The Department of Surgery congratulates our class of 2021-2022 graduating General Surgery Chief Residents. Department faculty, staff and trainees gathered to celebrate the graduates at the Chase Park Plaza this June.
The celebration began with the presentation of annual awards from the chief residents.
Incoming 2022-2023 Administrative Chief Residents Erin Andrade, MD, MPH, and Jessica Lindemann, MD, PhD, presented Jason Gauthier, MD, with the Eugene M. Bricker Teaching Award, saying: “I can’t think of a kinder or more generous teacher than Jason Gauthier.”
Shaina Eckhouse, MD, received the Jeffrey F. Moley Mentorship Award. This award is given annually by the general surgery chief residents to a faculty member who best embodies Dr. Moley’s unique mentorship abilities. Recipients are selected for their dedication to mentoring residents as expert clinicians, researchers, humanists, and educators. Foremost consideration is given to faculty members who bring infectious vitality and enjoyment to the workplace, and who encourage the development of residents into well-rounded human beings.
Radhika Smith, MD, MPHS, received the Evarts A. Graham Teaching Award. William Chapman Jr., MD, and Kristen Seiler, MD, remarked that Dr. Smith “makes the residents feel the joy of surgery. Whenever you are in her operating room, she makes you want to be a colorectal surgeon.”
Will Chapman Jr., MD, MPHS, who is a Walter F. Ballinger II Administrative Chief Resident, received the Keith D. Amos Memorial Award. This recognition is awarded annually to the senior General Surgery resident or Department of Surgery graduate who best embodies Dr. Amos’ characteristics of leadership, accomplishment, dedication to colleagues and the Department of Surgery, focus on educating residents and students, and devotion to improving the lives of patients through education, service, and outreach.
“This individual is one of the kindest and most patient and best all-around people that you will know,” says Steven Hunt, MD, who presented Chapman Jr. with the award. Presenting this award was a particular honor for Hunt, who trained alongside Dr. Amos and knew the late surgeon well.
Read more: Hunt Receives 2021 Moley Mentorship Award
Dr. Amos was a beloved General Surgery resident at Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital from 1997 to 2004. He received numerous teaching awards and served as Administrative Chief Resident in his final year of training. Dr. Amos died suddenly and tragically in June 2013 at the age of 42, survived by his wife and three daughters. The first recipient of the Amos Memorial Award was John Olson Jr., MD, PhD, current Department of Surgery Chair and Bixby Professor.
Following the presentation of awards, Department of Surgery faculty introduced the graduating chief residents, sharing heartfelt stories and remarks from their time in the program.
“It is a privilege to be here tonight to celebrate these wonderful individuals,” said General Surgery Residency Program Director Paul Wise, MD. “We know they will accomplish great things and become leaders in surgery.”
Administrative Chief Resident William Chapman Jr., MD, MPHS, earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine. In 2018, Chapman earned his Master of Population Health Sciences degree from the Division of Public Health Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Chapman will go on to pursue a colorectal surgery fellowship in Cleveland.
Administrative Chief Resident Kristen Seiler, MD, earned her medical degree from University of North Carolina School of Medicine. During her general surgery residency, Seiler spent three years in the Warner Laboratory, where she published multiple papers, abstracts and presentations. Seiler will remain at the School of Medicine for a pediatric surgery fellowship at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Jesse Davidson IV, MD, MPHS, earned his medical degree from University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine. Davidson will continue his training as an abdominal transplant/HPB surgery fellow at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Jason Gauthier, MD, earned his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. During his residency, Gauthier spent two years conducting research with Daniel Kreisel, MD, PhD, who is surgical director of lung transplantation at the School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. His research has led to multiple publications and an Outstanding Article Award from the American Journal of Transplantation. Gauthier was accepted to the Early Specialization Pathway in cardiothoracic surgery at Washington University, where he will remain for fellowship training.
Ali Khiabani, MD, MHA, earned his medical degree and a Master of Health Administration degree from Chicago Medical School. He spent two years of research with Cardiothoracic Surgery Chief Ralph Damiano Jr., MD, studying the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. Khiabani remains at Washington University, where he will complete a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship specializing in adult cardiac surgery.
Bradley Krasnick, MD, MSCI, earned his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. He spent three years in the Fields laboratory, where he focused on multiple projects in surgical oncology. Krasnick will pursue a colorectal surgery fellowship at the Ohio State University.
Melanie Subramanian, MD, MPHS, earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School. During general surgery residency, she earned a Master of Population Health Sciences degree from the Division of Public Health Sciences. She also performed research in thoracic surgery outcomes. Subramanian was accepted to the Early Specialization Pathway in cardiothoracic surgery at Washington University, where she will remain for fellowship training.
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2021-2022 General Surgery Chief Residents and recipients of the annual awards!