Coffee & Conversations with Anthony A. Smith, MD ’79
Coffee & Conversations
February 20, 2026
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Coffee & Conversations: A New Virtual Alumni Series
A New Virtual Experience for UI COM Alumni!
Each quarter, we’ll gather for thoughtful dialogue on topics that matter to our alumni community—guided by fellow College of Medicine alumni who bring their expertise, lived experiences and insights. You bring coffee. We’ll bring an alum. Together, we’ll explore ideas that inspire.
Researching, Writing & Publishing a Book
Whether you’re simply curious, have the seed of an idea, are actively writing or have already published, this interactive session is designed for you. Join UI COM alumni from across the country to learn more about the journey from concept to publication—and to share your questions, experiences and aspirations.
Session Facilitator: Anthony A. Smith, MD ’79
Behind every great conversation is a great guide. A graduate of UICOM Rockford, Dr. Smith has served as a U.S. Army surgeon, trained in world-renowned surgical centers across the globe and built a distinguished academic career at Mayo Clinic as a Professor of Plastic Surgery. His expertise ranges from hand and microsurgery to surgical education and leadership—he previously served as President of the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons. Join us as Dr. Smith leads a lively exploration of what it takes to research, write and publish a book.
Event Details
- Friday, February 20, 2026
- 4:00–5:00 p.m. (CST)
- Register: Cameras On
- This is a live, cameras on interactive discussion designed to foster genuine connection and exchange. Participants are encouraged to contribute, ask questions and engage with one another in real time. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Who Should Attend
All UI COM alumni are invited—whether you're book-curious or book-published! This is a space to learn, connect and be inspired.
Book Promo Copy
Sterling Bunnell: From Son of the Gold Rush to Founding Father of Hand Surgery
Hand surgeons Tony Smith and Steve McCabe have embarked on an incredible journey to trace the footsteps of the great Sterling Bunnell, known as the founding father of hand surgery in the United States and the founder of the ASSH. From the site of Bunnell's plane crash to his childhood home, Drs. Smith and McCabe gathered every detail and artifact about his life for this one-of-a-kind biography. They scoured his notebooks, analyzed photographs, and even developed a relationship with his grandson. Bunnell was a fascinating man who served in the US military, eventually creating the specialty of hand surgery after treating many wounded soldiers during World War I. He was a veteran, an ornithologist, a father, a husband, a pilot, a surgeon, and so much more. Follow Bunnell's story as Smith and McCabe detail his childhood, his time serving in WWI, and the path that led him to hand surgery.
Hand surgeons Dr. Tony Smith and Dr. Steve McCabe have spent the past five years traveling the world and retracing the steps of Dr. Sterling Bunnell, the founding father of hand surgery in the United States. Retrace their adventures and learn about the life and legacy of the man who started it all in this one-of-kind biography, "Dr. Sterling Bunnell: From Son of the Goldrush to Founding Father of Hand Surgery".
Date posted
Dec 9, 2025
Date updated
Jan 13, 2026