Our residents share a passion for learning, innovation and leadership
Meet the current residents of the Sinai Hospital General Surgery Residency Program. Scroll down to learn more about each resident, including their education history, recent research and future plans.
You can also see the graduates of the Surgery Residency Program and where they are today.
Call us at 410-601-6412 to learn more.
PGY1 Class
Kaylee Bressler, DO
Hometown: Wayland, NY
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Masters Degree: Masters in Academic Medicine, Masters in Medical Science
Future Plans: Cardiothoracic surgery, pediatric surgery, trauma critical care
Recent Research: Sugizaki, Yoichiro, Mitsuaki Matsumura, Yu-Wei Chen, Takunori Tsukui, Takehiko Kido, Evan Shlofmitz, Doosup Shin et al. "Stent-Edge Hinge Movement in a Calcified Lesion Is Associated With Increased Prevalence of a Calcified Nodule at Follow-Up." Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions (2024): e015028.
K. Bressler, M. Salvitti, R. Kiernan, D. Lysov, D. Karev, S. DiRusso. Association of Substance Use with Trauma Outcomes During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic at NYC Level II Trauma Center. St. Barnabas Hospital, Bronx, NY.
Mendelson JL, Chen T, Alvarez Vega DR, Bhandari S, Rajan A, Bressler K, et al. MP13-05 LOCOREGIONAL STAGING AND FOCAL THERAPY PLANNING FOR PROSTATE CANCER: IS PSMA SUPERIOR TO MRI? Journal of Urology [Internet]. 2025 May 1. DOI: 10.1097/01.JU.0001109868.09667.98.05
Mendelson JL, Brenseke W, Alvarez Vega DR, Nguyen W, Shium M, Gitlin S, Bressler K,et al. IP09-34 TIMING IS EVERYTHING: PREOPERATIVE CAUDAL BLOCKS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER OPIOID REQUIREMENTS IN PEDIATRIC UROLOGY. Journal of Urology [Internet]. 2025 May 1. DOI: 10.1097/01.JU.0001109864.72014.8e.34
What Attracted you to Sinai:
The people and the culture! From the moment I met the residents, it was clear they were not only talented surgeons but also genuinely supportive, collaborative, and fun to be around. The program is deeply invested in helping residents grow both as surgeons and as individuals. I was also drawn to the built-in value-added year, which provides dedicated time to pursue additional professional development, broaden my skill set, and cultivate interests that will shape my career beyond residency.
Will Huff, DO
Hometown: Clinton, NC
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Plans: MIS Bariatric & Foregut, Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Fellowship
Recent Research: William A. Huff Jr., David D. Swann, Jennifer E. Geller, et al. (January 27, 2025) “Retroaortic Left Renal Vein: A Case Report.” Cureus. 2025 Jan 27;17(1):e78087. doi: 10.7759/cureus.78087. PMID: 40018483; PMCID: PMC11865858.
William A. Huff Jr., Brandon Knight, DO. “A Case of Myxofibrosarcoma in the Submandibular Gland.” Submitting for publication in Michigan State Journal of Otolaryngology Q3 2025.
Sam A. Attalla, Kathryn J. Isaac, Morgan Pfeffer, Justin R. Hockaday, Raegan Melhorn, Malia Bennie, Allison Lewis, Viveke Rai, William A. Huff Jr., Mason Long, Tashna Placide, Kala R. Pearce, Leo N. Nkengbeza, Anna K. Thurman, Audrey Cox, Giselle Domingo Diaz, Jasmine Carter, Nathan Stein, Sam Fischer, Brian Ellis Ph.D.“Testing the effects of Mass Drug Administration approved and candidate anthelmintic drugs on varying larval stages of Caenorhabditis elegans.” Submitted for publication in The International Journal of Parasitology, 2025.
What Attracted You to Sinai?
At the end of the day, it's always the people. From the moment I interviewed, I knew this program was the right fit for me. The supportive and collaborative culture, combined with the opportunity to train in "Charm City" with access to world-class facilities, it was clear that Sinai was where I belonged.
Pratyusha Tadepalli, DO
Hometown: Avon, CT
Medical School: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Additional Degrees: MS Biomedical Sciences, MA Bioethics
Future Plans: Surgical Oncology or Vascular Surgery
Recent Research: P. Tadepalli, and B. A. Creamer (2024). Effects of Pregnane X Receptor Expression and Activation on Human Breast Cancer. Kansas City University Research Symposium for Summer Student Research Fellowship. Joplin, MO, USA. (Oral Presentation and Poster)
R. Sherry, P. Tadepalli, L. Mendez, O. Asad, J. Caballero, K. Deeb, (2024). Building Muscles, Growing Questions: Unraveling the Uncertain Link Between Anabolic Steroids and Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) – A Case Report. American College of Physicians, Florida Chapter (Virtual Presentation)
P. Tadepalli, P. Haynos, R. Brown, K. Dholakia, N. Beyersdorfer, K. Johnson, J. Paulson (2024). Pneumonia and Respiratory Failure: A Retrospective Analysis of Hospitalization Outcomes from Rural Southwest Missouri. Kansas City University Research Symposium. Joplin, MO, USA. (Poster)
A. Rao, M. Dickerson, G. Sanders, P. Tadepalli, B.A. Creamer (2024). The Effects of Pregnane X Receptor (PXR) on Growth, Migration, and Chemotoxicity in Human Breast Cancer Cells. Kansas City University Research Symposium. Joplin, MO, USA (Poster)
A. Rao, M. Dickerson, G. Sanders, P. Tadepalli, B.A. Creamer (2024). The Effects of Pregnane X Receptor (PXR) on Growth, Migration, and Chemotoxicity in Human Breast Cancer Cells. NIH/NCI R15 Investigators Workshop, Rockville, MD USA (Poster)
What Attracted You to Sinai?
I was first interested in Sinai because it aligned with my idea of the perfect residency - great city location and strong foundation for my professional goals. But I truly knew it was the place to be after seeing the camaraderie amongst the residents and attendings on interview day. Surgical residency is long and testing, but I know I'll have a great time as well at Sinai!
Allen Vaytser, DO
Hometown: Mechanicsville, VA
Medical School: Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Plans: Colorectal Surgery or Trauma Surgery
Recent Research: Vaytser AJ, Sells P, Hinkelman A, Motyka T, Foster A, Harding B, Fox S. The Efficacy of Phenol-Glucose-Glycerin Mixtures as a
Prolotherapy Proliferative Substance on Fibroblast Tissue Culture. The Journal of Pain. (2024, Apr); 25(4): 22.
Pub Status: Published.
What Attracted You to Sinai?
From the moment I interviewed, I could see myself training here. Everyone I met was welcoming, approachable, and genuinely invested in each other's success. It was the kind of environment where I felt I would fit in naturally and be surrounded by people who would support me throughout residency. The supportive culture and strong sense of teamwork really stood out to me, and I could tell that resident education and well-being are true priorities. Being in Baltimore, I'm also close to my family in Virginia, allowing me to stay connected with my family while training at a program that feels like the right place for me both personally and professionally
PGY2 Class
Nick Beattie, MD
Hometown: Winter Park, FL
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Future Plans: Trauma/Critical Care Fellowship
Recent Research: Mahajan A, Beattie N, Patel N, Tran A, Ho VP, Dvorak JE. “A Real-World Analysis of Hydrocortisone
and Fludrocortisone Prescribing in Surgical Patients with Septic Shock” Surg Infect (Larchmt). April 2,
2026. PMID: 41924889
Cowan N, Beattie NG, Mkonyi E, Qua K, Wish-Baratz S. Evaluating a Learner-Driven Near-Peer Anatomy Teaching Model for First-Year Students at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. SGIM 2025 Annual Meeting. May 14-17, 2025. Hollywood, FL (Poster)
Beattie NG, Mahajan A, Bardaro SJ, Ho VP. Innovation in AI for the Surgical Patient: An Analysis of FDA approved AI/ML Medical Devices. SAGES 2025 Annual Meeting. March 12-15, 2025. Long Beach, CA. (Poster)
Mahajan A, Poduga P, Beattie NG, Tran AH, Benuska SE, Simpson M, Sweeney S, Ho VP. Accessibility and Readability of Online Patient Education Materials on Firearm Safety: A Cross Sectional Analysis of Hospital and National Injury Prevention Literature. 7th World Trauma Congress. Sep 11-14, 2024. Las Vegas, NV. (Oral Presentation)
What attracted you to Sinai: The positive working culture filled with kind people, a program especially equipped to train great surgeon-educators, the diverse patient population with hospital staff that reflects that diversity, and a hospital that serves communities experiencing systemic inequity.
Devon Maranto, DO
Hometown: Dayton, MD
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Virginia Campus
Future Plans: Vascular Surgery or Trauma/Surgical Critical Care Fellowship
Recent Research: In Progress – Tobin, J., Birmingham, M., …, Maranto, D., Ramsey, S., Farooq, F., Metheny, M., Degrassi, M., Kress, N., McCormick, T., Millard, J.A. (2026). Patella Directional Asymmetry, Apical Deviation, and Other Considerations for the Wiberg Classification of Patellar Shape. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy.
In Progress – Stanek, T., … The Genomics Education Partnership, … Maranto, D., et al. (2025) Recombination suppression drives expansion of the Drosophila dot chromosome. Molecular Biology and Evolution.
Bagnoli M, Maranto D, Dunn L, et al. (2024) Robotic-Assisted Cholecystoduodenal Fistula and Bile Leak Repair. Cureus 16(8): e66583. doi:10.7759/cureus.66583
Chhabra, Y., Fane, M. E., Pramod, S., Hüser, L., Zabransky, D. J., … Maranto, D. A., ... Weeraratna, A. T. (2024). Sex-dependent effects in the aged melanoma tumor microenvironment dictates invasion and resistance to targeted therapy. Cell.
Fane, M. E., Chhabra, Y., Alicea, G. M., Maranto, D. A., Douglass, S. M., Webster, M. R., ... & Weeraratna, A. T. (2022). Stromal changes in the aged lung induce an emergence from melanoma dormancy. Nature, 606(7913), 396-405.
What Attracted You to Sinai?
The moment I stepped into the Surgery Department as a rotating fourth year medical student, I was supported and respected as if I were already one of their own residents. The Department embodies what it means to be a family—fostering strong camaraderie while continually challenging one another to become better surgeons. Sinai also offers a unique balance as a community hospital with a strong academic focus and meaningful ties to the surrounding community. Being from the greater Baltimore area, it was a place where I knew I wanted to train and ultimately give back. Surgical residency is demanding, but Sinai’s Surgery Program has an incredible culture and a supportive group of residents and attendings who make even the most challenging days rewarding while providing the mentorship and resources that continue to help me become the best surgeon I can be.
Gaby McDonald, MD
Hometown: Glen Burnie, MD
Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Future Plans: Colorectal Surgery
Recent Research: McDonald G. “Don’t Forget About RSV.” CNY Latino, 1 Jan. 2023
Melucci A, Loria A, Aquina C, McDonald G, Schymura M, Schiralli M, Cupertino AP, Temple L, Ramsdale E, Fleming, “New onset geriatric syndromes and one-year outcomes following elective gastrointestinal cancer surgery” Ann Surg. 2023 Oct 2. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006108.
What attracted you to Sinai: The culture, atmosphere, and program emphasis on training to not only be great surgeons, but great individuals. The faculty and co-residents here are incredibly supportive and Baltimore is an amazing place to train/live!
Alex Phu, DO
Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA
Medical School: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Additional Degrees: MBA
Future Plans: Trauma/Critical Care
Recent Research: Alexander T. Phu, Mark Banghart, Mozhdeh Bahrainian, T.Y. Alvin Liu, Risa M. Wolf, Roomasa Channa; Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors, Sodium Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors, and Glucagon-Like Peptide 1Receptor Agonists Do Not Worsen Diabetic Macular Edema, Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2024.108808
Peter Vien, Alexander T. Phu, Artificial Intelligence Improves Readability of Digital Health Records,Intelligence-Based Medicine, Volume 8, 2023, 100121, ISSN 2666-5212, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibmed.2023.100121.
Alexander T. Phu, Tyger Lin, Jacquelyn A. Manfredo, Elizabeth A. Brown, Risa M. Wolf, "Similar Perceptions on Continuous Glucose Monitor Use amongst Youth with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes", Pediatric Diabetes, vol.2023, Article ID 1979635, 6 pages, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1979635.
What attracted you to Sinai: The culture, atmosphere, and program emphasis on training to not only be great surgeons, but great individuals. The faculty and co-residents here are incredibly supportive and Baltimore is an amazing place to train/live!
Emily Roberts, DO
Hometown: Delta, Colorado
Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Additional Degrees: MS - Biomedical Science
Future Plans: Thoracic Surgery
Recent Research: Emily Roberts, Alexa Carboni, Michael Miller, Aleesa Rosas, Ryan Shelton, Jodi Peterson, Jonathan Apfelbaum, Amanda Toney, Anthony LaPorta, K Dean Gubler, eFAST to OR: Determining the Quality of Paramedic Conduction and Interpretation of eFAST Exams in Prehospital Settings, Military Medicine, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usaf008
Laura K Wiley; Jonathan A Shortt; Emily R Roberts, et al. Building a Vertically-Integrated Genomic Learning Health System: the biobank at the Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine. The American Journal of Human Genetics. 2024;111(1):11-23. doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2023.12.001
Agarwal A, Pritchard D, Gullett L, Amanti KG, Gustavsen GA, Roberts, ER (uncredited contributing author). Quantitative Framework for Measuring Personalized Medicine Integration into US Healthcare Delivery Organizations. Journal of Personalized Medicine. 2021;11(3):196. Published 2021 Mar 12. doi:10.3390/jpm11030196
Schmanski A, Roberts E, Coors M, et al. Research participant understanding and engagement in an institutional, self-consent biobank model. Journal of Genetic Counseling. 2021;30(1):257-267. doi:10.1002/jgc4.1316
Aquilante CL, Kao DP, Trinkley KE… Roberts, ER et al. Clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics via a health system-wide research biobank: the University of Colorado experience. Pharmacogenomics. 2020;21(6):375-386. doi:10.2217/pgs-2020-0007
What attracted you to Sinai: What drew me to Sinai Hospital of Baltimore was the incredible sense of camaraderie among the residents—I immediately felt the strength of their support for one another and the genuine friendships that fuel the program’s collaborative culture. It’s clear that Sinai fosters not just skilled surgeons, but resilient teams. The surgical training is exceptional, with robust case volume and early operative experience that prepares residents to step confidently into any OR. The trauma experience, in particular, stood out to me—intense, hands-on, and high-acuity, it offers the kind of rigorous exposure that shapes decisive, capable surgeons. Sinai strikes that rare balance between high expectations and high support, and that’s exactly the kind of environment I want to train in.
PGY3 Class
Connor Borresen, DO
Hometown: Cullman, AL
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Plans: Breast Surgery
Recent Research: Patel SD, Borresen C, Hobart D. Advancing Margin Assessment: Intraoperative 3D Imaging Leads to Reduced Margin Positivity Compared with 2D Imaging in Breast-Conserving Surgery. American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meeting. (2026; Poster Presentation).
What attracted you to Sinai: One of my very close mentors, Dr. Ana Wilson trained here and I auditioned here as a 4th year and fell in love with the program. The culture Dr. Feinman and everyone has created is unlike any other. Surgical residency is hard, but made easier with great colleagues and leadership.
Pharlin Noel, MD
Hometown: Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Medical School: American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Additional Degrees: Master of Science Physician Assistant Studies
Future Plans: Acute Care Surgery/Surgical Critical Care
Recent Research: Kosciuszek N, Noel P, Takabe K, Seitelman E, Datta R, Gunasekaran G, Takahashi H. Intraluminal small bowel metastasis from primary lung cancer. World Journal of Oncology. 2022;13(6):409-416. PMID: 36660214.
Chowdhury T, Dutta J, Noel P, Gonzalez-Peltier G, Azad S, Shankar M, Rayapureddy KA, Roy DP, Gousy N, Hassan NK. An overview on causes of nonadherence in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: Its effect on mortality and ways to improve adherence. Cureus. 2022;14(4). PMID: 35651472.
What attracted you to Sinai: The supportive, team-oriented environment and early autonomy have really helped me grow. We meet with the program director and coordinator regularly, who always makes sure we have everything we need to succeed. The faculty are equally great. I also appreciate how clean and well-kept the hospital is. I truly enjoy going to work every day.
Dawn Liang, MD
Hometown: Elk Grove, CA
Medical School: University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine
Future Plans: Colorectal Surgery, integrative medicine, health policy/advocacy/global health/leadership development, maybe open a coffee shop in my spare time!
Recent Research: Rogers B, Jebbia M, Liang Q, Nguyen P, Lu Z, Cruz J, Barrios C. Prevalence and injury type from seatbelts as mechanism of action from modern vehicles collisions. Southwest Surgical Conference 2025 Annual Meeting. April 6-9, 2025. Santa Rosa, CA
Effects of Acupuncture on Pain and Anxiety in Trauma Patients. Liang QY, Riggle C, Lasso ET, Phelps S, Joe VC, Burton K, Chin TL. CMDA WPDC TRI ePoster Session. Hilton Head, SC. September 9, 2023
Antioxidant Supplementation in Post COVID-19 Neurological Syndrome. Liang QY, Ast H, McNally R, Hwang J, Malik S, Leong J. International Conference on Learning and Memory Poster Session. Huntington Beach, CA. April 27, 2023
What attracted you to Sinai: The operative experience, proximity to DC/strong network for post-residency career plans… but really, the people! Highly recommend the vibes!
Value-Added Year Class
Caitlin Burnette, D.O.
Hometown: Round Rock, TX
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Plans: Undecided
Value-Added Year: Surgical Education and Colorectal Research, Sinai Hospital
Recent Research: YC Hung, AJ James, SC Chaker, M Saad, EL Jung, CA Burnette, M Feinman, ED Slater. ChatGPT is a Rapidly Growing Platform for Medical Information Delivery to the Lay Public.
Dixon AD, Burnette CA, D’Adamon CR, McArdle P, Berry P, Feinman M. Mission: EPA Possible - Gamifying EPAs to Increase Engagement. Journal of Surgical Education.
Favorite Thing About Sinai: My co-intern class, by far. I truly could not and would not want to do residency without them. They make every hard day better and we have so much fun together. Additionally, the operative experience thus far has been great and the faculty are all very supportive and eager to teach. Lastly, all the pets in the program
Austin Dixon, D.O.
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (Midwestern University)
Future Plans: Endocrine Surgery
Value-Added Year: Endocrine Surgery Research, Surgical Education Research
Recent Research: Moreno NA, Dixon A, Dream SY, Hamrahian AH, Fishman EK, Chen Cardenas SM, Rudin AV, Mathur A, Morris-Wiseman LF. Which bot is best? Accuracy and readability of generative artificial intelligence assistant responses on adrenal nodules. Am J Surg. 2026 Feb 8;254:116859. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2026.116859. PMID: 41691948.
Dixon AD, Burnette C, D’Adamo CR, Berry P, Feinman M. MISSION: EPA Possible – Gamifying EPAs to Increase Engagement. Journal of Surgical Education.
Dixon AD, Zeller MP, D’Adamo CR, Chairs S, Feinman M. The Often Forgotten Non-Intraoperative EPA; How a Simple Intervention Led to an Increase in Completion. Journal of Surgical Education.
Roebuck M, Dixon AD, Nguyen-Lee J, Newcomb A, Shafique S, Dort J. Impact of a Structured Peer Feedback Program in Surgical Residency: A Multi-Institutional Mixed-Methods Study. Journal of Surgical Education.
Moreno N, Dixon AD, Jacques S, Stemme R, Hamrahian A, Rudin A, Mathur A, Morris-Wiseman L. Listening for Cushing’s: A Narrative Medicine Approach to Earlier Detection of Hypercortisolism. Clinical Endocrinology.
Dixon A, Kayarian F, Price T. Squamous cell carcinoma in the setting of hidradenitis suppurativa: a retrospective review of the literature. Wounds. 2023;35(12):E448-E462. doi:10.25270/wnds/23118
Favorite Thing About Sinai: The culture of the program was super evident from the interview day, and I've loved how kind and approachable the current residents are. Sinai impresses me with its diverse set of past fellowship matches along with numerous graduates that were ready to practice straight away. Lastly, I love living in Baltimore: great food, tons of nature, and awesome dance scene.
Kevin Hansen, M.D.
Hometown: Portland, OR
Medical School: Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Future Plans: General and Minimally Invasive Surgery
Value-Added Year: MIS Research - Portland, OR
Recent Research: Sebastian R, Tuesta O, Zevallos A, Riva A, Hansen K, Biller J, Nguyen H, Adrales G, Li C, Schweitzer
M. Comparison of one anastomosis gastric bypass to standard bariatric interventions: a propensity
score matching analysis using the 2020-2023 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality
Improvement Program database. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. 2026. PMID: 42135180
Lybrand DB, Naiman M, Laumann JM, Boardman M, Petshow S, Hansen K, Scott G, Wehrli M. Destruction
complex dynamics: Wnt/β-catenin signaling alters Axin-GSK3β interactions in vivo. Development. 2019. PMID:
31189665
Favorite Thing About Sinai: My co-residents, who support each other both inside and outside of the hospital. The dedicated faculty who encourage autonomy, resident involvement, and foster the ability grow both as a surgeon and as healthcare leaders.
Angela Hsu, M.D.
Hometown: Taipai, Taiwan
Medical School: Mackay Medical College
Additional Degrees: MPH - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Future Plans: Thoracic Surgery
Value-Added Year: Thoracic Surgery Research, University of Virginia
Recent Research:
Hsu AT, Zion M, Powell J, D'Adamo CR, Feinman M, Felton J, Wolf JH. Association of robotic surgery
with early discharge, readmission, and complications in elective colectomy: an analysis of NSQIP data from
2012 to 2021. J Robot Surg. 2024 Oct 14;18(1):366. doi: 10.1007/s11701-024-02121-3. PMID: 39402423.
Hsu AT, Wolf JH, D'Adamo CR, Felton J, Paul S, Kumar P, Mavanur AA. Adjuvant chemotherapy in stage
1 colon cancer: Patient characteristics and survival analysis from the national cancer database. Surg Oncol.
2024 Jun;54:102075. doi: 10.1016/j.suronc.2024.102075. Epub 2024 Apr 15. PMID: 38636304.
Born LJ, Bengali S, Hsu AT, Abadchi SN, Chang K-H, Lay F, Matsangos A, Johnson C, Jay SM, Harmon
JW. Chitosan Particles Complexed with CA5-HIF-1α Plasmids Increase Angiogenesis and Improve Wound
Healing. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023; 24(18):14095.
Wu BC, Hsu AT, Abadchi S, Abraham J, Johnson C, Melinosky K, Bengali S, Ha J, Lay F, Evans D, Shao
C, Chang KH, Harmon J. “Potential Role of Silencing RNA for Esophageal Cancer Treatment.” J. Surg Res.
2022 Oct
Hsu AT, Crawford T, Zhou, X, Safar B, Efron J, Atallah C, Najjar P, Girard A, Glover J, Fang S.
“Decreasing Readmission After Ileostomy Creation (DRAIC) through a Perioperative Quality Improvement
Program.” Diseases of the Colon & Rectum. 2022 Aug.
Feinman M, Hsu AT, Stephanie T, Laura T.”
Utilizing LEAN methodology to improve rounding efficiency of surgical residents” Am. J. Surg. 2021 Dec
Favorite Thing About Sinai: I am so glad to be part of the Sinai family, it is full of love and support from colleagues and faculty. Baltimore is the Charm city too! VOLO YOLO!
PGY4
Mayen Gonzalez, D.O.
Hometown: Havana, Cuba
Medical School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Plans: Thoracic Surgery
Value-Added Year: Thoracic Surgery Research, John Hopkins Hospital
Recent Research:
Leng A, Perdomo D, Ha JS, Gonzalez M, Alvarez N, Wang H, Broderick SR, Battafarano RJ,
Yang SC, Patel DC. National Analysis of Anastomotic Leak and Subsequent Failure to Rescue
After Esophagectomy. J Surg Res. 2025 Sep;313:177-186. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2025.06.013.
Epub 2025 Jul 15. PMID: 40669375.
Yang VB, Zhao LX, Feng SN, Gonzalez M, Wang H, Ha J. Evaluating Gender Disparities
in Cardiothoracic Surgery Through the Lens of Industry-Surgeon Partnerships.
Ann Thorac Surg. 2025 Aug 20:S0003-4975(25)00760-X. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2025.07.039.
Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40846224.
Patel DC, Gonzalez M, Elrick MJ, Baxi J, Belzberg AJ, Yang SC. Robotic-Assisted
Intercostal (T10) to Left Phrenic Nerve Transfer for Diaphragmatic Paralysis
After Spinal Cord Infarct: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.
Oper Neurosurg. 2025 Aug 11. doi: 10.1227/ons.0000000000001744.
Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40788008.
Qurashi F, Powell J, Amoateng RB, Gonzalez M, Wetherell J, Gannon J, Adams B, Demos J,
Cromwell-Rims L. Geriatric Trauma Patients With Alcohol Withdrawal: Current Overview.
J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2022 Apr;23(4):701-702. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2022.01.073.
Epub 2022 Feb 24. PMID: 35219604.
What Attracted You To Sinai: The people are my favorite. Administration, staff, co-residents, attendings, our APPs – everyone is amazing. Everyone is so hard-working, passionate, and focused on the patient’s success. Having such great teammates helps us treat patients better and that’s my favorite part of Sinai.
Brandon Green, MD
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
Future Plans: Trauma/Surgical Critical Care
Recent Research: Green B, Ralston PA, Young-Clark I, Waryoba C, Smith S, Harris CM, Finch S, Mitchell M, Coccia C. A Youth Health Leadership Program: Feasibility and Initial Outcomes. J Community Health. 2020 Apr;45(2):228-238. doi: 10.1007/s10900-019-00707-9. PMID: 31494798.
Favorite Thing About Sinai: The residents enjoy working together and supporting each other, attendings are passionate about teaching, great exposure to Trauma, and the opportunity to bring cultural competence to a unique, underserved patient population.
Sagar Patel, D.O.
Hometown: Simsbury, CT
Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Plans: Interested in Surgical Oncology
Value-Added Year: Surgical Oncology Research, John Hopkins Hospital
Recent Research:
Christenson ES, Burns WR, Parkinson R, Cetasaan Y, Qi H, Wang H, Wilt B, Courtright L, He J, Lafaro KJ, Shubert CR, Burkhart RA, Zaidi N, Le D, De Jesus-Acosta A, Bever K, Pishvaian MJ, Lee V, Donehower R, Meyer J, Yarchoan M, Azad N, Uzupus A, Klein R, Ryan A, Chen K, Ravichandran H, Kung HC, Zhu Q, Patel SD, Laheru D, Anders R, Jaffee E, Narang A, Zheng L. CCR2/5 Antagonist with Radiation and Immunotherapy Enhances Resectability of Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer and Increases Intratumoral CD8+CD137+ T Cells. Cancer Immunology Research. (2026; Submitted).
Patel SD, McPhaul T, Cameron JL, Dal Molin M, Shubert CR, Burkhart RA, He J, Lafaro KJ, Burns WR. Peritoneal Failure After Curative-Intent Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer: TP53 Mutation Emerges as a Key Driver. HPB. (2026; Submitted).
Patel SD, Nguyen V, McPhaul T, Cameron JL, Dal Molin M, Shubert CR, Burkhart RA, Lafaro KJ, He J, Burns WR. Concordance and Discordance Between CA19-9 and Pathologic Response in Pancreatic Cancer: Chemotherapy Regimen Matters. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. (2026; Submitted).
Patel SD, Gonzalez M, Campbell B, Purchla J, McPhaul T, Cameron JL, Shubert CR, Burkhart RA, Lafaro KJ, He J, Brock MV, Broderick SR, Yang SC, Burns WR. Defining the role of pulmonary metastasectomy in oligometastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. (2026; Submitted).
Patel SD, Alsaad R, Burns WR. Liquid Biomarker-based Screening for Pancreatic Cancer: A Review. JAMA Surgery. (2026; Submitted).
Patel SD, Rosin V, Wilson A, D’Adamo CR, Wolf J, Bennett J, Mavanur A. A novel non-closure technique using bipolar tissue sealers to reduce postoperative pancreatic fistulas after distal pancreatectomy: a retrospective consecutive case series. Surgical Oncology Insight. (2026; Submitted).
Patel SD, Amini N, O'Malley M, Mavanur A. IPMN-Derived Pancreatic Cancer of the Ventral Duct in Patient with Pancreas Divisum: A Case Report. Journal of Surgical Case Reports. (2026; In Press)
Patel SD, Alsaad R, Cameron JL, Shubert CR, Burkhart RA, Burns WR, He J, Lafaro KJ. Minimally Invasive Versus Open Surgery for Insulinoma: A 20-Year Institutional Experience. HPB. (2026; In Press).
Patel SD, Burns WR, VandenBussche, CJ. The Performance of Intraoperative Peritoneal Washings in Detecting Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Cytopathology. (2026; In Press).
Guo MZ, Sachidanand AS, Nguyen T, Patel SD, Burns WR, Burkhart R, Le DT, Lafaro K, Bever KM, Pishvaian MJ, Shubert C, Laheru D, Jaffee E, Christenson E, He J. Post-surgical ctDNA as a prognostic biomarker for relapse of resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. (2026). PMID: 41644010
Campbell BA, Xiong A, Patel SD, McPhaul T, Zhang S, Shubert CR, Lafaro K, Burkhart RA, Burns W, Yang S, Zheng L, He J. The Organ-Specific Prognostic Value of TP53 Mutations in Pancreatic Cancer Patients with Oligometastasis Following Surgical Resection. Annals of Surgery. (2025). PMID: 40590443
What Attracted You To Sinai: The combination of outstanding academic surgical exposure and a strong sense of community. We manage a wide variety of complex cases in-house without the presence of fellows, which offers residents hands-on experience and autonomy early on. The value-added year is another unique strength, providing additional opportunities for growth and specialization.
Esther Jung, D.O.
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical School: University of North Texas Health Science Center/ Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Plans: Pursuing plastic and reconstructive surgery
Value-Added Year: Plastic Surgery Research, John Hopkins Hospital
Recent Research: Hricz, N, Schlidt, K, Ha, M, Er, S, Stark, K, Jung, E, Liang, F, & Rasko, Y. M. A review of Peyronie's disease insurance coverage. Sexual medicine. 2024; 12(5): qfae071. https://doi.org/10.1093/sexmed/qfae071
Karwoski AS, Jung E, Schlidt K, Rasko YM. Risk Scale to Guide Prophylactic Paraspinous Flap Closure in High-Risk Spine Surgery. J Reconstr Microsurg. Published online February 23, 2026. doi:10.1055/a-2803-4814
Karwoski AS, Jung E, Schlidt K, Rasko YM. Abdominal Panniculectomy with and without Concomitant Ventral Hernia Repair in a High-Risk Cohort Including Bariatric and Transplant Patients (submitted)
Matar DY, Matar AY, Lee JJ, Khera A, Chen J, Panayi AC, Nimbalkar A, Hamwi CM, Saad C, Huang W, Jung E, Hundeshagen G, Orgill DP, Soltanian H, Colakoglu S. Risk Prediction for Major Complications After Oncologic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery: Development of Interpretable Machine Learning Models in a National Cohort of 737,730 patients (submitted)
Favorite Things About Sinai: What initially attracted me to Sinai was the flexibility offered during the Value-Added Year and the program’s record of producing excellent surgeons. It was apparent on interview day how invested the faculty are in their residents as well as the residents’ camaraderie with one another. It was important to me to not only receive excellent surgical training but also be in an environment where I would thrive.
Jo Rowe, D.O.
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Medical School: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Additional Degrees: MA in Bioethics Kansas City University
Future Plans: Burn and Trauma Surgery, Critical Care, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Value-Added Year: Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship, John Hopkins Hospital
Recent Research: Rowe JG, Potts M, McGhie R, Dinh A, Engel I, England K, Sinclair CT. Palliative Care Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Qualitative Study of Palliative Care Clinicians. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2021 Dec;62(6):1111-1116. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.06.013. Epub 2021 Jun 17. PMID: 34147579; PMCID: PMC8265891.
Gordon V, Rowe J, Grubb L, Lewis A, Johnson K, Segars L, Surek C, McCumber T, Willet GM, Olinger A. Mapping a Danger Zone of the Dorsal Nerve of the Clitoris: Implications in Female Cosmetic Genital Surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2021 Nov 1;148(5):1005-1010. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000008412. PMID: 34705773.
Johnson KS, Rowe J, Hans K, Gordon V, Lewis AL, Marolt C, Willett GM, Orth C, Keim-Janssen S, Olinger A. Effects of Leg Length, Sex, Laterality, and the Intermediate Femoral Cutaneous Nerve on Infrapatellar Innervation. Orthop J Sports Med. 2022 Mar 24;10(3):23259671221085272. doi: 10.1177/23259671221085272. PMID: 35356312; PMCID: PMC8958693.
Favorite Things About Sinai: The supportive culture and people! It is a gem.
PGY5 Class
Eric Lucas, D.O.
Hometown: Kingsville, MD
Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine Additional Degrees: MSN - Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
Future Plans: Acute Care Surgery/Surgical Critical Care
Recent Research: Lucas, E., Knoblauch, R., Combs-Bosse, M., Broedel, S. E., & Geddes, C. D. . (2020, March 05). Low-concentration trypsin detection from a metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) platform: Towards the development of ultra-sensitive and rapid detection of proteolytic enzymes. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2019.117739 Pub Status: Published. 30 Page 11 Lucas, Eric James (14061682)
Poster: Harmon, K., Guron, J., Lucas, E., & Ward, P. . (2020, January 25). Split Cord Malformation: Anatomical Presentation in a Cadaver [Poster presented]. Mountain State Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institute Mid-Winter Seminar/Charleston, WV, USA.
Favorite Things About Sinai: The residents have constructed a safe environment that feels more like a family and less like a job. We learn together, grow together, fail together, and succeed together and you quickly realize you are never alone in your surgical journey.
Jocelyn Powell, D.O.
Hometown: Corvallis, Oregon
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Oregon Campus
Future Plans: Rural General Surgery
Recent Research: Powell J, Chairs S, D’Adamo CR, Wolf J, Feinman M. Worksheet-Based Delivery System to Improve Participation and Engagement in Basic Science. Journal of Surgical Education. 2024;81(11):1558-1564. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.07.026
Brown J, Cornejo J, Zevallos A, et al. Concurrent minimally invasive bariatric surgery and ventral hernia repair with mesh; Is it safe? Propensity score matching analysis using the 2015-2022 MBSAQIP database. Surg Endosc. 2024;38(12):7544-7551. doi:10.1007/s00464-024-11260-5
Qurashi, F., Powell, J., Amoateng, R. B., Gonzalez, M., Wetherell, J., Gannon, J. & Cromwell-Rims, L. (2022). Geriatric trauma patients with alcohol withdrawal: current
overview. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 23(4), 701-702. DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2022.01.073 Hsu, A.TW., Zion, M., Powell, J. et al. Association of robotic surgery with early discharge, readmission, and complications in elective colectomy: an analysis of NSQIP data from 2012 to 2021. J Robotic Surg 18, 366 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-024-02121-3
Favorite Things About Sinai: I love the people I work with! We are given early autonomy in the operating room and on the floors. Our program is very well thought out in the way it is structured to challenge us and help us grow as surgeons.
Joseph Wetherell, M.D.
Hometown: Manchester, CT
Medical School: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Future Plans: Colorectal Surgery Fellowship
Recent Research: Wetherell J, Zeller M, Bennett J, Nasseri Y, Mavanur A, Solis-Pazmino P, Felton J, Wolf JH. Comparative outcomes of organ-preserving surgery vs. radical resection for clinical T2N0 rectal cancer: A retrospective analysis. Surg Oncol. 2026 Jun;66:102427.
Ma R, Nasseri Y, Wu G, Zeller M, Solis-Pazmino P, Wetherell J, Barnajian M, Feinman M, Felton J, Wolf J. The importance of procedural indication in predicting operative time for elective robotic colon surgery. J Robot Surg. 2026 Mar 23;20(1):370.
Wetherell J, Mitchell J, Sothilingam N, Micheal J, Guver A, Felton J, Wolf JH. Prophylactic ureteral catheterization performed by the colorectal surgeon: a retrospective analysis. J Gastrointest Surg. 2024;28(11):1917-1918.
Qurashi F, Powell J, Amoateng RB, Gonzalez M, Wetherell J, Gannon J, Adams B, Demos J, Cromwell-Rims L. Geriatric Trauma Patients With Alcohol Withdrawal: Current Overview. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2022 Apr;23(4):701-702.
Wetherell J, Woolley K, Chadha R, Kostka J, Adilovic E, Nepal P. Idiopathic Sclerosing Encapsulating Peritonitis in a Patient with Atypical Symptoms and Imaging Findings. Case Rep Gastrointest Med. 2021 Apr 7;2021:6695806.
Klymenko V, Varughese R, Woolley KA, Wetherell JM, Mopuru H, Mensah E, Siddiqui I. Debilitating Manifestation of a Disease with Multiple Names: A Severe Case of Sclerosing Mesenteritis. Case Rep Gastrointest Med. 2021 Feb 8;2021:6629424.
What Attracted You To Sinai: The collaborative nature of our department stands out to me. Whether it's working side by side in the hospital or teaming up on research projects with institutions across the country, there's a real sense that we're all working together to make ourselves and the program better