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PGY-5

Iman Afif

Preferred Name: Iman                           
Pronouns: she/her
Hometown: Fairfield, CT

About Dr. Afif:

Iman Afif is a PGY-5 in General Surgery at Temple University. She intends to pursue fellowship training in trauma, acute care surgery and surgical critical care. During her two research years she obtained an MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and conducted research on firearm violence 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, 2024

Fun Facts:

  • Hobbies/Interests: Crafting, DIY, home reno. Backpacking. Liverpool FC.
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: Manakeesh (West Philly), Parc (Rittenhouse)
  • Favorite weekend activity: Spending time with her family and friends. Eating and sleeping. Working on house projects with her husband, Ben, and their two cats, Milo (aka “Chicken”) & Karl Marx (aka “Pigeon” – usually just “Pig”, for short).

 

Adham Alifarag

Pronouns: He/Him
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

About Dr. Alifarag:

Dr. Alifarag is a PGY5 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. Adham will be starting his vascular surgery fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center in NY in August 2025.

Education:

  • Undergraduate Institution: B.A in Biology at Bernard M. Baruch College (2008-2012)
  • Medical School: M.D. at SUNY Upstate Medical University (2016-2020)
  • Additional Degrees: M.S. in Biomedical Sciences  at 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

Dr. Gabriel is a PGY-5 resident.

 

Sarah Kling

Preferred Name: Sarah
Pronouns: She/her
Hometown: Dix Hills, NY

About Dr. Kling:

Dr. Kling is in her final 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

Honors and Awards:

  • Academic Achievement Award, Temple University College of Public Health, 2022
  • Owl Ribbon for Excellence in Teamwork, Temple University Hospital, 2022
  • Highest Overall Academic Achievement in Microscopic Anatomy, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, 2016
  • University Honors with Distinction, Miami University, 2014

Fun Facts:

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

 

Claire Le Guen, MD MPH

Preferred Name: Claire
Pronouns: she/hers
Hometown: Sterling Heights, Michigan

About Dr. Le Guen:

Claire Le Guen is a PGY-5 in General Surgery at Temple University. She is interested in pursuing a career in Trauma Surgery/Critical Care and Global Health.

Education:

  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Pennsylvania, 2008-2012
  • Medical School: The Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, 2014-2018
  • Additional Degrees: Masters of Public Health, Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Temple University, 2020-2023

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
  • Favorite Restaurant in Philly: Kim’s Restaurant

 

John Loree, MD

About Dr. Loree:

Dr. Loree is a PGY-5 resident. I had initially become interested in surgery when working in surgical clinics prior to college and through shadowing surgeons. When going through clinical rotations during medical school, I was excited about the opportunity to care for complex medical and surgical problems posed by general surgery. I am pursuing additional training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Corewell Health in Detroit, MI with the hope of eventually specializing in reconstructive surgery, microsurgery and head and neck oncology.  

Education:

  • Undergraduate Institution – Vassar College (2016), Major – Physics, Minor -- Mathematics 
  • Medical School – SUNY Upstate Medical University (2020)

Honors and Awards:

  • Sigma Xi award for undergraduate research – Vassar College, 2016 
  • Best Scientific Poster, Oropharynx – American Head and Neck Society, 2024

Fun Facts:

  • Hobbies/Interests: Biking, art, theater, travel 
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: Sushi at Umai Umai 

 

Lynde Lutzow, MD

Dr. Lutzow is a PGY-5 resident. After graduation, she will begin a vascular surgery fellowship at Dartmouth.

 

Jessica Magarinos, MD
Preferred Name:  Jess
Pronouns: she/her
Hometown: Valley Stream, New York

 

 

About Dr. Magarinos

Jess Magarinos is a PGY-5 resident in General Surgery at Temple University. She is interested in pursuing career in thoracic or minimally invasive surgery. She performed research in lung cancer screening and have a particular interest in health care disparities.

Education:

  • Undergraduate Institution: Hofstra University, 2011-2015
  • Medical School:  SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, 2015-2019

Honors and Awards:

  • Alpha Omega Alpha, 2018
  • Samuel L. Kountz Award for Clinical Excellence in Surgery, 2019

Fun Facts:

  • Hobbies/Interests: New York Knicks, Traveling
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: El Vez
  • Favorite weekend activity: Exploring Philadelphia

 

Claire Miller, MD
Preferred Name: Claire
Pronouns: she/her
Hometown: Washington, DC

 

 

About Dr. Miller

Claire is a PGY-5 in General Surgery at Temple University. She has performed research in Vascular Surgery, Trauma Surgery, and Breast Surgical Oncology and has a particular interest in health inequities in cancer care. Next year Claire will be moving to NYC for a Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.  

Education:

  • Undergraduate Institution: Renselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Medical School: Albany Medical College
  • Additional Degrees: MS at Case Western Reserve University

Fun Facts:

  • Hobbies/Interests: Cooking, traveling, spending time on my family’s apple farm
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: Talula’s Garden (and El Vez)
  • Favorite weekend activity: a walk in Wissahickon Park, then soft serve at C&C Creamery!

 

Brian V. Monahan   
Preferred Name: Brian        
Pronouns: he/him/his
Hometown: Park Ridge, NJ

 

 

About Dr. Monahan:

Brian Monahan is a PGY-5 in General Surgery at Temple University. He is pursuing career in colorectal surgery. He is currently the Chief’s Conference Chief.  Dr. Monahan enjoys running, exploring Philadelphia, and travel..

Education:

  • Undergraduate: Georgetown University, 2011-2015
  • Medical School: Georgetown University, 2015-2019

Honors and Awards:

  • Georgetown School of Medicine Stewart Society Mentor of the Year                  
  • Georgetown School of Medicine Dean’s Summer Research Grant                              
  • Magna Cum Laude: Georgetown College                                                                       
  • Georgetown School of Medicine Sweeny Scholar                                                        
  • Lena Landegger Community Service Award                                                                   

Fun Facts: 

  • Hobbies/Interests: Anything outdoors, running, surgical history, American History, watching the newest bingeable show on Netflix
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: Fiorino in East Falls
  • Favorite weekend activity: Enjoying a nice walk along the Schuylkill River trail or in the Wissahickon Park 

 

Takshaka Patel, MD
Preferred Name: Tak
Pronouns: she/her
Hometown: Schaumburg, IL

 

 

About Dr. Patel

Dr. Patel is a PGY-5 resident in General Surgery at Temple University. She is interested in pursuing a career in colon and rectal surgery. She has performed research in colorectal cancer, IBD, and healthcare disparities in medicine. She has a particular interest in healthcare inequities in colorectal cancer screening, prevention, and treatment. 

Education:

  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Medical School: University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine

Honors and Awards:

  • Case Review Abstract Presentation Winner, Metropolitan Philadelphia Chapter American College of Surgery Annual Meeting 
  • Dr. C. M. Craig Fellowship Research Scholar 

Fun Facts:

  • Hobbies/Interests: traveling, reading, drawing, nachos
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: El Vez

 

Nicholas Peterson, MD
Preferred Name: Nick
Pronouns: he/him
Hometown: West Hartford, CT

 

 

About Dr. Peterson

Dr. Peterson is a PGY-5 in General Surgery at Temple University. He is interested in a career in Colorectal Surgery and General Surgery. .

Education:

  • Undergraduate Institution: Skidmore College
  • Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
  • Additional Degrees: MS in Pharmacology, Tulane University

Honors and Awards:

  • Oscar Creech Award in Surgery 

Fun Facts:

  • Hobbies/Interests: Soccer, spending time with my wife and dog Walter, working on house projects 
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: Middle Child Clubhouse (and El Vez) 
  • Favorite thing about Philadelphia: The people and history 

 

Erica Roth, MD
Preferred Name: Erica
Pronouns: she/her
Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland

 

 

About Dr. Roth

Dr. Roth is a PGY-5 resident in General Surgery at Temple University. She is interested in pursuing a career in trauma surgery. She performed research in vascular surgery and trauma surgery and has a particular interest in penetrating trauma, gun violence, and trauma prevention.

 

Education:

  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Maryland, College Park, 2010-2014
  • Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine, 2015-2019

Fun Facts:

  • Hobbies/Interests: Hiking in National Parks, El Vez
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: El Vez
  • Favorite weekend activity: Hiking with my dog, El Vez

 

George Taylor, MD
Preferred Name: George
Nickname: GTMD
Pronouns: he/him/his
Hometown: Pleasantville, NY
Current residence: Havertown, PA

 

About Dr. Taylor

George Taylor is a clinical PGY-5 in General Surgery at Temple University. Following his PGY-2 year, George performed two years of basic science and clinical research. His work focused on the extracellular matrix of human adipose tissue, outcomes in endocrine and general surgery, and postoperative pain control in plastic surgery. George is the resident co-chair for the Department of Surgery’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, a resident member of the hospital’s ethics committee, and has been an active member of the ethics and DEI committees of several national organizations, such as the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES) and Association of Academic Surgeons (AAS). He will pursue a fellowship in endocrine surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin after completing his training at Temple. 

 

Education:

  • Undergraduate Institution: Hamilton College, 2007 – 2011
  • Medical School: Stony Brook University School of Medicine, 2013 – 2017
  • Additional Degrees: Masters of Science, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2011 – 2013

Honors and Awards:

  • Harwick Research Symposium Commendation, Department of Surgery, Temple University Hospital, 2021
  • Award for Excellence in Translational Research, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, 2017

Fun Facts:

  • Hobbies/Interests: acoustic guitar, family time, playing soccer or softball, medical and surgical ethics, DEI initiatives
  • Favorite restaurant in Philadelphia: El Vez
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly suburbs: Tired Hands Fermentaria
  • Favorite cheesesteak spot: Dalessandro’s
  • Favorite weekend activity: spending time with my wife and two children