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