Prof Rashied Small

[Armanda Kicks]

TheGeneral Surgery Residency Program is designed to provide residents with the skills, knowledge, and experience required to become excellent surgeons who are leaders in their profession and will contribute to the advancement of the field of Surgery. Program graduates will be well-prepared for careers within the community and academic surgery, or to pursue additional fellowship training.

Some key features of our residency program include a focused and robust clinical and didactic curriculum, mentoring from ABS/AOBS certified faculty members with a variety of backgrounds and expertise, and a focus on excellent patient care and bedside learning. Our general surgery residents, along with the surgery department as a whole, will continue to provide the quality, patient-centered care that Lakeland Regional Health is known for, providing to the diverse patient population of Polk County and the many international and domestic visitors of the surrounding Tampa/Orlando area.

The 910-bed Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center is the primary clinical site for the General Surgery Residency Program and provides extensive opportunities for residents to gain hands-on clinical experience with an underserved population that has a large diversity of pathology and medical needs.

Clinical cases with untoward outcomes are pulled from all General Surgery services and reviewed with group discussion focusing on improving patient care and finding opportunities for improvement. This experience is invaluable in developing clinical knowledge, critical thinking skills, communication skills, and preparation for the Oral Board exam.

These conferences are held once a month and allow for presentations on a variety of surgical topics by experts in their field. Conference topics have a broad range including basic science, technological/medical advances, physician wellness, and even medical ethics. These experiences are designed to be novel and interactive.

Our simulation center is on-site and accessible to our residents. Utilizing the most up-to-date simulation tools, the lab will have activities in open surgery/suturing, laparoscopic, endoscopic, and robotic surgery. Formal mentored sessions will be held once a month, but informal practice sessions will also be encouraged and available.

Donald Davis, Jr., MD, joined the Lakeland Regional Health Physician Group in August 2021 as a General Surgeon and the Program Director of the General Surgery Residency and Surgical Critical Care fellowship. Dr. Davis earned his Doctor of Medicine degree, completed his Residency in General Surgery and fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at the University of South Florida. Dr. Davis most recently served as the Chair of General Surgery, Medical Director of the Surgical ICU and surgeon champion for NSQIP at Tampa General Hospital while also serving as Associate Professor of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Director, Assistant General Surgery Residency Program Director, and a founding member the Hernia Center of Excellence at the University of South Florida. Dr. Davis has served as Principal Investigator and Sub-investigator in numerous research studies and continues to publish and presented nationally on his clinical research. He is certified in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care by the American Board of Surgery.

Sowsan H. Rasheid, MD, FACS, has been providing patients with high-quality, compassionate care for over 12 years. A member of the American College of Surgery, Dr. Rasheid earned her Doctor of Medicine degree and completed her Residency at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. She also completed two fellowships, one at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial and one at the University of South Florida College of Medicine.

Zachary Boucher, MD is a board-certified general surgeon at our Medical Center and Grasslands Campus. He practices in the areas of general surgery, including hernia repairs of all types, gallbladder surgery, acid reflux disease, skin and soft tissue lesions, and diseases of the stomach, small intestines and colon.

Dr. Boucher attended the University of Florida for his undergraduate education and continued there for medical school. He then completed his surgical training at the University of South Florida in Tampa. His practice focuses on robotic surgery due to the advantages for patients including smaller incisions, faster time to recovery, and fewer complications.

Andrew Gaugler, DO, FACS is a board-certified surgeon at Lakeland Regional Health. Dr. Gaugler has special clinical interest in chest wall reconstruction after injury and prehospital trauma care. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Nova Southeastern University and completed his internship and Residency in General Surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Additionally, he completed a Fellowship in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at the University of Miami Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dr. Gaugler specializes in Emergency General Surgery and Trauma.

Dr. Gaugler enjoys seeing patients return to the lives they lived prior to being injured. Trauma surgery starts with saving life and limb, but his ultimate goal is for our patients to get back to their loved ones. Additionally, Dr. Gaugler leads a multi-disciplinary research group focused on improving outcomes in polytrauma patients.

Matthew Forestiere, MD is a board-certified surgeon, providing care to patients at our Medical Center. He specializes in General Surgery, Acute Care Surgery, Trauma Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care. Dr. Forestiere attended medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He completed his Surgical residency at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, TX. He then completed his Surgical Critical Care, Trauma, and Acute Care fellowship at LAC+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA before joining Lakeland Regional Health.

Dr. Forestiere is dedicated to helping patients fully understand what is happening to them with their illness or trauma, and ultimately guiding and empowering them through the treatment of their trauma care, surgery, and recovery.

Manuel Molina-Vega, MD is the Director of Hepatobiliary and a surgical oncology specialist at the Hollis Cancer Center. Caring for patients at Lakeland Regional Health since 2011, his multi-area surgical expertise is extensive and covers a wide array of pathologies. He specializes in surgical treatment for benign and malignant processes. These include reflux surgery, malignant and benign hepato-biliary and pancreatic diseases, melanoma, sarcoma, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, other digestive tract cancers, and complex benign pathology.

Olumide Sobowale, MD is a double board-certified surgical critical care and trauma surgeon at Lakeland Regional Health. Dr. Sobowale specializes in Trauma/Acute Care Surgery, General Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care. Dr. Sobowale cares for patients seeking urgent, emergent, and elective surgery. Additionally, he cares for patients needing surgery for trauma injuries and who are acutely ill and need surgical intervention. Dr. Sobowale completed medical school at Howard University College of Medicine and completed his two residencies at the University of Connecticut and the University of Florida Health Science Center. Additionally, he competed his fellowship at Hartford Hospital.

Richard Sontchi, MD is a double board-certified surgical critical care and trauma surgeon at Lakeland Regional Health. Dr. Sontchi specializes in Trauma/Acute Care Surgery, General Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care. In addition to patients seeking treatment for general surgery needs, Dr. Sontchi cares for patients who are acutely ill or injured, particularly specializing in complex abdominal wall reconstruction, while providing individualized care plans for each unique health concern.

David Straughan, MD is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Lakeland Regional Health. Dr. Straughan completed medical school at McGovern Medical School at UT Health Science Center at Houston and his residency at University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. He also completed three fellowships in craniofacial reconstruction and facial aesthetics. at Massachusetts General Hospital, National Institute Health, and Tulane University School of Medicine.

Dr. Straughan uses his skills to perform both cosmetic and reconstruction surgeries. Dr. Straughan's goal is to treat every patient with the respect that they deserve. Whether meeting a patient on their worst day or discussing cosmetic surgery, he strives to let them know that he is part of their team.

Michael Taylor, DO is a double board-certified surgeon, providing care to patients at our Medical Center. He specializes in Trauma Surgery, Emergency General Surgery, Elective General Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care. Dr. Taylor attended medical school at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. He completed his fellowship at Boston Medical Center, and completed his medical residency at McLaren Macomb.

Dr. Taylor encompasses a comprehensive trauma and surgical-informed care approach with all of his patients to care for them in their most vulnerable times. By recognizing that any traumatic event can have long-lasting implications for a patient and their loved ones, he can better care for the immediate and future needs of his patients.

Andrew Bugajski, PhD is the AVP of Research and Sponsored Studies here at Lakeland Regional Health. Dr. Bugajski oversees all research operations to ensure that no matter what type of research is going on, that it is conducted safely, efficiently, and positively impacts our patients.

Michael Campanelli, DO has served as the attending Neurosurgeon at Lakeland Regional Health since 2000 and Chief of the Division of Neurosurgery since 2002. Board-certified, Dr. Campanelli is highly recognized for expertise in treating traumatic injuries of the brain and spinal cord, as well as degenerative disorders of the spine. Dr. Campanelli completed medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic and two residencies at Grandview Hospital & Medical Center and Sisters of Charity. He then completed his fellowship at the Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates.

3a8082e126