Leadership
Emmett L. McGuire, MD, FACS
Program Director
Dr. McGuire, Program Director for the General Surgery Residency at Swedish Medical Center, is a board-certified expert in General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of Hawaii School of Medicine and went on to complete his internship in general surgery at the same institution. Dr. McGuire further honed his skills through a residency in general surgery at both the University of Hawaii and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Additionally, he pursued specialized training through fellowships in trauma at Grant/Riverside Methodist Hospital and in critical care at the Ohio State University Medical Center. After completing his training, he went back to Texas Tech where he was an Assistant Professor of Surgery, and within 2 years, became the Program Director. His aspirations lead him to Denver in 2003, where he joined the trauma team. Dr McGuire embraced surgical education and started affiliations with residency programs in Texas as the experience and volume was vast. After nearly 8 years of military surgery residency program affiliation, he started the surgical residency program at Swedish in 2014. Thru the collaboration and dedication of many experienced community surgeons, the general surgery residency program will continue to grow and train surgeons who will make their mark, give back to their communities, and who will continue to educate generations of surgeons perpetually.
He enjoys telling people that he is from the most southern part of the United States, Hawaii. In his free time he loves to spend time with family and his dog, Mochi. He loves travel and food but most of all he enjoys medical missions where giving back fulfills him. He reflects the people are so appreciative and thankful and that in this field of surgery, we can make the greatest immediate impact.
Glenda Quan, MD, FACS*
Senior Associate Program Director
Dr. Quan is a dedicated surgeon who lives an adventurous life away from the operating room. She enjoys traveling the world with her husband and two daughters, as well as skiing, hiking, and biking in Colorado. On quieter days, she can be found reading, painting, or knitting. Committed to advancing her field, Dr. Quan dedicates her time to surgical education, sharing her expertise, and inspiring the next generation of surgeons.
Faculty
Stephen Annest, MD; vascular surgeon
Dr. Stephen Annest was born and raised in the Seattle Washington area. Dr. Annest is board certified in general surgery and vascular surgery. Dr. Annest attended the University of Washington for both undergraduate and medical school; he then moved to Albany, New York, where he completed surgical residency and a trauma fellowship at the Albany Medical Center. Dr. Annest completed his vascular fellowship in Dallas, Texas at Baylor Medical Center. He currently practices at the Vascular Institute of the Rockies in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Annest lives in the Denver metro area, is married and has 3 children and numerous grandchildren.
John Baer, DO; anesthesiology
John Baer, DO, is an anesthesiologist with U.S. Anesthesia Partners. He is the Chair of the Swedish Medical Center Anesthesia department. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Rocky Vista University. He completed his anesthesia residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Baer furthered his training with a fellowship in cardiothoracic anesthesiology at the Cleveland Clinic. He was happy to move back to Colorado and lives in Castle Rock with his wife and two children.
Kaysie Banton, MD; trauma surgeon*
Kaysie Banton, MD, is the Trauma Services Medical Director at Swedish Medical Center. She began her role as both a trauma surgeon and medical director at Swedish in March 2018. Dr. Banton completed her medical degree at the University of New Mexico. She went on to complete her residency in general surgery at the University of Minnesota. She furthered her training with a fellowship in surgical infectious disease and a fellowship in surgical critical care at the University of Minnesota. She was the Acute Care Surgery Services Director at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, before joining Swedish. She has many publications and presentations in her experience, as well as teaching and curriculum development expertise.
David Bar-Or, MD
David Bar-Or, MD serves as the director of trauma research at Swedish Medical Center. He has authored or co-authored over 80 peer-reviewed journals and is the recipient of the Gustav Levi Award from the Hadassah/Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, New York, and the Kornfield Award for the Outstanding MD Thesis. He received his medical degree from the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, in Jerusalem, Israel. He completed his residency and fellowship at Denver Health Medical Center, where he specialized in emergency medicine. He has been in practice for over 37 years.
Daine Bennett, MD; colorectal surgeon
Dr. Daine Bennett is board certified in general surgery and colon and rectal surgery. Dr. Bennett is an Arkansas native and attended the University of Arkansas--Fayetteville where he graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor of science. Dr. Bennett then attended University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for medical school and then University of Colorado for general surgery residency where he also obtained a MS in Clinical Science. He then followed with a colon and rectal surgical fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, TX. Dr. Bennett has a special clinical interest in minimally-invasive colorectal surgery including robotic and laparoscopic techniques. He currently practices at SurgOne, P.C. Dr. Bennett lives in the Denver Metro area and is married with two young sons. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, cycling, escaping to the mountains to ski and camp as well as cooking, but most of all he enjoys spending time with his family.
Douglas Benson, MD; colorectal surgeon
Dr. Doug Benson is a native of Minnesota. He received his undergraduate degree from Macalester College and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, where he performed research investigating the effects of blood transfusion on cancer outcomes. He completed fellowship training in colon and rectal surgery in 2014 at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. He is board-certified in both general surgery and colon and rectal surgery.
As a colon and rectal surgeon in Lone Tree, Parker and Littleton, Colorado, Dr. Douglas Benson’s clinical interests are advanced minimally invasive colorectal surgery, robotic colorectal surgery, cancer of the rectum, colon, and anus, including familial and inherited colorectal cancer, surgical treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pelvic pouch procedures for IBD, diverticulitis, transanal endoscopic microsurgery, colonoscopy, benign anorectal disorders, reoperative abdominal and pelvic surgery, and bowel incontinence.
Aside from his professional activities, Dr. Benson enjoys spending time with his wife, two children, and black Labrador. They enjoy hiking, biking, and camping. He also has an interest in music and recreational activities like golf, tennis, and skiing.
Kenneth Blake, MD; colorectal surgeon
Dr. Ken Blake is a graduate of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore Maryland. He is a board certified Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons.
He has served on a variety of local, state, and national committees throughout his career. He is the past president of the Arapahoe, Elbert, & Douglas County Medical Society. He is currently a member of the Public Relations Committee of the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons. He is on the Medical Advisory Board of the Rocky Mountain Division of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.
As a colon and rectal surgeon in Lone Tree, Littleton and Parker, Colorado, Dr. Ken Blake has particular interests in the treatment of colon & rectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis and benign ano-rectal conditions. He performs colonoscopies, anorectal surgery, and major laparoscopic bowel resections.
Maxwell Busch, MD; general surgeon*
Dr. Busch is a general surgeon who graduated from the University of Minnesota residency program in 2019. He will be practicing general surgery as a core faculty member for the Swedish Medical Center General Surgery Residency when he arrives in Colorado in August 2021. His areas of interest include burn, trauma, acute care surgery and critical care surgery. He has received many awards and has research interests as well.
Winston Chan, MD; pediatric surgeon
Dr. Chan graduated from the University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1988. He works in Spokane, Washington and specializes in pediatric surgery. Dr. Chan is affiliated with Providence Holy Family Hospital, Providence Mount Carmel Hospital and Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center & Children’s Hospital. He holds an MBA. Dr Chan has served as the section chief of pediatric surgery at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital since 2010. He has given many presentations, taught ATLS and PALS and has published many articles. Dr. Chan is one of three pediatric surgeons on the faculty of the Swedish Medical Center General Surgery Residency.
Timothy Chilton, MD; vascular surgeon
Dr. Chilton is a Colorado native who has returned to the stat following the completion of his training in St. Louis. Despite leaving the area for college and vascular surgical residency, he is here to stay and thrilled to be back home. His surgical education focused heavily on complete arterial reconstruction by both open and endovascular means, but his interests encompass the whole spectrum of vascular disease, including dialysis access, aortic disease, and limb salvage, just to name a few.
Outside of the hospital, Dr. Chilton is an avid musician and outdoorsman. If he’s not in the office, you’ll have to look for him and his dogs out on the trail.
Michael Dabit, DO; Esophageal, Gastric & General Surgery
Dr. Michael Dabit is a Foregut surgeon at SurgOne. He specializes in advanced endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery for the upper gastrointestinal tract. He is a Colorado native and grew up in Colorado Springs. He attended college at the University of Colorado in Boulder where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Developmental Biology. Following his undergraduate degree, he worked as a scribe in the emergency room and participated in surgical mission trips. After serving abroad his decision was solidified to go into surgery. Dr. Dabit attended medical school at Rocky Vista University in Englewood, Colorado where he graduated with honors. He completed his General Surgery Residency at Swedish Medical Center and served as the administrative chief resident during his final year of training. He went on to complete a fellowship at the Oregon Clinic in Portland, Oregon in advanced gastrointestinal and foregut surgery.
Dr. Dabit decided to specialize in foregut surgery because the field was rapidly advancing and utilizing advanced endoscopic techniques. He was drawn to the complex decision making required and that every surgery was unique to each individual patient, especially during hiatal reconstruction and fundoplication. Most importantly, he enjoyed having a positive impact on the health and quality of life for his patients.
Patients with foregut disease pathology often have restrictive diets that negatively impact their quality of life. With foregut surgery and care, patients can often go back to feeling normal again. The improvement of so many lives and positive outcomes are extremely rewarding to see.
Diseases of the foregut affect a broad spectrum of people and individuals of all ages. Some of the common conditions that Dr. Dabit treats gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), trouble swallowing (dysphagia), esophageal cancer (which is the result of chronic GERD), delayed gastric emptying (gastroparesis) and stomach cancers. Common signs and symptoms of these conditions can include heartburn, regurgitation, trouble swallowing, cough, some pulmonary symptoms, nausea, vomiting and bloating. Because esophageal cancer is on the rise, he encourages patients with these symptoms to be evaluated, as early detection of precancerous changes (Barrett’s esophagus) can be treated.
He treats each patient as if they were a member of his family. He talks his patients through all the options for treatment and focuses on shared decision making to help guide them to the right plan.
Dr. Dabit is married and has two young daughters and two dogs. When he is not working, he enjoys the Colorado lifestyle and spending time with family, taking walks, hiking and snowboarding. He also enjoys attending Denver sporting events to cheer on the Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies, Avalanche and Rapids.
Lily Daniali, MD; burn/plastic surgeon
Dr Lily Daniali graduated medical school from the University of Washington School of Medicine. She completed her residency in plastic surgery at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences School in Newark, New Jersey. She went on to complete a fellowship in hand and microsurgery at the University of Texas Southwestern and a craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgery fellowship at the Pediatric Plastic Surgery Institute.
Ryan Endress, MD; hand/plastic surgeon
Dr. Ryan D. Endress is a board certified plastic surgeon with a certificate of added qualifications of surgery of the hand. He is based in Englewood, Colorado where he currently practices at Burn and Reconstructive Centers of Colorado and is affiliated with Swedish Medical Center. Dr. Endress received his bachelor of science degree in biology from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS and his medical degree from University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, KS followed by a residency in plastic surgery, at Stanford University in Stanford, CA and a fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Dr. Endress specializes in all aspects of orthopedic hand, wrist and forearm surgery, including microvascular free tissue transfer, sports trauma, brachial plexus and peripheral nerve surgery. He is also an expert in migraine surgery and the treatment of arthritis.
Brandon Garland, MD; general & vascular surgeon
Dr. Brandon "Ty Garland is board certified in general surgery and vascular surgery. Dr. Garland was raised in Spokane, Washington. Dr. Garland attended Dartmouth College and graduated with a degree in biochemistry. After graduation he moved to Jackson, Wyoming to pursue a career in wilderness medicine where he worked with Teton Country Search and Rescue and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS. Dr. Garland then attended the University Of Washington School Of Medicine for medical school and for vascular surgical residency. He currently practices as a vascular and endovascular surgeon at the Vascular Institute of the Rockies in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Garland’s interests include mountaineering with search and rescue, and he is an accomplished classical pianist and photographer.
Jeffrey Gordon, DO; trauma and critical care surgeon
Dr Gordon is a native of Houston, Texas. He completed his undergraduate studies at Boston University before spending nearly a decade in Brooklyn, New York. During this time, he worked as a researcher at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he discovered his passion for medicine. He earned his medical degree from Touro College of Medicine, Manhattan. He then went on to complete a general surgery residency at Swedish Medical Center in Denver, Colorado, followed by a trauma and critical care surgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
As a dedicated trauma, critical care and general surgeon, Dr. Gordon specializes in the care of critically ill and injured patients. His expertise spans both elective and emergency surgical procedures, and he is deeply committed to delivering exceptional care and achieving optimal outcomes for his patients.
Outside of his professional life, Dr. Gordon enjoys traveling, skiing, hiking, savoring bagels with lox, and spending quality time with his family. His approach to medicine is grounded in a commitment to excellence, a passion for lifelong learning, and a patient-centered philosophy that prioritizes empathy and respect.
Laura Hafertepen, DO; breast surgeon
Laura Hafertepen, DO, is a breast surgeon practicing at Swedish and the Centrum Surgery Center in Colorado. She completed her degree is osteopathic medicine at the Western University of Health Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Calfornia. Her general surgery residency was completed at the University of California San Francisco Fresno. She has received many honors and awards in her career and has many professional affiliations and publications/presentations in her experience. She speaks Spanish and is interested in outdoor activities, cooking and baking in her free time.
Sarah Hill, MD; pediatric surgeon
Dr. Sarah Hill is a general surgeon in Spokane, Washington and is affiliated with Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital. She received her medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and has been in practice between 6 and 10 years. She is one of 31 doctors at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital who specializes in general surgery. She was a pediatric surgery clinical fellow at the Division of Pediatric Surgery, Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, in Georgia. She is board certified in general surgery and pediatric surgery. She is a member of the American Pediatric Association and the International Pediatric Endosurgery Group. Dr. Hill is one of three pediatric surgeons on the faculty of the Swedish Medical Center General Surgery Residency.
Burt Katubig, MD; trauma surgeon*
Dr Katubig first moved to Colorado after fellowship in 1997 and has been caring for patients at Swedish Medical Center and The Medical Center of Aurora since 1997 and Sky Ridge Medical Center since its opening in 2004.
He serves as a board member for the Regional Trauma-EMS Committee. He is a strong advocate for education and patient care and enjoys giving lectures to high school students, surgical residents, EMS and nursing students.
During his time off he enjoys all outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer from tennis/pickleball/volleyball to skiing/hiking with friends and family
W. Cameron Maclellan, MD, MBA; MIS/foregut surgeon
Dr. Maclellan grew up in Southern California, where he was exposed to the medical system, volunteering for patient transport services and working in a research lab at UCLA. He went on to study biology and economics at UCSB before receiving a combined MD/MBA from the University of Buffalo. He fell in love with the city of Denver and the people of Colorado during his residency training at St Joseph Hospital. He had the opportunity to care for patients with diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds across many hospitals in the area, including Denver Health, Presbyterian St. Luke’s, University of Colorado, and Medical Center of the Rockies. During his training, he also developed a passion for minimally invasive surgery, which led him to pursue a fellowship in Foregut surgery and become an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the stomach and esophagus.
Throughout his training, Dr. Maclellan observed how the personal needs of the patient could often become lost in the machinery of the health care system. Today, he strives to deliver quality surgical care to patients with an intentional focus on creating a doctor-patient partnership centered on communication, trust, and mutual respect. “Even though each patient comes to me with a medical problem I’ve encountered many times before, they also come to me with a unique perspective and set of priorities that will dictate how we, together, form an individualized and tailored care plan that optimizes their outcome.”
In his free time, Dr. Maclellan enjoys reading science fiction, lifting weights practicing yoga, skiing and snowboarding, and seeing live music. Outside of the hospital, he can be found spending time with his wife as they enjoy everything Denver has to offer.
Barbara Melendez, MD; vascular surgeon
Dr. Melendez is originally from Chile. She moved to Colorado at age 16 where she started her undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado. She continued her education at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine. She completed her general surgery residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Denver and a fellowship in vascular surgery at Albany Medicine Center. She specializes in open treatment of complex peripheral arterial disease and thoracic outlet syndrome. In her time off she enjoys running and traveling.
Kian Modanlou, MD; hepatobiliary surgeon
Dr. Modanlou is a native of Southern California. He completed his undergraduate studies at Duke University where he graduated with distinction with a degree in biology. He returned to his home state for medical school and graduated from the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine. Dr. Modanlou then moved to Denver where he completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He then went on to Chicago where he completed a fellowship in Abdominal Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery at Northwestern University. After stints at Saint Louis University and the University of Tennessee, Dr. Modanlou was fortunate to move back to Denver in 2015 to be the Surgical Director of Transplant at Porter Adventist Hospital. In 2018 he decided to join Dr. Eric Kortz to help him expand the Complex Gastrointestinal Surgeries Program at the Center for Diseases of the Liver and Pancreas at Swedish Medical Center. Dr. Modanlou’s professional interests include all aspects of general surgery and complex problems of the liver, bile ducts and pancreas including minimally invasive techniques. He strongly believes in a multidisciplinary approach to complex medical problems and personalization of the patient experience.
Omar Mubarak, MD; vascular surgeon
Dr. Omar Mubarak is board certified in general surgery and vascular surgery. Dr. Mubarak was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and attended the University of Colorado-Boulder where he graduated Cum Laude with a degree in molecular, cellular and developmental biology and a minor in philosophy. Dr. Mubarak attended University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, CO for medical school and then Michigan State University for general surgery residency followed by a vascular surgical fellowship at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, MI. He currently practices as a vascular surgeon at the Vascular Institute of the Rockies and in wound care at the Denver Wound Healing Center in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Mubarak lives in Denver, Colorado and in his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children, and training and competing in Ironman events.
Andrew Nemechek, MD; head/neck oncology surgeon
Dr. Nemecheck is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. He is fellowship-trained in advanced head and neck oncologic surgery. His other clinical interests include advanced cutaneous malignancies and reconstruction, HPV-related head and neck cancers, and tumors of the skull base and paranasal sinuses. He also commonly treats tumors of the thyroid and parathyroid glands as well as salivary neoplasms. Dr. Nemechek earned his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine where he also completed training in otolaryngology and general surgery. He completed his fellowship in advanced head and neck oncologic surgery at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Allan Nguyen, DO, FACS; trauma and critical care surgeon
Dr. Nguyen is a proud native Coloradan with a deep love for his family and the Rocky Mountain lifestyle. He is a devoted husband and father to a beautiful wife and two amazing children who keep him inspired every day. When he is not spending time with his family, you’ll find him immersed in his passions, whether it’s cheering on the Denver Broncos as a diehard fan, tinkering with cars and computers, or playing pickleball. Dr. Nguyen believes in the power of creativity, problem-solving, and always finding new ways to learn and grow, both personally and professionally.
Bailee Olliff, MD; trauma and critical care surgeon
Dr. Bailee (Williams) Olliff is a board-certified general surgeon with specialized expertise in surgical critical care and trauma surgery. She is currently serving as the Trauma Medical Director at HCA HealthOne Mountain Ridge and Medical Director of University of Colorado Boulder Student EMS. She is a member of the State Trauma Advisory Committee for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and assists CDPHE in reviewing other trauma centers. Dr. Olliff is also a clinical faculty member for general surgery residents at Swedish Medical Center, a clinical preceptor for Red Rocks Community College Physician Assistant program, and a clinical associate professor at Rocky Vista College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Olliff completed her Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Brown University and her General Surgery Residency at the University of South Florida, where she also served as Administrative Chief Resident. Her academic background includes a Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, where she was actively involved in medical education initiatives and community outreach.
With a strong commitment to education, Dr. Olliff regularly mentors residents and medical students, and she has received several awards for teaching excellence. Her clinical interests include trauma, surgical nutrition, and advanced minimally invasive techniques, and she has delivered invited lectures on topics ranging from surgical waste and operating room economics to intimate partner violence in trauma care. Dr. Olliff also works with Intuitive Surgical to train and proctor new robotic surgeons.
Dr. Olliff is dedicated to improving patient outcomes and advancing medical education, both locally and internationally. She is an active volunteer with Jeremiah’s Hope in Cambodia, where she provides medical care and education to underserved communities. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Seerat Poonia, MD; head/neck surgeon
Seerat Poonia was born and raised in Colorado. She obtained her undergraduate education at the University of Colorado, Boulder completing degrees in Biology and Psychology. She then completed an Intramural Research Training Award at the NIH in Bethesda, working on Hepatitis C treatment trials within the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. She returned home for medical school at the University of Colorado, Anschutz and went on to complete Otorhinolaryngology residency at the University of Pennsylvania and Head and Neck Cancer/Reconstructive fellowship at the University of Miami. She recently started her practice with The Head and Neck Surgical Specialty Group in Denver, Colorado. Her clinical interests include cancer ablation, microvascular reconstruction, transoral robotic surgery and endocrine surgery and her non-clinical pursuits include quality improvement, mentorship and leadership development.
Benson Pulikkottil, MD; plastic surgeon
Benson Pulikkottil, MD, has been in practice at the Swedish Medical Center Burn and Reconstructive Centers of Colorado since September 2016. He attained his medical degree at Albany Medical College in 2001. He went to residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in general surgery. He completed a research fellowship in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He also completed two additional fellowships: one in plastic surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern and one in orthopedic hand surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2016.
Cassandra Reynolds, MD, FACS; *trauma surgeon
Dr. Reynolds grew up in Omaha, Nebraska where she attended college at Creighton University and medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. After completion of medical school she went on to general surgery residency at Texas A+M-Scott and White. During residency she developed her passion for critical care and caring for the sickest of surgical patients. This led her to a fellowship in trauma surgery and surgical critical care at the University of California Davis in Sacramento California.
Following the completion of training she accepted a position as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at East Carolina University a busy level 1 trauma center in eastern North Carolina. Family then called her to the Denver metro area and she has been here since 2017. Dr. Reynolds is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Western Trauma Association, the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma and the Association of Women Surgeons. She has been involved in several national research presentations on topics in acute care surgery and trauma surgery and has authored peer reviewed journal articles and abstracts.
Dr Reynolds is the founder and CEO of Vista Surgical Group. She established the practice with the vision of fostering a collaborative and supportive environment where surgeons can focus of what they do best: providing exceptional patient care. At the core of the mission of Vista Surgical Group is to stay at the forefront of surgical advances while remaining rooted in tried and true surgical principles. In her free time she loves to spend time with her children and husband. She enjoys travel, SCUBA diving, photography and trying unique foods.
Srikant Sundaram, MD; vascular surgeon
Dr. Sivaraman obtained his medical degree from the American University of Antigua College of Medicine in 2012, followed by the successful completion of his General Surgery residency at the University of Maryland in 2017. He completed his Vascular Surgery fellowship at Wayne State/Detroit Medical Center, in 2019. Dr. Sivaraman holds dual board certifications in general surgery, and vascular surgery.
Dr Sivaraman is committed to providing comprehensive care to his patients, specializing in all aspects of Vascular Surgery, with a special passion for carotid artery disease, advanced aortic disease, advanced limb salvage techniques, and vascular trauma.
Outside of this professional interests, Dr. Sivaraman finds fulfillment in various activities. He is an avid long-distance runner, biker, and skier. Additionally he enjoys spending time with friends and family, and his dog Kobe!
Alan Synn, MD; vascular surgeon
Dr. Alan Synn is board certified in general surgery and vascular surgery. Dr. Synn is a native of California and attended Stanford University where he graduated with a degree in biochemistry. Dr. Synn then attended the University of California Los Angeles for medical school and then University of Washington for general surgery residency followed by a vascular surgical fellowship at the University Iowa. Dr. Synn is a founding member of the Vascular Institute of the Rockies in Denver, CO where he currently practices as a vascular surgeon. Dr. Synn lives in Denver, Colorado and in his spare time, enjoys his family life with his wife and their two children.
Peter Syre, MD; neurosurgeon
Dr. Peter Syre has always been interested in the neurosciences and studied it extensively. He has also always found a need to volunteer and served in the Peace Corps in South America before beginning medical school. With this background, while in medical school he became fascinated with the intricacies of the nervous system and the complex bioengineering involved in the anatomy of the brain and the spine. The precise nature of neurosurgery is a very rewarding practice. Dr. Syre completed his residency at the University of Pennsylvania where he pursued further fellowship training in the treatment of spinal disorders. He has a great interest in spinal scoliosis, spinal trauma, and tumors of the spine in addition to the breadth of neurosurgical diseases. He believes that the key to exemplary neurosurgical treatment is patient centered care where each treatment is individualized and each patient is treated as a person, not a disease. With this mindset, patients can have the best outcomes possible and both he and his patients can accomplish their ultimate goal, regaining their life. His neurosurgical interests include: Cranial: Brain tumors, brain metastases, trigeminal neuralgia, gamma knife radiosurgery Spine: Spinal tumors, spinal deformities, spinal trauma, spinal pain, minimally invasive spine, complex spinal instrumentation, spinal cord stimulation, spinal radiculopathy and stenosis, degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, spondylithesis Other: Special interest in neurotrauma, peripheral nerve disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve decompression, pain syndromes
Paul Thorne, MD; pediatric surgeon
Dr. Paul Thorne is a general surgeon in Spokane, Washington and is affiliated with Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital as an attending pediatric surgeon. He received his medical degree from Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is one of 31 doctors at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital who specializes in general surgery. He was a fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. He is board certified in general surgery and pediatric surgery. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons and the International Pediatric Endosurgery Group. Dr. Thorne is a faculty member and site director/program director at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital for the Swedish Medical Center General Surgery Residency.
John Tillett, MD; urologist
John W. Tillett, MD FACS, is a board-certified urologist with the Urology Center of Colorado on staff at Swedish Medical Center and Craig Hospital. He graduated magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University. He received his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine, where he also completed his post-graduate urology training. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and he was also previously on the medical school faculty at Florida State University and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He previously practiced on active duty in the U.S. Navy, as well as in private practice in Naples, FL, before relocating to Denver. Dr. Tillett's main clinical areas of interest include robotic surgery for kidney cancer and other disorders, kidney stones, neurogenic bladder, urethral reconstruction, and microsurgical management of chronic testicular pain.
Eddie Tsvankin, MD; neurosurgeon
Dr. Eddie Tsvankin considers himself an honorary Colorado native. After immigrating to the United States as a child, he grew up in Lakewood. Dr. Tsvankin attended the University of Colorado for both undergraduate and medical school obtaining his bachelor's degree from CU Boulder and Medical School at the CU School of Medicine in Denver. At the CU School of Medicine, Dr. Tsvankin met his wife and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Dr. Tsvankin completed his neurosurgical residency at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina, as well as a fellowship in surgical neuro-oncology at Duke's world- renowned Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. Dr. Tsvankin has trained in the full spectrum of brain and spine surgery. His passion is caring for patients with brain tumors and his particular expertise focuses on complex and eloquent tumor resection, awake craniotomy and brain mapping, keyhole and minimally-invasive resection techniques, laser interstitial thermal therapy, and radiosurgery. He has published extensively on immunotherapy for gliomas and intratumoral drug delivery, and have served as an ad-hoc reviewer for the Journal of Neurosurgery and Journal of Neuro-Oncology. In his spare time when not working Dr. Tsvankin enjoys spending time with his wife and two cats, playing ice hockey, powerlifting, road biking, or enjoying the spoils of living in Denver - camping, hiking, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.
Paul van der Sloot, MD; head/neck surgeon
Dr. Paul van der Sloot is board certified in otolaryngology - head and neck surgery. Dr. van der Sloot grew up in Alberta, Canada, and attended Brandon University in Manitoba and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he obtained a Bachelors in Music-Violin Performance prior to attending the University of Calgary where he began his path to medical school. He then attended the University of Alberta for medical school and otolaryngology residency followed by a Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery, Microvascular Reconstruction, Cranial Base Surgery fellowship at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. Dr. van der Sloot then completed his MS in Medical Management at the Simon School of Business--University of Rochester. He currently practices as an otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at the Head and Neck Cancer Care Center at Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at Swedish Medical Center where he treats head and neck tumors and specializes in transoral robotic surgery and microvascular reconstructive procedures. Dr. van der Sloot is married with four children and lives in the Denver metro area.
Ahmed Zihni, MD; general and laparoscopic surgeon
Ahmed M Zihni, MD, MPH, is a board-certified general and laparoscopic surgeon and works as a foregut surgeon for Denver Esophageal and Stomach Center in Denver, CO. He received his Bachelor of Science (Summa Cum Laude) from SUNY Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY and his Masters of Public Health (Distinction) and Medical Degree from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Zihni completed residency at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, followed by a fellowship in Foregut Surgery (Gastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery) at the Oregon Clinic in Portland. OR. Dr. Zihni has a strong background in academics and research with numerous publications, posters and presentations to his credit.