Ken Hassler, D.O.

Hometown: Copiague, NY
Undergraduate: State University of New York at New Paltz, New Paltz, NY
Medical school: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies: Primarily being a dad and a husband. Secondarily: hockey, snowboarding, surfing, golf, hiking/backpacking/camping, and exercising (weightlifting, biking, and running).
Future plans: Cardiothoracic surgery and aortic surgery (primarily aortic valve repair, valve sparing root replacements, and the Ross procedure)

Why Mayo? I chose Mayo for the breadth and depth of complex cases as well as the strong leadership/mentorship of world-renowned surgeons.

Motahar Hosseini, M.D.

Hometown: Isfahan, Iran
Undergraduate: Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Medical school: Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Hobbies: Hiking, road trips, traveling, and trying new restaurants
Future plans: Aortic surgery -- with a plan to pursue an academic surgical career in aortic and adult cardiac surgery

Why Mayo? Mayo was my first choice for the opportunity to train with the leaders in the field. Our case complexity and case volume is unparalleled. It is also a collegial place to work.

Pouya Hemmati, M.D.

Hometown: Tehran, Iran and St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Medical school: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MA
Hobbies: Exercise, Firsbee golf, travel
Future plans: Adult cardiac surgery

Why Mayo? I chose Mayo for the mentorship model, reputation, and complexity of cases.

Yazan Al-Jamal, M.D.

Hometown: Amman, Jordan
Medical school: Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan
Hobbies: Soccer, travel
Future plans: Robotic adult cardiac surgery

Why Mayo? I chose Mayo for the preceptorship 1-on-1 model, Mayo's reputation, and to gain hands-on robotic cardiac and thoracic experience. I also appreciate the nice mix between simple and complex cases.

Elvis Camacho, M.D.

Hometown: Miami, FL
Undergraduate: Columbia University, New York City, NY
Medical school: Columbia University, New York City, NY
Hobbies: Spending time with my children and lifting weights
Future plans: Private practice doing general cardiac surgery

Why Mayo? The culture of Mayo. From the first day, we are engrained with Dr. Mayo's motto, "The needs of the patient come first." These words have fostered a unique environment that makes Mayo a great place to work and train.

Raffaele Rocco, M.D.

Hometown: Milan, Italy
Undergraduate: Universita Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
Medical school: Universita Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Rome, Italy
Hobbies: Soccer, learning new languages, and traveling
Future plans: Benign and malignant disease management through robotic and uniportal approach

Why Mayo? I chose Mayo to have the opportunity to learn from some of the best surgeons in the world.

Brandon Hendriksen, M.D., M.P.H.

Hometown: Miami, FL
Medical school: University of Miami, Miami, FL
General surgery residency: Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA
Hobbies: Sports, gym, traveling
Future plans: General thoracic surgery

Why Mayo? I chose to train at Mayo for the depth and breadth of cases. I liked the idea of the mentorship training model.

Myriam Martinez Aguilar, M.D.

Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
Undergraduate: National Autonomous University of Mexico
Medical school: National Autonomous University of Mexico
Hobbies: Running, hiking, and international food
Future plans: Structural heart disease, robotic cardiac surgery, and global cardiac surgery

Why Mayo? I chose Mayo for the apprenticeship program, complexity of cases, robotic program, excellent support system with APPS and SA, and because the program is strong in research.

Nathaniel Robinson, M.D.

Hometown: Sandy, UT
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Medical school: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN
Hobbies: Mountain biking, backpacking, building projects, and raising my kids
Future plans: Cardiac surgery - I am still sorting out the specifics, but I enjoy robotic and minimally invasive cases, as well as aortic cases

Why Mayo? I chose Mayo for the broad range of cases (both complex and straightforward), the 1-to-1 mentorship and instruction, amazing research and professional development support, and the attitude of the entire institution really does practice what it preaches with "the needs of the patient comes first." I love living here in Rochester. It is small, has no traffic, is safe, has good options to spend time outdoors, and it's really affordable here.

Mitra Khosravi Flanigan, M.D.

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Undergraduate: Duke University, Durham, NC
Medical school: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
Hobbies: Hanging out with my daughter, baking, playing piano, painting, tennis, 3-D printing
Future plans: Adult cardiac surgery with a focus on robotic/minimally invasive procedures

Why Mayo? The exceptional surgeons and operative volume at Mayo Clinic are unrivaled by other institutions and the training you get in this setting is unparalleled. The breadth of cases from bread and butter to complex “only-see-these-cases-at-Mayo” allows for the most comprehensive training possible.

Anita Nguyen, M.D.

Hometown: Vienna, Austria
Undergraduate: Imperial College London, London, England
Medical school: Barts and the London School of Medicine, London, England
Hobbies: Peloton, yoga, hiking, and playing with my cat Yuki
Future plans: Adult cardiac surgery, with a focus on robotic cardiac surgery

Why Mayo? The perfect combination of academics and an exciting caseload, and I wanted the opportunity to train under world-class surgeons within the mentorship model.

Matthew J. Aizpuru, M.D.

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
Undergraduate: Amherst College, Amherst, MA
Medical school: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Hobbies: Fishing, travel, and going to the Twin Cities to spend time with my family
Future plans: Career in academic general thoracic surgery

Why Mayo? The case volume/complexity, the commitment to education, and the amazing culture within the program. Being close to my family in Minneapolis is an added bonus.

Brett Curran, M.D.

Hometown: Wilmette, IL
Undergraduate: Connecticut College
Medical school: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Hobbies: Playing hockey, golf, pickleball, and winemaking
Future plans: Adult cardiac surgery

Why Mayo? I chose Mayo for the high case volume and complexity, unique apprenticeship model from world-renowned surgeons, and the hospital's rich and prestigious history.

Elaine Griffeth, M.D.

Hometown: Dallas, TX
Undergraduate: University of Oklahoma
Medical school: University of Oklahoma
Hobbies: Running, hiking, trying new restaurants, and hanging out on patios with my dog
Future plans: Congenital Cardiac Surgery Fellowship

Why Mayo? I wanted to train at a high-volume referral center where I'd be frequently taking care of complex patients and performing difficult cases. I knew that if I'd be able to see and do more of the difficult and rarer aspects of cardiothoracic surgery, then by the end of my training I'd be well-equipped to care for patients in any scenario. Mayo Clinic offers this type of training in a really positive culture. I found residents and faculty to be very kind and supportive, and everyone prioritizes patient care.