More About Our Residents
Chief Residents (PGY 5)
Rajaie Hazboun, MD
Hometown: Amman, Jordan
Medical School: University of Jordan Faculty of Medicine
Why SIU?: The collegial environment, history of excellence in surgical education and a faculty that is invested in resident education.
Email: rhazboun33@siumed.edu
Erin MacKinney, MD
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Why SIU?: The residents seemed like they were family and the faculty were kind and genuine. It seemed like a place where I could have fun learning surgery.
Email: emackinney77@siumed.edu
Matt Smith, DO
Hometown: Decatur, IL
Medical School: University of Missouri - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why SIU?: I liked the mix between a community/clinically based program while still having good opportunities for research. I also liked the sense of family I got from the residents when I came to visit.
Email: msmith52@siumed.edu
PGY 4 Residents
Sarah Fedeli, MD
Hometown: Bloomington, IL
Medical School: University of Washington
Why SIU: Friendly, approachable people; emphasis on surgical education and simulation; proximity to family.
Email: sfedeli84@siumed.edu
Jim Feimster, MD
Hometown: Byron, IL
Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Why SIU: SIU has a national reputation for being the front-runners in the development of surgical education and training general surgeon leaders with an emphasis in teaching. The faculty, residents and staff create a learning environment that is family-friendly, supportive, and conducive for developing the essentials for an academic or private general surgery practice. Lastly, the new surgical skills lab is a one-of-a-kind facility with amazing staff that help hone the residents' skills via simulation.
Email: jfeimster@siumed.edu
Garrett Shackleton, MD
Hometown: Mason City, IA
Medical School: University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Why SIU: I have always lived in the Midwest and I wanted to stay somewhere close to home for residency. I felt that SIU was the most committed to maintaining high standards for resident education out of all of the programs that I interviewed with. The residents and faculty were all friendly and easy to talk to, and I knew it would be a great learning environment for surgical training.
Email: gshackleton67@siumed.edu
PGY 3 Residents
Ahmad Aulakh, DO
Hometown: Baytown, TX; born & raised in Pakistan
Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
Why SIU? The friendly environment is why I came here. My interviews were very laid back and I did not feel stressed. One of the things I loved at that time as the interview season is a stressful process. I like the small city feeling. I live 5 minutes from the hospital and there is no traffic! Living in Houston...that is a big deal! I sat in many conferences during interviews, the SIU conference was the best. Not becuase it was earlier, but it was less malignant and people were pleasant at asking follow-up questions. It was a true discussion session. We have Dr. Mellinger!
Email: aaulakh88@siumed.edu
Sam Knight, MD
Hometown: Alberta, Calgary
Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Why SIU? I can not imagine a residency program where I would be happier than SIU. From the moment I arrived for my interview, I was struck by how friendly and welcoming everyone was, the residents are truly not just co-workers but friends, the faculty cares so much for their residents as individuals, and lastly the well earned renowned reputation for excellence in teaching. The state-of-the-art skills centre also blew me away on interview day. I remember thinking how lucky I would be to match here, and continue to be thankful everyday that I did!
Email: sknight55@siumed.edu
Maria Rossi, MD
Hometown: Morton, Illinois
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine- Peoria
Why SIU: I wanted a residency program that would not only enable me to become a highly skilled and academically sound surgeon, but also one that would provide me with a supportive environment. After meeting the staff, residents and faculty, I knew SIU was the best place for me. The program places an emphasis on resident education, early operative experience and guidance from remarkable surgeons who are interested in teaching and helping their residents succeed.
Email: mrossi21@siumed.edu
Olivia M. White, MD
Hometown: Warsaw, IL
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine - Peoria
Why SIU? I rotated at SIU as a medical student and knew almost immediately that I wanted to train here. The resident's camaraderie and the attending's dedication to teaching were exactly what I wanted in a residency program.
Email: owhite81@siumed.edu
Jordan Wood, MD
Hometown: Danville, IL
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine - Peoria
Why SIU? I chose SIU because of the great community of residents and faculty. There is a strong culture of support between residents and from faculty that makes it a great place to be a resident. As a mid-sized teaching hospital, this program provides ample operative experience and great preparation for community practice in general surgery.
Email: jwood58@siumed.edu
PGY 2 Residents
Kanika Chawla, MD
Hometown: Delhi, India
Medical School: St. Louis University School of Medicine
Why SIU? I chose SIU program because of the rapport I saw between the residents as a group and with the attendings. As a trainee it was not only important to go to a program where I would get a robust surgical education but also where I would be a part of a close knit group working towards a common goal of becoming and educating skilled and safe surgeons.
Email: kchawla22@siumed.edu
Phila Gebremedhin, MD
Hometown: Asmara, Eritrea
Medical School: Addis Ababa University Faculty of Medicine
Why SIU? I chose SIU because of the its commitment and achievements in surgical education, providing a well rounded surgical education program. The program’s solid foundation to nurture one's surgical career with extremely collegial surgeons who are respected in their fields and tremendous educators is so remarkable. I have found the faculty, residents and staff to be phenomenal and provide every resident a truly nurturing environment to advance their career.
Email: pgebremedhin65@siumed.edu
Brandon Sauer, MD
Hometown: Kawkawlin, MI
Medical School: Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Why SIU? I chose SIU for its focus on teaching and the collegial / family like environment between all the residents and staff.
Email: bsauer45@siumed.edu
Wahid Souala, MD
Hometown: Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Why SIU? I enjoyed my interview experience and I had the best feeling towards the program and the city. It is a very friendly and welcoming program with excellent resources and surgical training.
Email: asouala58@siumed.edu
PGY 1 Residents
Mary "Cat" Brandt, MD
Hometown: Bloomington, Illinois
Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Why SIU? I chosoe SIU becasue as a medical student here I could walk into the doctor's lounge and be invited to sit down with the residents and attendings to go over everything from basic anatomy to the nuances of various operative plans. I felt like a part of the team from day one. SIU has been my home for over four years now and I'm glad to be here for another five.
Email: mbrandt71@siumed.edu
Megan Kauffman, DO
Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina
Medical School: Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
Why SIU? I chose SIU because of the program's excellence in leadership and education, culture of teamwork and family, and the opportunity to train with surgeons who share my passion for global surgery.
Email: mkauffman27@siumed.edu
Sean O'Malley, MD
Hometown: Clinton, Iowa
Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Why SIU? I chose to train at SIU because of the program's nationally known reputation for surgical leadership and education. The staff and residents create a friendly, patient-centered learning environment with the perfect blend of academic and community surgical training.
Email: somalley58@siumed.edu
Supriya Shah, MD
