Under Dr. Wainscott’s leadership, UT Southwestern’s program emerged as one of the nation’s great emergency medicine residency programs that has trained more than 200 emergency medicine physicians, many of whom practice in North Texas. Dr. Wainscott is remembered as an inspirational leader, a tireless patient advocate, and a passionate teacher.
“Dr. Velez embodies all the qualities that Dr. Wainscott valued: She is an excellent educator, a compassionate clinician, and an active member of the UT Southwestern Medical School and our campus community,” Dr. Diercks added.
“I’m honored to receive the Michael P. Wainscott, M.D. Professorship in Emergency Medicine,” said Dr. Velez, who came to UT Southwestern as a clinical toxicology fellow following her residency training. “I knew Dr. Wainscott since 1999 when I arrived at UT Southwestern. He was always a role model to me. It was devastating when he passed away, but I am very proud to continue his mission and vision for Emergency Medicine at UT Southwestern,” she said.
Dr. Velez graduated from the University of Puerto Rico and completed medical school and training in emergency medicine at the Medical Sciences Campus there before being selected for a UT Southwestern fellowship in toxicology at Parkland Memorial Hospital.
After finishing her fellowship, Dr. Velez joined the UT Southwestern faculty. Besides teaching here, she also cares for patients at Parkland’s Emergency Department. Dr. Velez also serves as a clinical toxicology staff member at the North Texas Poison Center, consulting with patients from all campus hospitals.