Current Residents

Class of 2027

Wissal Alsheikh, MD

J. Scott George, MD

Undergraduate: Miami University

Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine

Why Advocate: Having grown up in Chicago, I was excited by the prospect of training in my hometown and at Lutheran General where I have been a patient myself. After meeting the amazing and dedicated leadership, faculty, and staff from the Advocate General Surgery Program, I knew it was where I wanted to be.


Vernon Obiakor, MD

Undergraduate: Far Eastern University

Medical School: Far Eastern University - Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation

Why Advocate: I was born in Chicago and have lived all around the world, yet I have always wanted to train and practice in the "Windy City". I chose Advocate primarily due to the shared vision of the team heading this residency in providing surgical excellence to the community while maintaining the high standard of care the Advocate health system is reputable for. I am excited and look forward to being of service to my patients, my team, and most especially the community at large.


Sydney Pekarek, DO

Undergraduate institution: University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Medical School: Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why Advocate: I chose Advocate General Surgery because of the genuine feeling I had amongst all staff at the Advocate Hospitals. Every shift I left feeling excited and encouraged. I never questioned being a part of the care team and all care providers welcomed me with open arms. Chicago is home to some of the best medical and surgical cases I have ever seen!


Thaddeus Rogozinski, DO

Undergraduate Institution: Tulane University

Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)

Why Advocate: After spending my undergraduate and graduate years away from home, I wanted to finally come back to Chicago to complete my residency training. The timing was great, as Advocate was hosting their inaugural surgical class the same year of my applications, and I feel fortunate to be part of this incoming group. The hospital system is far-reaching in the Chicagoland area and the opportunity to train in a level I trauma center offers up countless opportunities for a robust clinical experience.

Brittany Smith, MD

Undergraduate Institution: Willamette University (Salem, OR)

Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine

Why Advocate: The Advocate General Surgery Program spoke to my goals and interests for my surgical career including early operative experience, diversity, underserved populations and much more. It was easy to determine from the interview alone that the program director and faculty were going to be invested and dedicated to resident education and success. I was also drawn to the robust curriculum and overall plans for the program over the next few years. I am excited to spend the next few years here!


Hibba Sumra, MD

Undergraduate institution: University of Dayton

Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine

Why Advocate: Receiving training in well-rounded and diverse locations was of the utmost importance to me. I have an interest in research, health disparities, and surgical outcomes and was extremely impressed by the work the faculty had done and envisioned for the program. From the get-go there existed a welcoming, warm and inclusive atmosphere that was unmatched.

Class of 2028

Nicole Eck, DO

Undergraduate institution: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Medical School: Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why Advocate: My rotations at Christ Medical Center were some of my favorite rotations due to the supportive faculty and diverse patient population. I knew I wanted to train at a location with these qualities along with a friendly and welcoming group of residents, and I am grateful to have found that with Advocate.


Bret Kersting, DO

Undergraduate institution: University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana

Medical school: Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why Advocate: Having been born and raised in Chicagoland, I've always had very close ties to the Advocate system; from being born at Good Samaritan, to attending Christ's paramedic program, to having multiple rotations at Advocate sites throughout my medical school training. What stood out to me was the consistently outstanding patient care that was delivered at these hospitals, partnered with competent and compassionate preceptors who were wholeheartedly dedicated to providing high-quality education. Coming to the Advocate program was a "no-brainer" decision on my part, and I couldn't be happier to join this culture of excellence.


Danielle LaVigne, MD

Undergraduate institution: Oral Roberts University

Medical School: Loyola Stritch SSOM

Why Advocate: As a native Chicagoan and aspiring trauma surgeon this couldn't have been a better marriage. Having the opportunity to give back to the communities that raised me played a huge role in why I'm here. Advocate has given me a unique opportunity to help establish a surgical culture among residents that consists of kindness, empathy and a love for surgery. Most importantly, this program is dedicated to training a diverse cohort to provide compassionate and excellent surgical care to it patients and that has always been my ultimate goal.


Samantha MacKay-Forton, DO

Undergraduate institution: Grand Valley State University

Medical School: Michigan State University - College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why Advocate: Advocate is the perfect combination of high-level surgical training, good-natured physicians, and an opportunity to grow in leadership. The case volume and subspecialty exposure mean you never have to travel far to experience a variety of surgical cases. It is comprised of people who value you as an individual and care about your well-being. It was clear to me that the faculty value incorporating humanity into surgery and that is something I aspire to become, not just a good surgeon technically, but also a compassionate one.

Amanda Mark, DO

Undergraduate institution: Purdue University

Medical School: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine - Midwestern University

Why Advocate: From the open house about the program to my interview, I immediately felt supported by the faculty and the environment in which I would be training. I was impressed by the commitment to education and helping residents get to the "next stage" in our careers and loved the emphasis on individualism while being an integral part of a team!


Hassan Qureshi, MD

Undergraduate: Marquette University

Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Why Advocate: I was drawn to the people - everyone was very open and clearly interested in teamwork as well as teaching. High operative volume, diverse patient population, and getting to live in Chicago!


Veronica Tutaj, MD

Undergraduate Education: University of California Los Angeles

Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine

Why Advocate: As a Chicago native, I was excited for the opportunity to train and serve within my community. With its robust hospital system, Advocate serves its communities by providing high quality, patient centered care, which aligns with my values as a physician. The dedication not only to their patients, but also surgical excellence made it an easy choice!


Class of 2029

Categorical Residents

Omar Alrashid, MD


Hannah Gokhale, DO


Bryanna Hipp, MD


Kaci Keleher, DO


Erik Kerber, MD


Sami Shabeeb, MD


Shantiera Taylor, MD


Preliminary Residents

Muhammad Ali, MD


Ahmad Masalha, MD


Research Resident

Martin Walsh, MD

Undergraduate institution: University of Notre Dame

Medical School: Loyola University-Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine

Why Advocate: Unmatched dedication to excellence in surgical training.  Also, with two community tertiary centers as the practice sites, the clinical volume is unmatched.