Dr. Luis Bonilla: Remembered as a loving husband and father, dedicated and talented surgeon
To Ana, Philip, and Anthony, Luis Bonilla was known simply as “Daddy”, a loving and caring father who was very involved in their lives despite his busy career and training. To Tracy, he was a devoted husband, father to her children, and a noble, caring man. Colleagues remember him as being a great person, talented surgeon, and dedicated professional. (story continues below video…)
No one would have imagined that this Christmas would be his last. He died in a helicopter crash early Monday morning along with Mayo Clinic surgical technician, David Hines, and pilot E. Hoke Smith. They were flying from St. Augustine, Fla., to Gainesville, Fla., to retrieve a donor heart and transport it to a transplant recipient waiting at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.
Dr. Bonilla had prepared for this work for decades and was just starting a new chapter in his career. It all began when he received his medical degree from the Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Bogotá, Colombia and completed his residency in General Surgery at the University of Valle in Cali, Colombia.
After having completed his medical education, a full surgical training program, and working as a surgeon in Colombia for several years, Dr. Bonilla moved to Rochester, Minnesota in 1993 to pursue a career in cardiothoracic surgery at Mayo Clinic. In order to become a board certified surgeon in the United States, he needed to repeat his training in the United States, and began that in 2005. He went on to complete an additional residency in General Surgery along with an additional full clinical Fellowship in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education in Rochester, Minnesota, and completed that in July 2011. All the while, he worked in various surgical roles.
Luis Bonilla, M.D.
He transferred from Rochester to Mayo Clinic in Florida in November 2011 to join the Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery in Florida as a Senior Associate Consultant. There he had hoped to expand the surgical program for lung cancer.
He participated in research and a variety of professional presentations, both domestic and abroad. His clinical interests included cardiothoracic transplant and innovations in cardiac bypass surgery.
Dr. Bonilla is described by colleagues as being dedicated, determined, persistent, and the consummate professional who always put the best interests of his patients first. Throughout his career, his passion was making sure that every patient received the best care possible.
He is survived by his wife, Tracy, a former Mayo Clinic cardiac surgery intensive care nurse whom he met while working in Rochester. They have three children: Ana (12), Philip (9), and Anthony (7).
Statement from the Bonilla family:
Mrs. Bonilla and her family request that the media honor the family’s privacy during this time, but issued this statement about her husband:
“Thank you to all who are reaching out to us during this time. Our faith sustains us during this difficult time, along with the love and support of our friends, family, and the community. We are so touched by the many ways people are honoring Luis, his life and career. He was a noble man, wonderful husband, and terrific father. He dedicated his life to his family, faith, and his career, and we knew that everything he did was to care for his family. We will miss him dearly, and will honor his life with many memories and stories of his love for life, his family, and his profession.”
Related posts:
Mayo Clinic Remembers David Hines (posted 12/28/11)
Dr. Rupp’s Message About the Helicopter Crash (posted 12/27/11)
Mayo Clinic Statement Regarding Helicopter Crash (posted 12/26/11)
All “Helicopter Crash” Stories published by Mayo Clinic
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Hi-Res photo of Dr. Luis Bonilla: http://db.tt/BEf78aHF (JPG)
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We welcome you to share your condolences, thoughts and feelings in the comments below.
What a beautiful tribute to real life heros! Will continue to pray for all of you so close to this tragedy.
The tributes to Dr. Bonilla and David Hines are wonderful-thank you for sharing. Both will be dearly missed. Our hearts are heavy in Florida and only time will help heal, but we’ll never forget. Many thoughts and prayers to all three families.
I,like so many, many others in the Mayo System, knew and worked with Dr. Bonilla. What a caring, compassionate man he was. I could call him friend. He deeply and genuinely cared about you as a person and co-worker. He was the kind of person we should all strive to be. He will be missed. But never forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with Luis’ family. God bless you all.
Bryan Melmer, CSA
These gentlemen will be remembered for their caring and dedication to their patients, their community and country. Thank you for your service, Godspeed home and rest in peace.
The MedEvac
Into the blue, the black, the grey
Into the skies of night, of day
To cities, mountains, the towns big & small
The MedEvac goes, to answer the call
When lives hang in the balance, needing critical care
These selfless providers quickly take to the air
Expertly trained for their work, with skills tried and true
They are the elite, the Air Medical Flight Crew.
Collective sighs of relief, when they arrive
Heard softly through prayers, to help a patient survive
Then they race through the sky, cheating death once again
To the specialty care on this flight’s other end
Yet, sadly we know, these Crews don’t always come home
This mission tonight is their final one flown
On their way back, something went terribly wrong,
Now we gather together, and try to be strong
They were lost in a moment, the three souls on that flight
Warmly welcomed to heaven by God on that night
They are fathers & mothers, wives, daughters, and sons
Grandchildren and colleagues, a dear friend to someone
We honor your service, we’ll always be in your debt
Your kindness and care, we will “Never Forget!”
Together, we remember, John 15:13
“To lay down his life, no greater love hath thee…”.
Mary Ann K. Melville, President, Air Medical Memorial
What a wonderful tribute to Dr Bonilla. I have spent that past week reflecting on the great times I had with Luis during my time in Rochester. I certainly will miss his smile and upbeat personality. He was an exceptional human being. My prayers are with is wife and family. It is truly a loss for the Mayo Family.
It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Dr Luis Bonilla. I only knew him for 1 year, while in Rochester, much less than most. I can sincerely say that Luis was a truly remarkable person. A truly gifted surgeon, a consummate professional, a joyful and wonderful personality, and a truly caring person to his colleagues, friends and family. What a loss. My thoughts and prayers to the Bonilla family.
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