Get to know our residents
Our residents are a diverse group that come from a variety of backgrounds and have unique experiences and interests. We look forward to getting to know you as well!
PGY 1
Lauren Bootzin, MD
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Medical School: Central Michigan University
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? As a rotating medical student, I loved my time at Corewell Health in West Michigan. The faculty and residents were very engaged in teaching students, there was a wide variety of pathology, and the residents were a great group of people to work with. I'm excited to move home and help treat people in my community.
Clinical Interests: I am interested in pediatric surgery and minimally invasive surgery.
Hobbies: My hobbies include reading, hiking, traveling and playing board games and sports. I enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Clarice Callahan, MD
Hometown: Greenville, MI
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? I am very excited to continue my journey here in West Michigan. Grand Rapids is a fast growing city with so much to offer and the community here is so kind and welcoming. As a previous medical student here, it was such an excellent learning environment with the high volume, large variety of cases, and compassionate staff. I feel very grateful to continue my training here.
Clinical Interests: As an integrated interventional radiology resident, I am eager to experience all that this year has to offer and get to know my general surgery colleagues better.
Hobbies: I enjoy eating good food with friends and family. Whether that is trying new restaurants around Grand Rapids, through travel abroad, or just cooking new recipes at home. I also enjoy being in the outdoors and staying active, fishing, golfing, skiing. In any other spare time I have I will typically be working on home renovation projects or anything DIY related.
Lauren Eberhardt, MD
Hometown: Franklin, MA
Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? I am excited to join such a supportive and dedicated community with so many opportunities.
Clinical Interests: At this point in my career, my interests are broad as I have found something to love in every rotation.
Hobbies: My hobbies include powerlifting and CrossFit, baking, podcasting and coaching.
Patricia Garcia, MBBS
Hometown: Brampton, Canada
Medical School: University of Limerick
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? I am thrilled about joining the team at Corewell Health in West Michigan because of their commitment to innovation and patient-centered care aligns perfectly with my values. I believe I will receive a top-notch residency experience because the program prioritizes resident education. My general surgery internship will allow me to develop the skills necessary to become an excellent interventional radiologist.
Clinical Interests: I am interested in research that explores artificial intelligence and the role that it will play in the future of radiology. Otherwise, the attendings at Corewell in West Michigan cover so many subspecialties so I am excited to learn from each of them and discover what my niche may be.
Hobbies: In my spare time, I like to enjoy films and food. I hope to attend the Cannes Film Festival sometime soon so that I can enjoy the cinema and the delicious food in the French Riviera.
Jager Haan, MD
Hometown: McBain, MI
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? I am excited to work with an amazing team!
Clinical Interests: My clinical interests include all things interventional radiology.
Hobbies: My hobbies include mountain biking, fly fishing, traveling and cooking.
Katherine Huebner, MD
Hometown: Coopersville, MI
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? I have lived in West Michigan my entire life and I am very excited to be able to stay and complete my surgical training here. I am also excited to work with all of the residents and attendings. During my medical school rotations at Corewell Health in West Michigan everyone was always very supportive and friendly. They always made me feel at home!
Clinical Interests: I am currently undecided and excited to explore all of the different subspecialties of general surgery.
Hobbies: I enjoy running, exercising, traveling, spending time with my husband and our dog, Moose and hanging out with friends and family.
Jacob Kalkman, MD
Hometown: Holland, MI
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? I am excited to train at Corewell Health in West Michigan because of the excellent exposure to both complex sub-specialty and bread-and-butter general surgery cases. I am also excited about working with the outstanding faculty and co-residents who have developed a supportive, close-knit culture within the program.
Clinical Interests: I am currently most interested in surgical oncology, particularly in treating cancers of the hepato-pancreato-biliary system and minimally invasive surgery.
Hobbies: I enjoy playing golf, boating, watching the Detroit Lions and Red Wings and spending time with my wife, daughter and dog.
Payton Kooiker, DO
Hometown: Caledonia, MI
Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? I'm ecstatic to return home and provide care to the community I grew up in. The fact that I'll be trained at such a high-level program with high level faculty is the cherry on top.
Clinical Interests: I've spent a decent amount of time in cardiothoracic surgery and really enjoyed it, but I'm keeping an open mind while exploring my options.
Hobbies: If I'm not in the hospital, there's a 99% chance I'm golfing, fishing, watching sports or at the gym.
O. Parker Martinez, MD
Hometown: Carrollton, TX
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? I am excited to train at a high-volume, comprehensive surgery program among supportive faculty and co-residents who want to see me succeed and will help me accomplish my goals. As a transplant to the Midwest, I also can't wait to explore Michigan!
Clinical Interests: I am interested in pursuing a career in plastics and reconstructive surgery.
Hobbies: I love being outdoors whether it's going for a run, hiking, or playing tennis or pickleball. I also enjoy exploring new restaurants and watching movies.
Shannon Smith, MD
Hometown: Maynard, MA
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? I am excited to move to the Midwest and explore Michigan! After my interview, I knew that I would feel at home here and I am excited to expand my surgical skills while serving the communities that make up West Michigan.
Clinical Interests: At this point in my training, my clinical interests are very broad and I am excited about exploring all avenues of general surgery. I am particularly interested in exploring more within the fields of Surgical Oncology or Pediatric Surgery.
Hobbies: I love to cook and try new recipes! My favorite recipes always come from Half Baked Harvest. I also enjoy going to the beach or drinking wine in the sunshine with my friends.
Allison Swider-Ebels, MD
Hometown: Belding, MI
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? Working with Corewell Health in West Michigan's general surgery program during medical school showed me the impressive level of competency that their residents develop throughout their training here. I am excited to be joining and learning from this team of brilliant physicians!
Clinical Interests: I have always been interested in general surgery. I think the variety of cases and ability to curate your practice towards the needs in a particular community is intriguing. I look forward to seeing how my path/interests change or remain throughout residency.
Hobbies: My main hobby is golfing. I also enjoy going for walks around downtown Grand Rapids, discovering new restaurants or breweries and spending time at the lake with my family.
Kyle Thompson, MD
Hometown: Crown Point, IN
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? I am excited to train in a new environment with a focus on patient care and professional development.
Clinical Interests: I have a broad set of clinical interests that I hope to narrow down throughout my training. Currently, I have an interest in minimally invasive surgery.
Hobbies: I have a strong appreciation for art and enjoy seeing work downtown by local artists. I also enjoy exploring nature through hiking and trail walking.
PGY 2
Zachary Bustamante, MD
Hometown: Dearborn, MI
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? The general surgery residency offered an excellent academic-community hybrid program which gives me the exact training experience I wanted. Additionally, West Michigan is one of the best places in the world for its cities, beaches and forests.
Clinical Interests: I am currently interested in exploring all the fellowships related to general surgery to inform my decision whether or not to pursue additional training. General surgery, especially emergency general surgery, is awesome all by itself though!
Hobbies: I love talking about and working on cars, as well as doing anything active in nature, especially hiking, trail running and mountain biking.
Kristen Hawes, MD
Hometown: Bingham Farms, MI
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? I am excited to be training in such a well-rounded general surgery program! I was really impressed with everything Corewell Health in West Michigan had to offer during my interview and know this program will prepare me for anything I might choose to pursue after residency.
Clinical Interests: At this point it's tough to narrow down my clinical interests, but right now I'm especially interested in trauma/critical care and surgical oncology.
Hobbies: Outside of the hospital I enjoy hiking, skiing, playing recreational sports with friends and seeing live music whenever possible.
Danielle Katz, DO
Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, MI
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? I am most excited to work with my co-residents and attending physicians! I am also looking forward to exploring the field of general surgery.
Clinical Interests: My current clinical interests include breast surgery, plastic surgery, and acute care surgery.
Hobbies: I enjoy going to spin classes, visiting coffee shops, baking and spending time with family and friends!
Claire McNary, MD
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? I am looking forward to the wide range of operative experience offered at Corewell Health in West Michigan. Additionally, the academics and supportive environment make this an excellent program to train at.
Clinical Interests: I am open to all fields of general surgery, but I do have an interest in minimally invasive surgery and breast surgery.
Hobbies: In my off time, I enjoy painting and traveling. Grand Rapids is a really fun place to live with events going on almost every day, so I always look forward to trying new restaurants and exploring the area with my family and friends.
Matt Morris, MD
Hometown: South Boston, VA
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? I knew that I wanted to begin my career at a "hybrid" residency program where I could experience the operative volume of a community program with the complexity of cases and academic infrastructure of a university program. I also knew that I wanted to train with others who valued compassion to patients and each other, clinical excellence and service to the community. Even though the interview season was virtual, when I met the faculty and residents here I really felt like their program aims were an excellent fit for my career goals. I know that as West Michigan's referral hospital I will see an incredible breadth and complexity of surgical cases throughout my five years and be surrounded by an amazing set of caring and committed peers.
Clinical Interests: As a medical student, I most enjoyed my rotations in general surgery, colorectal surgery and trauma and critical care, but I'm currently undecided. Whatever I do, I hope that I can build a career to include serving rural or global communities.
Hobbies: As a former raft guide and outdoor professional, I love whitewater rafting and kayaking, hiking and mountain biking. I'm looking forward to learning about the lakes and experiencing all four of Michigan's seasons. In my limited free time, I also like to brew beer and spend time with my fiancé and our ridiculous cat.
Brett Mueller, MD
Hometown: Kohler, WI
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? I am most excited about the people at Corewell Health in West Michigan. The personalities and atmosphere here are what drew me to this institution!
Clinical Interests: I don't have a specific interest within general surgery but I intend on pursuing a fellowship in the specialty that piques my interest over the next few years.
Hobbies: Most of my hobbies are surrounded around health and fitness. I love playing basketball and getting outside to play disc golf. Anything I can do to stay active is right up my alley.
Patrick Renner, MD
Hometown: Milford, OH
Medical School: Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? I am excited to do my residency here because of the fantastic exposure and excellent training that I will receive. I believe that the high volume and dedicated attending physicians that can be found throughout Corewell Health in West Michigan will mold me into a skilled surgeon during my time here.
Clinical Interests: I am interested in all aspects of surgery at this point, especially surgical critical care. However, I am excited to experience each of the different specialties and am open to all future possibilities.
Hobbies: I enjoy staying active by working out and playing sports recreationally. I also like meeting up with friends to watch Notre Dame football and other live sporting events.
PGY 3
Jason Aubrey, MBBS
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Medical school: University of Limerick
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? My interactions with the residents and faculty during interview season were very positive and welcoming. It was evident the program had a supportive culture amongst the residents and everyone spoke highly of their training and opportunities. I also loved the idea of a hybrid program, giving the best of both community and academic general surgery in one place.
What are your clinical interests? At this time I am most interested in acute care surgery and surgical critical care, but I am open and excited to explore the various fields within general surgery.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending time reading, hiking, exercising, watching sports, playing board games/cards and relaxing with friends and family.
Lauren Blanck, MD
Hometown: Rochester, MI
Medical school: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I have loved West Michigan since I first came here for undergrad at GVSU nearly 10 years ago. Since then I've developed an incredible community of friends and have had an amazing time exploring the breweries, trails, beaches and everything else this side of the state has to offer. Having also been with this health system as a volunteer, employee and student, staying to continue my training was an easy choice. The case volume and variety, the opportunities for research and the culture among residents here are all second to none.
What are your clinical interests? I'm interested in exploring all of the opportunities available in general surgery.
Hobbies: I love having a creative outlet in my free time, from painting and embroidery, to test driving new recipes on my friends, to returning to Grand Valley and playing trumpet in the Laker Alumni Marching Band. I also enjoy hanging out at the lake or hammocking at a park along the river whenever the weather is good.
Allison Hoppe, MD
Hometown: Unionville, MI
Medical school: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health because I knew the people here had my back and would support me through my residency training. As a medical student here, I could feel the strong team culture and wanted to be a part of that.
What are your clinical interests? At this time, I am most interested in surgical oncology. The hepatobiliary anatomy is fascinating.
Hobbies: I love to play sports (beach volleyball, slow pitch softball, etc.) as well as travel. I am a die-hard Detroit Lions fan and try to make as many home games as I can.
Alexandra Sasha Laykova, DO
Hometown: Ternopil, Ukraine
Medical school: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose this program because of my co-residents and attendings! Everyone is kind and has a team comes first mindset which makes coming to work so much more enjoyable. I also chose this program because it offers all of the benefits of academic training while teaching you excellent operative skills that ensure you are capable of operating at the end of your training.
What are your clinical interests? I am currently interested in a wide variety of subspecialties including Surgical Critical Care, Surgical Oncology, Plastics and Colorectal.
Hobbies: My hobbies include spending as much time outside as possible and exploring Michigan whether it's hiking, running or skiing. I also enjoy playing volleyball, watching Great British Baking Show, spending time with my family and dog and Christmas decorating.
Gordon Liu, MD
Hometown: Shanghai, China
Medical school: Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health because I felt like I fit in with the residents and the culture of the surgical program. I wanted to join a residency that would help me grow and improve in both technical and knowledge based aspects. The people are wonderful and truly invested in learning and teaching whenever possible.
What are your clinical interests? I am interested in multiple aspects of surgery, including minimally invasive surgery and trauma surgery, but I am open to other options.
Hobbies: I enjoy kayaking and camping when the whether is nice. Cooking and hosting friends and family is a passion. I also love traveling and playing arcade games with my significant other.
Victor Magana, MD
Hometown: Round Lake, IL
Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I choose Spectrum Health for a number of reasons. One of the biggest influences was the people. When interviewing I felt that I got along best with the residents here than at any other program and that was very important to me because residency is a big time commitment. Doing it with people you don't get along well with will only make that time more difficult than it needs to be. Further, I felt that the program itself offered the experience I was looking for in a residency when it come to clinical exposure, autonomy throughout residency and research opportunities, if that was something I was interested in.
What are your clinical interests? I am still exploring a lot of my interest within the general surgery field. I really like pediatric surgery currently, but also find plastic surgery to be very interesting. A bit up in the air still for what I think I will pursue at this time once I complete residency.
Hobbies: I am a competitive volleyball player and spend most of my free time trying to find places to play. I love playing any chance I get. I also like staying active in any way I can.
Sindhu Mannava, MD
Hometown: Morganville, NJ
Medical school: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I have the privilege of returning to residency at Corewell Health in West Michigan after spending 2 years away on research time. West Michigan is a wonderful place to train, complete with tremendously supportive faculty and co-residents who are family. We see a large volume of patients with a wide variety in pathology,
What are your clinical interests? I am interested in pediatric surgery, surgical oncology, and trauma/critical care.
Hobbies: My husband and I love taking trips to see family, traveling to new places, finding new shows to binge-watch and spending time outdoors.
Sarah Plachinski, MD
Hometown: Oak Creek, WI
Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? What drew me to Spectrum was the unique hybrid design of the program, with excellent academic and community surgical experience.
What are your clinical interests? Breast surgery MIS/Bariatrics Trauma.
Hobbies: I have enjoyed exploring West Michigan with my amazing co-interns— especially in the forms of trivia and breweries.
PGY 4
Alex Finn, MD
Hometown: Fond du Lac, WI
Medical school: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? Spectrum Health's general surgery program was appealing to me because it has the perfect mix of academic and community programs and has fantastic hospitals to train in. It will prepare me to go straight into practice out of residency while not restricting fellowship opportunities.
What are your clinical interests? I aspire to be a community general surgeon that can bring excellent and safe care to my parents.
Hobbies: I enjoy traveling to different state and national parks, hiking, camping and trying new food with my wife and two children.
Jesse Kelley, MD
Hometown: Manistee, MI
Medical School: University of Michigan
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I chose Spectrum Health because of the people. Everybody I have had the fortune of meeting has been so helpful and kind. It is clear that Spectrum Health, and its people, take pride in patient care, resident education, and serving the community.
What do you like most about your program? I am most looking forward to bonding with my co-interns during the Procedural Skills Training Sessions!
Clinical Interests: As of now, I am interested in general surgery, vascular surgery, trauma surgery, and minimally invasive surgery.
Living in West Michigan: I most enjoy the four seasons and the scenery that comes along with it!
Hobbies: I enjoy fishing, hiking, camping, canoeing/kayaking, exercising, and spending time with family and friends.
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Hannah Liefeld, MD
Hometown: Williamsport, PA
Medical school: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? The Spectrum Health faculty is top-notch, the subspecialty exposure is all-encompassing and I am confident I will receive diverse and plentiful operative experience; the supportive nature of my colleagues and co-residents is an added bonus! It sounds incredibly cliché, but my interactions with the faculty and residents on interview day ultimately sealed the deal for me!
What are your clinical interests? My clinical interests are broad, which is one of several reasons why I decided to pursue general surgery. I had wonderful experiences rotating in pediatric surgery, emergency general surgery and thoracic surgery while in medical school.
Hobbies: I enjoy playing sports and outdoor activities - hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing, etc! I also love baking, DIY projects and spending time with family and friends!
Alexandra Mouch, MD
Hometown: Toledo, OH
Medical school: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? Spectrum Health provides a wide variety of both clinical and research opportunities while still allowing for a lot of operating time and hands-on experience. I enjoyed getting to know residents and faculty during my interviews and felt like they would be great people to work with. I was also really excited about moving to West Michigan.
What are your clinical interests? I am interested in general surgery as well as colorectal surgery and surgical oncology. I am looking forward to exploring my interests more throughout my residency.
Hobbies: I enjoy running, reading, swimming, being outdoors and tasting wines. I love spending time with my husband and our dog, Sadie, and being with family and friends.
Emily Pardington-Madden, MD
Hometown: Canton, MI
Medical School: Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I chose Spectrum for residency for many reasons. I wanted a program that allowed for early operative exposure while providing opportunities for research. Location was a factor I considered, and Grand Rapids is a great city that has so much to offer, fulfilling both personal and professional needs. However, it was my surgical rotation at Spectrum that solidified this program as my number one choice for residency. The faculty and residents are incredible surgeons and phenomenal teachers, focusing not only on technical precision, but comprehensive patient care. They have cultivated an atmosphere that facilitates optimal learning without the slightest notion of malignancy.
What do you like most about your program? I look forward to the entire journey. I am entering residency ready to learn and grow, excited to accomplish professional goals, and discover new ones.
Clinical Interests: I am excited to explore the numerous surgical subspecialties throughout my five years at Spectrum and ultimately discover what my future in this profession will be.
Living in West Michigan: West Michigan is such a vibrant, beautiful part of the state. Grand Rapids has incredible restaurants and breweries, weekly music and theatre productions, a local ballet company that performs throughout the year, comedy shows, numerous festivals such as ArtPrize- I could go on and on.
Hobbies: I enjoy baking, traveling, reading, and yoga. The Grand Rapids Ballet Company has adult ballet classes that I attend when able and I love going to their performances throughout the season. My fiancé and I love taking cooking classes at the Downtown Market and attempting to recreate these dishes at home. I also love movies and a good Netflix series!
Aryana Sharrak, MD
Hometown: West Bloomfield, MI
Medical school: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I was born and raised in Michigan and I wanted to train as a surgeon in the community I'm from. I specifically chose Spectrum Health because I knew it provided a good balance as a hybrid program with research and high operative volume. The global health work in the surgery department was also something that attracted me to the program.
What are your clinical interests? At this time, I am excited to pursue the various subspecialties of surgery and see where my interests lie. Whichever subspecialty I choose, I plan to do global surgery work in the future.
Hobbies: I enjoy reading, Harry Potter, making jewelry, sewing, Peloton and traveling.
Douglas Snow, MD
Hometown: Alpena, MI
Medical school: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? During my sub-Internship, I was able to work with the faculty and residents. I always felt a great sense of family and hard work. They all showed a strong passion for their patients and learning.
What are your clinical interests? Coming from a small town I have become very passionate about rural surgery. Especially the role of rural access and rural recruitment.
Hobbies: Some of my hobbies are hockey, family, board games, craft beer and the great outdoors.
Dustin Tran, DO
Hometown: Holland, MI
Medical school: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I chose Spectrum Health because it is a great hybrid program with exposure to many surgical subspecialties all located in one city. As a West Michigan native, there is no place like home.
What are your clinical interests? My current clinical interest is general surgery.
Hobbies: My current hobbies are cooking, watching and playing sports such as soccer, golf and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
PGY 5
Allie Sandra Eickholtz, MD
Hometown: Sanford, MI
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I chose Spectrum Health because of the people here. The attendings are invested in not just our education but also our professional development. The residents here are truly a family, they are always willing to help out.
What do you like most about your program? I'm most excited to work with my co-residents as a team. Senior residents really help foster a team environment while supporting the junior residents' education. Clinical Interests: I am interested in rural or small-town general surgery.
Living in West Michigan: I love the abundance of outdoor activities. Some favorite places include Yankee Springs State Park and Saugatuck Dunes State Park.
Hobbies: I enjoy sewing, running, hiking, and cross-country skiing.
Sophia Garfinkel, MD
Hometown: West Bloomfield, MI
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I chose Spectrum for residency because I loved everything about it on my interview day and the people that I met while on rotations. Everyone I worked was extremely knowledgeable and encouraging to me as a medical student, and someone was always there to lend a helping hand. I always felt comfortable here and I couldn't see myself training anywhere else.
What do you like most about your program? I am most looking forward to working with the residents and attending physicians. I loved the camaraderie of this program between all levels of training and the options to experience a variety of different areas of surgery . I am also looking forward to getting to know Grand Rapids and exploring West Michigan more.
Clinical Interests: I am currently interested in Acute Care Surgery but I hope to explore all different parts of surgery during my training.
Living in West Michigan: I love how beautiful it is on the West side of Michigan. I have previously lived in the Upper Peninsula and West Michigan definitely rivals the scenery and options for outdoor activities. There are also so many amazing restaurants that I cannot wait to visit.
Hobbies: When I am not working I love to work out at my favorite Crossfit gyms, watch classic movies, and enjoy time with family and friends. I am also currently trying teach myself how to cook and bake.
Mariam Tajalli Khan, MD
Hometown: Saginaw, MI
Medical School: Michigan State College of Human Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I chose Spectrum Health for my residency for a number of reasons. I had a great experience rotating with general surgery as a medical student. The residents are awesome - intelligent, hard-working, and a very fun group of people. Our attendings care a lot about our training and getting us in the OR early. Because we are a quaternary center, we have a high operative volume and get to see a lot of interesting things. I'm really glad to be here.
What do you like most about your program? I like the different types of training settings, the variety of pathology we see, and of course my co-residents!
Clinical Interests: My clinical interests surgical oncology, breast surgery, general surgery.
Living in West Michigan: There's so much to do here. I especially enjoy the music scene, indoor rock climbing, and spending time outdoors when it's not too cold.
Hobbies: My main hobbies are reading, baking, and doing yoga.
E. Jona Restivo, MD
Hometown: New Port Richey, FL
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? As a CHM student, I did my SICU rotation at Spectrum and I absolutely loved it! I learned so much and it was clear that the residents and attendings enjoyed teaching. It was clear that the environment was caring and supportive.
What do you like most about your program? I am most excited to start doing procedures and expand my skill set. I am also looking forward to getting to know the amazing people in my program.
Clinical Interests: I am interested in specializing in trauma and critical care. I also hope to be involved in academics and teaching the next generation of physicians.
Living in West Michigan: I enjoy the diversity and liveliness of Grand Rapids, along with all the entertainment and restaurant options it offers.
Hobbies: I enjoy reading, traveling, painting, and spending time with family. One day I hope to be able to write "going to the gym" as one of my hobbies, but today is not that day.