01/22/2026
Meet Dr. Raquel Weston
Trauma, critical care, clamshells… and chickens 🐓
By day: trauma, acute care & surgical critical care attending, APD to SCC fellowship
By night: professional cat wrangler, dog mom, and keeper of 13 very opinionated chickens
Favorite operation:
ED thoracotomy / clamshell — because why not?
Training:
🩺 Residency — University of Florida, Jacksonville
🏥 Fellowship — Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
Mentors who shaped me:
Dr. Paula Ferrada
Dr. Michael Nussbaum
Dr. Andrew Kerwin
Professional interests:
• Trauma systems & regionalization
• Resident and fellow wellness (burnout is not a badge of honor)
• Surgical education
• Women in surgery
Off-duty interests:
• Baby animals
• Cats, dogs, and chickens
• More animals
• Probably more chickens
I believe great trauma surgeons are built in environments that are high-acuity, high-support, and high-fun.
You’ll work hard here — but you’ll never work alone.