Resident and Fellow DEI
Learn more about our promise to foster and advance inclusion and diversity.
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The Corewell Health – Grand Rapids/Michigan State University General Surgery Residency is a five-year program carefully planned to provide early operative experience with progressive responsibility in all areas of general surgery including endoscopy, critical care, and trauma. We offer an outstanding experience in endocrine, oncologic, and vascular surgery. In addition, residents have exceptional opportunities in the colorectal, thoracic, and pediatric surgical sub-specialties.
We make every effort to maximize resident education, not service needs. Goals and objectives are provided at the onset of every rotation. The program director, assistant directors, and surgical teaching faculty regularly review each resident’s performance and the overall educational experience of the program. Exceptional training is the result, of a humane academic environment that maintains the safety, successful outcomes, and compassionate care of the patient as its central focus. Graduating residents completing the residency perform around 1,100 cases. Nearly 300 of those cases are performed during their fifth year as the chief surgical resident.
Our program, your future
Diverse exposure: Residents experience a breadth of surgical experience while rotating at the following four institutions located within a five-mile radius.
- Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals - Butterworth Hospital is a tertiary care facility and Level 1 Trauma Center with 679 beds and draws patients from a large region of over one million people. It provides a full continuum of elective and acute patient care for adults and pediatrics in all specialties. Due to the high volume and complicated cases encountered in the trauma service, residents learn how to care for complex patients and utilize innovative techniques including, but not limited to, resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) and rib fixation surgery.
- Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals - Helen DeVos Children's Hospital represents more than four decades of steady progress in improving pediatric care and bringing pediatric specialists to the region. There are more than 300 pediatric physicians in more than 50 pediatric services and programs.
- Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals - Blodgett Hospital has a long tradition of providing high-quality compassionate, personalized medical care. Since 1846, Blodgett Hospital has earned a reputation for excellence as a community and teaching hospital. We provide patient-focused inpatient and outpatient services for medical, surgical, and specialty care.
- Trinity Health Grand Rapids is an integrated network of healthcare excellence. Their commitment to offering the latest technology and skilled physicians in a holistic, patient-centered environment has made them a progressive leader in cancer care, neuroscience, orthopedics, diabetes and endocrine care, kidney transplants, and integrative health care.
Educational excellence: Commitment to education in a stimulating training environment contributes to the successful pass rate near 100 percent among graduating residents on both the qualifying and certifying examinations for the American Board of Surgery over the past two decades. In the past five years, all our graduates have passed both the qualifying and certifying examinations witha 100 percent pass rate on the first attempt.
High-quality research: Residents are required to submit two scholarly/research projects over the course of their five-year training. Excellent support is provided through an abundance of resources for these endeavors. There is a monthly Research Conference attended by residents and surgical teaching faculty to provide helpful didactics in surgical research and design as well as opportunities for collaborative feedback on their research ideas and projects. Additional basic science research exposure is available at the Van Andel Research Institute, a world-class facility adjacent to the downtown Butterworth Hospital.
Diverse exposure: Residents experience a breadth of surgical experience while rotating at the following four institutions located within a five-mile radius.
- Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals - Butterworth Hospital is a tertiary care facility and Level 1 Trauma Center with 679 beds and draws patients from a large region of over one million people. It provides a full continuum of elective and acute patient care for adults and pediatrics in all specialties. Due to the high volume and complicated cases encountered in the trauma service, residents learn how to care for complex patients and utilize innovative techniques including, but not limited to, resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) and rib fixation surgery.
- Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals - Helen DeVos Children's Hospital represents more than four decades of steady progress in improving pediatric care and bringing pediatric specialists to the region. There are more than 300 pediatric physicians in more than 50 pediatric services and programs.
- Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals - Blodgett Hospital has a long tradition of providing high-quality compassionate, personalized medical care. Since 1846, Blodgett Hospital has earned a reputation for excellence as a community and teaching hospital. We provide patient-focused inpatient and outpatient services for medical, surgical, and specialty care.
- Trinity Health Grand Rapids is an integrated network of healthcare excellence. Their commitment to offering the latest technology and skilled physicians in a holistic, patient-centered environment has made them a progressive leader in cancer care, neuroscience, orthopedics, diabetes and endocrine care, kidney transplants, and integrative health care.
Educational excellence: Commitment to education in a stimulating training environment contributes to the successful pass rate near 100 percent among graduating residents on both the qualifying and certifying examinations for the American Board of Surgery over the past two decades. In the past five years, all our graduates have passed both the qualifying and certifying examinations witha 100 percent pass rate on the first attempt.
High-quality research: Residents are required to submit two scholarly/research projects over the course of their five-year training. Excellent support is provided through an abundance of resources for these endeavors. There is a monthly Research Conference attended by residents and surgical teaching faculty to provide helpful didactics in surgical research and design as well as opportunities for collaborative feedback on their research ideas and projects. Additional basic science research exposure is available at the Van Andel Research Institute, a world-class facility adjacent to the downtown Butterworth Hospital.
Residency years are short, but the days can be long. There are no better people to spend your training years within a fun family atmosphere when you join Corewell Health - Grand Rapids/Michigan State University General Surgery Residency.
Stop the Bleed campaign – General surgery residents are certified trainers and went out into the community to provide education at a local high school. They hope to expand into homeless shelters and churches.
Retreat at Warner Camp: All general surgery residents spent the day at Warner Camp for a fun-filled day of team-building exercises including kickball, beach volleyball ,and kayaking.
Conferences: We are proud to support and cheer each other on during research presentations at local, regional, and national conferences!
Corewell Health in West Michigan provides a comprehensive and very competitive benefits package for our residents, staff, and their families. In addition, our program provides educational monies to support your ongoing education. Download our salary and benefits document to learn more.
From the program director
When you join the Corewell Health – Grand Rapids/Michigan State University General Surgery Residency you will be joining a group of stellar surgeons-in-training who have identified excellence, teamwork, kindness, and compassion as core values they strive to achieve. The program recognizes that cultivating these values is our mandate.
The general surgery residency program has a long and rich history of training outstanding surgeons. This website will tell you detailed information about our ACGME- accredited training program and the interview process.
All our dedicated faculty are committed to the successful development of each resident intellectually, professionally, and personally. You will be afforded early operative and leadership experiences. Our academic curriculum will provide you with the tools to excel in any career path after graduation. Approximately 60% of our graduates go on to the most prestigious fellowships in the country. Thirty-five to forty percent of our graduates go on to practice general surgery, whether it be in academic training institutions or in group/private practice. The remaining five percent of our residents will choose to practice general surgery in underserved communities, often in mission-based practice, in and out of the United States.
We take seven categorical residents per year through the National Resident Matching Program. One resident, if desired, will have an opportunity to participate in a research year (or two), upon successful completion of their PGY-2 year. Upon successful completion of your PGY-3 year, you can choose to pursue a surgical critical care fellowship offered at our institution. During many rotations, you will be given the opportunity to serve as a “fellow.” This includes surgical oncology, acute care surgery, thoracic surgery, colorectal surgery, pediatric surgery, and minimally invasive surgery.
Our program stands out as the best hybrid program in the country, combining academic and community training. I hope you strongly consider us as you prepare for the upcoming interview season. Contact us if you have any questions, thank you for learning about our program!
Mathew H Chung, MD, FACS General surgery residency program director
Karie Hilley General surgery residency program coordinator
Courtney Bradley General surgery residency program coordinator
Our shared commitments
Explore West Michigan
Food, entertainment, and shopping
Food: Release your inner foodie exploring one of the top food cities in the US.
Entertainment: From zoos and museums to festivals and art, there is a new experience around every corner.
Shopping: West Michigan has a diverse assortment of shops for everyone.
Outdoors and sustainability
Outdoors: With trails, lakes and more, there is so much of West Michigan to explore.
Sustainability: Located along the shore of Lake Michigan, West Michigan has many initiatives to protect our natural resources.
Resources
Identities matter and so do you! Our residency and fellowship programs offer social activities, wellness programs, and a diversity council to foster respect, personal health, and community.
General surgery residency bios
Program Director
Mathew Chung, MD
Surgical oncology
- Fellowship: John Wayne Cancer Institute
- Residency: Madigan Army Medical Center
Mathew Chung, MD
Surgical oncology
- Fellowship: John Wayne Cancer Institute
- Residency: Madigan Army Medical Center
Mathew Chung, MD
Surgical oncology
- Fellowship: John Wayne Cancer Institute
- Residency: Madigan Army Medical Center
Mathew Chung, MD
Surgical oncology
- Fellowship: John Wayne Cancer Institute
- Residency: Madigan Army Medical Center
Associate Program Directors
Eric Mitchell, MD
General surgery
- Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners
David Scheeres, MD
General surgery
- Fellowship:
- (Biliary ESWL and biliary research) John's Hopkins University
- (Surgical endoscopy) Mount Sinai Medical Center - Cleveland
- Residency: Corewell Health/Michigan State University
Amanda Yang, MD
Acute care surgery
- Residency: St Joseph Mercy Health System
Eric Mitchell, MD
General surgery
- Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners
David Scheeres, MD
General surgery
- Fellowship:
- (Biliary ESWL and biliary research) John's Hopkins University
- (Surgical endoscopy) Mount Sinai Medical Center - Cleveland
- Residency: Corewell Health/Michigan State University
Amanda Yang, MD
Acute care surgery
- Residency: St Joseph Mercy Health System
Eric Mitchell, MD
General surgery
- Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners
David Scheeres, MD
General surgery
- Fellowship:
- (Biliary ESWL and biliary research) John's Hopkins University
- (Surgical endoscopy) Mount Sinai Medical Center - Cleveland
- Residency: Corewell Health/Michigan State University
Amanda Yang, MD
Acute care surgery
- Residency: St Joseph Mercy Health System
Eric Mitchell, MD
General surgery
- Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners
David Scheeres, MD
General surgery
- Fellowship:
- (Biliary ESWL and biliary research) John's Hopkins University
- (Surgical endoscopy) Mount Sinai Medical Center - Cleveland
- Residency: Corewell Health/Michigan State University
Amanda Yang, MD
Acute care surgery
- Residency: St Joseph Mercy Health System
Core Faculty
M. Mura Assifi, MD
Surgical oncology
- Fellowship: University of Pittsburg Medical Center
- Residency: Thomas Jefferson University
Amy Banks-Venegoni, MD
General surgery/minimally invasive surgery
- Fellowship: Baystate Medical Center - Tufts University School of Medicine
- Residency: Corewell Health/Michigan State University
Alistair Chapman, MD
Acute care surgery
- Fellowship: University of Nevada School of Medicine - Reno
- Residency: Corewell Health/Michigan State University
Luke Durling, MD
General surgery/acute care surgery
- Fellowship: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University
- Residency: St. Joseph Mercy Health System
Joel Green, MD
General surgery
- Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners
Marianne Melnik, MD
Surgical oncology/breast surgery
- Fellowship: The Ohio State University
- Residency: The University of Iowa
Elliot Pennington, MD
Pediatric surgery
- Fellowship: Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University
- Residency: Boston Medical Center
G. Paul Wright, MD
Surgical oncology
- Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University
M. Mura Assifi, MD
Surgical oncology
- Fellowship: University of Pittsburg Medical Center
- Residency: Thomas Jefferson University
Amy Banks-Venegoni, MD
General surgery/minimally invasive surgery
- Fellowship: Baystate Medical Center - Tufts University School of Medicine
- Residency: Corewell Health/Michigan State University
Alistair Chapman, MD
Acute care surgery
- Fellowship: University of Nevada School of Medicine - Reno
- Residency: Corewell Health/Michigan State University
Luke Durling, MD
General surgery/acute care surgery
- Fellowship: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University
- Residency: St. Joseph Mercy Health System
Joel Green, MD
General surgery
- Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners
Marianne Melnik, MD
Surgical oncology/breast surgery
- Fellowship: The Ohio State University
- Residency: The University of Iowa
Elliot Pennington, MD
Pediatric surgery
- Fellowship: Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University
- Residency: Boston Medical Center
G. Paul Wright, MD
Surgical oncology
- Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University
M. Mura Assifi, MD
Surgical oncology
- Fellowship: University of Pittsburg Medical Center
- Residency: Thomas Jefferson University
Amy Banks-Venegoni, MD
General surgery/minimally invasive surgery
- Fellowship: Baystate Medical Center - Tufts University School of Medicine
- Residency: Corewell Health/Michigan State University
Alistair Chapman, MD
Acute care surgery
- Fellowship: University of Nevada School of Medicine - Reno
- Residency: Corewell Health/Michigan State University
Luke Durling, MD
General surgery/acute care surgery
- Fellowship: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University
- Residency: St. Joseph Mercy Health System
Joel Green, MD
General surgery
- Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners
Marianne Melnik, MD
Surgical oncology/breast surgery
- Fellowship: The Ohio State University
- Residency: The University of Iowa
Elliot Pennington, MD
Pediatric surgery
- Fellowship: Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University
- Residency: Boston Medical Center
G. Paul Wright, MD
Surgical oncology
- Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners/Michigan State University
PGY 1
Lauren Bootzin, MD
Central Michigan University
Clarice Callahan, MD
Michigan State University
*Interventional radiology track
Lauren Eberhardt, MD
Oakland University
*Preliminary Track
Patricia Garcia, MBBS
University Of Limerick
*Interventional radiology track
Jager Haan, MD
Michigan State University
*Interventional radiology track
Katherine Huebner, MD
Michigan State University
Jacob Kalkman, MD
Wayne State University
Payton Kooiker, DO
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
O. Parker Martinez, MD
University of South Carolina
*Preliminary track
Shannon Smith, MD
University of South Carolina
Allison Swider-Ebels, MD
Michigan State University
Kyle Thompson, MD
Indiana University
Lauren Bootzin, MD
Central Michigan University
Clarice Callahan, MD
Michigan State University
*Interventional radiology track
Lauren Eberhardt, MD
Oakland University
*Preliminary Track
Patricia Garcia, MBBS
University Of Limerick
*Interventional radiology track
Jager Haan, MD
Michigan State University
*Interventional radiology track
Katherine Huebner, MD
Michigan State University
Jacob Kalkman, MD
Wayne State University
Payton Kooiker, DO
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
O. Parker Martinez, MD
University of South Carolina
*Preliminary track
Shannon Smith, MD
University of South Carolina
Allison Swider-Ebels, MD
Michigan State University
Kyle Thompson, MD
Indiana University
Lauren Bootzin, MD
Central Michigan University
Clarice Callahan, MD
Michigan State University
*Interventional radiology track
Lauren Eberhardt, MD
Oakland University
*Preliminary Track
Patricia Garcia, MBBS
University Of Limerick
*Interventional radiology track
Jager Haan, MD
Michigan State University
*Interventional radiology track
Katherine Huebner, MD
Michigan State University
Jacob Kalkman, MD
Wayne State University
Payton Kooiker, DO
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
O. Parker Martinez, MD
University of South Carolina
*Preliminary track
Shannon Smith, MD
University of South Carolina
Allison Swider-Ebels, MD
Michigan State University
Kyle Thompson, MD
Indiana University
Lauren Bootzin, MD
Central Michigan University
Clarice Callahan, MD
Michigan State University
*Interventional radiology track
Lauren Eberhardt, MD
Oakland University
*Preliminary Track
Patricia Garcia, MBBS
University Of Limerick
*Interventional radiology track
Jager Haan, MD
Michigan State University
*Interventional radiology track
Katherine Huebner, MD
Michigan State University
Jacob Kalkman, MD
Wayne State University
Payton Kooiker, DO
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
O. Parker Martinez, MD
University of South Carolina
*Preliminary track
Shannon Smith, MD
University of South Carolina
Allison Swider-Ebels, MD
Michigan State University
Kyle Thompson, MD
Indiana University
PGY 2
Zachary Bustamante, MD
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Kristen Hawes, MD
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Danielle Katz, DO
Nova Southeastern University Dr Kiran C Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Claire McNary, MD
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Matthew Morris, MD
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Brett Mueller, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
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Patrick Renner, MD
Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD SOM
Zachary Bustamante, MD
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Kristen Hawes, MD
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Danielle Katz, DO
Nova Southeastern University Dr Kiran C Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Claire McNary, MD
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Matthew Morris, MD
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Brett Mueller, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Patrick Renner, MD
Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD SOM
Zachary Bustamante, MD
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Kristen Hawes, MD
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Danielle Katz, DO
Nova Southeastern University Dr Kiran C Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Claire McNary, MD
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Matthew Morris, MD
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Brett Mueller, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Patrick Renner, MD
Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD SOM
Zachary Bustamante, MD
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Kristen Hawes, MD
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Danielle Katz, DO
Nova Southeastern University Dr Kiran C Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Claire McNary, MD
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Matthew Morris, MD
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Brett Mueller, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Patrick Renner, MD
Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD SOM
PGY 3
Jason Aubrey, MBBS
University of Limerick
Lauren Blanck, MD
Michigan State University
Allison Hoppe, MD
Michigan State University
A. Sasha Laykova, DO
Michigan State University
Gordon Liu, MD
Western Michigan University
Victor Magana Castro, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Sindhu Mannava, MD
University of Connecticut
Hannah Phelan, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Sarah Plachinski, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Jason Aubrey, MBBS
University of Limerick
Lauren Blanck, MD
Michigan State University
Allison Hoppe, MD
Michigan State University
A. Sasha Laykova, DO
Michigan State University
Gordon Liu, MD
Western Michigan University
Victor Magana Castro, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Sindhu Mannava, MD
University of Connecticut
Hannah Phelan, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Sarah Plachinski, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Jason Aubrey, MBBS
University of Limerick
Lauren Blanck, MD
Michigan State University
Allison Hoppe, MD
Michigan State University
A. Sasha Laykova, DO
Michigan State University
Gordon Liu, MD
Western Michigan University
Victor Magana Castro, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Sindhu Mannava, MD
University of Connecticut
Hannah Phelan, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Sarah Plachinski, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Jason Aubrey, MBBS
University of Limerick
Lauren Blanck, MD
Michigan State University
Allison Hoppe, MD
Michigan State University
A. Sasha Laykova, DO
Michigan State University
Gordon Liu, MD
Western Michigan University
Victor Magana Castro, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Sindhu Mannava, MD
University of Connecticut
Hannah Phelan, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Sarah Plachinski, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
PGY 4
Alex Finn, MD
University of Wisconsin
Jesse Kelley, MD
University of Michigan
Alexandra Mouch, MD
Wright State University
Emily Pardington-Madden, MD
Michigan State University
Aryana Sharrak, MD
Oakland University
Douglas Snow, MD
Michigan State University
Dustin Tran, DO
Nova Southeastern University
Alex Finn, MD
University of Wisconsin
Jesse Kelley, MD
University of Michigan
Alexandra Mouch, MD
Wright State University
Emily Pardington-Madden, MD
Michigan State University
Aryana Sharrak, MD
Oakland University
Douglas Snow, MD
Michigan State University
Dustin Tran, DO
Nova Southeastern University
Alex Finn, MD
University of Wisconsin
Jesse Kelley, MD
University of Michigan
Alexandra Mouch, MD
Wright State University
Emily Pardington-Madden, MD
Michigan State University
Aryana Sharrak, MD
Oakland University
Douglas Snow, MD
Michigan State University
Dustin Tran, DO
Nova Southeastern University
Alex Finn, MD
University of Wisconsin
Jesse Kelley, MD
University of Michigan
Alexandra Mouch, MD
Wright State University
Emily Pardington-Madden, MD
Michigan State University
Aryana Sharrak, MD
Oakland University
Douglas Snow, MD
Michigan State University
Dustin Tran, DO
Nova Southeastern University
PGY 5
Allie Eickholtz, MD
Michigan State University
Sophia Garfinkel, MD
Michigan State University
Mariam Khan, MD
Michigan State University
E. Jona Restivo, MD
Michigan State University
Sara Wilcox, MD
Saint James School of Medicine
Allie Eickholtz, MD
Michigan State University
Sophia Garfinkel, MD
Michigan State University
Mariam Khan, MD
Michigan State University
E. Jona Restivo, MD
Michigan State University
Sara Wilcox, MD
Saint James School of Medicine
Allie Eickholtz, MD
Michigan State University
Sophia Garfinkel, MD
Michigan State University
Mariam Khan, MD
Michigan State University
E. Jona Restivo, MD
Michigan State University
Sara Wilcox, MD
Saint James School of Medicine
Allie Eickholtz, MD
Michigan State University
Sophia Garfinkel, MD
Michigan State University
Mariam Khan, MD
Michigan State University
E. Jona Restivo, MD
Michigan State University
Sara Wilcox, MD
Saint James School of Medicine
Research Resident
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Hannah Liefeld, MD
Geisinger Commonwealth
Hannah Liefeld, MD
Geisinger Commonwealth
Hannah Liefeld, MD
Geisinger Commonwealth
Hannah Liefeld, MD
Geisinger Commonwealth
Ready to apply?
Review the “Application Requirements” tab on the program page to learn more about the application process.