Luis Bonilla, killed in a helicopter crash Monday while retrieving a heart to transplant, was praised by patients and coworkers as a compassionate surgeon.
Bonilla, 49, graduated from Our Lady of the Rosary University in Bogota, Colombia, in 1985 and did several residencies and fellowships at Mayo Clinic in Rochester between 1993 and 2011, according to Florida licensing records.
In July, he completed a three-year residency there in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at Mayo in Rochester. He had recently started working at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.
His wife, Tracy Bonilla, made a brief statement to a reporter with the Florida Times-Union from her home in Rochester. The Bonillas have three children.
“What resides in my mind and my heart is that he was just a noble and wonderful man,” Tracy Bonilla said, pausing several times while speaking. “He was a wonderful husband and father.”
Also killed in the helicopter crash were David Hines, an organ procurement technician, and the pilot, E. Hoke Smith.
“We’ve been touched by the outpouring of prayer and sympathy from patients, friends and colleagues who understand the demands and sacrifices made by these dedicated transplant teams,” said Dr. William Rupp, vice president of Mayo Clinic and chief executive officer of Mayo Clinic in Florida. “We hope the community honors their sacrifice by supporting organ donation.”
Ross Carrier said Bonilla performed lung surgery on his mother, Norma, last month, according to the Times-Union.
“Dr. Bonilla was just a prince of man to our family in the short time we knew him,” Carrier said. “He was one of the finest physicians I’ve ever met in a number of ways.”
The tragedy hit Carrier hard.
“There was just a lot of disbelief and sorrow when I heard the news,” he said. “It’s a big loss to this community.”
Janeth Gomez grew up in Colombia with Bonilla and now lives in America.
“He was a great man who was dedicated to his family and his profession,” Gomez said. “It’s hard to imagine he died so young.”
Peter Jennings got to know Bonilla because his wife, Ana, grew up with Bonilla in Colombia.
“I was a heart-attack victim myself,” Jennings said. “And he always gave me good advice.”
Bonilla had to be completely re-certified when he left Colombia and came to the United States, and his willingness to do that showed his dedication to being a doctor, Jennings said.
“He was just a very warm and generous person,” Jennings said. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”
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