Hoping to bring some warmth and cheer to Shands’ youngest patients, COM department of surgery residents, faculty and staff collected gifts for children and adolescents this holiday season. The gifts were presented on Dec.18 to Shands Children’s Hospital by surgery chairman Kevin Behrns, M.D., development director Kimberly Hankerson and wives of UF surgeons.

The donation marked the second consecutive year department members collected presents for pediatric patients. This year, a new feature was added to brighten the children’s Christmas: The majority of the gifts were hidden under patient beds on Christmas Eve, awaiting discovery in the morning.

The presents were given in honor and memory of James Seeger, M.D., chief of the UF division of vascular surgery and endovascular therapy, who passed away in October. Although not a pediatric surgeon, Seeger was known as a deeply compassionate physician who placed a priority on the care of all his patients.

(left to right) Kevin Behrns,M.D., chairman of the department of surgery; Kimberly Hankerson, director of development; and wives of UF surgeons, Janice Nelson, Patti Behrns and Susan Rout pose proudly with a small portion of gifts collected for the young patients. Photo by Sarah Kiewel