Welcome

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in Cleveland Clinic’s Anesthesiology Residency Program. Our four-year integrated categorical residency includes a world-class, learner-centered, interactive curriculum. This curriculum includes level-specific, high-fidelity simulations, comprehensive OSCE sessions, periodic oral board practice examinations, and a longitudinal, perioperative ultrasound education program. In the clinical setting, our residents also function as an integral part of our care team and actively participate in the care of patients with complex surgical pathology across all surgical subspecialties alongside distinguished and experienced anesthesiologist educators. Furthermore, as part of a world-renowned research institute, we take pride in our outcomes-focused, patient-centered high-impact research and our innovative culture. This prepares our graduates for a life-long career as leaders in Anesthesiology and perioperative medicine. We welcome you to join our team!

Please join us for our Residency Open House session to help you get to know our program better. During this session, you will hear from our program leadership, meet some of our residents and get the opportunity to talk about the day-to-day of the residents in our program.

Christopher Troianos, MD, FASE

Christopher Troianos, MD, FASE
Chairman Anesthesiology Institute
Carlos Trombetta, MD | Cleveland Clinic Carlos Trombetta, MD, MEd, CHSE
Residency Program Director Anesthesiology Institute
Current Residents

Current Residents

CBY Class

Aristo Brizzolara, MD
Aristo Brizzolara, MD

  • Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas.
  • Medical School: University of Arkansas.
  • Clinical Interests: Critical Care, Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Pediatric Anesthesia.
  • Personal Interests: Music (guitar, mandolin, bass guitar, ukulele), board games and card games and video games.

Alexander Caskey, DO
Alexander Caskey, DO

  • Hometown: Columbus, Ohio.
  • Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Personal Interests: Golf, long walks, Aldi, gaming, skiing, college football, quality time with friends/family.

Alice Dalo, MD
Alice Dalo, MD

  • Hometown: San Francisco, California.
  • Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED).
  • Clinical Interests: Critical Care, Regional Anesthesia, Acute and Chronic Pain.
  • Personal Interests: Spending time with family and friends, exploring new restaurants, CLE/SF sports (Go Dubs and Niners), fitness, sunsets, live music and concerts.

Nicholas DiDuca, DO
Nicholas DiDuca, DO

  • Hometown: North Andover, Massachusetts.
  • Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology.
  • Personal Interests: Fitness, Boston sports, The Sopranos, fantasy football, trying new coffee shops.

Michael Durgham, MD
Michael Durgham, MD

  • Hometown: Troy, Michigan.
  • Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine.
  • Clinical Interests: Pediatric Anesthesia & Cardiac Anesthesia.
  • Personal Interests: Hiking, biking, building computers, traveling, eating and ceramics.

Elyad Ekrami, MD
Elyad Ekrami, MD

  • Hometown: Tabriz, Iran.
  • Medical School: Tabriz University of Medical Sciences.
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac Anesthesia, Acute and Chronic Pain & Clinical Research.
  • Personal Interests: Hiking, camping, swimming, playing basketball, playing video games, spending time with family and friends, watching soccer & Formula 1.

Georgia Gagianas, DO
Georgia Gagianas, DO

  • Hometown: Pittsburg, PA.
  • Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiothoracic Anesthesia & Critical Care.
  • Personal Interests: Fishing, skiing, traveling & coffee.

Ashley Grimes, MD, MS
Ashley Grimes, MD, MS

  • Hometown: Cleveland, OH.
  • Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine.
  • Clinical Interests: Critical Care.
  • Personal Interests: Golf, cooking & movies.

Michael Hradesky, DO
Michael Hradesky, DO

  • Hometown: Cleveland, OH.
  • Medical School: Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Clinical Interests: Pediatric Anesthesia & General Anesthesia.
  • Personal Interests: Running, hiking, Cleveland Guardians and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kevin Huynh, DO
Kevin Huynh, DO

  • Hometown: Houston, TX.
  • Medical School: Sam Houston State University.
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac Anesthesia.
  • Personal Interests: Running, biking, tennis, and exploring all the local restaurants int he city!

Han Sol (Sophie) Jeong, DO
Han Sol (Sophie) Jeong, DO

  • Hometown: Centreville, VA.
  • Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac & Pediatric Anesthesia.
  • Personal Interests: Formula 1, yoga, exploring coffee shops.

Samuel Kalnitsky, MD
Samuel Kalnitsky, MD

  • Hometown: Cleveland, OH.
  • Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
  • Clinical Interests: Medical Education, General Anesthesiology & Regional Anesthesiology.
  • Personal Interests: Running, basketball (Go Cavs!), Skiing, national parks and discovering new restaurants.

Mary Knott, DO
Mary Knott, DO

  • Hometown: Smiths Falls, Ontario.
  • Medical School: LECOM Erie.
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac, Critical Care & Transplant Anesthesia.
  • Personal Interests: Hockey, baking, running and golfing.

Daniel Kray, DO
Daniel Kray, DO

  • Hometown: Bay Village, OH.
  • Medical School: LECOM – Seton Hill.
  • Clinical Interests: Critical Care & General Anesthesia.
  • Personal Interests: Cleveland sports, reading, movies/tv, spending time with family.

Nicholas Luciano, MD, MPH
Nicholas Luciano, MD, MPH

  • Hometown: Cleveland, OH.
  • Medical School: Tulane University.
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac & Neuro-Anesthesiology.
  • Personal Interests: Swimming, exploring restaurants, crafting.

Charvi Malhotra, MD
Charvi Malhotra, MD

  • Hometown: Solon, OH.
  • Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine.
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac Anesthesia & Regional Anesthesia.
  • Personal Interests: Pilates, traveling, golf, exploring restaurants.

Leonardo Marquez Roa, MD
Leonardo Marquez Roa, MD

  • Hometown: San Cristobal, Venezuela.
  • Medical School: Universidad Centro-Occidental “Lisandro Alvarado”.
  • Clinical Interests: General Anesthesia, Regional Anesthesia, Pain Management & Clinical Research.
  • Personal Interests: Playing guitar, going to hard rock/metal concerts, trying new cuisines as a foodie and amateur cook, and exploring new places – All better enjoyed with friends/family.

Samuel Michalak, MD
Samuel Michalak, MD

  • Hometown: Auburn, MI.
  • Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine.
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac Anesthesia & Critical Care Medicine.
  • Personal Interests: Running, reading, biking, fantasy football and spending time with family or friends.

Elyad Ekrami, MD
Collin Riddle, DO

  • Hometown: Springboro, OH.
  • Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Clinical Interests: Undecided.
  • Personal Interests: traveling, working out, hiking, tennis, piano, spending time with my dog, family & friends, exploring Cleveland’s Metroparks, sports, breweries & food scene.

Nicholas Sampson, DO
Nicholas Sampson, DO

  • Hometown: Lansing, MI.
  • Medical School: Michigan State University College of Medicine.
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac Anesthesiology & Critical Care.
  • Personal Interests: I enjoy visiting the national parks with my fiancée, playing ice hockey, hiking and cycling.

Amrita Sandhu, DO
Amrita Sandhu, DO

  • Hometown: Apple Valley, CA.
  • Medical School: De Moines University.
  • Clinical Interests: Pediatric Anesthesia, Cardiac Anesthesia & Critical Care.
  • Personal Interests: Playing tennis, hiking with my Australian Shepard, Rosie, strength training, Pilates, exploring local coffee shops, collecting house plants and pottery.

Sara Shanaj, DO
Sara Shanaj, DO

  • Hometown: Long Island, NY.
  • Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Personal Interests: Traveling, the beach, volleyball and SoulCycle.

Anna Tanaka, MD
Anna Tanaka, MD

  • Hometown: Sandusky, OH.
  • Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
  • Clinical Interests: Acute Pain & Cardiothoracic Anesthesia.
  • Personal Interests: Being active (running, lifting, pickleball, workout classes), the beach, cooking, spending time with family & friends.

Daniel Terner, DO
Daniel Terner, DO

  • Hometown: San Diego, CA.
  • Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Clinical Interests: General and Cardiothoracic Anesthesia & Chronic Pain.
  • Personal Interests: Being outdoors, especially on or by the water, bowling, photography and playing piano.

CA-1 Class

Michael Benson, DO
Michael Benson, DO

  • Hometown: Akron, Ohio
  • Medical School: Ohio University
  • Clinical Interests: Pediatric Anesthesia and Acute Pain
  • Personal Interests: Basketball, Golf, Hiking, Cooking all different cuisines, Rewatching the office, Going to Browns, Cavs and Guardians games and going to trivia at different local breweries and spending time with my wife!

Joseph Brisson, MD
Joseph Brisson, MD

  • Hometown: Rochester, MI
  • Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac, ICU, or Regional Anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Family, friends, University of Michigan and Detroit sports

Yun Chao Chen, MD
Yun Chao Chen, MD

  • Hometown: Flushing, NY
  • Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Undecided
  • Personal Interests: fishing, working out, food, TFT, and cats

Taya El-Hayek, MD
Taya El-Hayek, MD

  • Hometown: Canfield, Ohio
  • Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
  • Clinical Interests: Undecided, maybe peds anesthesia or acute pain
  • Personal interests: Traveling, Tennis, Pilates, Reading, and Spending time with my family, my friends, and my dog Kobe!

Steve Gendi, MD
Steve Gendi, MD

  • Hometown: St. Louis, MO
  • Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, Chronic Pain, General Anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: traveling, playing/watching sports (basketball and football), working out, Netflix, spending time with friends & the fam

Austin Hansen, MD
Austin Hansen, MD

  • Hometown: Lake Ozark, MO
  • Medical School: University of Kansas, SOM
  • Clinical Interests: Regional or Chronic Pain
  • Personal Interests: Dogs, Golf, KC Chiefs, Fantasy Football, Trying new restaurants

George Istafanos, DO
George Istafanos, DO

  • Hometown: Franklin Square, NY
  • Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: POCUS, Cardiothoracic anesthesia, regional anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Basketball, Scuba diving

Armon Khosraviani, MD
Armon Khosraviani, MD

  • Hometown: Los Gatos, CA
  • Medical School: Chicago Medical School at RFUMS
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiothoracic and general anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Fitness, Brazilian jujitsu, fishing, long walks, and Costco runs

Brandon Lau, MD
Brandon Lau, MD

  • Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
  • Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Undecided
  • Personal Interests: Martial arts, video games, discovering new restaurants, whiskey tasting, cocktail bars, game theory optimal poker

Aaditya Manirajan, MD
Aaditya Manirajan, MD

  • Hometown: Louisville, KY
  • Medical School: The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Acute pain, Cardiothoracic Anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Rock climbing, fishing, board games

Kyle Meyer, MD
Kyle Meyer, MD

  • Hometown: Fremont, OH
  • Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
  • Clinical Interests: Acute and Chronic pain, pediatrics, cardiac anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Running, reading, Cleveland sports, trying new breweries, spending time with family and friends.

Warren Moseman, MD
Warren Moseman, MD

  • Hometown: Bloomington, IN
  • Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine 
  • Clinical Interests: General Anesthesiology, Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Acute and Chronic Pain. I have yet to meet a field of Anesthesiology I don’t love.
  • Personal Interests: All things outside including hiking, fishing, kayaking, golfing, and skiing (both snow and water). Exploring Cleveland parks and breweries with my giant floofy Bernese Mountain Dog. Indiana Hoosiers Basketball.

Amanda Naylor, MD
Amanda Naylor, MD

  • Hometown: Cleveland, OH
  • Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Critical Care, Clinical Research
  • Personal Interests: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Cavaliers, exploring the Metroparks with my two rescue greyhounds, live music/jam bands, enamel pin collecting

Saloni Parikh, MD
Saloni Parikh, MD

  • Hometown: San Francisco, CA
  • Medical School: Thomas Jefferson University
  • Clinical Interests: undecided
  • Personal Interests: hiking/national parks, fitness, cooking for friends/family, live music, rooftop happy hours, wine tasting, Steph Curry and Golden State Warriors fan

Amani Ramiz, MD
Amani Ramiz, MD

  • Hometown: Houston, TX
  • Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW)
  • Clinical Interests: open to anything
  • Personal Interests: Trader Joe’s, weightlifting, cooking

Megan Reilly, MD
Megan Reilly, MD

  • Hometown: Brighton, MI
  • Medical School: Central Michigan College of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: regional anesthesiology, general anesthesiology
  • Personal Interests: riding horses, golf, weightlifting, skiing, Costco hotdogs, and my two tuxedo cats Sylvester and Socks

Kyle Shaw, MD
Kyle Shaw, MD

  • Hometown: Orlando, FL
  • Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiothoracic Anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Hiking, Camping, Traveling

Taha Siddiqui, DO
Taha Siddiqui, DO

  • Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac Anesthesia, Chronic Pain
  • Personal Interests: Playing Competitive Table Tennis, Watching Anime and K-dramas, Eating Hotpot with Friends, Exploring New Cuisines, and Traveling to Japan!

Cameron Thompson, DO
Cameron Thompson, DO

  • Hometown: Flint, MI
  • Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Critical Care, Cardiac Anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Volleyball, exploring Cleveland's food scene, golf, dollar dog night, long walks on the beach with my dog

Busra Tok Cekmecelioglu, MD
Busra Tok Cekmecelioglu, MD

  • Hometown: Istanbul, Turkiye
  • Medical School: Trakya University School of Medicine, Turkiye
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac Anesthesia, Clinical Research
  • Personal Interests: Traveling, hiking, pilates, cats, photo shoots for Instagram, fashion, trying out new restaurants, happy hour

Joshua Whitney, MD
Joshua Whitney, MD

  • Hometown: Franklin, TN
  • Medical School: Central Michigan University
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac Anesthesia, Regional Anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Basketball, Disc Golf, Weightlifting, Chess, Skiing, Tuxedo Cats

Nina Zhou, MD
Nina Zhou, MD

  • Hometown: Wilmette, IL
  • Medical School: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Pain (Acute & Chronic), Obstetric, General Anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Reading, board games, Costco, fitness classes, hiking, matcha and sesame-flavored desserts

CA-2 Class

Melissa Akpinar, DO
Melissa Akpinar, DO

  • Hometown: Long Island, New York
  • Medical School: NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Undecided
  • Personal Interests: Hockey (let's go Rangers!), dogs, iced coffee, grilling, Peloton

Abraham AlFarra, MD
Abraham AlFarra, MD

  • Hometown: Houston, TX
  • Medical School: UT Houston
  • Clinical Interests: Chronic pain management, Cardiac anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: CLE/Dallas sports, spending time with family/friends, travel, fantasy football, cars

Nabil Aziz, DO
Nabil Aziz, DO

  • Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA
  • Medical School: Touro University - California
  • Clinical Interests: Critical Care, Acute pain
  • Personal Interests: Volleyball, gardening, hiking, video games, spending time with family

Katie Basch, DO
Katie Basch, DO

  • Hometown: Solon, Ohio
  • Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: critical care, regional anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: cycling, weightlifting, golf, ice cream

Philip Borkowski, MD
Philip Borkowski, MD

  • Hometown: Chagrin Falls, OH
  • Medical School: University of Sydney
  • Clinical Interests: Undecided
  • Personal Interests: Playing guitar, going to concerts, reading, memorizing movie monologues, alliteration, mastering Aunty Donna's Christmas pudding recipe, exercising and taking an excessive number of photos when traveling

Ariel Gelman, DO
Ariel Gelman, DO

  • Hometown: Livingston, NJ
  • Medical School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: regional anesthesia, general anesthesia, cardiac anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: traveling, trying new restaurants, swimming, spending time with family & friends

Sydney Keller, MD
Sydney Keller, MD

  • Hometown: Grosse Pointe, MI
  • Medical School: Indiana University
  • Clinical Interests: Acute pain, general anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Running/cycling/walking nearby trails, exploring Cleveland's bar and restaurant scene, trips to Trader Joe's & Notre Dame football

Joan Koh, MD
Joan Koh, MD, Junior Quality Officer

  • Medical School: Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Long Island NY
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac anesthesia, Pain (Acute & Chronic)
  • Personal Interests: Trail running/hiking, Water Skiing, Snowboarding, Movies (especially Marvel/Mission Impossible, Fast & Furious!), Drawing

Esra Kutlu Yalcin, MD
Esra Kutlu Yalcin, MD, Research Coordinator

  • Hometown: Mersin, Turkiye
  • Medical School: Cukurova University School of Medicine, Adana, Turkiye
  • Clinical Interests: Regional Anesthesia, Cardiac Anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Jamming with friends, Playing guitar and harmonica, Discovering and creating new playlists in Spotify, Postmodern Jukebox, The Office, Traveling, Jogging, Orienteering, Volleyball

Christopher Matthews, DO
Christopher Matthews, DO, Chief Resident

  • Hometown: Albany, GA
  • Medical School: LECOM, Erie
  • Clinical Interests: Pediatric
  • Personal Interests: Soccer, golf, fishing and anything on the water, local ice cream stands, hanging with my wife

Sally Nagia, MD
Sally Nagia, MD

  • Hometown: Troy, MI 
  • Medical School: Central Michigan University College of Medicine 
  • Personal Interests: swimming, weightlifting, online shopping, sneakers, interiors, reality TV (Housewives, Bach, and so many more)

Alexandra Pearce, MD
Alexandra Pearce

  • Hometown: Toronto, ON
  • Medical School: West Virginia University School of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: critical care, peds, OB, chronic pain
  • Personal Interests: weight lifting, biking, yoga, reading, sleeping, sour beers of any kind, trying new breweries & restaurants with my husband & friends!

Dominic Pelchat, DO
Dominic Pelchat, DO

  • Hometown: Utica, MI
  • Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Regional Pain, Cardiothoracic Anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Football, Piano, Running

Pletcher Jerred, MD
Jerred Pletcher, MD

  • Hometown: Ashland, Ohio
  • Medical School: University of Toledo
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiac, Critical Care
  • Personal Interests: Breweries, food, pizza, dog parks, sports

Michael Salomon, MD
Michael Salomon, MD

  • Home town: Richmond, Virginia
  • Medical School: University of Virginia
  • Clinical Interests: Physician wellness, artificial intelligence in anesthesia, critical care
  • Personal Interests: Fitness/exercise, camping and hiking, balling on a budget

Jay Shah, DO
Jay Shah, DO

  • Hometown: Powell, Ohio
  • Medical School: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Critical care, General anesthesia, Regional anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Cooking, Ohio State football, trying new breweries, spending time with friends and family.

Qainat Shah, MD
Qainat Shah, MD

  • Hometown: Queens, NY
  • Medical School: Albany Medical College/li>
  • Clinical Interests: possibly acute pain management, clinical research
  • Personal Interests: cats, the boys, fries, cheese, long drives, fitness, walks in rain, couch naps, watching basketball

Dorian Stevens, DO
Dorian Stevens, DO 

  • Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Chronic pain management and transplant anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan, spending time with family and my dog Kayda, weightlifting, playing basketball and golf

Nicholas Thompson, DO
Nicholas Thompson, DO

  • Hometown: Mentor, Ohio
  • Medical School: Ohio University HCOM
  • Clinical Interests: Intensive care and regional pain
  • Personal Interests: Spending time with family, flying drones, and being outdoors

Samjeris Victor, MD
Samjeris Victor, MD

  • Hometown: Reading, PA
  • Medical School: West Virginia University School of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiothoracic and Chronic Pain Management
  • Personal Interests: Philadelphia Eagles fan, jet skiing, ziplining, Marvel movies, brewery connoisseur, Gordon Ramsay enthusiast

Wing Fei Wong, MD
Wing Fei Wong, MD, Chief Resident

  • Hometown: San Francisco, CA
  • Medical School: Thomas Jefferson University
  • Clinical Interests: Critical Care, Cardiac
  • Personal Interests: Ice Cream (Making and Eating), Cross Stitch, Costco, Spin, Cute Scrub Caps

Wendy Yam, MD
Wendy Yam, MD

  • Hometown: San Jose, California
  • Medical School: University of California, Davis
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiothoracic Anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Cycling, reading, trying out new restaurants

CA-3 Class

Faiz Ahmed, DO
Faiz Ahmed, DO

  • Hometown: Long Island, NY
  • Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine – Erie
  • Clinical Interests: Undecided
  • Personal Interests: Sports, fitness, road trips, Super Smash Bros, Seinfeld, The Office

Gabriel Alcodray, MD
Gabriel Alcodray, MD

  • Hometown: Dearborn, Michigan
  • Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Private practice
  • Personal Interests: Board games, video games, weightlifting, couch naps

Mauro Bravo, MD
Mauro Bravo, MD, Research Coordinator

  • Hometown: San Cristobal, Venezuela
  • Medical School: Universidad de los Andes, Venezuela
  • Clinical Interests: Acute and chronic pain management, neuroanesthesia, perioperative care, clinical research
  • Personal Interests: Traveling, jogging, swimming, cooking and trying new restaurants, classic music

Jayce Breig, MD
Jayce Breig, MD

  • Hometown: Evergreen, Colorado
  • Medical School: Drexel University COM
  • Clinical Interests: Pediatric anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Billiards, video games, golf

Benjamin Brunell, MD
Benjamin Brunell, MD

  • Hometown: Austin, Texas
  • Medical School: University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiothoracic anesthesia and critical care
  • Personal Interests: Reading, podcasts, cooking/baking, consumer electronics

Michael Chepanoske, MD
Michael Chepanoske, MD

  • Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Medical School: UMASS Medical School
  • Personal Interests: Video games, cooking/baking, trying new breweries

Matthew Coscia, MD
Matthew Coscia, MD

  • Hometown: Zionsville, IN
  • Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Acute pain, obstetric anesthesia, general anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: I like weightlifting, hiking and outdoor activities

John Coughlin, MD
John Coughlin, MD

  • Hometown: Parma, OH
  • Medical School: Wright Stage University, Dayton, OH
  • Clinical Interests: Critical care and cardiac anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Cycling, hiking trips, spending times with friends and family

Matthew Geiser, MD
Matthew Geiser, MD

  • Hometown: Zionsville, IN
  • Medical School: Indiana University
  • Personal Interests: LA Dodgers fan, fantasy football

Nicky Goldstein, DO
Nicky Goldstein, DO

  • Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
  • Medical School: Philadelphia college of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Taking it day by day and seeing what floats by boat by my senior years
  • Personal Interests: Playing guitar/mandolin, spending time with my girlfriend/dog and cat, chasing top-quality live music shows and kayaking/hiking

Lusine Israelyan, MD
Lusine Israelyan, MD

  • Hometown: Yerevan, Armenia but my family is in Glendale, California.
  • Medical School: Yerevan State University
  • Clinical Interests: Neuroanesthesia, liver transplant anesthesia, clinical research
  • Personal Interests: Baking, hiking, art and music

Jordan Italiano, MD
Jordan Italiano, MD

  • Hometown: Canfield, OH
  • Medical School: Wright State University
  • Personal Interests: Spending time with family and friends, weightlifting, sports, TV series, movies, sneakers

Amoghavarsha Krishna, DO
Amoghavarsha Krishna, DO

  • Hometown: Dayton, OH
  • Medical School: Ohio University Dublin
  • Clinical Interests: Chronic pain management and cardiothoracic anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Photography, travel, kayaking, eating exotic foods, animals!

Noble Forrest Lewallen, DO
Noble Forrest Lewallen, DO, Chief Resident

  • Hometown: Traverse City, MI 
  • Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiothoracic and transplant anesthesia
  • Personal Interests: Craft coffee, backpacking, fitness, Tiki culture and cocktails, MSU and Cleveland sports

Tianyun (Ardi) Li, MD
Tianyun (Ardi) Li, MD

  • Hometown: Sidney, OH
  • Medical School: Thomas Jefferson University
  • Personal Interests: Tennis, lifting, baking desserts, eating desserts, trips to Costco, the Ohio State Buckeyes

Irfan Minhas, MD
Irfan Minhas, MD

  • Hometown: Stow, OH
  • Medical School: Chicago Medical School
  • Clinical Interests: Chronic pain management, regional anesthesia and acute pain
  • Personal Interests: Travel, basketball and video games

Rod Nault, MD, MS
Rod Nault, MD, MS

  • Hometown: Rochester, NY
  • Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiothoracic, critical care
  • Personal Interests: Rock climbing

Vraj Patel, DO
Vraj Patel, DO

  • Hometown: Peoria, IL
  • Medical School: Midwestern University – Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Acute and chronic pain management
  • Personal Interests: Playing and watching basketball, Chicago Bulls, traveling, movies, breweries, hip hop and Bollywood music

Quinton Riter, DO
Quinton Riter, DO

  • Hometown: Stow, Ohio
  • Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Regional anesthesia, obstetric anesthesia, chronic pain
  • Personal Interests: Rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, cooking

Garrett Thomas, MD
Garrett Thomas, MD, Chief Resident

  • Hometown: Broadlands, VA
  • Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiothoracic anesthesiology, critical care
  • Personal Interests: Spending time with my family, rowing, cycling, running, weightlifting, college basketball, playing board and video games

Jason Tretter, MD
Jason Tretter, MD, Senior Quality Officer

  • Hometown: Richfield, OH
  • Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
  • Clinical Interests: Chronic pain
  • Personal Interests: Football, cooking, trying new foods and restaurants, The Office, 90 day Finance

Megha Vipani, MD
Megha Vipani, MD

  • Hometown: Chantilly, VA
  • Medical School: University of Virginia
  • Clinical Interests: Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, critical care
  • Personal Interests: Mitchell’s coffee chocolate chip ice cream, design, soccer
Program Details and Rotations

Program Details and Rotations

Cleveland Clinic has a world-renowned reputation and a role as an international quaternary referral center. Patients with serious medical conditions come here for some of the most complex surgical procedures performed in the world. In this extraordinary clinical environment, our residents routinely manage some of the most challenging cases that anesthesiology has to offer, all while enjoying a broad experience in all aspects of perioperative medicine.

Clinical base year (PGY-1)

The Department of Anesthesiology is proud to sponsor a comprehensive and unique Clinical Base Year (CBY), specifically designed to prepare first year residents for advanced training in our anesthesiology residency. The CBY is comprised of 13 four-week modules of training, including experiences through the following areas:

  • Perioperative medicine.
  • Neuro ICU.
  • Endocrinology.
  • Chronic pain recovery.
  • Nephrology.
  • Cardiology.
  • Pulmonary medicine.
  • Infectious disease.
  • Acute pain management and regional anesthesia.
  • Adult surgical critical care.
  • Cardiovascular and thoracic surgical critical care.
  • Emergency medicine.

The CBY includes four months of General Anesthesia including a gradual two-month orientation process. During this period, the basics of anesthesia are taught in the classroom, OR and simulation settings. In a “boot camp” setting, our residents experience selected common and uncommon anesthesia crises, in a supervised and safe environment.

All scheduling, advising and evaluation for the internship is controlled by the Anesthesiology Institute. In addition to a broad clinical experience, this internship prepares the first-year resident for a smooth entry into the CA-1 year. Regular participation in anesthesiology conferences and activities makes the CBY resident a full participant in the Department of Anesthesiology. In our program, your residency in anesthesiology starts on day one.

CA-1 year

In the CA-1 year, residents build on the concepts and skills introduced in the CBY and continue to administer anesthesia using a wide variety of techniques for the main general anesthesia surgical areas. Residents will complete anesthesia rotations dedicated to surgical subspecialties including orthopedics, neurosurgery, ENT, urology, and plastic surgery.

Additionally, the CA-1 resident will have additional critical care exposure in both our 30-bed Surgical ICU and 95-bed Cardiovascular ICU, both of which are managed by the Department of Anesthesiology. This gives the residents the opportunity to help manage complex and acute critically ill patients encountered here, where technologies for advanced cardiovascular support are commonplace, second to none.

The CA-1 residents spend some time in our newly remodeled pre-anesthesia care clinic, allowing for a comprehensive preoperative patient evaluation and the initiation of multiple perioperative ERAS protocols.

During the postoperative anesthesia care unit rotation, the residents have the opportunity to manage postoperative complex patients from multiple surgical subspecialties, allowing them to understand the continuum of perioperative care.

CA-2 year

After intense exposure to the fundamentals of Anesthesiology during the CBY and CA-1 years, the CA-2 year introduces residents to the more complex anesthesia sub-specialties, these include great experiences in an advanced anesthesia practice setting.

Our Neurosurgical experience involves the management of a broad range of case complexities, from simple spine procedures to complex awake craniotomies. Being one of the largest stroke centers in Northeast Ohio, our residents get to experience acute neurosurgical emergencies, giving them the opportunity to solidify their management strategies. As we are getting ready to welcome our brand-new state of the art Neurological Institute building, we are looking forward to enhancing our neuro-anesthesia experience in 12 brand-new ORs being built for us.

Our residency program’s cardiac and thoracic anesthesiology rotations are world class. Cleveland Clinic is nationally ranked for its heart care and recognized as a world leader in cardiovascular care. During the residents’ rotations through the cardiac ORs they have the opportunity to work with world-class surgeons and anesthesiologists performing the most complex and challenging surgical procedures. Residents witness the most vanguard techniques in cardiac and thoracic surgery, allowing them to be excellently prepared in this very challenging area of anesthesia.

Residents will also gain additional experience in the management of difficult airways during a special module dedicated to ENT anesthesia, where a stepwise milestone and procedure-based curriculum enhances resident exposure to simple and complex airway management techniques.

Additional exposure to obstetric and regional anesthesia provides a longitudinal learning experience that helps solidify the residents’ knowledge in these sub-specialties.

Our pediatric anesthesia experience is quite comprehensive. From complex congenital cardiac surgery to a simple adenoidectomy, the CA-2 pediatric anesthesia rotation prepares our residents to manage pediatric cases.

With over 200 liver transplants per year, our CA-2 anesthesiology residents have a great exposure to these very complex cases as they have the opportunity to cover liver calls throughout this academic year. This allows our residents to effectively learn the management of these complex cases and enhance their transfusion and intraoperative critical management strategies.

CA-3 year

The CA-3 year provides the senior resident with a wealth of opportunities to fine-tune their clinical and leadership skills, while providing anesthesia and intensive care with significant autonomy to some of our sickest patients. Our CA-3 residents rotate through anesthesia subspecialty areas giving them the opportunity to solidify their management strategies. We have found that additional time in obstetric anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, cardiac anesthesia and critical care are of great benefit.

While in the cardiac ORs, our residents rotate for a dedicated transesophageal echo module, where their primary responsibility is to learn this skill. Many of our residents pursue basic TEE certification or get an important head start in their TEE knowledge as they move on to fellowships where this skill is required.

During the months assigned to the general ORs, the CA-3 residents direct the overnight and weekend call teams and learn how to efficiently utilize OR resources and anesthesia personnel by working at the anesthesia control desk, giving them invaluable on-the-job experience in personnel, time and resource management.

We also offer elective rotations at several of Cleveland Clinic’s regional facilities, including Hillcrest, Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals, where our residents have access to a community and private practice feel for anesthesiology, engaging in experiences that enhance their autonomy, supervisory skills as well as their regional anesthesia practice. Most recently, we have introduced options to perform elective rotations in our London hospital and our Abu Dhabi hospital. In addition, we have created an elective rotation at Akron General Hospital, one of the main trauma centers in the region, to provide our residents with this invaluable trauma experience.

As part of one of the largest pain practices in the country, our residents’ rotations through our chronic pain clinics enhance their understanding of the multiple different invasive and non-invasive strategies for chronic pain management, as well as perioperative management of this very complex patient population. As part of the CA-3 electives, our residents have the opportunity to work in a community-based chronic pain practice, where they gain experience and manage complex pain patients with adequate supervision.

Finally, our CA-3 residents have the option to take elective time for advanced clinical research (up to six months) for scholarly purposes.

Approximate annual surgical volume

As a world-class institution, with a target on innovation and patient safety, Cleveland Clinic’s different surgical services encompass a huge gamut of surgeries and procedures. This allows our anesthesiology residents to be exposed to a wide range of surgeries, from the most common elective ones to complex and experimental procedures. Our residents are part of the care team, hand in hand with anesthesiology leaders in multiple surgical sub-specialties, creating an environment of learning and discovery.

Here are some numbers that reflect the annual vast surgical experience at Cleveland Clinic’s main surgical ORs:

  • 60,448 total surgical procedures.
  • 17,936 ambulatory surgical cases.
  • 10,651 pediatric procedures.
  • 8,216 cardiothoracic procedures.
  • 713 pediatric cardiac procedures.
  • 1,192 thoracotomies.
  • 141 critical care beds (SICU and CVICU).
  • 9,574 acute pain patients.
  • 2,317 new chronic pain patients.
  • 8,979 chronic pain procedures.
  • 66 heart transplants.
  • 133 lung transplants.
  • 174 kidney transplants.
  • 190 liver transplants.
  • 8,488 deliveries.
  • 6,588 major orthopedic procedures.
  • 766 major spine cases.
  • 4,518 neurosurgical procedures.
  • 2,346 vascular procedures.

Our resident’s critical care exposure is enriched by the complexity of our patients, as well as the diverse settings where this care happens, from a dedicated liver transplant ICU to a unit dedicated to cardio-pulmonary mechanical assist devices and transplantation. The care that our residents provide these patients enriches their anesthesiology education, communication skills and team effectively.

Curriculum and Training

Curriculum and Training

Anesthesiology Residents | Cleveland Clinic

The Department of Anesthesiology's didactic curriculum component of the residency is matched in intensity and scope to the clinical experience, with the goal of providing diverse opportunities each week for residents and faculty alike to interact and enhance learning. Conferences and educational activities are designed to be challenging to residents, specifically for their level of training.

Didactics

  • Department of Anesthesiology Grand Rounds are weekly Department-wide topic presentations given by faculty, residents, or renowned national and international leaders in the field as part of our Visiting Professor Lecture Series. Our M&Ms are held during Wednesday mornings on a protected time slot, on a weekly basis.
  • Thursday Education Half Day each resident class, from CBY through CA-3, are relieved from all clinical duties to attend educational activities on topics ranging from basic pharmacology and physiology to complex sub-specialty material.
  • Curriculum is geared towards ABA Keywords and preparation for both parts of the ABA Board Exam as well as the annual In-training Examination (ITE) and Anesthesia Knowledge Test (AKT).
  • We embrace a learner-centered, interactive approach using problem-based learning, case-based learning, crisis resource discussions, simulation scenarios, interactive case discussions and faculty-moderated resident-led presentations.
  • Faculty-led special topic and sub-specialty review sessions occur on a monthly basis.
  • Outcomes Research Weekly Lecture Series - an optional lecture series for interested residents and fellows, dedicated to basic and advanced clinical research training, with special emphasis on research design, statistics, ethics, manuscript writing, and presentation. Lectures given by Outcomes Research Faculty - some of the most highly regarded and published leaders in Anesthesia research.
  • Journal Clubs are held monthly throughout the year, addressing important and relevant topics of the ever-changing aspects of anesthesiology.
  • Sub-specialty rotation-based lectures, including lecture series for residents on critical care, cardiothoracic anesthesia, obstetric anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, etc. These are discussed during the resident’s specific rotations, in small group settings.
  • Mock Orals are provided twice a year by faculty members, several of whom are ABA Board Examiners. This experience is enhanced in the CA-3 year, helping our residents to prepare for this component of the ABA Applied exam.
  • The REDE to communicate in anesthesia course for our CBY residents gives them an introduction to a set of tools and skills that enhance communication skills from the very beginning of their training.
  • OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Exams) experience is provided for our CA-1, CA-2 and CA-3 residents to assist with preparation for the ABA Applied exam. We have created a full 6 station session for each academic level, giving our residents the most realistic experience in preparation for the exam.

Simulation

Anesthesiology residents have access to over 59,000 square feet of some of the most cutting-edge simulation spaces in the world. Utilizing responsible practices, we have been able to re-start our simulation activities.

Multidisciplinary Simulation Center - focused on both individual and team-based learning, this center features a fully functional ICU and operating room, complete with the same equipment and capabilities found elsewhere in the hospital. The center is equipped with:

  • A wide variety of task and procedural-based simulators.
  • Multiple infant, child, obstetric and adult human high-fidelity patient simulators.
  • State-of-the-art audiovisual recording and assessment system.

Our didactic curriculum is enriched with a strong high-fidelity simulation foundation, with cases that have a progressive increase in complexity, exposing our residents to the bases of all areas of crisis resource management, situational awareness and effective teamwork, both at the main simulation center and at the bedside in different in-situ locations.

These are some of the topics we address in our simulation sessions:

  • Central and peripheral IV and arterial access practice workshops.
  • Neuraxial anesthesia workshops.
  • Peripheral nerve blocks.
  • Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography simulation.
  • Complex anesthesia crisis and emergencies.
  • Obstetric emergencies.
  • Vascular surgery emergencies.
  • Neurosurgical emergencies.
  • ENT emergencies.
  • Regional anesthesia complications.
  • PACU/ICU emergencies.
  • Crisis management.
  • Team communication.

The Debra Ann November Pediatric Airway and Pulmonary Mechanics Lab - a technologically advanced simulation lab dedicated to the complexities and unique challenges presented by the pediatric airway. Equipped with a high-fidelity bronchoscopy simulator, a fully functioning anesthesia machine, ICU ventilators, and infant and child-sized task trainers and high-fidelity simulation mannequins, residents will gain both fundamental and advanced skills in pediatric airway management as well as a better understanding of pediatric anatomy and pulmonary physiology.

The Archie Brain Difficult Airway Simulation Center - features a simulated operating room complete with a functional anesthesia machine, operating room equipment, and a human patient. This unique center allows residents to not only fine-tune basic airway management skills but also develop an effective and skillful approach to the difficult and failed airway. Residents will have access to a high-fidelity bronchoscopy simulator, a variety of supraglottic airways and airway management devices, and a proprietary one-lung ventilation simulator.

Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Simulation Area – features multiple advanced airways and bronchoscopic simulators as well as a transthoracic/transesophageal echo simulator, and a central line, pulmonary catheter and IV pacer simulator; allowing our residents to practice and through deliberate, high repetition enhance their procedural skills.

Benefits

Benefits

Group photo of residents hanging out together.

Residency program benefits

Our residents are able to enjoy 20 vacation/time off days each academic year.

Insurance

Cleveland Clinic offers a comprehensive health plan which covers residents and fellows as well as their immediate family members (spouse and eligible children) at 50% of the healthcare premium that all other Cleveland Clinic caregivers pay. Trainees are covered as of their actual start date so long as they complete online enrollment within 31 days of their start date.

Educational allowance

An educational allowance is granted each academic year and may be used for books, moving expenses (incoming trainees only), USMLE/COMLEX, professional society memberships, board review, etc.

The Education Institute will fund up to $2,500 per academic year for CA1 - CA3s for meeting attendance provided an abstract or poster is presented, and the resident is the first author.

Additional funding for travel and meeting attendance may be available through the Center for Anesthesiology Education office pending a simple approval process. Meeting attendance does not subtract from vacation days.

Salary

Please refer to the table below for new salary rates, effective May 16, 2024:

Grad Level Annual Rate Per Pay Rate
1 $65,361 $2,723
2 $67,564 $2,815
3 $69,746 $2,906
4 $72,475 $3,020
5 $74,890 $3,120
6 $77,836 $3,243
7 $80,414 $3,351
8 $81,982 $3,416
9 $83,556 $3,481

Additional benefits

  • Free access to Cleveland Clinic Fitness Facilities (state-of-the art cardio and weight machines, Olympic-sized swimming pool, basketball courts, fitness classes), in several locations throughout the city.
  • Mini iPads are provided to all incoming anesthesia residents.
  • Access to "Access Anesthesiology" plus a multitude of other electronic resources provided through the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Library.
  • On-call meal allowance.
  • Nicely equipped resident lounge.
  • In-house moonlighting opportunities (for those who qualify and meet requirements).
  • Access to different educational resources including TrueLearn, Anesthesia Toolbox and Board Vitals.

Institutional benefits

How to Apply

How to Apply

Anesthesiology residency application process

The Department of Anesthesiology offers 24 categorical positions each year, comprised of a unique, integrated Clinical Base Year (CBY) followed by three years of Clinical Anesthesia (CA1-CA3). All positions are filled through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP).

How to apply

The Anesthesiology Institute participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) for all positions. Our application requirements are the same as the standard ERAS application:

  • Complete Application.
  • CV.
  • Personal Statement.
  • Medical Student Performance Evaluation (Dean's Letter).
  • Transcript.
  • USMLE Step I Transcript.
  • Three Letters of Recommendation.

Please add a paragraph to your personal statement discussing what it is about the Cleveland Clinic program that appeals to you. Program-specific personal statements will be held in high regard.

Individual program (gold/silver) and geographic signaling will be strongly considered.

USMLE Step 2 may be completed after the application deadline, but its results will be considered before the final residency rank list. Successful completion of Step 2 is required prior to matriculation.

Deadline

While there is no definite deadline, we strongly encourage that all applications be submitted before or soon after October 13, 2024.

Interviews

Offers for interviews will be made via email starting early October. Interviews will be virtually held on Thursdays from October through January via a THALAMUS platform; camera presence will be required. The night before each interview date we will have an event where the scheduled candidates will have the opportunity to meet current residents in the program in the setting of a virtual social mixer.

Virtual open house sessions information

Our virtual open house sessions will have the opportunity to highlight our program, share important information, meet and talk with some of our staff and current residents.

More information coming soon but please register for your attendance once the links are live!

In person second look session

We will have an in-person second look session on February 8th, to give our candidates an opportunity to visit our campus and meet with our residents in person. This will allow you to visit the main areas where our residents will spend their time while in residency with us. Our NRMP rank list will be certified and submitted by this date, candidates’ attendance to this session will not be considered when creating the rank list.

For more information

Carlos Trombetta, MD

Carlos Trombetta, MD, MEd, CHSE, FASA
Residency Program Director Anesthesiology Institute
Staff General and Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist

Meghan Bobick
Residency Program Coordinator
ANED@ccf.org
216.444.2356
Residency Office Phone: 216.445.2115

Program Leadership

Program Leadership

Carlos Trombetta, MD | Cleveland Clinic
Carlos Trombetta, MD, MEd, CHSE, FASA
Program Director

Originally from Venezuela, I completed my medical school at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, Escuela de Medicina “Luis Razetti” in Caracas, Venezuela; following which I pursued an anesthesiology residency and cardiothoracic anesthesia fellowship in its University Hospital. I eventually moved to Cleveland and enrolled in the Cleveland Clinic’s Anesthesiology Residency Program and Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship. I have been working as staff for both the general and cardiothoracic anesthesiology departments since then. I have always had a passion for medical education, and this led me to enroll and complete a Masters in Healthcare Professions Education from Cleveland State University/Cleveland Clinic.

My passion for medical education and especially simulation-based medical education; made me pursue Certification in Healthcare Simulation Education (CHSE) and recognition for the Cleveland Clinic’s Simulation center from the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

When I am not thinking about medical education, I am probably planning my next trip, I really enjoy international travel, fitness, looking for new hikes to go explore the outdoors, new restaurants here in Cleveland and venturing in my own Italian cooking.

Sandeep Khanna, MD | Cleveland Clinic

Sandeep Khanna, MD
Associate Program Director

I serve as the Associate Program Director and divide my time between the Departments of General Anesthesia and Cardiothoracic Anesthesia. After completing my residency training, I pursued fellowships in Cardiothoracic Anesthesia and Medical Education. My research interests include airway management, perioperative hemodynamics and liver transplant anesthesia. I love playing tennis and hanging out with my family. Our favorite activities include outdoor biking, watching movies and impromptu dancing.

Mariel Manlapaz, MD | Cleveland Clinic
Mariel Manlapaz, MD
Associate Program Director

I was born in the Philippines and lived in Manila until 13 years old. My family immigrated to California, and I ended up at Stanford University where I not only obtained my Bachelors in Biological Science, but I also met my husband. After a brief stint at Chiron as a research associate, I went to medical school at University of California Irvine. Much to my chagrin, I moved to Cleveland to do my anesthesia residency and cardiothoracic fellowship, since my husband had already matched here for his residency. To my surprise, I loved being at the Clinic, and Cleveland has become our home where our three boys have flourished.

Currently I specialize in neuro-anesthesia and liver transplants. In addition to my role as associate residency program director, I am also the director of the Perioperative Medicine Anesthesia Fellowship. I am very interested in how adult learners learn and am currently finishing my Masters in Education for Health Professions Education. I am looking forward to leveraging my new found knowledge and experience to help residents reach their full potential.

Outside of medicine, my husband and I love experiencing and learning about other cultures and ways of life. We have taken our boys all over the world and have had amazing adventures and have met many wonderful people!

Avneep Aggarwal, MD
Avneep Aggarwal, MD
Associate Program Director

I serve as an Associate Program Director and divide my time between the Departments of General Anesthesia and Department of Intensive care and resuscitation. After completing my residency training, I pursued a fellowship in Anesthesiology Critical Care Medicine. My true passion lies in educating and training the next generation of future anesthesiologists. I am the Director of the medical student rotation in the surgical intensive care unit and the Director of the Virtual Critical Care Rounds series for the residents. Serving as a mentor at various stages of medical education brings me immense satisfaction as I get to observe students' development into residents and fellows, many of whom eventually become my colleagues. My areas of expertise encompass perioperative critical care and graduate medical education, with a particular focus on simulation-based medical education. Beyond the hospital, I enjoy quality time with my family and indulge in reading about behavioral economics, human behavior, and decision-making.

Harsha Nair, MD | Cleveland Clinic
Harsha Nair, MD
Associate Program Director

My name is Harsha Kumar Nair (rhymes with fire), and I am excited to be one of the Associate Program Directors here at CCF!

I was born in Iowa City, Iowa but mostly grew up in Buffalo, New York. I completed a BA in History (Mediterranean Civilization) and a BS in Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, before obtaining my medical degree at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Buffalo, New York. I completed my Anesthesiology Residency at The George Washington University Hospital before coming to Cleveland Clinic and completing my fellowship in Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine.

From a clinical standpoint I am a general anesthesiologist as well as a staff on our Acute Pain Management Service utilizing my regional anesthesia and ultrasound skills on a regular basis. Resident and medical student education have always been my favorite thing about academic medicine, and I am grateful for the opportunities I have for this at CCF. Outside of medicine, I most enjoy doting on my two clever daughters and charming my lovely wife. I also enjoy European club football specifically supporting Arsenal FC, as well cheering on my Chicago Bears in the NFL.

Maged Argalious, MD | Cleveland Clinic
Maged Argalious, MD, MBA, MSc, MEd, FASA, FASE
Vice Chair of Education

I serve as Vice Chair for Education for the Anesthesiology Institute and as Chair of the department of General Anesthesiology. I served as the Associate Program Director for our residency program from 2007 to 2013 and as the residency program director from 2013 to 2019. I value feedback (both giving and receiving) as an essential influence on learning and am a big fan of the Kolb’s experiential learning theory. My subspecialty areas of interest are anesthesia for liver and multivisceral transplant, vascular anesthesia, and perioperative medicine. I enjoy playing tennis, watching European soccer, and working alongside a phenomenal and dedicated education team.

Resident Life

Resident Life

Anesthesiology residents

A Message from our Chief Residents

Welcome and thank you for your interest in the Cleveland Clinic’s Anesthesiology Residency Program! We are so proud of the complexity and depth of the cases at our program and are happy to be able to learn from some of the best Anesthesiologists in the country. We truly believe this is the best place to learn to become a World-Class Anesthesiologist and can’t wait to meet you and share more about our fantastic program.

Training and curriculum

We provide a unique Clinical Base Year (PGY-1) that offers six months of anesthesia training throughout the intern year. Our staff presents lectures that focus on key topics for the ABA Basic and Advanced exams. These lectures are given during protected academic time on Thursdays when residents are relieved of their clinical duties to attend these lectures. In addition, our program provides weekly grand rounds, simulation activities, practice OSCEs, and semi-annual mock oral boards. Within our department, research is encouraged but not required for our residents. For those who wish to pursue research, our program works closely with the Outcomes Research Department which is the largest anesthesiology research group in the nation. This department provides guidance and resources for our residents to achieve their research goals.

The strength of our program is the diverse and complex clinical case exposure. The main facility includes more than eighty cardiac, thoracic, vascular, pediatric, and general ORs. Cleveland Clinic attracts medically complex patients worldwide and gives our residents the opportunity to care for patients from all backgrounds. Our residents gain exposure to a wide variety of surgical cases including but not limited to liver, kidney, small bowel, heart, and lung transplants, as well as complex heart and vascular cases. The “Cleveland Clinic Experience” gives our residents the confidence to handle any clinical scenario with ease and expertise upon completion of residency.

Garrett, Forrest, Christopher & Serena

A day in the life of our residents

Forest Lewallen
CA-3 Senior Chief Resident, Cleveland Clinic
Cardiac OR's

When my alarm goes off, I crawl out of bed and head to the espresso machine. My dog sleepily joins me, and we sit and enjoy a cappuccino as I browse emails. The cardiothoracic and vascular OR's start early, so I'm up before the sun rises. I head into work around 5:45, arriving around 6am. The anesthesia tech's have set up the room with fluids, transducers, and IV pumps, and I complete the rest of my setup over the next 15-20 minutes. Cardiac cases require lots of lines, drips, and monitors, and everything goes smoother if you are prepared ahead of time.

At 6:40, my patient arrives, and I go chat with them out in the hallway. I answer any questions, and we come into the room - I start an IV and we do our safety huddle with the entire surgical team. After the huddle, I start a pre-induction arterial line, pre-oxygenate the patient, and we are off to sleep. I intubate, place a central introducer and float a PA catheter. My attending places the TEE probe, and we look over the echo together while the surgical team preps. In addition to all the invasive lines and procedures, the Cardiothoracic OR's give you experience in seeing and manipulating physiology in real time. It's one of the coolest parts of residency and will help you get comfortable placing big lines and managing extremely sick patients.

Around 9:00 am, I get a morning break, and I grab a coffee. When I get back to the OR's, we are preparing to go onto cardiopulmonary bypass, and once we are on, I sit back and relax for a few minutes before prepping everything for the eventual separation from bypass. I get lunch around 12, and we come off bypass soon after I get back. Coming off pump is always exciting, and one of the distinguishing features of cardiac surgery. The rest of the surgery is uneventful - we correct coagulation derangements from bypass, wean our inotropes as the heart recovers, and normalize our volume status. When the surgery is done, we transport the patient up to the CVICU and I give handoff to the ICU team. The OR's are wrapping up, and after checking in with the staff in charge, I head home!

It's a gorgeous day in the land, so I go for a run when I get home. I live on the east side in a quiet neighborhood, and great running routes are abundant - today I ran through one of the Cleveland Metro Parks. When I get home, I grab dinner, get cleaned up, then sit down at the computer to pre-op my case for tomorrow. I shoot my attending a quick email with a summary of the case and my plan, then I close the computer, grab my dog, and go for a walk. We sit outside and enjoy the evening, one of my favorite ways to relax after a great day.

Serena Wong, MD
CA-2 Junior Chief Resident, Cleveland Clinic
OB Rotation

As a CA-2 on OB rotation, I wake up around 5:30 and snooze my alarm at least 2 times. I roll out of bed, get my morning coffee in, and make the 25-minute drive to Hillcrest Hospital. I make my way to L&D, change into scrubs, and attend morning huddle where our night resident, CRNA, and attending debriefs all the patients with our morning team (of residents, CRNAs, and attendings). After, we split up responsibilities of checking the ORs, restocking the epidural carts, visiting our post-partum patients, and getting the day ready for our planned procedures.

Our day varies so much depending on what rolls through the door, what these babies want, and who's available. We will be managing our scheduled C-sections, versions, and other procedures. However, at any given moment, we can also be putting in epidurals, troubleshooting catheters, consenting patients, getting the occasional stat C-section, or sitting with our attendings for some bedside teaching. We'll typically break for lunch around noon (as much as these babies let us). Every 4 hours, we will be checking in as a unit with nursing, midwives, OB residents, and attendings on the status of each patient on the unit and getting information on any incoming patients from OB clinics.

Because of the variety of our days, we try to balance our procedure time and calls with a rotation of "early" and "late" residents. A typical shift for OB is 7AM to 5PM. The pre-call resident will typically get a scheduled procedure and go home early (like around 2PM).  Late stay residents will come in at 10AM and help with our day and call team until 7PM. Our calls during the weekdays are from 3PM to 7AM, which we do with a CRNA and in-house attending. During the weekend, the call is 24 hours, again with a CRNA and in-house attending. Depending on how busy the call is, we will often split our shifts with the team to get some sleep.

At the end of each shift or call, I always have a story. It's always satisfying to see an uncomfortable mom-to-be get immediate relief from a well-placed epidural. It's also an amazing feeling to take pictures of a new family and congratulate them on their new arrival. At the same time, it's rewarding to be there for people who are experiencing tragedies, to offer comfort in their private moments, and to provide care for them as they need. OB is an incredibly special rotation where you provide anesthetic care to patients who will label you as "their doctor", and it makes that 5:30AM wake-up always worth it.

Nina Zhou, MD
CA-1 Resident, Cleveland Clinic
GENA Rotation

I wake up at 5:30 AM, quickly get ready, and make a 5-minute drive to the hospital. I’m thankful for our anesthesia techs who helped set up some of the anesthesia material the day before and keep our drawers nice and stocked up. I will set up any airway equipment, drugs, monitors and lines needed for the day. By 7 am, I will go introduce myself to the patient. During that time, we go over pertinent questions about the patient’s history, and then I’ll review our anesthetic plan for the case with them. This pre-op interview is really vital to help set the tone for what the patient should expect, help calm any anxiety and answer questions. My staff and I will confirm our plans that we made yesterday and then the patient is ready for surgery and off to sleep.

In the middle of the morning, I will typically get a 15-minute break. I will eat some snacks and get some water in H15, our resident lounge. There is a room there where many anesthesia residents are doing work, eating food and just hanging out. It’s great to meet and get to know other residents from other classes there. Similarly, I will get a 30-minute lunch later in the day where I will usually stop by the cafeteria and right now my favorite thing to get is a Mediterranean bowl. The cafeteria has a variety of choices from pizza, sushi, salad, and a daily rotating special. I’ll head back to H15 and catch up with whoever is also getting lunch around then. Right now, it is the summer, and the Olympics are playing in the background on the TV.

I’ll head back to my case then. After the surgery is finished and the patient has emerged, I will bring the patient to PACU where they can be monitored in the post-operative setting. I’ll then get my room ready for my next case.

We usually will finish around 5 PM. I’ll stop by the desk to make sure nothing else is needed to be done. Before I go home, I like to do my pre-ops where I come up with the anesthetic plan for tomorrow’s patients, and I will send them over to discuss with my staff. That time is another opportunity to catch up with any other residents who are also doing their pre-ops or one of the on-call residents.

I end the night catching up with friends and family on my drive home. I will usually eat dinner and spend the rest of my evening with my partner, read about anything pertinent to my cases, try to squeeze in some leisurely reading time and sleep around 9:30 PM. Depending on when I get out, I will try to sneak in a workout whether that is at the gym, pickleball with friends or just a quick walk around my neighborhood, which includes the Wade Lagoon where cherry blossoms will bloom in the spring.

Hope you enjoyed spending the day with me and getting a glimpse of life as a CA-1 at CCF! We’re excited to meet and get to know some of you.

Sam Michalak, MD
CBY Resident, Cleveland Clinic
AMPS Rotation

At CCF, you’re a member of the anesthesia residency family from day one and you will be doing six months of anesthesia-based rotation as an intern (seven if you count SICU!) I’m Sam, one of the current CBY’s and this is what a day is like as an intern on the acute pain management service.

My day begins around 5:20... or 5:30 if I want a bit of extra sleep. I get to the hospital around 6:15 AM and make my way to the acute pain office, where I say good morning to the rest of the team and pick up a list of all the nerve blocks scheduled for that day. Next, I head to the perioperative area, check my patients’ charts, and introduce myself. After obtaining consent for the procedure and placing the patient on monitors, I start preparing a kit for my first nerve block for the day. Once I’m finished with all my morning blocks, I’ll make sure no one else needs any help, and I’ll either go to the OR to do a post-induction block or visit the inpatient floors to check on any patients I’m assigned. Most of these patients have an epidural or peripheral nerve catheter in that we are managing.

Next, we do table rounds as a team and decide on any changes we need to make for certain patients to optimize their pain control. Some days we have a short lecture after rounds, and others we head down to our block room because our next round of patients is already showing up. Days on AMPS can get busy, but that keeps the day moving and means you get to do more nerve blocks! Being able to practice anesthesia skills during intern year is exciting and makes it easy to stay motivated throughout the day.

After the next set of nerve blocks, there is normally a lull in the day, and I’ll have time to get lunch. A favorite of mine is the Taco Shoppe burrito bowl. While eating lunch in one of the resident lounges, I chat with my co-residents, and we share stories about how our rotations are going. After that, it is time for more nerve blocks, and depending on what your next call shift if, the fellow might let you head home a little early if it’s not too busy. Otherwise, I will stick around for our afternoon rounds, which usually falls around 2:30 or 3:30 PM. After I finish my last block for the day, I head home, grab either my bike or running shoes, and head out the door to one of Cleveland’s many Metropark trails. After a shower and dinner, i unwind by catching up with a friend on the phone, reading a book, or streaming a show that might keep me up a little too late – leading to that extra ten minutes of sleep in the morning.
Research Opportunities & Conferences

Research Opportunities & Conferences

Anesthesiology Residents

Cleveland Clinic's Center for Anesthesiology Education and the Department of Anesthesiology are committed to the continual growth of the knowledge base of anesthesia. To support this endeavor, we actively encourage our residents to take part in quality clinical research as a part of their four years of training.

We have a resident research committee comprising of staff and two resident research coordinators. The role of the resident research coordinator is pivotal in connecting interested residents with appropriate research mentors. In addition, the research coordinators help coordinate the activities of Annual Department of Anesthesiology Research Day, which serves as a platform to present and recognize high-quality research projects conducted by residents and fellows with the guidance of their staff mentors.

Getting involved with research as a resident

Every resident is given ample opportunity to get involved with clinical research at an early stage, starting in the clinical base year. We maintain a database that keeps track of all the major research projects throughout our Department of Anesthesiology. This allows us to identify research opportunities for our residents and ensure that they have quality research projects to work on.

In addition, residents can also avail up to six months of dedicated research time as an elective during CA-3 year in accordance with current ACGME guidelines. Cleveland Clinic is an active member of the MPOG Outcomes group, giving our resident access to a database comprised of over 12 million cases, which can be analyzed for research purposes.

Anesthesiologist in charge of resident research

  • Ehab Farag, MD, FRCA.

Resident Research Coordinators

  • Mauro Bravo, MD.
  • Esra Kutlu, MD.

Meeting attendance and presentations

The Department of Anesthesiology encourages and supports residents to attend all major national and regional anesthesia meetings. As per Department policy, every resident will be encouraged to attend one national and one regional meeting along with the OSA (Ohio Society of Anesthesiologist) meeting every academic year. Specifically, the Department supports attendance to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA National Meeting) and the Midwest Anesthesia Residents Conference (MARC Regional Meeting). We encourage our residents to share the complexity of their anesthesiology experience by actively participating and presenting posters, as well as oral presentations. This gives our residents the opportunity to enhance their communication and presentation skills as we prepare them to further their academic careers.

In order to meet the academic milestones of the residency program for graduation, residents are required to either publish at least one peer-reviewed article or submit and present at least one abstract at a regional or national meeting during their four years of training.

Resources

Resources

Training at Cleveland Clinic

We invite you to explore our Graduate Medical Education website to discover the reasons why Cleveland Clinic offers an ideal teaching and learning environment as well as to learn more about our rich tradition of excellence in the “education of those who serve.”

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