We take great pride in recognizing the remarkable contributions of our Department of Surgery faculty, APPS, fellows, residents, and staff. From delivering exceptional patient care to advancing cutting-edge research and education, they exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and compassion. Each member of our team plays a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare, and we are profoundly grateful for their unwavering dedication and invaluable contributions.
The following recognitions are submitted by patients, department partners, and colleagues.
Featured Recognitions
Faculty
6/21/24 | Meghan Good, MD
"Good experience with Dr. Good. She was excellent and the staff was wonderful."
6/16/24 | Tanya Anand, MD, MPH, FACS
"Dr. Anand showed exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for a critically ill patient to proceed to the operating room, despite encountering significant resistance during the ordeal. She also showed true team leadership by trusting and hearing out her entire multidisciplinary team. Her exemplary conduct serves as an inspiring example to amplify confidence and dedication to our jobs as medical professionals. She saved a precious human life through advocation for what the patient needed, which is the goal of us all."
6/11/24 | Nova Foster, MD, FACS
"Dr. Foster is a great surgeon. She is patient, kind, gives clear explanations, and puts you at ease."
6/11/24 | Jennifer Erdrich, MD, MPH, MFA, FACS, FSSO
"Dr. Erdrich is a delightful person whom I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting with the past five years following the lumpectomy procedure. I would recommend her, though as stated above, that is something I don't usually do. She is someone I'd really enjoy having as a personal friend, more than just on a professional basis."
6/11/24 | Marlon Guerrero, MD, FACS
"Dr. Guerrero was friendly compassionate and very informative. He showed us all the scans and explained them. He was able to do the biopsies same day."
6/11/24 | Philip Rosen, MD, FACS
"While we still have to wait wayyyy too long past the scheduled appt time to see the provider, once you see Dr. Rosen and his nurse (I apologize for not remembering her name) they are awesome. They show attention and care. Thanks to them. P.S. The staff at the front desk were great, too!"
6/11/24 | Lusine Mesropyan, DO, MA
"Dr. Mesropyan is very knowledgeable and professional. She listened to my concerns and discussed steps for resolving the issue."
Faculty & Staff
6/21/24 | Jennifer Pappalardo, DPM, Michele Ballesteros, Susan Bravo, and Alejandra Rodriguez
"Always respect my time, always pleasant. Dr. Pappalardo always explains things in an understandable way. Always remembers things about myself and my wife (also a patient) and asks how we’re doing."
6/21/24 | David Neal, MD, FACS, Susan Bravo, Suzana Ballesteros, and Emanuel Vega
"My entire healthcare team were very patient, attentive and kind. This was my first major surgery and I had many concerns but every time I had questions or concerns, I was met with kindness and respect. He's an excellent and thorough surgeon, he gives good, detailed explanations as to how to care after surgery."
6/21/24 | Jennifer Pappalardo, DPM, Susan Bravo, Diana Enriquez, and Juanita Rivero
"My provider definitely knows what she is doing. I started to see results right away. Everyone there is just so professional and courteous. There is no doubt she's knowledgeable in her craft. I started to see results immediately."
6/20/24 | Andrew Tang, MD, FACS; Colin Stewart, MD; Kathryn Walker, Peter Plahmer, Alyssa Mikal, Kailey Takesian, and Eileen Fernstrom
"I wanted to reach out to thank all of you for putting on an amazing day for the Camp Scrubs kids last week! They had an amazing time and learned a lot. I really appreciate the above and beyond support of the whole trauma team - I know I don't have everyone's names so please pass on my gratitude!"
Faculty
5/31/24 | Jennifer Erdrich, MD, MPH, MFA, FACS, FSSO
"Dr. Erdrich went above and beyond by fitting me in for an urgent walk-in appointment. Dr. Erdrich is the best medical professional I have met in my life. Caring, patient, knowledgeable and friendly. Dr. Erdrich listened, explained everything clearly, and got things started right away.
5/31/24 | James Warneke, MD, FACS
"Dr. Warneke has been excellent. The surgery and after care have been excellent. He has responded to all my concerns about the outcome and after care which I expressed concern."
5/31/24 | Nova Foster, MD, FACS
"Dr. Foster is a superb physician. Dr. Foster was very thorough and empathetic. I feel very confident with her prognosis and preliminary treatment plan. She explained all the steps in simple terms."
5/31/24 | Mohammad Khreiss, MD, FACS, FSSO
"Dr. Khreiss explained my condition and presented a go-forward plan which alleviated many unknowns and reduced my stress level. Dr. Khreiss is very professional but still has concern for his patients understanding of the extent of care."
5/24/24 | Randall Friese, MD, FACS, FCCM
"Thank you Dr. Friese for your support of CDI- your help in responding to queries is making a huge difference and you are so appreciated! And also thank you for how kind you are in your responses... you are truly a valuable team member, and our patients are so lucky to have you!"
5/24/24 | David Neal, MD, FACS
"Dr. Neal had an understanding of my medical need and was professional." "Dr. Neal instills great confidence and took time to cover all questions...he's a really nice guy!"
5/23/24 | Lusine Mesropyan, DO, MA
"My surgeon (Dr. Mesropyan) is wonderful and has looked over my issues very well."
5/23/24 | Jennifer Erdrich, MD, MPH, MFA, FACS, FSSO
"Dr. Erdrich was very thorough and made sure I understood future options."
5/17/24 | David Neal, MD, FACS
"Dr. Neal is totally one of the best doctors I have had the pleasure of being taken care of. He knew exactly what I needed from my examination and acted upon it with no hesitation. No doubt in my mind, if you need him for his specialty, this is the doctor you need to see."
5/15/24 | Lusine Mesropyan, DO, MA
"Dr. Mesropyan is an example of first rate scientist, doctor, problem-solver, and human being all wrapped in one! I do not know the outcome, but I am confident that a very competent person will be doing the best that she, or anyone in her challenging field, could do. And that is all anyone can ask."
5/15/24 | James Warneke, MD
"I liked how straight forward Dr. Warneke was; he listened and responded to all my questions."
5/15/24 | Jad Abdelsattar, MD
"My first visit with Dr. Marlon Guerrero was good. He explained my condition thoroughly and what my options are. Dr. Guerrero is great! He's an expert who is affable and communicates clearly."
5/15/24 | Marlon Guerrero, MD, FACS
"My first visit with Dr. Marlon Guerrero was good. He explained my condition thoroughly and what my options are. Dr. Guerrero is great! He's an expert who is affable and communicates clearly."
5/7/24 | Audrey Spencer, MD
"Dr. Spencer made a wonderful impression on 6NS this morning! She noticed a lack of provider support for a patient that was previously assigned a different team, and advocated vigorously for the patient to move to a more appropriate ICU where their team could better manage care. We admire her and appreciate her understanding of our difficult situation! Thank you, Dr. Spencer, for being a strong leader for us in that tricky moment!"
5/2/24 | Jay Abdelsattar, MD
"We know that you strive every day to ensure our patients get the best care possible, and it was noticed!! You were mentioned in this week's patient experience survey: 'Dr. Abdelsattar is exceptional; he carefully and thoroughly explained everything, took the time to make sure all my questions were answered, and provides excellent care at each visit. I am grateful to have him as my surgeon.' On behalf of the OSL Leadership Team, thank you for all you do and for having such a positive impact on our patient's experience at UACC!!"
5/2/24 | Lusine Mesropyan, DO, MA
"I found Dr. Mesropyan's caring, direct, and kind manner reassuring during an anxious time. Her explanations left me with no questions and grateful to have a plan of action which she had already placed in action with immediate blood work. Thank you, Dr. Lusine Mesropyan!"
5/2/24 | Philip Rosen, MD, FACS
"Dr. Rosen is the best."
5/2/24 | Sujata Saha, MD
"Dr. Saha was very professional and she knows her specialty very well. She explained the procedure in clear and concise terms that made me feel comfortable about the process."
5/2/24 | Stephanie Worrell, MD, FACS
"Dr. Worrell was my surgeon for cancer surgery and I’m here to tell you it worked. The whole team was very professional and treated me like family. I am very grateful for all that they did. So is my wife."
Resident/Fellow
5/7/24 | Devin O'Connor, MD
"Devin is fantastic all around! He made a very difficult situation for nursing feel like it was manageable. He was present, encouraging, and very professional, and our patient was clearly in wonderful hands with him as a provider. He stayed late to follow through with patient transport to a more appropriate ICU and made sure their family was being updated frequently. Thank you for all you do, Devin! You're amazing and we appreciate you here on 6NS!"
Staff
5/24/24 | Susan Bravo, Suzana Ballesteros, and Alejandra Rodriguez
"The office staff was professional, respectful and caring."
5/17/24 | Susan Bravo, Suzana Ballesteros, Cristian Lugo, Ivy Stejskal, and Melyzza Lopez
"Our New Patient Kenneth scored us a 10 out of 10 office visit– Unbelievable experience! EVERYONE was so helpful, kind, and professional. Really made me feel confident they ALL were going to do right by me as a patient."
Faculty
3/28/24 | Taylor Riall, MD, PhD, FACS
"Everyone was courteous and on time. Dr Riall really impressed me as to her knowledge of the condition I have. I look forward to her treatment for this condition."
"Thank you for building trust with this patient and helping him leave his visit confident he is in good hands. We appreciate your dedication to excellent patient care and positive patient experiences."
3/7/24 | Mohammad Khreiss, MD, FACS, FSSO
"I feel like my entire team has been astonishing! I have great people on my team and feel really good about this surgery. Dr. Khreiss explained everything and answered all my questions."
3/6/24 | Marlon Guerrero, MD, FACS
"Dr. Guerrero has restored my faith in the medical profession. My experience with him was 100% positive; I didn't know doctors like him existed anymore... I am very pleased with Dr. Guerrero. He was kind and patient!"
3/6/24 | Stephanie Worrell, MD, FACS
"We know that you strive every day to ensure our patients get the best care possible, and it was noticed!! You were mentioned in this week's patient experience survey: 'Dr. Worrell and her staff were just absolutely great!' On behalf of the OSL Leadership Team, thank you for all you do and for having such a positive impact on our patient's experience at UACC!!”
3/5/24 | Jennifer Erdrich, MD, MPH, MFA, FACS, FSSO
"Thank you for taking such wonderful care of my mother-in-law. The time you spent with her, your explanations, and kindness put her at ease and made a scary day much brighter for her. We can't thank you enough for all that you have done and we feel blessed that you are leading her care team! Thank you for everything."
Faculty
2/16/24 | David Neal, MD, FACS
"Banner South is wonderful!"
2/16/24 | Andrew Nejad, MD
"The Doctor came highly recommended as the best surgeon for my condition."
2/16/24 | Marc Matthews, MD, FACS
"Since joining the burn team your daily impact has been palpable. The wisdom and commitment to excellence that you bring to our patients and this team has been felt by all. Above all else, your empathy as a leader shines through in every interaction you have within these walls. You are appreciated beyond measure, sir. Thank you for all that you do."
2/9/24 | Stanley Okosun, MD, MS, FACS
"Great. Friendly. Talented."
2/7/24 | Philip Rosen, MD, FACS
""Dr. Rosen gave me a lot of information to prepare for my next step."
2/7/24 | Meghan Good, MD
""Dr. Good was thorough, informative, and professional."
APPS
2/16/24 | Rebecca Humpal, FNP
"Ms. Humpal is competent, kind, thorough, perceptive. I would gladly have her work in my office if I were still in practice."
Fellows/Residents
2/5/24 | Devin O'Connor, MD
"Dr. O'Connor is a terrific asset to the trauma team. He is constantly looking for ways to help out in the ER Trauma bay, including help with catheters, moving beds and patients, and help with holding altered trauma patients. He is always calm and kind to patients and staff. Whenever staff have questions or concerns, he patiently listens and does what he can to address them. I hope Dr O'Connor will stay on our team here in Tucson!"
Staff
2/16/24 | Patricia Delgado, Desiree Sagasta, Susan Bravo, Suzana Ballesteros and Crystal Garcia
"The Doctor visit was ahead of schedule. Staff was very helpful."
"Banner South- specifically South! - is wonderful, always be treated with care and courtesy. The staff made an almost unbearable experience the best that it could have been."
2/2/24 | Ellie Killian
"Thank you for making our division strong and trying to make it work for everyone. I don’t know how you do it. You are someone everyone relies on. Cannot appreciate you enough."
Faculty
1/23/24 | Nova Foster, MD, FACS
"Every time Dr. Foster walks into my room, I exhale. She calms me with her presence and confidence."
"I felt great leaving there. I’m not afraid or fearful anymore. My sons called me and I told them they don’t have anything to worry about. I’m glad I picked Dr. Foster. I’m glad I picked Banner! Right now, I’m playing a game and I’m finally winning again. I’m so, so relaxed now! I’m looking forward to my surgery! Banner is the best thing that has happened to me! I got all these answers in less than an hour! All my fears were taken care of. My fears were at 10 and now they are way down below 0. If anyone ever has cancer, I’m going to recommend Dr. Foster and her team is awesome! You guys are the best. The best experience for someone who has the “C”. I was a scared little puppy and came out like a well-groomed adult dog."
1/15/24 | Toshinobu Kazui, MD, FACS
"Thank you for saving my husband, Steve's, life. We are so incredibly grateful for your care"
1/9/24 | James Warneke, MD, FACS
"Dr. Warneke and staff were excellent. Dr. Warneke saw me right away!"
"The OSL team would like to thank Dr. Warneke for all you do, and for being an amazing team member for our patients!"
1/6/24 | Christina Colosimo, DO, MS
"I had the privilege of working with Dr. Colosimo on Jan. 5th. Working with her was an absolute delight. It is clear her patient's are her number one priority. She offered to come back during rounds to do a dressing change when physical therapy was being completed. She has a busy schedule as a physician, but still made it a point to offer. Through out my shift I seen her round on my patient specifically 2 other times, which is not typical from an attending. Dr. Colosimo is truly asset to the SICU team and we appreciate her kindness and commitment to patient care."
APPS
1/16/24 | Angelina Price, NNP
"[Recognizing] for elevating the pediatric surgical care for complex kids!"
Fellows/Residents
1/23/24 | Mazin Adbalgadir, MBBS
"So many questions were answered after this clinic appointment. My resident was awesome!”
1/13/24 | Maya El Ghouayel, MD
"You’re such an incredible team member. Your dedication, kindness, and positivity radiate well beyond what I see and hear every time our paths cross. On behalf of the team and the patients at South Campus, thank you!"
Staff
1/24/24 | Jolene Kiekbusch
"You have been an integral part of the healthy relationship between BUMCT and ambulatory coding. You not only are there for the BUMCT providers but also for the coding team. You are always willing to not just support but teach. I thank you so much for all the amazing collaboration over the years."