Kristofer E. Nava, ²
Graduated WMed in 2022
Medical School: Ross University
Fellowship: Minimally Invasive, Foregut, and Bariatric Surgery, Spectrum Health
- What initially drew you to WMed Surgery?
I was initially interested in WMed due to its Midwestern location and hybrid university/community opportunity. However, what really set WMed apart from any other program is the collegial atmosphere amongst the residents. Throughout my short time with the residents during my interview, I felt immediately at home and knew this was the place for me.
- How did WMed Surgery prepare you for fellowship or practice?
My training at WMed made me the safe, efficient surgeon that I am today. I was not only completely prepared to pass my boards but was also prepared to practice as a General Surgeon. I made the decision to pursue a career in foregut and bariatric surgery, an idea that was fostered by Dr. Shebrain and my other mentors. The advanced laparoscopic and robotic experience I gained at WMed made for a seamless transition to fellowship. I still use the innumerable lessons I learned at WMed both in and out of the operating room every day as a community surgeon.
- What do you want others considering surgical residency at WMed to know?
It is important to understand that every individual at WMed is there to help you succeed no matter what your future goals may be. The opportunities in Kalamazoo are endless for those who choose to work hard in pursuit of them and our fellowship match results reflect that claim. For those that wish to pursue General Surgery, you will be ready to practice from the first day after graduation. Just as with fellowship, the WMed faculty are an abundant resource for future employment. In fact, several of my mentors in residency helped me secure my current position as a surgeon even before I started my fellowship. Make no mistake, whatever your goals are, WMed can help you achieve them.
Kyra Folkert, ²
Graduated WMed in 2024
Medical School: The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Fellowship: Hepato-Pacreato-Biliary Surgery, Indiana University
- What initially drew you to WMed Surgery?
I was drawn to WMed Surgery by the camaraderie of the residents on interview day and the enthusiasm the faculty displayed for training the residents. I wanted to go to a program where I felt I would not be limited in future fellowship opportunities that would also give me the skill to be a competent surgeon. WMed appeared to be a perfect blend of diverse cases and pathology while still being a smaller cohesive program where I could develop strong relationships with the faculty and staff.
- How did WMed Surgery prepare you for fellowship or practice?
WMed allowed me to build a strong relationship with my faculty mentor over multiple years which prepared me to enter fellowship with a solid foundation. I was able to get involved in multiple research projects and always supported by the program when I wanted to attend a conference. I was able to match at my #1 program for fellowship and I believe my success is largely due to the support I received from WMed.
- What do you want others considering surgical residency at WMed to know?
WMed is truly a hidden gem program. I think the relationship between attendings and residents is unmatched. I enjoyed coming to work and felt genuinely connected to my co-residents and still frequently communicate with many of my former attendings both for advice and sometimes just to share funny stories. If I had to do residency over again I would without a doubt chose WMed and I can say that without any hesitation.
Joslyn Jose, ²
Graduated WMed in 2023
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
Fellowship: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital
- What initially drew you to WMed Surgery?
I was a preliminary intern at an academic program and the contrast was dramatic: it was obvious from the time of my interview how invested Dr Shebrain is in not only the program, but the wellbeing and success of his residents. It was abundantly clear that he wanted good hardworking people in the program who would become a cohesive group instead of just replaceable cogs in a wheel. The residents I spoke with also made it evident how much they cared about their program. I’m happy to report that these impressions were completely correct.
- How did WMed Surgery prepare you for fellowship or practice?
There is a profound responsibility in any residency program to train residents to become safe and competent surgeons. WMed goes above and beyond in this respect by instilling a program-wide shared sense of accountability in making sure every level of resident progresses appropriately, maintaining their mental health, and providing the requisite support to achieve all of their goals. The breadth of pathology along with the lack of fellows ensures that residents are operating in high-level cases, building strong relationships with attendings, and that they are more than prepared to go into practice or fellowship.
Personally, I was able to go on multiple elective rotations, including two away rotations to help me achieve my dream of becoming a Cardiothoracic surgeon. The flexibility and support of the program was instrumental in achieving my goals, and many of my coresidents can echo those experiences.
- What do you want others considering surgical residency at WMed to know?
WMed is a special place. I felt an accountability as a chief resident to make sure every resident in our program felt like they belonged, that they had fun when possible at work and outside of work, and that they progressed appropriately; this is something that is engrained in our culture. You will work hard, and it will be difficult at times and require sacrifice - like any residency - but you will be happy with the results as you will become a safe, competent, ethical, immensely capable, and well-prepared surgeon.
Jason Ryan, ²
Graduated WMed in 2016
Medical School: Ross University
Fellowship: Vascular Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital
- What initially drew you to WMed Surgery?
Having the opportunity to grow up in Kalamazoo, I became quite fond of the small town feel with still having so much available to do outside of work. The program itself was appealing because of the volume and diversity of surgical experience through a well-balanced blend of university practice as well as community-based practices. It’s hard to find a program that gives you the insight and experience working in both models.
- How did WMed Surgery prepare you for fellowship or practice?
I had more interviews for vascular surgery fellowship than I had days available to schedule. I was able to match into my first choice and seemed to be “ahead of the curve” as far as operative experience and skillset when going into fellowship. I could not have been better prepared leaving WMED Surgery for fellowship, and feel strongly that if I had chosen to go into general surgery practice right after residency I would have been well equipped for that as well.
- What do you want others considering surgical residency at WMed to know?
When deciding where to go for residency, whether it be here or somewhere else, decide where you want to be when you come out the other side. Not every program, regardless of the name, will give you the same operative experience. WMED Surgery will provide you with the skillset necessary to be a confident general surgeon after 5 years and the opportunity to match into very successful fellowship programs, depending on what your preference is. I would absolutely choose this program if I had it to do over again, without hesitation.
Julia Miladore, ²
Graduated WMed in 2017
Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Fellowship: Vascular Surgery, Indiana University
- What initially drew you to WMed Surgery?
I was initially interested in WMed because of the sense of community and commitment to resident education. Having had experience at an academic program in a larger city, I was able to appreciate what a close-knit program was able to provide in terms of both personal and professional development. The surgical training is second to none and patient care is at the forefront of the education.
- How did WMed Surgery prepare you for fellowship or practice?
When you graduate from a residency program it is hard to know where you stack up in relation to other programs. After the first week in my fellowship program I was told by multiple attendings that they were thankful they “got someone who can operate.” I can only attribute this to the training I had at WMed for giving me such a great surgical foundation.
- What do you want others considering surgical residency at WMed to know?
Before coming to WMed I had never even heard of Kalamazoo and now I can’t imagine living anywhere else. You will be lucky to be a resident in this program and know that you will have the best surgical experience.
Jorge Weber, ²
Graduated WMed in 2018
Medical School: Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Fellowship: Vascular Surgery, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
- What initially drew you to WMed Surgery?
I immediately fell in love with program. The attendings and residents were very approachable during the interview. During my interview, the residents expressed their satisfaction with the program. They seemed pleased with their surgical experience and with the relationship they had between themselves and with the staff.
- How did WMed Surgery prepare you for fellowship or practice?
The surgical experience was amazing. The quantity and variety of cases prepared me to succeed in my Vascular Fellowship.
- What do you want others considering surgical residency at WMed to know?
You won’t regret coming to this program. Is a great residency where you will definitively learn how to operate and take care of patients. The relationship between the residents andattendings is very special.
Steven Lu, DO
Graduated WMed in 2019
Medical School: Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, California
Fellowship: Colorectal Surgery, Lehigh Valley Hospital
- What initially drew you to WMed Surgery?
I was initially drawn to WMed Surgery by the enthusiasm of the senior residents, the kindness of the attendings and staff and the charisma of Dr. Earl Norman and Dr. Saad Shebrain.
- How did WMed Surgery prepare you for fellowship or practice?
WMed Surgery helped to prepare me by providing exposure to broad surgical pathology, an early and extensive operating experience and numerous mentors invested in helping me to succeed as a surgeon.
- What do you want others considering surgical residency at WMed to know?
Training at WMed Surgery will shape you to become a competent and safe general surgeon day one out of residency or be poised for success in fellowship all the while surrounded by a family of compassionate and talented people.
Jairo Espinosa, ²
Graduated WMed in 2020
Medical School: Ross University
Fellowship: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Temple University
- What initially drew you to WMed Surgery?
I was initially drawn to WMed because I was interested in a program where I could have the opportunity to perform clinical research while also having the opportunity to become a competent general surgeon. I wanted to match at a program where not only could I match into a great fellowship (as most WMed graduates do - cardiothoracic surgery, plastic surgery, vascular surgery, etc), but I could also have the opportunity to practice general surgery and be a competent, safe surgeon. Five years, a good fellowship match, and 1,500 cases later - WMed did not disappoint.
- How did WMed Surgery prepare you for fellowship or practice?
WMed general surgery prepared me for cardiothoracic surgery fellowship by being the most supportive administration I could have ever asked for. When I wanted to do an away rotation at Memorial Sloan Kettering to better my opportunities of matching into a competitive fellowship spot - WMed and their amazing team had my back every step of the way. When I wanted to do an extra month of cardiac surgery my chief year to better prepare myself for fellowship - WMed once again complied and let me incorporate the rotation into my chief year. Throughout the years as I published papers and had presentations nationwide, WMed was always supportive of my endeavors and I never had any issues with going to many conferences to present my research.
- What do you want others considering surgical residency at WMed to know?
As a graduate from WMed, I’d like those of you looking at this website that I have no regrets. I loved every single day of my general surgery residency. I made friendships and relationships that will last me a lifetime. The attendings at WMed treat you with respect. From day one of intern year you operate. WMed is not one of these programs where every case is double scrubbed because people are starving for cases. At WMed - you operate. You do cases 1:1 with attendings as an intern, PGY-2 and PGY-3. You become a competent surgeon. You are there to become a surgeon. As vague and unconvincing as that sounds, a lot of general surgery programs in the academic community don’t prepare you to be a surgeon, they prepare you to apply to fellowship. I can proudly say that if I would have chosen to do general surgery, I could have, because of where I was lucky and blessed to have trained - WMed General Surgery.