Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Program

About Us

Hear from Dr. Sara Peterson on why she chose Akron General's Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Program.

Ob/gyn residency: training tomorrow’s specialists

The Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at Cleveland Clinic Akron General is designed to provide four years of training in all aspects of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Our goal is that upon completion, any graduating resident is a superbly well-trained OBGYN capable of practicing as a specialist in General Obstetrics and Gynecology or a highly competitive candidate to continue on into fellowship training in any of the subspecialty areas. We recruit bright, enthusiastic students who have demonstrated a history of academic achievement, work ethic, volunteerism and strong moral character.

Our four-year program offers five positions annually and is approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Our 40+ obstetrician/gynecologists, constituting the active teaching staff, include subspecialists in Gynecologic Oncology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, Complex Family Planning and Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery.

Program highlights

Robust gynecologic experience

There were more than 2300 gynecologic procedures performed last year and extensive experience is obtained in all aspects of obstetrical care.

Extensive experience in all aspects of obstetrical care

Our residents deliver at our Labor & Delivery Unit at Akron General, managing patients of both our residency clinic as well as the area’s private practice groups. We are associated with an in-house Level III NICU. We are lucky to have faculty that provide excellent training in both vacuum and forceps-assisted vaginal delivery as well as breech vaginal delivery in appropriate candidates.

Cleveland Clinic Akron General residents have the unique opportunity to manage pregnant patients in the acute setting of Akron General’s Obstetric Emergency Department (ED). Our Obstetric ED is staffed 24/7 by an in-house board-certified OB/GYN. We are the only OB ED in Northeastern Ohio. Pregnant patients of all gestational ages from first positive pregnancy test through 6 weeks postpartum who present with non-life or limb-threatening issues are assessed and managed by our residents under the supervision of the OB Emergency Attending. Ultrasonography is performed on the unit, giving our residents hands-on training at all gestational ages. With 400-500 OB ED visits monthly, our residents are well trained in the evaluation and management of acute obstetric emergencies, non-obstetric etiologies that occur in our pregnant population (examples: cholecystitis, pancreatitis, acute substance withdrawal) as well as conditions often managed by the main ED in other institutions including

Early pregnancy loss
Pregnancy of unknown location
Minor trauma
Nausea/vomiting during pregnancy

Ryan Program

Cleveland Clinic Akron General is pleased to be part of the growing community of Ryan Residency Training Programs. The Ryan Program is a national initiative to integrate and enhance family planning training for obstetrics and gynecology residents. In the United States, 38% of OB/GYN residency programs have implemented the Ryan Program model of training. There are currently over 100 active Ryan Programs. The benefits of having a Ryan Program include improved competence in clinical skills, attracting top-tier residency applicants, implementing evidence-based practice, and access to a wide network of resources.

Research

Each resident participates in at least one self-selected research project under the mentorship of our Research Scientist, Dr. Rachida Bouhenni. All residents must complete at least one project for graduation in line with ACGME standards. There are many research opportunities available depending on your level of interest and we regularly have residents presenting at local and national meetings, and publishing in journals.

Didactics

Our residency program has daily protected educational conference time Monday through Thursday 7-8 a.m., and on Fridays 7 a.m. - noon, which provides for extended workshops, Grand Rounds speakers, simulation and other educational events. We follow a 2-year rotating curriculum based on the CREOG Educational Objectives. This averages about 8 hours of protected education each week!

Continuity clinic & centering pregnancy

The residents each have their own continuity clinic where they see patients, develop treatment plans, perform procedures, participate in grouped prenatal care and learn how to work in an office setting. We are excited to receive a one-million-dollar grant in 2020 which has allowed us to bring Centering Prenatal Care to the patients we serve. This new program allowed us to expand services where they are needed the most.

We believe that the breadth and depth of educational experience our residency provides is the best available anywhere. All of our residents who have desired to proceed with subspecialty training have been accepted into subspecialty programs. Akron General boasts graduates in all subspecialty fields. Many have gone on to full-time academic careers.

A visit with our residents will quickly demonstrate their overall happiness and satisfaction with our training program. We take personal wellness to heart and have created a place where wellness is weighted equally with education. On completion of the program, each resident is well-prepared to sit for the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology Qualifying Exam and to go on to continued success.

Mission statement

Our mission is to provide exceptional training and the highest quality education to resident physicians to prepare them for a lifetime of learning and practicing as specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology so that they may enhance the lives of the patients and communities they serve.

Our educational program incorporates the five fundamental values of Cleveland Clinic: quality, innovation, teamwork, service, integrity and compassion. Based on these values, the program prioritizes academics while delivering safe, quality care and optimizing patient and caregiver experience. In addition, our community-based, clinically relevant research promotes these values for the benefit of our community.

Aims

To provide and ensure an environment that fosters the development of physicians who find their work to be meaningful while they work productively through our specialty-specific milestones with the goal of acquiring success in the areas of professionalism, care for the community they serve, and knowledge, both technical and cognitive, to achieve success in their practice and as consultants. This time will further prepare our residents for certification through the completion of the written and oral examination process.

Welcome

A Letter from the Director of the Obstetrics & Gynecology Program

Thank you for your interest in the Cleveland Clinic Akron General Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Training Program. We are located at Akron General Hospital, and offer a diverse and comprehensive training program.

The residency is organized to introduce residents to subspecialty areas during the first two years to allow those residents who are interested in planning for fellowships to have early and adequate exposure as they proceed through training.

Cleveland Clinic Akron General is home to the first Obstetric Emergency Department in Northeastern Ohio, providing our residents the unique opportunity to manage pregnant women in the acute setting at all gestational ages and up to six weeks postpartum. This uniquely positions them to feel comfortable in an acute setting at any gestational age. This exposure begins during the PGY-1 year and continues throughout all four years with graduated responsibility and a team-based approach to care.

Our program accepts applications through ResidencyCAS, and all positions are filled through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). You must complete all components (see Application section for details) in order for your application to be considered complete and to be reviewed by our Selection Committee.

We look forward to meeting you during your interview experience. We know you have many options to consider when choosing a program, and we pride ourselves on our congenial training atmosphere and sense of community among the residents and faculty. Our faculty, staff and residents invite you to train at Cleveland Clinic Akron General’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program, one of the best residency programs available!

Natalie Bowersox
Natalie A. Bowersox, MD, FACOG
Program Director, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Northeast Ohio Medical University
Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

Trina Pagano, MD, FACOG
Associate Program Director, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Medical Director of the Obstetric Emergency Department, Cleveland Clinic Akron General
OB Hospitalist, Women’s Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Northeast Ohio Medical University
Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Biology, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Distinguished Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, American Board of Preventative Medicine

Joseph P. Assaley, MD, FACOG
Associate Program Director, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Medical Director, Women's Health Center, Cleveland Clinic Akron General

Tiffany Finch
Program Manager, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic Akron General
330.344.1422
FinchT@ccf.org

Resident Life

Akron offers superb educational systems, but there is so much more! The greater Akron area is truly one of the best places in the country to live and raise a family.

Program traditions

As most residents will tell you, our residency is like having 19 siblings! We truly become a family, amongst our co-residents and our attendings. We are also proud to extend this residency family to our partners, residency babies and fur babies (cats and dogs alike). Formally, we each have an assigned “Birthday Buddy” as well as as “families” that comprise 1-2 residents per class year and at least two attending physicians that regularly spend time together, so we are integrated with support from the start. We also regularly have potlucks on L&D (all hail charcuterie night!), decorate our lounge monthly in line with the seasons, order matching scrub caps or sweatshirts, and obviously, post-night-shift brunch. Daily during didactics, the residents get breakfast together.

Life outside of the hospital

There is truly so much to do in the Akron Area. There are beautiful recreational areas, including the extensive Summit Metro Parks system and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. There are opportunities for hiking, biking, archery, kayaking, and floating down the Cuyahoga River in an inner tube!

With respect to professional sports, the Akron Rubber Ducks minor league baseball team is beloved. Cleveland, just a short 30 minute drive north, is home to the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA - have you heard Lebron James was born in Akron?!), the Cleveland Guardians (MLB) and Cleveland Browns (NFL).

There are shopping malls, outlets, and unique boutiques within the area. The food scene is wonderful, with many local restaurants offering a variety of cuisine. There are annual passports published for local coffeeshops and breweries. Both downtown Akron and Cuyahoga Falls regularly hold festivals year-round.

See our featured Akron 33 for more details on local favorites.

Wellness

The Department of OBGYN offers monthly wellness sessions during weekday didactics. Past lectures/experiences have included meditation, sleep, nutrition during a busy schedule, mental health resources, pet therapy. We and actively participates in Resident Wellness Week which is held the week following the CREOG In-Training exam, as well as four hours of individual resident wellness time twice a year on the 5th Friday of the month. The addition of an elected Resident Wellness Officer has provided both a voice and conduit for programs within our residency. We strive to allow residents time and opportunity to engage in activities that provide the skills to become resilient physicians, caregivers and citizens. We recognize that wellness and self-care look differently for every resident. For this reason we instituted Individual Wellness time twice per year for each resident. Our department works closely with our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) by tapping into their resources whenever possible. We routinely organize Rapid Response debrief meetings with the EAP counselors whenever our providers have worked on particularly difficult cases in an effort to maximize mental health and well-being and provide resources for coping with trauma.

Resident testimonies

Emily Freeman, DO – Class of 2020
Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Family Planning Fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

“I cannot say enough about how thankful I am for the training I received while at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. Having the opportunity to work with a variety of attending physicians and having early exposure to subspecialists was such an asset to my training. Cleveland Clinic Akron General provides residents the benefit of training in a smaller community hospital but with access to all the benefits of a larger academic setting. This program fosters residents with ambitions for fellowship but also trains well rounded and fully capable generalist OB/GYNs. I truly can’t explain what a supportive and collaborative place this is to work. The comradery between the residents was amazing—they truly became my family. Additionally, the Akron/Cleveland area is a fantastic place to live and play during your time away from the hospital. There are fantastic outdoor recreational experiences, such as Metro Parks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, as well as all the other activities the city has to offer. I am confident that Cleveland Clinic Akron General has provided me with the knowledge, experience, and skillset to provide exceptional patient care.”

Sarah Clausen, MD – Class of 2019
University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, MN

“When I was looking for a residency program, I knew I wanted a place where, upon completion, I would feel very confident in my level of skill. I wanted a program that had outstanding surgical numbers and one where I would not have to compete with fellows to become first assist. A program where I would have the exposure needed to apply for fellowship if I choose to do so, but one that would turn me into a well-rounded generalist was also very important. I found all of these and more at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. The surgical skills and clinical knowledge that I obtained were exceptional and something I am thankful for every day. That wasn’t the only thing I gained though, I met so many wonderful people during those four years, many of which I consider lifelong friends that I am now very pleased to call my colleagues. I am very happy and proud to say that I graduated from Cleveland Clinic Akron General.”

Jacqueline Zuponcic, DO – Class of 2018
Ohio Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Akron General in Akron, OH

“I greatly enjoyed my time in Akron General’s OBGYN residency. At the end of the day, picking a residency program to me was all about the best fit for my personality. The residents and staff at Akron General were very welcoming, kind, supportive, and helpful. I am also originally from Cleveland, and being close to my family was important to me as well. Throughout my 4 years as a resident here I felt as if I received a good breadth of experience in Obstetrics, Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Gynecologic Oncology, Urogynecology, Infertility, and minimally invasive and robotic surgery. I felt very comfortable with my transition to attendingship and handle many of these things now. I also find the program to be extremely supportive of my family life - having had 2 children in residency - not that I worked any less hard, mind you, but the support was always appreciated. Akron is also a wonderful place to raise a family as there are many parks, a zoo, good downtown life, and good food too. Cleveland is just a 30 minute drive away. Even beyond residency, as a faculty member, I have a professional interest in sexual health, and have been given resources to pursue this passion as well. I cannot say enough about the program and am very happy to have graduated from CCAG OBGYN.”

Clinical Rotations

The curriculum ensures that residents progress toward the exit learning outcomes in a coherent and seamless fashion.

Residents experience a variety of subspecialties early in their training to expose them to future career options. Increased difficulty and responsibility throughout residency involves more in-depth and advanced consideration of Ob/Gyn topics. Performance becomes more efficient and more like second nature as residents progress towards honing their skills.

Residents also participate in workshops and conferences and are actively involved in the teaching of M3 and M4 medical students. Senior medical student electives are provided in Gynecologic Oncology, Urogynecology, General Obstetrics & Gynecology, and High-Risk Obstetrics.

PGY – 1
(10) 5-Week Rotations

2 rotations in Night Float
2 rotations in Gynecology
1 rotation in OB
1 rotation in OB/GYN Float
1 rotation in Maternal Fetal Medicine
1 rotation in Ultrasound/Research
1 rotation in Outpatient
1 rotation in Gynecology Oncology

PGY – 2
(10) 5-Week Rotations

2 rotations in Night Float
2 rotations in Gynecology Oncology
1 rotation in OB
1 rotation in Gynecology
1 rotation in C-Section
1 rotation in Maternal Fetal Medicine
1 rotation in Urogynecology
1 rotation in Family Planning

PGY – 3
(10) 5-Week Rotations

2 rotations in OB
2 rotations in Gynecology
2 rotations in Night Float
1 rotation in Maternal Fetal Medicine
1 rotation in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility/GYN
1 rotation in Urogynecology
1 rotation in Elective

PGY – 4
(10) 5-Week Rotations

2 rotations in OB
2 rotations in Gynecology
2 rotations in Gynecology Oncology
2 rotations in Clinic
1 rotation Night Float
1 rotation OB/GYN Float

Clinical Training Sites

Our Women’s Health Center provides outpatient experience through their obstetrics and gynecology continuity clinics, Centering OB care and specialty clinics.

The Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility provides experience with in vitro fertilization as well as extensive video operative laparoscopic experience. This includes micro-surgical techniques and laser surgery. Video hysteroscopic surgeries are performed on a regular basis.
The Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery provides educational experiences in both non-surgical office evaluations in urodynamics, cystoscopy, etc. as well as extensive surgical experience.
The Division of Gynecologic Oncology allows residents to gain extensive experience in all aspects of cancer management including chemotherapy, radium insertions and all radical gynecologic surgeries including experience in surgery of the urinary and gastrointestinal tracts.
Our Perinatal Unit serves as a regional referral center and includes full-time Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists. The unit averages nearly 2,500 obstetric ultrasounds per year. Our hospital-based Special Care Nursery Unit includes full-time neonatology staff coverage.
Our Family Planning experience teaches abortion care and other sexual health services such as birth control options, STD testing and treatment, and wellness care for women. All staff are open, welcoming and supportive regardless of what level of experience is chosen. We are a training site for the Kenneth J. Ryan Residency Training Program in Abortion and Family Planning. This prestigious program is part of a national initiative to enhance comprehensive resident training in uterine evacuation techniques, complex contraception, LARC, advocacy and grieving/bereavement counseling. Our innovative program has been carefully designed to be in full compliance with all ACGME requirements and maintains a partial participation option for our residents.

Teaching Faculty

Academic Appointments:

Northeast Ohio Medical University, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University and Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Department of OBGYN

Jennifer L. Savitski, MD, Department Chair
Natalie A. Bowersox, MD, Program Director & Vice Chair
Trina Pagano, MD, Associate Program Director & Director OBED
Joseph Assaley, MD, Associate Program Director & Director of Women’s Health Center
Tiffany Finch, Program Manager
Kathleen Ruppert, Administrative UME Program Coordinator

Family Planning

Emily Freeman, DO, Director of Family Planning
Mitch Reider, MD
Ashley Brant, DO

Gynecologic Oncology

Application

All positions are filled through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). The Ob/Gyn Residency Program participates in the Residency CAS for all positions. International applicants are invited to apply through the ERAS and participate in the NRMP. You must complete all components in order for your application to be considered complete and to be reviewed by our Selection Committee. Akron General is pleased to participate in the Alignment Check Index (ACI) through the AAMC, along with program signaling.

Life in Akron has so much to offer! Learn more about Greater Akron.

Our application requirements are the same as the standard ERAS application:

Complete Application
CV
Personal Statement
Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
Medical School Transcript
USMLE Step 1 Transcript & Score (Must Pass on your first attempt)
USMLE Step 2 Transcript & Score (Must Pass on your first attempt)
Must have USMLE Step 2 Score Report uploaded prior to the deadline of the Rank List submission. If you do not have a Step 2 Score Report uploaded, you will not be ranked (assuming you were interviewed).
Three Letters of Recommendation including a Standardized Letter of Evaluation (SLOE)

International Medical Graduates

Here are some frequently asked questions by graduates of international medical schools regarding the application process:

U.S. clinical experience is strongly preferred
USMLE Step 1 Transcript & Score (Must Pass on your first attempt)
USMLE Step 2 Transcript & Score (Must Pass on your first attempt)
Must have USMLE Step 2 Score Report uploaded prior the deadline of the Rank List submission. If you do not have a Step 2 Score Report uploaded, you will not be ranked (assuming you were interviewed)
ECFMG certification at the time of application is required. Please review the ECFMG requirements for additional information

Interviews

In compliance with APGO & CREOG program recommendations offers for interviews will be made starting October 29, 2024. Interviews will be held on selected Mondays in November and December. Detailed information regarding the actual interview day will be provided to the applicant once the interview is confirmed.

Interested in Rotating?

Cleveland Clinic Akron General uses VLSO, the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities to process visiting student applications. To apply for an Ob/Gyn rotation, please send a VSLO application with your preferred dates.

For more information, please email CCAGObGynResidency@ccf.org.

Current Residents

PGY – 1

Emily Hutcherson, DO

Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia
Undergraduate: Virginia Commonwealth University – Richmond, Virginia
Graduate: Bluefield College/Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Blacksburg, Virginia
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Virginia – Blacksburg, Virginia
Interests/Hobbies: Holistic Wellness, Competitive Crossfit, Dance.

Victor Martinez-Cassmeyer, DO

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Undergraduate: University of Missouri – Columbia, Missouri
Graduate: Washington University in St. Louis – St. Louis, Missouri
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine – Jonesboro, Arkansas
Interests/Hobbies: Travelling, Baking with Sourdough, Peloton/Indoor Cycling, and Collecting House Plants.

Andrea Picciotto, DO

Hometown: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate: University of Maryland – College Park, Maryland
Medical School: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine – Kansas City, Missouri
Interests/Hobbies: Reading, Cooking, Gardening, Chess, Board Games

Madelaine Towbin, DO

Hometown: Fort Collins, Colorado
Undergraduate: Pitzer College – Claremont, California
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific – Pomona, California
Interests/Hobbies: Reading Fiction, Fitness Classes, Running, Hiking, Playing Tennis, Snowboarding, Puppy Training.

Joshua Vega, DO

Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Undergraduate: University of South Florida – Tampa, Florida
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton Campus – Bradenton, Florida
Interests/Hobbies: Music, Chess, Playing Drums and Guitar, Stand-up Comedy, and going to concerts.

PGY – 2

Kirsten Bokinskie, MD

Hometown: Fargo, North Dakota
Undergraduate: Concordia College – Moorhead, Minnesota
Medical School: University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Interests/Hobbies: Crafting, Reading, Watching & Playing Sports, Outdoor Activities, Spending Time with Family and Friends

Melanie Kasaris, DO
Melanie Bloomfield, DO
Wellness Officer

Hometown: North Royalton, Ohio
Undergraduate: The Ohio State University – Columbus, Ohio
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests/Hobbies: Traveling, Trying new foods, Hiking, Strength Training, Yoga, Team Sports, Reading, Spending Time with Loved Ones

Madeline McKenna, MD
Madeline (Maddie) McKenna, MD

Hometown: Beavercreek, OH
Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Interests/Hobbies: Time with family, time with my cat Chia, trying new wines and cheeses, volunteering, skiing, and Notre Dame football

Sherilyn Rogers, DO

Hometown: Olmstead Falls, Ohio
Undergraduate: University of Dayton – Dayton, Ohio
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests/Hobbies: Traveling, Reading, Music/Singing, Golfing, Baking and Cheering on Cleveland Sports Teams

Zenab Saeed, MD
Quality and Equity Junior Chief

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Undergraduate: Xavier University – Cincinnati, Ohio
Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Interests/Hobbies: Spending Time with Family, Traveling, Yoga, Puzzles, Chocolate Desserts, Embroidery, Advocacy

PGY – 3

Brittany Fickau, MD

Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
Graduate: George Washington University, Washington, DC
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Interests/Hobbies: Cooking, baking, spin cycling and crocheting.

Annemarie Newark, MD

Hometown: Evergreen Park, Illinois
Undergraduate: Illinois State University , Normal, Illinois
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Interests/Hobbies: Yoga, DIY home project designer, spending time with her two cats, and aspiring home chef.

Sara Peterson, MD

Hometown: Derry, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate: University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Interests/Hobbies: Reading, Hiking/Kayaking, Creating art with dried flowers, and watching the NFL (Go, Steelers!)

Emily Steele, MD
Clinic Chief (Junior)

Hometown: Zionsville, Indiana
Undergraduate: Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
Interests/Hobbies: Fostering kittens, spending time with her “foster-fail” adopted cat, Piper. Reading, painting, and house plant enthusiast.

Savannah Waldrop, DO

Hometown: Asheville, North Carolina
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Medical School: Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lillington, North Carolina
Interests/Hobbies: Ultramarathons, fly fishing, true crime podcasts, and plant-based cooking.

PGY – 4

Carrie Cummiskey, MD
Education Experience Chief Resident

Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Undergraduate: Indiana University
Graduate: Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health (MPH – Public Health)
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Interests/Hobbies: Gardening, crochet, traveling, and spending time at home with her fiancée and their two cats; Detective Jake Purr-alta and Cat “Mickey” McKinnon.

Cassandra Gray, MD
Departmental Chief Resident

Hometown: Springfield, Ohio
Undergraduate: Wright State University
Medical School: Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine
Interests/Hobbies: Knitting, sewing, hiking playing with my shih-tzu, and Spartan racing.

Rebecca Lee, DO
Clinic Chief Resident (Senior)

Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Medical School: Edward Via College of Medicine - Carolinas
Interests/Hobbies: Running, tennis, hiking, exploring National Parks, playing the violin, and taking pictures.

Savannah Maddox, DO
Academic Chief Resident

Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Undergraduate: The University of Tennessee
Graduate: Lipscomb University (MS – Biomedical Science)
Medical School: Edward Via College of Medicine - Carolinas
Interests/Hobbies: Spending time with her husband and son. Traveling, kayaking, walking, reading, and playing board games with family and friends.

Kelly Van, DO | OBGYN Resident | Cleveland Clinic Akron General
Kelly Van, DO
Administrative and Research Chief Resident

Hometown: El Monte, California
Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests/Hobbies: Crocheting, knitting, painting, baking, cooking, hiking and backpacking

Alumni

2024 Graduates

Corey Barker, DO – Generalist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Horizon, Hermitage, PA
Sarah Kleven, MD – Generalist, Women’s Center of Southern New England in Connecticut
Deanna Lines, DO – Generalist, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Horizon, Hermitage, PA
Alexandra Nutaitis, DO – Fellow, Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, University of California San Diego – Kaiser Permanente, San Diego, CA

2023 Graduates

Sarah Ellen Davis, DO – University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Horizon, Greenville, PA
Erin Gray, MD – Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Orange County, CA
Michael Kulmoski, DO – Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest, Cleveland, OH
Nabiha Morin, MD – Arnot Ogden Medical Center, Elmira, NY

2022 Graduates

Rachelle Abdelnour, MD – Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
Toni Horton, DO – Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL
Mackenzie Marley, DO - OB/GYN Associates of Akron, Akron, OH
Anjali Patel, DO – Good Samaritan Hospital, Chicago, IL

2021 Graduates

Cassie Henninger, DO – Southeast Hospital, Cape Girardeau, MO
Heather Mihalik, DO – Cleveland Clinic Akron General OB/GYN, Akron, OH
Melissa Wise, MD – Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship at Prisma Health – University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville, SC

2020 Graduates

Sean Bergsten, DO – Bringham Memorial Hospital, Blackfoot, ID
Emily Freeman, DO – Family Planning Fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Michaela Heller, MD – Essentia Health, Fargo, ND
Michelle Lende, DO – Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship at Albany Med, Albany, NY

2019 Graduates

Sarah Clausen, MD –St. Lukes, Duluth, MN
Ryley Greenbaum, DO –Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
Nicole MacCleary Price, DO – Pinnacle Women's Health, Phoenix, AZ
N. Brooke Murphy, MD –Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH

2018 Graduates

Ritchie Delara, MD – Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship at Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ
Cassandra Heiselman, DO – Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY
Jaclyn Kolosky, DO – St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Boston, MA
Kelly McGuire, DO – Medical Associates of Dubuque, Dubuque, IA
Jacqueline Zuponcic, DO – Cleveland Clinic Akron General OB/GYN, Akron, OH

Education, Research & Innovations

Obstetrics and gynecology research at Cleveland Clinic Akron General focuses on improving gynecologic health and quality of life. From 2020-2024, our residents have authored 13 publications, 13 presentations at national meetings, 17 presentations at regional meetings and 22 presentations at local meetings.

Each resident is required to complete research prior to graduation. Our Department of Health Sciences is located on Opportunity Parkway—just minutes away from Cleveland Clinic Akron General’s campus. It provides research personnel, workspaces and educational and statistical support to the residents. Additionally, our program has a dedicated Health Scientist who provides expertise and guidance on all departmental and resident studies.

Contact

Rachida Bouhenni, PhD
Health Scientist, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cleveland Clinic Akron General
330.604.1267
BouhenR@ccf.org

Intern surgical curriculum

Our residency has rolled out a new program in 2024-2025 for onboarding interns to the operating room. This is in line with the Ready for Residency APGO Program. This program allows dedicated time for low-stakes learning about OR workflow, surgical instruments, proper surgical techniques, and surgery steps for the most common obstetric and gynecologic procedures. This is a resident run program that loosely follows the surgical curriculum published on ACOG, The format is open-classroom and allows a safe space for interns to ask questions and learn!

Laparoscopic surgery training

Our residents complete their Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) Certification prior to the end of their PGY2 year. For the 2024-2025 academic year, we will be transitioning from FLS to EMIGS (Essentials in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery).All exam fees for the first attempt are covered by the department.

Each resident has 24/7 access to multiple simulation labs equipped for practicing their FLS/EMIGS skills. We have a dedicated GYN Sim Center within the departmental office space that is fully equipped with two laparoscopic trainers as well as a dedicated surgical simulation center for hysteroscopic and laparoscopic procedures. There is also a CCAG Surgical Sim center residents have 24/7 access to with additional laparoscopic trainers. Time is regularly allocated during didactics for residents preparing for FLS testing to practice. All residents are given the opportunity to practice at our testing location in Cleveland. We have found that this experience helps ease test anxiety. We have had much success with this approach, resulting in a 100% pass rate for first-time test takers.

Robotics

Our robotic curriculum is headed by faculty OB/GYN Dr. Marissa Levine. Our program has access to the Divinci XI as well as the Divinci Robotic training backpack. Our residents start their training on the robot as interns, learning how to use the functions of the system. The focus in the first year of training is on docking and bedside assisting. As second years, residents learn how to utilize the console. Our program has access to the Divinci Robot trainer backpack, which allows residents to learn the functions of the console through simulations. Once these simulations have been mastered, residents are able to sit at the console to assist in Robotic surgeries. The Main focus of 3^rd and 4^th year is to gain real time training at the console, assisting in various robotic procedures. At the end of your 4 years of training, you will not only have mastered robotic surgery but will also graduate with a certificate in robotic training.

Simulation

We reserve simulation time in our didactic schedule every month. During our monthly OB simulations, our Education and Simulation Chief Residents works with faculty to develop surprise simulations based on real cases to help residents learn to react and make decisions in real-time. Highlighted Additional recent simulations have covered Manual Vacuum Aspiration, Resuscitate Hysterotomy, LEEP, Amniocentesis, Operative Vaginal Deliveries (Forceps & Vacuum), Ultrasound, Post-Partum Hemorrhage, OASIS Repair and Laparoscopy.

Benefits

Vacation & Meetings

Three weeks of vacation (15 business days) are provided at each level of training. In addition conference time is allowed as approved by the program director.

2024-2025 Salary

We offer a competitive salary for all of our residents. The salary increases at every level of residency training.

Grad Level 1 — Annual Rate: $65,360.71
Grad Level 2 — Annual Rate: $67,563.88
Grad Level 3 — Annual Rate: $69,746.45
Grad Level 4 — Annual Rate: $72,474.92
Grad Level 5 — Annual Rate: $74,890.27
Grad Level 6 — Annual Rate: $77,836.07

Educational Allowance

Residents receive a competitive educational allowance during their residency training. The educational allowance can be used for texts, seminars, PDA's, meetings or other approved educational materials. Additional allowances for mandatory educational experiences is also available.

Insurance

All clinical trainees at Cleveland Clinic receive medical, dental, vision, prescription, life, and short-term disability insurance coverage. Medical insurance is provided with a small premium paid by the resident. Insurance covers residents and their families fully and is effective on the first day of training with no waiting period.