Resident Experience and Alumni

What makes the UIC General Surgery Residency unique?

UIC offers a comprehensive surgical education grounded in academic excellence, innovation, and service to one of the nation’s most diverse patient populations. Our intentionally designed curriculum combines exceptional clinical training with longitudinal simulation, robotic and laparoscopic skills development, structured didactics, and individualized coaching. We emphasize goal setting, feedback, and accountability, and residents graduate not only as technically proficient surgeons but also as educators, leaders, and advocates prepared to shape the future of surgery.

What type of resident thrives in our program?

Residents who thrive at UIC are curious, resilient, and committed to continuous growth. They seek feedback, embrace challenges, support their teammates, and take ownership of their education. We value humility, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to providing outstanding care for every patient while fostering an inclusive and collaborative learning environment.

What clinical training and patient population can residents expect?

Residents train across multiple hospitals throughout Chicago that provide exposure to a wide range of surgical pathology, practice environments, and patient populations. From complex tertiary referrals to trauma, emergency surgery, cancer care, and community practice, residents gain experience caring for patients from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. This breadth of training prepares graduates to practice confidently in any setting.

UIC resident begin operating on day one. As residents demonstrate competence, they are entrusted with increasing operative graduated autonomy under close faculty mentorship, ensuring they develop confidence while maintaining the highest standards of patient safety. Residents are encouraged to proctor junior residents and students through cases early on to develop a full understanding of operating. Our residents graduate with case volumes and indices well-beyond minimal requirements.

Written Exam Preparation

In addition to SCORE, our residents have access to the TrueLearn question bank throughout their training. Chief residents receive a special boards preparation program through TrueLearn in the Spring before they graduate that contains practice exams and additional learning materials. PGY4 residents have the option to take QE with approval from the Program Director.

Oral Exam Preparation

Trainees are exposed to the structure of the oral exams from their intern year. Every month, senior residents (PGY4 and PGY5) participate in mock orals given by board-certified faculty and provided with constructive feedback and scoring. Our chief residents have frequent Chief’s Dinner with board-certified faculty who review oral board scenarios over a luxurious meal to provide an intimate and safe environment for learning. UIC also supports one oral boards preparation course for residents even after graduation.

Our graduates pursue a wide variety of career paths, including competitive fellowships, academic surgery, and community-based practice. We prepare our residents to become innovators and leaders in their field of choice. Many of our graduates enter general surgery practice directly without additional training. UIC prepares our residents to be confident and competent surgeons, comfortable using the newest technology and tools for complex general surgery. Regardless of their chosen path, they leave UIC with the technical skills, clinical judgment, leadership abilities, and lifelong learning habits necessary to succeed in modern surgical practice.

UIC trains PGY1 and PGY2 preliminary residents. We accept both residents designated (matched with advanced position) and those that intend to pursue general surgery. Preliminary and categorical residents have identical experiences in terms of education, opportunities and scheduling. Our non-designated preliminary residents receive mentorship and guidance from the beginning of the academic year in order to have the best possible match and career placement outcomes.

UIC General Surgery residents live in across the Chicagoland area, most commonly in Lakeview and the West Loop neighborhoods. Most of our residents have a car, although public transportation can safely bring you anywhere in the city and beyond. Chicago gives you access to anything you can think of – restaurants, sports games, running trails, beaches, and museums – right at your doorstep.

• Charesa Smith MD – Colorectal and MIS Fellowship at AdventHealth in Orlando
• Nicholas Arcomano MD – Colorectal Surgery Fellowship at Stroger Cook County Hospital
• Sarah Kim MD – Trauma & Critical Care Fellowship at University of Nevada Las Vegas
• Cameron Heyd DO – Cosmetic Fellowship at Castellano Cosmetic Center
• John Bellau MD – Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Baylor University
• Bradley White MD – Minimally Invasive Hepatopancreaticobiliary Fellowship at Carle Foundation Hospital
• Julia Xie MD – Advanced GI-MIS / Bariatrics / Abdominal Wall and Hernia Fellowship at University of Texas Southwestern
• Zheng Wang MD – Vascular Surgery Fellowship at Henry Ford Hospital
• Leighton Kraft MD – Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship at Tulsa Surgical Arts

• Paige Blinn MD – Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship – University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW)
• Justin Chang MD – Staff General Surgeon – U.S Navy
• Noah Huh MD MS – Bariatric Fellowship – UI Health
• John Eed MD – Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship – John H. Stroger Cook county Hospital
• Brandon Karcher MD – Surgical Critical Care/Acute Care Surgery Fellowship – University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Shankar Logarajah MD – Hepatopancreaticobiliary Surgery Fellowship – Methodist Richardson Hospital

• Stephan Gruessner MD – Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship – University of Illinois Chicago
• Jonathan Jou MD – Transplant Surgery – University of California
• Mustafa Omami MBBS – Private Practice
• Matthew Phillips MD – Private Practice
• Hamzah Saleem MBBS – Vascular Surgery Fellowship – Henry Ford Health

• Dong, Eun – Vascular Surgery, University of Minnesota
• Obaid, Oday – Plastic Surgery University of Illinois Chicago
• Rahmani, Farah Al  – Private Practice, Community Hospital, Munster, IN
• Sigmon, David – Surgical Critical Care, New York City Health and Hospital-Lincoln
• VanDruff, Rembrandt – Acute Care Surgery/Surgical Critical Care, Los Angeles General Medical Center/University of Southern California

• Baldwin, Dustin – MIS/Bariatric Fellowship, East Carolina University
• Blunck, Hans – MIS/Bariatric Surgery Fellowship, University of Florida
• Chow, Kevin – Acute Care Surgery/Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, Emory University
• Esparza Monzavi, Carlos Amir – Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship,  Stroger Hospital of Cook County
• Gust, Matthew – MIS/Bariatric Surgery Fellowship, Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital
• Salloum, Rony – Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship, Spectrum Health, Michigan State University
• Tulla, Kiara – Transplant Surgery Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University
• Warner, Christina – Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship, University of Louisville

• 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

• 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

• Cruz, Celeste G. – Breast Surgery Fellowship, Advocate Christ Medical Center
• Eftaiha, Saleh – Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship, Rutgers University
• Estremera, Gabriel A. – Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School
• 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

• Benjamin, Martin – Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship, Long Island Plastic Surgical Group, PC
• Gonzalez, Andrew A. – Vascular Surgery Fellowship, University of Michigan
• Huerter, Mary E. – Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School
• Ortiz, Damaris – Surgical Critical Care, Acute Care Surgery Fellowship, University of Texas Medical School
• Timbers, Kay C. – Private Practice, Advocate Christ Medical Group

• 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

• Bhagwandin, Shanel B. – Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York
• Ezzi, Mohammed – Assistant Professor at Jazan Medical School, Saudi Arabia
• Jeng, Eric I-H. – Cardio-thoracic Surgery Fellowship, University of Florida
• Koo, Nathaniel – Pediatric Surgery Fellowship, Northwestern University
• Lai, Christopher E. – Foregut Surgery Fellowship, Allegheny Hospital
• O’Donoghue, Cristina M. – Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Moffitt Cancer Center, Florida

• Abbed, Turkia M. – Plastic Surgery Fellowship, University of Illinois Chicago
• Abcarian, Ariane M. – Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship, Stroger Hospital of Cook County
• Bhati, Chandra S. – Faculty, Transplant Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Chung, Albert – Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship, Henry Ford Hospital, Michigan
• Guerrero, Veronica – Bariatric Surgery Fellowship, Magee, Women’s Hospital of UPMC
• Swistun, Lukasz – Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship, University of Utah, Salt Lake City