This week, the UAB Department of Surgery is highlighting former general surgery resident, Marianne Cusick, M.D., now assistant professor of surgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). Cusick graduated the program in 2013.

“Dr. Cusick was a wonderful resident and administrative chief in our program,” said John Porterfield, M.D., former UAB General Surgery Residency program director. “She showed great resilience and motivation, leading our group of about 40 residents with dexterity, grace, and compassion.”

While training at UAB, Cusick pursued her Master’s in Public Health. A highlight of her training experience was supporting a T32 Grant, led by Jeffrey Kerby, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Division of Trauma & Acute Care Surgery. Cusick said both her MPH and T32 Grant experience helped develop her as a future academic surgeon.

“Dr. Kerby showed me the other side of clinical patient care that is not always in the OR, but is just as impactful on the patient outcomes,” said Cusick. “I am also grateful for my other mentors and those who inspired me while I was training, including Drs. Melanie Morris and Marshall Urist.”

Following the completion of her residency program, Cusick finished a one-year fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. After that, she briefly went into private practice and continued to build on her clinical expertise before her group joined UTHealth in 2015.

Early in her career, Cusick said that her focus was on providing excellent patient care and building a large surgical volume, and gradually over time, she added in training the next generation of surgeon scientists to her priorities. In 2019, Cusick became the assistant director of the UTHealth Colon and Rectal Surgery Residency.

“The best advice that I can give current trainees is to be true to yourself and know that if you’re motivated to do the right thing, good things will happen,” said Cusick. “Have goals–an immediate goal and a future goal. Know that your small steps will get you to where you want to be.”

Cusick said her training at UAB has prepared her for successful career in academic surgery. In fact, this month, Cusick was promoted to the director of the section of colorectal surgery in the Division of Elective General Surgery, Department of Surgery.

According to McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, she will succeed H. Randolph Bailey, M.D., FACS, who has been leading the large group of colorectal surgeons for nearly 50 years. Cusick will support the needs of 13 colorectal surgeons.

“I first want to thank the UAB Department of Surgery, for everything they have taught me and done to prepare me for my academic surgical career,” said Cusick. “I am only about six years into my career and have the incredible honor of stepping into the role of section chief. I look forward to developing a union of excellent patient care, research, and surgical innovation into our section.”