
Justin Miller, MD
2024 Graduate
College: Auburn University
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Dr. Miller joined Cardiac Surgery Associates, practicing Adult Cardiac Surgery at Lutheran General and Good Samaritan Hospital.
2024 Graduate
College: Auburn University
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Dr. Miller joined Cardiac Surgery Associates, practicing Adult Cardiac Surgery at Lutheran General and Good Samaritan Hospital.

Kody Wyant, DO
2024 Graduate
College: University of Illinois at Chicago
Medical School: Marian University
General Surgery Residency: St. Vincent's Hospital
Dr. Wyant practices Adult Cardiac Surgery and Thoracic Surgery in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in the Aurora BayCare system
https://baycareclinic.com/doctor-or-provider/kody-wyant-do/
2024 Graduate
College: University of Illinois at Chicago
Medical School: Marian University
General Surgery Residency: St. Vincent's Hospital
Dr. Wyant practices Adult Cardiac Surgery and Thoracic Surgery in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in the Aurora BayCare system
https://baycareclinic.com/doctor-or-provider/kody-wyant-do/

Manuel Rojo, MD
2023 Graduate
College: University of New Mexico
Medical School: University of New Mexico
Vascular Surgery Residency: Houston Methodist Hospital
Dr. Rojo has joined the faculty at Loyola as an Adult Cardiac Surgeon at Loyola and Hines VA Hospital with a special interest in surgery of the great vessels, and advanced surgery of the aortic valve, including catheter based approaches.
2023 Graduate
College: University of New Mexico
Medical School: University of New Mexico
Vascular Surgery Residency: Houston Methodist Hospital
Dr. Rojo has joined the faculty at Loyola as an Adult Cardiac Surgeon at Loyola and Hines VA Hospital with a special interest in surgery of the great vessels, and advanced surgery of the aortic valve, including catheter based approaches.

John Tedesco, DO
2023 Graduate
College: St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY
Graduate School: MS, Cell and Molecular Biology, City College of New York
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Stamford Hospital
Dr. Tedesco is a Transplant and Thoracic Surgeon at the Norton Thoracic Institute in Phoenix, Arizona
2023 Graduate
College: St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY
Graduate School: MS, Cell and Molecular Biology, City College of New York
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Stamford Hospital
Dr. Tedesco is a Transplant and Thoracic Surgeon at the Norton Thoracic Institute in Phoenix, Arizona

Andrew Lin, MD
2022 Graduate
College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Medical School: Wake Forest
General Surgery Residency: St. Luke's University Health Network
Dr. Lin is a Transplant and Adult Cardiac Surgeon at St. Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2022 Graduate
College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Medical School: Wake Forest
General Surgery Residency: St. Luke's University Health Network
Dr. Lin is a Transplant and Adult Cardiac Surgeon at St. Luke's Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Bethany Harpole, MD
2022 Graduate
College: Cedarville University
Medical School: University of Iowa College of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: University of Kansas at Wichita
Dr. Harpole practices Adult Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery as a member of Wichita Surgical Specialists in Kansas
2022 Graduate
College: Cedarville University
Medical School: University of Iowa College of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: University of Kansas at Wichita
Dr. Harpole practices Adult Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery as a member of Wichita Surgical Specialists in Kansas

Issa Rezek, MD
2021 Graduate
Graduate School: Mayo Graduate School
Medical School: Damascus University
General Surgery Residency: Yale University
Dr. Rezek practices Adult Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery as a member of the Northwest Medical Group in Northwest Indiana.
2021 Graduate
Graduate School: Mayo Graduate School
Medical School: Damascus University
General Surgery Residency: Yale University
Dr. Rezek practices Adult Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery as a member of the Northwest Medical Group in Northwest Indiana.

Ashley Zander, DO
2021 Graduate
College: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Medical School: Rocky Vista University School of Osteopathic Medicine
General Surgery Residency: United States Navy Medical Center, San Diego
Dr. Zander is a Staff Cardiothoracic Surgeon at the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command in San Diego, and an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Kostantinos Poulikidis, MD
2020 Graduate
College: Stony Brook University
Medical School: New York Medical College
General Surgery Residency: Stamford Hospital
Dr. Poulikidis completed a fellowship in minimally invasive thoracic surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and now practices at the Hackensack Meridian Health Group in New Jersey, where he also serves as an educator for the residents and medical students who rotate there.

Lee Gerson, MD
2020 Graduate
College: University of Pennsylvania
Medical School: Tufts School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Morristown Medical Center
Dr. Gerson is the Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Lincoln Hospital in the NYC Health+ Hospital System.

John Costello, MD
College: University of Wisconsin at Madison
Medical School: Johns Hopkins
General Surgery Residency: Georgetown
After continuing his training at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children and at Chicago's Lurie Children's Hospital, Dr. Costello completed a categorical congenital fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation program, and has joined their faculty.
College: University of Wisconsin at Madison
Medical School: Johns Hopkins
General Surgery Residency: Georgetown
After continuing his training at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children and at Chicago's Lurie Children's Hospital, Dr. Costello completed a categorical congenital fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation program, and has joined their faculty.

Charles Ghee, MD
College: Oglethorpe
Graduate School: Georgia State
Medical School: Morehouse
General Surgery Residency: INOVA at Fairfax, Virginia
Dr. Ghee joined Cardiac Surgery Associates and now practices Adult Cardiovascular and Thoracic surgery at St. Josephs's Hospital in Joliet, Illinois.
College: Oglethorpe
Graduate School: Georgia State
Medical School: Morehouse
General Surgery Residency: INOVA at Fairfax, Virginia
Dr. Ghee joined Cardiac Surgery Associates and now practices Adult Cardiovascular and Thoracic surgery at St. Josephs's Hospital in Joliet, Illinois.

Tedi Vlahu, MD
College: Indiana University
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners in Affiliation with Michigan State University
Dr. Vlahu completed a fellowship in minimally invasive/robot assisted valvular surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, and has joined Cardiac Surgery Associates in Chicago.
College: Indiana University
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners in Affiliation with Michigan State University
Dr. Vlahu completed a fellowship in minimally invasive/robot assisted valvular surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, and has joined Cardiac Surgery Associates in Chicago.

Dharmraj Chauhan, MD
College: University of Michigan
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Morristown Medical Center
Dr. Chauhan is practicing at Memorial Hermann in Houston, Texas. His adult cardiothoracic surgery practice consists of valvular surgery, coronary revascularization, and surgery of the great vessels.

Ashok Venkataraman, MD
College: National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
Medical School: National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dr. Venkataraman is practicing at the Oregon Heart and Vascular Institute at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center RiverBend. His adult cardiothoracic surgery practice focuses on valvular heart surgery, trans catheter valve therapies, atrial fibrillation surgery, and minimally invasive lung resections utilizing the Da Vinci Xi robotic platform.

Rachel Hargrove, MD
College: The University of the South
Medical School: Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Loma Linda University
Dr Hargrove is practicing in the South California/Los Angeles area. Her practice covers the full spectrum of Adult Cardiac surgery, with an emphasis on minimally invasive valve surgery, and minimally invasive coronary revascularization.

Chris Clancy, MD
College: Kent State University
Medical School: Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Medical College of Toledo
Dr. Clancy has returned to his West Ohio/East Indiana roots and is working as a Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon in Indiana.
College: Kent State University
Medical School: Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine
General Surgery Residency: Medical College of Toledo
Dr. Clancy has returned to his West Ohio/East Indiana roots and is working as a Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon in Indiana.

Shea Pribyl, DO
College: United States Merchant Marine Academy
Graduate School: MBA, Rockhurst University
Medical School: University Health Science College of Osteopathic Medicine-Kansas City
General Surgery Residency: Keesler Air Force Base Medical Center
Dr. Pribyl continues to serve as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon in the United States Air Force and is currently stationed at Travis Air Force Base.
College: United States Merchant Marine Academy
Graduate School: MBA, Rockhurst University
Medical School: University Health Science College of Osteopathic Medicine-Kansas City
General Surgery Residency: Keesler Air Force Base Medical Center
Dr. Pribyl continues to serve as a Cardiothoracic Surgeon in the United States Air Force and is currently stationed at Travis Air Force Base.

Ryan Plichta, MD
Previously considered a Loyola lifer, Dr Plichta completed medical school and general surgery residency after spending time as a research scientist. His interests at Loyola included the large volume of mitral valve repairs, reoperative procedures, and TAVR. After a fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in aortic surgery and TEVAR, he joined the faculty at Duke University as an Assistant Professor and Program Director of their Aortic Surgery Fellowship. In 2023, he joined UNC Health REX Cardiac Surgical Specialists in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Previously considered a Loyola lifer, Dr Plichta completed medical school and general surgery residency after spending time as a research scientist. His interests at Loyola included the large volume of mitral valve repairs, reoperative procedures, and TAVR. After a fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in aortic surgery and TEVAR, he joined the faculty at Duke University as an Assistant Professor and Program Director of their Aortic Surgery Fellowship. In 2023, he joined UNC Health REX Cardiac Surgical Specialists in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Parth Amin, MD
Dr Amin completed general surgery, critical care, and vascular surgery training prior to joining the academic faculty at the University of Iowa. He chose to further his training at Loyola because of the rich experience in complex adult cardiac surgery, heart and lung transplantation, and aortic surgery. He has since moved back to Michigan and is working as a cardiac and vascular surgeon at Bronson Health in Kalamazoo.
Dr Amin completed general surgery, critical care, and vascular surgery training prior to joining the academic faculty at the University of Iowa. He chose to further his training at Loyola because of the rich experience in complex adult cardiac surgery, heart and lung transplantation, and aortic surgery. He has since moved back to Michigan and is working as a cardiac and vascular surgeon at Bronson Health in Kalamazoo.

Brett Beecher, MD
University Medical Group Cardiothoracic Surgery
Augusta, Georgia, USA
An Oklahoma native, Dr Beecher, was interested in cardiac surgery from early on his training. He came to Loyola after completing his general surgery residency in his home state. His primary interest in the Loyola program was its long standing history of producing independent cardiothoracic surgeons in two years. He now practices at Cleveland Clinic Martin Health in Stuart, Florida, and has been instrumental in developing the robotic thoracic service line there.
University Medical Group Cardiothoracic Surgery
Augusta, Georgia, USA
An Oklahoma native, Dr Beecher, was interested in cardiac surgery from early on his training. He came to Loyola after completing his general surgery residency in his home state. His primary interest in the Loyola program was its long standing history of producing independent cardiothoracic surgeons in two years. He now practices at Cleveland Clinic Martin Health in Stuart, Florida, and has been instrumental in developing the robotic thoracic service line there.

Jason Frazier, MD
Community Healthcare Partners
Northwest Indiana, USA
Dr Frazier began his medical training at Loyola and has not left the area since moving from Washington D.C. His primary interest in the Loyola cardiovascular program was the acuity and breadth of experience offered to the fellows. He served as Chief of the Hines VA Cardiothoracic Surgery service for several years before beginning his current practice in Adult Cardiac and General Thoracic Surgery with Community Healthcare Partners in Northwest Indiana.
Community Healthcare Partners
Northwest Indiana, USA
Dr Frazier began his medical training at Loyola and has not left the area since moving from Washington D.C. His primary interest in the Loyola cardiovascular program was the acuity and breadth of experience offered to the fellows. He served as Chief of the Hines VA Cardiothoracic Surgery service for several years before beginning his current practice in Adult Cardiac and General Thoracic Surgery with Community Healthcare Partners in Northwest Indiana.

Alfred Casillan, MD, PhD
Dr Casillan completed undergraduate work, general surgery residency, and a Ph.D. in molecular biology at the University of Kansas prior to starting his training at Loyola. Here, he developed an interest in heart and lung transplantation and dedicated a formal year to these interests. He is currently practicing in Springfield, Illinois.
Dr Casillan completed undergraduate work, general surgery residency, and a Ph.D. in molecular biology at the University of Kansas prior to starting his training at Loyola. Here, he developed an interest in heart and lung transplantation and dedicated a formal year to these interests. He is currently practicing in Springfield, Illinois.