Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · 16d

In honor of #NationalAPPWeek, we spoke with #NursePractitioners Corinne Beck and Bernadette Choate about what it's like to work in the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery. #UCSDSurgery @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social @ucsdhealth.bsky.social

1 2

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · 21d

Meet Erika Somers, the program administrator for the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery's residency and fellowship programs. In her free time, she enjoys water activities, such as swimming, surfing and paddle boarding. @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

🔗: surgery.ucsd.edu/people/human...

Erika Somers in group photo behind conference sign

1

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · 22d

#UCSDSurgery welcomes Assistant Professor Glenn Wakam, M.D., to the Division of Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery! Wakam joins the division after completing his abdominal transplant fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. Outside of work, he enjoys biking, skiing, and trying new restaurants 🎉

Glenn Wakam, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery + photo of Glenn Wakam

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · 27d

The #UCSDSurgery 2025 REIMAGINE Symposium keynote speaker will be Amy Purdy, a Paralympic medalist, bestselling author, and kidney transplant patient who challenges us to think bigger and consider new possibilities! @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

2025 REIMAGINE Symposium Keynote Speaker Amy Purdy + Photo of Amy Purdy

1 1

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · 28d

Congratulations, Joel Baumgartner, M.D., and Priya Lewis, M.D., on receiving the @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social 2025 Exemplary Professionalism in the Clinical Learning Environment Award! This award recognizes exceptional professionalism, integrity and leadership in the clinical learning environment 🎉

Congratulations, Joel Baumgartner, M.D., and Priya Lewis, M.D., on receiving the 2025 Exemplary Professionalism in the Clinical Learning Environment Award + photos of Joel Baumgartner and Priya Lewis

1 1

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Sep 3

Meet Samuel Eisenstein, M.D., an associate professor in the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery. When he isn’t at the hospital, you can find him at a concert or traveling the world with his family. #UCSDSurgery #HumansofSurgery @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

🔗: surgery.ucsd.edu/people/human...

Samuel Eisenstein and family by waterfall

1 1

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Sep 2

#UCSDSurgery welcomes Assistant Professor Sadia Ilyas, M.D., to the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery! Ilyas previously worked as an assistant professor of surgery at Georgetown University. Outside of work, she enjoys drawing, painting and reading! Welcome🎉 @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

Sadia Ilyas, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery + photo of Sadia Ilyas

1 1

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Aug 29

☀️Our August newsletter is now available! This edition includes an interview with our #UCSDSurgery research admin team, exciting training experiences, new fellows and more! Have a restful end to your summer 🎉

t.e2ma.net/message/ros2...

#MedEd #surgery #scicomm @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

Department of Surgery News: August 2025 (with group photo)

1

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Aug 26

“Surgical training has helped me learn skills to be a doctor in the fullest sense. I’m grateful for the experience and the mentorship I’ve received here at UC San Diego.” — Sohini Khan, M.D., on her growth at #UCSDSurgery

#AlumniSpotlight @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

surgery.ucsd.edu/alumni/spotl...

Alumni Spotlight: Sohini Khan, M.D. (with photo of Sohini Khan)

1 1

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Aug 20

Meet Leila Adler, M.A., the UC San Diego Center for Research, Education, Innovation and Transformation in Organ Donation (REIMAGINE) managing director. Outside of work, Leila enjoys spending time with her family. #HumansofSurgery @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

🔗: surgery.ucsd.edu/people/human...

Leila Adler and family in front of Christmas tree

1

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Aug 19

Congratulations. Aleah Brubaker, M.D., Ph.D., and Peter Than, M.D., on receiving the Pearl-Hannah Scholar Award, which recognizes early-career physician-scientists who advance impactful biomedical research and provides $100,000 over five years to fund innovative projects @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

Congratulations, Aleah Brubaker, M.D., Ph.D., and Peter Than, M.D., on receiving the Pearl-Hannah Scholar Award (with photos of Brubaker and Than)

1 3

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Aug 14

"The culture of curiosity, collaboration and excellence was so compelling that after completing my fellowship, staying on as faculty felt like the natural and only choice." — Garth Jacobsen, M.D., on why he stayed at #UCSDSurgery.

@ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

surgery.ucsd.edu/alumni/spotl...

1 1

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Aug 13

@ucsdsurgery.bsky.social is excited to welcome our incoming fellows! Meet all of the surgeons who are continuing their surgical education in our various fellowship programs. Congratulations! 🎉

#UCSDSurgery #SurgicalEducation #Fellowship
@ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

Jerome Manson, Cardiothoracic Surgery. Erika Baird, Minimally Invasive Surgery. Rebeca Dominguez Profeta, Minimally Invasive Surgery. Jay Meisner, Pediatric Surgery. Michelle Lippincott, Acute Care Surgery. Lara Spence, Acute Care Surgery. Fereshteh Salimi Jazi, Pediatric Surgical Critical Care. Mariam Astarabadi, Surgical Critical Care. Briana DiGiore, Surgical Critical Care. Matthew Hatch, Surgical Critical Care. Rohini Patel, Vascular Surgery.

1 1

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Aug 8

Welcome to our Resident Research Boot Camp! Topics include building clinical databases, designing translational research, using AI in surgical research, and scientific writing — knowledge vital for trainees as they continue to innovate and advance the field of surgical science. 🥽🧪 #residency

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Aug 7

Congratulations to our graduating fellows! We are so glad you continued your surgical training with us, and we have loved every minute of your time here. Your family at the Department of Surgery wishes you all the best in your future. Congratulations 🎊 #UCSDSurgery #Fellowship

Fellowship Graduates: Vamsi Aribindi, Cardiovascular Surgery, Sharp Grossmont Hospital. Ana Cabrera, Minimally Invasive Surgery. Jeffrey Reeves, Minimally Invasive Surgery, UC San Diego Health. Keon Young Park, Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Colorectal Surgery Fellowship, Children's National Hospital. Brandon Harris, Acute Care Surgery, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in San Bernardino. Jessica Masch, Acute Care Surgery. Simone Hyman, Pediatric Surgical Critical Care, UC San Diego Health General Surgery Residency. Dayle Colpitts, Surgical Critical Care, Inova Fairfax Medical Campus. Michelle Lippincott, Surgical Critical Care, Acute Care Surgery Fellowship, UC San Diego Health. Lara Spence, Surgical Critical Care, Acute Care Surgery Fellowship, UC San Diego Health. Agustin Sibona, Vascular Surgery, Hoag Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute in Newport Beach.

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Aug 6

Meet Alexander Todd, a data analyst at the Department of Surgery. When he isn’t in the office, you can find him running, gardening, going to the beach or Padres games, and spending time with family and friends. @ucsdhealth.bsky.social @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

surgery.ucsd.edu/people/human...

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Aug 4

Congratulations to our 2025 surgery residency graduating classes! It has been amazing teaching, learning and growing with all of you, and we are confident that your futures are bright. Congratulations on completing your residency. You did it! 💙⭐ #UCSDSurgery #Residency

Residency Graduates: Rachel Blitzer, General Surgery. Rachel Jensen, General Surgery, Colon & Rectal Surgery Fellowship, University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Sohini Khan, General Surgery, Surgical Oncology Fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Jay Meisner, General Surgery, Pediatric Surgery Fellowship, UC San Diego and Rady Children's Hospital. Tom Mou, General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship, Vanderbilt University. Rohini Patel, General Surgery, Vascular Surgery Fellowship, UC San Diego. Michael Turner, General Surgery, Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Massachusetts General Brigham, Meera Reghunathan, Plastic Surgery, Hand Fellowship, Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Austin Cooper Morgan, Plastic Surgery, Naval Medical Center San Diego.

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Jul 31

📣Our June and July newsletter is available! Read about the new McGrath Outpatient Pavilion, @ucsdhealth.bsky.social being ranked as the No. 1 hospital in San Diego, a Q&A with Sonia Ramamoorthy, M.D., M.B.A., and new division chiefs 🥼

t.e2ma.net/webview/f7m5...

@ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

Department of Surgery News June and July 2025 + McGrath Outpatient Pavilion Exterior

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Jul 23

Meet Himangshu Sonowal, Ph.D., an assistant project scientist in the Division of Surgical Sciences. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife.
#UCSDSurgery #HumansofSurgery @ucsdhealth.bsky.social @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

🔗: surgery.ucsd.edu/people/human...

1

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Jul 15

In honor of #WorldPlasticSurgeryDay, Plastic Surgery Resident Mary Lee, M.D., shares what a day in her life looks like! 🥼

@ucsdmedschool.bsky.social‬ @ucsdhealth.bsky.social

1 1

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Jul 13

In honor of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor #GISTAwarenessDay, we spoke to Mark Antkowiak, M.D., general surgery resident and GIST researcher, about his work and the importance of #GIST research. #UCSDSurgery @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social‬

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Jul 11

Meet Rachel Kwinn, the division coordinator for the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery and the Center for the Future of Surgery. In her free time, she is an auntie to several nieces and nephews, a lover of local coffee shops and roots for the @padres.com.

surgery.ucsd.edu/people/human...

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Jul 9

The new UC San Diego Health Vascular & Endovascular Surgery Clinic is open! Led by Mahmoud B. Malas, M.D., the space is designed to meet the unique needs of vascular patients and is part of the ongoing expansion of the vascular and endovascular services at UC San Diego Health.

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Jul 4

The UC San Diego Department of Surgery wishes everyone in our community a safe and healthy Fourth of July. Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸🦅 #UCSDSurgery #4thofJuly

UC San Diego Department of Surgery @ucsdsurgery.bsky.social · Jul 2

We recently welcomed our new general surgery residents at the Annual General Surgery Resident Olympics and Intern Welcome Event. The day was filled with teamwork, competition, and celebration between residents and faculty! #UCSDSurgery #Residency @ucsdhealth.bsky.social @ucsdmedschool.bsky.social

1 1 1