The Johns Hopkins Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery hosts a robust residency program which seeks to provide residents with meaningful training and immersion in cutting edge research and innovative patient care in all areas of otolaryngology head and neck surgery. In addition to a clinical residency, our program also offers a research track that provides the most comprehensive experience possible. Meet our former residents.
For additional information, please email: Oto_Residency_Educ@jhmi.edu.
PGY-1
Alexandra Berges, M.D.
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Undergraduate Education: Johns Hopkins University
Medical School: Johns Hopkins University
"When I’m not in the hospital, I enjoy baking bread, painting, hiking, going to local farmer’s markets, and exploring new places"
Andy Ding, M.D., M.S.E.
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Undergraduate Education: University of California, Berkeley
Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
"When I’m not in the hospital, I enjoy cooking, traveling, hanging out with friends, trying new restaurants, and exploring subgenres of house music"
Tolani Olonisakin, M.D., Ph.D.
Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Undergraduate Education: Fisk University
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh
"When I’m not in the hospital, I enjoy cycling, swing dancing, and non-academic reading"
Elaine Thompson, M.D., Ph.D.
Hometown: Leawood, KS
Undergraduate Education: Miami University
Medical School: Emory University
"When I’m not in the hospital, I enjoy gardening, playing volleyball with friends, and making homemade pizza"
PGY-2
Sarah Bessen, M.D., M.P.H.
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Undergraduate Education: Dartmouth College
Medical School: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
"When I’m not in the hospital, I like to play tennis, bake/try new Baltimore bakeries, and hang out with my dog, Freddie"
Grace Leu, M.D.
Hometown: Pleasanton, CA
Undergraduate Education: Cornell University
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
"When I’m not in the hospital I enjoy running, cooking, hiking, skiing, backpacking, playing tennis, and doing yoga."
Kimberley Noij, M.D., Ph.D.
Hometown:
Undergraduate Education:
Medical School: VUmc School of Medical Sciences
"When I am not at the hospital, I enjoy jogging along the harbor, chatting with my family and exploring local cafes/restaurants with my husband and co-residents."
Ved Tanavde, M.D.
Hometown: Guilderland, NY
Undergraduate Education: Columbia University
Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
"When I'm not in the hospital, I enjoy playing guitar, cooking, running along the harbor, and trying the latest pastry at Café Dear Leon!"
PGY-3
Michael Z. Cheng, M.D.
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate Education: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: Weill Cornell Medicine
“When I’m not in the hospital, I enjoy cooking, baking, weightlifting, playing and listening to music.”
Alia J. Mowery, M.D., M.C.R.
Hometown: Eugene, OR
Undergraduate Education: University of Oregon
Medical School: Oregon Health & Science University
“When I’m not in the hospital, I enjoy road trips to national parks (Yosemite is my favorite!), running, and crosswords.”
Zahra N. Sayyid, M.D., Ph.D.
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Undergraduate Education: Stanford University
Medical School: Stanford University
"When I'm not in the hospital, I enjoy running around Patterson Park, eating at local restaurants (Smaltimore, Verde, and Bmore Licks!), scuba diving, and watching Netflix stand up specials."
PGY-4
Nicholas S. Andresen, M.D.
Hometown: Apple Valley, MN
Undergraduate Education: Luther College
Medical School: University of Iowa (2018)
"When I'm not in the hospital I enjoy running, biking, and hanging out with my wife and dog, Bella."
Melissa M. Liu, M.D., Ph.D.
Hometown: Hinsdale, IL
Undergraduate Education: Stanford University
Medical School: Johns Hopkins (2019)
"When I'm not in the hospital, I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking/running/biking outdoors, and labor intensive cooking projects."
John F. Ryan, M.D.
Hometown: Leawood, KS
Undergraduate Education: Stanford University
Medical School: Johns Hopkins (2019)
"When I’m not in the hospital I enjoy running, cooking, hiking, skiing, backpacking, and playing tennis."
Nicholas Scott-Wittenborn, M.D.
Hometown: Bernardsville, NJ
Undergraduate Education: Carleton College
Medical School: Washington University in St. Louis (2018)
"When I'm not in the hospital, I enjoy reading (mid-20th century fiction), soccer, and trying new restaurants."
PGY-5
Zechariah G. Franks, M.D., M.P.H.
Hometown: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Undergraduate Education: Vanguard University
Medical School: University of Arizona (2018)
"When I'm not in the hospital, I enjoy reading, running, and going on hikes with my wife and two boys."
Kaitlyn M. Frazier, M.D.
Hometown: Augusta, GA
Undergraduate Education: Georgia Institute of Technology (2010)
Medical School: Emory University (2017)
Ioan A. "John" Lina, M.D.
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Undergraduate Education: Johns Hopkins University (2012)
Medical School: University of Maryland (2017)
Research areas of interests: mouse models of hearing, biotechnology and innovation, translational models of disease
"When I'm not in the hospital, I enjoy hiking and driving across the country, going to the movies, flea marketing, running, watching Netflix."
Jonas R. Miller, M.D.
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Undergraduate Education: William and Mary
Medical School: Louisiana State University (2018)
"When I'm not in the hospital, I enjoy golfing, fly fishing, jogging at a moderate pace, spending time with my family, and eating/cooking BBQ brisket."
Deborah X. Xie, M.D.
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Undergraduate Education: Duke University
Medical School: Vanderbilt University (2018)
"When I'm not in the hospital, I enjoy yoga, following college basketball (Go Duke!), listening to/playing music, traveling (pre-pandemic) and exploring local restaurants."
PGY-6
Elaine O. Bigelow M.D.
Hometown: Vienna, VA
Undergraduate Education: Princeton University (2010)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (2016)
"When I'm not in the hospital, I enjoy running, hanging with my co-residents, backpacking, and watching terrible TV shows."
Jordan A. Garcia, M.D.
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN
Undergraduate Education: Stanford University (2010)
Medical School: Harvard Medical School (2016)
Research Areas of Interest: Applications of immunology to head and neck cancer and reconstructive surgery
"When I'm not at the hospital I enjoy swimming, weight lifting, backpacking, landscape photography, and exploring the national parks."
Research
Christopher A. Maroun, M.D.
Hometown: Lowell, MA
Undergraduate Education: University of Massachusetts Lowell
Medical School: American University of Beirut
"When I'm not in the hospital, I enjoy eating at new (and old) places, playing guitar, game nights with friends, and DIY projects with my wife."
Sarek A. Shen, M.D., M.S.
Hometown: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Undergraduate Education: Duke University
Medical School: University of California San Diego
"When I'm not in the hospital, I enjoy solving crosswords, watching basketball and movies, and exploring breweries."
Anirudh Saraswathula, M.D., M.S.
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Undergraduate Education: Duke University
Medical School: Stanford University (2019)
"When I'm not in the hopsital, I enjoy finding new spots for camping and backpacking, cooking, and reading (particularly Cold War spy novels and Kurt Vonnegut books)."
Danielle R. Trakimas, M.D., M.S.E.
Hometown: Winchester, MA
Undergraduate Education: University of Michigan
Medical School: University of Massachusetts (2019)
"When I'm not in the hospital, I enjoy dancing, watching Harry Potter, eating Ekiben, and running along the Harbor.”