The Division of Vascular Surgery celebrated the 2025 graduation on Saturday, June 21, at the Whittemore House. Family, friends and vascular surgery faculty gathered to celebrate three graduating trainees.
The graduating trainees were vascular surgery resident Julia Suggs, MD, and vascular surgery fellows Daniel Kindell, MD, and Erin McIntosh, MD.
Awards ceremony
The celebration included a cocktail hour, a comedic roast of the graduates, and the showing of video messages from family members who were unable to attend in person.
“We’re here to support and celebrate the graduates,” said current resident Jahanzeb Kaikus, MD. “We love them, and it’s been great having them here and we want to celebrate all of their accomplishments.”
Faculty and current residents alike gave remarks honoring the graduates.
Vascular faculty leadership took turns addressing the graduates with words of encouragement and congratulations for the milestone they have achieved in completing fellowship and residency training.
“There’s no question in my mind that we train some of the world’s best surgeons in our fellowship,” said Patrick Geraghty, MD. “We have a very busy program. Over the years, I continue to hear that graduates from our fellowship program perform at the highest level from colleagues nationwide.”
“It’s been great to have the three of you here,” said Luis Sanchez, MD, the former chief of the then-Section of Vascular Surgery. “The exposure and experience you have gained over the past several years will make a tremendous difference throughout your career. Congratulations for completing your fellowships and residency training.”
J. Westley Ohman, MD, the director of the Division of Vascular Surgery, conferred certificates and presented gifts, as the program director for vascular surgery residency and the newly established director of the division. He shared some anecdotes of his time working with the graduates, congratulating them on their efforts in training and wishing them the best as they move forward along their career path.
After surgical training
Suggs will be remaining in St. Louis, where she will enter practice as a vascular surgeon. However, she will remain part of the WashU Medicine extended family, with her husband who is an anesthesiology fellow.
Kindell is due to enter practice as a vascular surgeon at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
McIntosh is pursuing an academic surgery role as an assistant professor in the Division of Vascular Surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle.
WashU Medicine’s Division of Vascular Surgery is a nationally recognized leader in the field. Established in 1983 with a strong foundation in clinical excellence and innovative research, the program has set benchmarks in vascular care and education. The residency and fellowship programs are among the most prestigious in the country, consistently attracting top-tier talent and producing skilled vascular surgeons who excel in both clinical and academic settings.
Trainees and faculty in the division are renowned for pioneering state-of-the-art therapies and procedures, contributing significantly to advancements in vascular surgery. Under the leadership of distinguished faculty and researchers, the program frequently collaborates on national and international stages, sharing expertise and shaping future directions in vascular health. WashU Medicine’s commitment to excellence in patient care, education and research solidifies its position as a cornerstone in the vascular surgery community.
Congratulations to the 2025 graduates of the Division of Vascular Surgery residency and fellowship training programs.