Pittsburgh, June 25, 2023 -- A special black-tie graduation reception and dinner was held Saturday, June 24, at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium honoring Hanna Algattas, MD; Edward Andrews, MD; Kamil Nowicki, MD, PhD; and Xiaoran Zhang, MD, on their successful completion of the UPMC/University of Pittsburgh’s seven-year neurological surgery residency program. The event was attended by more than 100 faculty members, colleagues, family and friends.
Following graduation, Dr. Algattas will join the faculty at the University of Buffalo as an assistant professor; Dr. Andrews has accepted a position as assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh; Dr. Nowicki will head to Yale University to serve a one-year endovascular fellowship; and Dr. Zhang will join Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Institute in New York for a neurosurgical oncology fellowship.
The department also recognized the graduating residents for the following completed fellowships: Dr. Algattas (Skull Base and Sports); Dr. Andrews, (Neurosurgical Oncology and Sports); and Dr. Zhang (Neurosurgical Oncology).
Annual teaching awards were also announced at the dinner. Dr. Zhang was selected as the best resident teacher as chosen by department faculty and Nitin Agarwal, MD, was announced as the best faculty teacher by the residents.
Special awards were also presented to PGY-5 resident Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar, MD—Highest ABNS Score Award—and Dr. Andrews—Aequanimitas Award for humility, compassion and excellent care of patients.
In addition, the department took time to pay special tribute to Melissa Lukehart, department residency coordinator for over 25 years, one of the longest serving residency coordinators in the country. In honoring Melissa, Costas Hadjipanayis, MD, PhD, executive vice chair for the department, remarked that, “she has been a pillar for the department. She’s tireless and supportive, and she’s nurtured over 75 residents, which is incredible.”
Department chair Robert Friedlander, MD, also paid special recognition to Matt El-Kadi, MD, PhD, department vice chair and chief of neurosurgery at UPMC Passavant, for his leadership and help over the years.
As the department honored its graduating residents, it also welcomed four new residents Hussein Abdallah, MD; Stephanie Casillo, MD; Albin John, MD; and Oliver Tang, MD.
Special thanks to Stacey Lang, department executive administrator, and Barbara DeRiggi, project analyst and executive assistant to Dr. Friedlander, for organizing this event.