Current Fellows
John Costello, MD
Second Year Fellow
College: University of Wisconsin at Madison
Medical School: Johns Hopkins
General Surgery Residency: Georgetown
Charles Ghee, MD
Second Year Fellow
College: Oglethorpe
Graduate School: Georgia State
Medical School: Morehouse
General Surgery Residency: INOVA at Fairfax, Virginia
Lee Gerson, MD
First Year Fellow
College: University of Pennsylvania
Medical School: Tufts University
General Surgery Residency: Morristown Medical Center
Kostaninos Poulikidis, MD
First Year Fellow
College: Stony Brook University
Graduate: Boston University
Medical School: New York Medical College
General Surgery Residency: Stamford Hospital\Columbia University
Incoming Fellows
Issa Rezek, MD
Incoming 2019 Fellow
Graduate School: Mayo Graduate School
Medical School: Damascus University, Faculty Of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Yale-New Haven General Surgery Program
Ashley Zander, DO
Incoming 2019 Fellow
College: University of Wisconsin, Madison
Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Naval Medical Center, San Diego
Recent Fellows
Dharmraj Chauhan, MD
Graduated: 2018
College: University of Michigan
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Morristown Medical Center
Tedi Vlahu, MD
Graduated: 2018
College: Indiana University
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners in Affiliation with Michigan State University
Rachel Hargrove, MD
Graduated: 2017
College: The University of the South
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Loma Linda University
Ashok Venkataraman, MD
Graduated: 2017
College: National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Medical School: National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chris Clancy, MD
Graduated: 2016
College: Kent State University
Medical School: Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Medical College of Toledo
Shea Pribyl, DO
College: United States Merchant Marine Academy
Graduate School: MBA, Rockhurst University
Medical School: University Health Science College of Osteopathic Medicine-Kansas City
General
Parth Amin, MD
Dr. Amin completed general surgery, critical care, and vascular surgery training prior to joining the academic faculty at the University of Iowa. He chose to further his training at Loyola because of the rich experience in complex adult cardiac surgery, heart and lung transplantation, and aortic surgery. He has since moved back to Michigan and is working as a cardiac and vascular surgeon.
Ryan Plichta, MD
Previously considered a Loyola lifer, Dr. Plichta completed medical school and general surgery residency after spending time as a research scientist. His interests at Loyola included the large volume of mitral valve repairs, reoperative procedures, and TAVR. He is at the Cleveland Clinic, where he has gained an excellent experience with endovascular skills and has found he has been well prepared for independent practice.
Brett Beecher, MD
University Medical Group Cardiothoracic Surgery
Augusta, Georgia
An Oklahoma native, Dr Beecher, was interested in cardiac surgery from early on his training. He came to Loyola after completing his general surgery residency in his home state. His primary interest in the Loyola program was its long standing history of producing independent cardiothoracic surgeons in two years. He now practices in Georgia and is has been instrumental in developing the robotic thoracic service line there.
Jason Frazier, MD
Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital
Hines, Illinois
Dr. Frazier began his medical training at Loyola and has not left the area since moving from Washington D.C. His primary interest in the Loyola cardiovascular program was the acuity and breadth of experience offered to the fellows. His interest in minimally invasive techniques have prompted him to bring robotic surgery to the forefront of care at the Hines VA, where he is faculty.
Alfred Casillan, MD, PhD
Dr. Casillan completed undergraduate work, general surgery residency, and a Ph.D. in molecular biology at the University of Kansas prior to starting his training at Loyola. Here, he developed an interest in heart and lung transplantation and dedicated a formal year to these interests. He has gone back home to Topeka where he has a busy practice.
