About Us
Our residents benefit from training that is based on an integral framework of patient care, education and research. They are supervised by an outstanding clinical faculty that is committed to education and fellowship-trained in all orthopaedic subspecialties.
Overview
Level 1 Trauma:
As a Level I Trauma Center, regional tertiary referral center and community hospital, Cleveland Clinic Akron General offers residents the opportunity to work with patients from the entire spectrum of musculoskeletal diseases and trauma. Residents will participate in all aspects of patient care, under faculty supervision at different levels of responsibility
Akron Children's Hospital:
Our pediatric orthopaedic surgery experience totals 7 months at Akron Children’s Hospital – providing a virtual follow-ship experience in pediatric orthopaedics including Level 1 pediatric trauma. This hospital is located within walking distance of our campus.
Daily Didactic Lectures:
A rotating didactic schedule occurs daily 7 - 8 a.m. Topics rotate through all subspecialties, fracture, basic science, oncology, journal club, indications and evidenced based review conferences.
Anatomy/Surgical Skills Training:
Anatomy presentations include surgical approaches, gross anatomy and access to an arthroscopic surgery simulator. Residents will also have the opportunity to attend hands-on conferences throughout the year. Surgical skills lab training utilizing fresh frozen cadaver specimens occur throughout the academic year.
Annual Meetings:
All residents (PGY-2 – PGY-5) attend two regional or national conferences per year.
- PGY - 1: ATLS (local); OrthoCamp (Houston)
- PGY - 2: OTA Fracture Course (varies), AO Basic Fracture Course (varies)
- PGY - 3: AANA Knee/Shoulder Arthroscopy Course (Rosemont), Elective
- PGY- 4: Current Concepts in Joint Replacement/CCJR (Orlando), Elective
- PGY - 5: AAOS Annual Meeting (varies), Miller Board Review (Denver)
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Welcome
The mission of the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program at Cleveland Clinic Akron General is to train proficient, aware, and ethical surgeons capable of providing safe care for a diverse patient population in a hybrid academic- and historically community-based Level 1 Trauma Center. We emphasize education during a combined longitudinal and rotation-based 60-month experience and teach research principles with a focus on achievable goals. Our graduates will be competitive candidates for entry into general orthopaedic practice or application for subspecialty fellowship training.
The Cleveland Clinic Akron General Orthopaedic Surgery Residency is an accredited, five-year program offering prospective resident candidates a broad orthopaedic training experience. The PGY-1 intern year includes surgical and non-surgical rotation requirements, followed by PGY 2-5 years that incorporate all orthopaedic subspecialties, research, and leadership administrative duties. The overall breakdown is generally 51 months adult patient care, seven months pediatric patient care and two months of research. The program works diligently to recruit and retain a diverse workforce of residents and faculty in addition to ensuring appropriate resources and a highly reliable, safe work environment for successful patient care and the promotion of resident well-being. As a teaching institution, we provide education for many outside learners including medical students, support staff, and advanced care practitioners without a negative impact on the development of the resident. The Orthopaedic Department does not currently support or train subspecialty fellows.
Nicholas DiNicola, MD
Program Director, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program
Specialty: Trauma
William Kurtz, MD
Department Chairman, Orthopaedic Surgery Department
Specialty: Trauma
Holly Gordon
Program Manager, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program
Cleveland Clinic Akron General
330.344.6269
gordonh6@ccf.org
Clinical Rotations
PGY – 1
| Basic Surgical Skills | 1 month |
| General Surgery Trauma | 1 month |
| SICU | 1 month |
| Vascular Surgery | 1 month |
| Plastic Surgery | 1 month |
| Anesthesiology | 1 month |
| Infectious Disease | 1 month |
| Hand Surgery | 1 month |
| Spine Surgery | 1 month |
| Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery | 1 month |
| Foot & Ankle Surgery | 1 month |
| Adult Orthopaedic Surgery | 1 month |
PGY – 2
| Orthopaedic Surgery | 2 months |
| Spine Surgery | 2 months |
| Hand Surgery | 2 months |
| Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery | 2 months |
| Foot & Ankle Surgery | 2 months |
| Adult Orthopaedic Surgery | 2 months |
PGY – 3
| Adult Reconstruction | 2 months |
| Sports Orthopaedic Surgery | 2 months |
| Orthopaedic Oncology | 2 months |
| Orthopaedic Trauma | 3 months |
| Research | 1 month |
| Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery | 2 months |
PGY – 4
| Adult Reconstruction | 2 months |
| Sports Orthopaedic Surgery | 2 months |
| Hand Surgery | 2 months |
| Research | 1 month |
| Adult Orthopaedic Surgery | 5 months |
PGY – 5
| Orthopaedic Trauma | 2 months |
| Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery | 2 months |
| Adult Orthopaedic Surgery | 4 months |
| Admin/Adult Orthopaedic Surgery | 4 months |
Teaching Faculty
- Gregory A. Vrabec, MD
- John L. Pinkowski, MD
- Steven B. Lippitt, MD
- Anthony T. Kantaras, MD
- Jordan P. Grossman, DPM, FACFAS
- Lauren Kishman, DPM
- Nicholas DiNicola, MD
- William Kurtz, MD
- Timothy Marks, MD
- Jacob Hoffmann, MD
- Gordan Preston, MD
- Heather Preston, DO
- Samantha Figas, DPM
- Carol Armstrong, MD
- Keegan Conry, MD
- Patrick Kane, MD
- Michael Makowski, MD
- Nicholas Satariano, MD
- William Lanzinger, MD
- Andrew Esterle, MD
- Jeffrey Yang, MD
- Jonathan Streit, MD
- Paul Wilkie, MD
- Todd F. Ritzman, MD
- Patrick Riley Sr., MD
- Mark J. Adamczyk, MD
- Kenneth Bono, MD
- William C. Schrader, MD
- Drew Engles, MD
- John J. Elias, BS, MS, PhD
Application
Application requirements
Thank you for your interest in the Orthopaedic residency program at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. We hope that we've provided you with the information you need to choose the right residency program. If additional information is required, do not hesitate to contact us. Cleveland Clinic 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
- Application Deadline: October 1, 2024
- Participating in the Universal Interview Offer Day: November 18, 2024
- Interview Dates: Wednesdays starting November 27, 2024 - February 5, 2025
- Expected Program Length: 5 years
Interviews will be held in person for the 2025 recruitment season.
Interview invitations will be sent via Thalamus email on or after the Universal Interview Offer Day.
For more information on the application process, please contact:
Holly Gordon
Program Manager
330.344.6269
gordonh6@ccf.org
Interested in rotating?
Akron General Medical Center uses VSAS, the Visiting Student Application Service to process visiting student applications. To apply for an orthopaedic surgery rotation, please complete and send a VSAS application with your preferred dates.
Current Residents
PGY-1 Residents
Tristian Epley, DO
- Hometown: Pickerington, OH
- Undergraduate: Bowling Green State University
- Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Interests/Hobbies: Running, lifting weights in my home gym, ping pong, making wood-fired oven pizzas, and spending time with family.
Tyler Metcalf, MD
- Hometown: Columbus, OH
- Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame
- Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
- Interests/Hobbies: Fly fishing, mountain biking, rock climbing, playing basketball, golfing, and playing guitar
Daniel Schirtzinger, MD
- Hometown: Columbus, OH
- Undergraduate: Miami University
- Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine
- Interests/Hobbies: Golf, pickleball, live music, making cocktails, trying new restaurants, everything Ohio State and Cleveland Browns football
PGY-2
Maria LaMontagne, MD
- Hometown: Cicero, New York
- Undergraduate: University of Akron
- Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Medicine
- Interests/Hobbies: Avid distance runner, baking homemade Italian cookies, scrapbooking, and listening to true crime podcasts
Curtis Vrabec, DO
- Hometown: Akron, Ohio
- Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
- Medical School: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Interests/Hobbies: Watching and discussing sports, playing videogames, running, hiking, and training for a full marathon when time allows
Jalen Martin, MD
- Hometown: Oxnard, California
- Undergraduate: University of California- Berkeley
- Medical School: Western Michigan University School of Medicine
- Interests/Hobbies: Rock climbing, running half marathons, cooking new food recipes with my fiancé, exploring new cities through their food culture
Sabrina Metzger, MD
- Hometown: Camden, OH
- Undergraduate: Wright State University
- Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
- Interests/Hobbies: Running, baking artisan-style bread, gardening, and reading. I also enjoy boating, campfires, and watching football with friends.
PGY-3
Neal Kapoor, MD
- Hometown: Mason, Ohio
- Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University
- Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Interests/Hobbies: Spending time with my wife and friends, cooking, dancing, exploring new cultures, cars and watching football and basketball
Robert Yoder, MD
- Hometown: Louisville, OH
- Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
- Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
- Interest/Hobbies: Exercise, Cleveland & Ohio State sports, playing guitar & listening to music, travelling
Timothy Guthrie, MD
- Hometown: Geneva, IL
- Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin
- Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
- Interests/Hobbies: Spending time with family, college football, avid fan of all Badger sports, exploring local breweries, working out
PGY-4
Tyler Sanda, MD
- Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
- Undergraduate: The University of Akron
- Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
- Interests/Hobbies: Spending time with his family and friends, taking my dog for hikes, cooking, golfing and soccer
Cole Shafer, MD
- Hometown: Amboy, Indiana
- Undergraduate: DePauw University
- Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
- Interest/Hobbies: Avid fan of all Indiana sports, enjoy participating in a variety of intramural sports and farming
Tyler Calton, MD
- Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
- Undergraduate: Ohio Northern University
- Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
- Interests/Hobbies: Boxing and mixed martial arts, woodworking, weightlifting, fishing and golfing
PGY-5
Martina Stojanovska, MD
- Hometown: Pickerington, Ohio
- Undergraduate: Duke University
- Medical School: Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine
- Interests/Hobbies: Spending time with her husband and two kitties Simba and Nala, hiking, going to the gym, swing/salsa dancing, watching Duke basketball, baking and crocheting
Alexander Hron, MD
- Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Undergraduate: University of Minnesota
- Medical School: University of North Dakota
- Interests/Hobbies: Working on cars, fishing, hiking, camping, being in the outdoors and spending time with my wife and dogs
Zacharia Mirhaidari, MD
- Hometown: Dover, Ohio
- Undergraduate: Kent State University
- Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Interests/Hobbies: Exploring local restaurants and breweries, kayaking/fishing, spending time with friends and family and watching movies
Alumni
2024 Graduates
- Daniel Enright, MD – Adult Joint Reconstruction Fellowship, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
- Collin Krebs, MD – Orthopaedic Sports Fellowship, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Patrick Tate, MD – Plancher Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Fellowship, New York, NY
2023 Graduates
- Nicholas Kolodychuk, MD — Adult Reconstruction Fellowship, Columbia University, New York, NY
- Christopher Pinkowski, MD —Hand Surgery Fellowship, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY
- Jeffrey Watts, MD —Orthopaedic Sports Fellowship, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
2022 Graduates
- Keegan Conry, MD — Spine Fellowship, University of CA, Davis Health, Sacramento, CA
- Cory Knecht, MD — Adult Reconstruction Fellowship, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- Michael Makowski, MD — Trauma Fellowship, Penn State University, Hershey, PA
2021 Graduates
- Patrick Kane, MD — Sports Fellowship, Lexington, KY
- Robert Erlichman, MD — Adult Reconstruction Fellowship, Columbus, OH
- Travis Jones, MD — Trauma Fellowship, Columbus, OH
2020 Graduates
- Nuvpreet Bhandal, MD — Sports Medicine, New York, NY
- Carol Fouad, MD — Hand, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Akron, OH
- Samuel Hammonds, MD — Sports Medicine, Central Carolina Hospital, Sanford, NC
2019 Graduates
- Jared Pate, MD — Hip and Knee Reconstruction Fellowship, Broomfield, CO
- Brad Smith, MD — Sports Medicine, New York, NY
- Robert (Gunnar) Tysklind, MD — Pediatric Sports, Boston, MA
2018 Graduates
- Ryan Combs, MD — Adult Reconstruction, Summa Health, Akron, OH
- Will Albiero, MD — Sports Medicine, Appleton, WI
- Jamie Engle, MD — Trauma, Philadelphia, PA
Research & Innovations
Research is an important aspect of Orthopaedic training. All residents are required to complete, present at national meetings and submit an abstract for publication while in the program. Time, funding, space and faculty support is provided. The department has a Senior Research Scientist to enhance the department's efforts in biomechanical research. Research projects are presented at the Annual Akron Combined Orthopaedic Surgery Research Day and AGMC's Scientific Session. Presentations at other local, regional and national meetings are fully supported and encouraged. Orthopaedic surgery research at Akron General focuses on improving surgical treatment and patient outcomes in Orthopaedics.
Orthopaedic Journal Club
Residents, attending physicians, our senior research scientist all participate in a monthly Journal Club. The group reviews current and classic articles usually from the JBJS emphasizing scientific design, analysis methods and results.
For more information about resident research in Orthopaedic Surgery, please contact:
Nicholas DiNicola, MD
Program Director
330.344.6269
Steven Lippitt, MD
Resident Research Director
330.344.1980
John Elias, PhD
Senior Research Scientist
330.344.6176
EliasJ@ccf.org
