Current PGY-1 General Surgery Residents

Sana Basheer
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

Sana Basheer earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Biochemistry from the Illinois Institute of Technology, where she was selected as the College of Science Commencement Speaker. She also earned a Master of Public Health from Harvard University and is currently pursuing her MD at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. 

Sana is deeply committed to advancing health equity and access to care. She co-founded and advises a free clinic serving uninsured immigrant and refugee populations in Chicago and has led large-scale initiatives to strengthen healthcare access through community partnerships. As a Harvard Winokur Fellow, she conducted a clinical needs assessment in the Mississippi Delta, collaborating with local leaders to design and implement public health interventions. 

Her work spans research, advocacy, and innovation, including leading interdisciplinary research in diabetes health disparities, contributing to multiple peer-reviewed publications, and developing an AI-driven platform to advance neurodegenerative disease research. She has also demonstrated a strong commitment to mentorship, supporting pre-medical students from disadvantaged backgrounds through longitudinal advising and tutoring. 

In her free time, she enjoys baking, thrifting, reading, and spending time with family.

Nora Donahue
Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Nora Donahue earned her Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language and Public Health from Vanderbilt University, graduating magna cum laude. She then completed a post-baccalaureate program at Columbia University before pursuing her MD at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. 

Nora has demonstrated a strong commitment to surgical research and education, with projects spanning pediatric surgery, surgical oncology, and orthopedics. Her work has led to multiple presentations at national and international conferences, and she received awards including the Hofstra Summer Research Scholar Award and Best Clinical Research Presentation at the Northwell Surgery Research Forum. 

She has held leadership roles as Co-President of both the Association of Women Surgeons and the Surgery Coalition, where she organized mentorship, skills workshops, and networking events. Nora is also deeply committed to service, volunteering at a free clinic providing care to underserved patients and founding a national Alzheimer’s Association support group for young adult caregivers. 

In her free time, she enjoys cooking, going to concerts, reading, playing the violin, skiing, and spending time at the beach.

Connor Doyle
Georgetown University School of Medicine

Connor Doyle earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Loyola University Maryland and a Master of Science in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University. He is currently pursuing his MD at Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he is a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and a recipient of multiple merit-based scholarships. 

Connor has demonstrated a strong commitment to surgical education, mentorship, and leadership. He founded and directs a surgical exposure program for medical students, serves as co-president of the Surgery Interest Group, and teaches anatomy while mentoring students across all levels of training. His research spans surgical outcomes, oncology, and transplant surgery, with multiple peer-reviewed publications and presentations. 

In addition to his academic work, Connor has been actively involved in clinical care and advocacy through free clinics serving underserved populations and previously worked as a clinical research coordinator at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

In his free time, he enjoys cooking, playing golf and lacrosse, following New York sports teams, and traveling to explore new cities and cuisines.

Heejoo Kang
Boston University School of Medicine

Heejoo Kang earned her Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience from Boston University and is currently pursuing her MD at Boston University School of Medicine. She is a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and a recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship and Medical Student Summer Research Program Award. 

Heejoo has a strong interest in surgical outcomes and health disparities, with extensive research spanning trauma, vascular surgery, and surgical oncology. Her work has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications, national presentations, and ongoing projects focused on improving care for vulnerable patient populations. 

Deeply committed to service and advocacy, Heejoo has held leadership roles in refugee health initiatives, including co-leading a student group supporting care for refugee patients and developing community-based programs addressing food insecurity. She has also served as a crisis hotline volunteer and as a mentor connecting medical students with surgical research opportunities. 

In her free time, she enjoys audiobooks, traveling, and exploring national parks.

Lois Owolabi
Harvard Medical School

Lois Owolabi earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and is currently pursuing her MD at Harvard Medical School. 

Passionate about global health and improving access to care, Lois has conducted extensive research focused on cardiovascular disease and health systems in Nigeria, including a large cohort study on heart failure and projects addressing road traffic injuries. She has received multiple competitive scholarships and grants, including funding from the National Board of Medical Examiners/National Medical Fellowship and the Harvard Medical School Office of Scholarly Engagement for global health research. 

Lois is deeply committed to mentorship, education, and advocacy. She has served as a mentor and teacher for students at multiple levels, founded and led the Vascular Surgery Interest Group, and held leadership roles in the Student National Medical Association. She is also actively involved in clinical and volunteer work both locally and internationally, including care delivery and surgical exposure in Nigeria. 

In her free time, she enjoys high-intensity interval training, hiking, cycling, singing, playing guitar, and reading fiction.

Jonathan Puder
Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

Jonathan Puder earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University, where he also completed a Master of Science and PhD in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently pursuing his MD at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine.

With a strong foundation in engineering and innovation, Jonathan has conducted extensive research in both basic science and translational medicine, including work in peripheral nerve injury and electrical stimulation techniques. He has an extensive publication record with multiple peer-reviewed articles and national and international presentations. Prior to medical school, he worked as a civilian staff scientist at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, where he led engineering teams and developed advanced communication technologies.

Jonathan is passionate about mentorship and community engagement, having served as a tutor and mentor for students and as a Big Brother through Big Brothers Big Sisters. He has also demonstrated resilience and discipline through completing an Ironman triathlon. He is currently a General Surgery intern at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

In his free time, he enjoys endurance training, powerlifting, drumming, improv comedy, reading, and traveling.

Adam Skura
University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan School of Medicine

Adam Skura earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Human Biology from the University of Southern California, graduating magna cum laude. He is currently pursuing his MD at the University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan School of Medicine. 

Adam is passionate about improving access to care and community health. He served as Primary Clinic Coordinator for the Worcester Free Care Collaborative, where he helped deliver care to underserved populations while leading clinic operations and volunteer coordination. He also led a community garden initiative to provide fresh produce to local food-insecure communities. 

In addition, Adam has been actively involved in surgical education and mentorship through research initiatives and as a peer mentor, supporting fellow medical students academically and professionally. His research includes projects in surgical outcomes and healthcare delivery, with presentations at regional and national conferences. 

In his free time, he enjoys biking, kayaking, line dancing, and exploring genealogy.

Alexandra Theall
University of Michigan Medical School

Alexandra Theall earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Amherst College. She is currently pursuing her MD at the University of Michigan Medical School, where she is also completing a Master of Health Professions Education. A recipient of the University of Michigan Dean’s full-tuition scholarship, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to academic medicine and surgical education. 

Passionate about surgical education and mentorship, Alexandra has conducted extensive research on surgical training, intraoperative entrustment, and gender disparities in surgery, earning recognition including a Best Poster award at the Marvin Kirsh Research Symposium. She has served as a research fellow with the Center for Surgical Training and Research and has contributed to multiple presentations and publications in medical education. 

Alexandra is deeply committed to mentorship and advocacy, serving as Co-President of a medical mentorship program supporting underrepresented students, as well as a clinical volunteer and mentor at a student-run free clinic. She has also received competitive grants from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and is actively involved in initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion in surgery. 

In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, traveling, exercising, and fostering shelter dogs.

Maria Velasquez Hammerle
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud

Maria Velasquez Hammerle earned her medical degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali. She completed postdoctoral research fellowships at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital, where she focused on orthopaedic and translational research. She has conducted extensive research in musculoskeletal biomechanics, sports medicine, and fracture healing, contributing to numerous peer-reviewed publications and national presentations. She was the recipient of an NIH award to develop a diagnostic tool for oncologic patients.

Passionate about mentorship, education, and advocacy, Maria has served as a Teaching Assistant at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and is actively involved in organizations supporting women and diversity in surgery. She has also participated in global health initiatives through the Harvard Global Orthopaedics Collaborative and led a clinical trial in Peru aimed at improving surgical care in resource-limited settings. She is currently a Preliminary General Surgery resident at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

In her free time, she enjoys road biking, trekking, playing the piano, and watching films.

Sadique Ali
Chandka Medical College

Sadique Ali earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Chandka Medical College in Pakistan. He completed residency training in anesthesiology at Aga Khan University, where he was recognized for academic excellence as both Best Resident and Best Graduating Resident. 

Sadique has extensive clinical experience across internal medicine and anesthesiology, with a strong focus on perioperative care, critical care, and ultrasound-guided procedures. He is currently completing a clinical fellowship in Advanced Perioperative Anesthesia at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he is involved in comprehensive perioperative management and medical education. 

He has contributed to clinical research in anesthesiology with peer-reviewed publications and national presentations. Ali has also demonstrated leadership through organizing educational workshops and teaching procedural skills to trainees.

In his free time, he enjoys playing cricket, cooking, watching movies, and playing video games.

Laith Ayasa
Al-Quds University Faculty of Medicine

Laith Ayasa earned his Doctor of Medicine from Al-Quds University Faculty of Medicine. He has been recognized for academic excellence and leadership, including receiving the Presidential Medal of High Achievement and multiple national and international awards for research and innovation. 

Laith is currently a Chief Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he leads numerous clinical and translational research projects, contributing to an extensive portfolio of peer-reviewed publications and national presentations. His work focuses on thoracic surgery, interventional pulmonology, and innovative approaches to airway disease. 

He has demonstrated strong leadership and commitment to medical education through founding and directing large-scale mentorship and training initiatives, as well as contributing to global surgery efforts aimed at improving access to care in underserved regions.

In his free time, he enjoys playing and coaching squash, hiking, exploring new coffee shops, and listening to blues music.

Ummuhan Bilgili
Bezmialem Vakif Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi 

Ummuhan Bilgili earned her Doctor of Medicine from Bezmialem Vakif University in Turkey, where she was recognized for academic excellence and received a nationally competitive TÜBİTAK research grant. 

She has a strong background in clinical care and surgical research, having worked as a General Practitioner in a high-volume emergency department in Turkey and currently serving as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Her research spans colorectal surgery, surgical informatics, and translational science, with numerous peer-reviewed publications and national presentations. 

Ummuhan has demonstrated resilience and dedication through global health and service initiatives, including providing frontline care during the 2023 Turkey earthquake relief efforts and participating in international health advocacy programs. She has also shown strong leadership through founding a student-run research lab and mentoring junior trainees. 

In her free time, she enjoys sailing, singing and performing arts, cooking, and practicing taekwondo.

Fatemehsadat Pezeshkian
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

Fatemehsadat Pezeshkian earned her Doctor of Medicine from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran. She was recognized for outstanding academic achievement, ranking in the top 100 of approximately 500,000 participants on Iran’s National University Entrance Exam and receiving a full medical school scholarship. 

She has a strong background in thoracic surgery research and clinical care, currently serving as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. In this role, she has led quality improvement initiatives, contributed to large prospective surgical databases, and conducted research focused on surgical oncology, frailty, and outcomes in geriatric patients. Her work has resulted in numerous peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences. 

In addition to her research, she has provided clinical care as a primary care physician in a rural setting in Iran, improving access to care for underserved populations. She has also demonstrated leadership through mentoring trainees, leading research teams, and contributing to innovative projects integrating technology into surgical care. 

In her free time, she enjoys playing piano, dancing, swimming, cooking, and creating art and jewelry.

Dena Shehata
Hawler Medical University College of Medicine

Dena Shehata earned her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from Hawler Medical University College of Medicine in Iraq. She has been recognized for her leadership and collaboration, including receiving the Lorenzo Anez-Bustillos Peer-to-Peer Merit Award and selection for the U.S. Department of State–sponsored Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program. 

She has a strong background in both clinical care and cardiothoracic surgery research, currently serving as a Clinical Research Fellow at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center. In this role, she has contributed to numerous research projects focused on surgical outcomes and healthcare disparities, resulting in multiple peer-reviewed publications and national presentations. She has also been involved in surgical simulation education and development of evidence-based surgical guidelines through SAGES. 

Dena has demonstrated a deep commitment to service and advocacy, including working as a refugee and internally displaced persons case manager, where she supported vulnerable populations through medical and psychosocial care. Her leadership experience also includes serving as a local president of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations and mentoring trainees from underrepresented backgrounds. 

In her free time, she enjoys hiking, weightlifting, and dancing.