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
MerrilR2@ccf.org
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/Orthopaedics
- 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
Kevin Watkins, MD
Associate Program Director
Kristin Drogell, MD
Clerkship Director
Core Faculty
- Amber Bradford-Saffles, DO
- Justin Eggleston, DO
- Candace Leigh, MD
- Amy Raubenolt MD, MPH, MEd, FACEP | EMS Director
- Zachary Robinson, MD
- Erin Simon, DO | Research Director
- Robert Stenberg, MD | Ultrasound Director
Teaching Faculty
- Shannon Baker, DO
- Christopher Barden, MD
- John Basch, MD
- Ranier Borda, MD
- Christopher Budziak, MD
- Christina Campana, DO
- Matthew Campanizzi, DO
- Rohit Chandurkar, DO
- Jessica Conkle-LaGroux, DO
- Megan Cook, MD
- Carol Cunningham, MD
- Jacob Current, DO
- Gregory Gaumer, MD
- Andrew Hill, 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
- Paul Landis, DO
- Patrick McHugh, MD
- Jack Mitstifer, MD
- Antonio Oliverio, DO
- Carole Parsons, MD
- Spencer Prete, MD
- Ryan Reber, MD
- Thomas Rench, MD
- Melani Sherman-Green, MD
- Nicholas Shundry, MD
- Brett Sitzlar, MD
- Chad Smith, DO
- Andrew Yocum, 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. Cleveland Clinic Akron General is recognized regionally and within Ohio for its expertise and care. 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
Jessica Brumbaugh, DO
- Undergraduate: The Pennsylvania State University
- Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
John Current, DO
- Undergraduate: Ohio University
- Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ross Ferrise, MD
- Undergraduate: Kent State University
- Graduate: The Ohio State University
- Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Andrew Giles, DO
- Undergraduate: Manchester University
- Medical School: University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Jacob Grimmer, DO
- Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
- Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Daniel Hutcherson, MD
- Undergraduate: Wright State University
- Medical School: The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Stephanie Rivera, DO
- Undergraduate: Youngstown State University
- Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hannah Roland, DO
- Undergraduate: Messiah University
- Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Jessica Stopp, DO
- Undergraduate: Notre Dame College
- Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Collin Sullinger, MD
- Undergraduate: Youngstown State University
- Graduate: Youngstown State University
- Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Gina Tubo, MD
- Undergraduate: The University of Akron
- Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
PGY – 2
Ryan Bither, MD
- Undergraduate: Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University
- Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine
Haneet Chadha, DO
- Undergraduate: University of Maryland Baltimore County
- Medical School: A.T. Still University of Health Sciences School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Svetlana Donato, MD
- Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
- Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Joshua Garmatter, DO
- Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
- Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Negin Orfanian Azimzadeh Khosravi, MD
- Undergraduate: University of San Francisco Graduate - John Hopkins University
- Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Joseph Mazhuvanchery, DO
- Undergraduate: Cleveland State University
- Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Kenton McCosh, DO
- Undergraduate: Albion College
- Medical School: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University
Jordan Mirto, DO
- Undergraduate: Kent State University
- Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ana Ritz, DO
- Undergraduate: University of Dayton
- Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Inderjit Sandhu, DO
- Undergraduate: Moravian College, Graduate: Bluefield College & Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus
Lorne Strausbaugh, DO
- Undergraduate: Malone University, Graduate: Youngstown State University
- Medical School: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine
PGY – 3
Stephen Biebelhausen, MD
- Undergraduate: Miami University
- Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
Nicholas Butler, MD
- Undergraduate: Grove City College
- Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine
Abigail Cerroni, DO
- Undergraduate: Xavier University
- Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Abdoulie Gaye, DO
- Undergraduate: University of Texas Medical Branch
- Medical School: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Evan Lawyer, DO
- Undergraduate: Indiana University
- Medical School: Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
Furman Mahmood, MD
- Undergraduate: Youngstown State University
- Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Matthew Mannion, MD
- Undergraduate: Miami University
- Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Manisha Nannapaneni, DO
- Undergraduate: University of Virginia
- Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus
Kishan Patel, DO
- Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
- Medical School: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Erica Reber, MD
- Undergraduate: Kent State University
- Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Christopher Riwniak, DO
- Undergraduate: Youngstown State University
- Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Alumni
2024 Graduates
- John Bowling, DO — Clinical Ultrasound Fellowship, Allegheny Health Network
- Mary Bozsik, MD — Medical College of Wisconsin Froedtert Hospital
- David Doty, DO — Hunt Regional Medical Center
- Andrew Hill, DO — Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- Brian Makowski, DO — Ultrasound Fellowship, Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- Cameron Marcus, MD — Cleveland Clinic ESI
- Jeffrey Rabinowitz, MD — EMS Fellowship, The Metro Health System
- Kelsey Schaefer, DO — Southwest Vermont Medical Center
- Ryan Schropp, DO — University Hospitals
- Alen Siljak, MD — Mercy Lorain Hospital
- Hannah Thielmeyer, MD — Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital
2023 Graduates
- Matthew Campanizzi, DO — Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- Enri Citozi, DO — Cleveland Clinic ESI
- Chizite Iheonunekwu, DO — Memorial Hermann Texas
- Pouya Jouharian, MD — Kaiser Permanente California
- Adriana Morra, DO — Cleveland Clinic ESI
- Bradley Palocko, DO — Critical Care Fellowship University of Cincinnati
- Jorgi Schramm, DO — Cleveland Clinic ESI
- Chad Smith, DO — Cleveland Clinic Akron General
- Amanda Vaughan, DO — Mount Carmel Health
- Thomas Weiner, MD — Cleveland Clinic ESI
- Tyler West, MD — Cleveland Clinic Mercy
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
