Surgeon general attends graduation of Air Force residents at university hospital Published June 17, 2008 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- The day after he participated in the first physician resident graduation since Hurri-cane Katrina at Keesler Medical Center, Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James Roudebush traveled to Jackson, Miss., with members of the 81st Medical Group executive staff to honor other graduating residents. General Roudebush joined Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Doug Robb, 81st Medical Group commander, and Dr. Shirley Schlessinger, University of Mississippi Medical Center associate dean of graduate medical education, in a presentation ceremony June 10 at the UMMC student union. They presented graduation certificates to three first-year obstetrics/ gynecology residents and five pediatric residents. Each addressed the residents, faculty and guests. OB/GYN residents were Capts. (Dr.) Elizabeth Gaida, James Small III and Florence Villa. Since UMMC is unable to support them in the final three years of their residencies, they are permanently reassigned to other military medical centers to complete their program. Captain Gaida is going to Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, Texas. Captain Small completes his residency at the Navy Medical Center, Portsmouth, Va., and Captain Villa at the Navy Medical Center, San Diego. Five of the residents in the three-year pediatric residency program remain at UMMC for the remainder of their residency. They are Lt. Col. (Dr.) Gina Vitiello and Capts. (Drs.) Jeremy Harwood, Christeen Hodge, Kathryn Taylor and Robert Weatherwax. A sixth resident, Capt. (Dr.) Starrina Desmond, did her internship at Louisiana State University and remains there throughout her residency.