General Surgery Residents

The Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center General Surgery Residency Program is designed to provide trainees with clinical and academic skills to prepare for future roles as academic surgical leaders.

For a list of our residency graduates, please see our Alumni page.

At UH we are committed to diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit UH Diversity & Inclusion.

5th Year Residents

Katherine Bingmer, MD

Katie Bingmer, MD

  • Hometown: Canal Winchester, OH
  • College: The Ohio State University, B.S. Biomedical Science
  • Medical school: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
  • Why did you choose surgery? Surgery chose me.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Surgical oncology
  • Hobbies: Trail running
  • Best pizza in Cleveland: Primoz Pizza
  • Any other interesting thing about Cleveland? Cleveland Metroparks consistently wins national awards for excellence in parks and recreation.
Shreya Gupta, MD

Shreya Gupta, MD

  • Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
  • College: University of Pittsburgh, B.S. Biology
  • Medical school: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
  • Why surgery? I wanted to be a surgeon since I was 13.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Surgical oncology and multidisciplinary oncology care, surgical resident education, Behind the Knife (BTK) Podcast
  • Hobbies: Yoga
  • What else should we know about you? Hear my voice on BTK!
  • What advice do you have for new residents? A smile goes a long way!
Xun Luo, MD

Xun Luo, MD

  • Hometown: Guilin, China
  • College: Fudan University
  • Graduate education: Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Master of Public Health
  • Medical school: Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University
  • Why surgery? Surgery involves physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and anatomy to provide treatment. Every case is unique and can be challenging. Operating is fun and rewarding.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Clinical Outcomes Research
  • Hobbies: Skiing
  • What else should we know about you? My first name is simple but hard to pronounce
Vivek Sreeram, MD

Vivek Sreeram, MD

  • Hometown: Houston, TX
  • College: University of Texas at Austin, B.S. Biochemistry
  • Medical school: St. George’s University School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? Being able to physically alter a patient’s life course for the better and seeing change almost instantaneously was the most exhilarating and fulfilling feeling I’ve ever had.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Vascular surgery (both endovascular techniques such as TECAR and open operations), surgical education
  • Hobbies: Singing karaoke, dancing salsa and Bollywood, kayaking, binging reality TV shows, true crime podcasts
  • Greatest accomplishments: Winning the surgical clerkship award for best student teacher
  • Favorite hangout spot: Luna Bakery
  • What is one piece of advice you would have liked to hear as a new intern? Ask a lot of questions and say yes to everything!
James Sun, MD

James Sun, MD

  • Hometown: Princeton, NJ
  • College: Stony Brook University, B.A. Music
  • Medical school: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
  • Why surgery? Surgeons have the opportunity to intervene on pathology by performing procedures with an immediate effect.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Surgical oncology, clinical and translational research in melanoma and breast cancer
  • Hobbies: Board games, live music
  • Why did you change from music to medicine? There have been surprising overlaps in the time, attention to detail, and physical dexterity required to be a musician and surgeon. Medicine allows me to make a broader impact in the community around me.
Muhammed Usman, MD

Muhammed Usman, MD

  • Hometown: Rawalpindi, Pakistan
  • College: Global College System
  • Medical school: Shifa College of Medicine
  • Why surgery? Human anatomy, level of trust between the physician and the patient, tissue planes, and level of responsibility.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Cardiothoracic surgery
  • Hobbies: Hiking, yardwork, DIY projects
  • Favorite restaurant in Cleveland: Pier W

4th Year Residents

Jonathan Bliggenstorfer, MD

Jonathan Bliggenstorfer, MD

  • Hometown: Wenatchee, WA
  • College: Washington State University, B.S. Biology, B.A. French
  • Medical school: Penn State College of Medicine
  • Why surgery? I wanted a career where I worked with my hands and I loved being in the operating room. Plus the pathophysiology of the GI tract was fascinating to me and I liked the instant gratification of surgical intervention compared to the endless rounds of internal medicine.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Colorectal surgery, medical education, operating
  • Hobbies: Home improvement and craft beer appreciation (sometimes at the same time)
  • Best pizza in Cleveland: Il Rione (for classic italian pizza) and Angelo’s in Lakewood (for Trenton style pie)
  • Why did you choose to come to UH? I was impressed by the mix of graduating residents, with many pursuing competitive fellowships and others going into general surgery practice. I wanted a program with a diverse academic and community experience that would shape me into a capable surgeon with excellent prospects for matriculating into a strong fellowship. For me, UH ticked those boxes.
David Ebertz, MD

David Ebertz, MD

  • Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
  • College: University of Arizona, B.S. Molecular and Cellular Biology, B.H.S. Physiology
  • Medical school: Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
  • Why surgery? I did surgery first in 3rd year, to get it out of the way, and my very first day I walked into a pediatric surgery OR and the attending handed me a pair of bone cutters and said, "hey, come here and cut this cartilage. Careful – that beating underneath is the heart." It was a pectus excavatum case and I was hooked from that second on.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Surgical education, quality improvement, environmental justice and climate change
  • Hobbies: Board Games, D&D, gardening, everything Disney, crochet, camping and hiking, caring for my chickens and cats, very mild woodworking, DIY projects, signing, guitar/piano, singing in the OR, Nintendo Switch
  • What else should we know about you? I helped found and am still Chair of the Board of a 501c3 nonprofit called Care About Climate alongside my wife Natalie (who is the CEO, main founder, and overall amazing person that impacts worldwide sustainability efforts)
Ryan Moore, MD

Ryan Moore, MD

  • Hometown: Cleveland, OH
  • College: Oakwood University, B.S. Biology
  • Medical school: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? The pursuit of technical excellence coupled with the practical application of medical knowledge epitomized what I wanted out of my work.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Cardiac surgery, clinical outcomes research, process improvement
  • Hobbies: Basketball, video games, guitar
  • Favorite hangout spot: Ohio City
  • What is one understated factor that really impacts your experience in residency? Finding genuine mentors. We talk about it all the time, but knowing/feeling that there is someone who is truly invested in your outcome, as evidenced by their actions, adds a level of confidence that goes an incredibly long way in your development as a surgeon.
Rashi Singh, MD

Rashi Singh, MD

  • Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA
  • College: University of California, Los Angeles, B.S. Psychobiology, Minor in Biomedical Research
  • Medical school: University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? So many reasons! I feel like I am making a meaningful impact on a patient’s life while pushing the bounds of what I know with research. It’s an art just as much as it’s a sport requiring dedication, practice, and teamwork.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Breast surgery, clinical research
  • Hobbies: Tennis, yoga, exploring new restaurants, hiking, reading
  • What else should we know about you? I’m a food-blogger on Instagram
  • Best pizza in Cleveland: Vero, Harlow’s
  • Favorite restaurants in Cleveland: Momocho, Xinji, L’Albatross
LaVerne Thompson, MD

LaVerne Thompson, MD

  • Hometown: Rochester, NY
  • College: Allegheny College, B.S. Neuroscience
  • Medical school: University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
  • Why surgery? I was drawn to the unique ownership that surgeons have over patient care and outcomes.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Vascular surgery, health care disparities, surgical education, diversity in medicine
  • Hobbies: Slam poetry, painting
  • What else should we know about you? I love elephants and I have a small collection of elephant decor
Nikolay Vakarev, MD

Nikolay Vakarev, MD

  • Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
  • College: Binghamton University, B.S. Chemistry
  • Medical school: St. George’s University School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? Operating, curative medicine, not sitting behind a computer all day
  • Surgical and professional interests: Minimally invasive surgery
  • Hobbies: Sports. video games
  • Favorite hangout spot: Saucy Brewery. Terrestrial Brewing Company
  • Most scenic space in Cleveland: Edgewater Park

3rd Year Residents

Christine Alvarado, MD

Christine Alvarado, MD

  • Hometown: Rochester Hills, MI
  • College: University of Michigan, B.S. Neuroscience
  • Medical school: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? To transform and make an impact on patients’ lives.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Thoracic surgery, clinical outcomes research
  • Hobbies: Yoga, music, food, movies
  • Any fun fact about yourself? I have the same birthday as Harry Potter
  • What’s one of your favorite things about being a UH Surgery resident? Getting to work with my co-residents everyday
Jamie Benson, MD

Jamie Benson, MD

  • Hometown: Trenton, NJ
  • College: Temple University, B.S. Biology
  • Medical school: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Why surgery? I enjoy working with my hands and find surgery to be very energizing.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Cardiac surgery, transplant surgery
  • Hobbies: Chess, reading, exercise
  • Favorite hangout spot: Brewnuts
  • Most scenic space in Cleveland: Chagrin Falls
  • What is one piece of advice you would have liked to hear as a new intern? Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You are here to learn and you often learn the most from your mistakes.  
Kelly Hoerger, MD

Kelly Hoerger, MD

  • Hometown: Boise, ID
  • College: Montana State University, B.A. Political Science
  • Medical school: University of Utah School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? For the real time satisfaction of helping a person that you get by operating on them.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Trauma surgery, global surgery, health disparities, health and surgical education
  • Hobbies: Running, skiing, hiking, camping, snuggling with my cats
  • What else should we know about you? I used to work for Red Bull
Jonathan Hue, MD

Jonathan Hue, MD

  • Hometown: Greensburg, PA
  • College: Pennsylvania State University, B.S. Chemistry
  • Medical school: Temple University School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? Human anatomy is miraculous
  • Surgical and professional interests: Basic science research related to pancreatic cancer-associated depression and the role of immune cells in pancreatic cancer, clinical research focused on cancer associated weight loss, neoadjuvant therapies, and surgical outcomes in elderly patients
  • Hobbies: Antique wooden furniture restoration, DIY construction, hiking and camping, running with my dog
  • Greatest accomplishment: Dancing for 46 straight hours during the Penn State Dance MaraTHON which raises money for pediatric cancer
  • Any recent goals? I’m trying to visit all the national parks. Five down, lots to go!
Sami Kishawi, MD

Sami Kishawi, MD

  • Hometown: Chicago, IL
  • College: University of Chicago, B.S. Biological Sciences
  • Graduate education: Loyola University Chicago, M.S. Medical Physiology
  • Medical school: University of Central Florida College of Medicine
  • Why surgery? I wanted the technical skills, knowledge, and comfort level to handle the highest acuity situations
  • Surgical and professional interests: Trauma surgery, critical care, chest wall reconstruction and disaster relief
  • Personal Interests: Writing, photography, architecture, Middle East arts and culture
  • Why UH?: It’s a large tertiary hospital with high surgical volume and a strong sense of community
He Zhou, MD

He Zhou, MD

  • Hometown: Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
  • College: Georgia Institute of Technology, B.S. Biomedical Engineering
  • Medical school: Georgetown University School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? Surgery has a lot in common with engineering – you need to use your brain and hands together. Most times, there is an immediate impact on a patient’s health and quality of life.
  • Surgical and professional interests: advancing cancer treatment, surgical technology
  • Hobbies: Cooking, baking, Taekwondo, flute, painting, traveling
  • What else should we know about you? I used to post recipes online and had more than 20,000 followers.

2nd Year Residents

Christina Boutros, DO

Christina Boutros, DO

  • Hometown: Oyster Bay, NY
  • College: New York Institute of Technology
  • Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Why Surgery: The fast pace, ability to master a skill, and the ability to make an immediate and tangible impact on a patient’s life.
  • Surgical and Professional Interests: Surgical Oncology, Endocrine Surgery, or thoracic surgery specializing in lung and esophageal cancer.
  • Hobbies: Spending time with friends and family, playing guitar, playing with my dog, travel
  • Any important thoughts to share with new residents: Always be happy to help and keep a smile on your face! :)
Adam Bullock, MD

Adam Bullock, MD

  • Hometown: Gainesville, FL
  • College: University of Florida, BSc Chemistry
  • Medical School: Florida State University College of Medicine
  • Why surgery? I’ve always found it to be the most engaging field in medicine.
  • Surgical and Professional Interest: General surgery, breast oncology, rural medicine.
  • Hobbies: Woodworking, weightlifting, hiking, painting
  • Any important thoughts you’d like to share with new residents: Use any and all resources available to you but above all else, trust yourself.
Megan Chiu, MD

Megan Chiu, MD

  • Hometown: West Lafayette, IN
  • College: Purdue University
  • Medical school: Indiana University School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? Where do I start? I love being able to be support patients during what may be for many a scary and intimidating process. I enjoy how patient-centered the specialty is. As part of a surgical team, everyone is focused and dedicated to finding solutions and providing the best care for patients through dedication, innovation, and collaboration.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Rural/Global Surgery, Advocacy and Outreach, Health Disparities
  • Hobbies: Hiking, travel, dancing, cooking/baking, just food in general
Susan Doh, MD

Susan Doh, MD

  • Hometown: Glenview, IL
  • College: University of Chicago
  • Medical school: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago
  • Why surgery? I love operating and the teamwork involved, the breadth of the field, the technological applications of surgical care, and the capability to directly improve patients’ health and lives.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Surgical oncology, disparities in surgical outcomes, surgical education, systems improvement, sustainability research within the field of surgery
  • Hobbies: Cooking, Biking, Hiking, rock climbing, travel, playing music, crocheting
  • Fun fact about Cleveland? Bill Watterson, the artist and author of the comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes,” grew up in Cleveland.
  • Any important thoughts you’d like to share with new residents? Never stop learning, ask for help, and build in time for people and things you care about, find the humor and joy in small things.
Mackenzie Simerlink, MD

Mackenzie Simerlink, MD

  • Hometown: Solon, OH
  • College: Miami University
  • Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
  • Why surgery? Surgery was the perfect combination of medicine and hands on problem solving which fit with my background in bioengineering.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Native American health, ultrasound, surgical innovation and technology.
  • Hobbies: True crime podcasts, reading, rowing
  • Fun fact about Cleveland? Cleveland is the birthplace of Chef Boyardee.
Tyler Stumm, MD

Tyler Stumm, MD

  • Hometown: Washington Township, NJ
  • College: Pennsylvania State University
  • Medical school: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
  • Why surgery? It’s very rewarding to operate on someone, manipulate their anatomy, and then watch them improve over time.
  • Surgical and professional interests: MIS/foregut, thoracic, and reconstructive plastic surgery
  • Hobbies: Skiing, travel, running
  • Fun fact about Cleveland? The Metroparks and breweries, and having so many of both to choose from!
  • Any important thoughts you’d like to share with new residents? Don’t be afraid to ask for help, your senior residents are an amazing resource.
Ramsey Sitta, MD

Ramsey Sitta, MD PRELIMINARY

  • Hometown: Great Falls, Virginia
  • College: George Mason University
  • Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? The complexity of disease, the ability to directly intervene and see the fruits of your labor, and the ability to provide a durable solution. While also having the opportunity to be the last attempt at giving someone a chance at a good quality of life when all other interventions have failed.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Sub-speciality interests: cardiac, vascular, trauma or transplant
  • Professional interests: Healthy inequity, public health & health systems, device development
  • Hobbies: Olympic weightlifting, hiking, traveling, video games, reading, finding secret good food spots
  • Favorite Movies: Interstellar, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Arrival
  • Favorite Food: Depends on the day
  • Favorite Sport: Competitive napping
  • Favorite Game: Life
  • Who Inspired you to pursue medicine?: My dad and mom.
  • Why did you choose UH?: I was born at UH, but more importantly the complexity of surgical disease, the strong research and the ability to work in an under-served community.
  • What else should we know about you? My life-long goal is to work with NASA.
  • Any advice for a new resident? You are not the only one who is adapting, it is difficult and the responsibility is sudden. You are not alone. Be honest, work hard, care for yourself, and most importantly COMMUNICATE. Over-communicating is always better than under-communicating.
Patrick Wieland, MD

Patrick Wieland, MD

  • Hometown: Bloomington, IL
  • College: University of Notre Dame
  • Medical School: Southern Illinois University
  • Why surgery? Surgery was the clerkship that I loved the most, from being in the OR to the people I was working with. I like the ability to work with my hands and affect immediate change.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Minimally invasive surgery, colorectal surgery
  • Hobbies: Cooking, watching sports
  • Favorite Movie: The Princess Bride
  • What else should we know about you? I boxed on the club team in college.

1st Year Residents

Louisa Chen, MD Preliminary

Louisa Chen, MD

  • Hometown: Canberra, Australia
  • College: University of California Irvine
  • Medical School: Dartmouth
  • Why surgery? The ability to intervene directly in disease processes and the opportunity to collaborate in the OR.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Surgical oncology, trauma, vascular
  • Hobbies: Cross-stitching, photography, cooking
Jennifer Cui, MD

Jennifer Cui, MD

  • Hometown: San Diego
  • College: University of California, San Diego
  • Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life. Surgery allows for the perfect combination of medicine, art, and the physical ability to heal patients.
  • Surgical and professional interests: HPB surgery, surgical oncology, plastic surgery
  • Hobbies: Baking, hiking, exploring new places, art
  • Favorite Movies: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
  • Why did you choose UH?: UH clearly provides a strong and vigorous training program while prioritizing camaraderie within the residency at all levels!
Tal Eitan, MD

Tal Eitan, MD

  • Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
  • College: Case Western Reserve University
  • Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
  • Why surgery? I appreciate the different roles that surgery can play in different disease processes and the patient empowerment that accompanies goals of care discussions. I’m also motivated by the teamwork, trust, and camaraderie that surgery uniquely creates, both among the surgical team and with patients.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Thoracic, transplant, HPB, colorectal
  • Hobbies: Playing ice hockey
  • Favorite Movies: Good Will Hunting, Miracle
  • Favorite Sport: Ice hockey
  • Why did you choose UH?: The staff are incredible to work with. They are encouraging when they challenge each resident to and beyond the appropriate level. Everyone seems to be invested in the professional and personal success of each resident. Additionally, UH is a research powerhouse that trains many successful academic surgeons.
Jessica Hungate, MD Preliminary

Jessica Hungate, MD

  • Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
  • College: University of Texas at Austin
  • Medical school: Texas Tech University – El Paso
  • Why surgery? Surgery is the perfect combination of hands-on intervention and immediate results. Also, surgery allows me to support patients during some of the most difficult times of their lives.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Trauma/critical care, vascular surgery
  • Hobbies: Travel, yoga, exploring Cleveland
Trisha Lal, MD

Trisha Lal, MD

  • Hometown: Varanasi, India but mostly lived in Boston/DC my whole life!
  • College: University of Maryland, College Park
  • Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
  • Why surgery? Because I love the balance between clinic and the OR, I love using my hands, and I appreciate the privilege of meeting patients and being able to help them during their most vulnerable moments.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Undecided in terms of surgical subspecialties but passionate about health equity and hope to engage in disparity research!
  • Hobbies: Painting, cooking, yoga, travel, binging reality television
  • Favorite Movies: Titanic
  • Favorite Food: Indian food! Thai food! Pho!
  • Favorite Sport: Basketball (go Celtics!)
  • Who Inspired you to pursue medicine? My love for science and commitment to lifelong learning, combined with my passion for serving my community
  • Why did you choose UH? Because I could tell from even a virtual interview environment that this would be an incredibly supportive environment of inspirational colleagues and mentors who will push me to be my best! And also get my dry sense of humor:)
  • What else should we know about you? I’m thinking about getting a cat so I would love any advice!
Erik Risa, MD

Erik Risa, MD

  • Hometown: Seattle, WA
  • College: Santa Clara University
  • Medical School: University of Washington
  • Why surgery? As someone interested in trauma, burns, and critical care, I’m fascinated by the way surgeons intervene and rapidly influence the care of critically ill patients in high acuity settings. I found it very meaningful to care for patients at all stages of their hospitalization, from rapid diagnosis and management in the ER or trauma bay, to the OR or ICU, and finally to eventual recovery and discharge.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Trauma, burns, critical care, health services research
  • Hobbies: Golf, my two Golden Retrievers, sous vide cooking
  • Favorite Movies: Saving Private Ryan, Terminator 2, Good Will Hunting, Star Wars Empire Strikes Back
  • Favorite Food: Steak
  • Favorite Sport: Lacrosse
  • Favorite Game: Settlers of Catan
  • Why did you choose UH?: I was first pointed to UH at the strong suggestion of my mentors, and was very impressed by the excellent breadth and depth of surgical training as well as the opportunities for research through UH RISES. Additionally, I greatly enjoyed my interactions with residents and faculty on interview day, and appreciated how well residents got along and how excited they were to share their program with prospective residents. Finally, I really connected with some of the mission statements of the program with regards to training future leaders in surgery. 
  • What else should we know about you? I couldn’t be more excited about the next 5 years in Cleveland!
Emily Simon, MD

Emily Simon, MD

  • Hometown: Portville, NY
  • College: University of Rochester
  • Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? The pace, technical skill, team dynamic and special relationship with surgical patients felt like a space where I could be happy and passionate about going to work
  • Surgical and professional interests: Colorectal surgery, breast surgery
  • Hobbies: Running, trying out new breweries and food, boating and kayaking
  • Favorite Movies: David Fincher films
  • Favorite Food: Sushi, anything spicy 
  • Favorite Sport: Swimming and all Cleveland sports teams
  • Favorite Game: Clue
  • Who Inspired you to pursue medicine? My parents (who love helping people in their jobs as educators)
  • Why did you choose UH? I loved the culture, academic focus and patient population at UH from my first  MS3 clerkship. The surgical faculty and residents just felt like my people
Kayvan Barekatain, MD

Kayvan Barekatain, MD PRELIMINARY

  • Hometown: San Diego, California
  • College: University of California at Berkeley
  • Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? I chose surgery because of my desire to make an immediate impact on a patient’s life while also helping them navigate complex health concerns.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Undecided, surgical education
  • Hobbies: Travelling, cooking, board games
  • Favorite Movies: Finding Nemo, Happy Gilmore
  • Favorite Food: Gheymeh (Persian Split Pea Stew)
  • Favorite Sport: Basketball
  • Favorite Game: Monopoly
  • Who Inspired you to pursue medicine?: While I’ve wanted to pursue medicine since my first frog dissection, helping my father navigate my late grandmother’s illness was a turning point in my commitment to becoming a physician.
  • Why did you choose UH? As a student at Case I was able to rotate at UH and see first-hand the impact that UH had on the local population. I choose UH to further my surgical training and continue serving the Cleveland community.
  • What else should we know about you? I love jokes and always want to expand my collection.
Natalie Chakraborty, MD

Natalie Chakraborty, MD PRELIMINARY

  • Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
  • College: Baylor University
  • Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
  • Why surgery? Surgeons get to work with their hands in the OR and to see their work immediately impact patient outcomes. Patient-surgeon relationships are so unique and special because they require such a high level of trust!
  • Surgical and professional interests: Surgical oncology, breast surgery, trauma/critical care
  • Hobbies: Cooking, exploring new restaurants and bars, walking my dog, traveling, reading
  • Favorite Movies: Pretty Woman, Gone Girl, Promising Young Woman
  • Favorite Food: Seafood
  • Favorite Sport: Basketball
  • Favorite Game: Card games, fish bowl
  • Why did you choose UH?: UH is a strong academic program that I knew would prepare me to accomplish my career goals.  I was impressed by the breadth of residents’ exposure to complex pathology and high level critical care and by the collaborative training environment and genuine friendship among the residents!
  • What else should we know about you? I love entertaining/hosting and will never say no to happy hour!
Mona Lisa Delva, MD

Mona Lisa Delva, MD PRELIMINARY

  • Hometown: Ft Lauderdale, Fl, USA; Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • College: Simon Fraser University
  • Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? I enjoy the technical challenge, the type of clinical problems I can address, and the fulfillment of making a direct impact on my patient's lives
  • Surgical and professional interests: Surgical - trauma, cardiothoracic, vascular. Professional - teaching, research into innovative and patient centered technology, mentorship, value based care
  • Hobbies: dancing, cooking and trying out new recipes, drinking wine, live shows/theaters/concerts, playing piano, spending time with my family
  • Favorite Movies: John Wick 1/2/3, Happy Feet
  • Favorite Food: Asado, sushi, hotpot and dim sum
  • Favorite Sport: Rugby
  • Favorite Game: Taboo
  • Who Inspired you to pursue medicine?: My mother and aunt
  • Why did you choose UH? For the people, camaraderie, the high caliber training all within an amazing city for young people and families
  • What else should we know about you? I LOVE reading epic Sci-Fi and fantasy books
Brian Frondorf, MD

Brian Frondorf, MD PRELIMINARY

  • Hometown: Sunman, IN
  • College: Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
  • Medical School: Indiana University
  • Why surgery? The immediate impact on patient quality of life using clinical knowledge and technical skills
  • Surgical and professional interests: Sports medicine, pain management
  • Hobbies: SCUBA diving, sports, audiobooks/podcasts
  • Favorite Movies: Skyfall, Gladiator
  • Favorite Food: Lasagna
  • Favorite Sport: Football
  • Favorite Game: Sequence
  • Who Inspired you to pursue medicine? Michael Fain, MD
  • Why did you choose UH? To continue my medical training in the Midwest
Jamie Xyleena Noelle, MD

Jamie Xyleena Noelle, MD PRELIMINARY

  • Hometown: Arlington, Texas
  • College: University of North Texas
  • Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch
  • Why surgery? I never thought I would want to be a surgeon until the first time I stepped into an OR. From there on, I kept hoping I would fall in love with something else, but my affinity for using my hands and taking care of surgical patients just grew and grew. In the world of global health surgery is often neglected, and I cannot imagine pursuing anything other than surgery.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Health equity and surgical capacity-building in low-resource regions, DEI and antiracism, global surgery, trauma/acute care surgery
  • Hobbies: Hiking, cooking, napping
  • Favorite Movies: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
  • Favorite Food: Sushi
  • Favorite Sport: Hockey
  • Favorite Game: Texas Hold’Em
  • Who Inspired you to pursue medicine? I hope it does not sound arrogant to say that I did. I am the first in my family to go to professional school and discovered a passion for medicine a little later in life.
  • Why did you choose UH? UH was recommended to me by multiple mentors I respect greatly, and I really connected with the residents I spoke with at both recruitment events and my interview. UH offers all the training opportunities I was seeking, so across the board it was an excellent fit.
  • What else should we know about you? I had a career in restaurant management prior to coming to medical school have also spent a lot of time as a bartender. I still make excellent cocktails!
Benjamin Parker, MD

Benjamin Parker, MD PRELIMINARY

  • Hometown: Northbrook, IL
  • College: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Medical School: Chicago Medical School at RFUMS
  • Why surgery? The privilege to directly heal patients’ physical ailments
  • Surgical and professional interests: I’m keeping a very open mind
  • Hobbies: Gameshows, F1 racing, chess
  • Favorite Movies: The Apartment, The Godfather, Whiplash
  • Favorite Food: Mediterranean
  • Favorite Sport: Tennis
  • Favorite Game: Catan
  • Who Inspired you to pursue medicine? I had a lot of wonderful mentors along the way.
  • Why did you choose UH? UH has all the necessary tools for me to become an excellently trained surgeon and master teacher. I also have a great support system in the surrounding area as well.
  • What else should we know about you? Excited to start and help out as much as I can!
Jordan Roy, MD

Jordan Roy, MD PRELIMINARY

  • Hometown: Staten Island, NY
  • College: Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education BS/MD
  • Medical School: CUNY School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? It offers the opportunity to be adaptable in the OR, to work as part of multiple teams, and to tangibly treat what ails the human body.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Colorectal surgery and plastics and reconstructive surgery
  • Hobbies: Working out/running, Anime
  • Favorite Movies: The Dark Knight, Your Name
  • Favorite Food: Shake Shack
  • Favorite Sport: Basketball
  • Favorite Game: Elden Ring
  • Who Inspired you to pursue medicine?: My mother, who worked hard to become a nurse practitioner, worked with cardiothoracic surgeons and introduced me to the world of healthcare and surgery.
  • Why did you choose UH?: I wanted a program that would help me on the road to becoming a well-rounded and competent general surgeon and I feel that UH definitely offers that.
Adam Sauer, MD

Adam Sauer, MD PRELIMINARY

  • Hometown: Syracuse, NY
  • College: Binghamton University
  • Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
  • Why surgery? It’s incredibly rewarding to use a combination of knowledge and physical skills to help patients.
  • Surgical and professional interests: surgical oncology, thoracic, education
  • Hobbies: Weight training, running, biking, hiking, music, cooking
  • Favorite Movies: Pan’s Labyrinth, The Prestige, Saving Private Ryan
  • Favorite Food: Soup
  • Favorite Sport: Baseball, basketball
  • Favorite Game: Hearts
  • Why did you choose UH? The people and learning environment. And Cleveland is a very easy place to live
Nilang (Neil) Shah, MD

Nilang (Neil) Shah, MD PRELIMINARY

  • Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
  • College: Emory University
  • Medical School: University of California Davis School of Medicine
  • Why surgery? The technical and intellectually demanding nature of surgery and the wonderful mentorship from surgical residents and faculty I received
  • Surgical and professional interests: Critical care medicine, medical imaging, minimally invasive surgery
  • Hobbies: Cooking, indoor bouldering, board games, TV
  • Favorite Food: Steak
  • Who Inspired you to pursue medicine? A doctor I met while working at a hotel before college
  • Why did you choose UH? The faculty and residents
Julia Specht, MD

Julia Specht, MD PRELIMINARY

  • Hometown: Green Bay, WI
  • College: University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
  • Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Why surgery? I loved the hands-on aspect, the anatomy, and the ability to see an immediate effect on the patient’s condition as a result of our teamwork.
  • Surgical and professional interests: Minimally invasive surgery and bariatric surgery
  • Hobbies: Cooking and baking, plants, yoga and knitting!
  • Favorite Movies: 10 Things I Hate About You and Meet the Robinsons
  • Favorite Food: Pasta - I’m learning to make my own!
  • Favorite Game: 7 Wonders
  • Why did you choose UH? I knew I’d receive great training and gain a wide breadth of experience while also working with great colleagues.
  • What else should we know about you? I love to try new things! You’ll never know if you like something if you don’t give it a chance.

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