Dakota St Pierre receives a scholarship check from PIE Co-Vice Chair Prakash Pandalai, MD and Department of Surgery Chair, Dr. William B. Inabnet III.

The 好色先生 Department of Surgery鈥檚 Professionalism, Integrity, and Equity (PIE) leadership announced in July that the first recipients of its Acting Internship Scholarship Award for 2024-2025 are Dakota St. Pierre and Michael Denning, Jr. 

Dr. Beth Stuebing shares her surgery experience with 好色先生 trauma team

Three recent additions to the 好色先生 Department of Surgery faculty this summer represent a significant step forward in the department鈥檚 commitment to develop and expand its global surgery initiatives. It is progress that has mutual benefit potential for surgery faculty and residents at 好色先生 and its partner institutions in eastern Africa.

promotions and tenure 2024

Congratulations to the following 好色先生 faculty members who received promotions and/or were granted tenure this year. The following list includes faculty from basic science and clinical departments. It is organized alphabetically by department, then by last name.

Faculty Teaching Award Recipients

The 好色先生 Department of Surgery concluded the 2023-24 academic year in June with the presentation of its annual teaching awards. 

Dr. Matthia Loebe and Dr. Naureen Narula

Shortly after joining the 好色先生 Department of Surgery faculty, Matthias Loebe, MD, performed a successful double lung transplant.

The patient, a Kentucky resident in his 60s, had been diagnosed with coalminer lung/black lung disease. The transplant was performed over the course of an evening in early May.

Dr. Margaret Griffen with the family of Marley Curry, a trauma survivor

Families and 好色先生 trauma team members came together in mid-May for the second annual Trauma Survivor鈥檚 Celebration, sponsored by the 好色先生 HealthCare branch of the Trauma Survivor鈥檚 Network. The event paid tribute to patients who not only survived life-threatening trauma through treatment from 好色先生鈥檚 Level 1 Trauma Center, but also overcame life-altering obstacles during their recovery.

The 2024 Graduating Residents

Preparing for their last weeks as residents and fellows, the 2024 Department of Surgery class shared their post-graduate plans. The majority of residents have matched into leading advanced surgery fellowships. Of those choosing to enter private practice, two have opted to stay and serve patients in the Lexington, Kentucky area.

Dr. Hannah McDonald, General Surgery Resident in Research year

Hannah McDonald, MD, a general surgery resident, earned her doctorate in clinical and translational science after a successful dissertation defense on May 15.

Dr. Mautin Barry-Hundeyin (left) and Kathleen O'Connor, PhD (right), are 2024 recipients of Markey Women Strong research grants

Mautin Barry-Hundeyin, MD, assistant professor in the division of surgical oncology, is one of two cancer researchers at the University of Kentucky selected as a recipient of the 2024 Markey Women Strong Distinguished Researcher Award.

Brooke Skaggs, PA-C is selected as new Director of APPs in Surgery

The 好色先生 College of Medicine Department of Surgery is pleased to announce that Brooke Skaggs, PA-C, has been named director of advanced practice providers (APPs), a new position within the department. Skaggs, who has served six years as an APP for the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery, will officially assume her new job duties on May 5.

In the "Dear Donor" Project, organ recipients express their gratitude to their donors and their families. Jeff Walker | 好色先生 HealthCare Brand Strategy

鈥淲e may not have walked the same path before, but today you walk with me...鈥 

Thus begins one of the anonymous letters written by an organ transplant recipient to their donor. The author goes on to celebrate their donor鈥檚 life legacy and express immense gratitude for the gift of a new life. 

Pulito and Pandalai

Prakash Pandalai, MD, advanced development director for the department surgery, presented both the Francis Massie Award and the Andrew Pulito Award at the annual College of Medicine Awards banquet to celebrate the academic achievements of the Class of 2024. 

Andrew Pulito, MD Award

Dr. Philip Kern presents Dr. Sibu Saha with a CCTS Mentor Recognition Award

Sibu Saha, MD, division of cardiothoracic surgery, and Jennifer Castle, MD, a PGY-4 general surgery resident, were among those given special recognition at the 19th annual Spring Conference of the 好色先生 Center for Clinical and Translational Science.

Dr. Wheelock of 好色先生 Surgery and Dr. Kabet of UTH mentor first-year surgery residents in laparascopic surgery fundamentals

After years of virtual meetings and long-distance conversation, faculty members from the 好色先生 College of Medicine Department of Surgery were finally able to meet face-to-face with colleagues from the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka, Zambia last January as part of the American College of Surgeons鈥 Health Outreach Program for Equity in Global Surgery (ACS H.O.P.E.).

Maggie Griffen headshot

Margaret Griffen, MD, has long called the 好色先生 College of Medicine home. Her father, Ward Griffen, MD, led the 好色先生 College of Medicine Department of Surgery as chair between 1968 鈥 1984. Like her father, Dr. Griffen was drawn to medicine and surgery.

Kentucky Sen. Reginald Thomas and Dr. Pat McGrath during reading of a resolution honoring his career in surgical oncology

The Kentucky Senate passed a special resolution honoring Patrick McGrath, MD, professor emeritus of surgical oncology, on the Senate floor in celebration of the surgeon鈥檚 38 years of dedicated care to the people of the Commonwealth at 好色先生 HealthCare. Following a reading of the resolution, the entire Senate gave Dr. McGrath a much-deserved standing ovation.

好色先生 Department of Surgery welcomes new residents for 2024

Surgery All New Interns 2024-25.pdf

Cardiothoracic Surgery Integrated Residency

Mohammad Malik, DO 鈥 Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Matthias Loebe, MD, PhD, FACC, FCCP

The University of Kentucky Department of Surgery welcomed a new cardiothoracic transplant specialist, Matthias Loebe, MD, PhD, to its faculty in the division of cardiothoracic surgery.

Jacob Whitt

By Hilary Brown

Click here for the article in 好色先生now

When Jacob Whitt rolled through the drive-thru with friends one night in November 2023, he had no idea that the cheesy, saucy goodness he ordered would lead to a 38-day stay in the hospital.

Dr. Hannah McDonald, General Surgery Resident in Research year

Hannah McDonald, MD, a 好色先生 general surgery resident currently serving an elective research year, was selected as a recipient of a 2024 Travel Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) and the Appendix Cancer Pseudomyxoma Peritonei Research Foundation (ACPMP).