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Department of Surgery Department of Surgery

Humans of Surgery

In 2017, the UC San Diego Department of Surgery began the Humans of Surgery project. Inspired by the Humans of New York, we aim to capture the stories of our staff, faculty and trainees both in and out of the hospital. We have interviewed countless department members, unpacking their inspirations, motivations and challenges in life as well as the surgical field.

The people in the Department of Surgery are more than just their position. They are people with rich histories, clear ambitions and a unique desire to make a difference in this world. From work-life balance to decision-making in the operating room, Humans of Surgery covers it all. The stories you find may make you laugh or shed a tear, but we’re proud to present the people that make our work possible.

             Volume 1                                Volume 2

HOS1HOS2 

             

 

 

 

 

 

Volume 3 in Progress Below: 

  • Brandon Harris, M.D.

    Brandon Harris, M.D.

    Fellow in the Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Burns and Acute Care Surgery

    “I did my residency in West Virginia, and 95% of my patients were from underserved populations. Naturally, I developed a passion for serving these patients, which I’ve been able to continue through UC San Diego’s fellowship. We're taking care of some of the most critically ill patients in the surgical ICU and seeing them make a meaningful recovery evokes a feeling that I cannot explain. I've driven home so many times to the sun rising and told myself, ‘I made a positive difference in that patient's outcome.’ I don't care how exhausted I am. That alone is worth it.

    I would say, for anyone who wants to get into the medical field — especially as an international graduate or physician of color — it's unfortunate, but you have to be twice as good just to be considered on the same level as your U.S. graduate counterparts. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It's a very dim light at the beginning of the journey, and you can't really see it. But it's there, and as you get closer, it definitely gets brighter.”

    Brandon Harris is from Antigua and Barbuda where he did tennis, water sports, martial arts, and track and field. Outside of his fellowship, he enjoys the beach, exploring San Diego, remaining physically active and spending time with his fiancé and six-month-old son.

  • Ann Gaffey, M.D., M.S.

    Ann Gaffey, M.D., M.S.

    Assistant Professor in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery

    “Vascular surgeons are kind of like human plumbers. We operate all over the body on different blood vessels. We can clean out those pipes, we can build new pipes or we can realign those pipes. Our goal is to improve blood flow, which reduces the high rate of limb loss in patients with peripheral arterial disease and diabetes. 

    Amputation is another cause for limb loss. My research aims to reduce instances of amputation by exploring why patients develop early limb loss, better treatments we can offer them, and which devices improve outcomes for limb salvage — an alternative to amputation that preserves the look and function of limbs in critical condition. 

    Vascular surgery is a little different than other specialties in that there’s oftentimes a long term follow up of these patients, and you develop a lifelong relationship with them. I enjoy taking care of patients. But I also enjoy teaching. Every day is a new day, and it's always exciting. I'm very lucky."

    Ann Gaffey is from Boston, MA, where she danced ballet professionally and spent her summers sailing. She still sails to this day and has also picked up mountain biking.  

  • Jennifer Berumen, M.D.

    Jennifer Berumen, M.D.

    Associate Professor in the Division of Transplantation & Hepatobiliary Surgery

    “Growing up, I always liked doing things with my hands. My dad was an OBGYN, and my mom was a nurse. Being around medicine got me interested in it. My dad was a big mentor in general. But he had an orthopedic surgeon friend who I spent a lot of time shadowing and was fairly influential in getting me interested in surgery too.

    I would say the most influential person during my residency at UC San Diego was Dr. Kristin Mekeel. She took me under her wing and has been a huge mentor for the last 15 years. Having someone who believes in you and says, ‘You’re doing a good job. Let's take it to the next level. What do you want to do with your life?’ It's helpful to feel like someone thinks you can do it.

    Being open and honest without fear of judgment is incredibly important. When you run into failures, you know someone who can help you through it. I know I have this with Dr. Mekeel, and that’s led me to be that way with a lot of my mentees.

    One of the rewarding parts of being a mentor is recognizing early on that there's someone who you share the same interests as. It's nice to be able to reach out to that person and be like, ‘I want to help you and get more involved.’ What goes around comes around.” 

    Jennifer Berumen is from Fort Smith, AR. Her childhood was full of science, softball and soccer. Outside of surgery, she continues to play softball and enjoys spending time with her family and dog.

  • Javier Bravo, M.D.

    Javier Bravo, M.D.

    General Surgery Resident

    “Communication is a key feature of quality healthcare. There's a point when you start treating patients where you are almost amazed at how little patients know about what's going on in their body, so it is very rewarding to help them better understand. I would say around 30–40% of the patients we treat at UC San Diego are Spanish speaking patients, and I’m bilingual, which helps with navigating that. You need to communicate things well for patients to be satisfied with the care they’re receiving.

    I am currently in a surgical oncology lab that focuses on fluorescence-guided surgery. Essentially, we work with molecular technology that lights up cells, tumors and other structures to make surgery more effective and safer for both surgeons and patients. The nature of the profession of surgery is that there are always new technologies and techniques coming out. It’s a constantly evolving field, and you get to perfect your craft and learn new things. The more tools you add to your repertoire — in terms of knowledge, research and skills — the better you are prepared to treat patients in the right way.”

    Javier Bravo is from Mexico City, Mexico. When he isn’t in the operating room or doing research, you can find him at a golf course or continuing childhood hobbies such as swimming and soccer.
  • Martin Lhuaire, M.D., Ph.D.

    Martin Lhuaire, M.D., Ph.D.

    Visiting Scholar

    “Anatomy and teaching medical students are two of my passions. In France, every anatomist must teach using diagrams on a blackboard, which allows students to fully grasp every aspect of the human anatomy. 10 years ago, when I met Professor Geoffroy Noel, Ph.D., I fell in love with American teaching methods. Noel emphasizes compassion, which I believe is very forward-thinking because it prepares students for clinical practice. Teaching should not only include the anatomical structures I draw on blackboards but also the different lived experiences of patients.”

    Martin Lhuaire is a clinical anatomist at the University of Paris Cité, plastic surgeon at the Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris and visiting scholar in the Department of Surgery at UC San Diego. When he isn’t at the hospital (or on a plane), you can find Lhuaire spending time with his family at their vineyard or riding the country roads of the Champagne region on his motorcycle.
  • Oluyemisi Bolonduro

    Oluyemisi Bolonduro

    Communications Intern

    “I mostly write autofiction or autobiographical fiction, and my writing is full of conversations I have with myself. My ideal resonator would be anyone who doesn't always find themselves relating to societal norms. I like to explore the nuances of identifying as a non-binary woman and Nigerian American, tearing constantly between places that people view as binary. Biculturalism is also a big focus in my writing because there are different aspects of my Nigerian background that I'm very in tune with and others that I'm not in tune with — I often experience a kind of national x ethnic imposter syndrome.

    I'm drawn to all creative mediums, which is why I enjoy communications so much. I also love the interviewing part of it. I think the aspect where someone shares a part of themselves and celebrates that with the larger community sparks inexplicable joy for me."

    Oluyemisi Bolonduro is from Shoreline, WA and Kogi, Nigeria. In her free time, you can find them nibbling on some berries, restarting "The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask" or borrowing too many library books at once.

  • Thomas Handley, M.D.

    Thomas Handley, M.D.

    General Surgery Resident

    “It sounds corny, but I went into medicine so I could help someone who is at the worst point in their life. You're the person they turn to for help. The magical aspect of surgery and medicine is that you're able to help someone in their moment of need, and it's an honor and privilege to be able to do that. Getting into work at five o'clock in the morning doesn't seem so important when it's someone else's life that you've got in your hands.” 

    Thomas Handley is from Southeast London in the United Kingdom. When he isn’t at the hospital, he enjoys running at Torrey Pines State Park and spending time with his wife.

  • Sean Perez, M.D.

    Sean Perez, M.D.

    General Surgery Resident

    “I lost my grandma when I was an intern to COVID-19, and I think that’s one experience that has impacted the way I help patients. 

    A huge reason why I came to San Diego is to work with a large Hispanic population and I can’t imagine myself having the same sense of personal reward elsewhere. I know I’m doing right by my grandma by just the amount of Hispanic patients I see and help. They obviously remind me of her, and I thankfully get the chance make her proud.”

    Sean Perez grew up in Upland, California. As he finishes his last year of research, he is excited about getting back into the operating room. Outside of the hospital, Perez enjoys skiing, playing tennis, watching films and trivia.

  • Jason Llaneras, M.D.

    Jason Llaneras, M.D.

    Plastic Surgery Resident

    “I was a surgery intern in a busy Los Angeles County Hospital during the coronavirus pandemic, when the whole city shut down. I was having to take care of patients when they were alone, and no one was allowed in the hospital. It was one thing being there for the patients as a healthcare provider, but you also had to be there for them on a very personal level. I look back at those memories — some good, some bad — with the perspective that you’re more than just a healthcare provider at times.”

    Jason Llaneras was born and raised in Miami, FL. Now, he loves the gorgeous atmosphere and spending time with friends in San Diego. Outside of the hospital, Llaneras enjoys spending time with friends, running, playing basketball and making the most of every opportunity to relax at the beach.

  • Parisa Oviedo, M.D.

    Parisa Oviedo, M.D.

    General Surgery Resident

    “My parents are both immigrants. My dad is from Peru, my mom from Iran. They sacrificed a lot and worked really hard to give me and my brother the opportunities we have. They taught me to dream big and that I could do or be anything I wanted. I’ve never felt limited by them — I’ve always felt supported, and I’m very lucky to have that.

    What has been a life passion of mine is to do advocacy and disparities research. I’m really interested in how socioeconomic factors affect what kind of care patients receive. My own life experiences and my parents’ and family history have informed that passion.”

    Parisa Oviedo was born in Orange County, California and has since lived in Dubai, Boston and San Diego. Outside of being a general surgery resident, Oviedo loves to travel and read fiction, and hopes to spend some time traveling with her husband and family.