Surgeon Scientist Training Program Profiles 2026-2027
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.
Ayah Alzamrooni
Degree working towards: MSc (IMS)
Division: General Surgery
The Hospital for Sick Children
Supervisor: Dr. Kasper Wang
Research Focus: Biliary atresia and the role of Prominin-1 gene in the Pathogenesis of Biliary Atresia and its Regulatory Mechanism in Biliary Epithelial Restitution.
Danielle Arshinoff
Degree working towards: MSc (IMS)
Division: General Surgery
Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisor: Drs. Robert Grant and Dr. Ian McGilvray
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.
Noor Bakir
Degree working towards: MSc (IMS)
Division: General Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children
Supervisor: Drs. Mercedes Pilkington and Kaspar Wang
Research Focus: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) outcomes and implementation in pediatric surgery.
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
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: PhD (IHPME)
Division: Orthopaedics
Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisors: Drs. Beate Sander, Kuan Liu, Raja Rampersaud
Research Focus: Evaluating the clinical and health economic implications of surgical non-response in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Yosef Ellenbogen
Bahar Entezari
Degree working towards: PhD (CEHCR)
Division: Orthopaedics
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Supervisor: Drs. Bheeshma Ravi and Nick Daneman
Research Focus: Characterize population trends and evaluate clinical outcomes following total joint arthroplasty, with a focus on revision arthroplasty, particularly for periprosthetic joint infection.
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.
Naveen Gupta
Degree working towards: MSc (BME)
Division: Urology
St. Michael's Hospital Research Centre
Supervisor: Dr. Monica Farcas
Research Focus: My research interests lie at the intersection of urology, biomedical engineering, and artificial intelligence, with a focus on developing innovative diagnostic and surgical technologies for urologic surgery. In particular, I aim to create tools that enable earlier and more accurate diagnosis and reduce surgical complications and variability in outcomes. My long-term goal is to translate engineering innovations into clinically impactful technologies that use predictive modelling to improve and standardize high-quality urologic care.
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.
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.
Grace Lee
Degree working towards: MSc (IHPME
Division: Cardiac Surgery
Toronto General Hospital / Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Supervisor: Drs. Stephen Fremes and Maral Ouzounian
Research Focus: Examining the contemporary lifetime management of severe aortic regurgitation; specifically timing of intervention, valve preservation strategies and the role of transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
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.
Sydney McQueen
Degree working towards: PDF
Division: Neurosurgery
St. Michael's Hospital Research Centre
Supervisor: Drs. Christopher Witiw and Saira Alli
Research Focus: Assessing the Economic Impact of Brain Tumour Diagnoses on Patients and their Families.
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.
Raluca Petrut
Degree working towards: MSc (IHPME)
Division: General Surgery, Women's College Hospital
Supervisor: Dr. David Lim
Research Focus: Drivers of increased surgical wait times and impact on survival among women with breast cancer, weighing the survival benefits of MRI staging in lobular breast cancer.
Gopika Punchhi
Degree working towards: MSc (IMS)
Division: General Surgery
Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisor: Drs. Mamatha Bhat and Chaya Shwaartz
Research Focus: Improving short and long-term outcomes in liver transplantation using multimodal AI models.
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.
Zaid Salaheen
Degree working towards: MSc (IHPME)
Division: Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Supervisor: Dr. Jetan Badhiwala
Research Focus: Profiling longitudinal changes in the serum proteome of patients undergoing surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy to identify prognostic blood biomarkers. Additionally, utilizing clinical databases to evaluate quality of care and outcomes for older adults with acute spinal cord injury in Ontario.
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.
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.
Praveen Sritharan
Degree working towards: MSc (IMS)
Division: Orthopaedic Surgery
Supervisor: Drs. David Wasserstein and Timothy Burkhart
Research Focus: Using a clinical and biomechanical approach to better understand the chronic anterior cruciate ligament deficient knee.
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.
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: PhD
Division: General Surgery
Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network
Supervisors: Drs. Gonzalo Sapisochin and Anna Dare
Research Focus: Improving Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Mongolia: Developing and Piloting a Culturally Sensitive and Resource-Informed Surveillance Strategy for High-Risk Patients.