The Integrated (I-6) Thoracic Surgery Residency
The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Virginia together sponsor our nationally recognized academic training program for Thoracic Surgery. The thoracic surgery program has been training physicians in Thoracic Surgery since 1955 when William H. Muller Jr. MD established the program. Since that time, faculty members of the Division have continued the commitment to excellence in preparing physicians for careers in Thoracic surgery, teaching, and research.
The Integrated Thoracic Surgery Residency program at the University of Virginia, approved January 2011, is designed for residents entering directly from medical school for training in cardiothoracic surgery. Upon completion of the program, residents will be eligible for certification by The American Board of Thoracic Surgery. There is one (1) position each year designated for the I-6 program.
Welcome to UVA Cardiothoracic Surgery
Research and Innovation
Many incredible opportunities exist at the University of Virginia to become involved in outcomes, translational, or basic science research. We are currently funded by an NIH T32 training grant that allows our residents to spend dedicated time advancing the field of cardiothoracic surgery through a variety of projects.
At the conclusion of the PGY-2 year, each resident is required to spend 2 years pursuing academic development. This dedicated time is most often spent completing research projects in cardiac and thoracic surgery. Many opportunities exist in translational science such as working with both small and large animal models which also provides trainees the ability to develop their technical skills within cardiothoracic surgery. There is also a research committee led by trainees that completes a multitude of outcomes based projects each year. 
During these years, residents have the opportunity to complete Master’s Programs in a variety of disciplines offered through the University of Virginia. Previous residents have earned degrees in Clinical Research, Business Administration, Public Health, and Data Science.
For over two decades, the Kron/Laubach lab has been investigating lung injury as it pertains to ischemia and reperfusion, during lung transplantation, and during cardiopulmonary bypass. Dr. Roeser’s research focuses on innovative technologies to treat ARDS and burn injuries. Dr. Teman’s research interests are in the detection and prevention of organ damage related to cardiopulmonary bypass. Collectively, this lab has had numerous grants from the NIH, DOD, and American Heart Association.
The department of Surgery at UVA developed a Surgical Innovation Center in 2016. Since then, we have developed, disclosed, and patented dozens of medical devices and concepts. The Innovation Center is a partnership between our department and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Darden School of Business, and UVA’s License and Ventures Group. UVA cardiac surgeons have been leading these efforts with several devices in development.
Current I-6 Residents
Jolian Dahl – PGY-6
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Undergraduate: University of Colorado Boulder
Graduate School: University of Virginia
Medical School: Emory University
Hobbies: Spending time with my wife and son, hiking Shenandoah, gardening, building computers, ultimate frisbee
Erik Scott – PGY-5
Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL
Undergraduate: University of South Florida
Graduate School: University of South Florida
Medical School: Howard University
Hobbies: Tennis, movies, traveling, running, weight training
Evan Rotar – PGY-4
Hometown: Warwick, NY
Undergraduate: University at Buffalo
Graduate School: Case Western Reserve University
Medical School: University of Toledo
Hobbies: Cooking with my wife, weight-lifting, running, backgammon, watching Formula 1 and anything car-related
Raymond Strobel – PGY-3
Hometown: Rumford, Rhode Island
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Graduate School: University of Michigan
Medical School: University of Michigan
Hobbies: Model-making, enjoying nature (walks, runs, you name it)
Alex Wisniewski – Academic Development Year 2
Hometown: Toledo, OH
Undergraduate: University of Toledo
Medical School: University of Toledo
Hobbies: Soccer, hiking, running, snowboarding, piano and guitar
Steven Young – Academic Development Year 1
Hometown: Charlottesville, VA
Undergraduate: James Madison University
Medical School: University of Virginia
Hobbies: Weightlifting, hiking, programming competitions, building computers, watching sports, and spikeball
Daniella Wong – PGY-2
Hometown: Bethel, CT
Undergraduate: Temple University
Medical School: Thomas Jefferson University
Hobbies: Tennis, piano, singing, Tetris, Rubik’s cube, reading American Gothic literature, scoping out Cville coffee shops
Adishesh Narahari – PGY-1
Hometown: Bangalore, India
Undergraduate: University of Virginia
Graduate School: University of Virginia
Medical School: University of Virginia
Hobbies: Watching movies, trying new restaurants, all racquet sports
Clinical Curriculum
Our primary focus is on the operative experience of the residents, with early and increasing autonomy for the residents as they gain experience in the preoperative, perioperative and postoperative management of our cardiothoracic surgical patients.
Residents within the integrated program rotate through a variety of services geared toward developing autonomous cardiothoracic surgeons. Through a strong relationship with both General Surgery and Vascular Surgery, our residents develop the necessary technical skills and clinical knowledge applicable to managing patients with surgical thoracic and cardiovascular disease.
*General surgery rotations include areas such as colorectal surgery, emergency general surgery, minimally invasive, bariatric and foregut surgery, and transplant surgery
I-6 Program Graduates
| Graduation Year | Name | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Jared Beller, MD | Cardiothoracic Surgery Faculty, University of Virginia |
| 2022 | Sarah Clark, MD | Private Practice, Providence International Heart Institute of Montana |
| 2021 | Robert Hawkins, MD, MSc | Cardiothoracic Surgery Faculty, University of Michigan |
| 2020 | Emily Downs, MD | Congenital Cardiac Surgery Fellowship, University of Colorado University of Colorado Congenital Cardiac Surgery Faculty |
| 2019 | Cindy Choate, MD | Cardiothoracic Surgery Faculty, Virginia Tech-Carilion Clinic |
| 2018 | Kenan Yount, MD, MBA | Cardiothoracic Surgery Faculty, University of Virginia |
Faculty
Ourania Preventza, MD, MBA, FACS
Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Professor of Surgery
John Kern, MD
Program Director, Thoracic Surgery Residency, Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Irving L Kron, MD
Professor of Surgery
Curtis G Tribble, MD
Associate Program Director, Thoracic Surgery Residency, Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Leora T Yarboro, MD
Chief, ad interim, Cardiac Surgery, Associate Professor of Surgery
Nicholas R. Teman, MD
Co-Director, TCV Intensive Care Unit, Assistant Professor of Surgery
Kenan W Yount, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Linda W. Martin, MD, MPH
Chief, ad interim, Thoracic Surgery, Associate Professor of Surgery
Director, Surgery Clerkship; Associate Program Director for Cardiothoracic Surgery
Phillip Carrott, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery
Christopher Scott, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
James Gangemi, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery
Mark Roeser, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics
University of Virginia Graduate Medical Education Office
The University of Virginia has an outstanding office of Graduate Medical Education with robust resources, programs and initiatives including a leading House Staff Council for Diversity and Inclusion. Learn more here about GME support and advocacy during your training at UVA.
Application Info
Applications to our program are accepted through Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS AAMC).