Fellows

Celebrating Our New Fellows

We’re proud to share that 19 local surgeons were among the 1,894 initiates welcomed into Fellowship during the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2024. This milestone reflects their dedication to surgical excellence. We congratulate them and look forward to seeing their future successes.

Dr. Brian Walkowski, MD

General Surgeon and Bariatric Surgeon
• Medical Degree: St. George's University School of Medicine
• Residency: Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
• Special Interests: Improving surgical outcomes through innovative techniques

Dr. Meaghan Marley, MD

Breast Surgical Oncologist at UPMC
• Medical Degree: St. George's University School of Medicine
• Residency: Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
• Fellowship: Breast Surgical Oncology at Emory University
• Special Interests: Multidisciplinary aspects of breast cancer treatments

Dr. James Michael Ackerman, MD

Thoracic Surgeon
• Medical Degree: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
• Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mercy
• Certification: American Board of Surgery
• Special Interests: Advancing thoracic surgery care

Dr. Ryan Faught, MD

General Surgeon affiliated with Broward Health Medical Center
• Medical Degree: Drexel University College of Medicine
• Residency: Zucker School of Medicine
• Special Interests: Improving health outcomes through quality care

Dr. Kellie Cunningham, MD

Board-Certified General Surgeon
• Medical Degree: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
• Residency: UPMC
• Research Interests: Rectal cancer outcomes, pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease

Dr. Sarwat Ahmad, MD

Breast Surgery Oncologist
• Medical Degree: Ohio State University College of Medicine
• Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center
• Special Interests: Prevention and early detection of breast cancer

Dr. Karla Bernardi, MD

Minimally Invasive Bariatric and General Surgeon at UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital
• Medical Degree: Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
• Residency: University of South Florida • Publications: Over 30 publications and 500 citations

Dr. Michael Bonidie, MD

Urogynecologist
• Medical Degree: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• Residency: Medical College of Virginia
• Certifications: Female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, obstetrics and gynecology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Special Interests: Optimizing efficiency in robotic technology in surgery

Dr. Alexander Canales, MD

General Surgeon and Critical Care Surgery Specialist
• Medical Degree: University of Texas Medical School at Houston
• Residency: Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami
• Special Interests: Advancing research in critical care surgery

Dr. Avery Capone, MD

Plastic Surgeon
• Medical Degree: Georgetown University School of Medicine
• Residency: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Certification: American Board of Plastic Surgery
• Clinical Interests: Rhinoplasty surgery, gender affirmation top surgery, reconstructive surgeries including skin cancer reconstruction and abdominal wall reconstruction

Dr. Nicole Donnellan, MD

Gynecologic Oncologist
• Medical Degree: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• Residency: UPMC
• Special Interests: Advancing women's health through innovative treatments

Dr. Raymond Emile Eid, MD

Vascular Surgeon at Washington Health System
• Medical Degree: American University of Beirut School of Medicine
• Residency: UPMC
• Special Interests: Providing care to patients and families in his community

Dr. Jocelyn J. Fitzgerald, MD

Urogynecologist
• Medical Degree: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Special Interests: Improving women's health and quality of life

Dr. Lauren Giugale, MD

Urogynecologist
• Medical Degree: University of Virginia School of Medicine
• Residency: UPMC
• Certifications: Obstetrics and gynecology, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery
• Special Interests: Maternal pelvic floor health after pregnancy and childbirth

Dr. Christine Leeper, MD

Trauma and Critical Care Surgeon at UPMC
• Medical Degree: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• Residency: UPMC
• Clinical Interests: Trauma-induced coagulopathy, optimal transfusion practice in adult and pediatric trauma

Dr. Gnankang Sarah Napoe, MD

Urogynecologist
• Medical Degree: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
• Residency: Brigham and Women's Hospital - Harvard Medical School
• Certification: Obstetrics and gynecology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Special Interests: Living in a diverse and equitable environment, ensuring healthcare serves everyone's needs

Dr. Ruy Cruz, MD

Transplant and General Surgeon
• Medical Degree: University of Santo Amaro
• Residency: UPMC
• Special Interests: Medical and surgical management of intestinal failure, autologous gastrointestinal reconstruction

Dr. Nicholas Baker, MD

Thoracic Surgeon
• Medical Degree: West Virginia University
• Residency: Charleston Area Medical
• Special Interests: Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery, benign and malignant diseases of the lung, esophagus, mediastinum, and pleura

Dr. Jennifer Leigh Carpenter, MD

Transplant Surgeon specializing in abdominal transplants and liver surgery
• Medical Degree: University of Illinois College of Medicine
• Residency: Baylor College of Medicine in Houston
• Certifications: Liver, kidney, pancreas, and intestinal transplantation through the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery

Fellows

Celebrating Our New Fellows

Dr. Brian Walkowski, MD

Dr. Meaghan Marley, MD

Dr. James Michael Ackerman, MD

Dr. Ryan Faught, MD

Dr. Kellie Cunningham, MD

Dr. Sarwat Ahmad, MD

Dr. Karla Bernardi, MD

Dr. Michael Bonidie, MD

Dr. Alexander Canales, MD

Dr. Avery Capone, MD

Dr. Nicole Donnellan, MD

Dr. Raymond Emile Eid, MD

Dr. Jocelyn J. Fitzgerald, MD

Dr. Lauren Giugale, MD

Dr. Christine Leeper, MD

Dr. Gnankang Sarah Napoe, MD

Dr. Ruy Cruz, MD

Dr. Nicholas Baker, MD

Dr. Jennifer Leigh Carpenter, MD

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