About Us
Our mission statement: "To provide a supportive and inclusive environment in which residents have the educational, motivational, financial and clinical instruction needed to become not only excellent clinical physicians, but also well and happy people capable of the independent practice of emergency medicine.”
The Emergency Medicine residency program at Cleveland Clinic Akron General will prepare you for the real world, whether this is clinical practice, academics or advanced training. The Akron General Emergency Medicine residency program will celebrate its 50 year anniversary in 2023. We were the first community teaching hospital EM residency in the country. We are fully accredited for 11 residents per year by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
Our residents become expert clinicians in Emergency Medicine ready to go into any clinical practice environment. In addition, many of our residents go on to fellowship training. Research experience is also a strength of our program. Many of our residents publish case reports, formal research studies, chapters and monographs in recognized Emergency Medicine publications.
The residency program consists of rotations at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, two of the Cleveland Clinic Akron General freestanding Emergency Departments, MetroHealth, and Akron Children’s Hospital. In 2018, The Cleveland Clinic opened a 49.3 million dollar, state-of-the-art building which more than tripled the size of the previous emergency department. The new ED consists of 60 beds and treats approximately 60,000 patients per year. Akron Children’s Hospital sees approximately 60,000 patients per year, and is staffed by Pediatric EM Fellowship trained physicians.
Program highlights include:
- Level I Trauma Center
- Accredited Stroke Center
- Accredited Chest Pain Center
- Medical Control for multiple EMS squads, including the cities of Akron, Stow, and Green, the busiest EMS squads in Summit County
- A diverse attending staff, with residency and medical school training from across the country
- A diverse patient population as a result of our downtown emergency department and our free standing emergency departments
- Epic EMR and Dragon Dictation software
- Multiple opportunities for research
- Innovative conference curriculum highlighting small group sessions, simulation and oral board cases
- Full Cleveland Clinic benefits including free membership to the wellness and fitness centers and maternity/paternity leave
- PGY-2 residents attend SAEM national conference and PGY-3 residents attend a board review course
- Great cost of living, extensive outdoor activities in our metro parks and The Cuyahoga Valley National Park, close proximity to two airports and wonderful local school systems
- Affiliation with NEOMED leading to opportunities for our residents to act as teachers to our medical students both in a formal didactic role and on clinical shifts
- Multiple opportunities for EMS exposure, including tactile medicine, flight medicine, experiences with the SWAT team and opportunities to teach at our paramedic training program
- Intensive pediatric experience including:
- Dedicated pediatric EM months in the PGY-1 and PGY-2 years and 2-4 pediatric shifts during EM months as a PGY-2 and a PGY-3 resident
- Monthly conference curriculum provided by EM faculty at Akron Children’s Hospital
- Pediatric ICU rotation
- Annual pediatric simulation day instructed by the EM faculty at Akron Children’s Hospital
- Frequent simulation experience includes:
- Task training in intubation, central lines, chest tubes, arthrocentesis, lumbar punctures, splinting, suturing and wound management, pericardiocentesis, cardiac pacing and cardioversion,and vaginal deliveries.
- Annual cadaver lab
- Annual pediatric simulation day
- Annual difficult airway course taught by Cleveland Clinic Akron General Faculty
The Emergency Medicine residency program is known for its innovations in education. Dr. Rebecca Merrill is the residency director, she is also an active Emergency Medicine Physician within the Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center. Previously, Dr. Merrill was the Clerkship Director for third and fourth year medical students rotating at Akron General. In addition, Dr. Merrill serves as the Clinical Experiential Director of Emergency Medicine and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED).
We are proud of our heritage in training EM residents, and take this commitment seriously. We continue to introduce new educational initiatives. We believe that we offer a tremendous educational program and invite you to investigate further. Real world training for real world practice.
Check out the latest on Cleveland Clinic Akron General’s Facebook page.
Welcome
A Letter from the Director of the Emergency Medicine Residency Program
Thank you for your interest in our Emergency Medicine Residency Program. In 2023, we will celebrate 50 years as the oldest community-based EM residency program in the country. We are a three-year residency program, affiliated with Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). Our main teaching hospital, Akron General, is a member of the Cleveland Clinic.
We are accredited for 11 PGY1 EM residency positions per year. We provide excellent clinical and academic education. We are accredited as a Level I Trauma Center and a Stroke Center. Our clinical volume is excellent with more than 100,000 visits annually spread among our main ED and our three freestanding state-of-the-art community EDs.
We prepare you for real world practice by providing you a real world education. We provide a very strong community-based emergency medicine clinical education while also being an academic program with significant publications, presentations and chapters. We have faculty who are leaders in Emergency Medicine. Our graduates pursue EM Fellowships every year, including EMS, Toxicology, Sports Medicine, Academics and Ultrasound. We specifically work with each resident individually to help them pursue their career goals.
Our curriculum has been recently revamped and takes advantage of multiple different learning modalities in order to keep residents engaged and target all different learning styles. Our conference occurs on a weekly basis and utilizes small group learning, oral board review, traditional lectures as well as simulation. Tintinalli readings, primary literature studies, podcasts and board review question banks are used to enhance conference.
Our strongest asset is our teaching faculty. We have worked hard to develop a diverse teaching staff representing EM residencies and medical schools from across the country. As the Program Director, I am a board member of ABEM and a member of the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD). Dr. Carol Cunningham, clinical faculty is the Ohio State EMS Director. Additionally, we have faculty recognized nationally for teaching, publishing and service to our specialty.
Once again, thank you for your interest in our program. For more information, contact Medical Education at 800.732.2852 or the EM Residency Office at 330.344.6326.
Our Graduate Medical Education catalog should answer many of your questions about training at Akron General and life in the Akron area. Angie South, our Residency Coordinator, and I are available to assist you as you apply to our program.
Sincerely,
Rebecca A. Merrill, MD
Emergency Medicine Residency Program Director
Angie South
Program Coordinator
330.344.6326
SouthA2@ccf.org
Frank Fire
Program Coordinator
330.344.6743
FireF@ccf.org
Victoria Reiter
Medical Student Coordinator
330.344.6326
ReiterV@ccf.org
Clinical Rotations
PGY – 1
- Block 1: Orientation
- Block 2: OB-GYN/Ultrasound
- Block 3: EM
- Block 4: Medical ICU
- Block 5: EM
- Block 6: Pediatric EM
- Block 7: EM
- Block 8: EM
- Block 9: Cardiology/Anesthesia
- Block 10: EM
- Block 11: EM
- Block 12: EM
- Block 13: EM
PGY – 2
- Block 1: Pediatric EM
- Block 2: EM
- Block 3: Freestanding EM
- Block 4: EMS/Orthopedics
- Block 5: EM
- Block 6: EM
- Block 7: Ultrasound
- Block 8: Trauma at MetroHealth
- Block 9: Freestanding EM
- Block 10: EM
- Block 11: EM
- Block 12: EM
- Block 13: Neuro ICU
PGY – 3
- Block 1: EM
- Block 2: Elective
- Block 3: Pediatric ICU
- Block 4: EM
- Block 5: Medical ICU
- Block 6: EM
- Block 7: Elective
- Block 8: Freestanding EM
- Block 9: EM
- Block 10: EM
- Block 11: EM
- Block 12: EM
- Block 13: Freestanding EM
Teaching Faculty
Residency Leadership
Steven Brooks, MD
Department Chair
Jno Disch, MD
Vice Chair
Rebecca Merrill, MD
Residency Director
Ashley Heaney, MD
Associate Program Director
Andrew Yocum, MD
Associate Program Director
Kristin Drogell, MD
Clerkship Director
Core Faculty
- Amber Bradford-Saffles, DO
- Christina Campana, DO
- Justin Eggleston, DO
- Amy Raubenolt MD, MPH, MEd, FACEP | EMS Director
- Zachary Robinson, MD
- Erin Simon, DO | Research Director
- Robert Stenberg, MD | Ultrasound Director
- Kevin Watkins, MD
Teaching Faculty
- Shannon Baker, DO
- Christopher Barden, MD
- Josh Basch, MD
- James Belleza, MD
- Ranier Borda, MD
- Christopher Budziak, MD
- Rohit Chandurkar, DO
- Jessica Conkle-LaGroux, DO
- Megan Cook, MD
- Carol Cunningham, MD
- Neysa Dominguez, DO
- Holli Hill, DO
- Steven Holsenback, DO
- Eleni Horattas, MD
- James “Patrick” Hurley, DO
- Joshua Jacquet, MD – Assistant Ultrasound Director
- Patricia Khatib, MD
- Prisca Kibe-Kinyua, MD
- Christopher Kirkpatrick, DO
- Brittany Koy, MD
- Candace Leigh, MD
- Paul Landis, DO
- Patrick McHugh, MD
- Jack Mitstifer, MD
- Antonio Oliverio, DO
- Brigitte Oliverio, MD
- Carole Parsons, MD
- Spencer Prete, MD
- Ryan Reber, MD
- Thomas Rench, MD
- Melani Sherman-Green, MD
- Nicholas Shundry, MD
- Brett Sitzlar, MD
- Judith Welsh, MD
- Georgia Zachopoulos, DO
- Erick Zoumberakis, MD
Application
We appreciate your interest in Cleveland Clinic Akron General and hope that we've provided you with the information you need to choose the right residency program. Akron General is able to offer an exceptional medical education experience because of our knowledgeable and hard-working staff. Akron General is ranked as the No. 1 hospital in the Akron Metropolitan Area, according to U.S. News & World Report. Akron General is also listed as the No. 7 hospital in Ohio for 2022-23, according to the annual ranking of Best Hospitals by U.S. News. We maintain a standard of excellence that promises nothing but the best care for our patients and therefore, nothing but the best education for our medical students and residents.
Life in Akron has so much to offer! Learn more about Greater Akron.
- Residency applications and the additional items below must be submitted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
- Interviews are by invitation. If you have been selected, we will contact you using the information you have provided.
- The expected program length is three years.
- Selection date is set by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
- For questions regarding the residency application process, contact our residency coordinator, Angie South, at SouthA2@ccf.org or 330.344.6326.
Interested in rotating?
We are pleased to offer visiting emergency medicine rotation spots for fourth year medical students. Standard Letter of Evaluations (SLOEs) will be provided upon request to those students completing a fourth year rotation.
Akron General Medical Center uses VSAS, the Visiting Student Application Service to process visiting student applications. To apply for an emergency medicine rotation, please complete and send a VSAS application with your preferred dates.
For questions regarding visiting student rotations, contact our undergraduate medical student coordinator, Victoria Reiter at ReiterV@ccf.org or 330.344.6326.
Current Residents
PGY – 1
Stephen Biebelhausen, MD
- Undergraduate: Miami University
- Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
- Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my fiancé, dog, and cat, going on runs, hanging out with friends at the local brewery, watching football and soccer
Nicholas Butler, MD
- Undergraduate: Grove City College
- Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: Tactical Emergency Medicine Support, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/Boxing/ Muay Thai/ Mixed Martial Arts, Woodworking/DIY/Magnolia Network, hanging out with my wife/high school sweetheart (Tiffany) and two Coton de Tulears (Cosette and Claire), hosting friends at our home and feeding them lots of food, watching 'The Office' and listening to comedy podcasts
Abigail Cerroni, DO
- Undergraduate: Xavier University
- Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: Lifting weights, running, hiking at the Grand Canyon, Zion National park and base of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, traveling to Italy, Costa Rica and Africa
Abdoulie Gaye, DO
- Undergraduate: University of Texas Medical Branch
- Medical School: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: Playing soccer for fun, reading historical events
Evan Lawyer, DO
- Undergraduate: Indiana University
- Medical School: Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: Outdoor activities, hosting cookouts and bonfires with friends and family, gardening, playing chess
Furman Mahmood, MD
- Undergraduate: Youngstown State University
- Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Hobbies/Interests: Biking, traveling, ping pong, basketball, ice cream
Matthew Mannion, MD
- Undergraduate: Miami University
- Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: Dining with friends, running various distances, reading about or watching movies especially historical or sports documentaries, trying new foods
Manisha Nannapaneni, DO
- Undergraduate: University of Virginia
- Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus
- Hobbies/Interests: Active dancer, teaching dance groups and help set up cultural shows, travel and exploring locally and internationally, hiking, running, water sports, listening to music, cooking, playing tennis
Kishan Patel, DO
- Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
- Medical School: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: Amateur car audio enthusiast, exploring new restaurants, experimenting with food recipes, visiting National Parks and hiking, watching NBA an NFL, bar trivia
Erica Reber, MD
- Undergraduate: Kent State University
- Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Hobbies/Interests: Intramural volleyball, sand volleyball, cooking healthy recipes, golfing with friends and family
Christopher Riwniak, DO
- Undergraduate: Youngstown State University
- Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: CrossFit, hiking, paddle boarding, biking, kayaking, skateboarding, golfing, gymnastics, reading, podcasts
PGY – 2
John Bowling, DO
- Undergraduate: Reinhardt University Waleska, GA
- Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: Long-distance running, hiking, hot yoga, espresso, Tae-Kwon-Do
Mary Bozsik, MD
- Undergraduate: Marquette University Milwaukee, WI
- Medical School: The University of Toledo
- Hobbies/Interests: Marathon running, hiking, traveling, cooking, caring for rescue cats
David Doty, DO
- Undergraduate: University of Rochester, Rochester NY
- Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: Ultra marathons, photography, kite boarding, snowboarding, wake boarding, podcast enthusiast
Andrew Hill, DO
- Undergraduate: Malone University, Canton, OH
- Medical School: OUHCOM
- Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, fly fishing, woodworking, playing soccer, tennis and golf, playing acoustic guitar, as well as cooking and trying new foods
Cameron Marcus, MD
- Undergraduate: Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
- Medical School: The University of Toledo
- Hobbies/Interests: Playing in trivia competitions, playing golf, hiking with my dog, learning about space and the universe
Jeffrey Rabinowitz, MD
- Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
- Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: Learning about aviation, backpacking, woodworking, amateur radio, photography
Kelsey Schaefer, DO
- Undergraduate: Rochester Institute of Technology
- Medical School: OUHCOM
- Hobbies/Interests: Long-distance backpacking, hiking, boating and reading
Ryan Schropp, DO
- Undergraduate: University of Toledo
- Medical School: OUHCOM
- Hobbies/Interests: Physical fitness, avid sports fan (Cleveland Browns), cooking, attending country music concerts
Alen Siljak, MD
- Undergraduate: Hiram College
- Medical School: NEOMED
- Hobbies/Interests: Running, biking, hiking, soccer and reading
Hannah Thielmeyer, MD
- Undergraduate: Indiana University
- Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: Listening to podcasts, cross stitching, jogging, playing board games and trivia, fostering and caring for animals from the local humane society
PGY – 3
Matthew Campanizzi, DO
- Undergraduate: The University of Akron
- Medical School: OUHCOM
- Hobbies/Interests: Watching sports (go, Browns!), golfing, weightlifting, running, watching movies/Netflix, hanging out with friends and family
Enri Citozi, DO
- Undergraduate: Wagner College
- Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: I love to travel, I’ve been to 17 countries and 5 continents so far. I enjoy working out, cooking, making pizza and a nice glass of Cabernet at night. Since I’ve moved to Ohio, I’ve tried out this hiking thing that they do here…it’s not so bad!
Chizite Iheonunekwu, DO
- Undergraduate: Texas Woman’s University
- Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: Global health, critical care, administration, traveling, dancing, going to concerts, watching movies
Pouya Jouharian, MD
- Undergraduate: Kent State University
- Medical School: NEOMED
- Hobbies/Interests: Sports (die hard Cleveland Fan), white water rafting, board games, traveling, amusement parks, video games
Adriana Morra, DO
- Undergraduate: St. Lawrence University
- Medical School: LECOM
- Hobbies/Interests: Trying new foods/restaurants, cooking, fitness, travel
Bradley Palocko, DO
- Undergraduate: Heidelberg University
- Medical School: OUHCOM
- Hobbies/Interests: Foodie, lover of beer, hiking, running, spending time with my wife and dog
Jorgi Schramm, DO
- Undergraduate: Ohio State University at Lima
- Medical School: OUHCOM
- Hobbies/Interests: Weightlifting, baking, painting, ultrasound, global health
Chad Smith, DO
- Undergraduate: Ohio Northern University
- Medical School: OUHCOM
- Hobbies/Interests: Fitness and nutrition, playing piano, all things Harry Potter
Amanda Vaughan, DO
- Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
- Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University – Debusk COM
- Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, kayaking, yoga, trying new restaurants, Cleveland Browns, spending time with my family, friends and dog
Thomas Weiner, MD
- Undergraduate: Youngstown State University
- Medical School: NEOMED
- Hobbies/Interests: Fishing, snowboarding, basketball
Tyler West, MD
- Undergraduate: Southern Utah University
- Medical School: University of Utah School of Medicine
- Hobbies/Interests: Sports, video games, traveling
Alumni
2022 Graduates
- Kirstin Acus, MD — Resuscitation Fellowship, Hartford, Connecticut
- Carl Allamby, MD — Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Steven Crane, MD — Baptist Memorial Hospital, Oxford, Mississippi
- Alexandria DeFabio, DO — Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Michael DiMauro, MD — Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Gregory Griffin, DO — St. Rita’s Hospital, Lima, Ohio
- Nico Jaime, MD — Madison Health, London, Ohio
- Gregory Mancini, DO — Cleveland Clinic, Garfield Heights, Ohio
- Matthew Minotti, MD — Cleveland Clinic, Medina, Ohio
- Matthew Oliverio, DO — Indiana University School of Medicine – Medical Simulation Fellowship
- Katarina Truss, DO — Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
2021 Graduates
- Devon Archinal, MD — Lake Health Hospital System
- Tony Downs, MD — Ultrasound Fellowship VCU Health System Hospitals Richmond, Virginia
- John Francescon, DO — Genesis Hospital, Zanesville, Ohio
- Garrison Graves, DO — Mount Carmel Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- Brianna Kincade, DO — Advent Health System, Orlando, Florida
- Mikhail Melaku, MD — Kettering Health Network, Dayton, Ohio
- Michael Morales, MD — Cleveland Clinic Enterprise, Cleveland, Ohio
- Marcel Nwizu, DO — Advent Health System, Orlando, Florida
- Chioma Ojiaku, DO — HCA Houston Healthcare, Houston, TX
- Margret Rusnak, DO — Mount Carmel Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
- Tyler Sieron, DO — Kettering Health Network, Dayton, Ohio
- Brett Sitzlar, MD — Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Akron, Ohio
2020 Graduates
- Michael Bragagnolo, DO — Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- Neysa Dominguez, DO — Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- John Hill, MD — University Hospitals
- Prisca Kibe-Kinyua, MD — Summa Health System, Akron, OH
- Lawrence Kramer, DO — Cleveland Clinic Enterprise
- Christopher Longinow, DO — Lake Health Hospital System
- Nicholas Marburger, DO — Florida Emergency Physician Group, Orlando, FL
- Carole, McCormick, MD — Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- Samantha McIntosh, MD — Advent Health Hospital Systems, Tampa, OH
- Julia Miao, MD — Alteon Health, Richmond, VA
- J.Chika Morah, MD — Summa Health System, Akron, OH
- Ryan Reber, MD — Cleveland Clinic Akron General
2019 Graduates
- Ranier Borda, MD — Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- Jennifer DeMarco, MD — Fellowship at Metro Health
- Carlynn Fulp, MD — Mid Ohio Emergency Services , Columbus, OH
- Gregory Gaumer, MD — Aultman Hospital, Canton, OH
- Lukas Gladstone, DO — Health Partners-Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN
- Eleni Horattas, MD — Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- Damien Jackson, MD — St. Francis Hospital System, Houston, TX
- Onyekachi Otugo, MD — Fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Monica Prasnal, DO — USACS, Cincinnati, OH
- Spencer Prete, MD — Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- Hillary Staebler, MD — Southwest General, Cleveland, OH
- Eric Szymanski, MD — Emergency Physicians of Tidewater, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, VA
2018 Graduates
- Jeneba Abass-Shereef, MD — Jersey City Medical Center
- Jeanine Awad, MD — St. Elizabeth’s, Youngstown, OH
- Andrew Dream, MD — Progressive Emergency Physicians, New York City, NY
- Peter Griffin, MD — WVU - Ruby Memorial Hospital
- Jeremy King, MD — Salem Regional Medical Center, Salem, OH
- David Meranda, MD — SUMMA Health System - USACS
- Julie Pokersnik, MD — Lake Health
- Scott Poland, MD — SUMMA Health System - USACS
- Dacia Russell, MD — Mid Ohio Emergency Services, Columbus, OH
- Mitchell Sheley, MD — John Hopkins EMS Fellowship
- Asegedech Shimellis, MD — Mid Ohio Emergency Services, Columbus, OH
- Cody Smith, MD — Mercy West – USACS, Cincinnati, OH
- Ian Smith, MD — Mid Ohio emergency Services, Columbus, OH
- Trina Stoneham, MD — CHI Health St. Elizabeth, Lincoln, NE
2017 Graduates
- Alice Chen, MD — Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- Sarah Dials, MD — Mid Ohio Emergency Services, Columbus, OH
- Tyler Gillen, MD — Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, SD
- John Latorre, MD — Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- Russell Maxon, MD — The Toledo Hospital, Toledo, OH
- Krista Parker, MD — Cumberland Medical Center, Northeast Medical Center, Concord, NC
- Pooja Shah Patel, DO — Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- Yojan Patel, MD — Cumberland Medical Center, Northeast Medical Center, Concord, NC
- Elijah Trey Robinson, MD — EMS Fellowship Emory University
- Elizabeth Ulrich, DO — Lake Health, Willoughby, OH
- Nicole M. Wilson, DO — UPMC, Monroeville, PA
Research & Innovations
Each year, we treat more than 100,000 patients in our emergency departments. Research is part of our mission and core values, and ranges from helping us find better ways to relieve pain for minor cuts, all the way to studying approaches to treatment and outcomes of major traumas.
For more information about resident research in Emergency Medicine, please contact:
Erin Simon, DO
Resident Research Director
SimonE@ccf.org
Jessica Krizo, PhD
Research Faculty
330.344.6316
KrizoJ@ccf.org
