Congratulations to General Surgery Residency Program Machenzie Eason on winning the UofL School of Medicine's Heart of the School award.

Machenize has served the Department of Surgery for more than a decade. She is the consummate professional and performs her job duties with integrity, precision, enthusiasm, extraordinary organization, and tremendous dedication.

There are more than 50 residents in the program at any one time. During the course of training, life happens. Sometimes life is filled with joy: residents fall in love, become involved in relationships, get married, have children, and celebrate many personal and professional accomplishments along the way. Sometimes life is not quite so joyous: parents and other relatives get sick and die, residents break up with their partners, get divorced, suffer from depression and anxiety, have other health problems, or have other struggles during the course of training.

Machenize is the person whom all of the general surgery residents call upon for these issues. She shares with them their personal joys and professional successes; she also suffers with them and shares their struggles in a most compassionate and empathetic manner. She is the residents’ mother away from home. She laughs with them. She cries with them. She listens. She cares. She helps.

Machenize is singularly focused on helping us recruit and retain the best residents in the Department of Surgery. She interacts with many applicants and faculty members from around the country and is absolutely the best ambassador we could have to promote the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She is always courteous and kind to everyone, and people immediately notice her genuine warmth and compassion. She is a role model for others. She exemplifies the best qualities of the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

Congratulations, Machenzie!