Ceremony marks post-Katrina milestone: 15 physicians, 8 dentists graduate at medical center Published June 3, 2008 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- Fifteen physicians and eight dentists are recognized at 3 p.m. Monday during a graduation ceremony in the Keesler Medical Center's Don Wylie auditorium. The event marks the end of part or all of their residency training. Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James Roudebush is the guest speaker. This is the first physician resident graduation since Hurricane Katrina forced the temporary relocation of the medical residency programs in August 2005. Keesler's physician residency program resumed last July with the return of this group of internal medicine and surgical residents. The one-year advanced education in general dentistry residency program returned to Keesler in July 2006, with that group graduating last August. The one-year general practice dental residency program resumed last June. Most of the medical residents are completing their first year as interns and continue as residents in their respective programs at the medical center. Completing their first year in the five-year general surgery program are Capts. (Drs.) William Harris, Mark Lytle, Andrew Matthies and Charles Woodham. They graduate in 2012. Capt. (Dr.) Joseph Lotterhos and Maj. (Dr.) David Simmons will become flight surgeons, with Captain Lotterhos assigned to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and Major Simmons to Osan Air Base, Korea. In addition, Capt. (Dr.) Chad Edwards, who completed a one-year clinical research laboratory fellowship, continues as a general surgery resident with the other graduating interns. Completing their first year in the three-year internal medicine residency are Capts. (Drs.) Mark Burbridge, Raetasha Dabney, Jonathan Hechanova, Clint Hoangquocgia, Keith Kramer, William Pomeroy and Ryan Stoner. They graduate in 2010. Capt. (Dr.) Miechia Esco completed a one-year general thoracic fellowship at the Biloxi Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She'll be assigned to the Keesler surgical staff. Graduating from the advanced education in general dentistry residency are Capts. (Drs.) Rebecca Brincks, Nykkol Aldridge, Christopher Jordan, Nathaniel Caldon, Rachael Parrish and Jessica Christy. Captains Brincks and Parrish remain at Keesler, while Captain Aldridge is assigned to Maxwell AFB, Ala., Captain Jordan to Little Rock AFB, Ark., Captain Caldon to Tinker AFB, Okla., and Captain Christy to Randolph AFB, Texas. Capts. (Drs.) Elizabeth Dang and Haysam Tawfik completed the general practice dentistry residency. Captain Dang is assigned to Kunsan AB, Korea, and Captain Tawfik to Moody AFB, Ga.