Although Dr. Cyrus Steppe grew up on a farm tending to horses, cattle, and sheep, don’t let his country roots fool you. His mother is a nurse, and his grandfather was an orthopedic hand surgeon, so medicine was in his blood, so to speak. Now he is continuing the family legacy and aspires to become a plastic surgeon himself, possibly specializing in reconstructive, hand, or aesthetic surgery.

Cyrus Steppe, M.D.

What the awards mean: Caring for others is my passion, and these awards are a meaningful representation of my commitment to excellence and interest in treating the breadth of human conditions while creating a supportive atmosphere within my team.

Reynolds Award mentor comment: Dr. Reynolds was known for his compassion, dedication to helping others, and community service. Cyrus exemplifies these characteristics in his activities through the Gold Humanism Honor Society and numerous other endeavors, including Brother Bill’s Helping Hand, Hoops for Health, and his recognition as an Eagle Scout. We look forward to following what I’m sure will be a distinguished medical career. – Kathleen S. Wilson, M.D., Professor of Pathology

Plastic Surgery Award mentor comment: Cyrus was chosen as the recipient for this award due to his unflappable enthusiasm for the field, his initiative in seeking out plastic surgery learning opportunities, his contribution to the scientific community in the form of research, and his excellent performance in the clinical setting. – Jennifer Kargel, M.D., Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery and Residency Program Associate Director

Background and family: I grew up on our family’s farm in Edmond, Oklahoma, where we raised horses, cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, and other animals. My two little brothers and I spent most of our free time fishing, exploring creeks, and enjoying the outdoors.

What led to your career path: My mother is a nurse, and my grandfather is an orthopedic hand surgeon. They both emigrated from Iran at an early age and reinforced the idea that health care is a universal and useful profession. This sentiment, combined with my love of essentially all things creative (drawing, ceramics, metal working, etc.) and my desire to keep working with my hands from my years as a ranch hand, made surgery a great fit.

College: I attended the University of Oklahoma, majoring in psychology. I spent a lot of time volunteering and eventually leading some of the free clinics around Oklahoma City. On campus, I served as President of an international medical aid group.

UTSW activities: I developed a passion for research, conducting studies in reconstructive, hand, and aesthetic surgery. I also worked as an anatomy lab tutor and served as President of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Interest Group, furthering my love of teaching and mentorship. Off campus, I co-founded Hoops for Health, a partnership between UTSW, the Dallas Mavericks, and Scottish Rite for Children, providing sideline care for youth basketball tournaments, and served as a Clinic Manager at Brother Bill’s Helping Hand.

Surprising fact: During high school and college, I spent my summers working as a ranch hand on a polo farm. Although I started riding when I was about 2 years old, working with polo horses was an amazing combination of hockey and rodeo; it’s tough to find a more exciting way to spend a day.

Future plans: My initial goal is completing my residency at UT Southwestern. My current plan is to embrace the scope of the plastic surgery field with the mindset that if I moved to a place like Oklahoma, the mountains west, or even less populated parts of Texas, I could provide quality reconstructive options for most patients. This would likely entail a fellowship in hand/microsurgery, which I could also see leading me down a more academic road.

About the awards: The Reynolds Award honors the late Dr. Reynolds, a UTSW alumnus and faculty member remembered as a gifted pathologist and generous person. The recipient is selected based on humanitarian qualities. The Plastic Surgery Award is presented by the Department of Plastic Surgery to a student who has exemplified excellence in clinical care, integrity, compassion, ingenuity, and scholarly activity.