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Residency

Current Residents

PGY-5

resident imageDeeyar Itayem, MD

Bio
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Undergraduate: Georgetown University
Medical School: Mayo Clinic
Fun Facts: I enjoy spending time outdoors, at the gym, and erging. Weekends with family cooking authentic Palestinian food is the best!
What do you like about our program? The residents make this program! Very smart, down-to-earth, and funny group of people to work with. Numerous hospitals to give you a taste of the diverse practice settings include private practice office.
What do you like about Memphis? The many restaurants to explore, the dozens of trails and parks, the sunset along the Mississippi river, the lack of traffic, the diverse living options, and the ease of getting home to the suburbs to see my family.
Why did you choose Memphis? My family was a big draw to Memphis on top of the many program attributes. I missed celebrating my siblings' birthdays and home-cooked Palestinian foods. But honestly the residents were the main reason I chose Memphis for residency. The close-knit group from all classes hung out often, explored the city together, and biked together. What a great way to get through residency in solidarity!

resident imageLauren Linker, MD

Bio
Hometown: Euclid, OH
Undergraduate
: Ohio State University
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Fun Facts: I grew up outside of Cleveland, OH and yes, I am a Cleveland Browns fan. I was raised as an OSU Buckeyes fan and went there for college, but somehow ended up engaged to a Michigan Wolverines fan. When I'm not working, I like to try new restaurants and bars in town, visit any of the numerous local breweries with friends, acquire new plants, cook, and Peloton. I live on Mud Island and love being close to downtown and watching sunsets over the Mississippi River. 
What do you like about our program? My favorite aspect of our program is my co-residents. Since I knew that I could be moving far from home for residency, it was important to me that I join a program that would feel like my second family. We have a great mixture of backgrounds, personalities, and interests amongst our residents. Whether it's pot luck dinners, birthday parties, weddings, or holidays, we always find ways to spend time together outside of work and support each other. I also appreciate that over the course of five years of training here, we are exposed to a wide variety of patients and clinical scenarios that make us well-rounded surgeons.
What do you like about Memphis? I love that Memphis is a good sized city with tons of history, music, and culture. As someone who had never lived outside of Ohio prior to moving here, I found the move to be an easy adjustment, as the city was welcoming and easy to navigate. We have the Grizzlies, Redbirds, 901 FC, and University of Memphis teams. Have I mentioned the world famous BBQ? There's always something going on and I am slowly working my way through my Memphis bucket list!
Why did you choose Memphis? I chose Memphis because when I did my away rotation here as a fourth-year medical student, I felt very welcomed by the faculty and staff. There was great camaraderie amongst the residents and I loved that they were genuinely friends outside of the hospital. The department is also balanced with fellowship-training subspecialists and the surgical training is strong. I knew that by the end of my five years here, I would be more than a competent surgeon and could pursue a fellowship if desired.

resident imageKate Ramsey, MD

Bio
Hometown: Ruston, LA
Undergraduate: Louisiana Tech University
Medical School: Louisiana State University
Fun Facts: My husband and I have been married for 5 years. We enjoy camping, hiking, and flying airplanes. Chocolate chip cookies are a weakness of mine and on off days I like to nap and read historical fiction books. 
What do you like about our program? This program has an incredible group of residents which really drew me in. I also appreciate the large volume of patients we see and operate on due to being at many different hospital systems. 
What do you like about Memphis? Memphis has the best live music, barbecue, and a good amount of outdoor biking and running trails.
Why did you choose Memphis? I did an away rotation with this program and really appreciated the cohesiveness of the residents and the operative volume. My brother also survived pediatric cancer at St. Jude's so Memphis has always felt like a second home in many ways.

resident image
Stephen White, MD

Bio
Hometown: Roswell, Georgia
Undergraduate: University of Georgia
Medical School: Augusta University
Fun Facts: I enjoy live music, hiking, traveling, reading, and checking out new restaurants and breweries with friends.
What do you like about our program? There is a strong camaraderie amongst residents. We are fortunate to train within a variety of hospital settings resulting in exposure to a significant variety of pathology encompassing all aspects of ENT. We get early hands-on and operative experience.
What do you like about Memphis? Memphis is an easy and affordable city to live and get around in while still offering a wide variety of recreational activities, entertainment, food, and cultural attractions to enjoy. There is also a unique cohesive feel and soul to the city which is cool to be apart of.
Why did you choose Memphis? I chose Memphis because of the great group of residents, robust operative experience, exposure to a wide variety of pathology, all with the opportunity to live in a historic, fun, and affordable city like Memphis.

PGY-4

resident imageJordan Luttrell, MD

Bio
Hometown: Murray, Kentucky
Undergraduate: Lipscomb University
Medical School: UTHSC
Fun Facts: A few of my favorite things include spending time with my husband, our two chocolate labs, hiking and camping, renovation projects around the house, Mexican food, and watching football.
What do you like about our program? I chose this program for the people. The program itself is incredibly collegial and supportive. I watched how the residents work hard, make sacrifices for one another, but also encourage a healthy balance. The faculty care about training excellent otolaryngologists, but also about developing your character and compassion. The patient population is unique in that you see more pathology than you could imagine, work with all levels of socioeconomic status, but in return, offer so much gratitude for your participation in their care.
What do you like about Memphis? Memphis is a place with a deep history but an exciting future. There is a lot of brokenness and poverty, and it’s not really a place where you can just ignore that and live in a suburb. You will get to interact with and be challenged by all walks of life from patients, to support staff, to restaurant employees. The patient population is very genuine, and come in with real issues and are in desperate need of help. Learning medicine here has made me more aware of and passionate about the whole picture of a patient- background, family support, housing situation, food access, education level, etc. The city is easy to live in and affordable, but still has the population and referral base to support multiple hospitals and great education. Outside of the hospital, the food is amazing, activities engaging, and ample community to plug into. There is a lot of ongoing development that has been fun to be a part of! 
Why did you choose Memphis? As I went to medical school here and after doing several away rotations, I was confident that I wanted to train in a place like UTHSC. There is high volume, complex pathology, hands on training to be had and the graduating residents showed the results of this. The program is growing and developing into a top notch otolaryngology program with both general and specialty experience. I chose this for the people here and the way they treated one another. I also have a wonderful community in Memphis of family and friends that really encourage me on a day to day basis.

resident imageAndrew Maroda, MD

Bio
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University
Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Fun Facts: I have an incredible wife, two sons, and we have another baby on the way! I love playing and watching almost any type of sport, being active outside, fishing, and woodworking. Music makes me happy, and I have an ongoing playlist for the OR. We love to travel, and I hope to integrate international service work into my future practice. 
What do you like about our program? UTHSC ENT is very dynamic in serving diverse patient populations across multiple hospitals. We get excellent operative and sub specialty exposure from day one. The resident culture here is incredibly fun, supportive, and family-friendly. We love being together and always have each other’s backs!
What do you like about Memphis? Food, sports, music, tons of activities and outdoor spaces, affordable living, world-class entertainment, great schools, family support, diversity, and friendly community.
Why did you choose Memphis? I believe in the city, its growth, it’s challenges, and it’s future. Memphis has a rich history and it’s an honor to be part of the story. UTHSC does an excellent job at equipping us to serve our patients well and to solve difficult problems.

resident imageJeffery May, MD

Bio
Hometown: Tulsa, OK
Undergraduate: Hendrix College
Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Fun Facts: I like to work on cars and race autocross. My wife Hannah and I have two rescue dogs, Rusty and Bandit!
What do you like about our program? I love the camaraderie of the residents, who are great teachers and colleagues as well.
What do you like about Memphis? I love the diverse culture of the city. There are several beautiful historical areas and tons of delicious places to eat!
Why did you choose Memphis? I wanted a larger residency program and to also be closer to home. Having been born in Memphis and spending a few years growing up in a small town north of the city, coming back to memphis felt like coming home.

resident imageJames Tansey, MD

Bio
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Undergraduate: Christian Brother’s University
Medical School: UTHSC
Fun Facts: I am a born and raised Memphian. I married my high school sweetheart, Emily Anne. We have two children, Rett and Charlotte. I spend my time outside of work spending time with family, serving in my church and playing golf. I am also an avid Memphis Grizzlies and Florida State fan.
What do you like about our program? I enjoy the diversity of experience that we receive with our training and the different hospital exposures. I also like the support that I receive from my co residents and attendings.
What do you like about Memphis? Memphis is a great city that is growing. Many new businesses and restaurants are migrating to Memphis. Memphis is a great city to raise a family.
Why did you choose Memphis? I chose Memphis because I saw how great of a program it was as a medical student. I knew I would receive early operative exposure. Furthermore I knew I would have fantastic operative education that would prepare me well as an Otolaryngologist. Lastly, I chose Memphis for the strong pediatric ent experience.

PGY-3

resident imageMeredith Allen, MD

Bio
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Undergraduate
: University of Florida
Medical School: Oakland University
Fun Facts: I'm 1/2 Greek, I love to travel (my favorite place I've ever been is Lisbon), I'm a fan of any and all Detroit sports teams, I'm addicted to my Peloton, I enjoy moving to new cities and meeting new people (I've lived in 5 different cities in the last 5 years), in my free time I enjoy hanging out with friends, going to see live music, and trying new bars/restaurants in whatever city I'm in.
What do you like about our program? The faculty and residents at UT were my favorite group of people I interviewed with and the ones I felt I fit in with the most. All of the faculty trained at incredible institutions and residents go on to practice all over the country. I also liked the idea of practicing in a city with a similar size/population/demographic makeup as my hometown of Detroit. I knew training in Memphis I would get a diverse patient care experience and receive very well-rounded and high quality training.
What do you like about Memphis? I like that it is a medium sized city that has plenty of things to do but I don't feel overwhelmed. It feels very similar to my hometown of Detroit.
Why did you choose Memphis? My brother has lived in Nashville for 6 years, so my family and I spend a lot of time in Tennessee. Memphis is only a short drive away, so the location close to family was also a big selling point for me.

resident imageNicholas Bosworth, MD

Bio
Hometown: Cleveland, MS
Undergraduate: Mississippi State University
Medical School: University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC)
Fun Facts: My wife and I both grew up in the nearby Mississippi Delta. She is an assistant teacher at the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf. We have two dogs that think Shelby Farms Park is heaven on earth; they have really enjoyed our move to Memphis. I like to spend most of my time outdoors when away from the hospital. 

Hobbies: Hunting and Fishing, Bird Dog Training, Tennis, St. Louis Cardinals Baseball, Cooking, Gardening, Woodworking
What do you like about our program? Genuine camaraderie among residents, Large clinical / surgical volume, Experience gained from rotating at numerous hospitals.
What do you like about Memphis? Memphis Grizzlies basketball, Memphis Redbirds AAA baseball, Live music and nightlife, Lots of great restaurants and food (the best BBQ obviously), Shelby Farms Park
Why did you choose Memphis? Great training, Exposure to varied pathology, Diverse patient population with significant healthcare needs, Le Bonheur and St. Jude Children's hospitals, Close to family and friends

resident imageOkenwa Okose, MD

Bio
Hometown: Houston, Texas/Anambra,Nigeria
Undergraduate: Texas A&M University
Medical School: Texas A&M Health Science Center
Fun Facts: Anime, Seinfeld, Larry David, Cooking, Working out, Reading, Sleeping, Sleeping
What do you like about our program? Early operative exposure, Supportive faculty and residents
What do you like about Memphis? The Trees
Why did you choose Memphis? Patient Population, opportunity to serve underprivileged communities. Exposure to diverse, complex pathology and surgical cases

resident imageLauren Reid, MD

Bio
Hometown: Milton, GA
Undergraduate: University of Georgia
Medical School: Augusta University
Fun Facts: I love hiking, camping, and exploring new restaurants. I have a passion for music and can play three instruments: flute, piano, and guitar.
What do you like about our program? The faculty are genuinely invested in your training and will celebrate your successes with you. The residents are incredibly supportive and tight-knit. 
What do you like about Memphis? There are so many amazing restaurants, music venues, sports teams, and outdoor spaces to explore.
Why did you choose Memphis? I feel that Memphis provides diverse training settings and patient populations that help you become a competent and well-rounded otolaryngologist, while also providing many enjoyable things to do outside of work.

PGY-2

resident imageTravis Clarke, MD

Bio

Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Fun Facts: I am married and have a 1 year old daughter that keeps me very busy. I love being outdoors to run, hike and bike. I used to work as a software engineer. I love working with tech and finding ways to integrate new technology into otolaryngology.
What do you like about our program? We serve a diverse and unique patient population that allows us to see all sorts of pathologies. I have already seen things that I though I would only read about in textbooks. We also have a very tight knit group of residents that support one another. Our faculty are approachable and great teachers.
What do you like about Memphis? Memphis has great food and culture. There is always something going on. Cost of living is very manageable on a resident salary as well.
Why did you choose Memphis? I chose Memphis because it seemed like the best fit for my family and me.

resident imagePaul Ratmeyer, MD

Bio

Hometown: Gallup, NM 
Undergraduate: University of New Mexico 
Medical School: University of New Mexico 
Fun Facts: I am an avid hiker and backpacker. My favorite backcountry routes are those in and through the Grand Canyon and southern Utah. I am also very interested in landscape and wildlife photography. I've more recently been trying to pick up astrophotography when I can find dark skies. 
What do you like about our program? My fellow residents are amazing people in and out of the hospital! The residents from all levels have been very welcoming. I have made some great friends which makes residency an incredibly fun experience. I really enjoy the different practice environments found in Memphis: Regional One, Methodist, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, the VA, St. Jude, and Baptist. There is also a wide diversity of patients as the main health center for patients across three different states in the mid-South. 
What do you like about Memphis? I love that everyone I meet is so invested and passionate about this city. From supporting the Memphis Grizzlies, to live music, to good food, to great trails in the forest just north of the city, Memphis has a little of everything I love while still retaining the community-like personality of a smaller city. It is very drivable and affordable which makes life outside of residency much easier. 
Why did you choose Memphis? I did my away rotation here at the University of Tennessee. I really enjoyed my time with the residents and I thought that the pediatrics and trauma experience was very strong. I felt that the residency program was a good size and was impressed by the growth of the department over the past several years. I think that this program will set me up well regardless of the future direction of my career.

resident imageChristina Ward, MD

Bio

Hometown: Bonner Springs, KS
Undergraduate: University of St. Mary
Medical School: University of Kansas
Fun facts: I have a 5 year old border collie, (Han) Solo. I consider myself a coffee connoisseur - my favorite coffee shop in Memphis so far is Crazy Gander. I enjoy kayaking, hiking, and camping!
What do you like about our program? I love the variety in practice settings that we see, everything from a low-resource county hospital to a private hospital setting in East Memphis. I also really appreciate the attention that our faculty place on our educational experiences. So far as an intern, we’ve already participated in one out-of-state bootcamp and four hands-on workshops. 
What do you like about Memphis? Excellent cost of living, minimal to no traffic, great food/coffee, and plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities! One of my favorite places I’ve explored so far is Shelby Farms Park in East Memphis.
Why did you choose Memphis? The people are what sold me on this program. Everyone is so supportive of one another and the faculty really care about their role as educators. 

resident imageAaron Zebolsky, MD

Bio

Hometown: Marshall, MI
Undergraduate: Ferris State University
Medical School: Western Michigan University Home Stryker School of Medicine
Fun Facts: My wife is an Ob-Gyn resident - we were thrilled to match here together. We have a corgi named Thor… His name definitely goes to his head. I also love to mountain bike, brew beer, and skip leg day.
What do you like about our program? I love how often residents and their partners hang out together outside of the hospital. At least weekly, several (if not most) of us meet up at a brewery or somebody's house to chill. I also like the uniquely strong exposure to facial trauma that UTHSC has, as well as the opportunity to work with research fellows in the department for maximizing research productivity.
What do you like about Memphis? The local breweries here are solid. It's also a good place to have a dog - tons of affordable dog care services and large dog parks.
Why did you choose Memphis? My wife and I had never been to Memphis, but we both walked away from our (virtual) interviews at UTHSC with good vibes. For us, it came down to finding a place with good academic opportunities, fun people, and most importantly a program that wanted both of us. UTHSC checked all those boxes.

PGY-1

resident imageJoel James, MD

Bio
Hometown: Mineola, NY
Undergraduate: Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program/City College of New York
Medical School: CUNY School of Medicine
Fun Facts: I studied Indian Classical Dance for 14 years. I also enjoy running in my free time, working out, cooking and watching foreign television shows.
What do you like most about our program? Exposure to a diverse patient population across multiple settings similar to what I had experienced in med school, facial trauma exposure, faculty invested in making us excellent comprehensive otolaryngologists
What do you like most about Memphis? Small size city, great BBQ, lots of green spaces, lack of traffic, the warm weather after a lifetime in the Northeast 
Why did you choose Memphis? Invested faculty, great vibes during the interview, family atmosphere and strong camaraderie between the residents

resident imageJillian Krebs, MD

Bio
Hometown: Rocky River, OH
Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
Medical School: Case Western Reserve School of Medicine
Fun Facts: I only ever lived in Ohio before moving to Memphis. I like to crochet little animals - Dumbo octopus is my favorite to make. I like to explore new restaurants and coffee shops, and go thrifting and antiquing 
What do you like most about our program? I really love the sense of community. The residents are all friendly, smart, and helpful, and the staff want to teach and have your back. We also serve such a diverse patient population at 6 different hospitals which is an extremely unique and beneficial part of this program. 
What do you like most about Memphis? It’s shockingly similar to Cleveland! There’s lots of small little pockets of areas around the city that all have their own vibes with fun local restaurants and shops. There’s also many green spaces to enjoy the warm sunny weather. I haven’t been here that long and it already feels like home.
Why did you choose Memphis? I felt a sense of community even through zoom interviews. Since I was moving away for the first time I wanted to make sure I was with a group who was supportive at work and actually got along outside of it. It’s a group that encourages everyone to do their best. 

resident imageSamantha Moore, MD

Bio
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Undergraduate: University of Iowa
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Fun Facts: Favorite word is “ope.” I love traveling, hiking, true crime series, good food, and spending time with my people.
What do you like most about our program? The residents! Everyone is fun, authentic, and supportive of one another. The faculty are invested in your learning and take pride in developing you as both a surgeon and person. I also appreciate the various training sites, robust trauma experience, and the opportunity to care for underserved communities.
What do you like most about Memphis? The sunshine and warm weather, awesome BBQ and local breweries, live music scene, and affordable living.
Why did you choose Memphis? I knew the program would be a great fit because of the incredible residents, diverse training opportunities, and overall collegiality among the department. Plus, my significant other is a resident at UTHSC, so coming to Memphis was an easy choice!

resident imageJustin Soffer, MD

Bio
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Fun Facts: I am a dual US-Austrian citizen, I speak multiple languages (some better than others!), and I was a baby model back in the day.
What do you like about our program? What I like most about the UTHSC otolaryngology program is our tight-knit resident community. Moreover, residents enjoy unparalleled operative autonomy, most evident in our craniomaxillofacial trauma experience. Not to mention our excellent call schedule and rapid faculty expansion with young, talented members, which foster an environment of continuous growth.
What do you like about Memphis? Affordable and accessible city with minimal traffic. Endless recreational opportunities. Vibrant brewery and food scene. Memphis embraces a diverse patient population. Here, I get to live, learn, and thrive in the heart of the Mid-South.
Why did you choose Memphis? Ultimately I chose Memphis because I was close with a few of the junior residents who I could trust to give me the unadulterated version of their residency experience, and I was blown away by how highly they spoke of their fellow residents, the faculty members they looked up to, and their overall training experience.
Sep 18, 2023