In This Section

Preliminary PGY-1

 

 

Margo Huffman, MD 

Pronouns: she/her 

Hometown: Westminster, MD 

 

About Dr. Huffman: 

Dr. Huffman is a PGY-1 resident in General Surgery at Temple University. She is interested in pursuing a career in OBGYN. Her other interests include medical education and providing care for underserved populations.  

 

Education: 

  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Maryland 
  • Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine 

 

Honors and Awards: 

  • Global Health in Zambia Grant – University of Maryland Center for Global Engagement 
  • Student Service Award – University of Maryland School of Medicine 
  • Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award 
  • Maryland Governor’s Citation 

 

Fun Facts: 

  • Hobbies/Interests: fitness, boxing classes, her cat Karma, reality TV, going out to eat with friends and family  

 

 

 

Rachel Cermak, MD 

Pronouns: she/her/hers 

Hometown: Baltimore, MD 

 

About Dr. Rachel Cermak:  

Dr. Rachel Cermak is a PGY-1 resident in General Surgery at Temple University Hospital.  

 

Education: 

  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Maryland College Park; 2014-2018 
  • Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine; 2019-2023 

 

Honors and Awards: 

  • Cum Laude Graduate, Public Health Science, University of Maryland College Park 
  • Fraley Award recipient, School of Public Health, University of Maryland College Park 

 

Fun Facts: 

  • Hobbies/Interests: Baking, cooking, hiking, painting, reading, roller skating  
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: Grandma’s Philly 
  • Favorite music: Bad Bunny, SZA, Rihanna, Brent Faiyaz, The Weeknd, ODESZA 
 

 

Joshua Chiang, MD 

Preferred Name: Josh 

Pronouns: he/him 

Hometown: Suburban Chicago 

 

About Dr. Chiang: 

Dr. Chiang is a PGY-1 resident in General Surgery. His clinical interests include surgical critical care, trauma, and perioperative interventions. He is particularly interested in healthcare policy and the exploration of alternative payment models that can enhance patient outcomes. 

 

Education: 

  • Undergraduate Institution: The King’s College 
  • Medical School: University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine 

 

Fun Facts: 

  • Hobbies/Interests: cooking, trail running, playing guitar, and manual transmission vehicles. 
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly, favorite music, etc: Melograno 

 

Julian Salkind, MD 

Preferred Name: Jules 

Pronouns: he/him 

Hometown: Meadowbrook, PA 

 

About Dr. Salkind: 

Dr. Salkind is a PGY-1 General Surgery resident at Temple University Hospital. He is interested in pursuing a career in either neurological or general surgery. 

  

Education: 

  • Undergraduate Institution: Drexel University 2011-2015 
  • Medical School: LKSOM 2019-2023 

 

Fun Facts: 

  • Hobbies/Interests: buying and selling sneakers, watches, Philly Sports, golfing, video games, trying new restaurants, taking my rescue pup Roxie to the dog park 
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: Palizzi Social Club 
 

 

Robert Hoy, MD 

Preferred Name: Rob 

Pronouns: he/him 

Hometown: Batavia, NY 

 

About Dr. Hoy:  

Dr. Robert Hoy is a PGY-1 preliminary general surgery resident interested in both orthopaedic surgery and general surgery. His research interests include developmental biology and long bone fracture healing. He is an active member of the basic science and clinical research communities, contributing to publications ranging from cardiac regeneration to clinical orthopaedic outcomes. He plans to use his background in science and engineering to continue to improve surgical outcomes for his patients.    

 

Education: 

  • Undergraduate Institution: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 
  • Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University 
  • Additional Degrees: M.S Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 

 

Honors and Awards: 

  • Top downloaded article: Spatial Mapping of Collagen Content and Structure in Human Intervertebral Disc Degeneration, JORSpine, June 2022 
  • Young Investigator Award, Arnold and Madaleine Penner 7th Annual Musculoskeletal Repair and Regeneration Symposium, Oct 2018 
  • Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center New Venture Competition Finalist, March 2014 
  • Foundry Award for Entrepreneurship, RPI, May 2013 

 

Fun Facts: 

  • Hobbies/Interests: Basketball (76ers), Football (Buffalo Bills), movies (LOTR), and tinkering 
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: Fiorella’s  
  • Getting married in April of this year to his incredible fiancé Bridget. 
 

 

Evan Beatty, MD 

Pronouns: he/him/his 

Hometown: Westford, MA 

 

About Dr. Beatty: 

Dr. Beatty is a PGY-1 preliminary general surgery resident. He is interested in both orthopedic and vascular surgery. During medical school, he completed a clinical research fellowship with the orthopedic center at Boston Children's Hospital, leading projects in the areas of pediatric hand, sports medicine, and lower extremity deformity. He also conducted research in total joint arthroplasty at the Rothman Institute. He is particularly interested in musculoskeletal oncology, pelvic ring and acetabular trauma, and open aorta and carotid surgery.   

 

Education: 

  • Undergraduate Institution: Villanova University 
  • Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine 

 

Honors and Awards: 

  • Recipient of 2022 American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Orthopedics Trainee Travel Grant 
  • Winner of Best Clinical Research Poster, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children 32nd Annual Research Day 
  • Alpha Epsilon Delta, Villanova University 

 

Fun Facts: 

  • Hobbies/Interests: powerlifting, ice hockey, lacrosse, stand-up comedy, exploring new restaurants  
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: Mixto 
  • Favorite music: EDM 
 

 

John Hayden Sonnier, MD 

Preferred Name: Hayden  

Pronouns: he/him 

Hometown: Chicago, IL  

  

About Dr. Sonnier:  

Dr. Sonnier is a preliminary PGY-1 general surgery resident. He is pursuing a career in pediatrics.  

 

Education: 

  • Undergraduate Institution: University of Michigan  
  • Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine  
  • Additional Degrees: Master of Science, Drexel University College of Medicine  

 

Honors and Awards: 

  • Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, Drexel University College of Medicine  
  • Medical Scholar (Research Track), Drexel University College of Medicine  

 

Fun Facts: 

  • Hobbies/Interests: reading, CrossFit, cooking, rowing, skiing, exploring new neighborhoods  
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: Race Street Cafe 
 

 

John Christian Barrett, MD 

 Hometown: High Bridge, NJ 

 

About Dr. Barrett:  

Dr. Barrett is a PGY-1 resident pursuing a career in Orthopaedic Surgery.  His work as a development engineer inspired his transition to medicine, as well as his Orthopaedic Surgery research during medical school. He has a particular interest in Pediatric and Adult Spinal Deformity.  

 

Education: 

Undergraduate Institution: Duke University 

Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University 

 

Fun Facts: 

Hobbies/Interests: Adventure Travel, Cooking, Aspiring Sommelier  

Favorite restaurant in Philly: Monks Café, Harp & Crown 

 

 

Eddie Gontee, MD 

Pronouns: he/him/his  

Hometown: Monrovia, Liberia  

  

About Dr. Gontee: 

Dr. Eddie Gontee is a PGY-1 general surgery resident. He is interested in pursuing a career in Orthopaedic Surgery and sports medicine. During medical school he performed research in Orthopaedic Surgery and rotated with the NFL.  

  

Education: 

  • Undergraduate institution: Savannah State University  
  • Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine  
  • Additional Degrees: MS in Medical Science at Morehouse SOM  

 

Honors and Awards: 

  • Bloomberg Scholarship for minority students  
  • NFL Diversity in Sports Med Scholarship  
  • Morehouse Merit Scholarship  

 

Fun Facts: 

  • Hobbies/Interests: Weightlifting, Fantasy Football, Grill Master, Carpentry  
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: Kings and Queens Liberian Cuisine  
  • Favorite music: Afro Beats  
 

 

William Mualem, MD 

Preferred Name: Will 

Pronouns: he/him 

Hometown: Deptford, NJ 

 

About Dr. Mualem: 

Dr. Mualem is a preliminary PGY-1 resident in general surgery pursuing a career in neurosurgery. He attended St. Joseph's Prep in North Philadelphia before heading to Georgetown University for college and medical school. He also spent a year in Rochester, Minnesota, conducting clinical outcomes research for neurosurgical patients with Dr. Bydon's Neuro-Informatics lab.  

 

Education: 

  • Undergraduate Institution: Georgetown University 
  • Medical School: Georgetown University 

 

Honors and Awards: 

  • Dunsker Award April 2022 
  • Kuntz Scholar Award Feruary 2022 
  • Neuro-Informatics Distinction in Research Award  
  • David and Lya Neumann Foundation Award     
  • Crutchfield-Gage-Thomson Award: First Place  
  • Magna Cum Laude, Georgetown University     

 

Fun Facts: 

  • Hobbies/Interests: Rock concerts, bike trails, non-fiction books  
  • Favorite restaurant in Philly: Giorgio On Pine 
  • Favorite song: Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd 
  • Favorite book: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman 
 

 

Shi Min Tan 

 Preferred Name: Shimin 

Pronouns: she/her 

Hometown: Pullman, WA 

  

About Dr. Tan: 

Dr. Tan is a preliminary PGY-1 resident. She is interested in pursuing a career in general surgery.  

 

Education: 

  • Undergraduate Institution: Washington State University 
  • Medical School: Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine 
  • Graduate Certificate in Leadership in Medicine and Healthcare 

 

Fun Facts: 

  • Hobbies/Interests: Food, Nature walks, Gardening, Arts, Video Gaming, and spending time with family and friends 
  • This is her first time living in Philadelphia and she is excited to explore the food scene of the city!