Current Residents & Program Graduates


Current Fellows

John Costello, MD

John Costello, MD

Second Year Fellow

College: University of Wisconsin at Madison 
Medical School: Johns Hopkins 
General Surgery Residency: Georgetown


Charles Ghee, MD

Charles Ghee, MD

Second Year Fellow

College: Oglethorpe 
Graduate School: Georgia State 
Medical School: Morehouse 
General Surgery Residency: INOVA at Fairfax, Virginia


Lee Gerson, MD

Lee Gerson, MD

First Year Fellow

College: University of Pennsylvania 
Medical School: Tufts University 
General Surgery Residency: Morristown Medical Center


Kostaninos Poulikidis, MD

Kostaninos Poulikidis, MD

First Year Fellow

College: Stony Brook University 
Graduate: Boston University 
Medical School: New York Medical College 
General Surgery Residency: Stamford Hospital\Columbia University

Incoming Fellows

Issa Rezek, MD

Issa Rezek, MD

Incoming 2019 Fellow

Graduate School: Mayo Graduate School 
Medical School: Damascus University, Faculty Of Medicine 
General Surgery Residency: Yale-New Haven General Surgery Program


Ashley Zander, DO

Ashley Zander, DO

Incoming 2019 Fellow

College: University of Wisconsin, Madison 
Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine 
General Surgery Residency: Naval Medical Center, San Diego

Recent Fellows

Dharmraj Chauhan, MD

Dharmraj Chauhan, MD

Graduated: 2018

College: University of Michigan 
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine 
General Surgery Residency: Morristown Medical Center


Dr. Tedi Vlahu

Tedi Vlahu, MD

Graduated: 2018

College: Indiana University 
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine 
General Surgery Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners in Affiliation with Michigan State University


Dr. Rachel Hargrove

Rachel Hargrove, MD

Graduated: 2017

College: The University of the South 
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine 
General Surgery Residency: Loma Linda University


Dr. Ashok Venkataraman

Ashok Venkataraman, MD

Graduated: 2017

College: National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine 
Medical School: National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine 
General Surgery Residency: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Dr. Chris Clancy

Chris Clancy, MD

Graduated: 2016

College: Kent State University 
Medical School: Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine 
General Surgery Residency: Medical College of Toledo


Dr. Shea Pribyl

Shea Pribyl, DO

College: United States Merchant Marine Academy 
Graduate School: MBA, Rockhurst University 
Medical School: University Health Science College of Osteopathic Medicine-Kansas City 
General


Parth Amin, MD

Parth Amin, MD

Dr. Amin completed general surgery, critical care, and vascular surgery training prior to joining the academic faculty at the University of Iowa. He chose to further his training at Loyola because of the rich experience in complex adult cardiac surgery, heart and lung transplantation, and aortic surgery. He has since moved back to Michigan and is working as a cardiac and vascular surgeon.


Ryan Plichta, MD

Ryan Plichta, MD

Previously considered a Loyola lifer, Dr. Plichta completed medical school and general surgery residency after spending time as a research scientist. His interests at Loyola included the large volume of mitral valve repairs, reoperative procedures, and TAVR. He is at the Cleveland Clinic, where he has gained an excellent experience with endovascular skills and has found he has been well prepared for independent practice.


Dr. Brett Beecher

Brett Beecher, MD

University Medical Group Cardiothoracic Surgery 
Augusta, Georgia

An Oklahoma native, Dr Beecher, was interested in cardiac surgery from early on his training. He came to Loyola after completing his general surgery residency in his home state. His primary interest in the Loyola program was its long standing history of producing independent cardiothoracic surgeons in two years. He now practices in Georgia and is has been instrumental in developing the robotic thoracic service line there.


Dr. Jason Frazier

Jason Frazier, MD

Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital 
Hines, Illinois

Dr. Frazier began his medical training at Loyola and has not left the area since moving from Washington D.C. His primary interest in the Loyola cardiovascular program was the acuity and breadth of experience offered to the fellows. His interest in minimally invasive techniques have prompted him to bring robotic surgery to the forefront of care at the Hines VA, where he is faculty.


Alfred Casillan, MD

Alfred Casillan, MD, PhD

Dr. Casillan completed undergraduate work, general surgery residency, and a Ph.D. in molecular biology at the University of Kansas prior to starting his training at Loyola. Here, he developed an interest in heart and lung transplantation and dedicated a formal year to these interests. He has gone back home to Topeka where he has a busy practice.