Surgeon Scientist Training Program Profiles 2025-2026
An alphabetical list of all residents enrolled in the Surgeon Scientist Training Program.
Aazad Abbas
Degree working towards: MSc (BME)
Division: Orthopaedics
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Supervisor: Dr. Cari Whyne
Research Focus: (1) Orthopaedics Surgery – Advancing clinical and surgical techniques, optimizing perioperative care, and improving patient outcomes in orthopaedics surgery. (2) Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare – Applying AI and machine learning for predictive modeling, surgical scheduling, and clinical decision-making. (3) Healthcare System Optimization – Utilizing data-driven approaches to enhance hospital efficiency, resource allocation, and financial sustainability. (4) Biomedical Engineering and Computational Medicine – Leveraging mathematical and computational methods to improve healthcare delivery and medical device development. (5) Medical Entrepreneurship and Innovation – Developing and implementing digital health solutions, start-ups, and business tools to streamline healthcare operations.
Joanne Abi-Jaoude
Degree working towards: PhD (IHPME)
Division: Vascular Surgery
SMH - Unity Health - St. Michael’s Hospital
Supervisor: Dr. Charles de Mestral
Research Focus: Utilizing clinical epidemiology and administrative health databases to characterize patient profiles, care trends, and limb-related outcomes in vascular surgery. I am particularly focused on how depression intersects with peripheral arterial disease and diabetes, and how it may impact clinical outcomes and healthcare utilization among vascular patients.
Kameela Alibhai
Degree working towards: MSc (IMS)
Division: General Surgery
SMH - Unity Health
Supervisor: Dr. Marisa Louridas
Research Focus: Examining the use of targeted coaching interventions to address burnout and wellness among early and mid-career surgeons.
Danielle Arshinoff
Degree working towards: MSc (IMS)
Division: General Surgery
Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisor: Drs. Robert Grant and Sean Cleary
Research Focus: Cholangiocarcinoma, with a focus on the molecular heterogeneity in surgical patients. Specifically, this research examines how genetic and molecular alterations influence treatment response and clinical outcomes. Using machine learning, the goal is to develop predictive models to guide personalized therapy. A deeper understanding of these molecular pathways may uncover actionable targets and improve survival.
Natasha Barone
Degree working towards: PhD (IHPME)
Division: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Sick Kids Hospital
Supervisor: Drs. Kristen Davidge and Karen Wong
Research Focus: Clinical epidemiology, Clinical decision-making analysis, Cancer (specifically sarcoma in soft tissue and bone), Reconstruction (plastic surgery), Pediatrics
Asha Behdinan
Degree working towards: PhD (IHPME)
Division: Vascular Surgery
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Supervisors: Drs. Prabhat Jha and Ahmed Kayssi
Research Focus: Evaluation of surgically-avertable vascular mortality in low- and middle- income countries.
Adriana Dekirmendjian
Degree working towards: MSc (IMS)
Division: General Surgery
The Hospital for Sick Children
Supervisor: Dr. Augusto Zani
Research Focus: Pediatric Surgery, specifically Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia.
Mimi Deng
Degree working towards: PhD (IMS)
Division: Cardiac Surgery
The Hospital for Sick Children
Supervisor: Dr. Osami Honjo
Research Focus: Ex-vivo heart perfusion in porcine models for optimization of pediatric cardiac transplant. Specifically, exploring methods to improve preservation of donor hearts.
Nitish Dhingra
Degree working towards: PhD (IMS)
Division: Cardiac Surgery
Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisor: Drs. Vivek Rao and Phyllis Billia
Research Focus: Investigating the safety and efficacy of controlled hypothermia, as compared with conventional cold static storage, for donor allograft preservation in heart transplantation.
Jin Tong (Jenny) Du
Degree working towards: MSc (IHPME)
Division: Orthopaedics
Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisor: Drs. Peter Coyte, Kuan Liu, and Raja Rampersaud
Research Focus: Evaluation of the clinical and health economic implications of surgical non-response in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Yosef Ellenbogen
Chloe Gui
Degree working towards: PhD (IMS)
Division: Neurosurgery
Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisor: Dr. Gelareh Zadeh
Research Focus: We plan to perform CRISPR-Cas9-based high-throughput genetic screens to understand mechanisms of existing therapies, mechanisms of resistance to treatment, and identify novel exploitable target genes in GBM. This method may potentially enable the development of patient-specific therapies.
Sina Hadipour-Lakmehsari
Degree working towards: MSc (IHPME)
Division: General Surgery
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Supervisor: Dr. Barbara Haas
Research Interests: Long term outcomes in patients and their families following severe traumatic injuries.
Stephanie Jiang
Degree working towards: MEd (OISE)
Division: General Surgery
Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisor: Dr. Carol-Anne Moulton
Research Focus: Exploring how surgical culture and the loss of identity contributes to the experience of the aging and retiring surgeon.
Youngkyung (Jessica) Jung
Degree working towards: PhD (Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology)
Division: Neurosurgery
University Health Network
Supervisor: Dr. Ivan Radovanovic
Research Focus: Exploring the molecular heterogeneity underlying intracranial arteriovenous malformations to identify targeted therapeutics
Vishwathsen Karthikeyan
Degree working towards: MSc (IHPME)
Division: Neurosurgery
SMH - Unity Health
Supervisor: Dr. Jefferson Wilson
Research Focus: Utilizing clinical databases to generate predictive algorithms in traumatic and degenerative spinal cord injury.
Robert Koucheki
Degree working towards: PhD (BME)
Division: Orthopaedics
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Supervisors: Drs. Carl Whyne, Bheeshma Ravi, Eli Sone
Research Focus: My research focuses on optimizing outcomes in orthopaedic surgery through translational innovation. Specifically, I am interested in implant design, fixation strategies, and infection prevention in total joint arthroplasty and orthopaedic trauma. I aim to develop and evaluate novel technologies—including antimicrobial coatings, bioactive materials, and smart surgical instruments—to enhance implant longevity and reduce complications such as periprosthetic joint infection and aseptic loosening. My work bridges clinical need with engineering solutions, integrating registry data, biomechanical testing, and preclinical modeling to inform future surgical practice.
Alexander Landry
Degree working towards: PhD (IMS)
Division: Neurosurgery
Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisor: Dr. Gelareh Zadeh
Research Focus: Computational tools use to better understand the molecular landscape of brain tumours, with a particular focus on meningioma.
Ben Li
Degree working towards: PhD (IMS)
Division: Vascular Surgery
SMH, Unity Health
Supervisors: Drs. Mohammed Al-Omran and Charles de Mestral
Research Focus: Using machine learning to predict outcomes following major vascular surgery.
Tiange Li
Degree working towards: MSc (IMS)
Division: Urology
SMH - Unity Health
Supervisor: Dr. Monica Farcas
Research Focus: Development of novel surgical tools to improve urologic care.
Lauren Lin
Degree working towards: MSc (IMS)
Division: Urology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Supervisor: Dr. Sarah Neu
Research Focus: Developing psychosomatic models of urinary conditions, specifically examining relations among anxiety, depression, and urinary symptoms.
Aaron Loh
Degree working towards: PhD (IMS)
Division: Neurosurgery
Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisor: Dr. Andres Lozano
Research Focus: Leveraging fMRI to improve therapeutic outcomes from deep brain stimulation.
Christopher Lozano
Degree working towards: MSc (IHPME)
Division: Neurosurgery
SMH, Unity Health
Supervisor: Dr. Jefferson Wilson
Research Focus: Combining imaging characteristics and clinical variables to predict outcomes in patients with traumatic spine injuries.
Daniyal Mahmood
Degree working towards: MASc (BME)
Division: Vascular Surgery
Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisors: Drs. Thomas Lindsay and Sean Crawford
Research Focus: Investigating the impact of high-risk imaging features on aortic enlargement in patients with uncomplicated Type B Aortic Dissections through computational fluid dynamic models.
Sheharzad Mahmood
Degree working towards: MSc (IHPME)
Division: General Surgery
SMH - Unity Health
Supervisor: Dr. Anna Dare
Research Focus: My research interest is social determinants of health and cancer outcomes in Ontario.
Ann Mansur
Degree working towards: PhD (IMS)
Division: Neurosurgery
Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisor: Dr. Ivan Radovanovic
Research Focus: Understanding the safety and efficacy of targeted MEK inhibitors on the angioarchitecture, molecular biology and clinical progression of arteriovenous malformations through clinical trials. This is within a larger focus of exploring molecular and genetic alterations in neurovascular conditions.
Karim Mithani
Degree working towards: PhD (IMS)
Division: Neurosurgery
The Hospital for Sick Children and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Supervisors: Drs. George Ibrahim and Nir Lipsman
Research Focus: The identification and validation of neuroimaging and electrophysiologic biomarkers to predict response to, and elucidate mechanisms of, neurosurgery for psychiatric disorders and epilepsy.
David-Dan Nguyen
Degree working towards: PhD (IHPME)
Division: Urology
PMCCRI- UHN
Supervisors: Drs. Girish Kulkarni and Laura Rosella
Research Focus: Enhancing equity and mitigating overdiagnosis of prostate cancer through the development and evaluation of machine learning-driven organized screening policies.
Karlo Pedro
Degree working towards: PhD (IMS)
Division: Neurosurgery
Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisor: Dr. Michael Fehlings
Research Focus: Realizing personalized approaches in spine surgery using multidimensional signatures and outcome trajectories.
Jasleen Saini
Degree working towards: MSc (IHPME)
Division: Neurosurgery
SMH - Unity Health
Supervisor: Dr. Jefferson Wilson
Research Focus: Clinical outcomes research in neuro-oncology using epidemiologic methods to inform patient-centered care.
Geoffrey Schemitsch
Degree working towards: PhD (CEHCR)
Division: Orthopaedics
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Supervisor: Dr. Rob Fowler
Research Focus: Characterize population trends and evaluate clinical outcomes of temporizing and definitive treatment strategies in polytrauma patients with femoral shaft and unstable pelvis fractures.
Ajay Shah
Degree working towards: MSc (IMS)
Division: Orthopaedics
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Supervisors: Drs. David Wasserstein, Bheeshma Ravi, Cari Whyne
Research Focus: Investigating the impact of human growth hormone (rHGH) on patellofemoral osteoarthritis.
Emily Snook
Degree working towards: MASc (BME)
Division: Orthopaedic Surgery
Sick Kids Hospital
Supervisor: Dr. Maryse Bouchard
Research Focus: Development and validation of a biomechanically accurate virtual model of the foot, with clinically informed values of soft tissue tensions, for the purpose of pre-operative surgical planning and education.
Lisa Vi
Degree working towards: MSc (IMS)
Division: Vascular Surgery
Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisor: Drs. Miranda Witheford and Charles de Mestral
Research Focus: Investigating the impact of geographic location on outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
Chloe Wong
Degree working towards: MSc (IHPME)
Division: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisors: Drs. Heather Baltzer and David Urbach
Research Focus: Establishing a predictive model for repeated hand trauma.
Nicholas J.-S. Yee
Degree working towards: MASc (BME)
Division: Orthopaedics
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Supervisors: Drs. Cari Whyne and Mansur Halai
Research Focus: Developing algorithms that can characterize clinically important long bone fracture patterns using software-augmented ultrasound imaging.
Leeor Yefet
Degree working towards: PhD (IMS)
Division: Neurosurgery
Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisor: Dr. Gelareh Zadeh
Research Focus: Translational science within neuro-oncology, particularly in designing and conducting clinical trials to advance therapeutic strategies for patients with brain tumours.
Anudari Zorigtbaatar
Degree working towards: MSc (IHPME)
Division: General Surgery
Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisors: Drs. Gonzalo Sapisochin and Anna Dare
Research Focus: Bridging the gap in disparities in diagnosis and access to treatment of HCC locally and globally.