Every Day is New and Challenging: A Spotlight on DCMS Member Dr. Brian Yorkgitis

Story by Kristy Williford, DCMS Communications Manager

For DCMS member Dr. Brian Yorkgitis, the dream to become a doctor started early in childhood. Having personally dealt with asthma and a number of sports injuries, he spent a good amount of time in his pediatrician’s office.

“I became fascinated by the human body. I had an amazing pediatrician that encouraged me to become a doctor,” Dr. Yorkgitis recalls.

These days, as an emergency surgeon for UF Health/TraumaOne, you can imagine Dr. Yorkgitis leads quite a fast-paced life. In an average month, he treats approximately 250 patients with a wide range of conditions from trauma (falls, motor vehicle and motorcycle crashes, and gunshot wounds), to gallbladder problems, and a variety in between. The most challenging patients he sees are those suffering from severe traumatic brain injuries.

“Acute care surgery is one of the most versatile, fast-paced fields of medicine. It covers such a wide-range of conditions, procedures, and patient populations. The intense medical knowledge learned in medical school is used every day to treat these incredibly complex patients, married with the precision required to deliver surgical care, is what I love about the specialty. Every day is new and challenging.”

And that fast-paced life doesn’t slow down when he leaves the hospital. As a husband and father to four daughters (plus a cat and dog!), his home is always bustling with activity. And this #GirlDad wouldn’t change a thing.

“My passion is being my girls’ biggest advocate by encouraging their aspirations with support and love.”

Every chance they can get for some time off together they spend exploring and traveling the country.

“Our goal is to visit all 50 states by the time they graduate high school.”

So far, the Yorkgitis family has checked 24 states off the list.

Perhaps that inspiration to travel came from Dr. Yorkgitis’ medical school days. He grew up in Pittsburgh but moved around the country as he started his career, first working in Baltimore as a Physician Assistant while he finished his pre-requisites for medical school. From there, he headed to the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Temple University Hospital for medical school and residency, respectively, and then to Boston for fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard University.

But did he know he’d someday end up on the First Coast? Dr. Yorkgitis says absolutely.

“We always vacationed in St. Augustine and I rotated at UF Health as a medical student, so we knew we wanted to come to Jacksonville.”

That dream came true in 2016, when he joined the staff at UF Health. And he hasn’t looked back since.

Outside the hospital, Dr. Yorkgitis dedicates a lot of time giving back to the community he loves. He volunteers with numerous civic organizations, schools, and not-profits to deliver injury prevention education and training, including Stop the Bleed, a program that trains people to help in an emergency situation until professional help arrives. He also works with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as one of their tactical physicians. In 2018, the DCMS recognized these many contributions, both in and out of the hospital, by awarding Dr. Yorkgitis with the DCMS Philip H. Gilbert Young Physician Leadership Award. Four years later, he continues to lead in healthcare and community service within the Jacksonville community.