PGY-4

Brienne Donovan

Preferred Name: Brie
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

About Dr. Donovan:
Dr. Donovan is a PGY-4 resident in general surgery. She is interested in pursuing a career in breast surgical oncology. She completed two years of research during which she worked on projects in breast and burn surgery focused on healthcare disparities and social determinants of health and also obtained a masters in professional health education.

Education:

• Undergraduate Institution: Brown University
• Medical School: LKSOM at Temple University
• Additional Degrees: Masters in Professional Health Education, Temple University

Fun Facts:

• Hobbies/Interests: reading fiction, video games, indoor cycling
• Favorite restaurant in Philly: Helm
   

Nathan Doremus

Preferred Name: Nate
Pronouns: He/him/his
Hometown: Chanhassen, MN

About Dr. Nathan Doremus:

Dr. Nathan Doremus is a PGY-4 resident who is taking a single year for research. He is interested in the field of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is involved in projects spanning from wound care following gender affirming surgery, microvascular reconstruction and large database outcomes research. Nathan is also a resident member of the Program Evaluation Committee.

Education:

• Undergraduate Institution: Carleton College, 2007-2011
• Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine, 2015-2019
• Additional Degrees: Masters of Medical Science, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2014-2015

Honors and Awards:

• Distinguished Graduate Tutor of the Year, Drexel University, 2016-2017
• Owl Ribbon for Excellence in Teamwork, TUHS, 2022

Fun Facts:

• Hobbies/Interests: golf when I can, basketball, working out
• Favorite restaurant in Philly: Lucky’s Last Chance
• Favorite cheesesteak spot: Doesn’t matter they are all the same and they are fine, don’t listen to the lies.

Aron Egelko, MD MGH

Pronouns: They/them
Hometown: Ventura, California

About Dr. Egelko:

Dr. Egelko is a PGY-4 interested in trauma, burns, and critical care. Their research focuses on outcomes for civilians in conflict zones and they continue to be involved with research and policy planning at the WHO Knowledge Center for Healthcare in Disasters located at Karolinska Institutet where they completed their research year.  

Education:

• Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Berkeley 
• Medical School:  State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine, 
• Additional Degrees: Masters of Global Health, Karolinska Institutet  

Fun Facts:

• Hobbies/Interests: Vegan baking, hiking, overpriced exercise classes 
• Favorite restaurant in Philly: Laser Wolf
   

Rebecca Green

Preferred Name: Rebecca
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: Wayside, NJ

About Dr. Green:

Rebecca Green is a PGY-4 resident in General Surgery at Temple University. She is interested in pursuing a career in endocrine surgery. After her PGY-2 year, Rebecca completed two years of research that focused on outcomes and disparities in parathyroid and adrenal surgery.

Education:

• Undergraduate Institution: Tulane University
• Medical School: Tulane University SOM

Honors and Awards:

• First place award, Robert D. Harwick, MD Resident Research Symposium 2023

Fun Facts:

• Favorite restaurant in Philly: K’Far (for brunch!)
• Favorite weekend activity: day trips to the beach

Dylan Kahler, MD

Preferred Name: Dylan
Pronouns: He/His
Hometown: Middletown, DE

About Dr. Kahler:

Dylan is a PGY-4 resident in General Surgery at Temple University. He is interested in pursuing a career in plastic and reconstructive surgery. He has performed research in plastic, transplant, and trauma surgery.

Education:

• Undergraduate Institution: University of Delaware, 2010 –2014
• Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 2015 – 2019

Honors and Awards:

• ASPS Co-Winner Best Resident Paper Presentation Award, ASPS 2023
• United States Air Force Health Professions Scholarship, Recipient, 2015
• Summa Cum Laude, University of Delaware, 2014

Fun Facts:

• Hobbies/Interests: Hobbies/Interests: exercise, sporting clays, sailing, golf, watching F1 racing (mostly just the Netflix special), spending time with my wonderful wife and two wild sons!
• Favorite restaurant in Philly: Parc, Vedge, Lucky’s Last Chance

David Lin

Preferred Name: David
Pronouns: he/him
Hometown: NYC

About Dr. Lin:

Dr. Lin is a PGY-4 resident. He is interested in MIS/bariatric surgery and will be applying for fellowship this winter. He is particularly interested in integrating the medical management of obesity into his future practice and helping patients who have regained weight after their initial bariatric procedure. He is currently conducting research with Dr. Soans. In his free time he can be found at Phillies games rooting for the away team.

Education:

• Undergraduate Institution: Boston University
• Medical School: Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Fun Facts:

• Hobbies/Interests: EDM, baking, weekend trips to New York
• Favorite restaurant in Philly: Dubu
• Still trying to convince my girlfriend to get a samoyed but will settle for a corgi

Malhar Parikh

Preferred Name: Malhar Parikh
Pronouns: he/him/his
Hometown: Bloomfield township, Michigan

About Dr. Parikh:
Dr. Parikh is a PGY-4 resident at Temple in general surgery. He is interested in trauma and acute care surgery, but is also open to suggestions!

Education:

• Undergraduate Institution: University of Michigan
• Medical School: Tulane
• Additional Degrees: none 

Fun Facts:

• Hobbies/Interests: Basketball, cats
• Favorite restaurant in Philly: Ekta
• My puppy is 2 years old now!

Valeda Yong, MD

About Dr. Yong:

Valeda Yong is a clinical PGY-4 in General Surgery at Temple University. She is interested in pursuing a career in cardiothoracic surgery. After her PGY-2 year, Valeda completed two years of research in surgical education and healthcare disparities, including workforce disparities, in cardiothoracic surgery. She also obtained a MSEd in Professional Health Education during this time. 

Education:

• Undergraduate Institution: Rice University, 2011 - 2015 
• Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2015 - 2019 
• Additional Degrees: MSEd, Professional Health Education, Temple University, 2021 - 2023 

Honors and Awards:

• Robert D. Harwick, MD Resident Research Award, Department of Surgery, Temple University Hospital, 2023 
• Association for Academic Surgery (AAS) Ethics Committee Cover Art Winner, 2022 
• Robert D. Harwick, MD Resident Research Award, Department of Surgery, Temple University Hospital, 2022 
• The William Bligh-Glover, MD Award for excellence in commitment to teaching, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2019 

Fun Facts:

• Hobbies/Interests: DIY and teaching myself new crafts, hiking all of the national parks, bargain shopping, family time 
• Favorite weekend activity: hiking the Wissahickon with my husband, son, and dog or starting a new craft project 

Iman Afif, MD
Preferred Name: Iman (pronounced Ee-mahn)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hometown: Fairfield, CT

About Dr. Afif

Iman Afif is a PGY-4 in General Surgery at Temple University. She is interested in pursuing career in trauma surgery and surgical critical care. During her two research years she obtained an MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and conducted firearm arm research with Dr. Jessica Beard. She is interested in understanding the root causes of firearm injury, especially the role of structural racism in interpersonal firearm violence. 

Education:

• Undergraduate Institution: Colgate University, 2008 – 2012
• Medical School: University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 2014 – 2018
• Additional Degrees: Master of Public Health, Temple University College of Public Health, 2020 – 2022

Honors and Awards:

• Dipin Gupta, M.D. Memorial Award for Academic Achievement, Department of Surgery, Temple University Hospital, 2021, 2023

Fun Facts:

• Hobbies/Interests: Crafting and home renovation projects. Backpacking.
• Favorite restaurant in Philly: Parc (Rittenhouse Square)
• Favorite weekend activity: Spending time with my husband, Ben, and our two cats, Milo (aka Chicken) & Karl Marx (aka Pigeon).

Adham Alifarag, MD
Preferred Name: Adam       
Pronouns: he/him
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

About Dr. Alifarag

Dr. Alifarag is a PGY4 Resident at Temple’s Department of General Surgery. Adham has developed a strong interest in Vascular Surgery. Learning how to manage the spectrum of vascular disease ranging from chronic to acute with means of open vs. endovascular technique has inspired Adham to set his sights on this field for his career path. He plans on applying for Vascular Surgery Fellowship this year.  

Education:

• Undergraduate Institution: Bernard M. Baruch College, (2008-2012)
• Medical School: Upstate Medical University, (2016-2020)
• Additional Degrees: M.S. in Biomedical Sciences, New York Medical College, (2014-2015)

Honors and Awards:

• Joseph C. Fischer MD ’79 Memorial Scholarship
• Rick Zogby, MD, Class of 1984 Memorial Scholarship
• Medical Alumni Foundation Founders Scholarship
• Sonya A. LaBella Memorial Scholarship
• College of Medicine oral presentation award at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Annual Charles R. Ross Research Day
• Douglas (Ed Ben-Edison) Cox, MD ’63 Scholarship
• Sanders/Kilkelly Scholarship
• Carolyn L. Kuckein AOA Research Fellowship award finalist

Fun Facts:

• Hobbies/Interests: Playing basketball, ping pong, lifting weights. Also enjoy playing electric guitar although mine is currently collecting dust.  Huge fan of standup comedy 
• Favorite restaurant in Philly: Zahav

Nielsen Gabriel, DO

• Undergraduate Institution: California State University Sacramento 
• Medical School: Touro University Nevada 

• Berkley Scholar 
• Sigma Sigma Phi 
• UC Davis Excellence Award 

About Dr. Kling

Dr. Kling is in her fourth clinical year of residency in General Surgery at Temple University Hospital. She is interested in pursuing career in colorectal surgery. After her PGY-2 year, Dr. Kling performed two years of professional development time including research with a focus on colorectal surgery, clinical outcomes, and academic surgery. During this time, she also obtained a Master of Public Health degree with a focus in Health Policy and Management. She holds several committee positions through TUH, the Association for Academic Surgery, and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. 

Education:

• Undergraduate Institution: Miami University, 2010 – 2014
• Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, 2014 – 2018
• Additional Degrees: Master of Public Health, Temple University, 2020 – 2022

Fun Facts:

• Hobbies/Interests: SCUBA diving
• Mom to two toddlers 
• Police wife 

Claire Le Guen, MD MPH
Preferred Name: Claire
Pronouns: she/hers
Hometown: Sterling Heights, Michigan

Honors and Awards:

• The Jennifer A. Sidari, MD ’13 Global Health Award, 2018
• Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award, 2017
• Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Learning Environment Award, 2015

Fun Facts:

• Hobbies/Interests: Backpacking and backcountry camping

John Loree, MD
Preferred Name: John
Pronouns: he/him

Lynde Lutzow, MD
Preferred Name:  Lynde
Pronouns: she/her
Hometown: Effingham, IL

• Undergraduate Institution: Savannah College of Art and Design, 2003 - 2007
• Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine, 2014 - 2018
• Additional Degrees: Masters of Public Health, Temple University, 2020 – present

• Temple NIH-U54 Grant Award
  Jun 2020
  Awarded training grant to investigate patient barriers and disparities as related to lung cancer screening and treatment.
• International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) Juror / Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)
  May  2020 - May 2021
  Invited as juror and team captain to review and judge international medical device design entries.
• Owl Ribbon for Excellence in Teamwork
  April  2020
  Awarded to clinician demonstrating excellence in patient care, professionalism, or teamwork.
• Leon Levinson Prize in Physiology
  May 2018
  Awarded to a Tufts SOM graduating senior showing the greatest proficiency in physiology.

• Hobbies/Interests: Cooking, spending time with family, especially my baby girl
• Favorite restaurant in Philly: Pietro’s
• Favorite weekend activity: Running, Reading, + Watching CBS Sunday Morning (haha)