Past Graduates

2024

Leah Aakjar, M.D. - Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, Oregon Health & Science University

Jennifer Brewer, M.D. - Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, Louisiana State University School of Medicine

Jonathan Chang, M.D. - Colorectal Surgery Fellowship, Saint Francis Hospital

Abigail Doelger, M.D. - Bariatrics/Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship, Rush University

Austin Healy, M.D. - Plastic Surgery Residency, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Akila Ramaraj, M.D., M.P.H. - Pediatric Surgery Fellowship, University of Tennessee Health Science Center-Memphis

Kesley Sullivan, M.D., M.S. - Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, University of Maryland Medical Center

2023

Ashley Althoff, D.O. - Colorectal Fellowship, Advent Health, Orlando, FL

Kayla Bassett, M.D. - Colorectal Fellowship, Brown University, RI

Manuel Alejandro Fajardo, M.D. - Plastic Surgery Residency, University of Illinois, Chicago

Brendan Gontarz, M.D. - Private Practice, Vascular Surgery Fellowship, Hartford Hospital

Christina Klecker, M.D. - Critical Care Fellowship, Boston University

Aneesah McClinton, M.D. - MIS/Bariatric Fellowship, New York Presbyterian - Weill Cornell Medicine, NY, NY

Christina Provenza, M.D. - Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship, Baystate Medical Center

2022

Mohammed Irfan Ali, M.D. - Vascular Surgery Fellowship, Thomas Jefferson

Alyson Cunningham, M.D. - Colorectal Surgery Fellowship, Saint Francis Hospital

Constantine Poulos, M.D. - Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship, Tufts Medical Center

Ishna Sharma, M.D. - Bariatrics/Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Jielin Yu, M.D. - Thoracic Surgery Fellowship, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX

2021

Jacob Campbell, D.O. - Pediatric Surgery Fellowship, Connecticut Children’s

Brendan Honick, M.D. - Surgical Oncology Fellowship Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine

Neel Joshi, M.D. - Plastic Surgery Residency, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington, MA

Laura Lamb, M.D. - Vascular Surgery Fellowship, Hartford Hospital

David Kull, M.D. - Vascular Surgery Fellowship, Hartford Hospital

Zachary Solomon, M.D. - MIS Fellowship, Saint Francis Hospital

2020

Olayemi Ajayi-Lamanna, M.D. - Private Practice, CT

Joel Calafell, M.D. - Colon and Rectal Fellowship, Leigh Valley Health Network

Lance DeRoss, M.D. - Plastics Fellowship, University of Illinois at Chicago

Swagoto Mukhopadhyay, M.D. - Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Roswell Park

Anthony Tran, M.B.B.Ch., BAO, MS - Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship, Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital – Plano

Zulara Wahla, M.D. - MIS Fellowship, Hackensack University Medical Center

2019

James Berry, M.D. - Colorectal Surgery Fellowship at LSU Shreveport

Sarah Brant, M.D. - Private Practice, CA

Vipul Gargya, B.M.B.S. - Plastic Surgery, St. Joseph’s University Medical Center

Beata Lobel, M.B.B.C.h. BAO - MIS Fellowship, Saint Francis Hospital

Daniella Vega, M.D. - Beaumont Plastic Surgery Residency, Farmington Hills, MI

Rickesha Wilson, M.D. - Cleveland Clinic Bariatric Surgery Fellowship, Cleveland, Ohio

Resident Awards by Sites

Connecticut Children’s

Mark Sebastian Award for Excellence in Pediatric Surgery

June 2020
Constantine Poulos

June 2021
Aneesah McClinton

June 2023
Jonathan Hanna
Ka’la Drayton

Mark Sebastian Award for Surgical Excellence

June 2024
Maya Petashnick

Hartford Hospital

Ludwig J. Pyrtek, M.D. Memorial Award
Bestowed to one surgical chief resident

To a surgical chief resident who exemplifies the combination of clinical and scientific capabilities so characteristic of Dr. Pyrtek.

2020 Anthony Tran
2021 Jacob Campbell
2022 M. Irfan Ali
2023 Ashley Althoff
2024 Akila Ramaraj

Robert Warren Painter, M.D. Memorial Award
Bestowed to one surgical chief resident

To the outstanding resident for excellence in academics, teaching, and clinical care.

2020 Swagoto Mukhopadhyay
2021 Laura (Lamb) Healy
2022 Jielin Yu
2023 Kayla Bassett
2024 Leah Aakjar

Monroe Himelstein, M.D. Memorial Award
Bestowed to one surgical chief resident

Surgical resident who epitomizes the clinical inquiry and teaching expertise in the area of surgical science so typical of Dr. Himelstein, the “Surgeon’s Surgeon”.

2020 Lance DeRoss
2021 David Kull
2022 Constantine (Dean) Poulos
2023 Brendan Gontarz
2024 Abigail Doelger

Charles Polivy, M.D. Memorial Award
Bestowed to one 3rd year and one 4th year categorical resident

A 3rd and 4th categorical resident who is recognized as a role model in clinical accomplishments and educational pursuits and who exemplifies a sincere concern for the provision of quality patient care.

Year 3rd Year Resident 4th Year Resident
2020 Constantine (Dean) Poulos Jacob Campbell
2021 Ashley Althoff Constantine (Dean) Poulos
2022 Abigail Doelger Ashley Althoff
2023 Jonathan Hanna Abigail Doelger
2024 Jeremey Fridling Filippos Kontos

St. Francis Hospital

R2 Award: This award recognizes the UConn General Surgery Resident who demonstrates collaboration, congeniality, and excellence as the “Consultation Resident” at Saint Francis Hospital.

2021 Jennifer Brewer
2022 Jennifer Hale
2023 Joshua Knopf
2024 Lauren Harrison

Anthony S. Morgan Award, M.D. Award

Established in 2015, the Anthony S. Morgan, M.D. award is given to the surgery resident who provides exemplary care the acutely ill and injured patients on the trauma and acute care surgery service at Saint Francis Hospital.

2020 Laura Lamb
2021 David Kull
2022 Dean Poulos
2023 Christina Klecker
2024 Samantha Slattery

Henry Mannix, Jr., M.D. Award for Resident Excellence

Presented to the PGY4/5 surgical resident who has demonstrated professionalism, teamwork, academic achievement, and the highest quality of clinical work at Saint Francis Hospital.

2020 Anthony Tran
2021 Jacob Campbell
2022 Kayla Bassett
2023 Kayla Bassett
2024 Jennifer Brewer

The Hospital of Central Connecticut

Andrew J. Canzonetti Award

Best 4th Year Surgical Resident

2020 Jacob Campbell
2021 Jielin Yu
2022 Christina Klecker
2023 Leah Aakjar
2024 Ryan Desrochers