Meet Our Residents
Class of 2021: CA-3
Richard “Rich” Dobson
Hometown: New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada
Undergraduate: Georgia College and State University (GCSU)
Medical School: Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Hockey, running, camping, playing guitar, hockey, traveling to National Parks, snowboarding, hockey, eating pizza, and spending time with my wonderful wife, Alycia, my dog OP, and my soon-to-be-newborn daughter. I also enjoy hockey.
Why I Chose Vermont: Vermont is a wonderful place, and I count myself lucky to be here and to be a part of this program. Besides the wonderful four seasons filled with some of the best leaf-peeping, lake front views, and skiing and snowboarding one could ask for, the UVM anesthesiology department is filled with fantastic teachers and people. I have no doubt you will find that you feel right at home here at UVM.
Ben Jorgensen
Hometown: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University
Medical School: Robert Larner M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy snowboarding, the outdoors, snorkeling, science fiction and hanging out with my 2 Great Danes.
Why I Chose Vermont: I initially chose UVM for medical school because it was close to home and I wanted to be back in the East. I chose to stay because of the people in this department and the culture of the hospital. The faculty here at UVM, especially within the Department of Anesthesiology, care about you as a trainee and as an individual. They are approachable and are invested in helping you become a well- rounded Anesthesiologist.
Danielle “Danie” Leahy
Hometown: Middlebury, VT
Undergraduate: Wesleyan University and the University of Vermont
Medical School: Robert Larner M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Hobbies/Interests: Hockey, cooking/trying new food, skiing, traveling to warm places and finding the best beaches, local breweries, DIY crafts/projects.
Why I Chose Vermont: As you can probably tell, I've lived in VT for a while. I was pretty set early on in med school that I would leave for residency. Well, when it came time to apply for residency it was clear to me that I couldn't leave just yet. I wanted to stay here at UVM because it's small enough that the attendings get to know you really well and the support here is phenomenal. The training is outstanding too and being a smaller program we are able to see and do so many things early on. I wanted to find a place where I would be happy to come to work every day and UVM is that place.
Christopher Mayhew
Hometown: Eagle, Idaho
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Medical School: Robert Larner M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Hobbies/Interests: Backcountry skiing, gravel and road biking, flying planes, paragliding, sailing, anything to do with Germany.
Why I Chose Vermont: UVM offers a well-rounded anesthesia education with amazing attendings who make it a fun place to learn and work. Additionally, Vermont is an idyllic place to live with plenty of ways to enjoy life outside the hospital during my free time. Simply put I felt UVM was an environment where I could become a competent anesthesiologist and have fun throughout the process.
Alexa Pflaum
Hometown: Lake City, MN
Undergraduate: University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
Medical School: University of Minnesota
Caroline Reynolds
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Undergraduate: UNC Chapel Hill
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Most of my free time is spent hanging out with the cutest member of the CA3 class, my infant son, Everett. I also enjoy hiking, cycling, working out, and playing board games.
Why I chose Vermont: I'm super pumped to be here in VT for residency because I love all of the outdoor activities, have family nearby, and really appreciate the individualized attention and close knit feel that comes with a smaller sized program.
Why I chose Vermont: I'm super pumped to be here in VT for residency because I love all of the outdoor activities, have family nearby, and really appreciate the individualized attention and close knit feel that comes with a smaller sized program.
Why I Chose Vermont: I'm super pumped to be here in VT for residency because I love all of the outdoor activities, have family nearby, and really appreciate the individualized attention and close knit feel that comes with a smaller sized program.
Benjamin Sanofsky
Hometown: Canton, Ohio
Undergraduate: Colgate University
Medical School: Stony Brook University
Hobbies/Interests: Outside of the hospital, a few of my favorite things are skiing, playing piano, taking my dog out on hikes, and biking home from work.
Why I Chose Vermont: My wife and I chose Vermont because it's the most outdoorsy place on the East Coast and still within reach of NYC and Boston, and I liked UVM for its smaller size and supportive culture. We also have the best anesthesia residents in the state.
Class of 2022: CA-2
Rachel Carlson
Hometown: Saratoga Springs NY
Undergraduate: Bates College ME
Medical School: Robert Larner M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Hobbies/Interests: Running, biking, skiing, baking, beach lounging, and reality tv.
Why I Chose Vermont: Outdoors lifestyle combined with great mentors. I loved the Small program size with access to interesting cases from the start (no fellows!).
Vivek Chittenini
Hometown: Plymouth, Minnesota
Undergraduate: University of Minnesota
Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School
Hobbies/Interests: In my free time I love cooking, mountain biking, and going camping in my camper (Vermont has so many dispersed campsites off the beaten path).
Why I Chose Vermont: I picked Vermont because it was program where the residents and attendings seemed the happiest and truly interested in making the program better.
Liana Dagdavaryan
Hometown: Breckenridge, CO
Undergraduate: University of Colorado at Boulder
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences in Lebanon, OR
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, paddle-boarding, wood-working, relaxation (local Vermont brew and some Hulu).
Why I Chose Vermont: I was initially enticed by the beauty of Burlington and Vermont. Now that I've been here for some time I have come to realize that this small city has everything to offer – small community feel with the amenities of a larger city, endless outdoor adventures (hiking, biking, swimming/water sports, snow sports), proximity to amazing places (Montreal, Boston, NYC), and the list goes on. During my interview I was impressed with the genuine kindness and happiness of the residents and now have experienced it first-hand. Ultimately it is the people here that make me feel like I belong and that I am part of something great.
Justin Jones
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Undergraduate: Cleveland State University
Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Hobbies/Interests: Guitar, movies, hiking.
Why I Chose Vermont: Culture, great teachers, and the outdoors. I rotated here as a medical student and found everyone to be welcoming and willing to teach and allow me to try new things. There are many great faculty working here with a lot of knowledge to share who have trained all over the country. I liked Burlington for its smaller size, there is no rush hour. I also enjoyed the food scene and exploring the many hiking trails.
Christina Litsakos
Hometown: Port Jefferson, NY
Undergraduate: American University
Medical school: Robert Larner M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Hobbies/Interests: All things athletic and outdoors. Exploring with my son, dog and wife. Spending as much time learning funky, new things as possible,
Why I Chose Vermont: After my Med school interview, I took a long run on the bike path, along the lake, and just caught a feeling, like wow, good things could happen for me here. And they have. Vermont captures you, and training at an institution like UVMMC allows you to be driven, happy and balanced. It's a perfect place, if I don't say so myself.
Angeli Thawani
Hometown: New Hyde Park, NY
Undergraduate: Northeastern University
Medical School: NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: I love traveling, going on (short) hikes, paddle boarding, kayaking, and snowboarding.
Why I Chose Vermont: Why you chose this residency program – Born and raised in NY, and rotating through many hospitals in Long Island, NYC, and New Jersey, I was so surprised when I found a residency program like the one here at UVMMC. I was immediately welcomed into the perioperative family that included anesthesiology attendings and residents, CRNAs, AAs, nursing staff, and the surgical team. Along with a culture that encourages personal and professional growth, the program is very open to changes that promote work/life balance. Burlington itself has much to offer, including winter and summer sports, amazing food, and mountain views at nearly every corner.
Class of 2023: CA-1
Taylor Abegg-Lawrence
Hometown: Central Utah
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University majored in Microbiology at BYU
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: When I get the chance, I enjoy snowboarding, canyoneering, and anything that gets me outside.
Why I Chose Vermont: I was drawn to this program in part because of how personable and happy the residents seemed to be. There's something intangible that just “clicks” when you find a program that fits, and for me that was Vermont.
Daniel Crowder
Hometown: Greenwood, SC
Undergraduate: Clemson University
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Interests/Hobbies: My wife and I are big college football fans. I enjoy grabbing dinner and drinks with friends, which is one of the best parts of living in Burlington. I also enjoy getting outdoors and going to the local parks with my wife and son.
Why I Chose Vermont: In looking for residency programs I knew that I wanted to train at a place that offered high quality care, had a track record of producing high quality anesthesiologists, were able to place graduates into fellowship programs, and was filled with kind and caring people. When I rotated through the department during my 4th year away rotation, I was blown away by residents, faculty, and staff. The atmosphere was very laid back, yet professional, the team members were friendly and supportive, and the department made work-life balance a priority. During the interview cycle, I kept in touch with some of the residents and faculty, and I got the sense that the department was invested in my education even before I became a resident.
Andrew Gallagher
Hometown: Jericho, VT
Undergraduate: Bowdoin College
Medical School: Robert Larner M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Hobbies/Interests: Skiing, hiking, home brewing, raising chickens, playing with my dog.
Why I Chose Vermont: Going to school at UVM, I had ample exposure to the department and residents. Their patient-centeredness, friendliness, and excitement about anesthesiology convinced me that this was the right place for me. Plus, Vermont has an amazing quality of life, with tons to do outside every season.
Conrad Koerper
Hometown: Austin, TX
Undergraduate: University of Houston
Medical School: University of Texas at Southwestern
Hobbies/Interests: Sailing, traveling, hiking, running, spending time with my family and dogs.
Why I Chose Vermont: During my interview, I was thoroughly impressed with the supportive, family-like environment, dedication to teamwork, and strong sense of camaraderie among the faculty and residents. It felt like the perfect place to train.
Joseph Migliazzo
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Undergraduate: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: There is much to do outside the hospital including biking/hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter.
Why I Chose Vermont: I came to Vermont and was pleased with the anesthesia program as well as the location. The residents and faculty were welcoming and well trained.
Tobias Robinson
Hometown: Juneau, Alaska and Montpelier, VT
Undergraduate: Paul Smiths College and Oregon State University
Medical School: Oregon Health and Sciences University
Hobbies/Interests: Mountain biking, skiing and woodworking. Being in VT affords me the opportunity to do all of these.
Why I Chose Vermont: I came back to Vermont for not only the mountain's and nature, but for the people. Residency at UVM is not just a job, it is joining a family where we lookout for each other and foster development of truly excellent physicians.
Class of 2024: CA-0
Jack Chan
Hometown: Boston, MA
Undergraduate: Boston University
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Hobbies/Interests: When I have the opportunity, I love to hike, ski, and experiment with cooking. I am also an avid Netflix user.
Why I Chose Vermont: I chose UVM for the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the community which overflows into everyone's work and excitement for what they do. The program is very supportive of their residents and I believe that I will get to become an amazing anesthesiologist. The location also offers endless opportunities to be with nature through hiking and skiing. I am thrilled to be a resident at UVM!
Jason Dixon
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Undergraduate: Eastern Washington University
Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Avid do-it-yourselfer, hiking, biking, coffee, WWII history, spending time with family.
Why I Chose Vermont: The close-knit community and supportive culture at UVM shined during my interview in Burlington. It was obvious that the relationships between residents and faculty members served to enhance the strong technical education while promoting resident well-being. Gradutes of this program enjoy great prospects for fellowship and practice upon completion. Lastly, the beautiful Burlington area is vibrant, safe, and full of opportunities for my family.
E. Taylor Haring
Hometown: Norman, OK and Bozeman, MT
Undergraduate: Montana State University
Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Mountaineering, skiing, surfing, playing the drums, and playing with my dog (Tonka).
Why I Chose Vermont: I chose Vermont because it seemed like the friendliest and happiest group of residents and anesthesiologists I came across, coupled with great outdoor access for the North East. Also, Vermont had the closest access to ice climbing of any residency!
Brett Heber
Hometown: Oil City, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate: Juniata College
Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, being outdoors, exercising, snowboarding, learning Spanish and the ukelele, history, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers, reading, sand volleyball, spending time with my lovely wife, Kara, and our dog, Felix.
Why I Chose Vermont: It was the culture of the UVM anesthesia department and the opportunity I had to experience it firsthand as a visiting 4th year student that led me to choose Vermont for residency. I feel privileged to be training at a program that genuinely cares about its members, instills a palpable sense of community, and produces highly competent physician anesthesiologists. Additionally, the Burlington area is an excellent place to live and explore. There are ample opportunities to get outdoors regardless of the season, local breweries to enjoy, and other local attractions including Church Street, Lake Champlain, and maple creemees. If you want to get out of town for a weekend, Montreal, NYC, and Boston are all a short drive.
Britta Kilgus
Hometown: Chester, Vermont
Undergraduate: St. Lawrence University
Medical School: Robert Larner M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Hobbies/Interests: I grew up in Vermont, so my hobbies are all the usual suspects: snowboaring, running, hiking, laying by and swimming in the lake, and pretty much anything that gets me outside. I also love to bake and cook, care for my houseplants, see live music, and hang out with dogs.
Why I Chose Vermont: When I started my 4th year of medical school at UVM I did every anesthesia related rotation I could and had the best time. The department was welcoming, enthusiastic about teaching, and offered me all the support I needed when I started the process of applying for residency. After having that experience it was hard to imagine I would find better culture at any other program. Plus once you've spent enough time cruising the waterfront, watching the sunset over the Adirondack Mountains, and getting to hit the local mountains all winter you realize it might be hard to find anywhere else like Burlington.
Matthew Nowland
Hometown: Suburbs of Boston, MA
Undergraduate: USMC and UMass Boston
Medical School: Frank H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Hobbies/Interests: My wife and I are both very athletic people and like all types of physical fitness activities. We both enjoy social gatherings and hosting events. I also like winter sports and anything I get to do with my son.
Why I Chose Vermont: Truthfully, I knew very little about Vermont before I interviewed there. During the interview, I was absolutely blown away by the community of the people, how family friendly they were, and the camaraderie and overall high morale of the residents. I was so impressed that I surprised my wife with a weekend getaway to Burlington for our 10-year anniversary (during a blizzard no less) and we both fell in love with the area!
Recent Graduates
Katherine Dillon, M.D.
Commonwealth Anesthesia Associates – Newton, MA
K. Jared Hinrichs, M.D.
Chronic Pain Fellowship, University of Vermont Medical Center – Burlington, Vermont
Michael Kem, M.D.
University of Vermont Medical Center – Burlington, VT
Brandon King
Dual Cardiothoracic & Critical Care Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University –Baltimore, MD
Russel Shults, M.D.
University of Vermont Medical Center – Burlington, VT
Virginia Weiss, M.D.
Spectrum Healthcare Partners – Portland, ME