General Surgery Residency

Chief Residents 2024

Overview of the Program

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School’s Department of Surgery is proud of our growing and ever improving residency in general surgery. Our mission is to train future academic leaders in surgery. To that end, we have a vigorous and broad reaching true general surgical experience. All of our categorical residents spend at least one year in dedicated research and professional development. It is possible for a resident to spend additional years on an individual basis.

Most of our graduates pursue competitive advanced fellowship specialty training in the field of their choice at other premier institutions. Our full-time academic and community faculty are deeply committed to the education of our surgical trainees. I invite you to look over the many sections of this residency web and discover what we have to offer. Please do not hesitate to contact us if further information is required.

Dylan Nieman, PhD MD, FACS
Associate Professor of Surgery
Program Director, General Surgery
Email: Dylan.nieman@rutgers.edu

Education and Curriculum

The General Surgery Residency program at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is committed to training competent and professional surgeons who value high quality patient care.  Our program endeavors to create an environment of learning where residents can flourish as both leaders and teachers.  The aim of the program is to graduate surgeons who will make a positive impact on their chosen field though academic and clinical excellence. Professionalism, integrity, and accountability are mainstays of the program.

    • Providing the best training to our residents
    • Fostering an environment of inquiry with a competent teaching staff
    • Taking part in innovative medical research
    • Providing patient-centered, evidence-based medicine
    • Providing the best possible care to patients

    Our program offers General Surgery residents the opportunity to reach their maximal potential personally and professionally. Ultimately the General Surgery Residency program at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School will afford our graduates the skills and knowledge necessary to become the future leaders of academic surgery.

  • Our residency is privileged to rotate at the following clinical sites:

    Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

    • Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey is our flagship hospital for the general surgery-training program. In this hospital, we offer a range of rotations for the academic surgeon in training. Individuals rotate through Colorectal Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Trauma Surgery, Kidney Transplant Surgery, Emergency General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Thoracic, and Endocrine Surgery. Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey offers comprehensive cancer care to patients of all types

    Bristol Myer's Squibb Children's Hospital

    • In the Children’s Hospital, individuals will rotate on a pediatric surgery service under the direction of Dr. Yi-Horng Lee. The Children’s Hospital contains recently built new operating rooms with state of the art facilities.

    Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center

    • Residents rotating at Penn Medicine obtain a community surgical experience through our partnership with Princeton Surgical Associates. This site offers a wide range of elective and emergency general surgery, as well as experience with vascular, breast, and thoracic surgery.

    RWJ Monmouth Medical Center

    • Residents rotating at Monmouth will also obtain a community surgical experience with rotations encompassing general surgery, as well as colorectal, thoracic, vascular and plastic surgery.

    St Peters University Hospital

    • St Peters University Hospital is a recent addition to our ever-expanding surgical residency. Residents rotating at St. Peters will also obtain a community surgical experience with rotations encompassing general and pediatric surgery.

     

     

    • Our PGY1 residents begin their training as surgical interns, rotating throughout the general and subspecialty surgical services and learning to manage common preoperative consultations, and post operative care. These experiences are expanded upon in our various subspecialty outpatient clinics, and through training in the operating room. All residents of all PGY years are expected to participate in operative training.
       
    • The PGY2 year builds upon the foundations previously established as surgical interns. This year includes rotations in surgical critical care, and is our first exposure to taking senior level call. PGY 2 residents also gain exposure to pediatric surgery among various other subspecialties.
       
    • After completion of the PGY2 year, residents are invited to participate in dedicated basic science or clinical research. This year of dedicated research can be expanded on an individual basis. While many residents choose to stay at Rutgers during this time, participation in outside research fellowships is encouraged. For more information, please see our “Research page.”
       
    • PGY3 residents take on more leadership responsibilities as they progress into the role of senior residents. As Surgical house admitting residents they take challenging overnight rotations in trauma and emergency general surgery aimed at improving their individual workup and acute management skills. During this time they also continue to expand their operative technique through senior level operative experience.
       
    • PGY4 year provides elective opportunities for residents pursing subspecialty fellowship to gain experience at an outside institution. During this year residents also begin to take a leadership role by acting as chief residents on several services and through various administrative roles throughout the program.
       
    • Chief year is the culmination of all of the previous. With the added administrative responsibilities including developing our educational and leadership curriculums, chief residents are expected to lead their services and direct patient management with the supervision of our attending faculty. Chief residents are also expected to directly train junior residents through teaching cases, simulation, and formal didactics. Our chief residents present grand rounds lectures throughout the year, aimed at improving their formal presentation  and educational skills.
  • Lecture format,  as well as hands-on education occurs throughout the year including formal faculty lectures, simulation courses, and resident workshops, collectively designed to provide well rounded training not only in surgical science, but also academic leadership, medical ethics, and education.

    Formally, education is held during reserved time each week which is free of clinical responsibilities. This time also hosts our weekly Morbidity and Mortality conference, as well as our Grand Rounds schedule of visiting lecturers.

    Individual rotations also provide didactic education specific to their subspecialties. This occurs through departmental tumor boards, journal clubs, and educational rounds throughout the rotation schedule.

  • In addition to our didactic curriculum our residency features a resident run journal club which meets once weekly. Details regarding our previous and upcoming events can be found here

  • Our simulation curriculum provides early exposure to the various tools of laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery, as well as robotics training ultimately resulting in completion of the FLS and FES certification. Certification in robotics is also available and often granted to senior residents upon completion of the required number of training cases.

    Our program is equipped with state of the art surgical simulation facilities including laparoscopic trainers, Endoscopic simulators, and robotics training consoles. We have also developed a curriculum of simulation training for basic surgical techniques including bedside procedures, advanced airway management, central arterial and venous line placement, endovascular, and many additional procedures.

    Our simulation curriculum extends beyond basic skills and technical training, to also include public speaking and professionalism topics. Throughout the year, actors are brought to assist in replicating difficult patient encounters and conversations with guidance from peers and industry professionals to develop stronger communication skills. 

  • Surgeons often represent leaders of complex multidisciplinary teams. Working with nationally recognized leaders, we have developed a year long leadership training curriculum that is designed to help our residents develop the communication, and behavioural skills necessary to become great leaders. This training includes multiple formats of teaching, including lectures, seminars, group projects, and simulated encounters to identify individual strengths and develop individual weaknesses. 

  • Throughout residency, all residents are expected to participate in quality improvement projects. In the past, these projects have included improving hospital patient safety, cross-specialty communication, ethics and legal training, and many others. Often these projects are chosen for presentation or publication in national conferences and jounals. 

  • Evaluations are completed by residents and faculty throughout the year via a web based system. At the completion of each rotation a consensus evaluation is filed with the Education Office for each resident. The results of these as well as individual comments are viewable to residents and discussed at length during semi-annual meetings with the program director and assistant program director.

    Residents also choose a faculty mentor to serve as a point of contact throughout their training for ongoing feedback, and advice.

    Didactic assessment is made at several points throughout the year through our simulation curriculum, and in ABSITE preparation. Residents are required to complete the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination every year.

    Further assessment is continually solicited on an individual basis through attending and co-resident feedback. This occurs through hands on training as well as through web based evaluations.

    Residents are also assessed on professionalism and public speaking through our weekly grand rounds and M&M assessments which are made through an anonymous web based system and immediately available for resident review.

    Residents also participate in regular mock oral boards, administered by our own faculty, as well as at outside institutions. These events include video review and formal evaluation by faculty allowing residents to continually assess and improve their performance.

  • Diversity and Inclusion:

    Our Mission:

    The Department of Surgery values diversity, equity, and inclusion among all faculty, staff, and trainees. The department is committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment for all, regardless of any aspect of identity.

    Individual differences and unique perspectives are critical to delivering high-quality care for our patients, engaging in scholarly activity, educating trainees and students. We recognize the extent to which inequity, social injustice, and systemic racism impact the health of the Rutgers RWJ community and the communities we serve. Diverse ideas and innovative solutions are required to effectively tackle issues related to inequity, health disparities, systemic racism, and bias in medicine.

    Safe Zone Training

    RWJ Rutgers Safe Zone is a 2-hour training session that provides foundational knowledge needed to support and act in solidarity with LGBTQ+ communities. This program was designed to educate and visibly identify medical students, residents, and attendings who support the LGBTQ+ community, better understand LGBTQ+ communities and some of the issues these communities face especially regarding healthcare, and are aware of the various LGBTQ resources available within the hospital and surrounding New Jersey area.

    As a result of participating in the Rutgers, RWJ Safe Zone program, students, faculty, and staff will:

    • Be able to define key terminology pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community.
    • Begin to explore power, privilege, and oppression (specifically cisgender and heterosexual privilege) as it relates to gender and sexuality.
    • Be able to identify strategies for building solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community.
    • Be able to identify resources available to LGBTQ+ communities at Rutgers, RWJ and the surrounding area.

    We are proud to have representation from our residency on the American College of Surgeons Committee on Diversity issues as the only resident representative.

    Committee on Diversity Issues - American College of Surgeons 

  • At the end of the second clinical year the categorical general surgery resident enters the research fellowship. The purpose of this year is to allow the future surgeon to gain a critical eye upon the results of research in order to be an effective life-long learner. In addition, the productivity naturally engendered by this experience will lead to national presentations and publications that can improve the resident’s standing as a candidate for a future fellowship opportunity or for a position at an academic department of surgery.

    Residents may use this time to enter basic science, as well as clinical and epidemiologic research fellowships.

    Residents may choose to use this time for professional development. Many in the past have chosen to pursue additional graduate degrees including MPH and PhD. While there are opportunities for residents to remain within the Rutgers University system, there are no restrictions on where a resident may choose to spend this time. 

    At the end of each year, residents present the work they have accomplished at our resident research day. 

    Below you can find the link to the most recent “Resident Research Day” which has become an annual showcase for the wonderful research and scholarship that occurs in the program. Additionally, you can see where our residents have spent their research time over the past five years. Finally, current acceptances for this academic year are below.

    2022 Research Day

    2021 Resident Research Day 

    Resident Research Time: Past 5 Years

    Accepted Presentations 2022-2023

    Meeting: Annual Meeting of Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA) 2023, Miami, FL
    Titles: "Did COVID-19 Disrupt Surgery for Patients with Pancreatic and Hepatic Malignancies?" "Did COVID-19 Increase Utilization of Neoadjuvant Therapy for Operative Patients with Pancreatic and Hepatic Malignancies?"
    Authors: Alexander Manzella, MD; Mariam F. Eskander, MD,MPH; Miral S. Grandhi, MD; Haejin In, MD, MPH; Russell C. Langan, MD; Timothy Kennedy, MD; David August, MD; H.Richard Alexander, MD; Toni Beninato, MD,MS; Henry A.Pitt, MD
    Presenting Author: Alexander Manzella, MD

    Meeting: Annual Meeting of Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA) 2023, Miami, FL
    Title: “Demographic Inequities in Liver Transplantation for Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis”
    Authors: Ankur Choubey, MD, MPH; S.Samuel; N.Koizumi; O. Ekwenna; R. Malik; J.Ortiz
    Presenting Author: Ankur Choubey, MD, MPH 

    Meeting: SAGES 2023, Montreal, Canada
    Title: "Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass In Non-Bariatric Patients with Refractory Gerd"
    Authors: Aidan Aicher, MD; N. Devas; K. Spaniolas, MD; A. Pryor, MD 
    Presenting Author: Aidan Aicher, MD

    Meeting: 18th Annual Academic Surgical Congress, Houston, TX
    Title: “Costs of Delayed Discharge after Nonoperative Management of Blunt Liver Injury in Low Risk Children”
    Presenting Author: Paul Truche, MD, MPH

    Meeting: American Association of Endocrine Surgeons 2023, Birmingham, AL
    Title: "Association of Medicaid Expansion with Access to Thyroidectomy for Benign Disease at High Volume Centers"
    Authors: Alexander Manzella, MD; Marin Kheng, MD,MPH; Joshua Chao, MD,JD; Amanda M. Laird, MD; Toni Beninato, MD, MS
    Presenting Author: Alexander Manzella, MD

    Meeting: SSO Advanced Cancer Therapies 2023, San Diego, CA
    Title: "A Novel Ex-Vivo Human Tumor Model to Understand the Role of HIPEC in Peritoneal Malignancies"
    Authors: Stephanie N. Gregory, MD; Marthe E. Teke, MD; Carrie E. Ryan, MS,MD; A.Leila Sarvestani,MD;
    Tracey Pu, MD; Sarfraz R. Akman, BS; Stephanie C. Lux, BS; Jacob T.Lambdin, MD; Kenneth Luberice, MD;
    Kirsten Remmert, PhD; Emily C. Smith, PhD; Surajit Sinha, PhD; Audra A. Satterwhite, RN; Cathleen Hannah, RN,BSN;
    Jeremy L. Davis, MD; Jonathan M. Hernandez, MD; Andrew M.Blakely, MD
    Presenting Author: Stephanie N. Gregory, MD

    Meeting: SSO Advanced Cancer Therapies 2023, San Diego, CA
    Title: "Stagnating Survival in Epithelioid Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma: An Analysis of Current Incidence and Management of Disease"
    Authors: Stephanie N. Gregory, MD; Paul H. McClelland, MD; Andrew M. Blakely, MD.
    Presenting Author: Stephanie N. Gregory, MD

    Meeting: ACS COT (Local) 2022, New Brunswick, NJ
    Title: "UTILITY OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY RECONSTRUCTED THORACOLUMBAR SPINAL IMAGING IN BLUNT TRAUMA"
    Authors: Chris Amro, MD, Abhishek Swarup, MD, Alexander Cong, BS, John Park, BS, Rachel L. Choron, MD FACS, Christopher Butts, PhD DO FACOS FACS,
    Julie Goswami, MD, Amanda L. Teichman, MD FACS                                                              Presenting Author: Chris Amro, M.D.

    Meeting: ACS COT (Regional) 2022, Buffalo, NY
    Title: "UTILITY OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY RECONSTRUCTED THORACOLUMBAR SPINAL IMAGING IN BLUNT TRAUMA"
    Authors: Chris Amro, MD, Abhishek Swarup, MD, Alexander Cong, BS, John Park, BS, Rachel L. Choron, MD FACS, Christopher Butts, PhD DO FACOS FACS, Julie Goswami, MD, Amanda L. Teichman, MD FACS
    Presenting Author: Chris Amro, M.D.

    Meeting: SESC 2022, Atlanta GA
    Title“NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER CAUSING ATRAUMATIC SPLENIC RUPTURE WITHOUT SPLENIC METASTASIS”
    Authors: Chris Amro MD, Russell Pepe MD, Akshat Parekh MD, Christopher Butts PhD/DO
    Presenting Author: Chris Amro, M.D.

    Meeting: SESC 2022, Atlanta GA
    Title: “TRAUMATIC POPLITEAL ARTERY OCCLUSION FOLLOWING LOWER EXTREMITY CRUSH INJURY PRESENTING WITH ISOLATED PATELLAR DISLOCATION”
    Authors: Chris Amro MD, Akshat Parekh MD, Keith Diamond MD, Matthew Lissauer MD, Christopher Butts PhD/DO
    Presenting Author: Chris Amro, M.D.

    Meeting: ACAPS 2023, New Orleans LA                                                                                     
    Title: "An Update on the Independent Plastic Surgery Match: Recent Trends and Predictors of a Successful Match (2019-2022)"                                                                                                      
    Authors: Chris Amro MD, J. Reed McGraw BS, Robyn Broach PhD, Stephen J. Kovach MD, Joseph M. Serletti MD, Jeffrey E. Janis MD, Saïd C. Azoury, MD                                              
    Presenting Author: Chris Amro, M.D.

    Meeting: PSRC 2023, Cleveland OH
    Title: "An Update on the Independent Plastic Surgery Match: Recent Trends and Predictors of a Successful Match (2019-2022)"                                                                                                   
    Authors: Chris Amro MD, J. Reed McGraw BS, Robyn Broach PhD, Stephen J. Kovach MD, Joseph M. Serletti MD, Jeffrey E. Janis MD, Saïd C. Azoury, MD.                                                      
    Presenting Author: Chris Amro, M.D.

    Accepted Presentations 2021-2022 

    Meeting: SESC 2021, Atlanta GA
    Title: “Follicular Cholecystitis: What a General Surgeon Should Know”
    Authors: Fernando D. Arias MD, Zachary J. Brown DO, Gina Prochilo DO, Christopher Butts PhD/DO, Jennifer To DO
    Presenting Author: Fernando Arias, M.D.

    Meeting: SAGES 2021, Las Vegas NV
    Title: “Resident Caseload and Operative Volume in the Time of Coronavirus”
    Authors: Stephen A. Iacono MD MPH, Rachel E. Nemoyer MD MPHMichael T. Scott MD MPH, Nell Maloney Patel, MD, Stanley Trooskin MD
    Presenting Author: Stephen Iacono, M.D.

    Meeting: ECTSS 2021 Palm Beach FL
    Title: “Rare Case of Survival after Left Ventricular Traumatic Laceration due to Pseudoaneurysm”
    Authors: Krish C. Dewan, Lindsay Volk, Antonio Chiricolo, Mark Russo.
    Presenting Author: Krish C. Dewan, M.D.

    Meeting: 44th Annual Conference on Shock, Portland, OR
    Title: “SIRT3 Deletion Increases Inflammation and Mortality in Sepsis"
    Authors: Hanna E Labiner, Kelli M Sas, Joseph A Baur, Carrie A Sims
    Presenting Author: Hanna E Labiner, M.D.

    Meeting: Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society, Manalapan FL
    Title: “DNA methylation inhibitor reversed high fat diet-induced CREG1 downregulation in Adipose
    Authors: Joshua Chao, M.D.
    Presenting Author: Joshua Chao, M.D.

    Meeting: SVS Vascular, San Diego CA
    Titles: 

    • “Occurrence of dialysis, paralysis, stroke, or death following endovascular aortic intervention in the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative” 
    • “Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity effects outcomes following endovascular aortic repair”
    • “Sex based differences following thoracic endovascular aortic repair for penetrating aortic ulcer and intramural hematoma”

    Authors: Presenting Author: Priya Patel, M.D.

    Meeting: Asian Academic Surgeons, Chicago IL (September)
    Titles: 

    • “Cellular Repressor of E1A-Stimulated Genes 1 (CREG1) Expression in White Adipose and Liver Tissue is regulated by Food Intake” 
    • “Surgical Outcomes in Thoracic Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience from an Epicenter”

    Authors: Joshua C Chao MD JDJigesh Baxi MD, Alexis K Okoh MD, Marlena E Sabatino BA, Fady Soliman BS, Yanmei Qi MD PhD, Jie Liu MD, Leonard Y Lee MD, Shaohua Li MD PhD, Mark J Russo MD MS
    Presenting Author: Joshua Chao, M.D.

    Meeting: EAST 2022, Austin, TX
    Title: "Give Me Sirtuins Or Give Me Death: SIRT1 Deletion Increases Mortality in Sepsis"
    Authors: Hanna E Labiner, Kelli M Sas, Joseph A Baur, Carrie A Sims
    Presenting Author: Hanna E Labiner, M.D,

    Meeting: American Society of transplant surgeons, Venue Miami FL
    Titles: “Comparison of early glycemic control between Type 1 and non-Type 1 diabetics after Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney Transplant (SPKT)”
    Authors: Olanrewaju Eletta, Vijay Putatunda, David Walls, Advaith Bongu, Ronald Pelletier.
    Presenting Author: Olanrewaju Eletta, M.D.

    Meeting: American Society of transplant surgeons, Venue Miami FL
    Title: Development of imaging guided pancreas transplant anticoagulation protocol
    Authors: Olanrewaju Eletta, Vijay Putatunda, David Walls, Melissa Chuang, Sonika Puri, John Nosher, Ronald Pelletier, Advaith Bongu.
    Presenting Author: Olanrewaju Eletta, MD

    Meeting: Academic Surgical Congress 2022, Orlando FL
    Titles: 

    • "Applicability of ACR TI-RADS to Follicular Thyroid Cancer: A Single Site Retrospective Review"             
    • "The Impact of Surgical Boot Camp on Medical Student Confidence and Imposter Syndrome"
    • "National Trends of Endocrine Surgery Operations Influenced by the COVID-19 Pandemic

    Authors: Wilfrido Castillo BE; Saloni Jain BA; Emma Idzikowsi MBS; Hannah Bava BS; Mahaksh Kotdawala MS; Alexander Manzella MD, Stanley Z. Trooskin MD, Amanda M Laird, MD, Toni Beninato MD MS, A.L. Teichman , J. Cai , M.E. Schroeder , M. Yao , P. Greenberg , R.L. Choron, Amanda M. Laird MD, Henry Pitt MD, Toni Beninato MD MS.
    Presenting Author: Alexander Manzella MD

    Meeting: 2022 APDS Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX
    Title: Modified SafeZone Training: LGBT Patient Education for Surgical Residents and Faculty
    Authors: Ramirez, Jr. T. Ray MD, Nell Maloney Patel, MD
    Presenting Author: Ramirez, Jr. T. Ray M.D.

    Meeting: Academic Surgical Congress 2022, Orlando FL
    Title: “Clinical Risk Score For Sternal Wound Dehiscence Requiring Operative Debridement Following Sternotomy”
    Authors: Brianna L. Slatnick MD; Paul Truche,MD, MPH; Sivana Barron BA; Christine Kang MD;
    Presenting Author: Brianna L. Slatnick, MD

    Meeting: AATS 2022, Boston MA
    Titles:

    • “The Burden Of Lower Extremity Fasciotomies: An Indication For The Multidisciplinary Approach”
    • “Characterizing Morbidity And Mortality After Aesthetic Abdominal Surgery: A Nationwide Analysis”
    • Breast Flap Neurotization After Autologous Free Flap Breast Reconstruction: A Prospective Trial”
    • “Artificially Intelligent Facial Feature Quantification After Facial Filler Injection”

    Authors: Abhishek A. Desai, MD; Niv Milbar, MD; Sophia Hu, BA; Corey Bascone, MD; L. Scott  Levin, MD, FACS, FAOA; Stephen J. Kovach, MD.
    Presenting Author: Abhishek A. Desai, MD

    Meeting: Robert H. Ivy Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery Society Annual Meeting 2022
    Title: "Evaluation of the immune microenvironment of esophageal adenocarcinoma following induction chemoradiotherapy with and without durvalumab"
    Authors: Jennie K. Choe MD, Yan Li MD, Laura H. Tang MD PhD, Geoffrey Y. Ku MD, Prasad S. Adusumilli MD
    Presenting Author: Jennie K. Choe MD

    Meeting: AAST 2022, Chicago, Il
    Title: “AAST Multicenter Study: Does angioembolization improve survival for severe hepatic injuries?"
    Authors: Amanda Radisic, MD; Joseph Sakran, MD, MPA, MPH; Mariuxi Manukyan, MD; Bin Yu, BS; Fang Hu, BS; Meghan Wooster, DO; Kathy Noll, MSN, TCRN; David V. Feliciano, MD; Elliot Hout, MD, PhD; Grace F. Rozycki, MD, MBA
    Presenting Author: Amanda Radisic, MD

    Meeting: Academic Surgical Congress ASC 2022 San Diego, CA
    Title:  "National Trends in Thyroid Operative Costs by Volume in the Inpatient and Outpatient Settings"
    Authors: Alexander Manzella, MD, Marin Kheng, MD,MPH, Timothy Kravchenko, Amanda M. Laird, MD, Henry Pitt, MD, Toni Beninato, MD,MS
    Presenting Author: Alexander Manzella, MD 

    Meeting: Advanced Cancer Therapies 2023, San Diego, CA
    Title: 3:A Novel Ex-Vivo Human Tumor Model to Understand the Role of HIPEC in Peritoneal Malignancies
    Authors: Stephanie N. Gregory, Martha E. Teke, Carrie E. Ryan, A. Leila Sarvestani, Tracey Pu, Sarfraz R. Akmal, Jacob T. Lambdin, Kenneth Luberice, Stephanie Lux, Kirsten Remmert, Emily C. Smith, Surajit Sinha, Audra A. Satterwhite, Cathleen Hannah, Jeremy L. Davis, Jonathan M. Hernandez, Andrew M. Blakely
    Presenting Author: Stephanie N. Gregory 

    Meeting: Advanced Cancer Therapies 2023, San Deigo, CA
    Title: Stagnating Survival in Epithelioid Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma: An Analysis of Current Incidence and Management of Disease
    Authors: Stephanie N. Gregory, Paul H. McClelland, Andrew M. Blakely
    Presenting Author: Stephanie N. Gregory

  • The Residency Review Committee analyzes resident operative data each year and provides the program with what is called a “Defined Category Report.”  Basically this is a snapshot of the program’s being able to meet defined minimum numbers of cases in each of the primary and secondary areas of importance.  We are proud to reproduce the most recent report on the graduating chief residents from the summer of 2018, noting that we most often double or triple the minimum number of cases.

Research

Residents have six months of dedicated research time during their PGY3 year to pursue interests that align with their career goals. Opportunities include basic science research, health services research, and clinical trials and residents are offered full access to resources within Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers School of Public Health, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, among others. Though our residents are offered six months of protected research time, the majority are productive thoroughout their residency and gain experience in first authorship at major urologic and scientific journals and as lead speakers at national meetings, such as the AUA, GU ASCO, ASCO, SWIU, and SUO.

A researcher looks into a microscope in a lab

Words from Our Former Residents

"...Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is one of the strongest programs in the country, providing the clinical/operative experience and autonomy of a private program, with the academic experience of a powerhouse university program..."

"...The medical school opens every door for your future, while also providing you with lifelong mentors and friendships..."  

"...The ethnic diversity was comforting and I felt at home..."

"...This program has the ideal balance of clinical and operative cases, teaching, and academic opportunity in the laboratory in particular. I know that I could not have received better training as a future surgeon anywhere..."

"...It is a friendly, positive, non-intimidating, and healthy environment to train in...”

Medical students wearing white coats sit around a table and talk in a classroom

Who We Are

  • PGY-1 

    Categorical

    Sarfraz Akmal, MD

    • Hometown: Livingston, NJ
    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Clinical Interests: Surgical Oncology, Thoracic

    Stephanie Bennett, MD

    • Hometown: Richmond, VA
    • Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School
    • Clinical Interests: Surgical Breast Oncology

    Angela Foley, MD

    • Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
    • Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: Surgical Oncology, Trauma/Acute Care Surgery

    Hye Rim Jang, MD

    • Hometown: Closter, NJ
    • Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: Trauma / Acute Care Surgery, Surgical Oncology

    Matthew Linz, MD

    • Hometown: Randolph, NJ
    • Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
    • Clinical Interests: Pediatric Surgery, Surgical Oncology

    Aashka Patel, MD

    • Hometown: South Windsor, CT
    • Medical School: Chicago Medical School & Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
    • Clinical Interests: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery

    Harsha Rao, MD

    • Hometown: Bangalore, India
    • Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: Undecided

    Lauren Williams, MD

    • Hometown: Delran, NJ
    • Medical School: New York Medical College
    • Clinical Interests: Breast, Surgical Oncology, Endocrine, Plastics

    Preliminary

    Terryn Adams, MD

    • Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
    • Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: General Surgery

    Adedayo Adetunji, DO

    • Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
    • Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: Urological Surgery, Health Sciences, Global Surgery, Transplant Surgery

    Hadi Ashor, MD

    • Hometown: Sayreville, NJ
    • Medical School: Cooper Medicine School of Rowan University
    • Clinical Interests: Trauma

    Alexander Griffith, MD

    • Hometown: Princeton, NJ
    • Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
    • Clinical Interests: Orthopedic Surgery

    Pierre Ibraheem, MD

    • Hometown: Bayonne, NJ
    • Medical School: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: General Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Reconstructive Surgery

    Thuchanh Nguyen, MD

    • Hometown: Irvine, CA
    • Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: Breast Surgical Oncology

    Calvin Leung, MD, PhD

    • Hometown: Montville, NJ
    • Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
    • Clinical Interests: Radiation Oncology

    Candice Li Sung Sang, MB BS

    • Hometown: Floreal, Mauritius
    • Medical School: University of Adelaide Medical School
    • Clinical Interests: Breast Surgery

    Christopher Loiselle, DO

    • Hometown: Cumberland, RI
    • Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University-Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: Minimally Invasive Surgery, Oncology

    Peter Shafeek, MD

    • Hometown: East Brunswick, NJ
    • Medical School: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: Minimally Invasive Surgery, Plastic Surgery

    Junchao Zhang, MD

    • Hometown: Queens, NY
    • Medical School: Norton College of Medicine at Suny Upstate Medical University
    • Clinical Interests: Trauma Surgery, Vascular Surgery

    PGY-2

    Categorical

    Emily Adaniya, MD

    • Hometown: Carmel, Indiana
    • Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine

    Tyler Doan, MD

    • Hometown: Irvine, CA
    • Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE 

    Risa Kiernan, DO, MS

    • Hometown: Beacon Falls, CT
    • Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY

    Alekha Kolli, MD

    • Hometown: Basking Ridge, NJ
    • Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine

    Emily Kolodka, MD

    • Hometown: Verona, NJ
    • Medical School: Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

    Sivanna Shusterman, MD 

    • Hometown: Suffern, NY 
    • Medical School: New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY

    Grigor Stone Simitian, MD

    • Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
    • Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI

    Steven Lim, MBBS 

    • Hometown: Honolulu, HI and Singapore
    • Medical School: University of Adelaide Medical School (Australia)
    • Clinical Interests: Plastic Surgery, Thoracic Surgery

    Preliminary

    Bassel Bashjawish, MD

    • Hometown: Clifton, NJ
    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Clinical Interests: Surgical Oncology/Breast Surgery

    Oluwaseun Adeyemi, MD

    • Hometown: Ibadan, Nigeria
    • Medical School: Obafemi Aolowo University, Nigeria
    • Clinical Interests: Undecided

    Shannon Yoo, DO

    • Hometown: Portland, OR
    • Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME

    Emmeline Jia, MD

    • Hometown: Mahwah, NJ
    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

    Surgical Investigators

    Aidan Aicher, MD

    • Hometown: Long Island, NY
    • Medical School: Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY

    Jennifer Cillis, MD

    • Hometown: Voorheesville, NY
    • Medical School: New York Medical College

    Hellen Chiou, MD

    • Hometown: Carlsbad, New Mexico
    • Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern
    • Clinical Interests:

    Andrew Hu, MD

    • Hometown: Northfield, NJ
    • Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine

    Devon Kelley, MD

    • Hometown: Alameda, CA
    • Medical School: George Washington University School of Medicine

    Jenna Sulgi Lee, MD

    • Hometown: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

    Rachael Lowney, MD

    • Hometown: Bedford, NH
    • Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine

    Rachel Ann Sachs, MD

    • Hometown: Houston, Texas
    • Medical School: Thomas Jefferson University
    • Clinical Interests: Pediatric Surgery

    PGY3

    James Reese, MD

    • Hometown: Bedford, New Jersey
    • Medical School: Penn State University College of Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: Pediatric Surgery

    Ashley Toussaint, DO

    • Hometown: Syracuse, Utah
    • Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: Minimally Invasive Surgery

    Vijay Putatunda, MD

    • Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Clinical Interests: Transplant/HPB/ Surgical Oncology

    Russell Pepe, MD, MSCTS

    • Hometown: Scotch Plains, New Jersey
    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Clinical Interests: Cardiac Surgery

    Hussam Shwaib, MD

    • Hometown: Khartoum, Sudan
    • Medical School: University of Khartoum, Faculty of Medicine.
    • Clinical Interests: Colorectal Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Pediatric Surgery

    Dove Levine, MD

    • Hometown: West Hempstead, New York
    • Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: Cardiac Surgery
    • Lab Experience: Cardiac Surgery Research, Columbia University

    Shane Korah Mathew, MD

    • Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
    • Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
    • Clinical Interests: Trauma/Thoracic Surgery

    Sarayu Subramanian, MD

    • Hometown: Chennai, India
    • Medical School: Amrita School of Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: Colorectal Surgery

    PGY-4

    Jennie Choe, MD, MS

    • Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
    • Medical School: Yale School of Medicine
    • Lab Experience: Dr. Adusumilli, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
    • Clinical Interests: Surgical Oncology

    Ding Ding, MD

    • Hometown: Ningxia, China
    • Medical School: Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
    • Lab Experience: Surgical Oncology, Johns Hopkins Hospital
    • Clinical Interest: Thoracic surgery, Surgical Oncology

    John Dutton, MD

    • Hometown: Glenmoore, Pennsylvania
    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Lab Experience: Operation Smile, Global Surgery Fellow
    • Clinical Interests: Trauma Surgery/ Critical Care

    Stephanie Gregory, MD

    • Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
    • Medical School: The University of Toledo College of Medicine
    • Lab Experience: NIH Fellow
    • Clinical Interests: Surgical Oncology

    Vincent Hudson, MD

    • Hometown: West Chester, PA
    • Medical School: St. George's University
    • Lab Experience: Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida
    • Clinical Interests: Trauma

    Marin Kheng, MD

    • Hometown: Los Angeles, California
    • Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
    • Clinical Interests: Endocrine Surgery

    Hanna Labiner, MD

    • Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
    • Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
    • Lab Experience: Dr. Sims, The Ohio State University
    • Clinical Interests: Trauma Surgery

    Alexander Manzella, MD

    • Hometown: Buffalo, New York
    • Medical School: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
    • Lab Experience: Dr. Beninato, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Clinical Interests: Healthcare disparities, health policy

    PGY-5

    Fernando Arias, MD

    • Hometown: Barranquilla, Colombia
    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Lab Experience: Dr. Rabbani, New York University
    • Clinical Interests: Plastic Surgery

    Christopher Bargoud, MD

    • Hometown: Livingston, New Jersey
    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Lab Experience: Dr. Hanna, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Clinical Interests: Minimally Invasive Surgery

    Abhishek Desai, MD

    • Hometown: Potomac, Maryland
    • Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
    • Lab Experience: Dr. Fischer, University of Pennsylvania
    • Clinical Interests: Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery

    Priya Patel, MD, MPH

    • Hometown: Fords, New Jersey
    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Lab Experience: Dr. Scuermerhorn, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
    • Clinical Interests: Vascular Surgery

    Amanda Radisic, MD

    • Hometown: Audubon, Pennsylvania
    • Medical School: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
    • Lab Experience: Dr. Sakran, Johns Hopkins
    • Clinical Interests: Trauma Surgery/Critical Care

    Jacob Weston, MD

    • Hometown: Houston, Texas
    • Medical School: University of North Texas Health Science Center
    • Clinical Interests: Transplant Surgery

    Tyler York, MD

    • Hometown: Voorhees, NJ
    • Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - BH
    • Lab Experience: Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, University of California San Francisco
    • Clinical Interests: Transplant Surgery
  • We have international medical school graduates as categorical residents in our program.  However, due to increasing difficulty with visa issues we are unable to entertain applications from anyone requiring a visa.

  • Leonard Lee, MD
    Chair of Surgery, RWJMS
    Email: leele@rwjms.rutgers.edu

    Leonard Y. Lee, M.D. graduated from then UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden in 1992.  He completed his general surgery residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center, New York Medical College in 1997.  He served two years in the basic science lab of Todd Rosengart, M.D. and Ron Crystal, M.D. at New York Hospital – Cornell Medical Center focused on gene therapy research for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases culminating in an NHLBI sponsored human trial.  He then completed fellowship training in cardiothoracic surgery at New York Hospital – Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 2001.  For the next 10 years he served on the faculty at Cornell within the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery before being recruited for a one year stay at Hackensack University Medical Center, then ultimately Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, where he currently serves as the James W. Mackenzie, M.D. Professor and Chair for the Department of Surgery

    Personally, Dr Lee has maintained productivity in terms of education, research, and clinical responsibilities despite growing administrative demands and requirements.  Research efforts have continued, both clinical and basic, with over 200 published articles and abstracts as well as a recent ADA grant submission and RO1 and AHA grants currently in preparation for submission late 2019.   As a mentor and educator, He has received high reviews from students and residents alike.  Finally, Dr Lee remains one of the most productive clinicians in the school and hospital, personally performing 400 heart surgeries per year, generating 19,000 wRVU with an interest in minimally invasive valve surgery and thoracic aortic pathology.

    Nell Maloney Patel, MD
    Program Director, RWJMS General Surgery
    Email: malonene@rwjms.rutgers.edu

    Nell Maloney Patel is double board certified in both Colon and Rectal Surgery and General Surgery.   She is an expert in robotic and laparoscopic surgery and she is committed to offering minimally invasive approaches to patients whenever possible.  She is one of the only surgeons in New Jersey who offers incisonless surgery for early rectal cancers.  Her clinical research focuses on developing methods of minimizing the stresses of surgery on patients and improving patients experience with surgery and their disease outcomes. Her passion is surgical education and she serves as the Program Director for the General Surgery Residency at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She and her residents have presented nationally on the innovative educational curricula developed in our program at Rutgers.She feels strongly that surgeons are leaders in their communitites as well as in the hospital and believes that a residency program should teach both clinical excellence and leadership development. She is a strong advocate for women in Surgery and is the faculty mentor for the AWS chapter at RWJMS.

    Dr. Maloney Patel received her medical degree from State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine, and then completed her residency in General Surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. She then went on to receive additional subspecialty training in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the John H. Stroger Hospital for Cook County in Chicago, Il. She has been in practice in New Jersey at Rutgers since completing her fellowship in 2007. She is the current president of the NJ Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.  Dr. Maloney Patel has been included numerous times in lists of the "Top Doctors" in Colon and Rectal Surgery in the New Jersey Monthly magazine, (an award which recognizes the physicians that other physicians determine to be the best in their respective fields). She was also named a woman of excellence in Union County for her leadership and commitment to the community. She lives in Central NJ with her husband and her two terrific kids. She enjoys baking and tries to balance that with regular gym workouts.

    H. Richard Alexander, MD
    Chief Surgical Officer, CINJ
    Email: ha364@cinj.rutgers.edu

    I am a surgical oncologist, cancer researcher, and surgical educator who recently joined the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey as the Chief Surgical Officer; my new position at Rutgers has quickly become the highlight of my career for several reasons.  In particular is the opportunity to join a world-class organization and work with my new colleagues in the Gastrointestinal/Hepatobiliary Oncology Program to further build and expand the portfolio of treatment and clinical research options for patients who may benefit from the surgical treatment of complex, rare, or recurrent cancers. 

    My surgical career started as a medical officer in the US Navy where I served aboard both the USS Mt. Whitney (LCC-20) and the USS Midway (CV-41).  After that I completed a fellowship in surgical oncology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, I subsequently joined the Surgery Branch of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) where I eventually became a Deputy Director in the Center for Cancer Research.  At the NCI and during my subsequent tenure in the department of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, I led teams that developed internationally recognized clinical and research programs for patients with advanced primary, recurrent, or metastatic cancer. 

    I have focused my clinical and research efforts to define and expand the application of surgical resection for properly selected patients with recurrent or metastatic gastrointestinal cancers. Specifically, I have a particular interest defining the role of surgical treatment in patients with peritoneal surface metastases from peritoneal mesothelioma, appendiceal cancer, colorectal cancer, and other tumors.   

    Throughout my career my professional and academic successes have been built on a foundation of values that we all share in caring for our patients; compassion, communication, respect, teamwork, and a commitment to providing patients exceptional, thoughtful and timely surgical care in the context of a multidisciplinary treatment plan. To that end, I have always valued the partnerships that I have developed with other physicians who are invested in their patient’s cancer treatment.

    I am a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Surgical Association, the Society of Surgical Oncology, and an honorary member of the Royal College of Surgeons (Glasgow).  I have received numerous teaching awards and was the recipient of the National Institutes of Health Award of Merit in 2005.  I have served on the Executive Committee, Training Committee, and as chair of the Research Committee for the Society of Surgical Oncologists.  Next year I will complete my term as chair of the board for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.  I have published over 250 peer-reviewed articles and 50 book chapters and have lectured in 17 countries.  I currently serve on the editorial board of the journal, Surgery

    Toni Beninato, MD, MS, FACS
    Associate Professor of Surgery, RWJMS

    Dr. Toni Beninato is an endocrine surgeon at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and an Associate Professor of Surgery at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Beninato treats benign and malignant tumors of the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands. She attended New York University and earned her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Society. She then completed internship and residency at New York Presbyterian - Weill Cornell Medical Center, dedicating two years to performing endocrine oncology research. She then completed a fellowship in endocrine surgery at the University of California, San Francisco. She has published over 70 peer-reviewed articles, written several book chapters, and given multiple national and international presentations in the field of endocrine surgery. She is a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, the American Thyroid Association, the Association for Academic Surgery and the Association of Women Surgeons. She has a Masters of Science in Health Policy and Economics from Graduate School of Medical Sciences at Cornell University.  Her research focuses on healthcare disparities and access to care in patients with endocrine malignancies, particularly in those who are uninsured or underinsured.

    Advaith Bongu, MD
    Email: advaith.bongu@rutgers.edu

    Advaith Bongu is an ASTS fellowship trained transplant surgeon who is also board certified in general surgery.  At RWJ he specializes in kidney and pancreas transplantation, but also deals with the complex general surgical and vascular issues that arise in our transplant patient population.  Advaith is a local product having grown up in Jersey-graduating from Rutgers University here in New Brunswick and furthering his education at Rutgers-NJMS for his medical school and surgical training.  He spent two additional years in a transplant lab working on clinical trials related to organ donor management.   He then completed his fellowship in Abdominal Organ Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery at Columbia/New York Presbyterian and joined the faculty here in 2018.  He has won many teaching awards and remains very committed to resident education.  His passions include international surgery, and of note has a mean crossover.  His current areas of research focus on tech and transplant.

    Jenny Cai, MD
    Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Acute Care Surgery
    Email: jencai@rwjms.rutgers.edu

    Jenny Cai, M.D., is an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Acute Care Surgery at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She is a product of a through and through Rutgers education, obtaining a bachelor degree in Genetics from Rutgers University and her medical degree here at RWJ. She completed her general Surgery Residency at Mt Sinai- St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in New York and Fellowship in Acute Care Surgery at East Carolina University. Dr. Cai holds board certifications in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care. She is heavily involved in medical student and resident education. Areas of interest include surgical education, simulation and emergency general surgery. She is an active member of the American College of Surgeons, Easten Association for Surgery of Trauma and the Society of Critical Care Medicine.  

    Gregory Greco, DO, FACS
    Email: Gregory.Greco@rwjbh.org

    Dr. Gregory A. Greco is a dual board-certified plastic surgeon. He is a Diplomate of the both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.  Dr. Greco is the Chairman of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Rutgers-Monmouth Medical Center and is in private plastic surgery practice with offices in Red Bank, New Jersey and New York City since 2002. He specializes in full body cosmetic surgery and breast reconstruction. 

    Dr. Greco’s academic appointments include: General Surgery Residency Program Director at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health-Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch,NJ and he serves as the assistant Program Director of the Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson General Surgery residency program located in New Brunswick, NJ . Dr. Greco is a Clinical Assistant professor of surgery at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Drexel University School of Medicine. He serves as a member of the Monmouth Medical Center Foundation Board of Trustees.  

    Dr. Greco is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). He is on the on the Board of Directors of ASPS and currently serves as the Board Vice President of Health Policy and Advocacy. In November of 2021 he will begin his term as President-Elect of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.  Dr. Greco is a member and past President of the New Jersey Society of Plastic Surgeons. He is a member of the Board of trustees for The Visiting Nurse Association Health Care Group-Personal Care Board and the Tigger House Foundation, an organization committed to eradicating opioid addiction.   

    Dr. Greco is a graduate of Adelphi University and received his medical degree from The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. After completing his five-year general surgery training at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ, he went on to complete a three-year plastic surgery residency at The University of Illinois at Chicago. 

    Dr. Greco grew up in Long Island, NY, is married and resides at both the Jersey Shore and Manhattan. 

    Tomer Davidov, MD
    Email: tdavidov@gmail.com

    Dr. Tomer Davidov is a general and endocrine surgeon.  He grew up in New York City, completed college and medical school at Boston University and Boston University School of Medicine, surgical residency at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, including his chief residency year in 2006, and a year of surgical transplant fellowship training at Columbia University - Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.  He was recruited back to the Department of Surgery at Rutgers-RWJMS where he spent his first 11 years in academic practice as a general and endocrine surgeon, with a focus on thyroid surgery, parathyroid surgery, as well as complex hernia surgery and abdominal wall reconstruction.  He is a well published in the area of thyroid surgery has presented his work at many national meetings.  Some of his publications are now referenced in the latest American Thyroid Association practice guidelines.  He is also credited with describing a rare thyroid tumor, CNNETT (calcitonin negative neuroendocrine tumor of the thyroid).  He is a member of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, member of the American Hernia Society, diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.  He has also reviewed manuscripts for the Annals of Surgery and Journal of Surgical Research and is a grant reviewer for the National Science Foundation’s innovation grant program.  Dr. Davidov was recruited to Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center to grow the endocrine surgery program last year.  He looks forward to working with many of you.

    Mariam Eskander, MD, MPH
    Assistant Professor of Surgery, RWJMS

    Dr. Mariam Eskander is a board-certified surgical oncologist. She treats patients with gastrointestinal malignancies and has a special interest in hepatobiliary and robotic surgery. After graduating from Chicago Medical School, she completed general surgery residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. She did her complex general surgery oncology fellowship at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and James Cancer Hospital in Columbus. She has a Master's degree in public health from Harvard. Her research focuses on achieving equitable health outcomes for vulnerable patient populations. She is passionate about increasing racial and socioeconomic diversity in clinical trials. She enjoys helping trainees learn the skills necessary to perform high quality health services research that guides interventions to address health disparities. 

    She lives in central NJ with her husband and two sons. She enjoys eating, swimming, yoga, and drawing cartoons. 

    Joseph Hanna, MD, PhD
    Email: jh1091@rwjms.rutgers.edu

    Dr. Joseph Hanna is an Acute Care Surgeon board certified in General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care and certified in Hyperbaric Medicine.  Clinical areas of expertise include the management of intra-abdominal sepsis, necrotizing pancreatitis, application of damage control concepts in emergency general surgery, and complex abdominal wall reconstruction.  His research interests include academic global surgery and surgical system science, surgical quality, and topics in emergency and trauma surgery.  In addition to being an accomplished researcher, he has served as an advisor to the Colombian Ministry of Health and is internationally recognized for his work in academic global surgery.

    At Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Dr. Hanna serves as Associate Director of SOA Quality Improvement in the RBHS Office of the Chancellor.  He is clinically active on the trauma, emergency general surgery, surgical critical care and cardiac surgical critical care services and has an active role in the education of the medical students, residents and fellows.

    Dr. Hanna received his PhD in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University and his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine where he was inducted into AOA.  He subsequently completed his residency and fellowship training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA.  Since completing his training in 2013, he has been in practice at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson.  He lives in Northern New Jersey with his wife and two wonderful daughters.  He enjoys hiking and camping with his girls, and is an avid photographer, a passion which he shares with his oldest daughter.

    Lawrence Jordan, MD

     

    Dr. Lawrence J. Jordan, a son of physicians, was born in Philadelphia and raised in Philadelphia and Abington, Pennsylvania. He graduated with honors from Abington High School in l975 and completed his Bachelor of Science degree, with distinction, from Cornell University, College of Engineering, in l979. Dr. Jordan moved to New York City where he earned his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in l983, and completed his surgical residency at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City in l988.

    Upon completion of his surgical residency, Dr. Jordan became an attending physician at the Medical Center at Princeton and a Clinical Instructor of Surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Jordan became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons in l991 and is board certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery. He is also a member of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons and the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

    Dr. Jordan specializes in general, oncologic, laparoscopic, and endoscopic surgical procedures. This includes laparoscopic hernia repairs using modern mesh techniques, component separation techniques, and laparoscopic hiatal hernia repairs. Laparoscopic colon surgery was introduced to Princeton in the 1990’s by Dr. Jordan in conjunction with Dr. Davison. In addition to doing endoscopic polypectomies and balloon dilitation of colon strictures, he also frequently treats diverticulitis and colon cancers with modern laparoscopic operations that shorten recovery time and involve minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Jordan also contributes his time to many cancer awareness programs.

    Gurdeep Matharoo, MD
    Email: Gurdeep.Matharoo@rwjbh.org

    Dr. Matharoo completed his residency at Monmouth Medical Center in 2013.  He went on to complete an Advanced Gastrointestinal and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship at Staten Island University Hospital in 2014.  He returned to attending practice in Monmouth County New Jersey and has been an active educator in the program since.  He has been the Assistant Program Director of the General Surgery Program and Medical Student Clerkship Director since 2016. 

    Mayur Narayan, MD, MPH, MBA, MHPE, FACS
    Chief, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Professor of Surgery, RWJMS

    Dr. Narayan is Professor of Surgery, Chief of the Division of Acute Care Surgery, and Trauma Medical Director at Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He is also the Program Director of the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship and Director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

    Before joining Robert Wood Johnson, Dr. Narayan served as Associate Professor of Surgery, Program Director of the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship and Director of the Skills Acquisition and Innovation Laboratory for the Department of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine/New York Presbyterian. Prior to his tenure at Weill Cornell, Dr. Narayan was an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center where he served as Chief of Acute Care Surgery, the Chief of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and Associate Program Director for the General Surgery Residency Program. He started his academic career as Assistant Professor of Surgery at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland where he founded and served as Medical Director for the Center of Injury Prevention & Policy.

    He was also the Associate Director of the Division of Medical Education and Founding Course Director for two courses, the Humanism Symposium, and the Surgical Boot Camp. Dr. Narayan received a B.S. (Biology) from Old Dominion University and his M.D. from the Eastern Virginia Medical School as a member of the highly competitive joint BS/MD program. He stayed on to complete his internship and general surgery residency at EVMS. Dr. Narayan went onto to the University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center for his fellowship in Surgical Critical Care. He completed a second fellowship year in Traumatology while simultaneously completing a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Master of Business Administration from the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. He then completed a Master of Science in Health Professions Education from Harvard University and the MGH Institute of Health Professions.

    Dr. Narayan is a recognized expert in trauma care and surgical education. He has been an invited international lecturer in trauma, surgical education, and injury prevention. Additionally, he serves as Visiting International Faculty for Trauma at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, the King George Medical College and Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute in Lucknow, India, as well as the Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2011 Leonard Tow Humanism Award awarded by the Gold Humanism Honor Society and Arnold P. Gold Foundation. In 2012, the Arnold P. Gold Foundation awarded him the prestigious Gold Doctor, a national award given to those "working to keep the care in healthcare”. In addition, Dr. Narayan has been awarded the highly coveted Golden Apple Teaching Award for Best Clinical Faculty by the American Medical Student Association in both 2012 and 2013. In 2013 and 2014, Dr. Narayan's led Center for Injury Prevention & Policy was awarded a Senatorial Award from US Senator Barbara Mikulski, D- MD for positively impacting the lives of troubled youth in Maryland. In 2014, Dr. Narayan was Visiting Professor for the White House Medical Unit. In 2018, he was nominated for the National Compassionate Care the Year Award from the Schwartz Center. At Weill Cornell Medicine, Dr. Narayan was awarded the Senior List Award for outstanding education of medical students in 2020 as well as the General Surgery Teaching All-Star Award in 2021. In 2018, he was inducted as an Associate Member into the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators, as part of the inaugural class of 91 surgeons globally.

    Dr. Narayan has made significant contributions in education at Weill Cornell. He is a mentor to many learners from varying backgrounds at all levels from high school to fellowship. He serves as an advisor to several Weill Cornell Medicine student groups, including the Injury Prevention and Response Group as well as the Student National Medical Association to promote access to medical education for underrepresented minorities. He has been appointed as a Longitudinal Advisor for medical students. He has been appointed by the Dean’s office to the Teacher Learner Committee, tasked to preserve the educational environment during both preclinical and clinical years at Weill Cornell Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Narayan has created the Multi- Disciplinary Critical Care Fellows Conference as well as the Critical Care Fellow’s Surgical Nutrition Curriculum and had led faculty development modules for the medical school on feedback. Academically, Dr. Narayan has 55 peer-reviewed publications, 15 textbook chapters, and 294 international, national, and local/institutional presentations.

    He has been a funded investigator having received several extra-mural grants as PI including one from the U.S. Air Force. Air Force Materiel Command (USAF/AFMC) for approximately $200K for his work on Hydrophobically-Modified Chitosan Gauze for Control of Massive Hemorrhage and most recently from Pfizer Global Grants for $100K to study Antibiotic Stewardship in 5 Hospitals in India. In addition to his clinical area of focus of hemorrhage control and surgical infections, Dr. Narayan has made a strong commitment to advancing surgical education and global health. He serves as a journal reviewer for the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, MedEd Portal, the American Journal of Surgery, the Journal of Surgical Research, and the Journal of Surgical Education. He serves on the Editorial Board for SCORE Surgical Critical Care, the textbook of Intensive Care for the Acute Care Surgeon, the textbook of First Responder’s Manual of Prehospital Trauma Care, and the textbook of Comprehensive Textbook of Surgery, 2nd Edition. He is also the current editor of the 4th edition of the Trauma Evaluation and Management (TEAM) Course of the ACS Committee on Trauma. Dr. Narayan is active in national and international societies. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), the American College of Critical Care Medicine (FCCM), the International College of Surgeons (FICS) and the Asian Collaborative on Trauma (FACT) and Fellow of the American College of Academic International Medicine (FAIM). He is a member of the American College of Academic International Medicine (ACAIM), the Association of Academic Surgery (AAS), the Association for Surgical Education (ASE), the Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS), the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST), the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST), the International College of Surgeons (ICS), the Surgical Infection Society (SIS), the Society of Black Academic Surgeons (SBAS), the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SSCM), the L.D. Britt Surgical Society, the Indian American Surgical Association, and several other organizations.

    Dr. Narayan holds several regional and national leadership positions. He is currently Chair of the Education Committee of the Surgical Critical Care Program Directors Society; Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee of the Surgical Infection Society; Vice-Chair of the Awards Committee and Past Chair of the Committee on Social Responsibility for the Association of Surgical Education. He is a Past-President of the LD Britt Surgical Society. He serves as Chair of the American College of Surgeons Simulation Return on Investment Work Group; President of the American College of Academic International Medicine; one of five members of the National Steering Committee of the ACS/ASE Medical Student Simulation-Based Surgical Skills Curriculum; Editor for the SCORE curriculum for Surgical Critical Care; and Vice-President of the International College of Surgeons. Dr. Narayan has been elected to serve on the Senior Educatory Advisory Board (SEAB) for the ACS Committee on Trauma and serves as a National Educator for Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS). He was appointed to the ACS National Committee on Trauma in 2021. In addition, Dr. Narayan serves as an Oral Board Examiner for the American Board of Surgery (ABS) as well as an exam question writer for the ABS Surgical Critical Care Exam. He is also a core member of the American Board of Surgery Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA) Writing Group to revise the five initial EPAs. Dr. Narayan has most recently been asked to serve on the ACS Senior Resident Readiness Assessment (SRRA) Committee to help develop a program that will assess the decision-making skills of senior level surgical trainees.

    Arunachalam Thenappan, MD
    Assistant Professor of Surgery, RWJMS

    Dr. Arunachalam Thenappan is a triple board certified in Pediatric Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, and General Surgery.  He is an expert in open and minimally invasive surgery for children and has particular interest in minimally invasive hernia repair and chest wall abnormalities.  He is passionate about surgical education and the adoption of protocols and guidelines in surgical care.  He also serves as a mentor to surgical residents, especially those interested in pursuing a career in pediatric surgery.

    Dr. Thenappan received his medical degree from the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and then completed his general surgery training at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital where he also pursued a two-year research fellowship.  Following residency, he completed a Surgical Critical Care fellowship at the University of Michigan, followed by a Pediatric Surgery fellowship at NYP/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York.  He joined the faculty here at Rutgers RWJMS in 2021.  In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and is an ardent tennis player.

    Susannah Wise, MD
    Associate Program Director, RWJMS General Surgery
    Email: ssw1x@rwjms.rutgers.edu

    I have been a practicing general and laparoscopic surgeon at Rutgers Medical School since 2003.   My clinical interests include minimally invasive surgery with an ever growing focus on foregut surgery and esophageal disease.  In addition to being clinically active with patient care, I really enjoy working with residents and students to teach surgical techniques, medical knowledge and communication skills. I have been the associate residency program director for surgery since 2015.  Watching residents grow into surgeons is a fantastic part of being at this institution. 

    In high school, I moved to Princeton, New Jersey.  I spent my college years at the University of Pennsylvania studying biochemistry as a major and business management and fine arts as minors.  I attended New Jersey Medical School.  My surgical residency was at Brown University.  My strong ties to the area brought me back to the New Jersey.  

    When I am not at the hospital, I am usually riding horses, travelling with my son, or doing something either active or creative. 

  • 2024 Graduates

    Joshua Chao, MD

    • Hometown: Los Angeles, California
    • Medical School: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
    • Lab Experience: Dr. Leonard Lee, RWJMS
    • Clinical Interests: Cardiac Surgery
    • Fellowship: Endocrine Surgery, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

    Praveen Chatani, MD

    • Hometown: Montego Bay, Jamaica
    • Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
    • Lab Experience: Dr. Rosenberg, NIH Fellow
    • Clinical Interests: Surgical Oncology
    • Fellowship: Surgical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA

    Stephen Iacono, MD, MPH

    • Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
    • Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
    • Lab Experience: Dr. Krumrei, RWJMS
    • Clinical Interests: Trauma Surgery/ Critical Care
    • Fellowship: Trauma Surgery, University of Maryland Shock Trauma, Baltimore, MD

    Alexander Rossi, MD

    • Hometown: Scotchtown, New York
    • Medical School: Penn State University College of Medicine
    • Lab Experience: Dr. Hernandez, NIH Fellow
    • Clinical Interests: Surgical Oncology
    • Fellowship: Colorectal Surgery, Oschner Clinic, New Orleans, LA

    Brianna Truché, MD

    • Hometown: San Diego California
    • Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine
    • Lab Experience: Drs. Kim/Demehri, Boston Children’s Hospital/ Harvard
    • Clinical Interests: Plastic Surgery
    • Fellowship: Complex Abdominal Wall Reconstruction, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio

    Paul Truché, MD, MPH

    • Hometown: Cranford New Jersey
    • Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Lab Experience: Program in Global Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital/ Harvard
    • Clinical Interests: Pediatric/Thoracic Surgery
    • Fellowship: Pediatric Surgery, McGill, Montreal, Quebec

    2023 Graduates

    Jigesh Baxi, MD

    • Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
    • Fellowship: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD

    Louis Chai, MD

    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Fellowship: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

    Laurence Diggs, MD

    • Medical School: St.George University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Complex General Surgical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center,  Houston, TX

    Olanrewaju Adebola Eletta, MD

    • Medical School: University of Ilorin College of Health Sciences
    • Fellowship: Transplant , University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

    Omar Elfanagely, MD

    • Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
    • Fellowship: Plastic Surgery University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

    Lindsay Volk, MD

    • Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Fellowship: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Texas Heart Institute/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

    2022 Graduates

    Anthony Azzolini, MD

    • Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Fellowship: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY

    Karan Grover, MD, PharmD

    • Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
    • Fellowship: Bariatrics, University Hospital Case Western, Cleveland, OH

    Sivaveera Kandasamy, MD

    • Medical School: Sri Ramachandra Medical College
    • Fellowship: Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD

    Michael Scott, MD

    • Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Colorectal Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University

    David Walls, MD, MPH

    • Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
    • Fellowship: Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Medstar Georgetown University, Washington, DC

    David You, MD, PhD

    • Medical School: Albany Medical College
    • Fellowship: MIS/Bariatrics, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY

    2020-2021

    Rachel NeMoyer, MD, MPH,

    • Medical School: University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
    • Fellowship: The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH (Cardiothoracic Surgery)

    Saeed Tarabichi, MD,

    • Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Rutgers Newark Beth Israel, NJ (Cardiothoracic Surgery) 

    Ashley Newman, MD, 

    • Medical School: State University of New York Upstate Medical University
    • Fellowship: Brigham and Women's - Dana Farber Cancer Institute, MA (Breast Surgery)

    Monica Chow, MD,

    • Medical School: UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Fellowship: Nicklaus Children’s Hospital (Pediatric Surgery)

    Sharon Lawrence, MD,

    • Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
    • Fellowship: T32 Research Fellowship at Duke University

    2019-2020

    Zachary Brown, DO,

    • Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Fellowship: The Ohio State, Columbus, OH (Surgical Oncology)

    William Burns, MD,

    • Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD (Trauma/Critical Care)

    Milind Kachare, MD, 

    • Medical School: University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
    • Fellowship: University of Louisville, KY (Plastic Surgery)

    Michael Lee, MD,

    • Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Brigham and Women’s Hospital Boston, MA (Cardiothoracic Surgery)

    Yaqeen Qudah, MD,

    • Medical School: University of Jordan Faculty of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic, Abhu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates (Research Fellowship)

    2018-2019

    • Luiz Araujo, M.D., Vascular Surgery, University of Maryland
    • Kristen Donohue, M.D., Colorectal Surgery, Lahey Hospital and Medical Center
    • Felecia Jinwala, M.D., Vascular Surgery, University of Maryland
    • Keith King, M.D., Minimally Invasive Surgery/Bariatric, St Lukes Health Network
    • Arianne Rayner, M.D., Surgical Critical Care, University of Rochester
    • Gian-Paul Vidal, M.D., Private Practice 

    2017-2018

    • Jessica Crystal, M.D., Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Complex General Surgical Oncology
    • June Hsu, M.D., M.P.H., St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, Colon & Rectal Surgery
    • Eyone Jones, M.D., Connecticut Childrens Medical Center, Pediatric Surgery Research
    • Brianne Mitchell, M.D., Los Angeles County of Southern California Medical Center, Plastic Surgery
    • Heather Feld Portaro, M.D., Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Breast Surgery
    • Osvaldo Zumba, M.D., Hackensack University Medical Center, Minimally Invasive Surgery-Robotics

    2016-2017

    • Renee Arlow, M.D., University of Pennsylvania, Breast Surgery
    • Darnell Brown, M.D., M.P.H., Brigham & Women's Hospital, Burn Care
    • Christina Cheng, M.D., Swedish Hospital, Colon & Rectal Surgery
    • Michelle DeLeon, M.D., Cleveland Clinic, Colon & Rectal Surgery
    • Madonna Lee, M.D., Ohio State University Medical Center, Thoracic Surgery
    • Siavash Saadat, M.D., Tufts Medical Center, Thoracic Surgery

    2015-2016

    • Dena Arumugam, M.D., Winthrop University Hospital, Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Oliver Eng, M.D., City of Hope National Medical Center, Surgical Oncology
    • Scott B. Grant, M.D., M.B.E., University of Chicago, Endocrine Surgery
    • Joshua Honeyman, M.D., University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pediatric Surgery
    • Vasileios Kostaras, M.D., Lankenau Medical Center, Colon & Rectal Surgery
    • Sumana Narayanan, M.D., Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Surgical Oncology

    2015-2014

    • Lalithapriya Jayakumar, M.D., Cooper University Hospital, Vascular Surgery
    • Sharita Nagaraj, M.D., Community Care Physicians – St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany, General Surgery
    • E. Marisol Pichardo,M.D., Oregon Health & Sciences University, Hepatobiliary Surgery
    • Lindsay Potdevin, M.D., MedStar Georgetown University Medical Center, Breast Surgery
    • Surupa Sen Gupta, M.D., MedStar Georgetown University Medical Center, Breast Surgery
    • Jessica Zaman, M.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Minimally Invasive & Bariatric Surgery

    2013-2014

    • Tara Balija, M.D. Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Breast Surgery
    • Irina Bernescu, M.D. Spectrum Health, Colon & Rectal Surgery
    • Victoriya Chernyavsky, M.D. Dalhousie University/Halifax, Pediatric Surgery
    • Timothy Danish, M.D. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Thoracic Surgery
    • Tristen Park, M.D. National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, NIH, Surgical Research
    • Joseph Terlizzi, M.D. Jefferson Medical College, Colon & Rectal Surgery

    2012-2013

    • Omotinuwe Ife Adepoju, M.D. The University of Minnesota Medical Center, Plastic Surgery
    • Chun Choi, M.D. UCLA Medical Center, Thoracic Surgery
    • Douglas Fraser, M.D. University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, Surgical Critical Care - Trauma/Burns
    • Negar Salehomoum, M.D. Cleveland Clinic Florida, Colon & Rectal Surgery
    • Beth-Ann Shanker, M.D. Colon and Rectal Clinic of Orlando, Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Soo Youn Yi, M.D. Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Transplant Surgery

    2011-2012

    • John Affuso, M.D. Temple University Hospital, Inc., Vascular Surgery
    • Nora Cheung, M.D. The University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers, Surgical Critical Care
    • Georg Herlitz, M.D., J.D. Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Surgical Critical Care
    • C. Aitor Macias, M.D., M.P.H. UC San Diego Health System, Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Deepak Malhotra, M.D. USC University Hospital, Thoracic Surgery
    • Ali Raza, M.D. Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Surgical Oncology

    2010-2011

    • Geoffrey Young, M.D. Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Head & Neck Surgery
    • Terrence Curran, M.D. Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of the UPMC Health System, Critical Care
    • Aaron Bergsman, M.D. Carolinas Medical Center, Novant Health/Presbyterian Health, General Surgery
    • Roldolfo Pigalarga, M.D. Orlando Regional Healthcare System, Colon & Rectal Surgery
    • Steven Watson, M.D. Hartford Hospital, Hand Surgery
    • Kimberly Suri, M.D. Breast Surgery

    2009-2010

    • Brian Ang, M.D. Oregon Health & Science University/Portland, Plastic Surgery
    • Colin Failey, M.D. Methodist Hospital/Houston, Plastic Surgery
    • Badar Jan, M.D. Memorial Hermann Hospital/Houston, Plastic Surgery
    • Melissa Hayward, M.D. University of Michigan Hospitals & Health Centers, Surgical Critical Care
    • Dana Yip, M.D. Massachusetts General Hospital/Boston, Endocrine Surgery
    • Maithao Le, M.D., Ph.D. City of Hope Medical Center, Surgical Oncology

    2008-2009

    • Sonia Alvarez, M.D. University of Tennessee/Memphis, Plastic Surgery
    • Cristan Anderson, M.D. Penobscot Bay Medical Center, General Surgery
    • Eric Chang, M.D. David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Plastic Surgery
    • Arthur Desrosiers, M.D. University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Hand Surgery
    • Shicha Kumar, M.D. Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center, Breast Surgery
    • Arash Mohebati, M.D. Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center, Head and Neck Surgery

    2007-2008

    • Susan Bahl, M.D. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Breast Surgery
    • Eric Balaguer, M.D. Jackson Memorial Hospital, Hand Surgery
    • Daniel Bowers, M.D. Stroger Hospital, Colon & Rectal Surgery
    • Partha Ray, M.D. John Wayne Cancer Institute, Surgical Oncology
    • Keila Torres, M.D. University of Texas, Anderson Cancer Center, Oncology
    • Mark Tousignant, M.D. Chelsea Clinic, William H. Backus Hospital, General Surgery

    2006-2007

    • David M. Cohan, M.D. Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Head and Neck Surgery
    • Mark S. Flanagan, M.D. Great Plains Clinic PC, General Surgery
    • Benjamin A. Hagendorf, M.D. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Fetal Surgery
    • Nicole Kounalakis, M.D. City of Hope, Surgical Oncology
    • Jacob Moalem, M.D. University of California-San Francisco, Endocrine Surgery

    2005-2006

    • Tomer Davidov, M.D. NY Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, Transplant Surgery
    • Seth M. Kipnis, M.D. Penn State/Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Minimal Invasive/General Surgery
    • Way Fung Lee, M.D. NY Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, Minimal Invasive/General Surgery
    • Scott J. Mellender, M.D. RUTGERS Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Anesthesiology
    • Wilson S. Tsai, M.D. University of Pittsburg Medical Center, Cardiothoracic Surgery
    • Craig L. Zaretsky, M.D. Virtua Health, General Surgery

    2004-2005

    • Edwin A. Empaynado, M.D. Lehigh Valley Hospital, Colorectal Surgery
    • Daphne P. Ly, M.D. Stanford University, Surgical Research
    • Tushar R. Patel, M.D. UT – Houston, Plastic Surgery
    • Roberto Rodriguez, M.D. Beth Israel – Deaconess, Cardiothoracic Surgery
    • Meredith S. Tinti, M.D. Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Surgical Critical Care
    • John Y. Um, M.D. UCSF – University of California, Cardiothoracic Surgery

    2003-2004

    • John J. Cascone, M.D. South Georgia Surgical Associates, General Surgery
    • Sae Hahm, M.D. Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Vascular Surgery
    • Ziad G. Hanhan, M.D. University of Illinois at Chicago, Cardiothoracic Surgery
    • Bruno Molino, M.D. University of Pennsylvania, Trauma/Critical Care
    • Eduardo Smith Singares, M.D. SUNY-Stony Brook University Hospital, Surgical Critical Care

    2002-2003

    • Louis C. Blaum, III, M.D. University of Southern Florida/Tampa, Plastic Surgery
    • Susan S. Chang, M.D. John Wayne Cancer Institute, Breast Surgery
    • Michael J. Lazar, M.D. Penn State/Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Cardiothoracic Surgery
    • Philip C. Ovadia, M.D. Tufts-New England Medical Center, Cardiothoracic Surgery
    • Cesar E. Sanz, M.D. UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Colorectal Surgery
    • Kenneth A. Widom, M.D. University of Maryland, Surgical Critical Care/Trauma Surgery

    2001-2002

    • George P. Batsides, M.D., Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Cardiothoracic Surgery
    • Anson Li, M.D. East Carolina Surgical Associates, General Surgery
    • Kepal N. Patel, M.D. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Head & Neck Oncologic Surgery
    • Vishnu K. Rumalla, M.D. Indiana University, Plastic Surgery
    • Todd R. Vogel, M.D., Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Vascular Surgery

    2000-2001

    • Carolyn De La Cruz, M.D. University of Miami School of Medicine, Plastic Surgery
    • William Franckle, M.D. UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/Camden, Plastic Surgery
    • Mark Huang, M.D. University of California at Davis Medical Center, Cardiothoracic Surgery
    • Steven Kim, M.D. U.S. Air Force, General Surgery
    • Simrat Randhawa, M.D. UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and St. Peter’s University Hospital, Trauma/General Surgery
    • Craig Rezac, M.D. Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Colorectal Surgery

    1999-2000

    • Dominick Eboli, M.D. Capital Health Systems, General Surgery
    • Jeffrey Horowitz, M.D. Medical College of Georgia, Plastic Surgery
    • Richard Leone, JR., M.D., Ph.D. NY Presbyterian Hospital/Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Cardiothoracic Surgery
    • Peter Segurola, M.D. University of Miami School of Medicine, Trauma Surgery
    • Michaela Straznicka, M.D. University of California at Davis Medical Center, Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Anthony Azzolini, MD

    • Hometown: Rutherford, New Jersey
    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Fellowship: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

    Karan Grover, MD, PharmD

    • Hometown: Freehold, New Jersey
    • Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
    • Fellowship: Minimally Invasive Bariatric Forgut Surgery, University Hospitals Case Western, Cleveland, OH

    Sivaveera Kandasamy, MD

    • Hometown: San Jose, California
    • Medical School: Sri Ramachandra Medical College
    • Fellowship: Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD

    Michael Scott, MD

    • Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan
    • Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Colorectal Surgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University

    David Walls, MD, MPH

    • Hometown: Avon, Connecticut
    • Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
    • Fellowship: Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Medstar Georgetown University, Washington, DC

    David You, MD, PhD

    • Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
    • Medical School: Albany Medical College
    • Fellowship: MIS/Bariatrics, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY

    Class of 2023 Graduates Fellowships

    Jigesh Baxi, MD

    • Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
    • Fellowship: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD

    Louis Chai, MD

    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Fellowship: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

    Laurence Diggs, MD

    • Medical School: St.George University School of Medicine
    • Fellowship: Complex General Surgical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

    Olanrewaju Adebola Eletta, MD

    • Medical School: University of Ilorin College of Health Sciences
    • Fellowship: Transplant , University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

    Omar Elfanagely, MD

    • Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
    • Fellowship: Plastic Surgery University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

    Lindsay Volk, MD

    • Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
    • Fellowship: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Texas Heart Institute/Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
  • Accepted Presentations 2022-2023

    Meeting: SAGES 2023: Montreal, Canada
    Title: ROUX-EN-Y GASTRIC BYPASS IN NON-BARIATRIC PATIENTS WITH REFRACTORY GERD
    Authors: A Aicher, MD; N Devas; K Spaniolas, MD; A Pryor, MD
    Presenting Author: Aidan Aicher, MD

    Meeting: ACS COT (Local) 2022, New Brunswick, NJ
    Title: "UTILITY OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY RECONSTRUCTED THORACOLUMBAR SPINAL IMAGING IN BLUNT TRAUMA"
    Authors: Chris Amro, MD, Abhishek Swarup, MD, Alexander Cong, BS, John Park, BS,
    Rachel L. Choron, MD FACS, Christopher Butts, PhD DO FACOS FACS, Julie Goswami, MD,
    Amanda L. Teichman, MD FACS
    Presenting Author: Chris Amro, MD

    Meeting: ACS COT (Regional) 2022, Buffalo, NY
    Title: "UTILITY OF COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY RECONSTRUCTED THORACOLUMBAR SPINAL IMAGING IN BLUNT TRAUMA"
    Authors: Chris Amro, MD, Abhishek Swarup, MD, Alexander Cong, BS, John Park, BS,
    Rachel L. Choron, MD FACS, Christopher Butts, PhD DO FACOS FACS, Julie Goswami, MD,
    Amanda L. Teichman, MD FACS
    Presenting Author: Chris Amro, MD

    Meeting: SESC 2022, Atlanta GA
    Title: “NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER CAUSING ATRAUMATIC SPLENIC RUPTURE WITHOUT SPLENIC METASTASIS”
    Authors: Chris Amro MD, Russell Pepe MD, Akshat Parekh MD, Christopher Butts PhD/DO
    Presenting Author: Chris Amro, MD

    Meeting: SESC 2022, Atlanta GA
    Title: “TRAUMATIC POPLITEAL ARTERY OCCLUSION FOLLOWING LOWER EXTREMITY CRUSH INJURY PRESENTING WITH ISOLATED PATELLAR DISLOCATION”
    Authors: Chris Amro MD, Akshat Parekh MD, Keith Diamond MD, Matthew Lissauer MD,
    Christopher Butts PhD/DO
    Presenting Author: Chris Amro, MD

    Meeting: ACAPS 2023, New Orleans LA
    Title: "An Update on the Independent Plastic Surgery Match: Recent Trends and Predictors of a Successful Match (2019-2022)"
    Authors: Chris Amro MD, J. Reed McGraw BS, Robyn Broach PhD, Stephen J. Kovach MD,
    Joseph M. Serletti MD, Jeffrey E. Janis MD, Saïd C. Azoury, MD
    Presenting Author: Chris Amro, MD

    Meeting: PSRC 2023, Cleveland OH
    Title: "An Update on the Independent Plastic Surgery Match: Recent Trends and Predictors of a Successful Match (2019-2022)"
    Authors: Chris Amro MD, J. Reed McGraw BS, Robyn Broach PhD, Stephen J. Kovach MD,
    Joseph M. Serletti MD, Jeffrey E. Janis MD, Saïd C. Azoury, MD.
    Presenting Author: Chris Amro, MD

    Accepted Presentations 2021-2022

    Meeting: SESC 2021, Atlanta GA
    Title: “Follicular Cholecystitis: What a General Surgeon Should Know”
    Authors: Fernando D. Arias MD, Zachary J. Brown DO, Gina Prochilo DO, Christopher Butts PhD/DO, Jennifer To DO
    Presenting Author: Fernando Arias, MD

    Meeting: SAGES 2021, Las Vegas NV
    Title: “Resident Caseload and Operative Volume in the Time of Coronavirus”
    Authors: Stephen A. Iacono MD MPH, Rachel E. Nemoyer MD MPH, Michael T. Scott MD, MPH, Nell Maloney Patel, MD, Stanley Trooskin MD
    Presenting Author: Stephen Iacono, MD

    Meeting: ECTSS 2021 Palm Beach FL
    Title: “Rare Case of Survival after Left Ventricular Traumatic Laceration due to Pseudoaneurysm”
    Authors: Krish C. Dewan, Lindsay Volk, Antonio Chiricolo, Mark Russo.
    Presenting Author: Krish C. Dewan, MD

    Meeting: 44th Annual Conference on Shock, Portland, OR
    Title: “SIRT3 Deletion Increases Inflammation and Mortality in Sepsis"
    Authors: Hanna E Labiner, Kelli M Sas, Joseph A Baur, Carrie A Sims
    Presenting Author: Hanna E Labiner, MD

    Meeting: Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society, Manalapan FLTitle: “DNA methylation inhibitor reversed high fat diet-induced CREG1 downregulation in Adipose
    Authors: Joshua Chao, M.D.
    Presenting Author: Joshua Chao, MD

    Meeting: SVS Vascular, San Diego CA
    Titles:

    • “Occurrence of dialysis, paralysis, stroke, or death following endovascular aortic intervention in the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative”
    • “Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease severity effects outcomes following endovascular aortic repair”
    • “Sex based differences following thoracic endovascular aortic repair for penetrating aortic ulcer and intramural hematoma”

    Authors: Presenting Author: Priya Patel, MD

    Meeting: Asian Academic Surgeons, Chicago IL (September)
    Titles: “Cellular Repressor of E1A-Stimulated Genes 1 (CREG1) Expression in White Adipose and Liver Tissue is regulated by Food Intake” “Surgical Outcomes in Thoracic Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience from an Epicenter”
    Authors: Joshua C Chao MD JD, Jigesh Baxi MD, Alexis K Okoh MD, Marlena E Sabatino BA, Fady Soliman BS, Yanmei Qi MD PhD, Jie Liu MD, Leonard Y Lee MD, Shaohua Li MD, PhD, Mark J Russo MD MS
    Presenting Author: Joshua Chao, MD

    Meeting: EAST 2022, Austin, TX
    Title: "Give Me Sirtuins Or Give Me Death: SIRT1 Deletion Increases Mortality in Sepsis"
    Authors: Hanna E Labiner, Kelli M Sas, Joseph A Baur, Carrie A Sims
    Presenting Author: Hanna E Labiner, MD

    Meeting: American Society of transplant surgeons, Venue Miami FL
    Title: “Comparison of early glycemic control between Type 1 and non-Type 1 diabetics after Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney Transplant (SPKT)”

    Authors: Olanrewaju Eletta, Vijay Putatunda, David Walls, Advaith Bongu, Ronald Pelletier.
    Presenting Author: Olanrewaju Eletta, MD

    Meeting: American Society of transplant surgeons, Venue Miami FL
    Title: Development of imaging guided pancreas transplant anticoagulation protocol
    Authors: Olanrewaju Eletta, Vijay Putatunda, David Walls, Melissa Chuang, Sonika Puri, John Nosher, Ronald Pelletier, Advaith Bongu.
    Presenting Author: Olanrewaju Eletta, MD

    Meeting: Academic Surgical Congress 2022, Orlando FL
    Titles:

    • "Applicability of ACR TI-RADS to Follicular Thyroid Cancer: A Single Site Retrospective Review"
    • "The Impact of Surgical Boot Camp on Medical Student Confidence and Imposter Syndrome"
    • "National Trends of Endocrine Surgery Operations Influenced by the COVID-19 Pandemic

    Authors: Wilfrido Castillo BE; Saloni Jain BA; Emma Idzikowsi MBS; Hannah Bava BS; Mahaksh Kotdawala MS; Alexander Manzella MD, Stanley Z. Trooskin MD, Amanda M Laird, MD, Toni Beninato MD MS, A.L. Teichman , J. Cai , M.E. Schroeder , M. Yao , P.
    Greenberg, R.L. Choron, Amanda M. Laird MD, Henry Pitt MD, Toni Beninato MD MS.
    Presenting Author: Alexander Manzella MD

    Meeting: 2022 APDS Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX
    Title: Modified SafeZone Training: LGBT Patient Education for Surgical Residents and Faculty
    Authors: Ramirez, Jr. T. Ray MD, Nell Maloney Patel, MD
    Presenting Author: Ramirez, Jr. T. Ray MD

    Meeting: Academic Surgical Congress 2022, Orlando FL
    Title: “Clinical Risk Score For Sternal Wound Dehiscence Requiring Operative Debridement Following Sternotomy”
    Authors: Brianna L. Slatnick MD; Paul Truche,MD, MPH; Sivana Barron BA; Christine Kang MD;
    Presenting Author: Brianna L. Slatnick, MD

    Meeting: AATS 2022, Boston MA
    Titles:

    • “The Burden Of Lower Extremity Fasciotomies: An Indication For The Multidisciplinary Approach”
    • “Characterizing Morbidity And Mortality After Aesthetic Abdominal Surgery: A Nationwide Analysis”
    • Breast Flap Neurotization After Autologous Free Flap Breast Reconstruction: A Prospective Trial”
    • “Artificially Intelligent Facial Feature Quantification After Facial Filler Injection”

    Authors: Abhishek A. Desai, MD; Niv Milbar, MD; Sophia Hu, BA; Corey Bascone, MD; L. Scott Levin, MD, FACS, FAOA; Stephen J. Kovach, MD
    Presenting Author: Abhishek A. Desai, MDMeeting: Robert H. Ivy Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery Society Annual Meeting 2022
    Title: "Evaluation of the immune microenvironment of esophageal adenocarcinoma following induction chemoradiotherapy with and without durvalumab"
    Authors: Jennie K. Choe MD, Yan Li MD, Laura H. Tang MD PhD, Geoffrey Y. Ku MD, Prasad S. Adusumilli MD
    Presenting Author: Jennie K. Choe MD

    Meeting: AAST 2022, Chicago, Il
    Title: “AAST Multicenter Study: Does angioembolization improve survival for severe hepatic injuries?"
    Authors: Amanda Radisic, MD; Joseph Sakran, MD, MPA, MPH; Mariuxi Manukyan, MD; Bin Yu, BS; Fang Hu, BS; Meghan Wooster, DO; Kathy Noll, MSN, TCRN; David V. Feliciano, MD; Elliot Hout, MD, PhD; Grace F. Rozycki, MD, MBA
    Presenting Author: Amanda Radisic, MD

    Meeting: Academic Surgical Congress ASC 2022 San Diego, CA
    TITLE: "National Trends in Thyroid Operative Costs by Volume in the Inpatient and Outpatient Settings"
    Authors: Alexander Manzella, MD, Marin Kheng, MD,MPH, Timothy Kravchenko, Amanda M. Laird, MD, Henry Pitt, MD, Toni Beninato, MD, MS
    Presenting Author: Alexander Manzella, MD

    Meeting: Advanced Cancer Therapies 2023, San Diego, CA
    Title: 3:A Novel Ex-Vivo Human Tumor Model to Understand the Role of HIPEC in Peritoneal MalignanciesAuthors: Stephanie N. Gregory, Martha E. Teke, Carrie E. Ryan, A. Leila Sarvestani, Tracey Pu, Sarfraz R. Akmal, Jacob T. Lambdin, Kenneth Luberice, Stephanie Lux, Kirsten Remmert, Emily C. Smith, Surajit Sinha, Audra A. Satterwhite, Cathleen Hannah, Jeremy L. Davis, Jonathan M. Hernandez, Andrew M. Blakely
    Presenting Author: Stephanie N. Gregory

    Meeting: Advanced Cancer Therapies 2023, San Deigo, CA
    Title: Stagnating Survival in Epithelioid Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma: An Analysis of Current Incidence and Management of Disease
    Authors: Stephanie N. Gregory, Paul H. McClelland, Andrew M. Blakely
    Presenting Author: Stephanie N. Gregory

Contact Us

Marissa Mazzola
Program Supervisor
P.O. Box 19
Medical Education Building, Room 596
New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0019
Phone: 732-235-7673
Email: mazzolma@rwjms.rutgers.edu

Xiomara Mejia
Program Assistant
General Surgery Residency
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New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone: 732-235-7674