General Surgery Residents > Residency Programs

Preliminary PGY-1
	Rita Orazi, MD Hometown: Rye, NY College: Fordham University Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine Hobbies: Running, jewelry making, films Why CMC: Robust operative experiences, early autonomy, and a family feel with focus on mentorship and teamwork. Surg interests: General Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Colorectal Surgery

Categorical Intern Class of 2028
	Lena Bless, MD Hometown: Zurich, Switzerland College: John Hopkins University Medical: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Hobbies: Travelling, weightlifting and yoga, puzzling, and house plants Why CMC: My two main criteria for a surgical program was that there had to be a strong and varied clinical experience and that the program would be supportive and welcoming. CMC fulfilled both those criteria and then some. Everyone's enthusiasm for the field and the camaraderie among residents really stood out to me! Surgical Field of Interest: Undecided
	Lizzie Clark, MD, MPH, BSN Hometown: Loveland, CO College: Oral Roberts Medical: George Washington School of Medicine Hobbies: Woodworking, hiking, kayaking, gardening, and paint by numbers Why CMC: It was impressive all around. It offered open doors to whatever I chose to do and the people were so supportive and fun to be with. I was also impressed with the opportunities for electives and training in rural and global surgery. Surgical Field of Interest: Rural/Global Surgery, Trauma/Critical Care
	Samantha Kerr, MD Hometown: Mohegan Lake, NY College: Clemson University Medical school: University of South Caroline School of Medicine- Greenville Hobbies: barre classes, skiing, exploring Charlotte’s food and brewery scene, spending time with family, friends, and my golden retriever Why CMC: CMC has everything I was looking for in a residency program and more- Level 1 trauma status, early operative experience, research opportunities, and camaraderie amongst residents. The culture at CMC is incredibly supportive, and the doors are open to whichever fellowship I decide to pursue in the future. Also, Charlotte is an amazing city to live in with a variety of things to do. Surgical Field of Interest: Undecided
	Souma Kundu, MD, MPH Hometown: San Jose, CA College: University of California - Berkeley Medical: University of California San Diego School of Medicine Hobbies: playing with my dog, cooking, baking, outdoor activities, exercise, and pottery Why CMC: The supportive culture and camaraderie amongst residents and faculty, early operative experience, numerous benefits beyond salary such as food, parkin, loupes, education fund, unique ability to tailor your 4th/5th clinical years to your specific post-residency path, amazing fellowship and job matches! Surgical Interests: Undecided
	Caroline Rader, MD Hometown: Sevierville, TN (think Dollywood, Dolly Parton, Smoky Mountains, etc.) College: University of Mississippi Medical: University of Tennessee School of Medicine Hobbies: eat - BIG foodie! travel! do Pilates! walk/hike! BIG online (and in-person) shopper! love some Netflix! Why CMC: I rotated here as a fourth-year medical student and fell in love with the program. From great residents and faculty to vast OR experience - CMC stood out as one of the best. Surgical Interests: Rural Surgery/General Surgery/Breast Surgery
	David Rosas, MD, MBA Hometown: San Jose, CA College: Williams College Medical: University of California San Diego School of Medicine Hobbies: Golf, weightlifting, playing with my dog Why CMC: Broad training experience in collaborative environment; work with people who are kind, humble, and helpful; high quality of life as a surgical resident in Charlotte. Academic Interests: Leadership & Communication Development, Surgical Education, Medical Education Surgical Interests: Undecided

PGY 2 Class of 2027

William Archie, MD
Hometown: Goldsboro, NC
College: Washington and Lee University
Medical School: Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
Hobbies: Rock climbing, working out at the gym, watching Formula 1 Racing, live music, and going to breweries
Why CMC: CMC has great volume coupled with outstanding academic opportunities. A cohesive group of residents and supportive attendings make it that much easier to take full advantage of the opportunities presented here.
Surgical Field of Interest: Trauma/Critical Care, Vascular, Plastics

Je'Coy Hawley, MD
Hometown: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
College: University of Tampa
Medical School: Florida State University College of Medicine
Hobbies: Saxophone, Piano and Steel drum instrumentalist. Reading. Philosophy
Why CMC: To become the best and brightest, you must train with the best and the brightest.
Surgical Field of Interest: Undecided

Mariah Johnson, MD
Hometown: Wichita, KS and Muskogee, OK
College: The Mecca - Howard University
Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita
Hobbies: Politics, traveling, attending live performances, reading, family time.
Why CMC: CMC has a community culture and many opportunities for exploration of my surgical interests. After residency, I will serve as a General Surgeon at an Indian Health Services or Tribal healthy facility, so it was important that I train at a residency that would prepare me well for this career. CMC is an excellent institution with a proven record of graduating general surgeons well prepared to enter practice after residency. But ultimately it was the people! By the end of my interview, this just felt like the place I was meant to spend 5 challenging years in training.
Surgical Field of Interest: General Surgery

Namratha Mylarapu, MD
Hometown: Nizamabad, India
College: Augusta University
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine
Surgical Field of Interest: Undecided

Blake Stephens, MD
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
College: University of Cincinnati
Med School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Hobbies: Gym, hiking, photography, video games, driving
Why CMC: I gathered that CMC has great operative volume, flexibility of dedicated research year, the people were great, and there is a lot of growth moving forward for the program/hospital.
Surgical Field of Interest: Trauma/Critical Care, Cardiothoracic

Judy Ugwuegbu, MD
Hometown: Pointe Claire, QC
College: University of Pittsburgh
Graduate School: University of Pittsburgh, School of Pharmacy
Medical School: Wake Forest University School Of Medicine
Hobbies: Hiking, gym, salsa dancing, plant mom'ing
Why CMC: I was looking for a residency with 3 main things: camraderie among residents, early OR experience, and a level 1 trauma status with a variety of operative experiences. I feel like I've hit the jack-pot and then some. In just the short time I've been at CMC I've felt supported, cared for, invested in, and challenged. I've laughed a lot. It's a been a great environment to learn in, and I'm excited to spend the next 5-6 years here.
Surgical Field of Interest: Undecided

Alynna Wiley, MD
Hometown: Alamogordo, NM
College: Oklahoma State University
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Surgical Field of Interest: Undecided

PGY 3 Class of 2026

Raza Ahmad, MD
Hometown: Potomac, MD
College: St. Mary's College of Maryland
Medical School: University of Queensland-Ochsner
Hobbies: Cooking, hiking, coffee brewing, rowing
Why CMC: When looking for a residency I knew I wanted a program that had a culture of operating early, with strong resident autonomy, and exposure to a wide variety of surgical pathology. I also wanted a residency that would either prepare me to excel in any fellowship that I decided to pursue or give me the tools to succeed in General Surgery practice. While CMC checked all those boxes for me, what sold me was the great interactions between the residents and faculty during my interview day and dinner. This is a truly collegial program that strongly invests in their residents' education and growth and gives them an immense amount of support from all levels. I could not imagine training anywhere else.
Surgical Field of Interest: Cardiothoracic Surgery and Pediatric Surgery

Neal Bartl, MD
Hometown: Davidson, NC
College: Sewanee: The University of the South
Medical School: UNC Chapel Hill
Hobbies: Running, weight lifting, trying new breweries with family and friends
Why CMC: I had the opportunity to work on a research project with several of the surgeons at CMC during my undergrad summers and they left a lasting impression on me. Everyone was incredibly kind and eager to help. The residents were strong leaders and clearly saw each other as family, from interns to chiefs. While rotating in Charlotte as a fourth year medical student I was impressed by the operative volume and high level of autonomy given to the residents by attendings. The location is also stellar; Charlotte is a great city with plenty to do. I can’t think of any better place to be for residency!
Surgical Field of Interest: Undecided

Elizabeth Gerzina, MD
Hometown: Memorial City, TX
College: University of Texas
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Hobbies: Hiking, trivia, trying new restaurants and breweries
Why CMC: Amazing operative volume and early autonomy, really supportive resident culture, and great fellowship opportunities
Surgical Field of Interest: Undecided

Stephanie Jensen, MD
Hometown: Wilmington, NC
College: Duke University
Med School: UNC Chapel Hill
Hobbies: Hiking, traveling, running, spending time with friends and family
Why CMC: I rotated here as a medical student and love the fun and supportive environment! The operative experience is also amazing, and I was very impressed with the clinical and technical skills of the residents even early in their training.
Surgical Field of Interest: Undecided

Will Lorenz, MD
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
College: Furman University
Medical School: University of South Carolina- Greenville
Hobbies: Cooking, exploring the Charlotte food scene, hanging out with my wife and dog, going to the beach or mountains
Why CMC: I was looking for a program that was academic, had great research opportunities and an amazing operative experience. This program seemed to have the perfect balance for me. Also, as soon as I met the residents at the meet and greets and interview day, I found them to be a fun but driven group of people. Since I've been here, this group of residents has been extremely supportive and made my transition way easier than expected.
Surgical Field of Interest: Undecided

Ansley Ricker, MD
Hometown: Greenville, TN
College: Mars Hill University
Medical School: East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine
Hobbies: Intramural sports, community volunteer work, spending quality time with family and friends, traveling and exploring new restaurants.
Why CMC: I chose CMC because the residents, faculty, and staff here are the most incredibly supportive and caring people toward me. After being a part of a team my entire life through basketball, I knew I needed that in a residency program, and that is exactly what I found here at CMC. I have the most supportive group of co-residents who genuinely strive to take care of one another every day. Furthermore, the female mentorship here is strong, which is crucial for women in surgery. Lastly, CMC has a prominent history of placing its residents into top fellowship programs across the country, so my interests of cardiothoracic surgery and surgical oncology, whatever I end up deciding, are well within reach!
Surgical Field of Interest: Surgical Oncology, HPB Surgery

Hadley Wilson, MD
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
College: Vanderbilt University
Medical School: University of North Carolina
Hobbies: Golfing, fly fishing, duck hunting, skiing, exploring Charlotte’s many greenways via biking or running
Why CMC: The best camaraderie between the residents and operative experience begins the day you get here. Plus, I grew up here, and Charlotte is an awesome place to live.
Surgical field of interest: Cardiothoracic Surgery

PGY 4 Class of 2025

Logan Carney, MD
Hometown: Union, KY
College: Eastern Kentucky University
Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine
Why CMC: I felt most welcomed at CMC by the faculty and residents. There is a great camaraderie here and it is truly a surgery family where you are supported and encouraged. The program is centered on early operating experience and a high volume of complex cases which provide a great environment to learn in. Also, the city of Charlotte is a young and rapidly growing area that has no shortage of things to do and provides a great place to live and have a family. With all these things combined, choosing CMC as my top choice was a no-brainer!
Surgical Field of Interest: Trauma Surgery

Joshua Davis, MD
Hometown: Norman, OK
College: The University of Oklahoma
Medical School: The University of Oklahoma
Hobbies: Eating tacos, petting my dog, running, racquetball, hiking, camping, skiing and reading
Why CMC: Strong surgery residency with amazing operative exposure. As a fourth year rotating medical student, I was impressed by the culture at CMC. Faculty are dedicated to teaching, support early operative experience and appropriate clinical autonomy. Cohesive group of residents who are easy to get along with, are good teachers and help you succeed. Also, Charlotte is an amazing city with no shortage of things to offer.
Research Year: HPB Surgery
Surgical Field of Interest: HPB Surgery

Michael Katzen, MD
Hometown: Bradenton, FL
College: University of South Florida
Medical School: University of Central Florida
Hobbies: Gym, guitar, eating everything in sight
Why CMC: I did a rotation here as a fourth year medical student and fell in love with this program. The operative volume and breadth of pathology are on par with top academic institutions, yet the culture feels more like a community hospital. The residents, faculty, and staff get to know each other to create a truly enjoyable work environment. In addition, Charlotte is a fantastic up-and-coming city that is really easy to live in and has a ton of things to do.
Research Year: Carolinas Laparoscopic & Advanced Surgery
Surgical Field of Interest: General Surgery

Caleb Pflederer, MD
Hometown: Tremont, IL
College: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Medical School: Rush Medical College
Hobbies: Backpacking, jazz and blues guitar, Chicago Cubs baseball
Why CMC: As a 4th year medical student rotating here, I absolutely loved my time. The program has a tight-knit culture between residents, as well as faculty. This is a program where the residents hang out outside of the hospital together, look out for each other, and have a lot of camaraderie. The training is excellent, and Charlotte has a lot to offer!
Surgical Field of Interest: Minimally invasive surgery

PGY 5 Class of 2024

Michael Avery, DO
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
College: East Carolina University
Medical School: Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies: Jumble, Hanging with my dogs, shed workouts
Why CMC: I spent a lot of time at this hospital during my undergraduate studies and medical school. I got to witness, firsthand, the amazing residents they produce. I always wanted to be one of them. Plus, it's my hometown.
Surgical Fields of Interest: Colorectal Surgery

Sullivan “Sully” Ayuso, MD
Hometown: Austin, TX
College: Emory University
Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Hobbies: Running, hooping, Reserve activities for Army, hanging out with my fiancée, walking on the beach
Why CMC: I chose CMC because of the high volume of cases, supportive faculty, and the ability to take care of a variety of patient populations under one roof.
Research Year: Carolinas Laparoscopic & Advanced Surgery Program
Surgical Fields of Interest: Abdominal wall reconstruction, Bariatrics

Jessica Bilz, MD
Hometown: Snellville, GA
College: University of Georgia
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Hobbies: Gardening, exercise, hiking, book club
Why CMC: Great atmosphere with high volume, complex cases.
Surgical Fields of Interest: Breast Oncology

Matthew Marturano, MD
Hometown: Palatine, IL
College: University of Notre Dame
Medical School: Tulane University
Hobbies: Playing and watching soccer, baseball, eating and thus cooking, playing with my golden retriever, Cliff and traveling
Why CMC: This place has the most impressive group of residents who provide amazing mentorship. Impressive work-life balance while still developing unmatched surgical skills. This is truly a place that will allow me to become whatever type of surgeon I would like to be in the future.
Surgical Fields of Interest: Plastic Surgery

Jordan Robinson, MD
Hometown: Naperville, IL
College: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Medical School: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Graduate School: Master’s in Public Health, Northwestern University
Hobbies: Reading, sports, movies, philosophy
Why CMC: I felt that CMC would be the best place for me to grow as both a person and a physician. I also had some inside information from a friend already training here who loved it. There seemed to be a rare balance of surgical rigor and personal warmth that made CMC the right fit.
Research Year: HPB Surgery
Surgical Fields of Interest: Plastic Surgery, Trauma, General Surgery, Surgical Oncology

Kaylee Smith, MD
Hometown: Bow, NH
College: University of New Hampshire
Medical School: University of South Florida
Hobbies: Running, hiking, the beach, wine, Patriots football
Why CMC: High quality hybrid program, excellent residency culture with supportive staff, leaves open door to any field or fellowship pursuits, and Charlotte is an awesome place to be.
Surgical Fields of Interest: Colon and rectal surgery, Plastic surgery

Research

Alexis Holland, MD
Hometown: Nashville, TN
College: Furman University
Medical School: The University of Tennessee College of Medicine
Hobbies: Golfing, Painting, Community Service, Watching sports, Exploring the city, Hanging out with family and friends
Why CMC: A supportive culture was the most important thing to me when looking for a program, and I immediately felt like I fit in here. CMC is also a true hybrid program, and I didn't feel like any doors or opportunities were closed to me here.
Surgical Field of Interest: Surgical Oncology, Breast Surgery

Christian Sanderfer, MD
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Undergrad: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Medical School: University of Nebraska Medical Center
Hobbies: In my free time outside of the hospital, I love to play golf, cook, and barbecue with fellow residents.
Why CMC: I completed an away rotation during my 4th year of medical school and can honestly say that CMC had a completely different feel than anything I had experienced in surgery. The culture of the program is unmatched. All of the residents interacted together and any level resident could talk directly to a chief. There was a culture of hard work and excellence. Everyone was happy and genuinely loved what they were doing and the surgeons they were becoming. The training, different complexity levels, and volume of cases are second to none. Charlotte is a wonderful city that continues to grow and offers so many different activities, breweries and restaurants.
Surgical Field of interest: Cardiac Surgery, Colorectal Surgery

Residents

Preliminary PGY-1

Categorical Intern Class of 2028

PGY 2 Class of 2027

PGY 3 Class of 2026

PGY 4 Class of 2025

PGY 5 Class of 2024

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