Vascular Surgery Program Current Fellows

Magendran Danapal, MD
Junior Fellow
Hometown: Taiping, Malaysia
Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
General Surgery Residency Program: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

What attracted you to our fellowship program?
I was very impressed with the operative experience and breadth of cases seen by the fellows. I felt that I will be well trained here. I also liked the friendliness of staff members and overall hospitality shown when I interviewed here.

What have you enjoyed most so far?
I enjoy work and feel that I am being given graduated responsibility as I progress further into my career. I also feel that I have a good work life balance and able to cherish time with family.

What do you enjoy about living in Charlotte?
This is an easy one. Charlotte is among the best cities I have ever lived in. I feel like I have access to everything I need, including great food, activities for kids and shopping when you need it. My wife and I both love this city. People are also very friendly and we have made many new friends since moving here.

Aidan Hamm, MD
Junior Fellow
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
Medical School: University of Miami LM Miller School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency Program: University of Colorado

What attracted you to our fellowship program?
I was attracted to the large case volumes and variety of clinical experience from complex aortic reconstruction to the more common vascular surgeries including fistulas, bypasses and cath lab.  There is a great group of attendings, fellows and support staff.

What have you enjoyed most so far?
I have enjoyed the clinical variety, the atmosphere amongst fellows and staff, and the ability to learn all aspects of vascular surgery.

What do you enjoy about living in Charlotte?
Charlotte is a growing city with lots for families to enjoy.  We enjoy going to craft breweries, the Discovery Place Science center, and the many parks around town.  Both the mountains and the beach are easy weekend trips.

Neil Poulsen, MD
Junior Fellow
Hometown: Brockville, Ontario, Canada
Medical School: St. George’s University
General Surgery Residency Program: Saint Barnabas Medical Center          

What attracted you to our residency program?
I was drawn to CMC by the volume and complexity of the cases, the friendliness and reputation of the faculty and the personal touch of the staff on my interview day. I was also very impressed by the experience of the senior fellows and how comfortable they felt with all aspects of vascular surgery after completing training at this program.

What have you enjoyed most so far?
I have enjoyed the wide variety of surgical exposure, the autonomy granted and the willingness of all the faculty to teach no matter what the case. More than that there is a great team atmosphere amongst the fellows, faculty and all members of the vascular service.

What do you enjoy about living in Charlotte?
Charlotte has been an amazing city. My children have loved all the parks, pools, outdoor activities and sporting events that Charlotte has to offer. My wife and I feel like we have access to anything we could want including restaurants, shopping etc. that a big city offers while still preserving the small-town friendliness and safety.

Mark Scaife, MD
Junior Fellow
Hometown: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Medical School: University of Illinois
General Surgery Residency Program: University of Pittsburgh

What attracted you to our residency program?
I was looking for a busy program with a high case load and opportunities for clinical research. Things that stood out were the concentrated experience at a single institution with a dedicated group of vascular attendings and vascular support staff.

What have you enjoyed most so far?
I’ve enjoyed the fact that the program has lived up to my expectations. The attendings and the staff as a whole have been fantastic. Not having to split time between multiple institutions has eased some of the growing pains of starting within a new system and the operative experience thus far has been great.

What do you enjoy about living in Charlotte?
Charlotte has a fantastic feel with more family-friendly activities than I could hope to experience during my limited time off. There is easy access to the outdoors and the climate facilitates going outside.