Our Graduates
Approximately 90% of our graduates enter fellowship programs. Sixty percent eventually become academic faculty. Many write to us after joining their fellowships. Here's what some of our residents - past and present - have to say about our residency training program!
"My training at UW has prepared me extremely well for this job... the amazing ICU experience I had as a resident, the responsibility of making critical decisions in sick patients at Harborview and UW, as well as the amount of independence we had as senior residents and the problem solving skills we learned, all helped in preparing me for this fellowship spot." Albert Chong, MD - '05
"I am a current Chief Resident, and in fact, am PGY-10!
I graduated from a medical school in Japan, and finished my FIRST surgical residency there. .. Having heard of the excellence in surgical education in the US, I had decided to seek further training in this country. .. In my SECOND residency at the UW, learning opportunities were everywhere. There were always enthusiastic attendings who were eager to teach at the bedside and in the OR. I just confirmed the nationwide reputation of the UW program when I was going through the interviews this spring for my Thoracic Surgery Fellowship. I am proud of our program as well as of myself being one of the residents in this excellent program." Hiroo Takayama, MD - '07
"I knew going into the match that the University of Washington was a truly
excellent surgery program and that I would get top notch surgical training there. What I didn't know at the time was how supportive and encouraging the entire program would be from a personal standpoint. I know that the culture of any organization starts at the top, and I appreciate you and Dr. Pellegrini for creating such a challenging and supportive environment to train in. I could not be happier with my choice. Thank you for all of your help." Daniel Mulloy, MD - PGY-4
"The residents and faculty at the UW treat each other in a respectful and friendly manner. They embrace the notion of work hard, play hard. The city offers great food, music, art, and culture. Surrounded by water and mountains, plenty of outdoor opportunities await you. Working at five hospitals, each with their distinctive patient population, provides you with both volume and diversity with respect to clinical cases. Didactics are mandatory, well directed, and relevant. The research opportunities are limitless and most importantly the faculty are open-minded in this regard. Can I think of a better program? No!" Farhood Farjah, MD - '10
"Set aside the outstanding clinical experiences at university, veterans, children, county, and private hospitals. Set aside the research opportunities at one of the highest NIH funded schools in the country. Set aside world renowned faculty and some of the best residents in the country. What are you left with? One of the most beautiful cities in the world with salt water 3 minutes away, incredible skiing one hour away, a downtown full of culture, a university with endless events, and a view of Mt. Rainier turning pink at sunset. Come to UW!" Steve Sullivan, MD - '07
"I've partnered up with the only fellowship trained laparoscopic surgeon in the area doing both general and bariatric surgery out of four private hospitals. Starting this practice, I now have realized the true value of our residency. I honestly feel so over-prepared to take on any clinical problems with any patients it's really satisfying. This is both in and out of the OR. My fellowship was personally necessary given that most of what I do daily is done laparoscopically, but our ICU experience and the overall open surgical training in and out of the OR is now serving as my backbone... With the training from our program, I can proudly tell you that residency was easily worth it and more." Yong S. Kwon, MD - '11
"Fellowship is treating me well. People at MSKCC are all really fantastic - attendings, the other fellows, really great people. While it has only been a few months, I've had the opportunity to work and operate with several different attendings and I can honestly say that from a clinical and technical perspective, UW did a fantastic job of preparing me. I've seen Farhood obviously and I get the same sense from him. I hope the rest of the current residents and future applicants realize how well they are trained. Not blowing smoke either, the program really is top notch." Patrick Wolf, MD - '10
2012
- Elizabeth Fitzsullivan, MD
- Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship, MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Samuel Mandell, MD, MPH
- Burn & Trauma/Critical Care Fellowship, Harborview Medical Center
- Nader Massarweh, MD, MPH
- Surgical Oncology Fellowship, MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Anton McCourtine, MD
- General Surgery, Wenatchee Valley Clinic
- Martin Montenovo, MD
- Transplant Surgery Fellowship, UW
- Heather Wheeler, MD
- General Surgery, Valley Medical Center
2011
- Jonathan Friedstat, MD
- Burns Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital (11-12) / Plastic Surgery Fellowship, University of North Carolina (12-13)
- Darren Hess, MD, PhD
- General Surgery, Wenatchee, WA
- Aaron Jensen, MD, MEd
- Pediatric Surgical Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (11-12) / Pediatric Surgery Fellowship, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (12-13)
- John Keech, MD
- Thoracic Surgery, Washington University in St. Louis
- Oliver Lao, MD
- Pediatric Surgery, Omaha Children's & Nebraska Medical Center
- Abhijit Shaligram, MD
- Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center
2010
- Ellen Cooper, MD
- Acting Instructor, UW
- Farhood Farjah, MD, MPH
- Thoracic Surgery Fellowship, Memorial Sloan Kettering
- Erin Gilbert, MD
- Laparoscopic Surgery Fellowship, Oregon Health Sciences University
- Christine Jensen, MD, MPH
- Colon and Rectal Surgery Fellowship, University of Illinois, Chicago
- Yong Kwon, MD
- Laparoscopic Surgery Fellowship, UW
- Sherene Shalhub, MD, MPH
- Vascular Surgery Fellowship, UW
- Patrick Wolf, MD
- Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
2009
- Matt Crouthamel, MD
- Minimally Invasive Surgery, Puget Sound Surgery Center
- Christian Hamlat, MD
- Trauma & Critical Care Fellowship, UW
- Kate Mandell, MD, MPH
- Trauma & Critical Care Fellowship, UW
- Heather Merry, MD
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship, UW
- Juan Parra, MD
- Acting Instructor, UW
- Elina Quiroga, MD
- Vascular Surgery Fellowship, UW
- Dan Suver, MD
- Plastic Surgery Residency, UW
- Joe Woodward, MD
- Plastic Surgery Residency, University of California at San Francisco
2008
- Matthew Agnew, MD
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship, UW
- Ilan Avin, MD
- Surgical Oncology Fellowship, University of Toronto
- Patrick Combs, MD
- Plastic Surgery Residency, UW
- Rachel Lundgren, MD
- Vascular Surgery Fellowship, UW
- Kimberly Riehle, MD
- Pediatric Surgery Fellowship, Children's Hospital Boston
- Erik Van Eaton, MD
- Trauma/Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, Harborview Medical Center
2007
- Alex Farivar, MD
- Thoracic Surgery Fellowship, Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Ani Fleisig, MD
- Laparoscopic Fellowship, UW (07-08) / Surgical Onoclogy Fellowship, John Wayne Cancer Institute (08-09)
- Allan Haynes, MD
- Advanced GI Surgery Fellowship, UW
- Deborah Marquardt, MD
- Surgeon for the United States Navy
- Beth Ann Reimel, MD
- Pancreatic Cancer Research, UW (07-09) / Endocrine Surgery Fellowship, Columbia University Medical Center (09-10)
- Hiroo Takayama, MD
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship, Columbia University Medical Center
2006
- Stephanie Acierno, MD
- Research Fellowship, Seattle Children's Hospital
- Daniel Anaya, MD
- Surgical Oncology Fellowship, MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Jeff Avansino, MD
- Pediatric Surgery Fellowship, Seattle Children's Hospital
- Ellen Farrokhi, MD
- EndoVascular Surgery Fellowship, UW
- Francisco Gensini, MD
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship, UW
- Sydney Lillard, MD
- Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Roswell Park Cancer Institute