PGY I
Cachae Alford,
Jorge Arpi,
Maria Cote,
Kishan Desai,
Victoria DeTrolio,
Danielle Feliciano,
Annette Mai,
Matthew Mendoza,
Anna Pirovic,
Cynthia Sanchez,
Jorge Sanchez Garcia,
Madison Wilson,
PGY II
Isabella Angeli Pahim,
Swatika Butey,
Dwayne Cole,
Laura Gorenshtein,
Mallika Joshi,
Laila Khoury, M.D.
Medical School:Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:N/A
Fellowship:N/A
Cody Stalnaker,
PGY III
Rodrigo Alterio, M.D.
Medical School:Universidad Central de Venezuela Escuela de Medicina Luis Razetti
Additional Degrees/Training:UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Value-Added Year:Planned for 2026-2027
Fellowship:Undecided
Spencer Berman, D.O.
Medical School:Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine - California
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:Planned for 2026-2027
Fellowship:Undecided
Caitlin Marquis, M.D.
Medical School:Florida State University College of Medicine - Ft. Pierce Campus
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:Planned for 2026-2027
Fellowship:Undecided
Natalie Miller, D.O.
Medical School:Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, VA
Value-Added Year:N/A
Fellowship:N/A
Joseph Policarpio, M.D.
Medical School:Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:Planned for 2026-2027
Fellowship:Undecided
Ronny Samra, M.D.
Medical School:University of Florida College of Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:Planned for 2026-2027
Fellowship:Undecided
Jennifer Stein, M.D.
Medical School:University of Florida College of Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL
Value-Added Year:Planned for 2026-2027
Fellowship:Undecided
PGY IV
Fauzi Feris Jassir, M.D.
Medical School:Xaverian Pontifical University, Bogotá, Colombia
Additional Degrees/Training:Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami, FL
Value-Added Year:N/A
Fellowship:Undecided
Michelle Freeman, M.D.
Medical School:University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:N/A
Fellowship:Undecided
Why FAU
I came to FAU for my surgical training because of the diversity in cases and the opportunity for growth as a surgeon and a scholar. I liked that it was more than general surgery cases with exposure to urology, breast, anesthesiology and vascular surgery. There is also a strong emphasis on research here which I love. What really stood out to me was the family culture between the residents and the support from the attendings. I may be from MN, but FL and FAU feel like home.
Maria Herrera Rodriguez, D.O.
Medical School:Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:Burn Surgery Fellowship – University of Florida
Fellowship:Undecided
I chose FAU for my surgical training because I wanted to have both a strong operative experience and the opportunity to pursue research. FAU was perfect for that given all the resources it provides. Additionally, the camaraderie between the residents and faculty allows for a healthy environment that promotes wellness.
Herrera Rodriguez MG, Mehra D, Saroop S, Srivastav A. Abdominal Supracervical Hysterectomy With Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy as the Surgical Approach for a 22-Week Uterus With Incidental Endometrial Polyp Focal Atypia. Cureus. 2020 Sep 9;12(9):e10344. doi: 10.7759/cureus.10344. PMID: 33062468; PMCID: PMC7549873.
Marjorie Kragel, M.D.
Medical School:Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:Plastic Surgery Research, Cleveland Clinic
Fellowship:Undecided
As a medical student at FAU, I was able to get a glimpse of the resident camaraderie, expansive operative experience, and outstanding faculty in the FAU General Surgery program. I am excited to spend the next several years learning everything I can from my colleagues and faculty, being engaged in research, and training to become an excellent surgeon.
El Haddi SJ,Kragel M, Klapper A. Creation of skin grafts from traumatic avulsed skin. BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Jul 15;14(7):e239545. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2020-239545. PMID: 34266814; PMCID: PMC8286758.
John Nguyen, D.O.
Medical School:Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Auburn Campus
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:Research – Johns Hopkins University
Fellowship:Undecided
I chose FAU because the people I interviewed with were down to earth and very honest about the program. Another reason I chose FAU was because of the strong fellowship match into competitive programs. Overall, I knew this is a place I would get great training and support for my future fellowship plans.
Ruben Prado, M.D.
Medical School:Indiana University School of Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:M.B.A., Indiana University Kelley School of Business
Value-Added Year:N/A
Fellowship:Undecided
PGY V
Sana Aksas, M.D.
Medical School:Université Elhadj Lakhdar Batna Faculté de Médecine, Batna, Algeria
Additional Degrees/Training:Cardiac Surgery, Algiers, Alergeria; Larkin Community Hospital, Miami, Florida
Value-Added Year:N/A
Fellowship:Cardiothoracic Surgery
Laura Christopher, M.D.
Medical School:Indiana University School of Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:N/A
Fellowship:Breast Surgery
There were many reasons why I chose FAU for my surgery residency. My interview experience was second to none; it was evident that my interviewers took the time to read my personal statement and curriculum vitae to truly get to know me as an applicant, and the residents were so welcoming and down to earth. I know that I will become an excellent surgeon after graduating from FAU. Also, I get to work where people vacation, what a dream!
Justin Dourado, M.D.
Medical School:University of Florida, College of Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:General Surgery, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Value-Added Year:Colorectal Surgery Research, Cleveland Clinic Florida
Fellowship:Colorectal Surgery
I chose FAU because after my interview day, I not only felt it would provide me the surgical training and academic support to achieve my goals, but it would do so in an environment that I wanted to be in. The residents seemed like a family and I was immediately comfortable among them. Additionally, it combined the mix of academic and community practice that I felt would allow me do develop into a well and skilled surgeon.
Alex Dunham, M.D.
Medical School:Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:Vascular Surgery Outcomes Research, Florida Atlantic University/Baptist Health
Fellowship:Undecided
Roni Garbar, D.O.
Medical School:Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, Florida Atlantic University
Fellowship:Trauma/Surgical Critical Care
The surgery program at FAU fell on my radar amongst all the other program options because of the various educational opportunities offered at the clinical sites. I was looking for a program with depth and breadth to give me the best training and I believe the surgery program here at FAU will deliver it. Residency is a long time commitment and I felt that the resources provided to each and every resident were built to ensure a successful career.
"Empty Sella Turcica: A Case Report of a Rare Condition" 1st place winner at the Womack Army Medical Center XIII Annual Research Sympos
"Intracellular zinc trafficking and metallothionein gene activation in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVEC) treated with Crotalus atrox venom" Publication in The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal vol. 31 no.1 April 2017
Value Added Year
Matthew Gatewood, D.O.
Medical School:Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Auburn Campus
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:Planned for 2025-2026
Fellowship:Undecided
Sara Lee, M.D.
Medical School:Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:M Eng, in Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University
Value-Added Year:Pediatric Surgical Devices and Pediatric Transplant Surgery Research – Boston’s Children’s Hospital
Fellowship:Undecided
Omer Sadeh, M.D.
Medical School:Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Israel Institute of Technology
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:Planned for 2025-2026
Fellowship:Undecided
Stephanie Yakoubovitch, M.D.
Medical School:State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:N/A
Value-Added Year:Planned for 2025-2026
Fellowship:Undecided
Athina Yoham, M.D.
Medical School:Ross University School of Medicine
Additional Degrees/Training:University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, FL
Value-Added Year:Planned for 2025-2026
Fellowship:Undecided