University of Oklahoma Department of General Surgery

10/27/2026

Last Friday, our Department of Surgery had the pleasure of hosting our Annual Research Day, celebrating the dedication and hard work of our researchers and presenters.

We were especially honored to welcome our visiting professor, Dr. Flavio Rocha, who traveled from Oregon to share his expertise and knowledge with us. We are grateful for his valuable insights and engaging presentation, which made this year’s Research Day even more memorable.

🏆 Congratulations to our 2026 Research Day award winners! 🔬

Pilot Grant Awards
🥇 1st Place: Rachel Tindall
🥈 2nd Place: Christopher Luschen
🥉 3rd Place: Carol Crochet
🏅 4th Place: Patricia Viana

Oral Presentation Awards
🥇 1st Place: Heather Grubbs
🥇 1st Place: Carol Crochet
🥇 1st Place: Rachel Tindall

Poster Presentation Awards
🥇 1st Place: Ryan Bynum
🥈 2nd Place: Raghav Gupta
🥈 2nd Place: Christopher Jeffrey

We also extend our sincere appreciation to every presenter for the time, effort, and dedication that went into their research.

A special thank you to our faculty members who took the time to review and vote on the presentations, as well as our incredible staff whose hard work behind the scenes helped bring this event together.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this year’s Research Day such a success. We are proud of our department’s commitment to advancing research, collaboration, and innovation, and we look forward to another great year!

10/20/2026

10/19/2026

Happy Boss's Day to Jessica, our Senior Administrative Manager for the Department of Surgery! ❤️ Since she was out of the office on Friday, we celebrated her today! We appreciate her for everything she does and for all the hard work she puts into keeping our office running smoothly. We're so lucky to have her!

09/18/2026

What a special day for the OU Department of Surgery, and definitely a full house!

We were honored to welcome Dr. Joe Hines from UCLA to speak with our medical students, residents, faculty, and alumni. His visit was especially meaningful following his induction into the OU College of Medicine Hall of Fame yesterday evening at the Evening of Excellence.

Dr. Hines shared his journey from beginning his medical career as a student here at the University of Oklahoma to ultimately becoming Chair of the Department of Surgery at UCLA. His story was a wonderful reminder of how the experiences, mentorship, and opportunities that begin during medical school can shape an incredible career in surgery and academic medicine.

Dr. Hines, thank you for making the time to return to OU and for sharing your experiences, insight, and wisdom with the next generation of surgeons. We are incredibly grateful to have welcomed you back home and appreciate all that you shared with us today.

Congratulations again on your Hall of Fame induction, Dr. Hines!

09/14/2026

What a great Sunday for some friendly competition! 🏓

Faculty, staff, residents, and fellows from the OU Department of Surgery gathered with their families this past Sunday for an afternoon of pickleball, great food, and even better company.

It was wonderful to spend time together outside of the hospital, enjoy some friendly matches, and connect with our Surgery family. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day such a great time!

We’re already looking forward to the next one! ❤️

08/28/2026

We were honored to welcome Dr. Joshi as our Grand Rounds Visiting Professor! Thank you, Dr. Joshi, for sharing your knowledge, expertise, and insights with our residents and faculty. It was truly a pleasure to host you and have the opportunity to learn from you.

We greatly appreciate your time and contributions to our department! 👏🏼

08/21/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Shinobu Itagaki on being selected as one of OU Health’s July OU Health Way Champion Award recipients!

This recognition celebrates team members who exemplify the OU Health Way through their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to those we serve.

We are proud to have Dr. Itagaki as a valued member of the OU Department of Surgery and congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition. 🌟🎉

08/05/2026

Investing in our residents is investing in the future of surgery.

Our 2026 OU Surgery Leadership Retreat brought residents together for a day of leadership development, team building, and reflection. Thanks to the incredible support and flexibility of our faculty, staff, and clinical teams, every resident was able to step away from clinical responsibilities and fully participate in this valuable experience.

A special thank you to everyone who helped make the retreat a success, especially Berta Orta and Terrysa Nguyen for their coordination and support. We are grateful for everyone who contributed to a day dedicated to fostering the next generation of surgical leaders.🙂

06/25/2026

Please join us in congratulating our Department of Surgery faculty on their well-deserved academic promotions!

🎉 Dr. Suhair Maqusi has been promoted to Full Professor, recognizing her sustained excellence, leadership, and commitment to academic surgery.

We also celebrate Dr. Juan Claros-Sorto, Dr. Jessica Fazendin, Dr. Fernando Mier Giraud, and Dr. Frank Wood on their promotions to Associate Professor. This milestone reflects their outstanding contributions to patient care, education, research, and service.

Congratulations to each of you on this remarkable achievement. We are proud to celebrate your success and look forward to your continued impact on the Department of Surgery and our patients.

06/22/2026

Last Thursday we celebrated our 2026 OU Department of Surgery Chief Residents at our annual Chief Farewell Breakfast.

Thank you for your leadership, hard work, and dedication throughout your residency. Wishing each of you continued success as you begin this exciting new chapter.

Congratulations, Chiefs! 🎉