognized as a robust clinical and research program with strong ties to the community. Established at Jackson Memorial Hospital in the 1940s, the program was later accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. It has graduated 345 physicians since 1954.

Tags: DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Dr. Omaida Velazquez, General Surgery Training Program, University of Miami Health System