Our Graduates … Where Have They Gone?
Class of 2022
Jameil Abou-Hanna, MD – July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2022. Graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin was matched with the Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery Fellowship at Good Samaritan TriHealth, Cincinnati OH.
Vadim Lyuksemburg, MD – July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2022. Graduate of the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University, obtained a Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship at the University of Illinois Chicago – Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center.
David Ridder, MD – July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2022. A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Dr. Ridder acquired a two-year Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at the University of Hawaii – Queen’s Medical Center.
Class of 2021
Harley Moit, DO – July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2021. A graduate of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Harley obtained a Plastic Surgery Fellowship at Indiana University.
Alyssa Mowrer, MD – July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2021. Alyssa matriculated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria. She obtained a research fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at Medical College of Wisconsin – Children’s Wisconsin.
Jonathan Nitz, MD – July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2021. Jonathan came to us from the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He obtained a fellowship in Advanced Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center / Temple Health, Philadelphia, PA
Elizabeth Roesler, MD – July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2021. A graduate of St. Louis University School of Medicine, Elizabeth obtained a desired fellowship in Colorectal Surgery at Indiana University.
Class of 2020
Majd Kabbani, MD– Majd came to us in his PGY3 year from surgical training at Boston Medical Center. He completed medical school at University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. He will be doing a fellowship in endocrine surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Melissa Medina, MD – Melissa came to us from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She will be doing a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford University Hospitals and Clinics in Palo Alto, California.
Samuel Pera, MD – Sam came to us from Rush University Medical College. He will be doing a fellowship in surgical critical care at the University of Louisville, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Nikolaus Ragula, MD – Nik came to us from Texas Tech University Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. He will be doing a fellowship in surgical critical care at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
Class of 2019
Mohammed Almzayyen, MD – July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2019. Graduate of University of Vermont. Fellowship in Critical Care at Westchester Medical Center.
Rozana Dwyer, MD – July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2019. Graduate of Loyola University. Obtained desired position in practice at Graham Hospital in Canton. She remains on the UICOMP Faculty.
Joseph Esparaz, MD – July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2019. Graduate of UIC Chicago. Obtained desired research position at University of Alabama at the Children’s Hospital in hopes of obtaining a desired fellowship in pediatric surgery.
Clayton Theleman, MD – July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2019. Graduate of University of Kansas. Obtained desired position in private practice near hometown.
Class of 2018
Ehab Alameer, MD – July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2018. Graduate of King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia. He obtained a desired fellowship in Endocrine Surgery at Tulane University.
Matty Francois, MD – July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2018. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria. She joined a desired surgical practice in Bloomington, IL near her family.
Greg McGovern, MD – July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2018. Graduate of Rosalind Franklin University/Chicago Medical School. He obtained a position with Swedish American Hospital System/University of Wisconsin Health in Rockford, IL.
Jess Spradling, MD – July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2018. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford. He obtained a desired fellowship in Surgical Critical Care with Spectrum Health/Michigan State University in Grand Rapids.
Class of 2017
Ashlea Canady, M.D. – July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2017. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine-Rockford. She obtained her desired position with a private practice group in a more rural area of Illinois.
Chris Cummings, D.O. – July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2017. Graduate of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. He obtained a much-desired position with a group practice in his hometown of Kansas City, MO.
Jennifer Schmidt, MD – July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2017. Graduate of Southern Illinois University. She decided to be very adventurous and obtained a position with a hospital in Anchorage, AK.
Class of 2016
Juan Gurria, M.D. – July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2016. Graduate of Anahuac University School of Medicine. He obtained a desired fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He has accepted a fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at Mayo Clinic.
David Mateo de Acosta, M.D. – July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2016. Graduate of University La Salle. He obtained a desired fellowship in Plastic Surgery at the University of Alabama.
Imad Qayyum, M.D. – July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2016. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. He obtained a desired fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at Michigan State University/Spectrum Health. He is now in practice in the suburbs of Chicago near his hometown.
Class of 2015
Chad Evans, M.D. – July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2015. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. He obtained desired fellowship in Critical Care at University of Colorado/Denver Health. He recently came back to Peoria and remains on the UICOMP Surgery Teaching Faculty.
Eben True, M.D. – July 2011 – June 30, 2015. Graduate of Indiana University School of Medicine. He obtained desired practice position in Lafayette, Indiana.
Steve Vander Naalt, M.D. – July 2011 – June 30, 2014. Graduate of Loyola. He obtained desired fellowship in Hand Surgery at The University of Connecticut. After fellowship, he joined the OSF Orthopedic Group as a hand surgeon.
Class of 2014
Steven Henriques, M.D. – July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2014. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. He obtained desired fellowship in Bariatric and Minimal Invasive Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Following his fellowship, he obtained a desired practice position in Miami, Florida.
Sean Hill, M.D. – July 2010 – June 30, 2014. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. He obtained desired residency in Plastic Surgery at University of Texas Southwestern.
James Wade, M.D. – July 2011 – June 30, 2014. Graduate of Washington University School of Medicine. He obtained desired fellowship in Thoracic Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. Following fellowship, he obtained a position at a large hospital in the Chicago suburbs.
Class of 2013
Robin Alley, M.D. – July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2013. Graduate of Rush University School of Medicine. Robin elected to stay in Peoria to practice general surgery. She remains on the UICOMP Surgery Teaching Faculty.
Yolanda Chang, M.D. – July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2013. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. She obtained desired practice position near Chicago, close to her hometown.
Vickie Pepper, M.D. – July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2013. Graduate of University of Southern California. She obtained her desired fellowship in pediatric minimally invasive surgery at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. She recently was accepted into a Pediatric Surgery Fellowship at Loma Linda University.
Class of 2012
Josh Aaron, M.D. – July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2012. Graduate of Loyola Stritch School of Medicine. Obtained desired position with a former graduate in a private practice group in Evansville, Indiana.
Atif Baqai, M.D. – July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2012. Graduate of Loyola Stritch School of Medicine. Obtained desired fellowship in Vascular Surgery at University of Miami. Following fellowship obtained desired practice position in Garland, Texas.
Charalambos “Babis” Rammos, M.D. – July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2012. Graduate of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Medical School. Obtained desired fellowship in Plastic Surgery at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota. Following this fellowship, he was selected to complete an Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship in Charlotte, North Carolina. He recently returned to Peoria to practice and joined the UICOMP Surgery Teaching Faculty.
Class of 2011
Eric Cox, M.D. – July 1, 2006- June 30, 2011. Graduate of Southern Illinois University. Obtained desired position with a hospital based practice in Galesburg, Illinois.
Paul Pacheco, M.D. – July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2011. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. Obtained desired fellowship in Colon & Rectal Surgery at Southern Illinois University. Now practicing with the Springfield Clinic.
Class of 2010
Franziska Huettner, M.D. – July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2010. Graduate of Friedrich-Schiller-University Jera, Germany. Obtained desired fellowship in Plastic Surgery at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Now practicing with Southern Illinois University.
Dharmesh Patel, M.D. – July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2010. Graduate of University of Louisville School of Medicine. Obtained a desired position with a private practice group in Evansville, Indiana close to his hometown.
Steven Tsoraides, M.D. – July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2010. Graduate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Obtained desired fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine at Springfield, IL. Upon completion of his fellowship, Steve returned to Peoria to practice and remains on the UICOMP Surgery Teaching Faculty. He is now the General Surgery Program Director.
Class of 2009
Paul Loethen, M.D. – July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2009. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Obtained desired position in private practice in Alton, Illinois.
Arthur Rawlings, M.D. – July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2009. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Obtained desired fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine. Upon completion of his fellowship, Arthur accepted a position at the University of Missouri-Columbia where he has an academic appointment and is the General Surgery Program Director.
Jay Woodland, M.D. – July 1, 2004 – June 30, 2009. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Obtained desired position in a more rural area in Illinois with another of our former graduates. Jay has since left the rural practice and joined another of our former graduate at a private practice in Evansville, Indiana.
Class of 2008
Jennifer Ash, M.D. – July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2008. Graduate of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Obtained desired fellowship in Vascular/Endovascular Surgery at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois. She currently is practicing with the Christie Clinic in Champaign, IL.
Amy Cha, M.D. – July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2008. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Obtained desired fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. She has obtained a practice position in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
L. Matthew Deppe, M.D. – July 1, 2003 – June 30, 2008. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Obtained desired position in rural medicine private practice in Canton, Illinois. Matt recently left his Canton position to join another rural practice in Iowa. He just recently left Iowa and joined the Mayo Clinic Health System practicing in Red Wing, MN.
Class of 2007
Paul Cooney – July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2007. Graduate of Texas Tech University in El Paso, Texas. Obtained a desired position in private practice in Las Cruces, New Mexico close to family in El Paso.
M. Mario Raso – July 1, 2002 – June 30, 2007. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Mario changed his discipline in his 4th year and modified the remainder of his time here to allow him to take a position as an emergency room physician in a rural area of Illinois.
Class of 2006
Prakash Gatta – July 1, 2002 – June 30, 2006. Graduate of Seth G.S. Medical College, India. Obtained desired fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery in Portland, Oregon. Upon completion of that fellowship, he obtained a position with the University of Cincinnati and has an academic appointment. Prakash has since left his position in Cincinnati to return to Washington State to be close to family.
Shishin Yamada – July 1, 2001 – June 30, 2006. Graduate of University of Illinois Chicago. Obtained desired position in private practice in Joliet, Illinois.
Sherwin Parungao – July 1, 2001 – June 30, 2006. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Obtained desired position in private practice in the rural community of Galesburg, Illinois.
Class of 2005
Nicole Reid – July 1, 2000 – July 31, 2005. Graduate of University of Louisville. Obtained desired position in private practice in North Carolina. She has since decided to relocate to Missouri to be closer to family and joined a private practice group there.
Donovan Teel – July 1, 2000 – June 30, 2005. Graduate of Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Obtained desired position in private practice in Dayton, Ohio practicing bariatric surgery.
Lisa Whitty – July 1, 2000 – June 30, 2005. Graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine. Obtained desired fellowships in Hand Surgery at the University of Connecticut and Plastic Surgery at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine. After getting married and starting a family, she has returned to Chicago to be closer to family.
Class of 2004
Syed Hussain – July 1, 1999 – June 30, 2004. Graduate of Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. Obtained desired fellowship in Vascular Surgery at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He currently is practicing with Christie Clinic in Champaign, IL.
Majid Katranji – July 1, 1999 – June 30, 2004. Graduate of Michigan State University. Obtained desired fellowship in Hand Surgery at the University of Connecticut and then a position in private practice near his hometown in Michigan.
Trent Proehl – July 1, 1999 – June 30, 2004. Graduate of University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Obtained desired position in private practice in a more rural area of Illinois. He remains on the faculty at UICOMP.
Class of 2003
Andrew Johnson– July 1, 1998 – June 30, 2003. Graduate of University of Missouri, Columbia. Obtained desired position, practicing in Jefferson City, Missouri. Drew has since relocated to a more rural practice in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Rodney McCalla – July 1, 1998 – June 30, 2003. Graduate of University of Kansas, Wichita. Obtained desired practice position here in Peoria and remained on the faculty at UICOMP. He has since relocated closer to his family in rural Kansas.
Anil Srivastava, M.D. – October 15, 2001 – October 14, 2003. Graduate of Patna Medical College in India. He obtained a desired fellowship in Critical Care Medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Following that, he obtained a position at a private institution with an academic appointment at St. Louis University.
Class of 2002
Michael Green – July 1, 1997 – June 30, 2002. Graduate of Indiana University. Obtained fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery at Providence Hospital in Washington D.C., and then entered private practice in Fort Worth, Texas.
Michelle Tansey – July 1, 1998 – June 30, 2002. Graduate of Loyola. She entered private practice in Elmhurst, IL, near family. She has since relocated to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and is in private practice with a desired slower pace than her Chicago area practice.
Bill Tisol – July 1, 1998 – June 30, 2002. Graduate of Michigan State University. Obtained fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin and stayed on in an academic position at MCW.
Class of 2001
Karen Diefenbach – July 1, 1996 to June 30, 2001. UICOMP medical school graduate. She is now in a research position at Yale University and then obtained a desired position in their pediatric surgery fellowship. Upon completion of her fellowship, she was invited to stay on as teaching faculty at Yale with an academic appointment. After several years at Yale, she has taken a position with Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio.
J.B. Joo – July 1, 1996 to June 30, 2001. Graduate of Loyola. Obtained fellowship in colon-rectal surgery at Cook County in Chicago. He entered private practice in Naperville, IL near family.
Brad Pierce – July 1, 1996 – June 30, 2001. Graduate of University of Minnesota. Obtained a desired position with private practice group near his hometown in Minnesota.
Class of 2000
David Epstein – July 1, 1995 – June 30, 2000. Graduate of Ohio State University. Obtained vascular surgery fellowship at University of Iowa. Went on to desired position in private practice in Virginia. He has an academic appointment and teaches residents and students.
David Reitter – July 1, 1995 – June 30, 2000. Graduate of University of South Dakota. Took position with private practice group in Plymouth, Indiana. Went on to a practice in Minnesota to be closer to family.
Gavish Patel – July 1, 1995 – June 30, 2000. Graduate of UICOMP. Took position with practice group in Peoria. He has an academic appointment with UICOMP.
Class of 1999
Albert Gilman – July 1, 1995 – June 30, 1999. Graduate of Bowman Gray Medical School. Came into program as 2nd year when program expanded to three per year. Obtained desired position with practice group near hometown in North Carolina. He has since relocated to a practice in Decatur, Illinois.
Adonis Lysandrou – July 1, 1994 – June 30, 1999. Graduate of Indiana University. Obtained position with private practice group near hometown in Indiana. Adonis has since relocated to his native Greece. Adonis recently pursued a fellowship position in Vascular Surgery in the US and after completion took a practice position in Florida.
Class of 1998
Richard Anderson – July 1, 1993 – June 30, 1998. Graduate of Loyola University. Obtained desired fellowship in thoracic surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. Took position with practice group here in Peoria. He has an academic appointment with UICOMP and is the Surgery Clerkship Director.
Chris Ertl – July 1, 1995 – June 30, 1998. Graduate of Creighton University. He joined our program at the 3rd year level when we expanded the program. He opened his own practice near his wife’s hometown in Connecticut. After Chris relocated to Michigan, he became a member of the faculty at Michigan State University, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Ken Smith – July 1, 1993 – June 30, 1998. Graduate of Southern Illinois University in Springfield. Has a position with a private practice group near him hometown in southern Illinois.
Class of 1997
Gregory Grant – July 1, 1993 – June 30, 1997. Come to our program at the 2nd year level after a resident left to switch his discipline to anesthesiology. Graduate of UICOMP. Has position with a group practice in northern Illinois, near his hometown.
Mike Mastrangelo – July 1, 1992 – June 30, 1997 – Graduate of Indiana University. Did a one-year fellowship in laparoscopy and endoscopic surgery at the University of Maryland. Has academic appointment at the University of Kentucky.
Class of 1996
Annette Shores – July 1, 1991 – June 30, 1996 – Graduate of UICOMP. Obtained desired private practice position near hometown in southern Illinois.
Ashwin Kansagra – July 1, 1993 – June 30, 1996. Graduate of University of Glasgow. Came to the program in the 3rd year after a resident decided to change his discipline to Family Practice. Ash obtained a fellowship in surgical oncology with Dr. Tapas DasGupta at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is now in private practice on the East Coast.
Class of 1995
Brian Boe – July 1, 1990 – June 30, 1995 – Graduate of UICOMP. Took position with the Indian Health Services for 4 years to fulfill a scholarship obligation. Then took position with private practice group near hometown in northern Illinois.
Toshi Nagamoto – July 1, 1990 – June 30, 1995 – Graduate of Creighton University. Obtained a private practice position in Oregon to be near family. In private practice, affiliated with Samaritan Health Services and Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine where he serves as the General Surgery Residency Program Director.