2025 DAPM Residency Graduation Celebration

The 2025 DAPM Residency Graduation was a lively and memorable celebration. On Saturday, June 21, the Residency Class of 2025 gathered at Covel Commons in UCLA’s Sunset Village to mark this tremendous milestone alongside their families, friends, colleagues, and DAPM faculty and staff.

The evening began with a festive pre-banquet reception, followed by words of welcome from Michael Sopher, MD, Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs; Judi Turner, MD, PhD, Vice Chair for Education; Jack Buckley, MD, Residency Program Director; and Christine Myo Bui, MD, Residency Associate Program Director.

Honoring the Class of 2025

In her remarks, Dr. Turner reflected on the unique journey of this class, whose residency training was shaped by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. She highlighted Los Angeles as a city enriched by diverse communities who come together to live, work, and dream. She acknowledged how these past four years have strengthened the program’s commitment to inclusive excellence.

Reflecting on her own career, Dr. Turner shared, “As the first college graduate in my family, I know the importance of being given an opportunity when you don’t have examples to learn from. I am so grateful that UCLA welcomed me and gave me a chance all those years ago because tonight I’m here celebrating all of you.”

Dr. Turner closed her remarks by expressing gratitude to the families and friends of the graduates for their support throughout the past four years.

Recognizing Excellence

Faculty physicians from UCLA, Olive View–UCLA Medical Center, and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, along with the graduating Chief Residents, presented awards for the 2024–25 academic year:

Teacher of the Year Award – Nigel Wilkinson-Maitland, MD
Excellence in Teaching Award – Ryan Bakhit, DO, and Maziar Nourian, MD
Dillon Award – Colby Tanner, MD
Perioperative Award – Pinn Saebae
Affiliate Teacher of the Year Award – Kate Balbi, DO
Excellence in Medical Student Teaching – Mark Guirguis, MD
Olive View Award – Jessica Mehta, MD, and Michael Rothberg, MD
Long Beach Award – Sam Snider, MD
Distinguished Resident Award – Sam Snider, MD

Passing the Torch

The graduating Chief Residents—Mark Guirguis, MD, Maegan Lu, MD, Mishan Rambukwella, MD, and Sam Snider, MD—then welcomed the incoming Chiefs: Andrea Antenucci, MD, Michael Lobasso, MD, Sonali Nayak, MD, and Rebecca Toohey, MD.

Following the honors, each graduate was presented by the faculty physician who had mentored them during the start of their clinical anesthesia training. These introductions included warm anecdotes before the graduates walked onstage to receive their diplomas from Jack Buckley, MD, Residency Program Director; Christine Myo Bui, MD, Residency Associate Program Director; Judi Turner, MD, PhD, Vice Chair for Education; and Michael Sopher, MD, Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs.

A Meaningful Gift

The evening concluded with a surprise “Kudos Book” for each graduate created by their classmate Michaelyn M. Nguyen, MD. Each handmade booklet featured heartfelt messages of appreciation for the graduating residents from their colleagues and faculty anesthesiologists.

The celebration was thoughtfully planned by Dr. Myo Bui and Dr. Buckley and seamlessly carried out by the DAPM Education Office: Lucelva “Lucy” Mendez, Residency Program Manager; Karen Larrañaga, MEd, Associate Residency Program Coordinator; Eskedar Muche, Assistant Residency Coordinator; Samuel Gomez, Clinical Program Assistant; and Cristina Alonso, Medical Student Coordinator.

2025 DAPM Residency Graduation Celebration