Chief Residents | PGY4 | PGY3 | PGY2 | PGY1

Nathan Carpenter, MD

Hometown: Green Bay, WI Undergrad: University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin Surgery Interest: Undecided Hobbies: Cooking, exploring cities, eating, video games, biking, hiking Favorite things to do on days off: Wake up fairly early, drink a cup of coffee on my balcony, and read Reason I came to UMKC: I wanted to experience a new training style and fall in love with a new city. I am also excited that my wife and I were able to match to the same institution!

Laura Esry, DO

Hometown:  Lenexa, KS Undergrad:  University of Kansas Medical School:  Kansas City University Surgery Interest:  Trauma/Critical Care Hobbies:  Walks with my dog, ballet, sporting events (go chiefs and Jayhawks!), cross-stitch, puzzles, board games Favorite things to do on days off: Traveling, spending time with my family and friends, sleep Reason I came to UMKC: Everyone that I met was incredibly welcoming. I rotated here as a student and greatly enjoyed interacting with the attending’s, residents, and hospital staff!

Garima Thakkar, MD

Hometown: St. Louis, MO Undergrad: University of Missouri-Kansas City Med school: University of Missouri-Kansas City Surgery interest: Trauma, Surgical Oncology, MIS Hobbies: Reading, traveling, yoga Favorite things: Eating, exploring new places around KC, being outdoors Reason I came to UMKC: As a medical student here, I was fortunate enough to experience the diverse training, friendly residents, and supportive faculty mentors first-hand and knew it was right for me. KC feels like home and is a great city with countless things to do!

Madelynn Watkins, MD

Hometown: Bossier City, LA Undergrad: Washington University in St. Louis Medical School: Louisiana State University Shreveport Medical School Surgery Interest: Breast or General Hobbies: Playing and Watching Most Sports, Walking, Puzzles, Hanging with Friends Favorite things to do on days off: Hanging out with my daughter, husband, and dog! Reason I came to UMKC: During the reception the night before interviews, I immediately felt that this was a place I want to be. The residents were so welcoming and seemed to be very close with each other. During interviews, there was a family atmosphere where everyone has each other’s backs and everyone is willing to work hard for each other to achieve a common goal.

Patrick Weldon, DO

Hometown: Wilmington, NC Undergrad: Virginia Tech Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) – Carolinas Campus Surgery Interest: Vascular and endocrine surgery Hobbies: Running, hiking, snowboarding, college football, fantasy football, traveling, taking my dog Wilson on walks, anything involving a large body of water, craft breweries, grilling/cooking, playing Jeopardy/trivia Favorite things to do on days off: Find a trail to running on, go to a local coffee shop, take my dog to a dog park (excited to check out Bar-K), visit a local brewery, watching Netflix/Hulu or any type of sporting event Reason I came to UMKC: I couple’s matched at UMKC with my significant other, Christine, who is in the OB/GYN program. We both are from North Carolina but were excited to explore a new city together. I had a great time at my pre-interview dinner and on interview day I felt a true sense of comradery among the residents. I can’t wait to start at UMKC and experience all that Kansas City has to offer.

Antonio Martinez Castillo, DO

Hometown: Lagrange, IN Undergrad: Huntington University Medical School: Des Moines University Surgery Interest: Rural General Surgery Hobbies: Running, playing soccer, hiking, listening to podcasts, listening to music, reading fiction, and watching movies. Favorite things to do on days off: Spend time with friends catching up, watching movies, and going out to eat. Reason I came to UMKC: I thought the program had a comprehensive curriculum that would be valuable for a future in general surgery. I wanted to be near family and Kansas City is also an awesome place live in.

Brady Mosher, MD

Hometown: Memphis, TN Undergrad: Ole Miss Medical School: LSU Health Science Center Shreveport Surgery Interest: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Hobbies: Aviation, Rock climbing Favorite things to do on days off: Explore the town with my wife Reason I came to UMKC: to hopefully continue my training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Caleb Hall, DO

Hometown: Springfield, MO Undergrad: Missouri State University Medical School: A.T. Still University – Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine Surgery Interest: General Surgery Hobbies: Any Recreational Sport, Hunting, Fishing, Board Games, Card Games, Video Games, Spending time with family and friends. Favorite things to do on days off: Spend time with my son Reason I came to UMKC: It is close to home, and I have always enjoyed everything Kansas City has to offer from restaurants to sporting events etc.

Travis Ogogor, DO

Hometown: Abuja, Nigeria Undergrad: Rockhurst University Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences Surgery Interest: General Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Global Surgery Hobbies: Running, futbol, snowmobiling, farming, traveling, and cooking. Favorite things to do on days off: I like to cook and post the process onto social media platforms. I also like to run and hang out with my best friends Reza, Frank, and Basky while exploring Kansas City. Reason I came to UMKC: Having lived in Kansas City for the past 16 years, it was always my firm desire to stay and serve the Kansas City community that has given me so much in regards to academic opportunities. Also, the reputation of the program at UMKC with regards to the variety of cases, supportive residents and staff were all a major draw.

Current Resident Research Projects

Resident Quick Links

• ACGME Op Logs
• Call Schedule
• MedHub
• New Innovations
• Research Goals

Kansas City

Entertainment districts

• Kansas City Power & Light
• Westport
• Plaza

Music/Theatre

• Sprint Center
• Kauffman Center for Performing Arts

Professional Sports

• Chiefs
• Royals
• Sporting KC

Food & Drink

• BBQ
• Boulevard brewery
• Kansas City Restaurant Week

Art

• Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
• Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

History

• WWI Museum
• Union Station

Other Events/Activities

• Kansas City Zoo
• Crown Center
• First Fridays
• First Weekends
• Rockfest
• Boulevardia
• Great Picnic
• American Royal World Series of BBQ
• Kansas City Renaissance Festival

The UMKC Surgery residency is fortunate to have a number of hospitals for training, providing a very broad scope of training throughout residency, and is one of the greatest strengths of the program. Five Hospitals are involved in training .

Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill
TMC is immediately attached to UMKC Medical School in downtown Kansas City. The following are usual clinical rotations per year. Clinical rotations at TMC include: Trauma Surgery Service A and General Surgery Service B, ICU, Vascular Surgery Service C and Plastic Surgery. TMC has high level of acuity patients and a very busy trauma service.

Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City (SL)
Saint Luke’s Hospital is an Episcopal owned hospital, and has a long history of resident and student education. It is located just north of the Country Club Plaza in midtown Kansas City. Rotations at SL include Service 1 – general, breast, and surgical oncology, Service 2 – MIS/ Bariatric Surgery, Service 3 – Trauma, Critical Care, and Transplant. Sophisticated cases with the use of robotics are frequent at SL.

Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC)
The KCVA Medical Center is located in the eastern portion of Kansas City. Featured rotations at the VAMC include both General Surgery, as well as Vascular/ Thoracic rotations. Very sophisticated hepatobiliary and pancreatic cases are frequently performed there

 

Truman Medical Center Lakewood
TML is an affiliate Hospital of TMC located in Lee’s Summit, MO, in the Southeast quarter of the Kansas City metro area. Featured services are general surgery and endoscopy in a community hospital setting

Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics (CMH)
CMH is a nationally renowned children’s hospital immediately adjacent to TMC/ UMKC, and connected by a sky bridge. A Pediatric Surgery rotation as a PGY-2 occurs.

Kansas City offers many of the big-city amenities and experiences but still manages to keep a small-town feel. It’s not uncommon for our residents to own a home with a yard but still benefit from training at a busy trauma center at an inner city hospital. Our primary training site, Truman Medical Center, is located in the heart of the city, surrounded by multiple popular entertainment districts. We are home to three professional sports teams and some really great barbeque. Every summer, Kansas City hosts the largest one-day music festival in North America and every fall, we host the largest barbeque contest and celebration in the world. For those desiring a more low-key Midwest lifestyle, just a 20-minute drive in nearly any direction will get you there. The KC metro area is home to some of the best school districts in the nation. No matter your interest – shopping, dining, music, art, sports, boating, camping, or even the rodeo – our city has much to offer. But don’t just take our word for it, the Huffington Post ranked Kansas City America’s Top City in 2014. In 2012, Bloomberg.com ranked our city the 15th best city to live in. Many of our graduates find that they like KC so much they stay and work here. Already planning to move here? Click here for things you must know before you move the KC or here to plan a visit. For a list of annual events in KC, click here.

Entertainment districts

• Kansas City Power & Light
• Westport
• Plaza

Music/Theatre

• Sprint Center
• Kauffman Center for Performing Arts

Professional Sports

• Chiefs
• Royals
• Sporting KC

Food & Drink

• BBQ
• Boulevard brewery
• Kansas City Restaurant Week

Art

• Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
• Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

History

• WWI Museum
• Union Station

Other Events/Activities

• Kansas City Zoo
• Crown Center
• First Fridays
• First Weekends
• Rockfest
• Boulevardia
• Great Picnic
• American Royal World Series of BBQ
• Kansas City Renaissance Festival

Chief Residents | PGY4 | PGY3 | PGY2 | PGY1

Yazen Assaf, M.D.

Hometown: Chicago, IL Undergrad: Loyola University Chicago Medical School: Chicago Medical School Surgery Interest: CT, Trauma/Critical Care Hobbies: Hiking, rock climbing, snowboarding Reason I came to UMKC: I wanted a program with a strong operative experience and a wide variety of subspecialties to rotate through. I also love KC the few times I visited and really saw spending the next five years here.

Brandon Bacon, M.D.

Hometown: Kaysville, Utah Undergrad: University of Utah Medical School: University of Utah – School of Medicine Surgery Interest: Cardiothoracic Hobbies: Soccer, snowboarding, cycling, reading Favorite things to do on days off: Spend time with my wife and daughter, exercising, and exploring Kansas City. Reason I came to UMKC: Kansas City struck me as a great Midwest city with lots to do and really nice people. I like that the program rotates through five different hospitals, providing diverse surgical training. While I will miss the mountains of the West, the rolling hills and greenery have been fantastic!

Kendra Black, M.D.

Hometown: Tempe, AZ Undergrad: Arizona State University Graduate: Boston University Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine Surgery Interest: Trauma/Critical Care Hobbies: Running, Netflix, naps Favorite things to do on days off: Sleeping in, exploring the city, going to Chiefs games Reason I came to UMKC: The residents are welcoming, the city is great and I felt like I would get a good education here.

Jamal Malik, D.O.

Hometown: Dallas, Texas Undergrad: Texas A&M University Medical School: UNTHSC Surgery Interest: Trauma Hobbies: Basketball, football, tennis, and food. Favorite things to do on days off: Exploring different food options in town and hanging out with friends and family. Reason I came to UMKC: Kansas City seems like an awesome city with a good balance of things to do. Also, growing up in the South, I was amazed by how nice everyone is. Plus an added bonus – you don’t have to worry about hurricanes here!

Chief Residents | PGY4 | PGY3 | PGY2 | PGY1

Jamie Clementi, M.D.

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois Undergrad: Loyola University Chicago Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Surgery Interest: Plastic Surgery or Vascular Hobbies: Volleyball, knitting, backpacking/back-country camping Favorite things to do on days off: Watch movies, listen to true crime podcasts, go to breweries/check out new brunch spots. If I’m feeling particularly ambitious, I’ll try some baking and my goal is to make the perfect macaroon. Reason I came to UMKC: I liked having different training sites, and I felt that the residents and faculty were very welcoming and friendly. Plus, being a life-long Chicagoan I wanted city-living that still has that Midwestern charm.

Brent Forrest, M.D.

Hometown: Johnson City, Tennessee Undergrad: Southern Adventist University Medical School: Loma Linda University Surgery Interest: Trauma/Critical Care or Vascular Hobbies: General aviation, golf, fitness Favorite things to do on days off: Fly, work out, golf Reason I came to UMKC: Heard great things from alumni and residents of the program. Great impression on interview day. KC is a great place to live

Kelly Kapp, M.D.

Hometown: Cape Girardeau, MO Undergrad: University of Missouri – Kansas City Medical School: University of Missouri – Kansas City Surgery Interest:  Minimally Invasive Hobbies: Running, Dancing, Playing Tennis or Pickle Ball, Learning a new song on the piano, Trying new coffee houses, Scuba Diving, Skiing, and Traveling whenever I get the chance! Favorite things to do on days off: Grab a cup of coffee and catch up with friends, enjoy the outdoors with a run or activity outside and try a new restaurant or happy hour in Kansas City (I’ve lived here for 6 years and there are still new reasons to love the city I’m discovering every day!) Reason I came to UMKC: As a student at UMKC I knew the program well. After experiencing a multitude of programs I felt that this was the perfect fit for me. It provides a comprehensive and diverse experience throughout several different locations including private and public hospitals as well as a VA. Additionally the residents at this program are not only respectful colleagues but close friends. This place is perfect for me because I know I will receive excellent training while being well-supported by the close knit community of kind, friendly residents and faculty.

Miguel Perea, M.D.

Hometown: El Paso, Texas/Chihuahua, Mexico Undergrad: University of Texas in El Paso Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio Surgery Interest: Vascular Surgery Hobbies: Going to new restaurants, aquariums, kayaking and paddleboarding Favorite things to do on days off: Spend time with my wife and take our dogs for walks. Reason I came to UMKC: The people are amazing and the city is beautiful.

Jacob Rash, M.D.

Hometown: Peculiar, Missouri Undergrad: University of Missouri-Kansas City Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City Surgery Interest: Rural Surgery Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, other outdoor activities, scuba Favorite things to do on days off: Spend time outdoors Reason I came to UMKC: Loved the people and program. I wanted to stay at home too!

Chief Residents | PGY4 | PGY3 | PGY2 | PGY1

Hannah Hurst, D.O.

Hometown: Custer, Wisconsin Undergrad: University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School: Des Moines University – College of Osteopathic Medicine Surgery Interest: Plastic Surgery, wound care Hobbies: Dancing, running, yoga Favorite things to do on days off: Catch up with friends and family, try new restaurants, explore the city Reason I came to UMKC: Big city opportunities with Midwest charm, relatively close to home, very friendly people.

Jasti Bhavana, M.D.

Hometown:  Peoria, IL Undergrad:  UMKC Medical School:  UMKC Surgery Interest:  General Surgery Hobbies:  ceramics, travel Favorite things to do on days off:  city market, cooking Reason I came to UMKC: Supportive staff, resident independence, and variety of training facilities.

Kimberly Jones, M.D.

Hometown: Kansas City Undergrad: Washington University in Saint Louis Med school: Saba University Surgery interest: Colorectal Hobbies: baking, painting Favorite things: sleep in, playing with my dog Reason I came to UMKC: I rotated here during medical school and fell in love with the welcoming nature of both the staff and residents. I could easily see myself being part of this community. There were also a wide variety of cases and exposure to different patient populations.

Amber Leila Sarvestani, M.D.

Hometown: Fayetteville, AR Undergrad: University of Missouri- Kansas City Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City Surgery Interest: As I am answering this at the beginning of my surgical training, my interests are limited to my surgical exposure. From what I have experienced so far I have a passion for surgical oncology, minimally invasive surgery, and foregut. It will be interesting to look back on this in 5 years when I have made a decision on what is my surgical passion. Hobbies: To name a few: cooking, all things sports, travel, and hiking. Favorite things to do on days off: Sleep, eat, and catch up with my loved ones. Reason I came to UMKC: During medical school, I was able to see first-hand the culture of this residency program and through my observations I knew this program was something I wanted to be a part of. In addition, what is not to love about the city of Kansas City? It is certainly a hidden gem!

Calli Schardein, D.O.

Hometown: Blanchard, OK Undergrad: Oklahoma State University Medical School: Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Surgery Interest: Trauma/Critical Care Hobbies: Camping, cooking Favorite things to do on days off: Spend time with my husband and our cats Reason I came to UMKC: The program welcomed me with open arms and made me feel like family.

Eduardo Vaca, M.D.

Hometown: Chicago, IL Undergrad: Davidson College Medical School: Rush Medical College Surgery Interest: General Surgery Hobbies: Traveling, enjoying good food, playing sports, watching movies Favorite things to do on days off: Explore KC and all the great things the city has to offer Reason I came to UMKC: Diversity of training, amazing people, and KC is a great city!