Annual Scientific Day
Longmire Scientific Day
UCLA’s Longmire Scientific Day is an annual academic event hosted by the Department of Surgery to honor the legacy of Dr. William P. Longmire, Jr., the department’s founding Chair. Established by his former chief residents, the event unites faculty, alumni, and trainees for a full day of scientific presentations and academic exchange.
Held each spring at UCLA, Longmire Day features original research presentations by residents and fellows across all surgical divisions. Notably, the event features a keynote address from a nationally recognized visiting professor.
This tradition reflects Dr. Longmire’s enduring commitment to surgical education, and celebrates the spirit of academic excellence that defines the UCLA Department of Surgery.
Program Information
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Time: 7 AM–12PM
Location: Tamkin Auditorium, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Longmire Visiting Professorship
Established in 1985, the Longmire Visiting Professorship provides an outstanding opportunity for UCLA students, residents, faculty members and guest to meet with distinguished leaders in the field.
2025 Visiting Professor: Kelly K. Hunt, MD, FACS, FSSO
Kelly K. Hunt, MD, FACS, FSSO, will be the visiting professor for the 2025 Longmire Scientific Day. Her presentation title is “Collaborative Science: Innovations in Breast Cancer Treatments"
Dr. Hunt is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Breast Surgical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She holds the Olla Stribling Distinguished Chair for Cancer Research and has joint appointments as a Professor in Experimental Radiation Oncology and the Department of Surgical Oncology.
Dr. Hunt’s work focuses on finding more effective therapeutics for patients with breast cancer and soft tissue sarcomas. Her translational research investigates novel treatment strategies involving agents that target cell cycle regulation. One of the key projects in the Hunt Lab was the identification of low molecular weight cyclin E as an important prognostic marker of breast cancer. Ongoing studies are exploring the underlying mechanisms of resistance to standard-of-care therapeutics and metastasis in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. The team has also identified a novel combination treatment strategy that leverages cell cycle checkpoint defects in soft tissue sarcoma.
Dr. Hunt has authored more than 700 peer-reviewed publications, 69 book chapters, and eight books. As an international leader in breast cancer research, she has directed major clinical trials whose results have influenced standard-of-care treatments for many breast cancer patients.
Dr. Hunt has served as Chair of the Breast Committee for the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) and Vice Chair of the Breast Committee for the Alliance in Clinical Trials in Oncology. She also served as Program Director of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Cancer Research Program and Vice Chair of the ACS Cancer Surgery Standards Program. She is the Immediate Past President of the Society of Surgical Oncology, a Past President of the American Radium Society, and the Recorder of the American Surgical Association.
Her contributions to oncology and translational research have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the Faculty Achievement Award in Clinical Research from MD Anderson, a Texas Business Women’s Award, induction into the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame, recognition as one of America's Top Doctors, the John Mendelsohn Award for Faculty Leadership, and inclusion in the OncLive 2024 Giants of Cancer Care. She was also elected as a Fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Recent Visiting Professors
Explore our recent visiting professors. To see the full list of visiting professors from 1985 to the present, visit our dedicated visiting professors page.
2024: Michael J. Stamos, MD
Michael J. Stamos, MD, is the 2024 speaker, who joined UCI in 2002 and is currently dean of the School of Medicine, a position he has held since early 2016.
Dr. Stamos is an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease using minimally invasive surgery and sphincter-preserving techniques, and is a clinical trialist and outcomes researcher. He is a past president of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) and the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery (ABCRS), as well as a past president of the Research Foundation of ASCRS. Dr. Stamos has published more than 260 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 40 chapters, and has served as editor on nine textbooks, including the ASCRS Textbook of Colon and Rectal Surgery. He is regularly listed among America's Top Doctors, Best Doctors in America, and "Physicians of Excellence".
During his tenure as dean of the UCI School of Medicine, the school has steadily climbed in national research stature and has received the highest accreditation possible from the Association of American Medical Colleges/American Medical Association Liaison Committee on Medical Education.
In fiscal 2022-23, UCI received a school record $653 million in research awards, with more than $355 million attributed to the School of Medicine faculty. Over the past five years, the School of Medicine has averaged more than a 16% increase year over year. The school has also grown annual philanthropic fundraising from just under $25 million in 2016 to over $140 million in FY24 to date.
UCI School of Medicine and UCI Health have come together to build a new medical complex in south Orange County, UCI Medical Center-Irvine, which will begin serving patients beginning later this month as parts of the medical campus open throughout 2024-2025. The new medical center will be the first all-electric hospital in the nation and the complex will also include a major expansion of our NCI-designated Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, the UCI Center for Children’s Health, wellness programs, urgent and emergency care, specialty disciplines, research and clinical trials, and lifesaving surgical and acute care. This advanced health and science complex will allow us to attract top talents in medicine and research and develop a pipeline of physician-scientists to add to our world-class research.
Dr. Stamos has led the School’s effort to engage its diverse population in its commitment to inclusive excellence in medical education and sustainable change. Currently, 50% of the school’s executive leadership team are women. In 2021, a dean’s task force for inclusive excellence in medical education was established and an official diversity officer was appointed in 2022. In addition, the percentage of UCI School of Medicine graduates identifying as underrepresented in medicine, is in the top quartile nationally.
During his deanship, two of the School’s three mission-based programs – PRIME LEAD-ABC and HEAL-IM – have started. The Leadership Education to Advance Diversity-African, Black and Caribbean (PRIME LEAD-ABC) program is a first-of-its-kind effort aimed at producing future physicians who are committed to serving these communities. The integrative health and wellness program Health Education to Advance Leaders in Integrative Medicine (HEAL-IM) is designed to provide a future generation of physicians with additional training and skills in the tools and philosophies of integrative medicine. Finally, the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC) is now celebrating its 20th year of education and continues to train future physicians who are committed to work with Hispanic communities throughout Orange County and beyond. In a joint effort with the UCI Samueli School of Engineering, the School of Medicine is now offering a cutting-edge medical education program called Physician Innovator Training Program that will train a future generation of physician-engineers to tackle the world’s most complex medical issues.
Dean Stamos was born in Miami, Florida and received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He completed his surgery internship and residency at the University of Miami / Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Miami, Florida, and received additional fellowship training at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dr. Stamos then moved west where he joined the UCLA faculty and worked at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and the West LA VA Medical center as a busy clinician and division chief for 11 years.
In 2002, he moved to UCI and in 2010, he assumed the leadership role as chair of the department of surgery, a role he enjoyed until February 2016, when he assumed the role of dean.
2023: Christopher Ellison MD, FACS, MAMSE
The 2023 speaker was Christopher Ellison MD, FACS, MAMSE who is the Robert M. Zollinger Professor of Surgery Emeritus at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Dr. Ellison is an esteemed general surgeon and surgeon-educator who currently serves as the President of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). He was a founding member of the Ohio State University Physicians Practice Plan and has previously served as their President and CEO.
Dr. Ellison received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin (1972) and his MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin (1976). He then ultimately returned to Ohio, to complete his General Surgery residency at Ohio State University and in 1984 joined the university as an assistant professor.
Dr. Ellison has chosen the theme "Surgeons United" for the Longmire Scientific Day this year as he hopes to bring the diversity of both the individuals and their specialties in the Surgical community together.
2022: Jonathan Hiatt, MD
The 2022 speaker was Jonathan Hiatt, MD, Emeritus Professor of Surgery in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Dr. Jonathan Hiatt received his medical degree from Keck School of Medicine of USC and practiced general surgery for 30 years. He served in a full time administrative position as vice dean for faculty at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA until his retirement from that position in 2021.
2019: Barbara Bass MD, FACS
Dr. Barbara Bass MD, FACS is the John F., Jr. and Carolyn Bookout Presidential Distinguished Chair, Department of Surgery, at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas, and Professor of Surgery at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York. She serves as Executive Director, Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation & Education Houston Methodist.
Dr. Bass is a surgical oncologist and has led a funded laboratory program in gastrointestinal epithelial injury and repair. She is the Immediate Past President of the American College of Surgeons. She has held leadership roles in surgical quality initiatives nationally - in the Veteran Affairs Health Care System and at the American College of Surgeons. A recognized leader in surgical education, Dr. Bass completed a 7-year term as a Director and Chair of the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Bass is past president for the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. She is a graduate of Tufts University and the University of Virginia School of Medicine and completed general surgery training at George Washington University Hospital. She completed a fellowship in gastrointestinal physiology at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, while serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps.
Her keynote talk is entitled, “The personal perils of a surgical career: caring for your colleagues and yourself.”
2018: Ronald W. Busuttil, MD
Dr. Ronald W. Busuttil is Distinguished Professor and Executive Chairman of the UCLA Department of Surgery and serves as founding Chief of the Division of Liver and Pancreas Transplantation. Dr. Busuttil earned his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees at Tulane University. He completed surgical residency training at UCLA under the leadership of Dr. William Longmire and trained in transplantation with Dr. Thomas Starzl at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1984, he founded the Liver Transplant Program and has been the Director and Chief Surgeon for 28 years. It is one of the largest liver transplant centers in the world. Clinical activities encompass the entire spectrum of liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery. Dr. Busuttil and his team have performed over 5200 liver transplants, and he is internationally recognized for his expertise in transplantation and liver surgery.
2017: Pedro J. del Nido, MD
Dr. Pedro J. del Nido was the 2017 Longmire Visiting Professor. Dr. del Nido graduated with honors in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin and received his medical degree at the University of Wisconsin Medical School. He completed his General Surgery residency at Boston University in 1982, and Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Toronto in 1985. He then trained as a Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
2016: Dr. Ignazio R. Marino, MD, ScD
Dr. Ignazio R. Marino, MD, ScD, was the 2016 Longmire Visiting Professor and the 30th Visiting Professor that the Longmire Surgical Society has hosted. Dr. Marino delivered his keynote address " Transplantation: From the OR to the Eternal City". Dr. Marino is a distinguished liver transplant surgeon and former Mayor of Rome.
2015: Dr. L.D. Britt
Dr L.D. Britt. was the 2015 Longmire Visiting Professor. Dr. Britt has had a long and distinguished career and is currently serving as the Henry Ford Professor and Edward J. Brickhouse Chairman of Surgery at the Eastern Virginia Medical School. He is a past-President of the American College of Surgeons and the Southern Surgical Association, and has served on the boards of multiple surgical and research groups. His awards include the prestigious Distinguished Service Medal from the Uniformed Services Universities of Health Science.
2014: Dr. Leslie Blumgart
Dr. Leslie Blumgart served as the 2014 Longmire Visiting Professor. Residents and fellows from multiple divisions presented research abstracts as well as poster presentations. Following the presentations, Dr. Blumgart delivered his keynote address "Art, Social Structure and Surgery in the Victorian Era." In addition to the excellent research session, members and guests attended the Annual Longmire Surgical Society Dinner which was held at the beautiful Casa Del Mar Hotel.