Day 5: Mayo Clinic
May 1,2023 / 
By AANA
After a long delay in Mexico City and a diversion through Dallas Fort Worth, the 2023 AANA Traveling Fellows finally made it to Phoenix in the early morning on April 28, 2023. It wasn’t too late for their Tetris skills to be put on display: four big suitcases, four backpacks, four Traveling Fellows, two carry-on suitcases, one Godfather and one former Traveling Fellow fit into one vehicle! Special thanks to Kostas Economopoulos, M.D. (former AANA Traveling Fellow 2021) for foregoing his beauty rest to pick them up! Much appreciated!!
All smiles this morning as the 2023 AANA Traveling Fellows got up early for a trip to the lab! From left: Albert Gee, M.D., FAANA, John Tokish, M.D., FAANA, Nicholas Sgaglione, M.D., Theodore Shybut, M.D., FAANA, Catherine Hui, M.D., Peter Vezeridis, M.D. and Justin Makovicka, M.D.
The 2023 AANA Traveling Fellows watch a biceps tenodesis, biceps smash and arthroscopic distal tibial allograft surgeries. It was a masterclass from John Tokish, M.D. and his Fellow, Justin Makovicka, M.D. So many great discussions and so much was learned.
After a successful morning in the lab, the 2023 AANA Traveling Fellows start the afternoon session at the JW Marriot Wildfire Golf Course for a wellness session on balance, teamwork, resiliency and having fun! They split into two teams with Nicholas Sgagliogne, M.D. and John Tokish, M.D. as team captains – the losing team rides the mechanical bull! From left: Catherine Hui, M.D., Peter Vezeridis, M.D., John Tokish, M.D., FAANA, Justin Makovicka, M.D., Nicholas Sgsglione, M.D. Theodore Shybut, M.D., FAANA and Albert Gee, M.D.
To cap off a great day, the 2023 AANA Traveling Fellows head to Buffalo Chip Bar in Cave Creek for a special live rodeo. Clockwise from left: Catherine Hui, M.D., Theodore Shybut, M.D., FAANA, Peter Vezeridis, M.D., Albert Gee, M.D., FAANA, Kostas Economopoulos, M.D. and Nicholas Sgaglione, M.D.
The 2023 AANA Traveling Fellows quickly learn that it’s the longest eights of your life in the ring with the bull and that cowboys are tough during Buffalo Chip Bar’s live rodeo.