Message from Program Director
The goal of our program is to train the complete general surgeon with expertise in the management of the complex surgical patients with high acuity. We aim to make our residents the future leaders in surgery by emphasizing critical thinking, operative skills, and the ability to understand and assess the literature.
Our main site is Westchester Medical Center (WMC) which includes the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, a tertiary care academic medical center that serves as the regional referral center for the Hudson Valley serving a very diverse population of about four million. We are the Regional Level-1 Trauma Center for both adult and pediatric patients.
We offer a five-year program with four Categorical and five Preliminary PGY-1 Positions. Rotations in MIS, Transplant, Pediatric, Thoracic, Vascular, Trauma, Surgical Oncology, and Hepatobiliary provide a vigorous subspecialty curriculum in addition to the general surgery core to optimize the training experience/opportunity. Westchester Medical Center also offers fellowships in Surgical Critical Care, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vascular Surgery, MIS, and Burn. Additionally, the Department of Surgery Clinical Research Unit (DSCRU) will provide assistance on any research projects residents are interested in pursuing.
Like the population we serve, our residents come from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. Working together and emphasizing the concept of team work with mutual respect is a cornerstone of our program. We are committed to a holistic review process of all applicants and strive to recruit a diverse population of residents during each Match cycle.
Located in Suburban New York, Westchester County has a wonderful quality of life with activities and recreational opportunities for a wide array of interests. Manhattan is approximately 18 miles away from the hospital (35 minutes by car or commuter rail) and has something to offer for everyone. You’ll have the opportunity to attend major sporting events, concerts, Broadway, and more! If city life is not for you, the Hudson Valley is home to rich history, beautiful scenery, hiking trails, and breweries and wineries for those who are interested. During the summers there are a number of beaches that are just a short car ride away as well.
In summary, I believe Westchester Medical Center provides an environment that will challenge you and train you to become an outstanding academic or community surgeon for the new millennium.
Sincerely,
Madalyn Neuwirth, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, NYMC
Program Director, General Surgery Residency, WMC
Attending Surgeon, Division of Surgical Oncology, WMC
Program Overview and Curriculum
The program accepts four categorical and five preliminary residents every year through the National Residency Match Program. All surgery residents complete their surgical internship at Westchester Medical Center. Additional dedicated research time is an optional component of general surgery training; however, ongoing scholarly activity during training is a program requirement. As of 2022, two residents from the match are designated for the six- or seven-year research track. Research years typically occur between PGY 2 and 3 years. Every attempt is made to send residents, regardless of training level, to any national conference at which their research data is accepted to. Each resident is paired with a clinical mentor to provide guidance during the course of the residency. This is a fully accredited ACGME General Surgery Residency.
Conferences
Morbidity and Mortality
All cases are reviewed on a weekly basis with special emphasis on interesting cases of educational value. Chief residents are responsible for brief presentations on the relevant topics and follow the SBAR format for case presentation.
These conferences are held every Wednesday for the residents at Westchester Medical Center.
Basic Science, Clinical Fundamentals
Wednesday mornings are also dedicated to a combination of basic science and clinical fundamentals 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. These sessions consist of a faculty led lecture on an assigned topic and oral board case scenario review, followed by a review of open-ended questions from the SCORE curriculum which are moderated by an assigned resident.
Review sessions are also held prior to the ABSITE where all faculty and residents are encouraged to participate.
Surgical Skills Lab
The last Wednesday of every month is dedicated to Surgical Skills training. Under the leadership of Anthony Maffei, MD, FACS, residents are taken through a structured curriculum over the course of a year to master the skills required in the Fundamental of Laparoscopic Surgery program using lap trainers in an inanimate / dry lab. Procedures performed include laparoscopic cholecystectomy, bowel resection and reanastamosis, nephrectomy and splenectomy.
With the newly acquired Da Vinci® SIHD™ platform, residents will also be able to learn fundamentals of Robotic Surgery from Roberto Bergamaschi, MD, Section Chief of Colorectal Surgery at Westchester Medical Center.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
The Department of Surgery at Westchester Medical Center has its own DEI Committee that hosts monthly webinars, cultural luncheons, and participates in mentorship programs. Our approach is to create a supportive and inclusive environment where all are valued and have the opportunity to achieve their highest potential, irrespective of ethnicity, gender, religion, race or personal beliefs. We will champion diversity and inclusion for everyone, drive a systemic, sustainable improvement in our workforce and meet the educational and healthcare needs of our diverse community with cultural sensitivity.
Rotations
The following is a general guide to the residency. Specific rotations and schedules are subject to change at the discretion of the Program Director to meet the educational needs of the resident and program at large.
PGY-1
The resident will rotate through a variety of general surgery rotations with the expectation of learning the perioperative management of complex surgical patients. Typical rotations include: Acute Care Surgery, ICU, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Plastics / Burn Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Transplant Surgery, Trauma Surgery and Vascular Surgery.
PGY-2
The resident will rotate through a variety of general surgery rotations with an addition of Thoracic Surgery. The resident learns to manage a busy inpatient service with a case mix index and develop the knowledge base to perform appropriate preoperative evaluation of presenting symptoms and postoperative follow up. The junior resident is actively involved in working up complex consultations and gains significant exposure to critical care and ICU procedures.
PGY-3
The resident will rotate through a variety of general surgery rotations but with more focus on Vascular Surgery, and Surgical Oncology where there is usually a junior resident alongside the PGY-3, in addition to the in-house PGY-4/5.
PGY-4
The resident will transition to an Acting Chief Resident learning to run a service alongside the Chief Resident. During these rotations the resident is primarily in the operating room gaining significant exposure to open and endoscopic surgical techniques as surgeon junior for Pediatric Surgery, Thoracic Surgery and Trauma.
PGY-5
The Chief Resident is expected to coordinate educational conferences, teach junior residents in addition to gaining significant exposure as the surgeon to complex open, and laparoscopic cases. Rotations focused on are Acute Care Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Transplant Surgery and Vascular Surgery.
Chief residents are encouraged to attend the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress and a Board Review Course.
Objectives for all rotations are conceptually organized within the framework of the six ACGME core competencies. Our curriculum includes rotation-and PGY-specific goals and objectives. Below is the Block Schedule diagram for the categorical track in our program.
| PGY Level |
Rotation |
Length |
| |
|
|
| PGY 1 |
Acute Care Surgery |
1 Block |
| |
General Surgery / Surgical Oncology / Colorectal Surgery
|
1 Block |
| |
Intensive Care Unit |
1 Block |
| |
Minimally Invasive Surgery
|
2 Blocks |
| |
Pediatric Surgery
|
1 Block |
| |
Trauma/ER Surgery
|
1 Block |
| |
Vascular Surgery
|
1 Block |
| |
Plastic/Burn Surgery |
2 Blocks |
| |
Transplant Surgery |
1 Block |
| |
Night Float |
1 Block |
| |
Vacation |
1 Block |
| |
|
|
| PGY 2 |
Intensive Care Unit |
3 Blocks |
| |
General Surgery / Surgical Oncology / Colorectal Surgery |
2 Blocks |
| |
Pediatric Surgery |
2 Blocks |
| |
Trauma/ER Surgery |
3 Blocks |
| |
Thoracic Surgery
|
3 Blocks |
| |
Vacation
|
1 Block |
| |
|
|
| PGY 3 |
Acute Care Surgery
|
3 Blocks |
| |
General Surgery / Surgical Oncology / Colorectal Surgery |
3 Blocks |
| |
Minimally Invasive Surgery |
1 Block |
| |
Vascular Surgery
|
3 Blocks |
| |
Pediatric Surgery |
1 Block |
| |
Thoracic Surgery |
1 Block |
| |
Vacation
|
1 Block |
| |
|
|
| PGY 4 |
Pediatric Surgery
|
2 Blocks |
| |
Thoracic Surgery
|
3 Blocks |
| |
Trauma/ER Surgery
|
4 Blocks |
| |
Breast Surgery |
1 Block |
| |
Vascular Surgery |
3 Blocks |
| |
Vacation |
1 Block |
| |
|
|
| PGY 5 |
Acute Care Surgery
|
2 Blocks |
| |
General Surgery / Surgical Oncology / Colorectal Surgery
|
2 Blocks |
| |
Mid-Hudson
|
2 Blocks |
| |
Pediatric Surgery
|
1 Block |
| |
Elective
|
2 Blocks |
| |
Breast Surgery |
1 Block |
| |
Endoscopy |
1 Block |
| |
Transplant Surgery |
2 Blocks |
| |
Vacation
|
1 Block |
| |
|
|
| |
Please Note: Each block consists of four-week rotations |
|
General Surgery Categorical Residents: 2023-2024
Categorical PGY-5 Chief Residents
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
Agon Kajmolli, MD
Trinity School of Medicine |
Muhammad Khan, MD
Khyber Medical College |
Sara Matsumoto, MD
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
|
Matthew McGuirk, MD
SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine
|
Kenji Okumura, MD
Kyushu University Faculty of Medicine
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Muhammad Zeeshan, MD
King Edward Medical University |
|
|
|
|
Categorical PGY-4 Residents
Categorical PGY-3 Residents
Categorical PGY-2 Residents
 |
 |
 |
 |
Tyler James D'agostino, MD
New York Medical College |
Katherine Lam, MD
Stony Brook University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine |
Mekedes Lemma, MD
University of Nevada School of Medicine |
Avery Charles Wilson, MD
New York Medical College |
Preliminary PGY-2 Residents
 |
Salma Khan, MD
Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences |
Categorical PGY-1 Residents
 |
 |
 |
 |
Bryan Cabrera Valdes, MD
FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine |
Khaled El-Qawaqzeh, MD
Mu'tah University Faculty of Medicine |
Megan Molnar, MD
SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine |
Tamara Sharf, MD
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California |
Preliminary PGY-1 Residents
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Luis Calimano Ramirez, MD
Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine |
Christopher McNeill, MD
New York Medical College |
Rami Mizher, MD
Georgetown University School of Medicine |
Danielle Nguyen, MD
California University of Science and Medicine School of Medicine |
Ishani Sharma, MD
Indiana University School of Medicine |
Residents on Research
 |
 |
 |
 |
Eleni Drivas, MD
Research Fellow at Johns Hopkins University |
Sophia Hameedi, MD
Research Fellow at Nationwide Children’s Hospital |
Nicole Lin, MD
Research Fellow at Stanford University |
Aparna Vancheswaran, MD
Research Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center |
Past Residents
Class of 2023
James Choi, MD – General Surgery Practice at Signature Healthcare - Brockton, MA
Faisal Jehan, MD – Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center – Buffalo, NY
Danny Lascano, MD – Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Providence Saint John’s Health Center – Santa Monica, CA
Class of 2022
Clara Angeles, MD – Thoracic Fellowship at University of Minnesota – Minneapolis, MN
Asad Azim, MD – Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship at Fox Chase Cancer Center – Philadelphia, PA
Miles Dale, MD – Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship at Hackensack Medical Center – Hackensack, NJ
Shekhar Gogna, MD – Multi-Abdominal Transplant Fellowship at Georgetown University – Washington, DC
Trauma and Acute Care Surgery