2024 Match Day Results
Today is Match Day! The day when the National Resident Matching Program releases results to applicants seeking residency and fellowship training positions in the United States. We thank the faculty and trainees who participated in recruitment activities this year.
Committed to training the next generation of academic surgeons, our residencies provide rigorous training in the research laboratory so that future surgeon-scientists are prepared to deliver cutting-edge, compassionate care to patients and their families. As a land-grant University, rural track residents elevate our mission by training with experienced physicians of diverse backgrounds and interests - dedicated to serving all Minnesotans.
Let's welcome our new residents as they celebrate Match Day and look to the future with the Department of Surgery!
As always, it is an honor to serve you.
Sincerely,
Sayeed Ikramuddin, MD, MHA
Chair, Department of Surgery
Jay Phillips Professor
&
Melissa Brunsvold, MD FACS FCCM
Professor of Surgery
Vice Chair for Education, Surgery
Program Director, General Surgery Residency
M Health System Medical Director, ECMO
General Surgery Residency Program
We received more than 1300 total applicants applying for seven categorical and one categorical rural position. We conducted 155 interviews this past Fall. We are pleased to report we have attracted top candidates to our program, and we look forward to welcoming them to the Department in June.
The Surgery Education Office, under the direction of Program Director and Vice-Chair of Education Melissa Brunsvold, MD, FACS FCCM and supported by Surgery Education Manager Jessica Andersen, MBA, C-TAGME, and Program Administrator Sarah Erickson, JD, as well as all the faculty and residents who participated in the recruitment process, are to be congratulated for their incredible work recruiting this outstanding group of incoming residents.
PGY-1 General Surgery Categorical and Rural Residents 2024-2025 Academic Year:
Nargiz Agayeva, MD
University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine
-Nargiz is from rural/suburban Missouri. She attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine where she worked to establish the school’s chapter of the Association of Women Surgeons.
Ashlyn Elftmann, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
-Ashlyn is originally from Minnesota. She attended Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri for her undergraduate education and then the Medical College of Wisconsin. Ashlyn received Honors in Research for her research in Quality Improvement pertaining to pediatric concussion diagnosis and management.
Benjamin Linden, MD
University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
-Benjamin is from Iowa and attended the University of Iowa Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine. He is a Gold Humanism Honor Society recipient. Benjamin is excited to continue to be involved in research that advances patient care during residency.
Brett Norling, MD
University of Minnesota Medical School
Brett is originally from Minnesota. He attended Bethel University followed by the University of Minnesota Medical School. Brett is currently conducting research under the guidance of Dr. Dahm, in the Department of Urology.
Meeli Patel, MD
University of Kansas School of Medicine Kansas City
-Meeli is a Kansas native and attended the University of Kansas School of Medicine Kansas City. She is both AOA and a member of the Gold Humanism Society. Meeli looks forward to establishing strong surgeon-patient relationships and refining new skills during residency.
Marcelo Salán Gómez, MD
Tecnologico de Monterrey Escuela de Medicina Monterrey
-Marcelo is from Mexico. He attended the Tecnológico de Monterrey Escuela de Medicina Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico and is currently at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX where he is working in the Lung Transplant research division.
Katherine Tyson, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
-Katherine went to the University of Minnesota for her bachelor’s degree in science focused on Genetics, cell biology, and development. She went on to obtain her master’s degree in medical science at Loyola University before matriculating at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Peter Wallace, MD
Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
-Peter is from Minnesota. He attended the University of St. Thomas followed by the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
Solveig Svendsen, MD - Rural Track
University College Dublin School of Medicine
-Solveig is from Minnesota, but attended the University College Dublin School of Medicine. She is a Gold Humanism recipient. Solveig has previously conducted research at the University of Minnesota Medical School under the guidance of Dr. Beilman. Solveig is excited for the opportunity to return to Minnesota for residency.
PGY-1 General Surgery Preliminary Residents 2024-2025 Academic Year:
Olajumoke Akala, DO
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Alma Vida Datario, DO
AT Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Mitchell Rawson, DO
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Walter Smith, MD
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine at Tulsa
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Integrated Residency
The Plastic Surgery faculty completed holistic reviews of over 300 applications to our program. Our faculty and residents interviewed a total of 40 applicants over the course of four half-day interview sessions to successfully match our two PGY-1 categorical positions.
We are very grateful for our dedicated Program Directors, Ashish Mahajan, MD and Christopher Hillard, MD and to our faculty members who participated in the application review and interviews this year. Also, a special thank you to our Program Administrator, Kimberly Moorehead, and to all of our current residents, who played a vital role in showcasing our program during virtual "meet & greets" and interviews!
Daniah ALNafisee, MD
Royal College of Surgeons Ireland
-Daniah is from Saudi Arabia. She completed her undergraduate degree in anatomy and cell biology at McGill University. She went on to receive her medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. Daniah has traveled all over the world to get to where she is now.
Jose Foppiani, MD
First Faculty of Medicine Charles University (1. Lékarská Fakulta, Univerzity Karlovy)
-Jose is from Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo. He completed his medical degree at First Faculty of Medicine Charles University. Jose is also currently working on completing his Ph.D.
Vascular Surgery Integrated Residency
With 128 applicants applying for one position, the Vascular Surgery Integrated Residency Program interviewed 33 applicants this past fall. We look forward to welcoming a fifth resident to our growing program in June.
The Division of Vascular Surgery and the Surgical Education Office, under the direction of Program Director Derrick Green, MD, MBA, and Associate Program Director, Nolan Cirillo-Penn, MD, are to be congratulated for their remarkable work recruiting an excellent incoming resident.
We want to thank all the faculty, fellows, and residents who participated in recruitment activities this year.
Rachel Andrie, MD
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
-Rachel Andrie grew up in rural Indiana and moved to Madison, Wisconsin where she completed her undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology at the University of Wisconsin before medical school. Rachel has lived and traveled all over the USA (and world) to get to where she is now.
