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

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:)

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

1st Year

Sami Abul-Khoudoud, MD

• Hometown: Ashland, KY
• College: University of Kentucky
• Medical School: University of Kentucky
• Why Surgery: Surgeons have the privilege of being able to treat both the physiological and physical aspects of disease and have a direct impact on the outcomes of their patients.
• Surgical and Professional Interests: Subspecialty interests include vascular surgery, HPB surgical oncology, and MIS/complex abdominal wall reconstruction. Professional interests include surgical education, quality improvement, and health equity.
• Hobbies: Cooking and baking, painting, clay sculpture, watching sports, escape rooms
• What else should we know about you? I have two dogs and a hedgehog who are my bosses outside of the hospital

Kayvan Barekatain, MD

• Hometown: San Diego, California
• College: University of California at Berkeley
• Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
• Why surgery? I chose surgery because of my desire to make an immediate impact on a patient’s life while also helping them navigate complex health concerns.
• Surgical and professional interests: Undecided, surgical education
• Hobbies: Travelling, cooking, board games
• Favorite Movies: Finding Nemo, Happy Gilmore
• Favorite Food: Gheymeh (Persian Split Pea Stew)
• Favorite Sport: Basketball
• Favorite Game: Monopoly
• Who Inspired you to pursue medicine?: While I’ve wanted to pursue medicine since my first frog dissection, helping my father navigate my late grandmother’s illness was a turning point in my commitment to becoming a physician.
• Why did you choose UH? As a student at Case I was able to rotate at UH and see first-hand the impact that UH had on the local population. I choose UH to further my surgical training and continue serving the Cleveland community.
• What else should we know about you? I love jokes and always want to expand my collection.

Jill Knepprath, MD

• Hometown: Houston, TX
• College: Minnesota State University Mankato
• Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
• Why Surgery: I love that you are able to dedicate your attention to one patient in the OR and make an immediate impact.
• Surgical and Professional Interests: Surgical education, MIS
• Hobbies: Houseplants, puzzles, movies, yoga, and spending time with my family.

Anandhini Narayanan, MD

• Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• College: University of Pittsburgh
• Medical School: New York Medical College
• Why Surgery: There is something beautiful about constantly learning and refining your medical knowledge and technical skills, in order to provide the best care possible to your patients. Surgery allows you to develop a wide breadth of knowledge, as you rotate through different specialties, and enables you to interact with a variety of patient populations. Lastly, I appreciate the unique relationships you form with patients in surgery; a trusting, connected, and empowering dynamic must be created to help them through these vulnerable moments. 
• Surgical and Professional Interests: Pediatrics, Trauma, Surgical Oncology, DEI and Health Equity
• Hobbies: Painting, reading, violin, yoga, weightlifting
• Favorite Game: Coup
• Favorite Movies: Boomerang, A Beautiful Mind, Mad Max: Fury Road
• What else should we know about you? Sometimes, it’s hard for me to understand sarcasm. 

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.