Research Day 2025
On Thursday, April 3rd, the Department of Surgery welcomed Ben Zarzaur, MD, MPH, Professor of Surgery and Endowed Chair, Sylvia and Royal Lichtfeldt Burn Center Professorship, Division Chair of Acute Care and Regional General Surgery, University of Wisconsin, who gave an excellent presentation on “Improving Quality of Life after Health Shocks.” In the talk, Zarzaur recounted how a personal life event triggered his interest in recovery after injury and jump-started his successful, career-long research program. His inspiring talk kicked off the annual Research Day, which featured a full day of research presentations across the Department of Surgery and Pediatric Surgery.
The day started with 16 well-presented medical student talks covering basic science research, clinical sciences, extensive database analysis, and video sessions. Their poise and composure reflected the top-notch mentoring they received from their mentors. These were followed by ten excellent health services research presentations by residents in the annual resident research competition. During lunch, residents, students, and faculty could network and engage with staff from various research labs across the Department. Afterward, our residents treated the audience to six outstanding basic science presentations. The auditorium seats were full until the end of the day, a sign of our department’s commitment to research and mentorship.
Congratulations to this year’s Resident Research Day Award recipients:
- Clinical & Health Services Research: Krysta Sutyak, DO
- Basic Science: Jared Covell, MD
Plaques will be presented at the departmental awards ceremony in June.
We proudly recognize the students, residents, and faculty whose hard work and mentorship made Research Day 2025 a success.
Medical Student Presenters
Neel Aligave
Mack Anderton
Hannah Breitschopf
Ethan Bui
Bennett Cleff
Gabriel Dominguez
Nikhil Erabelli
Karsten Fields
Connor Fritz
Joshua Haag
Ashna Karpe
Atharwa Mankame
Jeissen Pyo
Thomas Spackman
Christiaan van der Weiden
Austin Zhu
Neel Aligave
Mack Anderton
Hannah Breitschopf
Ethan Bui
Bennett Cleff
Gabriel Dominguez
Nikhil Erabelli
Karsten Fields
Connor Fritz
Joshua Haag
Ashna Karpe
Atharwa Mankame
Jeissen Pyo
Thomas Spackman
Christiaan van der Weiden
Austin Zhu
Medical Student Mentors
Farzaneh Banki, MD
Charles S. Cox, Jr., MD
Brijesh S. Gill, MD, FACS
Justin R. Gregg, MD
Matthew T. Harting, MD, MS
Thaddeus J. Puzio, MD, MS, FACS
Danielle L. Sobol, MD
Stephen J. Warner, MD, PhD
Curtis Wray, MD, MS, FACS
Farzaneh Banki, MD
Charles S. Cox, Jr., MD
Brijesh S. Gill, MD, FACS
Justin R. Gregg, MD
Matthew T. Harting, MD, MS
Thaddeus J. Puzio, MD, MS, FACS
Danielle L. Sobol, MD
Stephen J. Warner, MD, PhD
Curtis Wray, MD, MS, FACS
Resident Presenters
Janet Ashley, MD
Devi Bavishi, MD
Rachel Bordelon, MD
Jared Covell, MD
Mokun Fajemisin, MD
Kylie Holden, MD
Jeannette M. Joly, MD
James Klugh, MD
Neha Malik, MD
Stephanie Martinez Ugarte, MD
David Mitchell, MD
William Rieger, MD
Robert Seniors, MD
Krysta Sutyak, MD
Renee Walker Green, MD
Janet Ashley, MD
Devi Bavishi, MD
Rachel Bordelon, MD
Jared Covell, MD
Mokun Fajemisin, MD
Kylie Holden, MD
Jeannette M. Joly, MD
James Klugh, MD
Neha Malik, MD
Stephanie Martinez Ugarte, MD
David Mitchell, MD
William Rieger, MD
Robert Seniors, MD
Krysta Sutyak, MD
Renee Walker Green, MD
Resident Mentors
Austin Carmack, MD
Bryan Cotton, MD, MPH, FACS
Charles S. Cox, Jr., MD
Brijesh S. Gill, MD, FACS
Matthew R. Greives, MD, MS
John A. Harvin, MD, MS, FACS
Lillian S. Kao, MD, MS, FACS
Kevin P. Lally, MD, MS
Scott A. LeMaire, MD, FACS, FAHA, FCCP
Damien J. LaPar, MD
Laura J. Moore, MD, FACS
Yung Shen, MD, PhD
Allison Speer, MD
KuoJen Tsao, MD
Austin Carmack, MD
Bryan Cotton, MD, MPH, FACS
Charles S. Cox, Jr., MD
Brijesh S. Gill, MD, FACS
Matthew R. Greives, MD, MS
John A. Harvin, MD, MS, FACS
Lillian S. Kao, MD, MS, FACS
Kevin P. Lally, MD, MS
Scott A. LeMaire, MD, FACS, FAHA, FCCP
Damien J. LaPar, MD
Laura J. Moore, MD, FACS
Yung Shen, MD, PhD
Allison Speer, MD
KuoJen Tsao, MD