Alumni and Testimonials
Resident Testimonials Heading link
Here is why our Residents chose UIC:
Justin Chang, MD (Class of 2025)
Coming from Boston and being new to Chicago, I was not sure what to expect when I first arrived. I quickly realized that UIC was exactly what I was looking for in terms of surgical training. Not only was it an academic center with some of the most cutting-edge technologies, it provided an expansive exposure to all types of patients and hospital settings. The fact that UIC does not have many fellows is an enormous advantage in training, as we were routinely expected to operate and learn from extremely complex operations that typically are reserved for fellowship. This has cultivated a strong sense of confidence and competence in all of the senior residents, which is so important as chief residents transitioning to their next level of training or practice. Outside of the operating room and hospital, I have built incredible relationships with my co-residents and attendings in various social settings, from beautiful bike rides along the lake, rock-climbing, and trying out some of the incredible food in Chicago during restaurant week. It would be a hard challenge for me to find a better training experience anywhere else.
Paige Blinn (Class of 2025)
Training at UIC provides a robust clinical experience, opportunities for research, and a welcoming culture. I have been interested in breast surgical oncology since my first year of residency and UIC really helped to foster that interest with a wide breadth of exposure and mentorship from phenomenal faculty.
Sarah Kim, MD (Class of 2026)
Having rotated at the University of Illinois Hospital for my M3 surgery clerkship, I was always impressed with the camaraderie between the residents, but also with the educational experiences for residents and medical students. I always fully appreciated the uniqueness of UIC’s General Surgery program of rotating consistently throughout the Chicagoland. Having a home site at a large academic center in Chicago attracts patients with complex medical histories and many uncontrolled co-morbidities, which bring many challenges but meaningful learning experiences. I knew by training here I will build a stronger foundation for my career while being able to live in and enjoy one of the best cities in the world.
Stephan Gruessner, MD
I knew in medical school that I wanted to pursue a career in either minimally invasive surgery or transplant. While initially torn between the two, I had the opportunity to do an away rotation at the institution that performed the first robotic donor nephrectomy, UIC. During my time there I was treated like a vital member of the team, and appreciated the camaraderie of the residents and attending. I recognized the vast scope minimally invasive surgery had to offer, and wanted to be part of an institution which pushed the boundaries of surgery.
Andy Lee, MD
I chose UIC General Surgery Residency Program because of the multitude of career options its trainees have after graduation, the affiliated hospitals its residents rotate at, and the strong presence of minimally invasive surgery. When I was interviewing for general surgery residency, I was impressed by how some UIC general surgery residency graduates were able to match into the most competitive fellowships out there, at the same time how some UIC general surgery residency graduates were able to secure great private practice jobs in general surgery straight out of residency. The program offers great flexibility in terms of dedicated research time. The affiliated hospitals its residents rotate at expose the trainees to various practice settings where residents enjoy high autonomy, at the university hospital where residents see cases with high complexity, and at private hospitals where residents experience high volume of surgeries. Finally, being trained to become a surgeon in the 21st century, I really appreciate how UIC general surgery residency program values training its residents to operate using minimally invasive techniques.
Andrew Tully, MD
The University of Illinois boasts a long tradition of surgical excellence, mentorship, scholarship, and commitment to bettering the health of all, regardless of their ability to pay.
Our Alumni Heading link
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Class of 2021
- Baldwin, Dustin MIS/Bariatric Fellowship – East Carolina University – Greenville, NC
- Blunck, Hans MIS/Bariatric Surgery Fellowship – University of Florida – Jacksonville, FL
- Chow, Kevin Acute Care Surgery / Surgical Critical Care Fellowship – Emory University – Atlanta, GA
- Esparza Monzavi, Carlos Amir Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship – Stroger Hospital of Cook County – Chicago, IL
- Gust, Matthew MIS/Bariatric Surgery Fellowship – Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital – Portland, OR
- Salloum, Rony Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship – Spectrum Health / Michigan State University – Grand Rapids, MI
- Tulla, Kiara Transplant Surgery Fellowship – Johns Hopkins University – Baltimore, MD
- Warner, Christina Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship – University of Louisville – Louisville, KY
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Class of 2020
- Ares, Guillermo Pediatric Surgery Fellowship – Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital – Northwestern University
- Brehm, Sarah MIS/Bariatric Surgery Fellowship – Advent Health
- Klemine, Helen MIS/Bariatric Surgery Fellowship – University of Missouri
- Sugrue, Jeremy Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship – Stroger Hospital of Cook County
- Thomas, Sany MIS/Bariatric Surgery Fellowship – Scripps Green Hospital
- Zimmermann, Jason MIS/ Advanced GI Surgery Fellowship – George Washington University
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Class of 2019
- Abdulkareem, Raed Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship – University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Cudworth, Michael MIS/Bariatric Fellowship – University of Nebraska
- Hendele, James Transplant Fellowship – University of Washington
- Juengel, Braden Transplant Fellowship – University of Chicago
- Mashbari, Hassan Acute Care Services/Critical Care Surgery Fellowship – Massachusetts General Hospital
- Naffouje, Samer Surgical Oncology Fellowship – Moffitt Cancer Center / Florida
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Class of 2018
- Cruz, Celeste G. Breast Surgery Fellowship – Advocate Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn, IL
- Eftaiha, Saleh Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship – Rutgers University , NJ
- Estremera, Gabriel A. Surgical Critical Care Fellowship – University of Texas – Southwestern Medical School – Dallas
- Fernandes, Eduardo Faculty, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Hemdi, Mohannad T. Surgical Critical Care Fellowship – University of Kentucky
- Lee, Jae Won Surgical Critical Care Fellowship – University of Hawaii
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Class of 2017
- Benjamin, Martin Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship, Long Island Plastic Surgical Group, PC – Long Island, NY
- Gonzalez, Andrew A. Vascular Surgery Fellowship, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI
- Huerter, Mary E. Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship – University of Texas – Southwestern Medical School – Dallas, TX
- Ortiz, Damaris Surgical Critical Care / Acute Care Surgery Fellowship – University of Texas Medical School – Houston, TX
- Timbers, Kay C. Private Practice – Advocate Christ Medical Group – Oak Lawn, IL
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Class of 2016
- Bean, Jonathan F. Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, Northwestern McGaw/Lurie Children’s
- Ejaz, Aslam Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University
- Hemo, Eliyahu Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Fellowship, Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital
- Kraft, Jeffrey J. Minimally Invasive Fellowship, Hackensack University Medical Center
- Lee, Joanna Breast Surgery Fellowship, Magee-Women’s Hospital of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Mahdi Babikir, Osman Private Practice
- Mantilla, Nathalie Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship, Stroger Hospital of Cook County
- Patel, Pankti Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Fellowship Magee-Women’s Hospital of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
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Class of 2015
- Bhagwandin, Shanel B. Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York
- Ezzi, Mohammed Y.ssistant Professor at Jazan Medical School, Saudi Arabia
- Jeng, Eric I-H. Cardio-thoracic Surgery Fellowship, University of Florida
- Koo, Nathaniel ediatric Surgery Fellowship, Northwestern University
- Lai, Christopher E. Foregut Surgery Fellowship, Allegheny Hospital
- O’Donoghue, Cristina M. Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Moffitt Cancer Center, Florida
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Class of 2014
- Turkia M. Abbed, MD Plastic Surgery Fellowship, University of Illinois Chicago
- Ariane M. Abcarian, MD Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship, Stroger Hospital of Cook County
- Chandra S. Bhati, MD Faculty, Transplant Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Albert Chung, MD Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship, Henry Ford Hospital, Michigan
- Veronica Guerrero, MD(Tirado) Bariatric Surgery Fellowship, Magee, Women’s Hospital of UPMC
- Lukasz Swistun, MD Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship, University of Utah, Salt Lake City