Honoring the future of medicine on Thank a Resident Day 2026 

During Thank a Resident Day, observed on Feb. 27, HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education (GME) proudly celebrates the more than 5,700 residents and fellows who work alongside our clinical teams to provide compassionate, patient-centered care throughout our hospitals and sites of care. Every day, our emerging physicians demonstrate dedication, resilience and professionalism as they serve our patients and communities.

Across our 85 teaching hospitals and 365 programs, we are deeply grateful to our remarkable residents and fellows for the skill, compassion and energy they bring to their training and to the practice of medicine. We want you to know that you matter, and your work matters. Your future is bright, and we look forward to the impact you will continue to make as you help shape the future of healthcare. 

We extend a heartfelt thank you to every resident and fellow across HCA Healthcare for your commitment to the care and improvement of human life. Your contributions strengthen our teams, elevate our care and continue our mission. 

Happy Thank a Resident Day! 

Dr. Monique Butler
President, HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education

GME’s role in meeting future healthcare needs

This celebration comes at a pivotal time for the physician workforce nationwide. The United States is projected to face a substantial physician shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) – a trend driven by population growth, an aging population and a large segment of the current physician workforce approaching retirement. As the nation’s largest sponsor of GME, HCA Healthcare continues to invest in strengthening the physician workforce needed to care for our communities in the future. Our GME network includes more than 365 ACGME-accredited programs across 85 teaching hospitals in 16 states.

In the 2025–2026 academic year, HCA Healthcare welcomed 2,120 new residents and fellows to its programs, a 22% increase from the previous year. Throughout their training, residents and fellows collaborate alongside our experienced faculty in real-world clinical settings across HCA Healthcare’s hospitals and affiliated sites of care. 

Thank a Resident Day spotlight: HCA Healthcare’s inaugural GME Resident of the Year

Name: Dr. Connor Hogan, PGY-V
Hometown: Kohler, Wisconsin
Medical School: Midwestern University | Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (Chicago, Illinois)
Residency: HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood (Kingwood, Texas)

In 2026, HCA Healthcare introduced the Resident of the Year Award to honor a resident or fellow who exemplifies clinical excellence, professionalism, leadership and service within one of our Graduate Medical Education programs. The inaugural honoree, Dr. Connor Hogan, a chief resident in the General Surgery Program at HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood, reflects the highest standards of this recognition.

Selected by a committee of GME leadership members, Dr. Hogan stood out among nominees for his exceptional dedication to patient care, his commitment to learning and the positive impact he has made on his program and the Kingwood, Texas, community. Dr. Hogan’s program director described him as “an outstanding surgeon, resident and human being” and “one of the most technically proficient residents I have trained in 20+ years.” His nomination portrayed a resident who leads by example – someone who takes personal responsibility for patient care, supports his fellow residents without hesitation and consistently seeks the most challenging rotations to ensure the highest standards of leadership.

When applying to residency programs, Dr. Hogan sought a training experience that would challenge him surgically while fostering a supportive environment. He found that at HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood. “Beyond the robust surgical volume, the supportive culture among residents and faculty has made this program a place where I could grow as a surgeon while feeling part of a collaborative, encouraging team,” he said.

As a chief resident, Dr. Hogan has embraced the opportunity of stepping into a more vocal leadership role. “Serving as chief resident has pushed me outside of my comfort zone,” he said. “It has strengthened my communication skills and deepened my understanding of team dynamics in the professional setting, which will ultimately help me as a physician in the future.” His leadership is grounded in humility, reliability and a commitment to supporting his colleagues – qualities consistently recognized by those who work alongside him.

Receiving the inaugural Resident of the Year Award is a meaningful milestone for Dr. Hogan, but he views it as a shared achievement. “Their support and collaboration have created a positive environment that has allowed me to thrive, and this recognition is as much a reflection of them as it is of me,” he said of his colleagues and co‑residents.

For Dr. Hogan, HCA Healthcare’s mission – Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life – is more than a guiding statement.

Thank a Resident Day spotlight: Internal Medicine resident gives back to the community

Name: Dr. Devika Adusumilli, PGY-II
Hometown: New York 
Medical School: Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (Hyderabad, India)  
Residency: Medical City Fort Worth (Fort Worth, Texas)

As an internal medicine resident at HCA Healthcare’s Medical City Fort Worth, Dr. Devika Adusumilli has always been driven by a desire to advocate for others who may feel unheard. Her commitment to compassionate, clear communication now shapes both her clinical work and her growing role in community education.

This year, Dr. Adusumilli is contributing to Medical City Healthcare’s School Nurse Education Series, a program launched in 2017 to strengthen the health of North Texas communities by equipping nurses with high-quality, clinically relevant training. This series brings together physician subject matter experts – including GME residents – to deliver education tailored to the unique challenges nurses face in school settings. Last year, the program trained more than 1,400 nurses across 38 school districts, and this year it is projected to reach more than 1,800 nurses across 44 districts, charter academies and private schools.

Dr. Adusumilli co-developed a cardiac care presentation for this year’s curriculum, joining fellow residents and clinical experts who are helping school nurses stay current on evolving pediatric health trends. For her, the motivation is deeply personal. “Teaching is one of my passions, and school nurses are on the front lines,” she said. “Growing up with asthma and multiple allergies, I found myself in the nurse’s office quite often. To have the opportunity to give back to them is so rewarding.”

The School Nurse Education Series provides free continuing education contact hours – an important benefit for school districts and nurses who must maintain licensure requirements while working outside traditional clinical environments. Dr. Adusumilli hopes her session will leave nurses feeling empowered and supported. “I hope they walk away with the latest guideline updates and more confidence to support their students,” said Dr. Adusumilli. “I want them to know we are just a phone call or email away if they need anything.”

Her commitment aligns closely with HCA Healthcare’s mission. “Life is the most precious gift we have been given,” she said. “It is important to me that everything I do contributes to improving someone’s life or teaches them how to improve their own – whether in a small way or a large one.” Through her continued learning as a part of the GME internal medicine program and her role in the School Nurse Education Series, Dr. Adusumilli is doing exactly that.

Thank a Resident Day spotlight: Advancing care through research

Name: Dr. W. Tyler Crawley, PGY-V
Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Medical School: Rocky Vista University | College of Osteopathic Medicine (Parker, Colorado)
Residency: HCA HealthONE Swedish (Englewood, Colorado)

When patients arrive with complex spine injuries, decisions must be made quickly – and the stakes could not be higher. For Dr. W. Tyler Crawley, a PGY-V resident in the General Surgery Residency Program at HCA HealthONE Swedish in Englewood, Colorado, those high-stakes moments sparked an important question: How do we know when surgery offers the greatest benefit for patients with complex upper cervical fractures?

That question led to research now recognized on the international stage.

In September 2025, Dr. Crawley’s work earned first place at the 45th SCIOT Orthopedic World Congress in Madrid, Spain, for his study examining surgical management of combined C1–C2 fractures – serious injuries affecting the top two vertebrae of the spine. His work was subsequently published as peer-reviewed research in January 2026.

Combined C1–C2 fractures are rare but potentially life-threatening injuries. Because they are complex and often occur in patients with additional medical challenges, treatment decisions can be difficult. Historically, physicians have had limited high-quality, data-driven evidence to guide whether surgical stabilization offers the best outcomes.

Using a national registry, Dr. Crawley analyzed trends in surgical treatment and its impact on survival and complications. His findings showed:

1. Surgery was more frequently performed in patients with unstable fractures or spinal cord involvement.
2. Older or medically frail patients were less likely to undergo surgery.
3. After adjusting for baseline differences, surgical management was associated with improved survival, but also increased resource use and postoperative complications.

The research provides stronger evidence to support surgical stabilization in carefully selected high-risk patients – helping surgeons make more informed, individualized decisions.

“In trauma care, both operative and nonoperative management strategies may be appropriate for a given injury. Our goal is to deliver patient-centered care, often in the setting of limited evidence, while carefully balancing concomitant injuries and underlying medical comorbidities,” Dr. Crawley said. “This research contributes valuable data to help inform and strengthen decision-making within this complex clinical landscape.”

Balancing operative training with scholarly research is no small task. As a chief resident, Dr. Crawley spends his days in the operating room while also contributing to research that impacts care nationwide. Outside of work, he is active in local and national civic engagement and enjoys running, biking, soccer and exploring Colorado.

His achievement reflects the strength of HCA Healthcare’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) platform – one of the largest in the country – where residents have access to robust clinical experiences, mentorship and research infrastructure that allow them to meaningfully advance evidence-based medicine.

Having the work presented in Madrid marked a meaningful milestone.

“It is always an honor to have our work presented, and the opportunity to do so at an international event makes it especially meaningful,” said Dr. Crawley. “I am grateful to be part of an exceptional team of researchers whose collaboration and expertise have been both inspiring and educational. As I prepare for fellowship, I look forward to continuing to contribute to the field through similar research endeavors.”

On Thank a Resident Day, we celebrate Dr. Hogan, Dr. Adusumilli and Dr. Crawley – and all HCA Healthcare residents and fellows – whose dedication to patients and passion for discovery are shaping the future of medicine.

This spirit of appreciation reflects HCA Healthcare’s enterprise-wide Show Love Project, which underpins how We Show Up® by showing love to our colleagues through genuine and personal expressions of appreciation. Take a moment today to share your appreciation for our residents and fellows and recognize the incredible work they do.