Current Residents

Nainisha Chintalapudi, MD

Undergraduate school: University of North Carolina
Medical school: New York Medical College
Career interest: Trauma or Pediatrics
Best thing about Charlotte: There is a great mix of stuff to do both within Charlotte and in the surrounding area from bars and restaurants to hikes and other outdoor activities. After living in NYC, the cost of living here was also a huge plus.
Interests outside the hospital: Amateur mixologist, plant mom, art (looking at other people’s and making my own), hiking, running on the greenway, journalism/news podcasts.

Aseel Dib, MD

Undergraduate school:
Medical school: University of Alabama
Katherine Drexelius – Career Interest: Spine
Best thing about Charlotte: Outdoor activities, food scene, proximity to mountains and beach, and a big airport to travel around!
Interests outside of the hospital: cooking, traveling, hanging with friends/family. All things active: running, teaching yoga & pilates, outdoor hikes!

Katherine Drexelius, MD

Undergraduate school:
Medical school: University of Colorado
Career interest:Spine
Best thing about Charlotte: US National Whitewater Center!! So much to do there - stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, running, biking and live music in the summer. A must-visit!
Interests outside of the hospital: Spending time outside with my corgi, friends, and fiancé, working out, Gonzaga basketball, jalapeño margaritas, listening to Ted Radio Hour podcasts

James Frix, MD

Undergraduate school: 
Medical school: Med College of Georgia
Career interest:
Best thing about Charlotte: It is such a kid and family friendly place. We are less than 15-20 minutes from everything, and the traffic is negligible. It is impossible for a kid to be bored in this city.
Interests outside the hospital: Chasing my kids around.

Maria Kammire, MD

Undergraduate school: 
Medical school: UNC SOM
Career interest:             
Best thing about Charlotte: This city has everything - plenty of good restaurants, great breweries, and lots of options for outdoor activities. There really is something for everyone here.
Interests outside the hospital: Hiking, running, and spending time with my friends and family.

Joseph Burger

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Undergraduate school: The Ohio State University
Medical school: The Ohio State University
Career interest: Undecided
Best thing about Charlotte: Great local breweries, mild climate, beautiful place to hike and explore in a family friendly environment.
Interests outside of the hospital: Spending time with my wife, watching my Buckeyes and all things college football, staying active and playing golf as much as possible.

Dillon Graham

Hometown: Myrtle Beach, SC
Undergraduate school: The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina
Medical school: University of South Carolina Greenville
Career interest: Undecided - considering Hand, Pediatrics, Sports and Foot & Ankle
Best thing about Charlotte: I love spending time outside and Charlotte has great options for getting outdoors like the Whitewater Center and the Little Sugar Creek Greenway. The restaurant/brewery scene is also amazing with so many great places to try.
Interests outside of the hospital: I love lifting weights, running, walking my two Australian Shepherds and spending time with family and friends.

Blake Hodgens

Hometown: Tampa, FL
Undergraduate school: The Pennsylvania State University
Medical school: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Career interest: Sports, Foot and Ankle         
Best thing about Charlotte: Charlotte is a very family and dog-friendly city that offers affordable living and beautiful outdoors all while being easily accessible for family and friends.
Interests outside of the hospital: Spending time with my wife and Bernedoodle, grilling, following Penn State and Philly sports and finding the best food Charlotte has to offer.

Ryan Serbin, MD

Undergraduate school:
Medical school: ETSU Quillen
Career interest: Can’t say enough great things about Charlotte. Running on the light rail and little sugar creek greenway, live music at the Whitewater Center, fun outdoor breweries, and the proximity to the beach and mountains.
Best thing about Charlotte: I have yet to have bad food at any place in Charlotte (including the hospital cafeteria)- so the consistently great food and diverse selection is a big win for the city in my mind. Also, I love the city skyline and how there are amazing views of it from multiple different neighborhoods around the hospital.
Interests outside of the hospital: Triathlons, backpacking, cycling, and hanging with my fiancé, dog, and friends/family.

Alexander White

Hometown: Hickory, NC
Undergraduate school: Harvard University
Medical school: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Career interest: Undecided
Best thing about Charlotte: Incredible atmosphere of metropolitan energy, music and sports entertainment and diverse dining. Charlotte is nestled right in the Piedmont which allows easy escapes to North Carolina's beautiful coastline and the Blue Ridge mountains.
Interests outside of the hospital: Functional fitness, playing tennis and reading historical fiction

Calvin Chandler, MD

Hometown: Tacoma, WA
Medical school: The University of Texas at Austin
Career interest: Undecided
Best thing about Charlotte: Great city amenities with no shortage of outdoor activities nearby. 
Interests outside of the hospital: Tennis, fly fishing, hiking with the dogs, and Seahawks football.

Manohar Devarasetty, MD

Evan Polce, MD

Hometown: Appleton, WI
Medical school:  University of Wisconsin School of Medicine
Career Interest:  Shoulder/Elbow, Sports, Joints
Best thing about Charlotte?:  Weather, food scene, close proximity to the mountains and beach
Why you chose CMC?: Elite surgical training via the mentorship model, strong trauma and sub-speciality experience

Katherine Snipes, MD

Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Medical school:  University of TN College of Medicine
Career Interest: Foot & Ankle
Best thing about Charlotte?: It's home! Close to family, great food, great weather, and the best people.
Why you chose CMC?:  #1 reason is the incredible culture. High volume program. Extensive training opportunities with top orthopaedic mentors. Everyone, and I mean everyone, we work with is genuine, which makes for an unmatched learning environment conducive for developing well-rounded orthopaedic surgeons.
Interests outside of the hospital?:  Cooking, traveling, exploring new restaurants, exercising, visiting parents on the coast, boating, fishing.

Brian Sweeney, MD

Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Medical school: Stanford university School of Medicine
Career Interest: Pediatrics
Best thing about Charlotte?:  It is a vibrant and growing city that is very family friendly. There are a ton of running trails and great parks for kids.
Why you chose CMC?: Everyone at CMC wants to see you thrive. From our Chair and Program director down, they want the best for us as residents. It’s truly a great place to learn and work.
Interests outside of the hospital?:  Being a Dad

Elijah Alston, MD

Hometown: Brunswick, GA
Medical school:  Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Career Interest: Undecided
Best thing about Charlotte?: The best thing about Charlotte is that it is an active city with a small town feel. There is also a bunch of events (sporting/recreational), eateries, and parks to explore.
Why you chose CMC?: I chose CMC because it was incredible, and there was no other place like here. The culture between the residents, faculty and ancillary staff here is amazing. Everyone is so down to earth and care about one another, in and outside of the hospital. I can reach out to anyone if I have an issue or a question and they'll drop what they're doing to help me out. The faculty truly have a passion for educating the residents, and want to ensure that we are competent and confident. I have numerous mentors who all are devoted to my development and future endeavors. Lastly the operative experience is spectacular. The volume is phenomenal in respect to every subspecialty. In addition to this with our mix of team based and mentorship model rotations there's always extra hustle cases to join where it will be primarily you and the attending. As fantastic as it is to be one on one with attending, we also have opportunities to operate with our coresidents as well, which is always a fun time!
Interests outside of the hospital?: Going on walks, lifting weights, playing basketball/pickleball/tennis, watching anime, exploring new areas of Charlotte

Elizabeth Benson, MD

Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Medical school:  University of Alabama School of Medicine
Hometown:, Birmingham, AL
Career Interest:, Peds, Spine
Best thing about Charlotte?: The food & activities!! Have a perpetual list of places to try and there are games, concerts, or something unique every week!
Why you chose CMC?: So many reasons! I could not believe how invested everyone is in the program and its residents - from mentorship from leaders in their fields, early operative experience at a busy level I trauma center and robust privademic environment, and incredible camaraderie amongst residents and faculty. I knew coming to CMC meant I would feel supported, be pushed to be the best surgeon I can be, and have a really good time along the way.
Interests outside of the hospital?: My husband, dog (Hootie) and I love being active with my coresidents and their partners who have become our best friends - from family dinners, concerts, Panthers games, and pickle ball our class is inseparable even outside the hospital! Otherwise, you can find me reading a book or at Culture Shop.

Nicole Covell, DO

Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Medical school:  Campbell Univ School of Osteopathic Medicine
Career Interest:  TBD, loving all things ortho so far
Best thing about Charlotte?: I'm sure most will say the food scene and they are not wrong. Amazing selection of cuisines for foodies of all types and lots of great authentic hole in the wall spots that you don't have to search hard for. Great split between mountains and beach, many direct international and domestic flights, young city with clubs/groups/meetups for anything you could possibly be interested in.
Why you chose CMC?:  I've never felt more at home than I do here in Charlotte with these people-- the support we receive is unmatched. Between our coresident camaraderie, PD, and administrative support, CMC has every base covered. I knew I'd get unparalleled training working with a team of providers that are not only amazing surgeons but amazing people.
Interests outside of the hospital?:  My dogs, succulents, trying new restaurants, growing peppers to make hot sauce, finding a patio in the sun with a cold drink

Henry Kuechly, MD

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Medical school:  University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Career Interest: Open to all subspecialties, but right now I am most interested in hand or shoulder/ elbow
Best thing about Charlotte?:, The weather and sports/ concerts/ restaurants
Why you chose CMC?: I chose CMC because of the operative experience and the people. As a medical student rotator, I saw first hand how much time the residents were able to spend in the OR.  Additionally, our attendings are excellent teachers and really take great interest in helping us excel. As for the people, the current residents treat each other as family and whole heartedly support each other.  The residents hold themselves and each other to a high standard.  There is a strong emphasis on teamwork here and it is evident on a daily basis.
Interests outside of the hospital?: exercise, walking my dog, trying new restaurants, hunting/fishing, hanging out with friends and family

Madeline Rieker, MD

Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Medical school:  Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Career Interest: Undecided
Best thing about Charlotte?: Charlotte provides the perfect lifestyle balance - there’s great restaurants/shopping/amenities and always plenty of things to do, but still has a smaller suburban feel. I love running on the greenways around Charlotte, and it’s also the perfect distance from both the beach and the mountains!
Why you chose CMC?: I chose CMC because the operative experience and training environment are unparalleled - well-balanced across subspecialties, high volume operative experience, supportive faculty, and a great team culture among the residents. CMC truly feels like home and I am so blessed to be training at such an excellent program!

Meredith Benson, MD

Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD
Career Interest: To be determined!
Best thing about Charlotte?: The city has a very young, active culture. Beautiful neighborhoods surrounding the hospital for running and proximity to the outdoors!
Why you chose CMC?: The culture of this program is phenomenal, and that’s what ultimately sold me on it. As a rotator, I immediately felt that the residents were truly part of a family, and I’ve only felt that even more as an intern. I think the mentorship model holds residents accountable and produces exceptional surgeons. All doors are open for you coming out of CMC & I would absolutely choose this program 100x over again!
Interests outside of the hospital?: Staying active (running, Solidcore!!), skiing, baking & trying all the restaurants and wine bars Charlotte has to offer!

Hannah Bradsell, MD

Hometown: Westchester, NY
Career Interest: Not sure yet! Right now, everything is exciting and interesting to me, so I'm keeping an open mind and am looking forward to exploring different specialties throughout residency.
Best thing about Charlotte?: I love exploring the many greenways around Charlotte that stretch for miles, discovering new restaurants and enjoying the incredible food scene, and the proximity to both the mountains and the beach for fun weekend trips! I also love the people. Everyone I’ve met has been so kind, welcoming, and genuinely excited to share what Charlotte has to offer.
Why you chose CMC?: The people here are incredible and the operative experience is second to none. CMC is truly one big, supportive family and I have felt genuinely welcomed as a part of the team from day one! With this strong culture of teamwork across the program, everyone looks out for each other and is invested in each other's success. And we have fun along the way! On top of that, the faculty are outstanding educators who are deeply committed to training the residents, making the operative experience through the mentorship model unmatched, with endless opportunities to become a confident, highly skilled orthopedic surgeon.
Interests outside of the hospital?: I love to snowboard and enjoy exploring new mountains, so I'm excited to check out local ones near Charlotte. When it's not winter, I have a golden retriever named Tortellini that my wife and I love to take on hikes/walks, swimming, and all kinds of adventures!

Logan Locascio, MD

Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Hometown: Gainesville, FL
Career Interest: Undecided
Best thing about Charlotte?: Charlotte gives you all the energy of a big city without losing that comfortable, hometown feel.
Why you chose CMC?: CMC has a special combination of excellent surgical training and people. When I rotated here as a medical student, I was struck by how skilled the residents were and how much everyone genuinely loved coming to work every day.
Interests outside of the hospital?: Nature, lifting, running, yoga, travel, house music

Andrew Nguyen, MD

Medical School:, Harvard
Hometown:, Rochester, NY
Career Interest:, Undecided
Best thing about Charlotte?: Great food and brewery scene, active lifestyle, live music, pro sports, and mountains and coast nearby, all wrapped in a laid-back, small-city feel.
Why you chose CMC?: The people here— the tight-knit resident culture and dedicated faculty genuinely invested in our development. That, in combination with its high-volume trauma and early operative autonomy, make CMC a uniquely strong program.

Laney Smith, MD

Medical School: South Alabama College of Medicine
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Career Interest: hand or peds
Best thing about Charlotte?: There's so much to do here, from trying all the amazing restaurants to walking my dog in the parks (Charlotte is such a dog-friendly city) to checking out different workout classes. And you can easily get to the mountains or the beach in just a couple of hours.
Why you chose CMC?, When I rotated here, I was so impressed by the residents. They seemed happy and fulfilled in their work, and were competent surgeons even early in their training. I think the residents here take so much pride in being excellent and doing right by their patients. CMC also has an amazing mix of high-volume trauma and strong subspecialty rotations, which not only teach you but prepare you for your next steps after residency. And last, the people sold me. I could really see myself being friends and co-residents with the people I worked with, and I was pretty sold by the time I left my rotation. All of the attendings are so invested in your learning and growth, not just as a surgeon but as a person, and I just knew this was the place I wanted to train.
Interests outside of the hospital?: Outside the hospital, you can find me at hot yoga, cooking, eating my way through all of Charlotte's food scene, or hanging out with my Boykin spaniel and my husband.

 Joseph Costello, II, MD

Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD
Medical school:  University of Miami LM Miller School of Medicine
Career Interest: Hip/Knee Arthroplasty
Best thing about Charlotte?: I love living in South End. It's a great location to be close to the hospital (~5 min drive), yet have tons of new breweries/restaurants, shops, and the rail trail to run on. As somebody without connections to the area its also a great place to live due to the number of people from out of state who move here and are looking to meet new people.
Why you chose CMC?: While having great training including both strong trauma and subspecialty experiences was a non-negotiable for me and CMC definitely fulfills that, what really drew me to CMC was the residents, faculty, and staff. As somebody without family in the region, having a strong connection with my co-residents and faculty was important. The people I entered residency with are some of my closest friends and we routinely see each other outside the hospital to hangout. I also cannot count the number of times attendings have invited me to grab beer, go play pickleball, or come over to their homes with their families for dinner.
Interests outside of the hospital?: When in Charlotte I love spending time off at the gym, pool, any form of sporting event, going to a brewery with friends or going to the Whitewater Center for a hike. Traveling to visit friends has also been easier than I anticipated in residency and has been great with the schedule at CMC.