Sammy Chouffani El Fassi, MD

Hometown

Why I Chose UPMC

What drew me to the University of Pittsburgh more than anything was the people. From the beginning, the residents and faculty were some of the most genuine, kind, humble, and supportive people I had met anywhere. Dr. Ken Lee is an incredible program director who truly cares about his residents and works tirelessly to help them grow and succeed. At the same time, Pitt offers everything I could hope for academically, including incredible clinical volume and complexity, exceptional surgical faculty, strong research support, collaboration with Carnegie Mellon, and a long history of leadership in transplantation and mechanical circulatory support. I was inspired by visionary leaders such as Dr. Timothy Billiar and Dr. Victor Morell, who made great impacts in surgery while remaining deeply kind and grounded people. Pittsburgh people are exceptionally kind, and the rolling hills and greenery provide a beautiful and welcoming place to build my life. Ultimately, I chose Pitt because it felt like the place where I would be supported as both a surgeon and a person, while having every opportunity to pursue ambitious ideas and help shape the future of surgery. 

Non-Academic Accomplishments

I really enjoy the simple things in life. During the week, I go for walks with family and friends and enjoy good weather and good food. On the weekends, I love to sit in cafes for hours, socialize with friends, and drink good Italian coffee. When able, I spend quality time with my family in Morocco and Spain. My favorite activities are sailing, strategic war games, and watching classic movies.

Honors/Awards

Research on FDA-authorized AI tools has influenced medical software development and regulation internationally. 
Founder and Chair of Covenant Intelligence Group, a multi-institutional and international research group focused on translating ethical, clinically validated AI into care, including automated organ donor referral and real-time decision support for mechanical circulatory support. My ommitment to health equity is reflected in founding a dental clinic serving low-income Latino patients, integrating racial equity safeguards into Duke clinical algorithms, and advancing inclusive care across UNC Health.