A two year surgical research experience following the PGY2 year is encouraged but considered optional. Alternatives including shorter or longer research time can be considered. This research experience is an invaluable way to augment the surgical education received during the clinical years for residents interested in a career in academic surgery. Annually, the Surgery Department has a Research Day with research presentations highlighting the work of our faculty, residents, and medical students.

University Hospitals Dudley P. Allen Scholarship

The Dudley P. Allen Scholarship is a research program that includes animal, basic science, health services and clinical research opportunities. In addition to working with numerous surgical-scientists within the department of surgery, there are opportunities for collaboration with Case Western Reserve University researchers in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Center for Imaging Research and others. There is a robust infrastructure for clinical outcomes research with UH RISES (Research In Surgical outcomes & EffectivenesS). Current areas of active research includes:

• Cardiac surgery
• Colorectal surgery
• Endoscopy
• Minimally invasive surgery
• Pediatric surgery
• Surgical oncology
• Thoracic surgery
• Transplant surgery and immunology
• Vascular surgery

Allen Scholars Expectations

Purpose: To create a more robust, accountable and productive research experience for our Allen Scholars

• Allen Scholars will attend Wednesday Morning Resident Education Conferences
• Allen Scholars will attend Wednesday morning M&M and Grand Round Conferences at UH Cleveland Medical Center
• Allen Scholars will be asked to attend UH RISES meetings and contribute to UH RISES on a regular basis (2nd/4th Monday of the month from 2-4 p.m.)
• Monthly lunch meeting for Allen Scholars. These lunches will include journal club/research basics/mentoring talks by members of the faculty or guests. Schedule to be coordinated by UH RISES Research Coordinator.
• Semi-Annual Update: Each Allen Scholar will be asked to provide a brief synopsis of the Allen Scholar’s work to the research committee on a semi-annual basis.

Current Allen/Research Scholars

2nd Year

Sami Abul-Khoudoud, MD

• Hometown: Ashland, KY
• College: University of Kentucky
• Medical School: University of Kentucky
• Why Surgery: Surgeons have the privilege of being able to treat both the physiological and physical aspects of disease and have a direct impact on the outcomes of their patients.
• Surgical and Professional Interests: Subspecialty interests include vascular surgery, HPB surgical oncology, and MIS/complex abdominal wall reconstruction. Professional interests include surgical education, quality improvement, and health equity.
• Hobbies: Cooking and baking, painting, clay sculpture, watching sports, escape rooms
• What else should we know about you? I have two dogs and a hedgehog who are my bosses outside of the hospital

Kayvan Barekatain, MD

• 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.

Jill Knepprath, MD

• Hometown: Houston, TX
• College: Minnesota State University Mankato
• Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
• Why Surgery: I love that you are able to dedicate your attention to one patient in the OR and make an immediate impact.
• Surgical and Professional Interests: Surgical education, MIS
• Hobbies: Houseplants, puzzles, movies, yoga, and spending time with my family.

Anandhini Narayanan, MD

• Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• College: University of Pittsburgh
• Medical School: New York Medical College
• Why Surgery: There is something beautiful about constantly learning and refining your medical knowledge and technical skills, in order to provide the best care possible to your patients. Surgery allows you to develop a wide breadth of knowledge, as you rotate through different specialties, and enables you to interact with a variety of patient populations. Lastly, I appreciate the unique relationships you form with patients in surgery; a trusting, connected, and empowering dynamic must be created to help them through these vulnerable moments. 
• Surgical and Professional Interests: Pediatrics, Trauma, Surgical Oncology, DEI and Health Equity
• Hobbies: Painting, reading, violin, yoga, weightlifting
• Favorite Game: Coup
• Favorite Movies: Boomerang, A Beautiful Mind, Mad Max: Fury Road
• What else should we know about you? Sometimes, it’s hard for me to understand sarcasm. 

1st Year

Cenk Atillasoy, MD

• Hometown: Bryn Mawr, PA
• College: University of Pittsburgh
• Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
• Why Surgery: Surgeons are uniquely positioned to use their hands and state-of-the-art technology to improve the lives of patients in ways that few others can. I am energized by the OR atmosphere and the collegiality among surgical teams. 
• Surgical and Professional Interests: Trauma/ACS, Plastics, MIS, Medical student education
• Hobbies: I’m a HUGE foodie who recently discovered (and now loves) sour beers. Pokemon GO. Trader Joe’s enthusiast.  
• Favorite Movie: My Big Fat Greek Wedding
• Any important thoughts to share with new residents: Never be afraid to ask for help or to clarify an uncertainty, we were in your shoes once and are all in this together. 
• Please add anything additional that you would like to share: There are two kinds of people in this world: those who live to eat, and those who eat to live. Be wary of those in the latter category. I can predict how the day will go based on the celsius I randomly select from the variety pack

Lauren Johnson, MD

• Hometown: Orono, MN
• College: University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
• Medical School: University of North Dakota School of Medicine
• Why Surgery: I chose surgery because I appreciate the tangible and immediate affect surgery can have on a patient's health and wellbeing.
• Surgical and Professional Interests: Minimally Invasive Surgery, Endocrine Surgery, Artificial Intelligence, Prion Disease Research
• Hobbies: Skiing, Boating, Reading, Traveling
• Any important thoughts to share with new residents: Always ask questions and find something to make you laugh every day.
• Please add anything additional that you would like to share: I used to be a ski instructor, and still love to ski when I have the chance.

William Julian, MD

• Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
• College: University of Vermont
• Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
• Why Surgery: Surgery is a wonderful craft to hone, and it lets you make an immediate difference in the lives of others.
• Surgical and Professional Interests: Rural surgery, trauma surgery, vascular surgery.
• Hobbies: Going to the gym, fishing, reading, spending time with my wife and cats.
• Any important thoughts to share with new residents: Cleveland is a great place to live, and UH is a wonderful place to train.

Francesca Ponzini, MD

• Hometown: Wayne, NJ
• College: MCPHS University
• Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
• Why Surgery: I fell in love with being in the operating room early on and feel an immense privilege to be able to have an impact on patients’ lives from the preoperative to postoperative periods. In addition to the impact, I appreciate the team dynamic and continuous learning of both technical skills and clinical knowledge.
• Surgical and Professional Interests: Minimally Invasive Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Surgical Education
• Hobbies: Baking, Paint by numbers, Spending time with family and friends, Reading
• Any important thoughts to share with new residents: Remember your “why”. My favorite piece of advice a mentor once gave me is to build the career you want for yourself.

Off-Site Research

Our residents have received funded opportunities at outside institutions as well, and this can be an alternative option for the research experience.