Annual Publication 2025 FINAL 05292025 accessible - Flipbook - Page 45
That wide breadth also offers the ful昀椀llment of helping so many
patients in need of urgent plastic surgery. “We get consulted on
a lot of trauma in terms of facial fractures, facial lacerations, or
complex extremity wounds and it feels good to be able to help
these patients on questionably the worst day of their life,” he says.
It also feels good that he and his wife both matched in residencies
at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV. “We ended up
together, which was what we wanted over anything. We are very
happy here and happy that we stayed.”
Unlike her husband, Dr. Jessica Franzoni, knew early on that
medicine was the 昀椀eld for her. “Growing up, I always had an
interest in science, speci昀椀cally the biological sciences. And then
… I was always involved in leadership activities and was on a lot
of teams and so I knew that I wanted to apply my love of science
to something that involved working with people,” she says. “... I
昀椀gured medicine was the perfect way to combine all my interests.”
PHOTO: ALYSSA HILL
His wife, born and raised in Las Vegas, completed the majority of
her education in her hometown. “Fun fact,” she says, “I was born
at UMC and now I deliver babies at UMC.”
JESSICA FRANZONI, MD, AND DEMITRI FRANZONI, MD, ON MATCH DAY 2022
Out of that combination she also found her interest in gynecology
and obstetrics.
She continues, “I just feel like it’s so unique that as OB-GYNs we
get to see women throughout their entire lifespans. Take care of
them in really joyous moments of their life like giving birth and
then the opportunity to be there for the hard times, as well. It’s
so important to have a provider who is compassionate and does
their best to not only care for them at that time, but guide them
through it in a kind and compassionate way … I wanted to be that
for other women during such intimate parts of their lives.”
She also notes that the shortage of physicians in Nevada is
especially critical in obstetrics and gynecology. “... I de昀椀nitely
hope to give back and try to lessen the shortage we have here.”
Both residents praise the support and assistance of the o昀케ce
of graduate medical education, as well as that of their faculty
and fellow residents for helping them stay the course in their
respective residencies. Outside of this school support system,
they rely on each other.
“He’s a huge support,” says Dr. Jessica Franzoni of her husband.
“Every time I have a hard day, it’s kind of nice because … I am
able to vent about my day or just decompress about it and he
understands … I am so grateful that I have such a good partner
and that we can kind of share this experience together.”
The gratitude is also there for the scholarships they received
as members of the second graduating class. “... That was
incredibly bene昀椀cial for our future,” says Dr. Jessica Franzoni.
“Mine was with the Engelstad Foundation and I’m just so
grateful for their generosity and we’re very fortunate to get
that opportunity.”
The gratitude continues for the school of medicine staff. “The
medical school staff is incredibly supportive,” she continues.
“They really want the best for you. We were also very close to
our classmates because we had a smaller class size. I’m very,
very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had here in Las Vegas.”
Dr. Demitri Franzoni shares that feeling of gratitude. “I’m
very grateful for all the faculty members, all my co-residents.
I believe I’m getting great training here. In terms of surgical
experience, I think Las Vegas is second to none in terms of the
wide breadth of surgical cases we experience as residents.
I’m really looking forward to completing my training here and
then going into practice here, as well.”
SUMMER 2025 MAGAZINE
45
