General Surgery Residents

PGY-I

Karla Bracho, MDKarla Bracho, MD

Hometown: Maracaibo
Undergrad School: La Universidad del Zulia (LUZ)
Medical School: La Universidad del Zulia (LUZ)
What drew me to General Surgery: The privilege to serve patients not only with the knowledge gained through years of studying, but through a concrete physical action. Surgery combines these two complex intellectual and manual elements, and the opportunity to collaborate as a team to achieve a tangible positive result.
What do I like to do in my free time: I love running, enjoying the outdoors, finding great new songs for my playlists and spending time with my family and friends.

 

Ergest Isak, MDErgest Isak, MD

Hometown: Troy, MI
Undergrad School: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Medical School: Michigan State University-College of Human Medicine
What drew me to General Surgery: What drew me to surgery is the multifaceted nature of the field. I love being able to use an intersection of innovation, technology and evidence-based medicine to perform surgical procedures with the primary aim of improving a patient’s quality of life. Surgery provides the unique opportunity to positively impact public health not only through individualized, yet simultaneously collaborative patient care, but through research, teaching, and advocacy that extend beyond the boundaries of the operating room. Cultivating deep patient connections that are founded on trust and established in what is often a very brief courtship, is both an incredible privilege and a humbling responsibility.
What do I like to do in my free time: My interests include: hiking/outdoors, soccer, Formula 1, Michigan Football, and spending time with family and friends.

 

Morgan Klingfus, MDMorgan Klingfus, MD

Hometown: La Habra Heights, California
Undergrad School: San Diego State University
Medical School: Ross University Medical School
What drew me to General Surgery: I was drawn to anesthesiology for its blend of meticulous procedural skills and the critical role in patient care. The dynamic environment of the operating room, along with the hands-on nature of patient management under anesthesia, also appealed to me, particularly the opportunity to ensure patients' comfort and safety throughout their surgical experience.
What do I like to do in my free time: Trying new activities, traveling to new places, and spending quality time with friends and family.

 

Justin Meinert, MD

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Undergrad School: University of Pittsburgh
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
What drew me to General Surgery: From a young age I had worked for my father's family water well drilling business. I prefer to work in a significantly more hands on type of setting. As such, after finding my way to medicine, I have found that surgery allows me to maximize my passion for medicine and the amount of hands on application that I prefer to have in a career.
What do I like to do in my free time: I have been doing CrossFit for the last 5 years. It is a great way to decompress and involve myself in a community and health oriented environment in order to effectively mitigate the various stresses brought on by a rigorous work schedule.

 

James Mullin, MDJames Mullin, MD

Hometown: West Hartford
Undergrad School: Providence College
Medical School: Brown
What drew me to General Surgery: Surgery provides a unique opportunity to create a real time impact in a patient's life. It's also one of the few specialties where a "cure" is actually possible.
What do I like to do in my free time: Hiking, fishing, camping, gardening, cooking

 

Adrian Muniz Sarriera, MDAdrian Muniz Sarriera, MD

Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Undergrad School: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus
Medical School: Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine
What drew me to General Surgery: Anesthesiologists and surgeons work together. Learning and working from the surgery side of the drape is critical for teamwork in the OR. There is no better way to prepare to manage the perioperative period than working with general surgery. A mentor once told me: What differentiates a great anesthesiologist from an excellent one is knowing the surgery steps to anticipate possible ways to help both the patient and the surgeon.
What do I like to do in my free time: Watching or playing sports. I follow almost every sport, and I am big on fantasy. Also, I like spending time with family and friends by chilling in a house or going to restaurants. I am always active for board game night.

 

Suraya Poian, MDSuraya Poian, MD

Hometown: Reston, VA
Undergrad School: George Mason University
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
What drew me to General Surgery: What attracted me most to general surgery is its diverse range of cases, spanning from emergency trauma to elective procedures. Throughout my medical school surgery rotations, these unexpected cases were uniquely challenging, yet they kept me excited and engaged with a sense of curiosity and anticipation for what's to come. I was captivated by how surgeons not only provide medical management but also perform surgeries with tangible and transformative outcomes.
What do I like to do in my free time: In my free time I try to catch up with loved ones; whether in person or over the phone. I find relaxation in long walks, sightseeing, trying new foods, and playing tennis with my partner.

 

Hannah Stein, MDHannah Stein, MD

Hometown: Southampton, NY
Undergrad School: Cornell University
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
What drew me to General Surgery: I like surgery because it is at the crux of art and medicine. Surgeons are able to create solutions to patient's life threatening problems by integrating their medical knowledge and technical training with their own creativity and expertise. This fosters constant innovation and advancement within an already mind-blowing field.
What do I like to do in my free time: Being outside, spending time with my family, friends, and dog Bruno, drawing/painting

PGY-II

Shannon Baron, MDShannon Baron, MD

Hometown: Vestal, NY
Undergrad School: Susquehanna University
Medical School: Upstate Medical University
What drew me to General Surgery: I have been drawn to General Surgery since I first stepped foot in the operating room during my medical school surgical clerkship. The fast-paced, hands-on nature of surgery along with the intensity and teamwork that takes place in the OR have continued to draw me to the field. The vast amount of medical management and patient interaction involved in General Surgery will allow me to use all my skills and knowledge to best care for my patients.
What do I like to do in my free time: Spending time with friends and family, being outside, exercising and traveling.

 

Elliot Cha, MDElliot Cha, MD

Hometown: Irvine, CA
Undergrad School: Carnegie Mellon University
Medical School: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
What drew me to General Surgery: Surgery is unique in that it provides opportunities to apply both surgical and medical treatments for patients. The streamlined process of the OR is second to none and highlights the power of teamwork and is an added bonus to the specialty
What do I like to do in my free time: Trail running, backcountry snowboarding, work on cars, visiting friends

 

Makayla Dearborn, MDMakayla Dearborn, MD

Hometown: Brackney, PA
Undergrad School: Syracuse University
Medical School: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
What drew me to General Surgery: I was drawn to surgery because of my love for the OR, the challenge of the field, and the chance to have a lasting positive impact on my patients lives. I like general surgery  because of the ability to work on the whole body and work with a diverse set of patients.
What do I like to do in my free time: Hiking, backpacking, embroidery, and cuddles with my cat Luna.

 

Emma Satchell, MDEmma Satchell, MD

Hometown: Seattle, WA
Undergrad School: Colgate University
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
What drew me to General Surgery: The ability to offer patients definitive solutions to complex problems and the camaraderie in the OR. 
What do I like to do in my free time: Spending time with my husband and son, cycling, running, hiking, camping, traveling, and reading. 

PGY-III

BeckLauren Beck, MD

Hometown: Manchester, NJ
Undergrad School: Susquehanna University
Medical School: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
What drew me to General Surgery: As a medical student, I was rapt during each surgery I had the privilege of attending. All specialties enjoy the satisfaction gleaned from caring for their patients, but none quite so intimately, definitively, and immediately as a surgeon. The OR's fast-paced yet serene environment, artistry, and manual dexterity drew me in. I enjoy the teamwork aspect, and appreciate surgeons' direct and efficient communication style. I admire general surgery's broad scope and diverse fellowship opportunities.
What do I like to do in my free time: Music-violin, trumpet, singing and most recently-ukelele; dance (ballet and tap); exploring the outdoors/hiking/biking/skiing; tennis; baking (ginger cookies are my specialty!); playing board games; home improvement projects; listening to podcasts; watching documentaries and Law and Order: SVU; chilling with friends, family, and my two cats.

 

BodenhornLindsey Bodenhorn, MD

Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Undergrad School: University of Colorado at Denver
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School
What drew me to General Surgery: What motivates me in medicine and surgery is impact. Surgery grants the opportunity to serve patients in one of their most vulnerable moments, to enhance their life in a meaningful way – a way that blends the principles of basic biomedical sciences into interpersonal interactions and transformative procedures. I value the high expectations surgeons have held me to over the years to bring out my best and deliver excellent patient care outcomes consistently when the stakes are high. I believe these expectations of surgeons are signs of the field’s deep investment in the personal and professional growth of the next generation – a legacy of impact I am honored to contribute to.
What do I like to do in my free time: Hiking, biking, camping, and playing tennis

 

ChoeRichard Choe, MD

Hometown: Great Neck, NY
Undergrad School: Wesleyan University
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
What drew me to General Surgery: Surgery is an exciting, fulfilling field that is rapidly developing. I treasure the opportunity to work on a team with multiple different kinds of healthcare providers who share the common goal of patient care and optimizing patient outcomes. 
What do I like to do in my free time: Writing and playing music, playing golf, and cooking.

 

SahejpreetSahejpreet Kaur, MD

Hometown: Kleinburg, Ontario
Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
What drew me to General Surgery: The ability to localize disease to a specific point and taking care of the underlying disease process whether it be symptomatic relief or curative. A surgeons care transcends from the operating room to the wards, and provides patients with holistic care.  ​​​​​​​
What do I like to do in my free time: Painting, working out, trying out new recipes, shopping, hanging out with my friends and family 

 

LeeJieun Lee, MD

Hometown: Orlando, FL
Undergrad School: University of Florida
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University - Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (NSU MD)
What drew me to General Surgery: While I also love being in the OR and working with my hands, it is what I am doing with my hands and the meaningful difference I can make for a patient with them that makes me most passionate about surgery. I cannot imagine a better honor nor a more humbling experience than to be someone's surgeon and be trusted with such decisive and vulnerable moments in his or her life trajectory.
What do I like to do in my free time: Spending time with friends and family, watching movies, reading, learning foreign languages, having a good cup of coffee or tea.

 

SaegFouad Saeg, MD

Hometown: Los Angeles
Undergrad School: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
What drew me to General Surgery: My favorite aspect of general surgery is the opportunity to emergently save a patient's life. Clinically, resuscitating a patient following a motor vehicle collision, or emergently heading to the operating room in a patient with pneumoperitoneum is thrilling. The opportunity to develop better, more effective ways of managing these patients, such as evidence-based protocols and wound healing technologies, is stimulating. General surgery affords me the privilege to restore the lives of patients while also providing me with robust clinical material to support my interests in research and innovation.
What do I like to do in my free time: In my free time, I enjoy: starting new home improvement projects, gardening, camping, fishing, cooking, listening to music, and having fun with friends and family.

PGY-IV

AssuncaoAlvaro Assuncao, MD

Hometown: Salvador, Brazil​​​​​​​
Undergrad School: University of California, Los Angeles​​​​​​​
Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine
What drew me to General Surgery: It was during my third year of medical school that I realized nothing thrilled me more than to be in the OR. The unique ability of surgeons to go beyond the limitations of non-invasive care and to integrate medical and surgical treatment is fascinating to me. The instant cure that’s possible in some cases as well as the apprenticeship and manual nature of operative training, are also reasons why I chose surgery. ​​​​​​​
What do I like to do in my free time: Spending time with family and friends, playing the guitar, hiking.  

 

SmithSierra Smith, DO

Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
Undergrad School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus
What drew me to General Surgery: Surgery allows me to do a little bit of everything! I really enjoy the challenging and fast paced nature of the surgical field. ​​​​​​​
What do I like to do in my free time: Hiking with my boyfriend and dog, hanging out with friends, and watching Netflix.

 

TelliosNikoleta Tellios, MD

Hometown: Toronto​​​​​​​, Canada
Undergrad School: Western University
Medical School: University College Cork - Ireland​​​​​​​
What drew me to General Surgery: I enjoy the complexity and technical skill involved in surgery. I am also drawn to the unique ability of the specialty to provide immediate interventions and offer patients definitive treatments.​​​​​​​
What do I like to do in my free time: Reading a good book, going for a hike, and getting together with friends for board games.

 

WilsonMichael Wilson, DO

Hometown: Lewisberry, Pennsylvania​​​​​​​
Undergrad School: University of Delaware​​​​​​​
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia​​​​​​​
What drew me to General Surgery: What drew me most to general surgery was the broad spectrum of opportunities it could provide to me as a resident and physician. It allows me to learn to be a healer with my hands in the OR while simultaneously teaching me to provide the best holistic and well-rounded care to my patients. To have the opportunity to learn to integrate many areas of medicine into one specialty, as a general surgery resident, I know will best serve my current patients and America's servicemen and women who I will eventually serve as a physician in the Air Force Medical Corps.  ​​​​​​​
What do I like to do in my free time: Playing ice hockey; Reading historical non-fiction books; Fishing; Running and lifting weights; Participating in freelance railroad photography

PGY-V

Bertram_CeydaCeyda Bertram, MD

Hometown: Rockford, IL
Undergrad School: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Medical School: Albany Medical College
What drew me to General Surgery: Most people look up at the sky and ponder how there are billions of stars encircled by planets that make solar systems, that make up galaxies that are all within a vast universe. They are looking too far. I look at the human body. Trillions of cells of various types are woven together in different patterns of tissue that look very different from each other yet live in harmony without falling apart. In surgery, I can see the masterpiece at work from the inside and the outside, experience the macroscopic, and still treat the microscopic.
What do I like to do in my free time: Rock climbing, playing my keyboard, gathering friends for a night of board games, and trying various cuisines.
​​​​​​​

Carmac_AustinAustin Carmack, MD

Hometown: Clatskanie, OR
Undergrad School: Eckerd College
Medical School: University of Central Florida College of Medicine
What drew me to General Surgery: Surgery was my first clinical rotation of medical school, and it was love at first sight. I enjoyed the camaraderie in the operating room and the importance of the surgical team. I have profound respect and appreciate the immediate effect surgery can have on the lives of our patients and their families. I have personally experienced the benefits of a successful surgical outcome but seeing the gratitude of others really stood out to me.
What do I like to do in my free time: Growing up in rural Oregon, I loved the outdoors and running. I traded the pacific northwest for the beaches of sunny Florida when I went away for college. I have enjoyed returning to my rural roots and experiencing all four seasons again here at Guthrie. I love being outside with my family and taking my two little boys to the numerous local parks with my wife. I also joined the Army during PGY2 so I have taken up running again, which has been nice.

 

Morocho_BryantBryant Morocho, MD

Hometown: Wilkes-Barre, Pa
Undergrad School: Wilkes University
Medical School: Indiana University
What drew me to General Surgery: I love the complexity of surgical disease and to work with my hands to help a patient's problems.
What do I like to do in my free time: I like to bake, spend my time outside and spend time with friends with my free time.

 

Enoch Yeung, MD

Enoch Yeung, MD

Hometown: Hong Kong
Undergrad School: The University of Hong Kong
Medical School: The University of Hong Kong
What drew me to General Surgery: Being a surgeon has been my dream since childhood. To heal the disease with dedication of the knowledge and skills makes my dream come true.
What do I like to do in my free time: All kind of sports, hiking, reading, film, spending time with family.