Dr. Llaguna

Incredible how quickly 12 years go by! Wishing our first born Carolina the happiest 12th birthday ever. Love you! 😘

4th of July pool time with the fam. Except for the tween that refused to be in the pic 🫠

Proud of her and the hard work she puts in all year, balancing dance, cheer and academics. Placed 1st in her division and 10th all around out of 50! Win or lose, always very proud mom and dad. 🙂

Les Mis with the miss…

That was not fun… any guesses on what just went down?

Congrats to Jay for presenting our abstract titled “Superbugs vs. Old guard: Piperacillin-tazobactam takes on tradition in surgical prophylaxis during pancreatoduodenectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis” today.

Congratulations to our surgical resident, Dr. Chelsae Spector, who just presented our abstract “Impact of time to surgery on outcomes following low anterior resection for re**al cancer” at

Happy Mother’s Day to all our amazing surgical resident moms! Today, we want to celebrate and acknowledge the incredible dedication and strength you show as you juggle the demands of both training and motherhood. We understand that the path you’ve chosen isn’t easy, and we admire your perseverance and commitment.

Wishing you a Happy Mother’s Day filled with love, joy, and very minimal STAT pages!

This week, the Memorial Hospital General Surgery program had the honor of hosting a mock oral board exam for the general surgery residents from our institutions, Holy Cross Hospital and JFK. It was an intense and challenging experience that truly put our residents knowledge and exam taking skills to a test.

Additionally, I had the opportunity to catch up with one of my co-Chief residents, Dr. Handel Robinson, during the exam. We reminisced on our training days and the rigorous surgery board review process we went through together. It was great to reconnect and share our experiences.

The oral board exam is designed to evaluate our ability to think critically, make sound clinical decisions, and communicate effectively. It requires not only a comprehensive understanding of surgical principles but also the ability to apply that knowledge in real-time scenarios. The exam is no joke! The questions are tough, and the pressure is on. But it’s all part of the journey to becoming skilled and competent surgeons.

Huge shoutout to all the residents and faculty who participated in the mock oral board exam. Keep pushing forward, and remember that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. Best of luck on the real exam!

Congratulations to our intern Dr. Kay Kumar for his outstanding achievement at the 2024 University of Miami Infectious Disease Symposium! His abstract presentation titled “Superbugs vs. Old Guard: Piperacillin-tazobactam Takes on Tradition in Surgical Prophylaxis during Pancreatoduodenectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis” secured first place.

This remarkable accomplishment is the result of a collaborative effort between the divisions of Surgical Oncology and Infectious Disease at . Through our collaborative work, we are revolutionizing the standard of antibiotic prophylaxis during pancreatic surgery. Our findings have the potential to bring about positive changes in how we approach surgical prophylaxis, particularly in the face of emerging superbugs.

Hot off the press! This is our most recent publication investigating the impact of Race on attainment of a textbook oncologic outcome (TOO). TOO is a composite quality metric defined as having achieved all ideal perioperative outcomes defined as negative surgical margins, appropriate lymph node resection, no prolonged length of stay, no re-admission, and initiation of chemotherapy within 12 weeks of surgery. Several studies suggest that obtaining TOO is associated with improved survival. The results of our study similarly reveal that patients who achieved TOO following surgery for colon cancer had a higher media overall survival compared to those who did not (148.2 vs. 84.2 months). Sadly among the identified 508,312 patients, only 34% achieved TOO. The study’s multivariate logistic regression models suggest that Black and Hispanic patients are less likely to achieve TOO compared to their White counterparts. In conclusion, the study highlights racial disparities in the achievement of TOO, with Blacks and Hispanics being less likely to attain TOO compared to White patients.

Congratulations to all the co-authors on another job well done! Now it’s time to put our heads together and address healthcare equity.

Weekend getaway with the girls ☀️🌊🏖️🍹

Congratulations to all the students who have just matched into general surgery residency! Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and you should be incredibly proud. The journey ahead will undoubtedly be challenging, but it is during these formative years that you will grow both personally and professionally. Surgery residency demands immense commitment and perseverance. The long hours, the demanding cases, and the constant pursuit of knowledge will push you to your limits. However, it is precisely through these trials that you will develop the skills and expertise that will shape your career. Looking forward to meeting and working with the incoming intern class this July.

Dr. Shatawi (PGY3) had the honor of presenting one of our abstracts at this year’s 42nd Annual Miami Breast Cancer Conference. Our study delved into the topic of how race affects the achievement of textbook oncologic outcomes after modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer. The findings of our research shed light on the impact of race in this specific context, providing valuable insights into the broader discussion of healthcare disparities. .md

Hot off the press! Congrats to all the co-authors!

Conclusion: Robotic gastrectomy resulted in a significantly increased likelihood of TOO attainment. Although TOO is associated with increased overall survival across all surgical approaches, attainment of TOO following minimally invasive gastrectomy is associated with a statistically significantly higher median overall survival.

I have a little-known secret to share. While many of you already know that I’m of Cuban descent, there’s something intriguing that only a few are aware of. My grandfather on my father’s side was actually Colombian! He immigrated to Cuba at a young age, bringing with him a rich heritage and a captivating story. Although I never had the chance to meet him, I recently had the opportunity to visit Colombia and immerse myself in the country where he was born. It’s been an unforgettable experience. The warmth and kindness of the Colombian people truly touched my heart. Their vibrant culture and breathtaking nature left me in awe. I leave today more eager to delve deeper into my roots and explore the fascinating history that connects me to this incredible country. 🇨🇺🇨🇴

Shown here are some of the few pictures remaining of my grandfather Antonio Llaguna and my grandmother Roberta Llaguna.

First challenge of residency training… selecting an accommodating OR table height to make everyone confortable and happy. Am I getting shorter in my old age, or are these residents getting taller 😆

Ready on set…

Congratulations to our fourth-year resident .m.henry who just completed their 4th year surgical rotation! By rotating on Surgical Oncology, our resident was able to witness firsthand the impact that surgical interventions can have on patients fighting cancer. They learn about various types of cancer, treatment options, and the multidisciplinary approach required to provide comprehensive care.

This rotation serves as a valuable stepping stone for our resident, preparing them for their future role as a chief resident. The exposure to Surgical Oncology will undoubtedly inspire them to consider a career in this field or provide them with a deeper understanding of cancer-related diseases as they move on to other General Surgery specialties.

Happy 13th Anniversary to my amazing wife! Today marks a milestone in our journey together, and I’m filled with gratitude for every moment we’ve shared. These past 13 years have been filled with love, laughter, and countless beautiful memories.

One of the greatest blessings of our marriage has been the gift of our three wonderful daughters. They have brought so much joy and happiness, and watching them grow has been an incredible experience. Seeing you as a loving and nurturing mother has only deepened my love and admiration for you.

As I reflect on our journey, I’m excited about what the future holds for us. The next 13 years will undoubtedly bring new adventures, challenges, and opportunities for growth. But I’m confident that with you by my side, we can conquer anything that comes our way.

More encouraging data highlighting the impact of HIPEC on survival of patients with advanced ovarian cancer! After a follow-up of around 10 years, it was found that patients who had surgery combined with HIPEC had a lower risk of recurrence, progression, or death compared to those who had surgery alone. The patients who received HIPEC also had a longer period without recurrence and a higher overall survival rate. Both groups received subsequent treatments after recurrence, but these treatments did not explain the improved survival in the HIPEC group.
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“Don’t mind me just watching” - Jack Harlow

It’s almost time!

Getting ready to start a great event organized by

Christmas Wonderlanding 😃

Happy Thanksgiving from the Llaguna Girls! 🙂

I wonder what these pedals do

Today, we honor and salute the brave men and women who have served our country. Thank you for your sacrifice, courage, and dedication. Happy Veterans Day! 🇺🇸

Hot off the press! Congrats to all my co-authors for another work well done 😎

Swifites 🙄