General Surgery Residents

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: California Northstate University

Undergraduate: University of Michigan

Academic Interests: Pediatric Surgery, Transplant, MIS, Surgical Palliative Care

Activities: Riding bikes, being outside, tennis, being a homer of Detroit and University of Michigan sports.

Why I chose Mizzou: Mizzou offers a tight knit program that emphasizes technical and decision-making competencies all with the backing of a large research institution. This combination prepares you to be a strong fellowship candidate or immediately enter practice after graduation. Although I went to medical school out west, I grew up in the Midwest and have always considered it home.

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.

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine

Graduate: Illinois Institute of Technology

Undergraduate: Northwestern University

Academic Interests: Outcomes research, Medical Education

Activities: Basketball, exercise, music and photography

Why I chose Mizzou: The Mizzou surgery program offers the opportunity to train as an excellent clinical surgeon. We have exposure to a wide array of surgical specialties, and plentiful academic opportunities exist for residents to pursue research. Living in Columbia is an added bonus, as it's a vibrant college town with a wide variety of restaurants and activities.

Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Undergraduate: University of Texas at Austin

Academic Interests: General and Acute Care Surgery

Activities: Reading, drinking wine, and watching Netflix

Why I chose Mizzou: Mizzou caught my eye because my dad went here for his veterinary internship and interviewing here only confirmed what he loved about Missouri. I love everybody I interact with at and outside of work!

Medical School: Florida State University

Undergraduate: University of Florida

Graduate: University of South Florida

Academic Interests: General Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery

Activities: Any outdoor activity, CrossFit, and being with friends, family & my dog.

Why I chose Mizzou: Mizzou offered everything I was looking for in a residency program - high case volume, level 1 trauma center, early exposure to a variety of surgical subspecialties, and most importantly happy residents. I was further impressed by their 100% board pass rate and how much the residents truly seemed to enjoy the program and each other.

Medical School: Kansas City University

Undergraduate: University of Maryland Baltimore County

Academic Interests: Trauma/Critical Care

Activities: Backpacking/hiking, dogs, combat sports

Why I chose Mizzou: During my interview it was very evident that the staff is invested in the residency and enjoy teaching. The residents got along well and are very supportive of each other. Also, MU produces competent surgeons who can pursue fellowships or private practice and personally, training at a level 1 trauma center where I would experience the full breadth of general surgery was important.