A two year surgical research experience following the PGY2 year is encouraged but considered optional. Alternatives including shorter or longer research time can be considered. This research experience is an invaluable way to augment the surgical education received during the clinical years for residents interested in a career in academic surgery. Annually, the Surgery Department has a Research Day with research presentations highlighting the work of our faculty, residents, and medical students.

University Hospitals Dudley P. Allen Scholarship

The Dudley P. Allen Scholarship is a research program that includes animal, basic science, health services and clinical research opportunities. In addition to working with numerous surgical-scientists within the department of surgery, there are opportunities for collaboration with Case Western Reserve University researchers in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Center for Imaging Research and others. There is a robust infrastructure for clinical outcomes research with UH RISES (Research In Surgical outcomes & EffectivenesS). Current areas of active research includes:

• Cardiac surgery
• Colorectal surgery
• Endoscopy
• Minimally invasive surgery
• Pediatric surgery
• Surgical oncology
• Thoracic surgery
• Transplant surgery and immunology
• Vascular surgery

Allen Scholars Expectations

Purpose: To create a more robust, accountable and productive research experience for our Allen Scholars

• Allen Scholars will attend Wednesday Morning Resident Education Conferences
• Allen Scholars will attend Wednesday morning M&M and Grand Round Conferences at UH Cleveland Medical Center
• Allen Scholars will be asked to attend UH RISES meetings and contribute to UH RISES on a regular basis (2nd/4th Monday of the month from 2-4 p.m.)
• Monthly lunch meeting for Allen Scholars. These lunches will include journal club/research basics/mentoring talks by members of the faculty or guests. Schedule to be coordinated by UH RISES Research Coordinator.
• Semi-Annual Update: Each Allen Scholar will be asked to provide a brief synopsis of the Allen Scholar’s work to the research committee on a semi-annual basis.

Current Allen/Research Scholars

2nd Year

Christina Boutros, DO (Allen Scholar)

• Hometown: Oyster Bay, NY
• College: New York Institute of Technology
• Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Why Surgery: The fast pace, ability to master a skill, and the ability to make an immediate and tangible impact on a patient’s life.
• Surgical and Professional Interests: Surgical Oncology, Thoracic Surgery
• Hobbies: Spending time with friends and family, playing guitar, playing with my dog, travel
• Any important thoughts to share with new residents: Always be happy to help and keep a smile on your face! :)

Megan Chiu, MD

• Hometown: West Lafayette, IN
• College: Purdue University
• Medical school: Indiana University School of Medicine
• Why surgery? Where do I start? I love being able to be support patients during what may be for many a scary and intimidating process. I enjoy how patient-centered the specialty is. As part of a surgical team, everyone is focused and dedicated to finding solutions and providing the best care for patients through dedication, innovation, and collaboration.
• Surgical and professional interests: Rural/Global Surgery, Advocacy and Outreach, Health Disparities
• Hobbies: Hiking, travel, dancing, cooking/baking, just food in general

Susan Doh, MD (Allen Scholar)

• Hometown: Glenview, IL
• College: University of Chicago
• Medical school: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago
• Why surgery? I love operating and the teamwork involved, the breadth of the field, the technological applications of surgical care, and the capability to directly improve patients’ health and lives.
• Surgical and professional interests: Surgical oncology, disparities in surgical outcomes, surgical education, systems improvement, sustainability research within the field of surgery
• Hobbies: Cooking, Biking, Hiking, rock climbing, travel, playing music, crocheting
• Fun fact about Cleveland? Bill Watterson, the artist and author of the comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes,” grew up in Cleveland.
• Any important thoughts you’d like to share with new residents? Never stop learning, ask for help, and build in time for people and things you care about, find the humor and joy in small things.

Jessica Hungate, MD (Allen Scholar)

• Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
• College: University of Texas at Austin
• Medical school: Texas Tech University – El Paso
• Why surgery? Surgery is the perfect combination of hands-on intervention and immediate results. Also, surgery allows me to support patients during some of the most difficult times of their lives.
• Surgical and professional interests: Trauma/critical care, vascular surgery
• Hobbies: Travel, yoga, exploring Cleveland

1st Year

Natalie Chakraborty, MD

• Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
• College: Baylor University
• Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
• Why surgery? Surgeons get to work with their hands in the OR and to see their work immediately impact patient outcomes. Patient-surgeon relationships are so unique and special because they require such a high level of trust!
• Surgical and professional interests: Surgical oncology, breast surgery, trauma/critical care
• Hobbies: Cooking, exploring new restaurants and bars, walking my dog, traveling, reading
• Favorite Movies: Pretty Woman, Gone Girl, Promising Young Woman
• Favorite Food: Seafood
• Favorite Sport: Basketball
• Favorite Game: Card games, fish bowl
• Why did you choose UH?: UH is a strong academic program that I knew would prepare me to accomplish my career goals.  I was impressed by the breadth of residents’ exposure to complex pathology and high level critical care and by the collaborative training environment and genuine friendship among the residents!
• What else should we know about you? I love entertaining/hosting and will never say no to happy hour!

Tal Eitan, MD

• Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
• College: Case Western Reserve University
• Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
• Why surgery? I appreciate the different roles that surgery can play in different disease processes and the patient empowerment that accompanies goals of care discussions. I’m also motivated by the teamwork, trust, and camaraderie that surgery uniquely creates, both among the surgical team and with patients.
• Surgical and professional interests: Thoracic, transplant, HPB, colorectal
• Hobbies: Playing ice hockey
• Favorite Movies: Good Will Hunting, Miracle
• Favorite Sport: Ice hockey
• Why did you choose UH?: The staff are incredible to work with. They are encouraging when they challenge each resident to and beyond the appropriate level. Everyone seems to be invested in the professional and personal success of each resident. Additionally, UH is a research powerhouse that trains many successful academic surgeons.

Trisha Lal, MD

• Hometown: Varanasi, India but mostly lived in Boston/DC my whole life
• College: University of Maryland, College Park
• Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
• Why surgery? Because I love the balance between clinic and the OR, I love using my hands, and I appreciate the privilege of meeting patients and being able to help them during their most vulnerable moments.
• Surgical and professional interests: Undecided in terms of surgical subspecialties but passionate about health equity and hope to engage in disparity research.
• Hobbies: Painting, cooking, yoga, travel, binging reality television
• Favorite Food: Asian cuisine
• Favorite Sport: Basketball (go Celtics!)
• Why did you choose UH? Because I could tell from even a virtual interview environment that this would be an incredibly supportive environment of inspirational colleagues and mentors who will push me to be my best! And also get my dry sense of humor:)

Erik Risa, MD

• Hometown: Seattle, WA
• College: Santa Clara University
• Medical School: University of Washington
• Why surgery? As someone interested in trauma, burns, and critical care, I’m fascinated by the way surgeons intervene and rapidly influence the care of critically ill patients in high acuity settings. I found it very meaningful to care for patients at all stages of their hospitalization, from rapid diagnosis and management in the ER or trauma bay, to the OR or ICU, and finally to eventual recovery and discharge.
• Surgical and professional interests: Trauma, burns, critical care, health services research
• Hobbies: Golf, my two Golden Retrievers, sous vide cooking
• Favorite Movies: Saving Private Ryan, Terminator 2, Good Will Hunting, Star Wars Empire Strikes Back
• Favorite Food: Steak
• Favorite Sport: Lacrosse
• Favorite Game: Settlers of Catan
• Why did you choose UH?: I was first pointed to UH at the strong suggestion of my mentors, and was very impressed by the excellent breadth and depth of surgical training as well as the opportunities for research through UH RISES. Additionally, I greatly enjoyed my interactions with residents and faculty on interview day, and appreciated how well residents got along and how excited they were to share their program with prospective residents. Finally, I really connected with some of the mission statements of the program with regards to training future leaders in surgery. 
• What else should we know about you? I couldn’t be more excited about the next 5 years in Cleveland!

Emily Simon, MD

• Hometown: Portville, NY
• College: University of Rochester
• Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
• Why surgery? The pace, technical skill, team dynamic and special relationship with surgical patients felt like a space where I could be happy and passionate about going to work
• Surgical and professional interests: Colorectal surgery, breast surgery
• Hobbies: Running, trying out new breweries and food, boating and kayaking
• Favorite Movies: David Fincher films
• Favorite Food: Sushi, anything spicy 
• Favorite Sport: Swimming and all Cleveland sports teams
• Favorite Game: Clue
• Who Inspired you to pursue medicine? My parents (who love helping people in their jobs as educators)
• Why did you choose UH? I loved the culture, academic focus and patient population at UH from my first  MS3 clerkship. The surgical faculty and residents just felt like my people

Off-Site Research

Our residents have received funded opportunities at outside institutions as well, and this can be an alternative option for the research experience.