Current General Surgery Residents
Current General Surgery Residents
Our 2025-26 General Surgery residents.
Chief Residents in Surgery
Alex Kurtz – Carroll College, B.A., 2017; University of Washington School of Medicine, M.D., 2021.
- Where are you from?
- Glendive, MT.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- MIS / Abdominal Wall Reconstruction.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- Otsego Golf Club, Sunflower Café, Otsego Lake.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- The deep breadth of experience we get across the various surgical subspecialties.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- Golf, hiking, reading, trying new restaurants, art.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- Formula One race in Austin with my family.
Lydia Rafferty – Cornell University, B.S., 2011; University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, M.D., 2021.
- Where are you from?
- I grew up in the greater Boston area, but lived in Madison, WI for 10 years prior to moving to Cooperstown.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- I am currently applying to colorectal surgery fellowship, but I am hoping to practice in a rural area after I finish.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- In the summer, I love to go to brunch at Origin’s Café, which is a farm to table restaurant inside a beautiful greenhouse. In the winter, I love to go cross-country skiing at some of our local parks.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- As a junior resident I really appreciated all the early operative experience we get. Now that I’m a chief, I appreciate the growing autonomy we get so that we can be prepared for our future practice.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- I love cooking, hosting dinner parties, traveling, hiking, and hanging out with my dogs.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- I had a blast hiking around Iceland with my mom. The countryside was beautiful and the food was shockingly good.
Emily Sippel – University of Portland, B.S., 2014; Creighton University School of Medicine, M.D., 2021.
- Where are you from?
- Beaverton, Oregon.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- General surgery.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- The lake, Origins, Otsego Golf Club, Spurbeck's.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- Close-knit program where you get large volume surgical experience starting early intern year, including bread and butter general surgery and also a lot of exposure to a wide variety of surgical specialties.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- Soccer, camping / hiking, golf.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- Family road trip through Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming including visits to Yellowstone and Glacier National Park.
Fourth Year Residents in Surgery
Rahima Khatun – New York University, B.A., 2016; Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, M.D., 2021.
- Where are you from?
- Born in Bangladesh but raised in the Bronx, NY.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- Acute care surgery / critical care.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- Origins Café, Cooper’s Barn, Glimmerglass State Park, Three Mile Point, The Local Bird.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- The rural setting and size of the hospital allows for a collegial atmosphere among all those involved in providing patient care. The setting also allows for perspective into how poor access to care and healthcare disparities among certain patient populations, such as farmers, affects disease severity. Unfortunately, this means we get insight into late stages of certain disease processes that you would not see elsewhere.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- Trying new foods, finding pretty coffee shops, traveling, being by the water.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- Istanbul, Turkey.
Sean Morton – Seattle Pacific University, B.S., 2016; Washington State University, M.D., 2022.
- Where are you from?
- Bonney Lake, Washington.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- Critical Care, General Surgery.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- Three Mile Point, Otsego Golf Club, Ommegang Brewery.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- Early operative experience, limited number of faculty who are interested in your growth and development, longitudinal care of patients.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- Spending time with the family, golfing, reading, coffee.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- Europe - Rome, Venice, and Santorini.
Diego Villagomez – Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador, M.D., 2017; Yale New Haven Health, PGY-1, PGY2, 2021-2023.
- Where are you from?
- Ecuador.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- Plastics, Robotics.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- 3 mile point.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- My coresidents and the vast exposure to surgical cases we have due to a large catchment area.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- Gaming, kickboxing, and recently golf.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- Bahamas.
Third Year Residents in Surgery
Alexander Clem – South Dakota State University, B.S., 2017; University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, M.D., 2023.
- Where are you from?
- Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- General surgery, plastic surgery.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- 3 Mile Point, Ommegang Brewery, Fenimore Farm, and Country Village.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- Great exposure early on to various aspects of surgery including vascular, plastic, and general surgery.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- Spending time outside with my wife, 2 kids, and our dog. Fishing and golfing.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- Going to the UK and Ireland with my wife after graduating medical school.
Hilary Giles – Hamilton College, B.A., 2017; Tufts University School of Medicine, M.D., 2023.
- Where are you from?
- Just outside Boston.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- I like it all!
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- Cooper’s Barn for ice cream, Origins restaurant & greenhouse for the vibes, and all the country roads for the scenery especially in summer and fall.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- The community and feeling like everyone wants you to succeed, the high operative volume, and the variety of operative experiences and the fact that we have no fellows with whom to compete for cases.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- I love running and hiking around upstate New York, reading mystery novels, and convincing my co-residents that it’s not too late to go out for dinner on a work night.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- During med school I visited some friends in LA and car-camped up all the way to Lake Tahoe in their Jeep, stopping at some beautiful spots to camp along the way.
Lauren McKay – University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.S., 2017; University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, M.D., 2023.
- Where are you from?
- A small town in Wisconsin (Columbus, WI), but I’ve loved the many years I’ve spent living in the state capital (Madison, WI).
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- I have been enjoying colorectal and vascular surgery, still undecided on specialty.
- My research interests include patient outcomes, surgical ethics, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- Local Bird for the best gifts, plants (that I'm incapable of caring for), and now coffee!
- Council Rock for a solid burger and sweet potato fries, Blue Mingo for lake vibes.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- Distance running, cooking / baking, outside adventures with my partner.
- What makes this program unique for you?
- I love the available opportunities to build strong connections with mentors, attendings, co-residents, and patients — all while benefiting from Bassett’s long history as well as its dedication to academics and clinical excellence.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- Greece and Italy with my best friend after medical school.
Prince Morkeh – University of Iowa, B.A., 2018; Morehouse School of Medicine, M.D., 2022.
- Where are you from?
- Originally from Accra, Ghana, but grew up in the north suburbs of Chicago.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- Vascular surgery, rural general surgery.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- Toscana’s, Otsego lake.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- The people, collegiate environment, and early exposure to operative cases.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- Tech, music, travelling.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- France.
Second Year Residents in Surgery
Lexi Kohlbeck – University of Wisconsin River Falls, B.S., 2019; Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, D.O., 2023.
- Where are you from?
- Central Wisconsin.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- Acute care, critical care, trauma, MIS.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- Blue Mingo in the summertime, Otsego Lake, Bocca, Spurbeck’s, running around town.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- The hometown atmosphere and surgical autonomy. We are truly an integral part of the community here inside and outside of the hospital. We get fantastic operative exposure and are trained to be competent general surgeons directly out of residency.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- Spending time with my dog Derby, traveling throughout upstate New York and New England to camp, ski, hike, and paddle board.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- Iceland with my sister! It was our first international trip and the food and hikes were amazing.
Matea Mezic – Vassar College, B.A., 2019; New York Medical College, M.D., 2024
- Where are you from?
- Long Island.
- What are your clinical / professional interests?
- General surgery.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- Otsego Lake.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- Rural upstate NY has a very unique patient population that we can learn a lot from.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- Running, hiking.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- Backpacking in California.
Nuttha Siriwatanakul – State University of New York Binghamton, B.S., 2018; State University of New York Upstate Medical University, M.D., 2024
- Where are you from?
- NYC.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- Abdominal wall reconstruction, hepatobiliary surgery.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- The lake, the Local Bird.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- Small, close-knit program with early operative exposure.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- Reading, traveling, swimming, eating, running.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- My top three are: Paris, Tokyo, and Azores.
Kristin Wagers – University of Idaho, B.S., 2020; Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah, M.D., 2024
- Where are you from?
- Eagle, Idaho.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- General Surgery.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- Norbu, Bocca, and Fairy Springs park (lakefront).
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- High operative case volumes, a wide range of subspecialty surgical exposure, and a strong and supportive resident community.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- Paddle boarding, running, and pickleball.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- Greece.
First Year Residents in Surgery
Mohamud Abdi – George Mason University, B.S., 2018; SUNY Downstate, M.S. 2021; SUNY Downstate, M.D., 2025
- Where are you from?
- I was born in Canada but grew up in Virginia from the age of four. I’ve spent the last five years living in New York City for my master’s and medical school.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- I’m aiming to come out of residency as a well-rounded general surgeon, and I’m keeping an open mind since I find something interesting in every specialty.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- I really enjoy the lake it’s a beautiful spot, and I’m looking forward to getting out on the water for some canoeing or boating.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- A lot of graduates from this program feel confident going straight into practice, which really speaks to the quality of training. I’ve also been impressed by how much hands-on experience we get in plastic surgery.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- I love reading; there’s nothing better than sitting outside with a good book when the weather is nice.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- Visiting family in Canada was one of my favorite trips. I hadn’t seen many of them in years, so reconnecting in person was really special.
Dominick DeLorenzo – Rutgers, B.A., 2017; Georgetown, M.S., 2020; Georgetown M.D., 2025
- Where are you from?
- Manalapan, NJ.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- Interested in anesthesiology.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- I really like Ommegang brewery and Upstate grill.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- This program is unique for surgical training because of the early exposure to the OR during intern year and amount we’re allowed to help with in there.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- I enjoy working out, playing video games with my friends, and playing the saxophone!
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- I went to Italy with my family before starting residency and oh my goodness the food was incredible.
Sharon Liu – Rutgers, B.A., 2019; Tulane, M.S., 2020; Tulane M.D., M.P.H., 2025
- Where are you from?
- I grew up in Bergen County, NJ, but moved to New Orleans after college.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- I switched into surgery after my month on colorectal, but since I switched into surgery so late, I’m keeping an open mind to see what else I like!
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- I haven’t explored enough yet, but I really enjoyed Ommegang brewery and I wish I could buy everything at Local Bird. I also want to explore the trails, lake, and Fenimore art museum when I’m more settled in.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- In my opinion, the way the services are structured to cover every service and encourage longitudinal learning is unique. This program also offers a lot of support, and I appreciate how much everyone seems to invest in helping you become a capable, confident surgeon.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- I read and hang out (nap) with my two cats! I also stress bake and collect stickers, and I’m working on getting better at embroidery and crocheting.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- My nicest vacation was a resort in Cancun with my family a few years ago and I got to try new foods, experience a seafloor walk, go cliff jumping, and relax by the pool with free drinks. My favorite vacation was just going to Destin, FL for a few days with my friends as a good-bye trip before graduation.
Peter Tao – University of Toronto, B.S., 2018; Tufts, M.D., 2025
- Where are you from?
- Originally from Queens, NY and grew up in Toronto, Ontario.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- I’m still trying to figure that out! I’m leaning toward rural general surgery, however I like to keep an open mind and could see myself doing a fellowship.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- I really like Otsego Lake and the nearby golf courses.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- At Bassett, you get so much surgical autonomy very early on. Attending surgeons trust residents and really make an effort to let you operate. The bottom line is that Bassett does a fantastic job of training extremely competent surgeons.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- I love to play hockey and golf! I also enjoy chess and Taylor Swift.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- I had such a great time in China with my mom. Shanghai, Nanjing, Bejing; it was so fun.
Stephanie Waldman – Lafayette College, B.S., 2019; Drexel, M.D., 2025
- Where are you from?
- Collegeville, Pennsylvania – a little ways away from Philadelphia.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- Trauma and critical care surgery, reconstructive plastics, and gender-affirming surgeries.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- I love going to the (year round!) farmer's market. It’s my go to place to get fresh cut flowers as well as fresh produce and bread!
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- How quickly interns are involved in all aspects of patient care – including surgery / OR time. I also think that the amount and quality of advising we get from attendings and mentors is incredible and unlike many other programs.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- I enjoy spending time with my partner and my dog, Clover doing anything we can do outside. We particularly love hanging out by (or on) Lake Otsego and hiking the nearby trails. I also love to crochet and play the cello.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- I recently went on vacation to the pacific northwest and fell in love with the Oregon coast. I could search for rocks there for the rest of my life and never complain.
Justin York – University of Minnesota, B.S., 2018; Medical College of Wisconsin, M.D., 2025
- Where are you from?
- Muscatine, Iowa.
- What type of surgery are you interested in?
- Uncertain at this point and keeping my options open. Primary interests at this point are plastics, vascular, and general surgery.
- What are some of your favorite places in Cooperstown?
- New York Pizzeria, Ommegang, the farmer's market.
- What makes this residency program unique for surgical training?
- The small size of the program allows you to become intimately involved in surgical cases, both in and out of the OR. You also get to know your class very well.
- What are some hobbies or interests you enjoy outside of medicine?
- Running, downhill skiing, going to theme parks.
- What’s your favorite vacation you’ve been on?
- In 2017 I traveled around Germany for two weeks, visiting Neuschwanstein Castle, the Cologne Cathedral, and all of Berlin.
