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!