Team-based training at one of the most advanced hospitals in the state.
The surgery program at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center has a long and storied history. The first medical school graduates were accepted for postgraduate training at Georgia Baptist Hospital in 1940, including training in surgery. In 1958, the surgical training program was accredited under the direction of Dr. Alva Hamblin Letton and Dr. John Page Wilson with one resident graduating per year. In 1983, Dr. George Lucas established an affiliation with the Medical College of Georgia and students began to rotate at Georgia Baptist Hospital for their core clinical clerkships. As a result, top students from throughout the Southeast were drawn to Georgia Baptist Hospital and began to fill the program. Over the course of 5 decades, transitioning from Georgia Baptist Hospital, to Atlanta Medical Center and now to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, the program has continuously contributed to graduate medical education and produced over a hundred practicing surgeons, many of whom chose to stay in Georgia.
Today, Wellstar general surgery residents train in the trauma program at our flagship hospital, ACGME-accredited Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. I am a graduate of Atlanta Medical Center, have acted as the associate program director since 2018 and am now the program director.
Graduates of the program have selected careers ranging from academics to urban or rural private practice. Some graduates have gone on to practice general surgery and others have gone on to pursue fellowship training in breast, vascular, minimally invasive, colorectal, plastics, endocrine, hepatobiliary, transplant and hand surgery. Regardless of each trainee’s career choice, the goal of the residency program is to train residents to become confident and competent general surgeons. Residents receive early operative experience and participate in a wide variety of training environments.
The greatest strength of the program is the close relationship among the residents themselves and the relationship between the residents and attending faculty. We encourage third- and fourth-year medical students to apply for visiting rotations on our service to get a feel for the program.
PGY-1 Rotations
* Night float is incorporated during months on trauma surgery
PGY-2 Rotations
PGY-3 Rotations
PGY-4 Rotations
PGY-5 Rotations
General surgery residents enjoy rotations at a variety of hospitals including:
Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center (WKRMC), Wellstar Cobb Medical Center (WCMC), Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center (WNFMC), Piedmont Atlanta Hospital (PAH), Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA)
All residents have the opportunity to participate in clinical research and quality improvement measures. Travel funds are available for presentations at regional and national conferences.
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
Perfectly positioned between the north Georgia mountains and the city of Atlanta, Marietta is the ideal place for young professionals and growing families. Equal parts hip and hometown, it’s a bustling city with a small-town feel.
Marietta’s historic downtown square is alive with activity, hosting regular farmers markets, concerts, and festivals. The Battery and Truist Park (home of the Atlanta Braves) provide entertainment for everyone in the Vinings neighborhood. Marietta is also a short drive to Downtown Atlanta and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport.
Residents are able to build elective time into their schedule if they have a strong interest in a specialty not otherwise represented in our curriculum.
All residents receive $1,000 in funds yearly to use for academic purchases.
The program provides loupes to all categorical residents in their first year.
Yes.
The residents have access to FLS trainers, the FES training system and the robotic simulator. Use of these trainers is built into the curriculum, and this is supplemented by independent resident time on the trainers.
Residents are unable to take a dedicated year of research at this time, but they are able to perform clinical research throughout training.
The program supports residents who have presentations accepted at conferences. All fourth-year residents attend the ACS leadership conference, and all fifth-year residents are supported to attend the Clinical Congress.
The residents have access to doctors’ lounges and meal stipends at all participating sites.
Dr. Kington is a proud graduate of the Atlanta Medical Center general surgery program. She completed her fellowship at Augusta University in surgical critical care before returning to AMC to practice in general, trauma and acute care surgery.
Upon returning to AMC, Dr. Kington took on the role of associate program director under Dr. Philip Ramsay. At the time of the hospital closure, Dr. Kington was instrumental in completing the transfer of the residency program to Kennestone.
Dr. Kington completed her medical education at East Tennessee State University. She is an active member of the Association of Program Directors in Surgery, with a position on the global surgery taskforce committee. She is also a member of the Southeastern Surgical Congress and the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, and she is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
With a passion to ensure everyone has access to world-class trauma care, Dr. Kington is an active course director of Advanced Trauma Life Support. Her research interests include access to and disparities in medical care, as well as resident wellness. She lives with her husband and two children in the Old Fourth Ward, where she is an active member of the community and a board member of the Hope-Hill Foundation.
Dr. Avi Bhavaraju, a Los Angeles native, is a dedicated surgical educator deeply committed to education, mentorship and career development. He is a fervent advocate for advancing surgical education and shaping the next generation of surgeons.
After completing his general surgery residency at Atlanta Medical Center and a two-year acute care surgery fellowship at Vanderbilt University, he returned to Atlanta and began his career at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center, helping develop and grow the trauma center here at its inception. He then successfully developed a career as an academic acute care surgeon at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Arkansas, before returning to Wellstar Kennestone in December 2023.
He brings with him a wealth of clinical and leadership experience in both the academic and community settings and is committed to providing exceptional care to every patient he sees, maintaining the fundamental philosophy of treating every patient like they are your own family member. He has a passion for advancing trauma care and education locally, regionally and nationally. His clinical interests include hemorrhage control, management of shock, principles of resuscitation, rural trauma, trauma system development and critical care.
Dr. Fields was born and raised in eastern Kentucky. He graduated Cum Laude from the Honors Program at the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in Biology. He went on to receive his medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine where he graduated with a Distinction in Research. He received his surgical training at Wellstar Health System in Atlanta, Georgia. During residency, his research interests included the effects of obesity on the development of postoperative hypoparathyroidism following thyroid surgery, as well as the development of hypocalcemia in patients that were hyperthyroid at the time of surgery. He is a member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES). Within the AAES, he has been a member of the Clinical Practice Committee and the Fellowship Accreditation Committee. He has interests in medical education as well as global health. He has completed his fellowship in Endocrine Surgery at the University of Michigan and is joining the General Surgery practice at Wellstar Cobb Hospital as well as the program leadership for the general surgery residency.
Dr. Bashan has been an integral part of the trauma, ACS and SICU teams at Wellstar Kennestone since 2018. With a particular interest in process and quality improvement, she currently serves as the trauma medical director. Ahead of this appointment, she served as the critical care director from 2020 to 2024. Dr. Bashan received her Bachelor of Science in physiology and neurobiology from the University of Connecticut in 2001. She completed her residency in general surgery at Emory University, followed by a fellowship in burn surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital and a fellowship in surgical critical care at the University of North Carolina.
Dr. Holloway attended The University of Texas for undergraduate and completed medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. An interest in trauma coupled with his affinity for a smaller, closer-knit community led him to a general surgery residency at Atlanta Medical Center. Residency strengthened his desire to pursue a career in trauma, but also helped him to appreciate the full breadth of general surgery and fostered a love for the city of Atlanta.
He completed his fellowship in trauma/critical care at Baylor and then returned to Georgia, taking a job a Wellstar North Fulton. His surgical practice allows flexibility in both depth and breadth, offering a good mix of elective general, trauma and acute care surgery. Dr. Holloway has also been doing more and more robotics.
He currently serves as the trauma medical director and the director of trauma critical care. Outside of the hospital he enjoys spending time with friends, good food and drink, hiking/camping, golf, exercising, amateur woodworking and pretty much anything involving competition.
Dr. Fritz Jean-Pierre is medical director of comprehensive bariatric services at
Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. He is a skilled bariatric surgeon who specializes in the latest minimally invasive techniques. He primarily performs laparoscopic and robotic bariatric procedures for the treatment of morbid obesity and metabolic disorders.
Dr. Jean-Pierre completed his surgical residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago Mount Sinai Hospital and his fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at the Morehouse School of Medicine affiliated program at the Atlanta Medical Center. Dr. Jean-Pierre is a member of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, and he is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Justice is a board-certified surgeon in both general surgery and surgical critical care. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia and received her MD at the Medical College of Georgia, where she also completed her general surgery residency. She completed a surgical critical care fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
After completing her fellowship, she served as the instructor of surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and later went on to serve as the clinical assistant professor of surgery at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.
Her clinical interests include trauma surgery, surgical critical care and acute care surgery. In her free time, she’s interested in UGA football, world travel and fashion.
Publications:
Justice, GL. Stomach. In: Dangleben DA, Madbak FG, eds. ABSITE Slayer. 2nd edition. McGraw Hill; 2021: page numbers 185-202.
Dr. Ki Wan Kim has been employed at Wellstar as a thoracic surgeon since August 2019. He was affiliated with the University of Chicago Medical Center, from August 2011 to July 2019, holding the title of clinical assistant professor. He was also employed at NorthShore University Health System from August 2011 to July 2019, holding the title of thoracic surgeon and served as interim chief of thoracic surgery from March 2016 to July 2019.
Dr. Kim completed a Doctor of Medicine from the Keck School of Medicine at University of Southern California in 2003 and continued his general surgery training at USC. He then completed a thoracic surgery fellowship with general thoracic track at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 2009.
Dr. Kim has special interests in thoracic oncology, especially in lung and esophageal cancer treatments.
Alykhan Lalani, MD, RPVI, is a board-certified vascular surgeon. He joined Vascular Surgical Associates in 2021. Dr. Lalani was born in India and grew up in Dublin, Georgia. He graduated cum laude with a biology degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta. After earning his master’s degree at GSU in applied and environmental microbiology, he completed medical school at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He received multiple awards while completing his vascular surgery residency at Louisiana State University in New Orleans, including Excellence in Teaching and Vascular Resident of the Year.
Dr. Lalani is a member of the Society of Clinical Vascular Surgery, the Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society and the Georgia Vascular Society.
Since joining Vascular Surgical Associates in 2021, Dr. Lalani has continued to help us provide expert, compassionate care. He is motivated by forming connections with his patients and their families so he can provide the best care.
In his free time, Dr. Lalani enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. He is an avid Georgia sports fan and especially likes supporting the Georgia Bulldogs.
Dr. Odom received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Virginia in 1984, then his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia. He completed the Blodgett-Saint Mary’s combined general surgery residency in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has been an attending general surgeon at Wellstar Cobb since 1994 and was the hospital’s chief of staff from 2011 to 2013. He has served as Wellstar Cobb’s chief surgical quality officer since 2022. He is an epicenter surgeon for Intuitive Surgical and consultant for Globus Medical. Dr. Odom was selected as one of the Top Doctors in Atlanta Magazine in 2022, 2023 and 2024. His interests include surgical education, skiing, cycling and cooking.
Dr. Travis Perry earned his undergraduate degree in molecular biology from Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and completed his MD at East Carolina University School of Medicine in Greenville, North Carolina. During his undergraduate career, Dr. Perry was a research fellow in the department of Neuroanatomy-neuroscience, University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, and completed a research fellowship through the department of pharmacology, University of Oslo Norway Biotechnology Center in Oslo, Norway.
He served his general surgery residency at Louisiana State University Health Science Center in Shreveport, Louisiana and at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Shortly after, he was appointed chief resident in general surgery at Wake Forest. After that, he was a surgical critical care and burn fellow at the University of Texas Medical Branch and Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Galveston, Texas.
Dr. Pham completed her undergraduate degree at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. She received her MD at the University of South Florida before completing residency at the Medical College of Georgia. She completed a fellowship in surgical critical care at Indiana University in Indianapolis, as well as an AAST trauma/acute care fellowship.
Dr. Pham joined Wellstar Surgical Specialists at Atlanta Medical Center in 2021 and joined Wellstar Kennestone trauma/ACS in 2023. Her practice interests include acute care surgery, thoracic trauma and ICU outcomes management.
Dr. Jay Singh is an established and highly skilled physician and surgeon with 24 years of experience in Colon and Rectal Surgery. He has been serving the Atlanta, Georgia, and the southern regional community for these many years, and is well regarded for his clinical work, particularly in his efforts to institute and foster quality minimally invasive care in his specialty. His deep seated belief in furthering minimally invasive surgery, particularly robotic surgery, is reflected in the many years he has spent educating hundreds of physicians and residents on the benefits of this technology and the need to master and harness this technology for the benefits of our patients.
Dr. Singh is a Georgia native, growing up in Augusta, Georgia and attending Emory University for college and medical school. He went on to do his surgical residency at UT Southwestern in Dallas and his fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Florida. He went on to start and manage a private practice here in Atlanta for many years while at the same time serving multiple leadership positions within the hospital and culminating with his participation as Chair of Quality and Safety on the health system board. As of September 2022, he proudly joined the WellStar health System as Chief Surgical Officer spending most of his administrative time trying to expand upon the legacy of his predecessor and to modernize surgical care within an expanding health landscape in Georgia.
Dr. Veer Chahwala, MD, RPVI, is a board-certified vascular surgeon. He joined Vascular Surgical Associates in 2023. Dr. Chahwala graduated with a chemistry degree from Oglethorpe University. He received his Doctor of Medicine at the Chicago Medical School at RFUMS. He completed his general surgery residency through the University of Miami at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, then completed his vascular surgery fellowship at Emory University.
Dr. Chahwala He is motivated by improving the lives of his patients and their families by helping his patients achieve the best quality of life possible. He is a member of the Journal of Vascular Surgery and Georgia Vascular Society.
Outside of work, Dr. Chahwala enjoys sports, hiking, traveling and photography.
Dr. Chervu is a board-certified vascular surgeon who joined Vascular Surgical Associates in 1995. Dr. Chervu received his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University and graduated magna cum laude. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Cornell University Medical College. Dr. Chervu then completed his general surgical residency and vascular surgery fellowship at UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles. He was an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center-Parkland Hospital in Dallas from 1992 to 1995. Dr. Chervu went on to receive his PMBA/MHA from Georgia State University in Atlanta.
Dr. Chervu is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Georgia Vascular Society, the Atlanta Vascular Society, the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery and the Society of Vascular Surgery. He is immediate past president of the Georgia Vascular Society.
Since joining VSA in 1995, Dr. Chervu has been instrumental in helping to provide compassionate, expert care to his patients. He is driven by his deep commitment to forming strong bonds with his patients and ensuring their utmost well-being. Furthermore, he actively engages in clinical research and is the director of clinical trials for Vascular Surgical Associates and co-director of prosthetics.
In his free time, Dr. Chervu enjoys football, traveling, cooking and reading.
Dr. Michael Corey, MD, FACS, RPVI, was born and raised in a suburb of Boston. He is the son of a general and vascular surgeon. He joined Vascular Surgical Associates in 2016.
He graduated cum laude with a degree in chemistry from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. He then attended Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, where he solidified his interest in surgery. He completed a general surgery residency and vascular surgery research fellowship at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and was the recipient of the Harwell Wilson Award in surgical excellence. Dr. Corey returned to Boston to complete fellowship training in vascular and endovascular surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
He joined Vascular Surgical Associates in 2016 and has since continued to help us provide compassionate, expert care. Dr. Corey is deeply motivated by his father’s work, which instilled in him the importance of prioritizing the patient and providing his patients with excellent care.
In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, basketball and fishing.
Dr. Julie Duke, MD, RPVI, is a board-certified vascular surgeon. She joined Vascular Surgical Associates in 2022. Dr. Duke received her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at the University of Arkansas. She then received her Doctor of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She went on to complete her surgical residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Afterward, she completed her vascular surgery fellowship at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Dr. Duke belongs to the Society for Vascular Surgery and is a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery Education Committee. She also belongs to the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery and is a member of their curriculum committee. Additionally, Dr. Duke is a member of the Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society, the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery and the Georgia Vascular Society.
Dr. Duke brings years of experience to VSA, due to her expansive academic work prior to joining our team in 2022. Since joining VSA, she has continued to help us provide compassionate, expert care. Dr. Duke is motivated by the strong bonds she forms with her patients and her desire to improve their quality of life.
In her free time, Dr. Duke enjoys being an aunt to her niece and two nephews, traveling, going to sporting events and attending concerts.
Dr. Fortes is a board-certified thoracic surgeon and is originally from Brazil, where he earned his MD degree in 1999 from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. After completing general surgery residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, he concluded his thoracic surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Following his training, Dr. Fortes spent five years in the metro DC area where he established the robotic thoracic surgery program at Inova Fairfax Hospital. In January 2014 he moved to Austin, Texas, where he was appointed the medical director of the lung health program at Ascension Seton Medical Center, as well as assistant professor of surgery at the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School. Dr. Fortes joined Wellstar in August 2021 and currently serves as the system’s lead physician for thoracic surgery. Additionally, he completed his Master of Business Administration degree at Kennesaw State University in April 2024.
Gary M. Jacobson, MD, FACS, RPVI, is a board-certified vascular surgeon and partner at Vascular Surgical Associates. He is also our vein clinic director. He joined VSA in 2002.
Dr. Jacobson completed his undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Texas in Austin. He received his MD from the University of Illinois in Chicago. His internship and residency were also completed at the University of Chicago, where he received his master’s degree and assisted with basic science research. After, Dr. Jacobson completed his residency in vascular surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.
Dr. Jacobson is board certified in vascular surgery and is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Vascular Surgery and the Southern Vascular Surgery Society. He is also a member of the Atlanta Vascular Society and the Georgia Vascular Society. Dr. Jacobson is a wound specialist, certified by the American Academy of Wound Management.
Since joining VSA in 2002, Dr. Jacobson has consistently provided strong leadership, helping us provide expert and compassionate care. He is motivated by helping patients with vascular problems, educating others about vascular disease and collaborating with other physicians to provide the best care.
In his free time, he enjoys traveling, spending time with his family and playing the guitar.
Dr. John E. Jones, MD, FACS, RPVI, is a partner at Vascular Surgical Associates. Dr. Jones received his undergraduate degree in English literature at the University of Georgia. He then received his Doctor of Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. He went on to complete his surgical residency at Boston University Medical Center, followed by his vascular surgery fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Jones is a member of the Society of Vascular Surgery and Georgia Vascular Society.
Since becoming president and CEO of Vascular Surgical Associates, Dr. Jones has consistently provided strong leadership, helping us provide compassionate and comprehensive care for all our patients. Dr. Jones is motivated by understanding his patients’ needs, creating connections with their families and actively striving to enhance their overall quality of life.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and his four boys, running and reading.
Dr. Emily Lagergren, MD, RPVI, is a board-certified vascular surgeon with Vascular Surgical Associates. She joined VSA in 2018.
Dr. Lagergren graduated magna cum laude from Florida State University in Tallahassee with a degree in biology. She obtained her general surgery training at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her interest to remain in the southeast brought her to Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, where she completed her two-year fellowship in vascular and endovascular surgery. She is also a member of the Society of Vascular Surgery and Georgia Vascular Society.
Since joining Vascular Surgical Associates in 2018, Dr. Lagergren has continued to help us provide compassionate, comprehensive care. She is motivated by raising awareness for the importance of vascular health and “taking care of the whole patient” by providing complete care.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and finding the perfect work-life balance.
Dr. Theolyn Price is a board-certified thoracic surgeon and the director of robotic thoracic surgery at Wellstar. She completed her undergraduate degree at Mississippi State University and earned her Doctor of Medicine at the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham. She completed her general surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where she also completed both her cardiothoracic surgery residency and thoracic surgery fellowship. Dr Price’s areas of interest include benign and malignant diseases, lung cancer screening, rib fracture fixation, and robotic and minimally invasive thoracic surgery.
She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons as well as a member of the General Thoracic Surgical Club, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, the Western Thoracic Surgical Association and Women in Thoracic Surgery.
Jeffrey M. Reilly, MD, FACS, RPVI is a partner at Vascular Surgical Associates. He joined VSA in 1999.
Dr. Reilly graduated cum laude with a degree in chemistry from Dartmouth College and received his Doctor of Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School. Dr. Reilly did his general surgery residency at Yale University School of Medicine. He completed his vascular surgical fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He remained there on the surgical faculty for six years prior to coming to Marietta in 1999. He is board certified in surgery with the added board-certified qualification in vascular surgery. Dr. Reilly’s areas of focus are carotid artery disease, aortic aneurysm disease, mesenteric arterial disease, arterial occlusion of lower extremities and dialysis access, as well as exposure surgery for spinal fusions using both open and endovascular techniques.
Since joining Vascular Surgical Associates in 1999, he has continued to help us provide compassionate, expert care. Dr. Reilly is motivated by providing high-quality surgical care to his patients.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, cycling, gardening, reading and traveling.
Dr. Shariq Sayeed received his undergraduate degree in biology at Emory University in Atlanta, graduating in 1994. He received his Doctor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine in 1998. He completed his surgical residency in 2005 at the University of Rochester in New York, followed by his vascular/endovascular surgery fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Dr. Sayeed is board certified in general and vascular surgery. He is also certified in vascular sonography by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonography and has special interests in minimally invasive endovascular surgical techniques, management of carotid disease, aortic aneurysms, peripheral bypass grafting and carotid stenting.
His hospital appointments include Wellstar Kennestone and Wellstar Cobb Medical Centers.
Dr. Sola is an acute care surgeon at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. He completed his general surgery training in Charlotte and completed his surgical critical care training in Kansas City. He previously was an assistant professor of surgery at Morehouse School of Medicine and an acute care surgeon at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. His clinical interests include trauma, critical care, surgical education, wellness and mentorship. His research interests include surgical education, trauma, emergency general surgery and surgical critical care outcomes. He currently is the co-chair of the Latino Surgical Society Acute Care Surgery Interest Group.
Dr. Sola was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and raised in Clearwater, Florida. He attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and graduated from Ponce School of Medicine in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He currently lives in Atlanta with his wife and three children. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys playing tennis, yoga, running and spending time with his wife and children.
Dr. Jeffrey Stein, MD, RPVI, is a board-certified vascular surgeon. He joined VSA in 2023.
Dr. Stein received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame. He then received his Doctor of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, where he also completed his surgery residency. Dr. Stein completed his vascular surgery fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He belongs to the Vascular & Endovascular Surgery Society and the Society of Vascular Surgery.
Dr. Stein brings years of experience to VSA, due to his career in Texas prior to joining our team in 2023. Since joining VSA, he has continued to help us provide compassionate, expert care. Dr. Stein is motivated by the desire to help his patients live their best lives by remaining independent and active.
In his free time, Dr. Stein enjoys playing soccer, skiing, fly fishing, listening to music and attending concerts.
Jeffrey Winter, MD, FACS, has 15 years of experience in vascular surgery in the Atlanta area and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He serves as vice chairman of surgery at Wellstar Cobb Medical Center.
Dr. Winter’s first experience in vascular surgery was working with Dr. Herbert Dardik, who developed the umbilical vein bypass. It was Dr. Dardik’s expertise and compassion that motivated Dr. Winter to pursue a career in vascular surgery. Later, during his fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Winter trained under two of the foremost aortic surgeons in the country.
In 2008, he merged his established vascular care practice with Vascular Surgical Associates. In addition to treating the full array of vascular cases, Dr. Winter is also active at the Cobb Wound Center, where he treats complex vascular wounds.
He is a member of the Georgia chapter of the American College of Surgeons, the Medical Association of Georgia and the Cobb County Medical Association.
Hometown: Middlefield, OH
Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)
Clinical Interests: Acute Care Surgery, Bariatrics/MIS, Breast Surgery
Personal interests & hobbies: Hiking, skiing, watching NBA basketball, cooking, my dogs
Why General Surgery?
I really enjoy the wide variety of patients and acuity that we see in general surgery as well as the hands-on nature of the work. Being able to come alongside patients who are undergoing or recovering from surgery and helping to make that process less scary for them is something that I continue to find very rewarding.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
The close-knit community and supportive culture among the residents/faculty really made a strong impression on me as a medical student. I felt like Wellstar was a place where I could ask questions, take time with my patients, and learn to become a confident/caring surgeon.
Hometown: Vesoul, France; Honolulu, Hawaii
Medical school: Ross University
Clinical interests: Trauma surgery, reconstructive surgery, minimally invasive surgery
Personal interest & hobbies: Golfing, ballet, relaxing and reading a book with my cat on my lap, flying planes and traveling
Why General Surgery?
I have always been a hands-on learner. Surgery is a specialty where you have to be good and passionate about not only surgical skills, but also medical knowledge, anatomy and humanism. It is also a specialty where you can see results in a timely manner.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
I deeply appreciate the individuals in this program. The residents feel like family to me, fostering an atmosphere of respect and shared commitment to growth. Both residents and attendings are incredibly supportive, consistently offering guidance and motivation. I am also very appreciative that even during intern year, I spent a decent amount of time in the OR and learned how to care for ICU patients.
Hometown: Letohatchee, Al
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine
Personal interests & hobbies: Hunting, fishing, weight lifting
Why General Surgery?
Community General Surgery
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
General surgery allows me to help people in their darkest days. From trauma to cancer, being there for patients and fixing their problems is worth all the hard work I’ve put in. Wellstar was first recommended to me by a family friend. After researching and talking with residents, it seemed like the perfect place for me. High case numbers and early surgical experience was very important to me submitting my rank list.
Hometown: Duluth, GA
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Clinical Interests: MIS and Vascular Surgery
Personal interests & hobbies: Basketball, Astrophysics, Cars, Working out
Why General Surgery?
I enjoy working with my hands
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
Atlanta is my home, and I like the program culture
Hometown: North Georgia
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical Interests: Trauma & burns
Personal interests & hobbies: If I’m not at the hospital, I’m likely hanging with my husband and four pups or spending time with our family. In my spare time I am a news junkie, amateur gardener, and I love creative writing.
Why General Surgery?
GS is the best. It’s hands on, I get to provide direct patient care, and general surgery is a team sport.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
After rotating at Wellstar as a student, I knew I loved the program and the residents were my kind of people. I was welcomed, mentored, and learned so much in a short period of time. I knew I would thrive as a resident in that sort of environment.
Location was the cherry on top! The proximity to Atlanta, variety of restaurants, new Braves stadium, the Chattahoochee river, and closeness to my family made Wellstar the best fit for me.
Hometown: East Hampton, Connecticut
Medical school: Royal College of Surgeon’s Ireland
Clinical interests: Trauma, transplant and hepatobiliary
Personal interests & hobbies: Soccer, rugby, trivia, reading, hiking, traveling and cooking
Why General Surgery?
I realized I wanted to do surgery when I was in med school because every time I was in the OR, it was the one thing that renewed my energy and excitement for medicine. Within surgery, I wanted a field that had a wide variety of operative options and wanted to gain the ability to take care of patients with a multitude of problems myself.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
I was looking for a smaller residency program that had a close-knit feel that provided a good balance of patient care experience and OR time early in my career.
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Medical school: Medical College of Georgia
Clinical interests: Plastic surgery, bariatric surgery and MIS
Personal interests & hobbies: I enjoy working out and trying new restaurants around Atlanta, and I am currently learning tennis.
Why General Surgery?
The breadth of variety in training provides a solid foundation for any surgical specialty you wish to pursue if desire to sub specialize.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
This program provides a well-rounded surgical experience with an overwhelming amount of cases and operative experience. My family also lives in Georgia, and being close to home to be able to start a family was high on my priority list. Wellstar also caters to surgical residents well. We have our own personal lounge with a shower, a bedroom for each class and a kitchen. We get a yearly cafeteria stipend that is incredibly difficult to use up which is a nice perk when you’re a surgical resident with minimal time to cook or meal prep. Our lounge is a hallway away from the OR, which makes it easy to run and get a quick snack.
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Medical school: USC Columbia
Clinical interests: Reconstructive plastics, trauma, vascular, outcomes research, implementation science and QI
Personal interests & hobbies: Art and painting, craft beer, antique furniture and fostering kittens through the animal shelter
Why General Surgery?
Working with my hands and finding a mechanical fix for a problem is the most satisfying way to practice medicine to me.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
Any program that can reinvent itself overnight is one with the energy and tenacity I am looking for.
Hometown: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Medical school: LSU Health Shreveport
Clinical interests: General surgery, MIS
Personal interests & hobbies: Music, thrifting, plants
Why General Surgery?
I love putting my hands to work to help patients in a meaningful way, and I couldn’t imagine a future without being in the OR!
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
Wellstar provides us with the experience needed to go straight into practice after training while also preparing us for fellowships. You get to work with great people and live in a great area too!
Hometown: North Hollywood, California
Medical school: Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical interests: Emergency general surgery
Personal interests & hobbies: Coffee brewing, archery, cooking, home improvement, gaming, driving and my cats
Why General Surgery?
Because it’s objectively the coolest job in the world and surgery is one of the most difficult and rewarding specialties that any physician can pursue
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
The people. The residents and faculty here were very welcoming to me as a prelim joining the program halfway through my training. Surgery is a team sport and if you want people around you with that mindset, then you’ll find it here.
Hometown: Thibodaux, LA
Medical school: LSU Health Shreveport
Clinical interests: General Surgery, MIS
Personal interests & hobbies: Music, thrifting, plants
Why General Surgery?
I love putting my hands to work to help patients in a meaningful way, and I couldn’t imagine a future without being in the OR!
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
Wellstar provides us with the experience needed to go straight into practice after training while also preparing us for fellowships. You get to work with great people and live in a great area too!
Hometown: Dresher, Pennsylvania
Medical school: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Clinical interests: Vascular surgery
Personal interests & hobbies: Working out, assembling IKEA furniture, skiing and rollerblading
Why General Surgery?
General surgery provides you opportunity to learn and cover diverse medical fields, constantly keeping you on your toes, and prepares you to become the ultimate surgeon.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
I liked the familial feeling of the program and the strong work ethic.
Hometown: Portland, Jamaica
Medical school: Morehouse School of Medicine
Clinical interest: Trauma/acute care surgery
Personal interest: Working out, spending time with family and vlogging
Why General Surgery?
My love for anatomy, being hands-on with patients and doing procedures. I like the idea of solving problems directly with my hands and seeing the immediate impact that a surgical intervention does for a patient.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
I appreciated the early operative experience and location.
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Medical school: Howard University College of Medicine
Clinical interests: Health disparities, gun violence
Personal interests & hobbies: Landscape photography, college football and traveling
Why General Surgery?
I chose surgery for the ability to treat acute issues with the ability to manage them in the pre- and post-operative period.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
I liked that it was a patient population in a metropolitan area requiring a wide variety of surgical needs.
Hometown: Peculiar, Missouri
Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Trauma, critical care and rural acute care surgery
Personal interests & hobbies: Time with family, reading fantasy fiction, playing video games, guiltily watching Hallmark movies with my wife and passionately watching my home team the Chiefs
Why General Surgery?
I chose to pursue surgery to hone both my surgical skill and medical knowledge to become a physician with the confidence and ability to handle any situation.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
I liked the strong sense of community between colleagues and attendings. The strong family unity not only provides moral and emotional support but encourages and motivates everyone to push themselves to be their best.
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky
Medical school: University of Louisville
Clinical interests: General surgery
Personal Hobbies and Interests: Crocheting, reading fantasy books and traveling
Why General Surgery?
I like working with my hands and being able to directly fix a problem.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
I wanted a community surgery program in a large city, and when I interviewed here, the program felt like one big family.
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Medical school: University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Clinical interests: Endocrine and trauma surgery
Personal Hobbies and Interests: Flying helicopters, learning new languages and music
Why General Surgery?
I chose general surgery because I knew the impact a general surgeon could have on a patient’s life and community.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
I chose Wellstar because of the camaraderie and incredible training I knew I would have. It has not disappointed.
Hometown: Johns Creek, Georgia
Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Minimally invasive surgery
Personal Hobbies and Interests: Traveling, bow hunting, cooking and being a fan of Atlanta sports
Why General Surgery?
Surgery allows me to partake in a career that can provide definitive results. Surgeons are not born, but trained. I enjoy the fact that surgery requires perseverance and hard work to hone your craft.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
Wellstar provides great exposure to a wide breadth of cases, both in quantity and quality. The progressive autonomy of the program was appealing to me as an applicant who wanted to become a competent general surgeon after five years of training.
Hometown: Winter Park, Florida
Medical school: Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Clinical interests: Colorectal surgery and general surgery
Personal interests & hobbies: Video games, binging Netflix, reading, fantasy football, skiing and running
Why General Surgery?
General surgery encompasses a large breadth of medicine with the accompanying skillset to fix many problems with my hands and have a tangible result.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
The program had strong, supportive senior faculty and a resident culture that looked out for each other. I knew coming from this program, I’d be well trained to go straight into private practice or excel in fellowship
Hometown: Fort Collins, Colorado
Medical school: Medical College of Virginia
Clinical interests: General surgery
Personal interests & hobbies: Uncrustables, cleaning up after a toddler and participating in triathlons
Hometown: Fayetteville
Medical school: Morehouse School of Medicine
Clinical interests: Trauma surgery
Personal interests & hobbies: Candlelit dinners, long walks on the beach and cutting people with a knife
Why General Surgery?
I fell in love with surgery on my clinical rotations. I was a mechanic in my past life, and the human body as another machine with parts that can be fixed, or more commonly extirpated, so it just made sense.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
The residency at Wellstar Health System originally attracted me as the program felt more like a family than a residency. I could tell all the residents and staff supported each other to help everybody succeed and that I would actually enjoy going to work every day for the next five years.
Hometown: Lawrenceville
Medical school: Ross University
Clinical interests: Trauma/critical care and thoracic surgery
Personal interests & hobbies: Exercise and naps
Why General Surgery?
To improve the lives of others through not only procedural technique but critical thinking and clinical acumen. General surgery allows me to practice a wide breadth of surgical and medical management in a variety of environments.
Why did you choose Wellstar for your residency?
The residency provides a family feel amongst the residents and faculty, allowing for a supportive environment throughout the rigors of training.
Marietta Square | Truist Park | The Battery | Kennesaw Mountain | Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre | New Theatre in the Square | Ghosts of Marietta Tour | Marietta Square Farmers Market | Hilton Atlanta-Marietta Hotel & Conference Center | Cobb Galleria Centre
Cycling is a popular form of transportation in Marietta. The area is also served by the CobbLinc bus service that connects to MARTA — Atlanta’s light rail and bus network. Drivers also have quick access to I-75 and I-285 to get anywhere they need. Atlanta is home to the busiest airport in the US with a high volume direct and international flights.
Cobb Transportation Info
