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.
PGY2 Class
Connor Borresen, DO
Hometown: Cullman, AL
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Plans: Pediatric Surgery
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.
Yolancee Nguyen, MD
Hometown: West Jordan, UT
Medical School: Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU
Future Plans: Undecided but leaning towards trauma, HPB, or pediatric surgery. I picture myself in a role where I can run my own practice and teach residents and medical students!
Recent Research: Mapula, Steven, E. Patrick M Chen. Yolancee J Nguyen. (2023, May 19). Optimizing Healing Via Surgical Dressings for Split Thickness Skin Grafting in Donor Sites Poster presented at: JPS Poster Presentation for Quality and Improvement Measures; Fort Worth, TX.
What attracted you to Sinai: I felt completely connected to most of the faculty I interviewed with! It immediately felt like I was interviewing to join a huge family and was instantly welcomed by everyone during my interview day (and many weeks after). The high operative volume, early OR exposure (especially as the intern), and the competitive fellowship match rates sealed the deal for me!
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: Undecided but interested in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Recent Research: Kosciuszek, N., Noel, P., Takabe, K., Seitelman, E., Datta, R., Gunasekaran, G., Takahashi, H. (2022, Dec). Intraluminal Small Bowel Metastasis From Primary Lung Cancer. World Journal of Oncology , 13(6), 409-416.
What attracted you to Sinai: The residents and faculty create a supportive and nurturing environment with excellent team communication. Practicing in Baltimore, a vibrant and dynamic city, adds to the appeal of Sinai.
PGY3 Class
Caitlin Burnette, D.O.
Hometown: Round Rock, TX
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Plans: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery or Breast Fellowship
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.
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
Future Plans: Still very much undecided! My top three at the moment (which change weekly) are general surgery, trauma, and endocrine
Recent Research: Dixon AD, Williams MD, Makiewicz KU, Khokar AM, Bonomo SR. Two unique cases of Bouveret syndrome with review of literature. Journal of Surgical Case Reports. (2022, Aug); 8(1): 1-3. Cited in PubMed; PMID: 36003224. Pub Status: Published.
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. As someone that's still undecided on future plans, I hoped for a program that left open as many doors as possible for their graduating residents. Sinai impresses me with its diverse set of past fellowship matches along with numerous graduates that were ready to practice straight away.
Brandon Green, MD
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
Future Plans: Trauma/Surgical Critical Care
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.
Kevin Hansen, M.D.
Hometown: Portland, OR
Medical School: Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Future Plans: Undecided. Currently interested in Acute Care and Minimally Invasive Surgery.
Recent Research: Lybrand, D. B., Naiman, M., Laumann, J. M., Boardman, M., Petshow, S., Hansen, K., Scott, G., & Wehrli, M.. Destruction complex dynamics: Wnt/Beta-catenin signaling alters Axin-GSK3Beta interactions in vivo. Development. (2019, Jul); 146(13): .. Cited in PubMed; PMID: 31189665. Pub Status: Published.
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: Undecided but currently interested in Thoracic and ACS/Trauma
Recent Research: Born LJ, Chang KH, Shoureshi P, Lay F, Bengali S, Hsu AT, Abadchi SN, Harmon JW, Jay SM. HOTAIR-Loaded Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell Extracellular Vesicles Enhance Angiogenesis and Wound Healing. Advanced Healthcare Materials. (2022, Mar); 11(5): e2002070. Cited in PubMed; PMID: 33870645. Pub Status: Published.
Chang TN, Daniel BW, Hsu AT, Chen LW, Sung CW, Chuang DC, Chao YK. Reversal of thoracic sympathectomy through robot-assisted microsurgical sympathetic trunk reconstruction with sural nerve graft and additional end-to-side coaptation of the intercostal nerves: A case report. Microsurgery. (2021, Nov); 41(8): 772-776. Pub Status: Published.
Chidambaram V, Tun NL, Haque WZ, Majella MG, Sivakumar RK, Kumar A, Hsu AT, Ishak IA, Nur AA, Ayeh SK, Salia EL, Zil-E-Ali A, Saeed MA, Sarena APB, Seth B, Ahmadzada M, Haque EF, Neupane P, Wang KH, Pu TM, Ali SMH, Arshad MA, Wang L, Baksh S, Karakousi. Factors associated with disease severity and mortality among patients with COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. (2020, Nov); 15(11): e0241541. Cited in PubMed; PMID: 33206661. Pub Status: Published.
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.
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!
Value-Added Year Class
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: Jung, E. Ethmoid Sinusitis as a Possible Differential Diagnosis in Orbital Complications: A Case Study. Poster presented at: AWS Southwest Regional Conference; December 7, 2019; San Antonio, TX.
Philip, S; Javed, M; Lachowsky, P; Karagoli, M; Hutton, S; Di Le, M; Jung, E; Kao, J; Fisher, C. Pericardial Cyst: A Case Report. Poster presented at: UNTHSC Research Appreciation Day; March 29, 2019; Fort Worth, TX.
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: I am interested in Trauma Surgery and Critical Care
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: My favorite thing remains the thing that made me want to be here in the first place, the people and culture.
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: 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.
Gonzalez, M; Carter, A.G.; Cullifer, J.T.; Vasauskas, A.A.; Morrow, R.L.; Brown, J.; Morrow, K.A.. (2018, September 01). Altered Intracellular Osteopontin and Merlin Signaling May Drive Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in BMPR2 Deficient Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells [Poster presented]. Society of Hospital Medicine Wiregrass Chapter 3rd Annual Meeting and Poster Competition/Dothan, AL, USA.
M. Gonzalez, BA, A.G. Carter, BS, J.T. Cullifer, BS, A.A. Vasauskas, PhD, R.L. Morrow, PhD, J. Brown, PhD, K.A. Morrow, PhD. Altered Intracellular Osteopontin and Merlin Signaling May Drive Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in BMPR2 Deficient Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells. Poster session presented at: Society of Hospital Medicine Wiregrass Chapter 3rd Annual Meeting and Poster competition. 2019 Sep 28; Dothan, AL
What Attracted You To Sinai: The people of Sinai were a major motivation for me. It was clear, even via virtual interviews, how close everyone in the program is. Residents seemed to really get along and support each other. I was also incredibly impressed by the versatility of the Value-Added Year, the success of the leadership, and Sinai’s history of matching residents in competitive fellowships as well as producing private/group practice general surgeons.
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: Tarek E. Hassab, MD; Sagar D. Patel, BS; Christopher R. D'Adamo, PhD; Shane Svoboda, MD; Arun Mavanur, MD; Joshua H. Wolf, MD. Predictors of Underlying Carcinoma in Patients with Suspected Acute Diverticulitis. Surgery. June 2021.
Sagar D. Patel, BS; Ya-Ching Hung, MD, MPH; Solange Cox, MD; Dona C. Hobart, MD, FACS. Hidden Port-A-Cath Placement: Making the Most Visible Scar Invisible. The American Society of Breast Surgeons 22nd Annual Meeting. April 2021. (Poster Presentation)
Sagar D. Patel, BS; Ya-Ching Hung, MD, MPH; Zain G. Hashmi, MBBS; Marcie Feinman, MD; Christopher R. D'Adamo, PhD; Shane Svoboda, MD; Joshua H. Wolf, MD. Surgical Management of Diverticulitis-associated Clostridioides Difficile Infection. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. March 2021.
What Attracted You To Sinai: Sinai provides excellent academic surgical exposure with experiences on-campus and at other institutions in the area. There are many complex cases in-house without any fellows and the value-added year is great as well. We maintain a strong family-oriented community feel among the residents, attendings, and support staff.
PGY4 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: Interested in applying to Acute Care Surgery/Surgical Critical Care Fellowships
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: (Presentation) Powell, J. (2021, Oct). Evaluating Frailty and Chronologic Age As Risk Factors For Readmission Following Discharge After Colectomy. Presentation at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress, Virtual Meeting.
(Presentation) Powell, J. (2021, June). Utilization of a Standardized Digital Education Platform in the Preoperative Preparation of Bariatric Surgery Patients: A Novel and Necessary Approach. Presentation at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Annual Meeting, Virtual Meeting.
(Poster) Powell, J. (2021, May). Morbidity and Mortality Conference in the COVID Era: Improving Attendance Through a Virtual Education Platform. Presented at the Association for Surgical Education Annual Meeting, Virtual Meeting.
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: Planning for Acute Care/Critical Care fellowship and practice following residency
Recent Research: Reeder, K., Wetherell, J., Jajoo, D. “Incorporation of Genetic Screening in Breast Imaging Patients” American Roentgen Ray Society National Meeting, San Diego, CA, 04/2021
Wetherell, J., Woolley, K., Kostka, J., Adilovic, E., Nepal, P. Idiopathic Sclerosing Encapsulating Peritonitis in a Patient with Atypical Symptoms and Imaging Findings", Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Medicine, vol. 2021, 2021
Klymenko, V., Varughese, R., Woolley, K. A., Wetherell, J. M., Mopuru, H., Mensah, E., & Siddiqui, I. (2021). Debilitating Manifestation of a Disease with Multiple Names: A Severe Case of Sclerosing Mesenteritis. Case reports in gastrointestinal medicine, 2021, 6629424.
What Attracted You To Sinai: Early and abundant operative experience, close relationships with other residents/APPs/attendings, and how program leadership is so attentive to the needs and suggestions of the residents at all times
PGY5 Class
James Luong, D.O.
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Plans: Burn Critical Care
Recent Research: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Prevalence and Correlates of Sunscreen Use among a Rural Tri-State Appalachian Population; Luong J, Davis R, Chandra A, White A, Harber I, Engel A, Shields N, York T, Nahar V
Skin Cancer Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among Chinese Populations: A Narrative Review; Stephens P, Martin M, Ghafari G, Luong J, Nahar V, Pham L, Savoy M, Sharma M Skin Cancer Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) among Chinese Populations: A Narrative Review; Stephens P, Martin M, Ghafari G, Luong J, Nahar V, Pham L, Savoy M, Sharma M
Attitudes, Behaviors, and Practices Regarding Skin Care and Sun-protective Behaviors Among Minority Groups in a Lower Socioeconomic Community in Student-run Clinics in Sacramento, CA; Nguyen A, Fergus T, Engel A, Ashfaq A, Luong J, Dellavalle R, Sivamani R, Maverakis E
Favorite Things About Sinai: The collegiality and the overall atmosphere of the program. The residents are incredibly welcoming, the operative volume is great, and the administration is always looking for feedback to try and make the program better. I couldn't have asked for a better program to come to!
Kevin Schlidt, M.D.
Hometown: Casper, Wyoming
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Future Plans: Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery or General Surgery
Recent Research: Onyima, O, Schlidt, K., et al. American Insurance Coverage of Endovenous Ablation for Greater and Lesser Saphenous Varicose Veins. Annals of Vascular Surgery. Accepted June 2024.
Abd-Elsayed et al., Schlidt, K. A brief review of complex regional pain syndrome and current management. Annals of Medicine. 2024 Dec;56(1):2334398. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2334398. Epub 2024 Apr 3. PMID: 38569195; PMCID: PMC10993759.
Waldron, O et al, Schlidt, K. Ushering in the era of regenerative surgery. Minerva Surg. 2024 Apr;79(2):166-182. doi: 10.23736/S2724-5691.23.10113-4. Epub 2023 Dec 13. PMID: 3808875
Favorite Things About Sinai: We have a close-knit group of residents who consistently look out for each other as well as a diverse patient population and dedicated faculty mentors who want residents to excel.
Matthew Zeller, D.O.
Hometown: Portland, OR
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Lebanon Campus
Future Plans: General/ACS/trauma surgery or pediatric surgery. Medical and residency education research and teaching.
Recent Research: Michael J, Schwartz N, Zeller M, Felton J, and Wolf J. Robotic Intracorporeal Fully Stapled Kono-S Anastomosis: A Technical Demonstration. Podium Presentation, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting, 2024.
Zeller M, Sterling E, Shah M, Lee S, D’Adamo C, and Feinman M. A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Text Versus Video-Based Education For Surgical Case Preparation Among Medical Students. Podium Presentation at Association of Surgical Education Annual Meeting 2024. Submitted for publication in Global Surgical Education.
Zeller M, Qaqish T.R., Katlic M. (2023). Esophageal Injuries and Esophageal Emergencies in Geriatric Patients. In: Petrone, P., Brathwaite, C.E. (eds) Acute Care Surgery in Geriatric Patients. Springer, Cham.
Amoateng R, Zeller M, Katlic M. Pain control in older adults undergoing video-assisted thorascopic surgery. Accepted for publication, VATS. 2023.
Hassab T, Zeller M, Tidd-Johnson A, Wolf J. Combined SILS/robotic approach for simultaneous transverse loop colostomy reversal and colorectal anastomosis. SAGES, 2023 Annual Meeting. 2023 Apr, Podium Presentation.
Favorite Things About Sinai: "The people here at Sinai understand that life continues during surgical training. The culture at Sinai finds the equilibrium between promoting academic and surgical excellence needed to achieve trainees' professional goals and understanding that life balance is key to patient care, personal growth, and sustaining relationships."