Current Fellows

Program Alumni

Kenneth Garland, DO

Complex GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2025 - 2026

Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medical Center
Residency: General Surgery, Oklahoma State University Medical Center

Learn more about Dr. Garland’s career

Deepika Sharad, DO

Complex GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2025 - 2026

Medical School: Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, HCA East Florida Division, Westside/Northwest Program

Learn more about Dr. Sharad’s career

Shruti Hegde, MD

Complex GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2024 - 2025

Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch
Residency: General Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern
Post-fellowship position accepted: N/A

Learn more about Dr. Karimzada's career

Mohammad Karimzada, MD

Complex GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2024 - 2025

Medical School: University of California – Los Angeles
Residency: General Surgery, University of California – San Francisco
Post-fellowship position accepted: Bariatric & Foregut Surgeon, Sutter Davis Hospital

Learn more about Dr. Karimzada's career

Talha Rafeeqi, MBBS, MD

Complex GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2024 - 2025

Medical School: Dow University of Health Sciences
Residency: General Surgery, Valley Health System
Post-fellowship position accepted: Foregut Surgeon, The Oregon Clinic – Foregut Surgery Division

Learn more about Dr. Rafeeqi's career

Michael Dabit, DO

Complex GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2023 - 2024

Medical School: Rocky Vista University COM
Residency: General Surgery, Swedish Medical Center
Post-fellowship position accepted: Esophageal & General Surgeon, SurgOne

Learn more about Dr. Dabit's career

Trevor Plescia, MD

Complex GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2023 - 2024

Medical School: UC Irvine School of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, UC Davis Medial Center
Post-fellowship position accepted: General Surgeon, Kaiser Sacramento Medical Center

Learn more about Dr. Plescia's career

Reid Sakamoto, MD

Complex GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2023 - 2024

Medical School: Keck School of Medicine of University Southern California
Residency: General Surgery, John A. Burns School of Medicine – University of Hawaii at Manoa
Post-fellowship position accepted: Foregut and Bariatric Surgeon, Queen’s University Medical Group

Learn more about Dr. Sakamoto’s career

David Leenen, MD

Complex GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2022 - 2023

Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, Brown University at Rhode Island Hospital
Post-fellowship position accepted: General Surgeon, Brown University Health at The Miriam Hospital

Learn more about Dr. Leenen's career

Olga Lebedevskiy, MD

Complex GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2022 - 2023

Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, ARMC / Kaiser Fontana Medical Center
Post-fellowship position accepted: General Surgeon, Northwest Digestive Center

Learn more about Dr. Lebedevskiy's career

Courtney Cartier, DO

Complex GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2022 - 2023

Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, New York University al Langone Brooklyn Hospital
Post-fellowship position accepted: Esophageal and General Surgeon, Texas Health Surgical Specialists

Learn more about Dr. Cartier's career

Maggie Hodges, MD, MPH

Advanced GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2021 - 2022

Medical School: Emory University
Residency: General Surgery, University of Colorado
Post-fellowship position accepted:

Assistant Professor, Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery
Program Director, Advanced GI MIS Fellowship, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Learn more about Dr. Hodge's career

Andreas Hennig, DO

Advanced GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2021 - 2022

Medical School: Western University of Health Services
Residency: General Surgery, St. Anthony Hospital
Post-fellowship position accepted: General, Trauma and Foregut Surgeon, Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center

Learn more about Dr. Hennig's career

Teresa Gross, MD

Advanced GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2021 - 2022

Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, Saint Joseph Hospital
Post-fellowship position accepted: General Surgeon, Dignity Health Medical Group

Learn more about Dr. Gross's career

Timothy Mansour, MD

Advanced GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2020 - 2021

Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, University of South Alabama
Post-fellowship position accepted: Foregut, Bariatric and General Surgeon, Surgical Association of Alabama

Learn more about Dr. Hennig's career

Melissa DeSouza, MD

Advanced GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2020 - 2021

Medical School: Drexel University of College of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University
Post-fellowship position accepted:

Foregut and Bariatric Surgeon, The Oregon Clinic – Foregut Surgery Division
Foregut and Bariatric Surgeon, Providence Digestive Health Institute
Research Director, Advanced GI – Foregut Surgical Fellowship, Providence Portland Medical Center

Learn more about Dr. 's career

Brett Parker, MD

Advanced GI Surgery Fellow, 2019 - 2020

Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, University at Buffalo – State University of New York
Post-fellowship position accepted:

Foregut and Bariatric Surgeon, John Hopkins University
Assistant Professor of Surgery, MIS Division, John Hopkins University

Notable achievements:

SAGES IRCAD France Visiting Fellowship Award 2020

Learn more about Dr. Parker's career

Reid Fletcher, MD

Advanced GI Surgery Fellow, 2019 - 2020

Medical School: Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, Rush University at Cook County Hospital Integrated Surgery Program
Post-fellowship position accepted: General and Foregut Surgeon, The Vancouver Clinic

Learn more about Dr. Fletcher's career

Kelly Haisley, MD

Advanced GI Surgery Fellow, 2018 - 2019

Medical School: University of Washington
Residency: General Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University
Post-fellowship position accepted:

General and Gastrointestinal Surgeon, The Ohio State University
Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery, The Ohio State University

Learn more about Dr. Haisley's career

Michael Antiporda, MD

Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2018 - 2019

Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, Mayo Clinic Florida
Post-fellowship position accepted: Gastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgeon, Premier Surgical Associates

Learn more about Dr. Antiporda's career

Ahmed Zhini, MD

Advanced GI Surgery Fellow, 2017 - 2018

Medical School: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, Washington University of St. Louis

Learn more about Dr. Zhini's career

Filippo Filicori, MD

Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2017 - 2018

Medical School: University of Bologna
Residency: General Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine
Post-fellowship position accepted: Associate Professor of Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital and Northwell Health
Notable achievements:

Director of Surgical Research, Lenox Hill Hospital
Director of MIS Fellowship, Lenox Hill Hospital

Learn more about Dr. Filicori's career

Marc Ward, MD

Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2016 - 2017

Medical School: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, University of Chicago
Post-fellowship position accepted: Assistant Professor of Surgery, Baylor University Medical Center
Notable achievements:

Division Chief, Surgical Research
Section Chief, Endoscopic Surgery
RO1 Grant Recipient
Resident Teacher of the Year

Learn more about Dr. Ward's career

Ezra Teitelbaum, MD, MEd

Advanced GI Surgery Fellow, 2016 - 2017

Medical School: Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, Northwestern University
Post-fellowship position accepted: Assistant Professor of Surgery, Northwestern University

Learn more about Dr. Teitelbaum's career

Paul Colavita, MD

Advanced GI Surgery Fellow, 2015 - 2016

Medical School: University of North Carolina School Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center
Post-fellowship position accepted: Assistant Professor of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center (Atrium Health)

Learn more about Dr. Colavita's career

Kristin Beard, MD

Advanced GI – Foregut Surgery Fellow, 2015 - 2016

Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern

Learn more about Dr. Beard's career

Emily Speer, MD

Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2014 - 2015

Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, University of Colorado
Post-fellowship position accepted: Foregut Surgeon, SCL Health
Notable achievements:

SAGES Foregut Task Force Committee Member
SAGES Guest Speaker
Teaching Faculty, General Surgery Residency Program
SAGES Mini-Med School Co-Chair
Golden Coin Recipient
POEM Certification
LINX Certification
Robotic Certification

Learn more about Dr. Speer's career

Amber Shada, MD

Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2014 - 2015

Medical School: University of Wisconsin
Residency: General Surgery, University of Virginia
Post-fellowship position accepted: Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of MIS and Bariatric Surgery, University of Wisconsin
Notable achievements:

Layton Rikkers Medical Student Teaching Award 2019
Lou Bernhard Resident Teaching Award 2022
UVA Alumni Leadership Award 2022

Learn more about Dr. Shada's career

Eran Shlomovitz, MD

Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2013 - 2014

Medical School: University of Western Ontario
Residency: General Surgery, University of Toronto

Learn more about Dr. Shlomotvitz's career

Radu Pescarus, MD

Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2013 - 2014

Medical School: University of Montreal
Residency: General Surgery, University of Montreal
Post-fellowship position accepted:

Foregut and Bariatric Surgeon, University of Montreal
Associate Professor, CIUSS NIM, University of Montreal

Learn more about Dr. Pescarus' career

Steven Leeds, MD

Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2012 - 2013

Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, Maricopa Medical Center
Post-fellowship position accepted:

Baylor University Medical Center
Center for Advanced Surgery, Baylor, Scott & White

Notable achievements:
- Division Chief, Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Assistant Clinic Professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine
Learn more about Dr. Leeds' career
Nathan Conway, MD

Advanced GI Surgery Fellow, 2012 - 2013

Medical School: University of Washington
Residency: General Surgery, Baystate Medical Surgery

Learn more about Dr. Conway's career
Ashwin Kurian, MD

Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2011 - 2012

Medical School: Bangalore Medical College
Residency: General Surgery, Abington Memorial Hospital
Post-fellowship position accepted: Attending Surgeon, SurgOne PC

Learn more about Dr. Kurian’s career
Neil Bhayani, MD

Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2011 - 2012

Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: General Surgery, Howard University Hospital
Post-fellowship position accepted:
- Master of Health Science in Clinical Investigation, The Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgical Fellow, Penn State University
- Notable achievements:
  - Director of Liver, Pancreatic and Complex Cancer Surgery, Association of South Bay Surgeons
  - Director of Reflux and Esophageal Surgery, Association of South Bay Surgeons
  - Clinical and Translational Research MT Group
  Learn more about Dr. Bhayani’s career
  Andrew Kastenmeier, MD
  
  Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2010 - 2011
  
  Learn more about Dr. Kastenmeier’s career
  Richard Pierce, MD
  
  Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2009 - 2010
  
  Learn more about Dr. Pierce's career
  Trudie Goers, MD
  
  Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2009 - 2010
  
  Learn more about Dr. Goers’ career
  Tim Kennedy, MD
  
  Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2008 - 2009
  
  Learn more about Dr. Kennedy’s career
  Michael Awad, MD, PhD, MHPE, FACS
  
  Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2008 - 2009
  
  Learn more about Dr. Awad’s career
  Michael Ujiki, MD
  
  Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2007 - 2008
  
  Learn more about Dr. Ujiki's career
  Tayyab Diwan, MD
  
  Advanced GI – MIS Surgery Fellow, 2007 - 2008
  
  Learn more about Dr. Diwan's career

Current Fellows

Program Alumni

Kenneth Garland, DO

Deepika Sharad, DO

Shruti Hegde, MD

Mohammad Karimzada, MD

Talha Rafeeqi, MBBS, MD

Michael Dabit, DO

Trevor Plescia, MD

Reid Sakamoto, MD

David Leenen, MD

Olga Lebedevskiy, MD

Courtney Cartier, DO

Maggie Hodges, MD, MPH

Andreas Hennig, DO

Teresa Gross, MD

Timothy Mansour, MD

Melissa DeSouza, MD

Brett Parker, MD

Reid Fletcher, MD

Kelly Haisley, MD

Michael Antiporda, MD

Ahmed Zhini, MD

Filippo Filicori, MD

Marc Ward, MD

Ezra Teitelbaum, MD, MEd

Paul Colavita, MD

Kristin Beard, MD

Emily Speer, MD

Amber Shada, MD

Eran Shlomovitz, MD

Radu Pescarus, MD

Steven Leeds, MD

Nathan Conway, MD

Ashwin Kurian, MD

Neil Bhayani, MD

Andrew Kastenmeier, MD

Richard Pierce, MD

Trudie Goers, MD

Tim Kennedy, MD

Michael Awad, MD, PhD, MHPE, FACS

Michael Ujiki, MD

Tayyab Diwan, MD