Annual Publication 2025 FINAL 05292025 accessible - Flipbook - Page 49
Although he was very sick, he was amazed at how he was able
to almost be immediately healed after surgery. And hearing that
his surgeon did that same type of surgery 昀椀ve or six times a day
sparked something in Dr. Feery. “I don’t know how to get there. I
don’t know what to do, but I want to do that.”
Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Feery got his bachelor’s degree
from the University of Cincinnati and then commissioned in the
Air Force as a second lieutenant before getting his medical
degree from Wright State University. As a part of joining the Air
Force, he received Health Professions Scholarship Program
(HPSP) assistance. “They cover the cost of medical school,” says
Dr. Feery, “and then … in return, you usually give four years of
service time as a physician in whatever specialty you choose …
I’m technically assigned to Nellis Air Force Base and that’s what
brought me out here.”
Dr. Feery acknowledges that if it wasn’t for the Air Force
commissioning, he may not have ever come to the West Coast.
But a sub-internship in general surgery while in medical school
led him here. “I had done it [sub] at several other places,” he says.
“And when I came here, I just, for one, felt very involved with the
team and the folks at UNLV … It was de昀椀nitely my 昀椀rst choice
overall.”
He continues, “They just integrated me into the team and I got
assigned tasks. I was suturing, I was seeing patients, helping out
in the operating room. So, I really felt like I had a role. And also,
UMC [University Medical Center] as a hospital is, it’s kind of gritty.
It’s the county hospital. It really appealed to me. I like the patients
that they served. And then also, the residents themselves. When
I was a student, the residents just seemed fearless. And we did
a lot of trauma at UMC and then general surgery at the Air Force
base. So obviously trauma, at times, can be pretty intense.”
It appears that the admiration he had for the residents he trained
with has rubbed off in a big way. Dr. Feery recently won the
Outstanding Resident Teacher Award … for the second time. He
won his 昀椀rst award as a second-year resident.
“The whole thing’s very humbling, and I feel honored, I don’t feel
deserving of it … essentially you’re nominated by the medical
student class … I’ve heard some great teaching, from my
attendings and co-residents. I’ve stolen some ideas from what my
colleagues have said and how they’ve taught medical students.
And I just implement what they say.”
So much so, that he “昀氀ipped” a resident to join surgery. “It brings
me a lot of joy seeing other people learn something new, seeing
the light bulb click in their head. I had one student, he actually
matched into our residency program this upcoming year … When
I 昀椀rst met him, he wanted to do internal medicine and it was just
me and him out at the Air Force base on general surgery.” Dr. Feery
continues, “And I was like, ‘I’m gonna 昀氀ip you by the end of this
month.’ I had him doing a lot, he was very involved in the team.
And in general surgery we do a lot of medicine … I feel like he had
a great experience and then he ended up switching to apply to
general surgery and now he’s matched with us. I look forward to
working with him again.”
Although Dr. Feery focuses on the positives, being a resident
is not always an easy road. “... Some days you’re the hammer.
Sometimes you’re the nail. Sometimes you are crushing it and
you get every diagnosis. You were right on what you were gonna
昀椀nd in the OR [operating room] when you 昀椀nally got there, you’re
like, ‘I knew this would be the problem.’”
He continues, “And you work with your attending and you 昀椀x it.
Pristinely. Every stitch you throw is perfect. Unfortunately, it’s not
always that way. And sometimes you’re the nail and it’s sort of
the opposite. I think when things don’t go as smoothly as you
had hoped or maybe you were incorrect about something or you
just had a challenging day, you have to go back the next day and,
it’s easier said than done, but simply worry about what you can
control. And for me, that’s my attitude … my interactions with
people. How professional am I? Am I still bringing that same
positive energy? Did I learn from the last case? I think that,
combined with our demanding schedule, that can be challenging.
But, it just all boils down to the word: resilience.”
Dr. Feery continues to note the admiration he had for the residents
that he trained with and worked beside. “The residents that I was
SUMMER 2025 MAGAZINE
49
PHOTO: JULIAN FOX
Such is the story of Declan Feery, MD, a fourthyear resident in the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV
Department of Surgery. As a senior in high school, he had
perforated appendicitis, also known as a ruptured appendix. “I had
a laparoscopic appendectomy and I was in the hospital for a while
after the surgery just because of some post-op complications …
And that experience as a patient really intrigued me, and I wanted
to learn more about it.”
with, they seemed really sharp, really on top of it. Nothing seemed
to phase them, and I knew that’s how I wanted to be. So, that’s
kind of what drew me here, that really stuck out compared to
other places. And living in Las Vegas … it’s an iconic city.”
DECLAN FEERY, MD
T
here are many reasons why someone goes into
medicine. Family connections, a desire to serve,
an interest in science. And then there are those
who become interested in medicine through their
time as a patient.
