Over the course of my 22 years with USF Health, I have been continually inspired by the spirit of camaraderie, collaboration, and compassion that defines our team. Our department is more than a collection of divisions and specialties—it is a dynamic, inclusive community united by a shared mission: to make life better for our patients, our learners, and the communities we serve.

In my role, I am fortunate to help guide the department’s strategic direction across its clinical, academic, and research missions. I also proudly serve on multiple leadership teams at Tampa General Hospital (TGH)—including the Operating Room Governance Committee and Clinical Service Lines for the Heart & Vascular Institute, Oncology, Transplant, and Gastroenterology. These integrated partnerships are vital to our success and reflect the deep collaboration between USF Health and TGH, one of the nation's top hospitals and our primary teaching affiliate.

This past year has been a time of exceptional growth:

• Patient volume increased by over 20% across our divisions—a reflection of the trust our community places in us and the advanced, compassionate care we provide.
• We climbed to #50 in the Blue Ridge NIH Surgery Rankings, powered by over $2.4 million in research funding and an expanding portfolio of clinical trials and publications.
• We’ve strengthened our NIH T32-funded surgeon-scientist training program, solidifying our reputation as a leader in academic surgery.
• And thanks to the efforts of our dedicated education team, every one of our medical students who applied matched into a surgical residency program—a powerful endorsement of our culture of mentorship and academic excellence.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of our extraordinary faculty, staff, residents, and fellows. I am deeply grateful for the enthusiasm, resilience, and passion you bring every day. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our invaluable partners at the VA hospitals and Moffitt Cancer Center, whose collaboration enhances all aspects of our work.

Looking ahead, we remain committed to growing as a diverse, inclusive, and innovative academic surgical department—one that leads not only in performance metrics, but in purpose, empathy, and integrity.

If our mission resonates with you, I encourage you to explore our department and discover how you might contribute to our ongoing journey of transformation and impact.

Murray L. Shames, MD, DFSVS, FACS
Richard G. Connar Professor and Chair of Surgery
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
Surgeon-in-Chief, Tampa General Hospital