Current Residents
Every year, four trainees are selected for the Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery residency program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. The group is comprised of unique, intelligent, and kind individuals who come from all paths of life but are united by a common passion for Otolaryngology and New York City. Peer-to-peer teaching is heavily emphasized through resident-led didactics and a PGY-1 and PGY-4 "buddy call" system. Cherished residency traditions include Thursday evening Happy Hours at our favorite neighborhood establishments, as well as the Annual Chief Resident Roast.
PGY-5
Alexander Chern, MD
Originally from Jacksonville Florida, Dr. Chern is a graduate of Yale University, where he graduated with a degree in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry and studied violin with Dr. Kyung Yu at the Yale School of Music. He then attended medical school at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. During medical school, he was awarded a year-long grant and fellowship to conduct research in music cognition and perception with Dr. Reyna Gordon. At graduation, he won the the David L. Zealear, Ph.D. Otolaryngology Scholar-Initiative Award. Outside the hospital, he enjoys cooking, dancing, playing the violin, wine, coffee, and creating latte art.
Dr. Chern’s research interests include music perception and cognition, cochlear implantation, and the effects of hearing loss on the brain. He plans to pursue a career in Otology/Neurotology.
Selected publications
- Chern A, Irace AL, Sharma RK, Zhang Y, Chen Q, Golub JS. The longitudinal association of subclinical hearing loss with cognition in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. Front Aging Neurosci. 2022 Mar 1;13:789515. PMID: 35300148.
- Chern A, Golub JS. Age-related hearing loss and dementia. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2019 Jul-Sep;33(3):285-290. PMID: 31335455.
Arron Cole, MD
Hailing from Stuart, Florida, Dr. Cole is a graduate of Denison University, where he graduated with a degree in Biology. After college, he moved to Chicago to perform neuroscience research at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, where he stayed to attend medical school. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys tending to his plants, running in Central Park, and spending time with friends and family exploring different parts of NYC.
Selected publications
- Keisham B, Cole A, Nguyen P, Mehta A, Berry V. Cancer Cell Hyperactivity and Membrane Dipolarity Monitoring via Raman Mapping of Interfaced Graphene: Toward Non-Invasive Cancer Diagnostics. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2016;8(48):32717-32722. doi:10.1021/acsami.6b12307
- Liu DS, Pan XD, Zhang J, et al. APOE4 enhances age-dependent decline in cognitive function by down-regulating an NMDA receptor pathway in EFAD-Tg mice. Mol Neurodegener. 2015;10:7. Published 2015 Mar 5. doi:10.1186/s13024-015-0002-2
Sonam Dodhia, MD
Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Dr. Dodhia is a graduate of University of Illinois at Chicago, where she graduated with a dual degree in Biochemistry and Music Performance in cello. She then attended medical school at Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University. In medical school, she enjoyed pursuing research projects on the genetics of cleft lip and palate with Dr. Joseph Haddad and laryngeal nerve reinnervation with Dr. Michael Pitman. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys running, playing the cello, and spending time with family and friends.
Selected publications
- Dodhia S, Celis K, Aylward A, et al. ACSS2 gene variant associated with cleft lip and palate in two independent Hispanic populations. Laryngoscope. 2017;127(10):E336-E339. doi:10.1002/lary.26637
- Dodhia S, Baxter PC, Ye F, Pitman MJ. Investigation of the presence of HPV on KTP laser fibers following KTP laser treatment of papilloma. Laryngoscope. 2018;128(4):926-928. doi:10.1002/lary.27018
Sallie Long, MD
Hailing from Augusta, Georgia, Dr. Long is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she graduated with a degree in Dietetics. After college, she worked as a registered dietitian and underwent post-baccalaureate premedical study. She then attended Georgetown University School of Medicine, where she was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha and graduated magna cum laude. Her current clinical and research interests include head and neck oncology. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys spending time exploring NYC with her husband Jackson and dog Finley.
Selected publications
- Long SM, Lumley CJ, Zeymo A, Davidson BJ. Prescription and Usage Pattern of Opioids after Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;160(3):388-393. doi:10.1177/0194599818779776
- Long S, Troob S, Yu K. Airway Management & Tracheostomy. In: Lalwani A, ed. CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 4th Edition.
PGY-4
Clara Lee, MD
Originally from Cresskill, New Jersey, Dr. Lee is a graduate of Duke University, where she graduated with degrees in Biology and Evolutionary Anthropology. After college, she spent one year at the Duke University Medical Center conducting research on murine models of breast cancer metastases to the bone marrow. She then attended medical school at the Emory University School of Medicine, where she was an active member of the Medical School Senate, was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha and graduated summa cum laude. During medical school, Dr. Lee spent six months investigating predictors of surgical success following hypoglossal nerve stimulation for obstructive sleep apnea. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys travel, attempting to cook, dance cardio classes and spending time with her loved ones.
Selected publications
- Lee CH, Mulholland GB, Dedhia RC. Transoral Versus Endoscopic Examination in Predicting Outcomes of Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 13]. Laryngoscope. 2020;10.1002/lary.28779. doi:10.1002/lary.28779
- Lee CH, Seay EG, Walters BK, Scalzitti NJ, Dedhia RC. Therapeutic Positive Airway Pressure Level Predicts Response to Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2019;15(8):1165-1172. doi:10.5664/jcsm.7814
Elliot Morse, MD, MHS
Originally from New York City, Dr. Morse is a graduate of Yale University, where she graduated with a degree in Psychology with a Neuroscience concentration. She then attended medical school at the Yale School of Medicine. In medical school, she served on the medical student council board and as an interviewer for the medical school admissions committee. She spent an additional year completing a masters in health sciences for which she received funding from the Yale-NIH Medical Student Research Fellowship. Her research that year resulted in multiple publications and oral presentations. At graduation, she won the CT Chapter of the American College of Surgeons Prize for excellence in surgery, and the Perkins Prize for excellence on the USMLE Step I examination. Since starting at NYP, she has become involved with research in hypoglossal nerve stimulation, head and neck cancer, and the operative experience of female otolaryngologists. She is planning on applying into sleep surgery fellowships to pursue a career in academic sleep surgery.
Selected publications
- Morse E, Han C, Suurna M. Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulator Implantation in an Ambulatory Surgery Center Versus Hospital. Laryngoscope. 2022 Mar;132(3):706-710. doi: 10.1002/lary.29875. Epub 2021 Sep 24. PMID: 34559404.
- Morse E, Lohia S, Dooley LM, Gupta P, Roman BR. Travel distance is associated with stage at presentation and laryngectomy rates among patients with laryngeal cancer. J Surg Oncol. 2021 Dec;124(8):1272-1283. doi: 10.1002/jso.26643. Epub 2021 Aug 14. PMID: 34390494.
Aaron Oswald, MD
Hailing from Ithaca, New York, Dr. Oswald is a graduate of Cornell University, where he majored in Biology and was a black belt member of the Tae Kwon Do team. He then attended medical school at Weill Cornell Medical College. During this time, he was awarded the Howard Hughes Medical Research Fellowship and spent an additional year at Rockefeller University investigating molecular mechanisms of hearing. At graduation, he won the Frederick M. Brown, M.D. Award for Allergy and Immunology. Outside of hospital, Dr. Oswald enjoys cooking new recipes, running, rock climbing and sailing.
Selected publications
- Cao C, Oswald AB, Fabella BA, et al. The CaV1.2 L-type calcium channel regulates bone homeostasis in the middle and inner ear. Bone. 2019;125:160-168. doi:10.1016/j.bone.2019.05.024
- Bartsch TF, Hengel FE, Oswald A, et al. Elasticity of individual protocadherin 15 molecules implicates tip links as the gating springs for hearing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019;116(22):11048-11056. doi:10.1073/pnas.1902163116
Andre Shomorony, MD
Hailing from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dr. Shomorony is a graduate of Yale University, where he majored in Biomedical Engineering. After college, he completed a research fellowship at the NIH, developing new methods of scanning electron microscopy for cellular imaging of pancreatic tissue. He then obtained his medical degree from the combined Harvard Medical School / MIT Health Sciences and Technology program. During that time, he used his bioengineering background to develop novel local anesthetic formulations for safer and more effective pain management. While in medical school, Dr. Shomorony was awarded the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. Outside of work, he enjoys playing the guitar, playing soccer, and spending time with his family and friends.
Selected publications
- Shomorony A, Chern A, Long, SM et al. Essential Inpatient Otolaryngology: What COVID-19 Has Revealed. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology. 2021 (in press)
- Shomorony A, Puram S, Johnson D et al. A non-oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and the pitfalls of HPV testing: A case report. Otolaryngology Case Reports. 2019;13:100129. doi:10.1016/j.xocr.2019.100129
PGY-3
David Liao, MD
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Liao is a graduate of the Macaulay Honors College at CUNY Hunter College where he earned a degree in Psychology with a focus on Behavioral Neuroscience and was Valedictorian of his class. After college, he worked in an outpatient surgical practice that was at the forefront of the diagnosis and treatment of HPV-related anorectal disease. He then attended the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he received funding to conduct an additional year of research with distinguished mentors within the Department of Otolaryngology. During medical school, he also took part in community sexual health education, peer mentoring, and advocating for better LGBTQ+ health education in the medical school curriculum. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys Hip Hop dance classes, yoga, and food halls.
Selected publications
- Liao D, Ishii LE, Chen LW, Chen J, Darrach HM, Juarez MM, Kumar AR, Russell JO, Tufano RP, Ishii M. Transoral neck surgery prevents attentional bias towards the neck compared to open neck surgery. Laryngoscope. 2020;130(6):1603-1608. doi: 10.1002/lary.28305
- Liao D, Ishii LE, Chen J, Chen LW, Kumar AR, Papel ID, Kontis TC, Byrne PJ, Boahene KDO, Ishii M. How old do I look? Exploring the facial cues of age in a tasked eye-tracking study. Facial Plast Surg & Aesthet Med. 2020;22(1):36-41. doi: 10.1089/fpsam.2019.29001.lia
Alexandra Michalowski, MD
Originally from Baltimore, Dr. Michalowski is a graduate of Yeshiva University where she graduated with a degree in Psychology and a concentration in Neuroscience. After college, with the intention of pursing a PhD, she worked as a research coordinator at Mount Sinai School of Medicine investigating the efficacy of combining behavioral modifications with pharmacological intervention in nicotine cessation. During this time, she decided to pursue a career in medicine and completed post-baccalaureate coursework. While applying to medical school, she worked as a medical scribe in the Department of Otolaryngology at Weill Cornell, where she first realized her passion for Otolaryngology. She then attended medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she was on the board of TEACH and inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha. During medical school, she researched the feasibility of using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to treat chronic cough. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys exploring new places with her family, making photo collages, taking barre classes, and trying out restaurants in the city.
Selected publications
- Michalowski A, Erblich J. Reward dependence moderates smoking-cue- and stress-induced cigarette cravings. Addict Behav. 2014;39(12):1879-1883. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.07.032
- Michalowski A, Kacker A. Is sinus surgery indicated for recurrent acute rhinosinusitis?. Laryngoscope. 2017;127(6):1255-1256. doi:10.1002/lary.26437
Michelle Yu, MD
Originally from southern California, Dr. Yu is a graduate of Stanford University where she graduated with a degree in Biomedical Computation. After college, she spent a year developing sustainable natural materials, such as synthetic spider silk, at the biotech company Bolt Threads, Inc. She then attended medical school at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, where she graduated with a masters degree in Biomedical Sciences. During medical school, Dr. Yu contributed to the development of novel surgical devices, investigating the application of microneedles to the diagnosis and treatment of inner ear diseases. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys ceramics, sailing, Spikeball, and propagating succulents.
Selected publications
- Yu M, Arteaga DN, Aksit A, et al. Anatomical and Functional Consequences of Microneedle Perforation of Round Window Membrane. Otol Neurotol. 2020;41(2):e280-e287. doi:10.1097/MAO.0000000000002491
- Chiang H, Yu M, Aksit A, et al. 3D-Printed Microneedles Create Precise Perforations in Human Round Window Membrane in Situ. Otol Neurotol. 2020;41(2):277-284. doi:10.1097/MAO.0000000000002480
Victoria Yu, MD
Dr. Yu grew up in San Jose, California. She attended Dartmouth College, where she graduated with high honors in Biology and Economics. After college she worked as a management consult at Artisan Healthcare Consulting, advising pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. She attended medical school at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. While there she helped to run CoSMO, a student-run clinic, and investigated proprioception and reinnervation of the larynx. She was awarded the Coakley Memorial Prize for outstanding achievement in otolaryngology and the Alfred M. Markowitz Endowment for Scholars for dedication to patient care, teaching, and scholarship. Outside the hospital she enjoys baking for friends, following fashion blogs, doing nail art, and Chelsea galleries hopping.
Selected publications
- Yu, V. X., Hernandez-Morato, I., Morton, S., Pitman, M.J. “New Insights Regarding Proprioceptive Innervation ofthe Rat Larynx.” Oral presentation at Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation; Sep 2019; New Orleans, LA
- Yu, V.X., Yiu, Y., Pitman, M.J. “False Vocal Fold (FVF) Botulinum Toxin Injection for Central Nervous System (CNS) Related Supraglottic Spasticity Causing Severe Vocal Strain: A Preliminary Study.” Poster presentation at American Laryngological Association’s 2019 Spring Meeting at COSM; May 2019; Austin, TX
PGY-2
Lucas Axiotakis, MD
Raised in Pennsylvania, Dr. Axiotakis attended Johns Hopkins University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology. For two years after college, he performed research in cell biology at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. He went on to attend medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, receiving a Donald M. Palatucci Prize at graduation. While at Columbia, he was involved in music and the arts and a student-run clinic. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys listening to records, riding his bike, writing, and playing guitar and drums.
Selected publications
- Axiotakis LG Jr, Youngerman BE, Casals RK, et al. Risk of Acquiring Perioperative COVID-19 During the Initial Pandemic Peak: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Ann Surg. 2021;273(1):41-48. doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000004586
- Axiotakis LG Jr, Enver N, Keating CL, Pitman MJ. Laryngeal Injury Due to Amikacin Inhalation for Refractory Mycobacterium avium Complex Infection. Chest. 2021;159(4):e185-e187. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2020.11.045
Mark Lee, MD
Hailing from Honolulu, Hawai'i, Dr. Lee is a graduate of The University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, where he graduated with degrees in Mathematics and Molecular Cell Biology. He then attended medical school at Weill Cornell Medicine. In medical school, he conducted research on voice pathologies with the Sean Parker Institute for the Voice, as well as head and neck cancers at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. For his research, he was awarded the Arthur Palmer Prize for Efficiency in Otolaryngology from Weill Cornell Medicine and Casselberry Award from the American Laryngological Association. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys swimming, cliff jumping, cooking, and making gadgets with 3D printing.
Selected publications
- Lee M, Mau T, Sulica L. Patterns of Recurrence of Phonotraumatic Vocal Fold Lesions Suggest Distinct Mechanisms of Injury [published online ahead of print, 2021 Apr 9]. Laryngoscope. 2021;10.1002/lary.29531. doi:10.1002/lary.29531
- Lee M, Ang C, Andreadis K, Shin J, Rameau A. An Open-Source Three-Dimensionally Printed Laryngeal Model for Injection Laryngoplasty Training. Laryngoscope. 2021;131(3):E890-E895. doi:10.1002/lary.28952
Katie Tai, MD
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Dr. Tai is a graduate of Dartmouth College, where she graduated with degrees in biology and philosophy. After college, she worked in management consulting in Boston. She then attended medical school at Johns Hopkins. During medical school, she contributed to research on immunotherapy treatments in orthopedic oncology, transoral thyroidectomy outcomes, as well as olfactory dysfunction. She also volunteered in the pediatric oncology department and lead the Outdoors Club. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys many outdoors activities like skiing, hiking, and climbing, as well as spending time with her husband and cat.
Selected publications
- Tai K.T., El Abiad J.M., Morris C.D., Markowski M.C., & Levin A.S. Comparing the responses of osseous versus soft-tissue metastases of renal cell carcinoma to receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy. Kidney Cancer. 2020, Jul; 4(3): 151-158.
- Russell JO, Razavi CR, Shaear M, et al. Transoral Thyroidectomy: Safety and Outcomes of 200 Consecutive North American Cases. World J Surg. 2021;45(3):774-781. doi:10.1007/s00268-020-05874-8
Rachel Weitzman, MD, MPH, MS
Originally from Los Angeles, California, Dr. Weitzman graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and earned a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Biochemistry and a Master of Science in Chemistry. She then attended Harvard Medical School, where she graduated with a Medical Degree with honors and a Master of Public Health in Health Management from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. During that time, Dr. Weitzman volunteered at the Crimson Care Collaborative Chelsea, led the John Warren Surgical Society and Otolaryngology Interest Group, and conducted clinical research in otolaryngology that culminated in her honors thesis entitled "Subjective symptomatology in nasal obstruction and satisfaction with nasal appearance following septorhinoplasty with spreader graft placement." Outside of the hospital, Dr. Weitzman enjoys playing tennis, baking, and spending time with family and friends.
Selected publications
- Weitzman RE, Gadkaree SK, Justicz NS, Lindsay RW. Patient-Perceived Nasal Appearance After Septorhinoplasty With Spreader Versus Extended Spreader Graft. Laryngoscope. 2021;131(4):765-772. doi:10.1002/lary.28974
- Weitzman RE, Feng AL, Justicz N, Gadkaree SK, Lindsay RW. Unilateral Nasal Obstruction Causes Symptom Severity Scores Similar to Bilateral Nasal Obstruction. Facial Plast Surg. 2020;36(4):487-492. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1714265
PGY-1
Ian Caplan, MD
Hailing from suburban Philadelphia, Dr. Caplan is a graduate of Georgetown University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in neurobiology. He then attended medical school at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha. In medical school, he served as co-president of the ENT interest group and pursued research in both surgical outcome risk stratification and rare diseases. Dr. Caplan also spent one year at the Columbia Irving Medical Center as a research assistant investigating the embryologic innervation patterns of the rat larynx. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys watching Philadelphia sports, cooking new recipes, and spending time with his wife Jacqueline and dog Nola.
Selected publications
- Caplan IF, Hernandez-Morato I, Pitman MJ. Temporal expression of Laminin-111 in the developing rat larynx. Neuroscience Letters. 2022;781. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2022.136658
- Caplan IF, Prasad A, Carey RM, Brody RM, Cannady SB, Rajasekaran K, Bur AM, Lukens JN, Briceño CA, Newman JG, Brant JA. Primary Orbital Melanoma: An Investigation of a Rare Malignancy Using the National Cancer Database. Laryngoscope. 2021;131(8):1790-1797. doi:10.1002/lary.29428
Margareta Morrissette, MD
Originally from Romania, Dr. Morrissette is a graduate of University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she graduated with degrees in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and French and Francophone studies. She then attended medical school at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. In medical school, she contributed to research on tympanostomy tube selection in pediatric patients. She volunteered with BASIS, a mentoring program for underrepresented high school students from the community and was the captain of the NYUGSoM soccer intramural league. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys skiing, surfing, soccer, and Spikeball in Central Park with her husband.
Selected publications
- Liu B, Ianosi-Irimie M, Thayumanavan S. Reversible Click Chemistry for Ultrafast and Quantitative Formation of Protein-Polymer Nanoassembly and Intracellular Protein Delivery. ACS Nano. 2019 Aug 27;13(8):9408-9420. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.9b04198. Epub 2019 Jul 26. PMID: 31335116; PMCID: PMC6713578.
Nikki Pereira, MD
Hailing from Baltimore, MD by way of Houston, TX, Dr. Pereira is a graduate of the University of Miami where she graduated with degrees in Economics and International Affairs. After college, she completed a post-baccalaureate program at Goucher College. She then attended medical school at Weill Cornell Medical College where she was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha and awarded the Arthur Palmer Prize for Efficiency in Otolaryngology. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys traveling, competing in pub trivia, and spending time at The Met.
Selected publications
- Pereira NM, Modi VK. Endoscopic Anterior and Posterior Cricoid Split for Bilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis. Laryngoscope. 2022 Feb;132(2):459-460. doi: 10.1002/lary.29752.
- Pereira NM, Sclafani AP, Kacker A. Adverse Event Reporting in Otolaryngology. Laryngoscope. 2021 Mar;131(3):509-512. doi: 10.1002/lary.28861.
Peter Yao, MD
Hailing from Livingston, New Jersey, Dr. Yao is a graduate of Princeton University where he graduated with a degree in Computer Science. After college, he spent a year traveling through Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. He then attended medical school at Weill Cornell Medical College. In medical school, he was awarded the American Laryngological Voice and Research Education Grant to pursue an additional year of research on deep learning for automated vocal fold polyp recognition in laryngoscopic videos under the mentorship of Dr. Anaïs Rameau. He graduated with honors in research and was awarded the James A. Moore Scholarship for excellence in otolaryngology. He is interested in the interface between artificial intelligence and otolaryngology. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys eating, cooking, scuba diving, home improvement, and turning his apartment into a jungle.
Selected publications
- Yao P, Witte D, Gimonet H, German A, Andreadis K, Cheng M, Sulica L, Elemento O, Barnes J, Rameau A. Automatic classification of informative laryngoscopic images using deep learning. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2022 Feb 8;7(2):460-466. doi: 10.1002/lio2.754. PMID: 35434326; PMCID: PMC9008155.
- Yao P, Usman M, Chen YH, German A, Andreadis K, Mages K, Rameau A. Applications of Artificial Intelligence to Office Laryngoscopy: A Scoping Review. Laryngoscope. 2021 Sep 28. doi: 10.1002/lary.29886. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34582043.