Academic Development Time
Residents are encouraged to participate in ongoing research activities, whether their ultimate career goals are clinical, academic or a combination of both. For those considering an academic career, two optional research years are included in their residency program, with three to four residents per year opting to pursue this track. The two research years are taken between the PGY-2 and PGY-3 years.
The wide variety of research opportunities available ensures that a resident seeking research experience will be able to find a project that will match with his or her specialty interest. In addition, faculty research expertise contributes current knowledge and basic science information to the general training program, thereby enriching and complementing the resident’s experience. PGY-2 residents undergo mentorship with the Surgical Research Scholars Program to determine career goals and how research can play a role. After a selection process, residents identify a mentor at UMass Chan Medical School or another institution. Guidance is provided to those who choose to pursue research positions at outside institutions.
Those who opt to conduct their research activities at UMass Chan receive salary funding, dedicated space and statistical support. They also take part in a surgeon-scientist curriculum, including research progress meetings and journal clubs. Additionally, if a resident elects to pursue an advanced degree during this time (see listing of degrees awarded below), tuition is funded if pursued through a University of Massachusetts program. Clinical obligations for those who remain at UMass Chan Medical School include monthly call shifts. Research residents also have the option to pursue moonlighting opportunities during these two years.
Recent residents have completed advanced degrees in:
- Master of Science in Clinical Investigation through the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School
- Master of Business Administration in coordination with the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst
- Master of Public Health through the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at UMass Amherst
Research focuses include:
- Basic science
- Translational science
- Patient safety and quality with process improvement
- Dense development and innovation
- Clinical outcomes
- Global surgery
- Education
Our research residents continue to compile admirable records of national presentations, peer-reviewed publications and academic research awards. Bibliographies can be seen in individual resident bios.
UMass Chan Medical School receives more than $254 million per year in research funding
Current Research Residents
Zachary Ballinger, MD
Zack Ballinger will be a Surgical Research Scholar from 2023 - 2025 and is working on clinical outcomes and injury prevention projects with the Department of Pediatric Surgery with mentors such as Dr. Aidlen, Dr. Cleary, Dr. Wong, Dr. Green, and Dr. Hirsh. He is also pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation degree from the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UMass Chan. He hopes to use large national databases to assess clinical outcomes and develop tools for clinicians to predict or estimate pediatric surgery outcomes based on patient characteristics.
Benjamin Gallant, MD
Benjamin is working as the Mark Justin Kusek Colorectal Surgery Research Fellow with the Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery at UMass from 2024-2026. He is also pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation degree from the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UMass Chan. He hopes to work on projects involving colon and rectal cancer outcomes, continue ongoing projects evaluating the use of FMT (fecal microbiota transplantation) for recurrent uncomplicated diverticulitis patients, as well as analyzing nationwide databases to assess trends, over the past decade, involving the adoption of robotic surgery for the treatment of colon and rectal cancer.
Nicole Hays, MD
I have been active in research since undergrad and came into UMass knowing I wanted to take two years for dedicated research time. I am currently at the MGH Center for Transplantation Sciences in Boston working on heart and lung transplantation tolerance within a non-human primate model.
Nichita Kulkarni, MD
Nichita Kulkarni is working as a Surgical Research Fellow from 2024-2026 at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with Dr. Edmund Bartlett on clinical trials exploring new treatments for soft tissue sarcoma.
Hayley Reddington, MD
Hayley is working as a Robotic Surgery Research Fellow with funding from the Intuitive Foundation. Her focus is on surgical education, and she is working with the Division of Thoracic Surgery on a simulation project to test a department-designed eLearning module on emergency protocols and checklists in the robotic operating room. Her other projects include robotic surgery adoption and disparities in access, resident robotic surgery exposure and training, and pre-operative frailty scores. She is also pursuing a master’s in education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Emily Stroobant, MD
Emily is a PGY-2R currently working as a surgical research scholar at MSK with Dr. Vivian Strong. She is working on gastric cancer clinical outcomes research as well as novel gastric cancer translational projects in collaboration with Dr. Santosh Vardhana.
Kayla Widdowson, MD
Kayla will be a Surgical Research Scholar from 2024-2026. She is working within the Department of Surgical Oncology under the mentorship of Dr. James Lindberg. She is primarily working on a variety of clinical outcomes and quality improvement projects related to patients receiving prehabilitation before undergoing large cancer operations. She is also pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation degree from the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at UMass Chan.
Recent Research Residents
Alyssa Kalustian, MD
Olajumoke (Jummy) Megafu, MD
Anupama Singh, MD
Danielle DePalo, MD
Gazi Rashid, MD
Qi Wang, MD