Every year, UC San Diego honors physicians for their outstanding commitment to healthcare, both in the hospital setting and throughout the community. This year, Thomas J. Savides, M.D., clinical service chief for gastroenterology, UC San Diego Medical Center and professor of clinical medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine was named Physician of the Year. Byron Buckley, M.D. and Brian Kolski, M.D., were awarded House Officers of the Year. The physicians were chosen by the Medical Staff Executive committee, a group that consists of medical center physician colleagues and physician leadership.
A UC San Diego School of Medicine graduate, Savides founded and is the director of the UC San Diego endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and Interventional GI Endoscopy programs, which are among the premier programs in the United States for diagnosis, staging, and treating of gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and lung cancer. He has published over 100 scholarly works in the fields of GI endoscopy and oncology.
In addition to being the UCSD GI Clinical Services Chief, Savides also directs the UCSD Gastroenterology Fellowship Training program, and is on the UCSD Healthcare Board of Governors. He is very active in the leadership of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), and is currently a Councillor on the ASGE Governing Board.
“Dr. Savides provides advice to multiple gastroenterologists in the community who have questions regarding care of their patients, which is one of the main reasons for his outstanding referral pattern and the growth of the advanced endoscopy program at UC San Diego,” said John M. Carethers, M.D., chief of the division of gastroenterology, UC San Diego Medical Center.
Byron Buckley, M.D. senior resident, a new physician pursuing specialty training in Emergency Medicine, was honored as House Officer of the Year for his ability to provide outstanding patient care, both at UC San Diego Medical Center, and during his recent medical mission in Haiti, where he brought basic medical services to a community in need. “He is one of those ‘cup half full’ individuals which is a value in all settings but particularly cherished in the highly charged arena of emergency medicine,” explained David A. Guss, M.D., chair of the UC San Diego Department of Emergency Medicine.
Brian Kolski, M.D., chief medical resident, Department of Internal Medicine, also earned the House Officer of the Year award for his exceptional ability to both lead and educate students, interns, residents and attending physicians. “As a clinician, Kolski is an uncompromising physician who is a true role model. His patient care has no compromises, and he conveys this dedication on work rounds and conferences,” says Robert “Brownie” Schoene, M.D., professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Kolski plans to remain at UC San Diego Medical Center to participate in a cardiology fellowship.
“Drs. Savides, Buckley, and Kolski’s dedication to health care are great examples of the exceptional physicians and nurses at UC San Diego Medical Center; their commitment to having a local impact and being a national influence in health care,” said Richard Liekweg, chief executive officer, UC San Diego Medical Center.
UC San Diego Medical Center joins hospitals throughout the nation in celebrating National Hospital Week and the men and women who serve their communities with outstanding care, call 619-543-6163 for more information.
# # #
Media Contact: Alma Lucy Fisher, 619-543-6163, alfisher@ucsd.edu