General Surgery Residents

Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine 

Undergraduate: University of Kentucky

Academic Interests: Pediatric Surgery, Trauma & Critical Care 

Activities: Running, Orange Theory, Reading, Traveling  

Why I chose Mizzou:  I am excited to train at a program that will train me to be an excellent general surgeon, while providing me with the tools I need to pursue fellowship. On interview day, it was obvious how much the faculty and the residents care about making Mizzou a strong training program!

Medical School: University of Missouri School of Medicine

Undergraduate: University of Iowa

Academic Interests: General surgery, Surgical oncology, minimally invasive surgery,

Activities: Scuba diving, hiking, traveling, snowboarding, playing board games with friends and family, walking my dogs.

Why I chose Mizzou: I was fortunate to spend time with the department over the last 4 years during medical school. I wanted to go to a program that prioritized early operative experience and mentorship in residency. Mizzou checked all these boxes for me. There is a strong sense of community and concern for resident well being. The growth of the program over the last 4 years has been evident and I am confident that I will graduate with the necessary skills to thrive in practice or fellowship.

Medical School: University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine

Undergraduate: Saint Mary’s College of California

Academic Interests: Surgical Oncology, Colorectal Surgery

Activities: I love all things science fiction from literature to video games, skiing and snowboarding, karaoke, doing crossword puzzles with my husband, and spending time with family—including my cats.

Why I chose Mizzou: While interviewing for residency programs, I took note of Mizzou’s uniquely balanced training environment, one that was both supportive and rigorous, academic and community focused. As a surgeon-scientist, I hope to use research as an extension of my surgical training to make a greater positive impact in my field. I saw during my interview how Mizzou fosters collegial relationships among residents and between trainees and faculty, and was excited by the growing opportunities in Surgical Oncology and Colorectal Surgery—areas that align closely with my clinical and research interests. I am incredibly thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to train here, at a program that values early and broad operative experience, encourages research in diverse areas, and trains competent, confident, and motivated surgeons.

Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Undergraduate: University of Central Arkansas

Academic Interests: Trauma/Minimally Invasive/Thoracic Surgery

Activities: Spending time with wife and family, video games (peak diamond in valorant and champion in rocket league), live music, and making coffee.

Why I chose Mizzou: Residents, attendings, and staff have been very supportive and encouraging since I began here. There also are unlimited opportunities at this program in all facets of surgery: robotic, lap, endovascular, open. These reasons along with the unmatched collaboration and camaraderie amongst the general surgery residents solidified that Mizzou was where I wanted to train for residency. 

Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences

Undergraduate: Miami University

Academic Interests: Breast, Plastics, and Colorectal

Activities: I am a big reader and I love collecting autographed novels. I also love yoga/pilates, pottery, and thrifting.

Why I chose Mizzou: During my visit to the program, all of the residents were incredibly kind. They had great things to say about the residency and the support system they had built with administration and other residents. Beyond this, I knew several Mizzou medical students who decided to stay around for residency, which speaks highly about the program and Columbia. 

Medical School: University of Missouri School of Medicine– Columbia

Undergraduate: Troy University

Academic Interests: General Surgery, Colorectal, Minimally Invasive

Hobbies/Activities Hobbies: I'm a big Golden Retriever fan and love hanging out with my two pups, enjoy all things soccer, being outside, spending time with friends and family, coffee, and always love a good home project.

Why I chose Mizzou: After spending the past four years at Mizzou, I’ve seen firsthand how well the program prepares its residents — whether they pursue fellowship or enter general practice. What sets Mizzou apart is the strong sense of community among residents, faculty and staff. The attendings are passionate about teaching, and the residents are confident, capable, and well-prepared to manage complex surgical and medical issues. I’m confident that Mizzou will prepare me for whatever path lies ahead. MIZ!

Medical School: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

Undergraduate: University of Iowa

Academic Interests: Cardiothoracic surgery, Pediatric surgery, Trauma

Hobbies/Activities: Golf, Wake surfing, Traveling, Working out, Spending time with friends

Why I chose Mizzou: When interviewing at Mizzou, I was struck by the comradery between the residents and staff. It was evident that Mizzou harbors a culture of excellence and places an emphasis on interprofessional relationships. I also desired to train at a high-volume academic center and was thoroughly impressed with the early exposure to a number of surgical subspecialties.

Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles

Academic Interests: Trauma/Critical Care

Hobbies/Activities: Hiking, cooking, live music, board games, consuming science fiction and fantasy media

Why I chose Mizzou: I was drawn to Mizzou after seeing the clear camaraderie among faculty and residents. I was also seeking an academic program with high operative volume and a Level 1 trauma center experience. Mizzou offered everything I was looking for, all with a through line of dedication to excellence in patient care and training.

Medical School: University of Missouri School of Medicine

Undergraduate: Missouri State University

Academic Interests: MIS, Trauma/Critical Care, General Surgery, Surgical Outcomes Research, Artificial Intelligence in Surgery

Hobbies/Activities: Spending time with my wife and children, being outdoors, fishing, exercising, playing guitar, computer programming

Why I chose Mizzou: Mizzou has continued to be an impressive force of good for the state of Missouri and I am honored to be a part of this institution. The noticeable engagement between residents, attendings, and staff fosters an inviting surgical learning environment that has historically propelled technically outstanding residents into competitive fellowships and career paths. The city of Columbia has also proven to be an excellent place to raise our children and provides many outlets for adventure!

Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine 

Undergraduate: Rogers State University 

Graduate School: Oklahoma City University 

Academic Interests: Pediatric Surgery, Surgical Education

Hobbies/Activities: Basketball, Weightlifting, NBA/NFL fandom, All things Marvel.

Why I chose Mizzou: I was excited to join University of Missouri because of the obvious camaraderie between the residents and the faculty’s passion for investing in their residents and students. It was obvious from the first time I stepped on campus, that this is a place where I could continue to pursue my own dreams and play a real role in helping my colleagues pursue theirs.

Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

Undergraduate: Auburn University

Academic Interests: >Minimally Invasive/Bariatric Surgery, General Surgery

Activities: Golf, Hunting, Skiing, Traveling with my wife and Australian Shepherd

Why I chose Mizzou: I was drawn to Mizzou by the camaraderie among residents on my interview day and the opportunity to train at a level 1 trauma center without the need to reside in a large metropolitan area. The General Surgery Program at Mizzou prepares residents to excel in competitive fellowship applications and as skilled surgeons poised to launch their careers. All within a city known for its excellent food scene and convenient access to outdoor adventures.

Medical School: Kansas City University

Undergraduate: Grinnell College

Academic Interests: Vascular surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, critical care

Activities: Kansas football and basketball (Rock Chalk!), live music and concerts, playing cards at breweries with my wife, going on hikes with my dog

Why I chose Mizzou: I wanted to train at a program that has a track record of producing competent and skilled surgeons while also having a comprehensive trauma experience as a level 1 trauma center. Mizzou provides the perfect balance of complex and unique cases, generally only seen at academic institutions, without a designated research commitment. It was also important to me to train amongst like-minded residents who are as invested in my own success as they are their own. Only after immersing myself in the close-knit and supportive community of this program, did I know I belonged here.

Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine 

Undergraduate: University of Southern California 

Academic Interests: Surgical Education, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Trauma/Critical Care

Activities: Anything outside, especially on the water, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, board games, kindly critiquing movies that were made based on books.

Why I chose Mizzou: It is clear just by speaking with the Mizzou residents and faculty that everyone truly wants the best for each other and for their patients. Residents are ready for both fellowship and general practice. We receive the depth of education to explore their academic interests and choose our future careers wisely.

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine

Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame

Academic Interests: Colorectal surgery, General Surgery, ACS

Activities: Live music, College football, Golf, Baseball, Hiking, Biking, Cold brew

Why I chose Mizzou: The priorities of the Mizzou Department of Surgery are simple: Deliver the best patient care possible and take care of one another. Mizzou is a rare find with respect to the cohesiveness of the residents, faculty, and staff. Taken in conjunction with the resources afforded by association with a flagship state academic institution, it's clear that Mizzou is a special place to train.

Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine

Undergraduate: Arkansas Tech University

Academic Interests: Trauma, General Surgery

Activities: Black coffee. SEC college football (woo pig sooie). A good IPA and Hemingway.

Why I chose Mizzou: The surgical residency at Mizzou teaches us how to be skilled in the operating room and manage complex medical issues in an academic, multidisciplinary setting. We get a wide exposure to complex surgical pathologies early in our training due to high patient volume. I knew I belonged here when I found myself wanting to emulate our graduating chief’s skill level in the operating room.

Medical School: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

Undergraduate: Miami University, Oxford, OH

Academic Interests: General Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Trauma

Activities: Cooking, baking, running, riding my peloton, hiking, spending time with friends

Why I chose Mizzou: I chose Mizzou after doing an away rotation here during my fourth year of medical school! I was looking for a level 1 trauma center with high operative volume but with a smaller, more personal feel. After seeing how passionate the attendings were about teaching residents and how competent the residents were in taking care of patients and in the operating room, I was set on coming to Mizzou. I also grew up in St. Louis and have always been a Mizzou sports fan, so that was a bonus!!!

Medical School: A.T. Still University-KCOM

Undergraduate: University of Missouri

Academic Interests: Minimally Invasive Surgery, Vascular Surgery

Activities:Going to sporting events, boating, grilling, spending time outdoors, traveling

Why I chose Mizzou:I chose Mizzou because the program had a group of residents and faculty who support each other and function as a team. Being in an academic program with a Level 1 trauma center, I knew I would have strong exposure to surgical subspecialties, trauma management, and research opportunities. I went to Mizzou for my undergraduate degree and couldn't wait to get back to Columbia.

Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Undergraduate: University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Academic Interests: Thoracic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Trauma

Activities: Fishing, college football, exercising, lake trips with my fiancé and our dog Fitz

Why I chose Mizzou: I was drawn to Mizzou because of the clearly present comradery throughout the program and the abundance of clinical and academic opportunities. The General Surgery Program at Mizzou prepares residents to be both highly competitive fellowship applicants and fully competent surgeons able to begin practicing. Additionally, Columbia is a great city that offers a variety of social venues and outdoor opportunities, so there is always something fun to do.

Medical School: University of Oklahoma

Undergraduate: University of Central Oklahoma

Academic Interests: Rural General Surgery, Critical Care, Robotic Surgery

Activities: Live music, online gaming, movies, art, live sports, socializing

Why I chose Mizzou: I wanted to find a place where I felt like part of a team. I wanted Level 1 trauma experience without living in a metropolitan area. I wanted a place where I could receive a broad base of surgical experience and could care for patients in the hospital. I wanted to feel valued. I found all of these things at Mizzou. I am very happy with my choice to come to Columbia.

Medical School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Undergraduate: Loyola University Chicago

Academic Interests: General Surgery, MIS, Global Surgery

Activities: Travel, college sports, live music, and Spikeball

Why I chose Mizzou: The high operative volume at an academic institution with great research opportunities, a level 1 trauma center and exposure to several surgical subspecialties was what initially interested me in Mizzou. The supportive and encouraging environment between the residents at a phenomenal institution is why I ultimately chose Mizzou. Additionally, the ability to see the football stadium from the hospital was a pretty neat bonus.

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine

Undergraduate: Indiana State University

Graduate: University of Southern Indiana

Academic Interests: Rural Surgery, Trauma, and Prehospital Care

Activities: Biking, teaching, and exploring new food spots!

Why I chose Mizzou: I was drawn to the trauma exposure and the volume of patients that the residents see. When I met some of the residents, I was impressed with how confident they were when managing patients in and outside of the OR, especially with stressful trauma situations.

Medical School: University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine

Undergraduate: Drury University

Academic Interests: Trauma and Critical Care

Activities: Attending music festivals, fantasy football, backpacking, biking

Why I chose Mizzou: I chose Mizzou because I could train at a high volume academic center while also caring for people from my own community of south central Missouri. When I was a kid, University Hospital was where you went if you needed emergency care and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to be on the other side of that equation as a surgical resident. This program also aligned well with my interests in trauma and critical care as it has a lot of exposure to those areas built in. Along with the training opportunities, I could tell that the resident worked well as a team and I felt that it would be a great environment to work and grow in.