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Our Resident Physicians

At the vanguard of your care.

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PGY-5

Dr. Richard Hu

What is the best thing about this program?
Definitely the people. Work is so much better when your colleagues are also your close friends.

What is your best trick to be successful in residency?
Do whatever Dr. Ben Fung does. (Please see his profile for more details)

What do you do outside of work?
Basketball, Raptors, Habs, Netflix, Sleep. If you love ball, this is the program for you. Guaranteed weekly runs (once COVID gets knocked out) and a few snatched ankles (by me).

What do you like about Ottawa as a city?
Perfect medium sized city. Very multi-cultural and bilingual population. Good ethnic foods. Great bubble tea shops (my #1 reason obviously).

Where did you do med school?
McGill

Dr. Mojgan RezaaifarI am an Ottawa-raised, uOttawa med school graduate! I never skip a leg day, and as a self-proclaimed amateur vexillologist, I can correctly identify any national flag. In my spare time you can find me updating my Goodreads, obses… — **Dr. Mojgan Rezaaifar**
**Why did you pick General Surgery?**
I love surgery for its technicality and the immediate gratification of being able to provide a quick fix to a problem. I love gen surg for its wide variety and diversity, and the balance of medicine and surgery.
**What is the best thing about this program?**
My colleagues! The camaraderie in this program - both among residents and staff - is second to none. It’s a pleasure to work with these people, whether it’s staying up all night on busy call shifts, having fun in the OR, or going out after work to relax!
**Your best memory from your residency so far?**
Waking up during a mid-call nap to a double trauma code - ended up involving an ED thoracotomy, trauma laparotomy, and pericardial window! Otherwise, our resident retreats are always a blast.
**What is your best trick to being successful in residency?**
Work hard, play hard, sleep hard.
**What is your favourite surgery?**
Lap right hemi (bonus with an intracorporeal anast)
**What do you do outside of work?**
Gym, listen to music, piano, go out with friends, sleep (and tiktok)
**Where did you go to med school?**
University of Ottawa

Dr. Marie-Pier LefrançoisWhy did you pick general surgery?  I chose general surgery for the diversity of practice and for the wide range of medical issues and technical skills you have to learn. The feeling of making a difference in someone’s l… — **Dr. Marie-Pier Lefrançois**
**Why did you pick general surgery?**
I chose general surgery for the diversity of practice and for the wide range of medical issues and technical skills you have to learn. The feeling of making a difference in someone’s life relatively quickly is also really rewarding on a day-to-day basis.
**What is the best thing about this program?**
Definitely the people. Coming from another province and my first language being French, the residents and the staff were really helpful and supportive towards me. I felt welcome from the start and everyone made sure that I was as comfortable as I could. Also, I am lucky to have such a great cohort of co-resident this year. We try as much as possible to do activities outside of work and it makes the beginning of residency so much easier!
**What do you like about Ottawa as a city?**
Ottawa is a perfect size city. There is everything you need: great coffee shops, wide variety of restaurants, plenty of outdoors activities, etc. And all that without the disadvantage of big cities.
**What do you do outside of work?**
I try to train as much as possible (less during double block of ACS…), play golf, tennis, spikeball, etc. I also try to visit my family and friends in Montreal when I’m off during the weekends.
**Any advice for CaRMS applicants this year?**
Doing the interviews online once again this year is certainly non-optimal, but I think the most important is to find a quiet place (with good lighting) where you know you will not be disturbed. Take at least half a day off before the interview if you can and don’t panic if there is a technical issue, it happened to almost everyone last year. Take time to get to know the different programs you're interested in and try to visualize yourself in every program you put in your final ranking.

Dr. Lata Bhandary Why did you pick general surgery? The adrenaline rush and the excitement of being in an operating room is unparalleled! Also, the diversity of patients and cases you encounter in general surgery is interesting and being able to connect with multiple other services to provide holistic care is a great teamwork-type of feeling.What is the best thing about this program? The support and encouragement from not only your co-residents and seniors, but also from the staff, is definitely the best thing - it's very reassuring and motivating for a new R1!!Where did you go to med school? Limerick - IrelandWhat do you like about Ottawa? Its a small, bustling city with plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature with Gatineau Park nearby. The food scene seems to be great and its pretty well situated if you have a free weekend to go to Montreal or Kingston or Toronto.Any advice for the CaRMS applicants this year? Take the time to research programs that feel like the right fit for you - a good way to do this is to reach out to the current residents and getting a sense of what the program is like! Also, as cheesy as this sounds, be yourself - it makes the search for the right fit easier. — **Dr. Lata Bhandary**

**Why did you pick general surgery?**
The adrenaline rush and the excitement of being in an operating room is unparalleled! Also, the diversity of patients and cases you encounter in general surgery is interesting and being able to connect with multiple other services to provide holistic care is a great teamwork-type of feeling.
**What is the best thing about this program?**
The support and encouragement from not only your co-residents and seniors, but also from the staff, is definitely the best thing - it's very reassuring and motivating for a new R1!!
**Where did you go to med school?**
Limerick - Ireland
**What do you like about Ottawa?**
Its a small, bustling city with plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature with Gatineau Park nearby. The food scene seems to be great and its pretty well situated if you have a free weekend to go to Montreal or Kingston or Toronto.
**Any advice for the CaRMS applicants this year?**
Take the time to research programs that feel like the right fit for you - a good way to do this is to reach out to the current residents and getting a sense of what the program is like! Also, as cheesy as this sounds, be yourself - it makes the search for the right fit easier.

PGY-4

**Dr. Anastasia Turner**
**Where did you do your med school and undergrad?**
Ottawa through and through! Very excited to be staying in the city for residency.
**Tell us about some of your hobbies!**
Working through my to-read pile, wakeboarding, hiking, drinking excessive amounts of diet coke
**What's a new skill or thing you've been working on?**
Perfecting my guacamole recipe
**What are some of your favourite shows / movies?**
Peaky Blinders!!

**Dr. Dawn David**
**Why General surgery?**
I love that general surgery provides a unique opportunity to marry theoretical knowledge and technical skill in order to produce innovative and lasting solutions to varied pathologies. Also, it is so inspiring to see a whole care team come together in the OR with the singular goal of caring for a sick patient.
**What is the best thing about this program?**
The wonderful people! It can’t be said enough that everyone from my co-residents, to the seniors and the staff surgeons are incredibly encouraging and supportive.
With the long hours we spend with each other throughout this training period, it makes all the difference to work with people you trust and get along with.
**What do you do outside of work?**
I love singing and dancing; it’s been the ultimate way to de-stress after longer days. I also enjoy sitting outside to catch up with friends and family on the phone, while intermittently fawning over dogs passing by.
**What do you like about Ottawa as a city?**
Ample green spaces! I love the view of Gatineau hills and the Ottawa River.
**Any advice for CaRMs applicants this year?**
Spend time with yourself! Reflect and take stock of what you’ve accomplished so far, and figure out what the ideal version of yourself will look like in the future. It’ll make the interview process much more meaningful and enjoyable.

**Dr. Alexa Ehlebracht**
**Where’s your home town?**
Ottawa
**Where did you do your undergrad / med school?**
Undergrad at Bishop's University, Med school at McGill!
**Tell us about some of your hobbies!**
Cycling, painting, hanging out with my dog, reality TV...
**What's a new skill or thing you've been working on?**
Attempting a triathlon soon
**Do you have any pets?**
My dog Maya, she's a mini Australian shepherd and is the cutest

Surgeon Scientist Program (SSP)

**Dr. Dexter Choi**
**Where’s your home town?**
Oakville, ON (but originally from Korea)
**Where did you do your undergrad / med school?**
I did my undergrad at Mac, then decided to move to the west coast at UBC for med school!
**Tell us about some of your hobbies!**
Playing/watching basketball, volleyball, golfing, finding time to go to the gym, beating my friends in poker, and outdoor activities although one of my favourite would be chilling by the lake/beach by a fire
**Favourite song?**
Sunday Candy
**What are some of your favourite shows / movies?**
Stranger Things, reruns of How I Met Your Mother, Schitt's Creek, but a recent favourite guilty pleasure med show would be Hospital Playlist!!

**Dr. Victoria Ivankovic**
**Where’s your home town?**
Winona, ON
**Where did you do your undergrad / med school?**
Undergrad: McMaster Kinesiology
Med school: uOttawa!
**Tell us about some of your hobbies!**
Snowboarding, reading (will never pass on the opportunity to recommend Shoe Dog by Phil Knight), iPhone photography
**Favourite artist or song?**
The Nights (Avicii)
**What are some of your favourite shows / movies?**
Queen of the South, The Fifty Project (YouTube doc series)

**Dr. Nardin Farag**
**Where did you go to medical school?**
McGill University, Montreal
**Why did you pick general surgery?**
What drew me to general surgery is the diversity of pathologies that we work with and the impressive breadth of knowledge that residents acquire during their training. You not only develop an array of surgical skills but also acquire a lot of knowledge of physiology and how to deal with challenging clinical cases.
**What is your favourite surgery?**
Whipple (but I do love a laparoscopic cholecystectomy)
**What do you do outside of work?**
I love cycling, hosting friends, trying new restaurants (and new wines) and watching a good movie! I also love travelling, hiking, and visiting my family.
**What is your favourite thing about this program?**
My co-residents are some of my closest friends, and the collegiality of the staff is great! Everyone is very approachable and ready to teach.
**Any advice for CaRMS applicants this year?**
Be yourself throughout the process and take time for yourself as much as possible. CaRMS can be very difficult and mentally draining, and having a strong support system is essential.

PGY-3

**Dr. David de Launay**
**Why did you pick General Surgery?**
The diversity of acuity and conditions we handle. The hands-on technical skills and the critical care knowledge we use daily to care for our patients.
**What is your favourite thing about this program?**
Co-residents, staff, nurses and team members we work with on a daily basis.
**What is your favourite moment from residency so far?**
Telling my family I was coming home to Ottawa to train as a surgeon.
**Any advice for CaRMS applicants this year?**
Applying for a residency position does not define your personal worth. This journey is unique for everyone. Having navigated this process as a medical student and again as a resident, I can attest that the path may not always be straightforward. With perseverance, the outcome can be very fulfilling.

**Dr. Anne Light**
I grew up in Malaysia and Australia before coming to Canada. I went to uOttawa for medical school where I fell in love with the city and decided to stay for my residency. In my spare time I'm part of a choir, play piano, and enjoy knitting. I love dogs and corgis have a special place in my heart.

**Dr. Fiona Doyle**
**Tell us something interesting about yourself**
I competed in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. I also did my undergraduate degree in Calgary and lived there for 7 years before going home for medical school.
**Why did you pick General Surgery?**
I always wanted to be a surgeon from as far as I remember as I was fascinated with the body and wanted to fix it from the inside out.
**What is your favourite thing about this program?**
I personally think we have a very close group. Everyone is super supportive and while everyone may not be your vibe you are sure to find someone you will click with and can mentor you.
**What is your trick to being successful in residency?**
Learn from your mistakes, and ask for immediate feedback. It can be super helpful for knowing where you're at, how you can improve, but also the positive feedback you usually receive can be really reassuring.
**Where did you grow up?**
Limerick, Ireland

**Dr. Jeremy Lee**
**Where did you go to medical school?**
University of Alberta

**Why did you pick general surgery?**
My resident and staff mentors in general surgery were - and continue to be - the physicians/people that I most looked up to in the hospital. General surgeons are extremely skilled operators, possess a tremendous breadth of medical knowledge, and have so much compassion for the patients they care for. I've always loved being in the OR and enjoy the unique challenges that general surgery in particular has to offer.

**What is your favourite surgery?**
Open Whipple

**What do you do outside of work?**
Play sports or do something active outdoors, play or listen to music, eat good food, watch TV/movies.
**What is the best thing about this program?**
The residents, staff surgeons and everyone else working behind the scenes to make our lives easier. It's a huge blessing to go into the hospital each day and expect to have fun with the people you work with.

**Any advice for CaRMS applicants this year?**
It sounds cliche but take this time to reflect on who you are and what you want out of your life/career. This will help you find the program that will be the best fit for you and allow you to thrive.
**How do you stay in touch with your loved ones?**
FaceTime, phone calls, social media, and playing online Catan or Tetris.

**Dr. Ishita Aggarwal**
**Where did you go to medical school?**
Queen’s University
**Where did you grow up?**
Toronto
**Why did you pick general surgery?**
⁠It combines everything I wanted – A diverse patient population, a wide variety of pathologies, the opportunity to provide care across the management spectrum ranging from medical treatments to procedural interventions to major surgeries, and a chance to make a real and oftentimes instant difference both in and out of the OR. I was also lucky to have some great mentors along the way who helped me make my decision.
**What is your favourite thing about this program?**
⁠It’s cliché but my co-residents. Our jobs can be very stressful, and that has been great for bonding! I’ve made some amazing friends since starting.
**What are some of your favourite shows / movies?**
My comfort shows are Friends, The Office, Gilmore Girls, and The Mentalist. I’m also a sucker for a good romcom or murder mystery/psychological thriller.

**Dr. Andreea Damian**
**Why Ottawa?**
The program and the city are both “just right” in size—large enough to offer excellent training and clinical exposure, yet small enough to maintain a strong sense of community. Ottawa is also surrounded by numerous running and hiking trails, making it easy to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. Lastly, it’s a great place to raise a family, with plenty of family-oriented events and activities throughout the year.
**What is your favourite thing about the program?**
My co-residents! Right off the bat you meet everyone, and from there you just continue to build strong bonds.
**What is your trick to being successful in residency?**
Keep doing at least one thing in your life outside of medicine that still grounds and recharges you.
**What do you do outside of work?**
Running! The running community in Ottawa is excellent, and there are multiple running groups every day of the week. Otherwise, I also like to travel, hike, ski, watch movies/plays in the park, and try out new restaurants.
**Any advice for CaRMS applicants this year?**
Try to highlight what you bring to the table / what makes you unique. Interviews are stressful, but remember that you are also interviewing the schools!
**Where did you go to med school?**
University of Toronto
**Where did you grow up?**
Newmarket, Ontario

PGY-2

**Dr. Katie McGuire**
**Why general surgery?**
Love the procedures, the medicine, the acuity, the variety! No two days are the same and you are always learning something new!
**What is your favourite thing about this program?**
The people!! Best group of residents and staff I have come across in any city and in any specialty!
**What is your best trick to be successful in residency?**
I'm still learning how to be successful in residency.. but I'd say come prepared, implement feedback, and be kind to everyone you encounter.. patients, allied health, other services etc.
**Are you interested in research? If so, what are your particular research interests?**
I like ClinEpi research
**What do you do outside of work?**
Sleep! Also love staying active- running, snowboarding, hiking, ringette.. I love eating, I have a long list of must-try places in Ottawa! Wine nights with friends!
**Where did you grow up?**
Born in Calgary, raised in Ottawa
**Where did you go to med school?**
uOttawa
**Any advice for CaRMS applicants this year?**
Find the program that fits you best! You spend a lot of time with the people you work with so finding co-residents that make you excited to go to work goes a long way!
**Tell us something surprising about yourself?**
I'm really bad at dancing- may not be surprising to some who know me
**What’s a new skill you’ve been working on?**
Trying to learn guitar..not going well
**What do you wish someone had told you before residency?**
People had told me this but I didn't truly appreciate it.. take advantage of time off!!
**What is your favourite thing about this program?**
The people!! Best group of residents and staff I have come across in any city and in any specialty

**Dr. Emili Gubskaya**
**Why general surgery?**
Surgery because I like to fidget with my hands and General Surgery because I like the squishy bits in the middle and work way better under pressure!
**What is your best trick to be successful in residency?**
As much as possible try to complete tasks as you go, theres nothing worse than getting to the end of your shift and having 16 million notes to finish. Also make friends with everyone around you, the process is crazy but your people will make it so much better!
**Where did you grow up?**
Russia but then Calgary :)
**Where did you go to med school?**
UBC Vancouver!!
**Tell us something surprising about yourself?**
In undergrad I was commonly known because I rode a bright blue Penny board in a fake leather jacket to my compsci classes every day. Don't worry, I later upgraded to an actual skateboard and was obviously much cooler.
**What is your favourite thing about this program?**
How welcoming and friendly everyone is!

Dr. Emma Higgins

Why general surgery?

I chose General Surgery for the variety of pathology and the ability to make an immediate and lasting impact for patients! I love the balance of the technical skills/ hands on component and medicine

What is your favourite thing about this program?

Everybody has your back and is extremely approachable which makes for a fantastic learning environment!

What is your best trick to be successful in residency?

Ask questions and write everything down! Try and get as involved in cases as possible and have clear learning objectives for each rotation

Any advice for CaRMS applicants this year?

Be yourself throughout the process, you will end up at the program that’s right for you! And continue something outside of school that you enjoy to keep yourself sane

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