University of Arizona Department of Surgery

08/18/2026

We're pleased to welcome Dr. Ankit Patel to Grand Rounds tomorrow morning.

⏱️ Time: 8:00 a.m. MST
📍 COM-T Room 5403

About Dr. Patel:
A minimally invasive surgery pioneer and Chief of Surgery at Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital, Dr. Patel specializes in robotic-assisted approaches to complex foregut pathology, hernias, and bariatric surgery. He's also the lead editor of the 2017 and 2025 SAGES Manuals of Robotic Surgery, and will serve as president of the Georgia Chapter of the American College of Surgeons (2026-2028). Join us as he shares his expertise in advancing surgical education and innovation.

See you there!

08/06/2026

We're pleased to welcome Dr. Bryan Sandler as Chief of the Division of General Surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Department of Surgery.

Dr. Sandler brings extensive experience from UC San Diego, where he's led minimally invasive surgery initiatives, directed surgical simulation programs, and mentored the next generation of surgeons. As a nationally recognized educator and innovator, he's passionate about advancing robotic, endoscopic, and AI-driven approaches to patient care.

As Dr. Sandler says, we're entering a remarkable period in surgical innovation, and we're excited to have another division chief leading the way in .

Special thanks to Dr. Iman Ghaderi for his outstanding interim leadership! 🙌

07/22/2026

We're proud to announce that Dr. Hamidi has joined our faculty as an assistant clinical professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery! While this marks a new chapter, Dr. Hamidi is far from a new face, having been part of our department since his research and residency training.

After earning his medical degree from Jordan University of Science and Technology, he completed his research fellowship, general surgery residency, and cardiothoracic surgery fellowship right here at the .

Dr. Hamidi specializes in adult cardiac surgery, treating complex conditions including coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, arrhythmias, and aortic disease. He also brings expertise in advanced therapies like TAVR, mechanical circulatory support, and ECMO for patients facing advanced heart or lung failure.

As a faculty member, he's committed to mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows, continuing to give back to the very program that trained him.

07/15/2026

07/02/2026

Save the Date and Register! The Division of Surgical Oncology is hosting the 3rd Annual Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary on August 29th. Join us for a full-day CME event exploring the latest advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of hepato-pancreato-biliary diseases.

Register Now: https://bit.ly/43S4xLn

06/25/2026

Meet Jennifer Erdrich, MD, MPH, an Editorial Board Member for SCORE General Surgery, and an associate professor at University of Arizona Department of Surgery. Dr. Erdrich, thank you for dedicating your time and expertise to SCORE!

06/24/2026

Congratulations to Taylor Riall, MD, PhD, Division Chief of Surgical Oncology, for receiving the Banner Health Hero award!

The Banner Health Hero program is a grateful patient initiative that allows them to honor a Banner caregiver or care team who made a positive impact on their care experience.

Being recognized by a patient is one of the most meaningful honors a physician can receive. Dr. Riall leads a division committed to delivering expert, compassionate care. Her work reflects the very best of what Banner Health strives to provide: world-class medicine delivered with heart.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Riall on this well-deserved recognition! 👏

05/14/2026

What an incredible week for ! 🎉 The 2026 Department of Surgery Research Symposium was a tremendous success, made possible by the passion and dedication of our entire community. We were honored to welcome Keynote Speaker Ali Naji, MD, PhD, to Tucson, whose presentation left us informed and inspired. A heartfelt congratulations to our research award recipients, and a huge thank you to every researcher, resident, student, and faculty member who presented, engaged, and contributed. The future of surgery is bright, and it's because of you!

05/13/2026

It’s a match! We are happy to announce our 2027 Plastic Surgery residents, Drs. Pollichemi and Whisonant. Please join us in giving a warm, Tucson welcome to Alexandra and Cees! We can't wait to have you join our department next summer.