Chief Residents | PGY4 | PGY3 | PGY2 | PGY1

Hannah Aherrera, MD

Samantha Alexander, DO

Norwood Brown, MD

Cody Dorton, MD

Celeste Ferguson, MD

Dakota Guerrero, MD

Sebastian Shu-Yip MD

Brittnay Sipp, DO

Kabir Torres, MD

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 .

University Health Truman Medical Center
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

 

University Health Lakewood Medical Center
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

• T-Mobile 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

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.

Kayla Briggs Groves, M.D.

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.

Shaniece Craft, M.D.

Hometown: Denver, Colorado Undergrad: Boise State University Medical School: Caribbean Medical University Surgery Interest: Vascular Surgery, General Surgery Hobbies: Spending time with my fiancée doing anything outdoors, tennis, gardening, painting, fantasy football Favorite things to do on days off: Relax on our patio, sleep Reason I came to UMKC: The people and the quality of a well rounded training.

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!

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 am from the East coast but was excited for a change of scenery and chance to be in the Midwest. 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’m excited to be a part of the UMKC family and experience all that Kansas City has to offer.

Chief Residents | PGY4 | PGY3 | PGY2 | PGY1

Asma Ahmed, MD

Hometown: Bangalore, India Undergrad: Little Flower Public School, Bangalore, India Medical School: Rajarajeswari Medical College and Hospital, Bangalore, India Surgery Interest: “The abdomen is a surgeon’s Pandora box.” I would love to unravel the mysteries of the abdomen and pursue Colorectal or Hepatobiliary Surgery. Hobbies: Arts and crafts, reading fiction novels, yoga, cooking, traveling, puzzles Favorite things to do on days off: Exploring restaurants in Kansas City and cooking new recipes. If nothing else, “Eat. Sleep. TV. Repeat”. Reason I came to UMKC: My primary goal was to learn surgery at a place where I would have the opportunity to manage a large variety of surgical problems, help a diverse population, master advanced technologies such as robotic surgery, and work within an environment that is supportive of both my career and personal goals. I was fortunate enough to find all of these requirements at UMKC. Given the fact that we get to work at multiple hospitals, each serving a unique population, and under an extremely collegial and supportive leadership, I decided to choose UMKC for my surgical training. Additionally, Kansas City is my first home in the US and is a great place to live, learn, and grow as a family.

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.

Christopher Ryan Hollabaugh, MD

Hometown: Blue Springs, MO Undergrad: University of Missouri – Columbia Medical School: University of Kansas Surgery Interest: Cardiothoracic, pediatric, minimally invasive, and surgical oncology. Hobbies: Snow skiing, scuba diving, fishing, golfing, making my own barbecue sauce and grilling any chance I get! Favorite things to do on days off: I enjoy spending time with my fiancé, Maggie, and my family who lives in Kansas City. We enjoy spending time down at the Lake of the Ozarks, enjoying Kansas City BBQ, and visiting family out in Oregon. Reason I came to UMKC: I am from the Kansas City area and have lived here most of my life. I have continuously seen the level of care that is demonstrated in the affiliated hospitals with UMKC and it is a privilege to be able to uphold the quality of patient care I’ve witnessed take care of my family, friends, and our community throughout my life.

Danielle Joy Kinsey, MD

Hometown: Bentonville, AR & St. Louis, MO Undergrad: University of Missouri-Columbia Med school: University of Missouri-Columbia Surgery interest: Cardiothoracic, Trauma, Transplant, Surg Onc Hobbies: Anything creative! Favorite things: : Playing with my animals and spending time with my husband. I have two German Shepherds and three kitties that definitely occupy my time! I love interior design (on a budget), painting, mosaics, and flipping cheap furniture into something cool… doesn’t mix well with all the pet hair though! I also have a small quilting business. When I have Sunday off, I enjoy going to church with my husband! Reason I came to UMKC: The next five clinical years (and possibly few research years) are dedicated to becoming the best surgeon I can possibly be. It was apparent on my interview day that UMKC would both prepare me well to immediately go into practice but also set me up for any fellowship I may pursue. It felt like I was a good fit among both the residents and faculty, and I am so excited to start training as part of the UMKC family!

Meghana Kumar, MD

Hometown: St. Louis, MO Undergrad: University of Missouri – Kansas City Med school: University of Missouri – Kansas City Surgery interest: Still undecided but wanting to explore MIS, Colorectal Hobbies: Running, baking, movies/TV Favorite things: : Grab bubble tea or ice cream, explore local bars/breweries, meet up with friends Reason I came to UMKC: I went to UMKC for medical school, so I knew it was a solid surgery program in a great city. As a bonus, my sister also lives in Kansas City.

Talayna Leonard, DO

Hometown: Gillette, Wyoming Undergrad: University of Wyoming Medical School: ATSU-KCOM Surgery Interest: Undecided Hobbies: Hiking, traveling, Camping, pottery, knitting, hunting and playing card games. I have never met a cat I wouldn’t pet or a taco I wouldn’t eat. Favorite things to do on days off:I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, visiting local breweries, or sitting down with some popcorn and a movie. Reason I came to UMKC: I can see myself becoming a part of the community and I have loved all the time I have spent in Kansas City. This program provides many opportunities and excellent training with a welcoming atmosphere.

Isabella Nair, MD

Hometown: Kansas City, MO Undergrad: University of Missouri – Kansas City Medical School: University of Missouri – Kansas City Surgery Interest: MIS, Trauma, Cardiothoracic Hobbies: Traveling, Baking, Pottery, Spin Class Favorite things to do on days off: I love spending time with my family, boyfriend and friends. We all enjoy trying out new restaurants in Kansas City, patio hopping and traveling when possible! I also enjoy sleeping in and bingeing netflix on my days off! Reason I came to UMKC: I was able to see firsthand the culture of this program and the training its residents receive as a UMKC med student. Through my interactions with the residents while completing rotations on surgical services, I knew these were people who I wanted not only to be co-residents with, but also friends with. Kansas City is also home to me and I know that having my family, boyfriend and high school friends close by throughout residency will prove invaluable.

Dylan Pate, DO

Hometown: Lee’s Summit, MO Undergrad: University of Missouri – Kansas City Medical School: A.T. Still University – Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine Surgery Interest: Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Hobbies:Hiking, football, fishing, and hunting. Favorite things to do on days off: Spending time with family and friends, KC Chiefs football, spending time outdoors. Reason I came to UMKC: : I was able to visit the program for a month, and I was thoroughly impressed with the camaraderie between residents and the degree of autonomy afforded to the residents within this program.

Kenmin Wu, MD

Hometown:New York, New York Undergrad: City University of New York, The City College of New York Medical School: State University of New York, Upstate Medical University Surgery Interest: Breast Surgical Oncology, Reconstructive Surgery Hobbies: Gardening, Homebrewing, Cooking, Fitness Favorite things to do on days off: Training diversity that offers a wide variety of operative experiences, in addition to a strong dedication to teaching, academics and patient care.