Meet Our Residents - Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Residency (Minnesota) - Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science

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Meet Our Residents

Working with our Neurosurgery colleagues at the 2022 Anterior Skull Base Course

Our residents come from medical schools around the U.S. and outside the country. Learn more about all of our residents in the Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Residency at Mayo Clinic.

PGY-5

	Dontre' Douse, M.D. Hometown: Savannah, GA Undergraduate: Savannah State University Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine Hobbies: Basketball, football, online chess, mentorship of students traditionally underrepresented in medicine Favorite things to do in Rochester: Spend time with my beautiful wife, Alicea, and new baby girl, Angelique Why Mayo: "The needs of the patient come first" and family-oriented culture permeated my interview day. One of the main focuses here is the education of residents as both clinicians and surgeons. The surgical training is second-to-none with the apprenticeship model. We have opportunities to learn from the top minds in our field daily. Training alongside top residents fosters an environment of constant growth. Unlimited research opportunities. Future plans: Serve in an underserved/rural community as well as globally as a Comprehensive Otolaryngologist-Head and Neck Surgeon while teaching and mentoring residents and students locally, nationally, and even internationally. Follow Instagram, Twitter
	Travis Haller, M.D. Hometown: Missoula, MT Undergraduate: Westminster College Medical school: University of Utah School of Medicine Hobbies: Skiing, mountain/road biking, fly fishing, and spending time with my awesome wife (Kenzie) and dog (Charlie) Favorite things to do in Rochester: Fly fishing the local streams and rivers, taking advantage of the awesome gravel and road biking, in the area, golfing at the super affordable courses around the city, hanging with my great group of co-residents and touring the brewery scene around Rochester. Why Mayo: I chose a residency where I thought I would get the best possible surgical training. With Mayo’s apprenticeship model and outstanding reputation, it was an easy choice. During my interview, the residents were supportive, kind, and truly happy to be here. Future plans: Plan to pursue an academic career in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology
	Dante Merlino, M.D., Ph.D. Hometown: Marlton, NJ Undergraduate: Wake Forest University Medical school: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University Hobbies: Golf, fishing, running, snowboarding, and anything else that involves the great outdoors; playing with my dog, Jacob; rooting for Philadelphia sports teams (especially the Eagles….Go Birds!) Favorite things to do in Rochester: I like exploring the many trails and parks nearby. I enjoy golfing with friends and hanging out with my co-residents at their houses for bonfires, game nights, potlucks, and sports games. Why Mayo: The apprenticeship training model, paired with the opportunity to train at the top hospital in the U.S., made Mayo Clinic my top choice. I appreciate the tight-knit, friendly relationship between and amongst faculty and residents, and love that Mayo is the source of the “ENT in a Nutshell” podcast and the Headmirror OR videos. I was also attracted to the program’s outstanding opportunities for research, as well as the fact that every Otolaryngologic subspecialty is represented by at least two faculty members. Finally, the quality of life afforded by the program was a huge draw for me. The city has all of the restaurants, breweries, and stores I need without any of the traffic, and is incredibly walkable. The favorable call schedule, great resident benefits, and lack of early morning team rounds (thank you apprenticeship model!) are all icing on the cake. Future plans: Head & Neck Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania. Excited to be returning to Philadelphia next year! Follow Twitter
	Kelly Staricha, M.D. Hometown: Allen Park, MI Undergraduate: Northwestern University Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin Hobbies: Spending time with my daughter, husband and our fox red labs (Riley and Millie), traveling and trying new food/activities, attending sporting events and concerts, cooking and hosting dinner parties, working out, hiking, water sports. Favorite things to do in Rochester: I enjoy exploring trails with my dogs, golfing, and trying out different restaurants and breweries. I also get up to Minneapolis/St. Paul quite a bit for the food/drink scene. Why Mayo: Unmatched surgical training and exceptional people. Unique apprenticeship model allowing a high level of resident autonomy and strong resident-faculty relationships. Opportunities for research to utilize my background in biomedical engineering. Future plans: Head and Neck Oncologic and Microvascular Surgery Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Follow Instagram, Twitter
	Kate Wallerius, M.D. Hometown: Denver, CO Undergraduate: Regis University Medical school: Georgetown University School of Medicine Hobbies: Hiking, running, landscape photography, cooking, sampling new cuisines with my husband (Scott) Favorite things to do in Rochester: Kayak on Silver Lake, try new brews at Forager Brewery, go camping with my sister and brother-in-law Why Mayo: I love how the Mayo brothers’ mission to inspire hope and provide the best care to every patient is lived out in the hospital today. From my first day in the operating room when everyone introduced themselves to our patient, I could tell how the people who work at this hospital are proud to be here. Future plans: Comprehensive ENT Practice in Denver, CO

PGY-4

	Hawa Ali, M.D. Hometown: Rochester, MN Undergraduate: University of Minnesota Rochester Medical school: University of Minnesota Hobbies: Playing board games with family and friends, photography, eating and trying out new foods, and playing soccer. Favorite things to do in Rochester: Discovering different ice cream spots with my son, eating at all the different foodie spots in Rochester, walking through the different hiking trails with my family, and getting boba and shaved ice with friends. Why Mayo: The excellent surgical experience and apprenticeship model. I’m always amazed at the surgical abilities of my co-residents and I’m certain that this is a product of the apprenticeship model here. I also wanted to be in a department with a diverse group of residents, and am grateful to have other residents of color and shENTs in our program! Future plans: TBD Follow Instagram
	Ehiremen Iyoha, M.D. Hometown: Port Harcourt, Nigeria Undergraduate: University of Georgia Medical school: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Hobbies: Photography, soccer, cooking, watching movies, spending time with my wife Favorite thing to do in Rochester: I like visiting the new restaurants with my wife, and hanging out at my co-residents’ houses for cookouts, crawfish boils, and bonfires. Why Mayo: I chose Mayo for its top-notch surgical training, consultants who are invested in mentorship, and awesome co-residents. Future plans: TBD
	Heather Johns, M.D. Hometown: West Richland, WA Undergraduate: Whitman College Medical school: University of Washington Hobbies: Disc golf, gardening, painting, working out, anything sports Favorite things to do in Rochester: Disc golfing with my husband at all the local courses, summer volleyball, getting ice cream at Flapdoodles Why Mayo: Heavy operative experience, mentorship model, and great people. Future plans: TBD. Maybe Pediatric ENT, but I like everything so far so we’ll just have to see what the future brings! Follow Instagram
	Laz Peraza, M.D. Hometown: Las Vegas, NV Undergraduate: University of Southern California Medical school: University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Hobbies: Riding my Peloton, playing basketball and football, hanging out/traveling with my girlfriend Danielle, playing with my three dogs, Coco, Chloe, and Mambo, playing all the video games, and snowboarding. Favorite things to do in Rochester: CRUMBL aka the best cookies ever! I like taking walks with my dog. The weather over the summer and early fall is amazing. I love exploring the north shore of Lake Superior and northern MN. There are a ton of beautiful places to see. I love the growing food scene. All of the new tap houses are a must! Why Mayo: I loved my interview day and resident social. I had a great time chatting with the consultants who all showed an interest in my education. The apprenticeship model was a big draw, as early exposure with high volume was very important to me. I was confident I would see anything and everything here. Future plans: Facial plastics vs. pediatrics vs. private practice at the moment! Follow Instagram
	Nick Randall, M.D. Hometown: Vancouver, WA Undergraduate: Brigham Young University Medical school: Washington State University Hobbies: Running, basketball, reading, movies, hiking with family Favorite things to do in Rochester: Walking/running the trails, playing with my kids and dog at the great parks, and eating my body weight in fried rice with lobster sauce at Jenpachi Why Mayo: The people. Faculty, staff, and co-residents are all so supportive of your growth and well-being. Plus, the apprenticeship model provides amazing surgical training with a ton of meaningful OR time. Future plans: Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Fellowship Follow Instagram

PGY-3

	Tori Cress, M.D. Hometown: Stillwater, MN Undergraduate: Texas Christian University Medical school: Loma Linda University School of Medicine Hobbies: Local and international travel, cooking and baking, performing arts, MN lake days, yoga, and spending time with my dog, family, and friends. Favorite things to do in Rochester: Walking my dog on the Douglas Trail, spending time with my co-residents and their spouses, and trying out new restaurants. Why Mayo: Surgical training via the apprenticeship model and the opportunities available to Mayo Clinic trainees are unparalleled. Here, we get to learn from leaders in the field alongside the most skilled and fun co-residents. I’ve also done eight years of higher education outside of Minnesota, so it’s great to be close to home for residency! Future plans: Undecided at this point, but would love to be involved in medical education in some way. Stay tuned!
	Ghazal Daher, M.D. Hometown: Allentown, PA; born and raised in Syria Undergraduate: Moravian College Medical school: Penn State College of Medicine Hobbies: I love traveling with my husband, spending quality time with family and friends, capturing beautiful moments through photography, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and immersing myself in nature's wonders. Favorite thing to do in Rochester: The lively Thursdays on First in the summertime that bring the community together. And of course, I can't resist the charm of the farmer's market with its abundance of fresh produce and artisanal delights. Why Mayo: Mayo is an exceptional institution with an abundance of research and learning opportunities. The apprenticeship model has been instrumental in my growth thus far, and the supportive community of experts motivates me to strive for excellence every day. The Mayo Otolaryngology Department truly fosters an environment where learning never stops, and I am grateful to be a part of it. Future plans: As I move forward, I'm continuing to explore all the subspecialties with the aim to find my true calling.
	Karl Khandalavala, M.D. Hometown: Omaha, NE Undergraduate: Creighton University Medical school: University of Nebraska Medical Center Hobbies: Anything outside, particularly biking, hiking, and running. Exploring the local craft beer scene, and frequenting local coffee shops. Favorite things to do in Rochester: Beers at Forager, bike to Pine Island, the patio at Thai Pop, trivia at Little Thistle, appetizer extravaganza at the Workshop food hall, (attempt) cross-country skiing at Oxbow Park, free outdoor summer concerts at the Civic Center, Thursdays on First happy hour Why Mayo: Unparalleled surgical exposure, even at the initial stages of training. Resident autonomy that facilitates rapid learning and allows for longitudinal patient interactions. Future plans: Pursuing a career in academic otolaryngology through fellowship training in pediatric otolaryngology or neurotology.
	Evelyn Leland, M.D. Hometown: Blue Earth, MN Undergraduate: University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Medical school: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy cycling, running, working out, traveling, boating, watching movies, spending time with my husband, and forcing my cat to hang out with me. Favorite things to do in Rochester: I've had a blast spending time with my co-residents. I love biking along the Douglas trail, exploring the local food and ice cream options, and winning "most average" at weeknight trivia. Why Mayo: From the people to the place to the training opportunities, Mayo had it all. I couldn't imagine a better training structure than the mentorship model, and the program allows for early exposure to all sub-specialties. The consultants are so invested in our development - both professionally and personally - and the Mayo ENT residents are friendly and supportive of each other in a way that I didn't see at other programs. Rochester offers everything I could ask for in a city - plenty to do, plenty to eat, affordable cost of living, no traffic, and (most importantly) Costco. Future plans: The million-dollar question... stay tuned.
	Dan Schmidtman, M.D. Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD Undergraduate: Augustana University Medical school: University of South Dakota Hobbies: Bicycling, cocktails, cooking, hosting Favorite things to do in Rochester: Bike the Douglas Trail, Bitter and Pour for a cocktail, bonfires with the co-residents, trivia at Little Thistle, hikes at nearby parks Why Mayo: I chose Mayo Clinic for my residency training because of the collaborative nature of the program, the early and robust operative experience, the apprenticeship model, the committed faculty in each subspecialty, and the robust institutional commitment to graduate medical education. The guiding principle of the institution ("the needs of the patient come first") is lived out each day by those who work and train here, and I wanted that principle to serve as the cornerstone from which my surgical training was built. I cannot imagine a better place to train. Future plans: Undecided

PGY-2

	Maani Archang, M.D., Ph.D. Hometown: Tehran, Iran Undergraduate: Irvine Valley College and Johns Hopkins University Medical school: UCLA Hobbies: Biking, cooking, paddle boarding, camping, and backpacking Favorite things to do in Rochester: Soaking in a hot-tub in winter, BBQ the rest of the year, getting all the appetizers off of Chester’s menu, owning a home and DIY house projects Why Mayo: Mayo is excellent at everything! The people are incredibly nice, thoughtful, and supportive. I am surrounded by faculty and residents, all of whom I admire and look up to. Also, for surgical training, nothing beats the apprenticeship model, and at Mayo, we get this, with the best surgeons, and a truly unbelievable amount of resources dedicated to our education and research productivity. Future plans: Fellowship, then research and academic medicine
	Nasser Lubega, M.D. Hometown: Kampala, Uganda / Bloomington, Minnesota Undergraduate: University of St. Thomas Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Hobbies: Exercise, journaling, long-form podcasts and investigative journalism, and mentoring URMs in medicine. Favorite things to do in Rochester: Trader Joe’s runs, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends and co-residents. Why Mayo: Mayo offered everything I was looking for—outstanding training, early autonomy, and a true mentorship model within a top-tier institution. Faculty are incredibly supportive and deeply invested in resident education. The camaraderie among residents is truly special, and outside the hospital, Rochester has everything I need: great food, an affordable cost of living, and no traffic. Future Plans: Unsure but very interested in global surgical education.
	Molly Murray, M.D. Hometown: Rockford, IL Undergraduate: University of Missouri Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin Hobbies: Trying new restaurants, traveling, cycling, wine, hanging with friends Favorite things to do in Rochester: Going out to eat, breweries, going on walks, tennis Why Mayo: Truly unmatched training with super supportive co-residents, faculty, and staff. We also get so much hands-on experience as interns which is an amazing way to start residency. Future plans: Who knows!
	Brennan Olson, M.D., Ph.D. Hometown: Luck, WI Undergraduate: Augustana University Medical school: Oregon Health & Sciences University School of Medicine Hobbies: Basketball, exercising, golf, video games, hanging out with my wife and two boys Favorite things to do in Rochester: Going to the breweries, going to parks with my family, hiking, dive bars Why Mayo: The culture and precedent for delivering exceptional care is palpable here, and I wanted to be a part of that. World-class surgical training with world-class surgeons. Family-friendly program in an affordable city. The infrastructure for research ideas/project support is fantastic. Future plans: Fellowship
	Kayvon Sharif, M.D. Hometown: Madison, NJ Undergraduate: Middlebury College Medical school: Vanderbilt University Hobbies: Music, cars, lake stuff Favorite things to do in Rochester: Bike around town, hike at Oxbow Park, walk through Soldiers Field, eat at Pasquale's Pizza Why Mayo: Operative autonomy and quality of life. You are scrubbed in and learning by doing from day one. The apprenticeship model allows a high level of independence early on, culminating in a chief year when you essentially function as a junior faculty member. We enjoy opportunities to collaborate with some of the most talented, dedicated, and collegial medical professionals in the world to care for complex patients and their families. Future plans: TBD

PGY-1

	Hisham Abdou, M.D. Hometown: Tartus, Syria Undergraduate: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Medical school: Yale School of Medicine Hobbies: Playing and watching soccer, ping pong, board games, and staying home watching TV Why Mayo: Mayo is renowned for producing surgeons with scalpel skills that put superheroes to shame. On top of that, the people here in Minnesota are just awesome! Future plans: Still deciding!
	Saad Ahmed, M.D. Hometown: Edmond, OK Undergraduate: University of Oklahoma Medical school: University of Oklahoma Hobbies: Playing tennis, listening to audiobooks, learning new recipes/cuisines, watching UFC, and cheering for my Oklahoma Sooners Why Mayo: I chose Mayo for my otolaryngology training because of the supportive community and unmatched surgical experience with the apprenticeship model. Future plans: TBD...
	Abby Aymond, M.D. Hometown: Grand Forks, ND Undergraduate: University of North Dakota Medical school: Harvard Medical School Hobbies: Plants, quilting, reading, music Why Mayo: Excellence of surgical training and a great culture of friendly teamwork and respect amongst all members in the department which was so visible on my interview day. Future plans: Still undecided, but most likely general ENT practice in a rural or underserved area.
	Erika Pierce, M.D. Hometown: Riverside, CA Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles Medical school: University of California San Francisco Hobbies: Reading and writing, live music, antique shops and vintage finds, trying new restaurants, traveling, spending time with my husband and daughter Why Mayo: The apprenticeship model, supportive and tight-knit group of co-residents, incredible surgical training from the first day of intern year, and favorable quality-of-life. Future plans: Stay tuned!!
	George Saieed, M.D., M.B.A. Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA Undergraduate: University of Chicago Medical school: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Hobbies: Photography/cinematography/VFX, singing/beatboxing, piano, software development, traveling, reading (mostly fantasy/sci-fi) and any and all racquet sports Why Mayo: The people here are unbelievable - both in the sense that they are incredible surgeons but also incredibly kind-hearted and good people. Everyone here also really does put the patient first. The apprenticeship model is great, and it is very clear how much the faculty enjoy mentoring residents. Future plans: Absolutely no idea yet!

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See more of our residents and their training.

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