Our Residents
Thao Wolbert, MD
Chief Resident, independent program, 2021-2024
Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Why UNMC? The experience! The number of cases and complex pathology that allow the trainee the opportunity to be exposed to both cosmetics and reconstructive surgeries. This is an environment where I feel that people are nice and treat each other with respect and dignity. Finally, Omaha’s affordable cost of living.
Undergrad: Pennsylvania Western University, Clarion, Pennsylvania
Medical School: St. George's University, Grenada, West Indies
Residency: General surgery, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia
Clinical/Research Interests: Craniofacial reconstruction, microvascular reconstruction
Hobbies: Travelling, reading, racing, scuba diving, skydiving and trying new adventures.
Hugo Palacios, MD
Independent program, 2021-2024
Hometown: Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Why UNMC?: Good volume of surgical cases encompassing complete breadth of plastic surgery.
Undergrad: University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Medical School: University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus
Residency: General surgery, University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus
Clinical/Research Interests: Rhinoplasty, aesthetic surgery, breast surgery, hand surgery
Hobbies: Exercising; car enthusiast; movies; spending time with family, friends and my dog
Jackson Hunt, MD
Independent program, 2022-2025
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Why UNMC? The staff was made up of multiple graduates of the program, which indicated to me that they really enjoyed working here. The case volume was second-to-none, with a good mix of high-volume microsurgical reconstruction and cosmetics.
Undergraduate: Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine, Portsmouth, Dominica
Residency: General surgery, NYU Langone, Long Island, New York
Clinical/Research Interests: General reconstruction, upper extremity, breast reconstruction, cosmetics, lymphedema management, gender affirming care, microsurgery
Hobbies: Traveling, gastronomy, and spending time with my family, including my wife, two small children and bulldog
Mary K. Van Wert, MD
Independent program, 2023-2026
Hometown: Peachtree, Georgia
Why UNMC?: UNMC offered a unique opportunity to experience high-volume microsurgery, complex reconstruction, while still providing regular cosmetic/aesthetic training. Upon graduation, I hope to have a practice that balances complex breast recon (DIEP, etc.) with bread-and-butter plastic surgery. The surgeons at UNMC were the mentors and teachers I needed to get me to this goal! I was lured by the cases, but I came for the staff. The attendings exemplify the technical skill, clinical judgement and overall patient care that I hope to one day provide in my own practice.
Undergrad: Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville, South Carolina
Residency: General surgery, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana
Clinical/Research Interests: Microsurgery, breast reconstruction
Hobbies: Watching dog reels on Instagram, hot yoga, art, margaritas