Residency
Current Residents
PGY-5
Jordan Luttrell, MD
Undergraduate: Lipscomb University
Medical School: UTHSC
Fun Facts: A few of my favorite things include spending time with my husband, our two chocolate labs, hiking and camping, renovation projects around the house, Mexican food, and watching football.
What do you like about our program? I chose this program for the people. The program itself is incredibly collegial and supportive. I watched how the residents work hard, make sacrifices for one another, but also encourage a healthy balance. The faculty care about training excellent otolaryngologists, but also about developing your character and compassion. The patient population is unique in that you see more pathology than you could imagine, work with all levels of socioeconomic status, but in return, offer so much gratitude for your participation in their care.
What do you like about Memphis? Memphis is a place with a deep history but an exciting future. There is a lot of brokenness and poverty, and it’s not really a place where you can just ignore that and live in a suburb. You will get to interact with and be challenged by all walks of life from patients, to support staff, to restaurant employees. The patient population is very genuine, and come in with real issues and are in desperate need of help. Learning medicine here has made me more aware of and passionate about the whole picture of a patient- background, family support, housing situation, food access, education level, etc. The city is easy to live in and affordable, but still has the population and referral base to support multiple hospitals and great education. Outside of the hospital, the food is amazing, activities engaging, and ample community to plug into. There is a lot of ongoing development that has been fun to be a part of!
Why did you choose Memphis? As I went to medical school here and after doing several away rotations, I was confident that I wanted to train in a place like UTHSC. There is high volume, complex pathology, hands on training to be had and the graduating residents showed the results of this. The program is growing and developing into a top notch otolaryngology program with both general and specialty experience. I chose this for the people here and the way they treated one another. I also have a wonderful community in Memphis of family and friends that really encourage me on a day to day basis.
Andrew Maroda, MD
Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University
Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Fun Facts: I have an incredible wife, two sons, and we have another baby on the way! I love playing and watching almost any type of sport, being active outside, fishing, and woodworking. Music makes me happy, and I have an ongoing playlist for the OR. We love to travel, and I hope to integrate international service work into my future practice.
What do you like about our program? UTHSC ENT is very dynamic in serving diverse patient populations across multiple hospitals. We get excellent operative and sub specialty exposure from day one. The resident culture here is incredibly fun, supportive, and family-friendly. We love being together and always have each other’s backs!
What do you like about Memphis? Food, sports, music, tons of activities and outdoor spaces, affordable living, world-class entertainment, great schools, family support, diversity, and friendly community.
Why did you choose Memphis? I believe in the city, its growth, it’s challenges, and it’s future. Memphis has a rich history and it’s an honor to be part of the story. UTHSC does an excellent job at equipping us to serve our patients well and to solve difficult problems.
Jeffery May, MD
Undergraduate: Hendrix College
Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Fun Facts: I like to work on cars and race autocross. My wife Hannah and I have two rescue dogs, Rusty and Bandit!
What do you like about our program? I love the camaraderie of the residents, who are great teachers and colleagues as well.
What do you like about Memphis? I love the diverse culture of the city. There are several beautiful historical areas and tons of delicious places to eat!
Why did you choose Memphis? I wanted a larger residency program and to also be closer to home. Having been born in Memphis and spending a few years growing up in a small town north of the city, coming back to memphis felt like coming home.
James Tansey, MD
Undergraduate: Christian Brother’s University
Medical School: UTHSC
Fun Facts: I am a born and raised Memphian. I married my high school sweetheart, Emily Anne. We have two children, Rett and Charlotte. I spend my time outside of work spending time with family, serving in my church and playing golf. I am also an avid Memphis Grizzlies and Florida State fan.
What do you like about our program? I enjoy the diversity of experience that we receive with our training and the different hospital exposures. I also like the support that I receive from my co residents and attendings.
What do you like about Memphis? Memphis is a great city that is growing. Many new businesses and restaurants are migrating to Memphis. Memphis is a great city to raise a family.
Why did you choose Memphis? I chose Memphis because I saw how great of a program it was as a medical student. I knew I would receive early operative exposure. Furthermore I knew I would have fantastic operative education that would prepare me well as an Otolaryngologist. Lastly, I chose Memphis for the strong pediatric ent experience.
PGY-4
Meredith Allen, MD
Undergraduate: University of Florida
Medical School: Oakland University
Fun Facts: I'm 1/2 Greek, I love to travel (my favorite place I've ever been is Lisbon), I'm a fan of any and all Detroit sports teams, I'm addicted to my Peloton, I enjoy moving to new cities and meeting new people (I've lived in 5 different cities in the last 5 years), in my free time I enjoy hanging out with friends, going to see live music, and trying new bars/restaurants in whatever city I'm in.
What do you like about our program? The faculty and residents at UT were my favorite group of people I interviewed with and the ones I felt I fit in with the most. All of the faculty trained at incredible institutions and residents go on to practice all over the country. I also liked the idea of practicing in a city with a similar size/population/demographic makeup as my hometown of Detroit. I knew training in Memphis I would get a diverse patient care experience and receive very well-rounded and high quality training.
What do you like about Memphis? I like that it is a medium sized city that has plenty of things to do but I don't feel overwhelmed. It feels very similar to my hometown of Detroit.
Why did you choose Memphis? My brother has lived in Nashville for 6 years, so my family and I spend a lot of time in Tennessee. Memphis is only a short drive away, so the location close to family was also a big selling point for me.
Nicholas Bosworth, MD
Undergraduate: Mississippi State University
Medical School: University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC)
Fun Facts: My wife and I both grew up in the nearby Mississippi Delta. She is an assistant teacher at the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf. We have two dogs that think Shelby Farms Park is heaven on earth; they have really enjoyed our move to Memphis. I like to spend most of my time outdoors when away from the hospital.
Hobbies: Hunting and Fishing, Bird Dog Training, Tennis, St. Louis Cardinals Baseball, Cooking,
Gardening, Woodworking
What do you like about our program? Genuine camaraderie among residents, Large clinical / surgical volume, Experience
gained from rotating at numerous hospitals.
What do you like about Memphis? Memphis Grizzlies basketball, Memphis Redbirds AAA baseball, Live music and nightlife,
Lots of great restaurants and food (the best BBQ obviously), Shelby Farms Park
Why did you choose Memphis? Great training, Exposure to varied pathology, Diverse patient population with significant
healthcare needs, Le Bonheur and St. Jude Children's hospitals, Close to family and
friends
Okenwa Okose, MD
Undergraduate: Texas A&M University
Medical School: Texas A&M Health Science Center
Fun Facts: Anime, Seinfeld, Larry David, Cooking, Working out, Reading, Sleeping, Sleeping
What do you like about our program? Early operative exposure, Supportive faculty and residents
What do you like about Memphis? The Trees
Why did you choose Memphis? Patient Population, opportunity to serve underprivileged communities. Exposure to diverse, complex pathology and surgical cases
Lauren Reid, MD
Undergraduate: University of Georgia
Medical School: Augusta University
Fun Facts: I love hiking, camping, and exploring new restaurants. I have a passion for music and can play three instruments: flute, piano, and guitar.
What do you like about our program? The faculty are genuinely invested in your training and will celebrate your successes with you. The residents are incredibly supportive and tight-knit.
What do you like about Memphis? There are so many amazing restaurants, music venues, sports teams, and outdoor spaces to explore.
Why did you choose Memphis? I feel that Memphis provides diverse training settings and patient populations that help you become a competent and well-rounded otolaryngologist, while also providing many enjoyable things to do outside of work.
PGY-3
Travis Clarke, MD
Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Fun Facts: I am married and have a 1 year old daughter that keeps me very busy. I love being
outdoors to run, hike and bike. I used to work as a software engineer. I love working with tech and finding ways to
integrate new technology into otolaryngology.
What do you like about our program? We serve a diverse and unique patient population that allows us to see all sorts of
pathologies. I have already seen things that I though I would only read about in textbooks.
We also have a very tight knit group of residents that support one another. Our faculty
are approachable and great teachers.
What do you like about Memphis? Memphis has great food and culture. There is always something going on. Cost of living
is very manageable on a resident salary as well.
Why did you choose Memphis? I chose Memphis because it seemed like the best fit for my family and me.
Paul Ratmeyer, MD
Hometown: Gallup, NM
Undergraduate: University of New Mexico
Medical School: University of New Mexico
Fun Facts: I am an avid hiker and backpacker. My favorite backcountry routes are those in and
through the Grand Canyon and southern Utah. I am also very interested in landscape
and wildlife photography. I've more recently been trying to pick up astrophotography
when I can find dark skies.
What do you like about our program? My fellow residents are amazing people in and out of the hospital! The residents from
all levels have been very welcoming. I have made some great friends which makes residency
an incredibly fun experience. I really enjoy the different practice environments found
in Memphis: Regional One, Methodist, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, the VA, St. Jude,
and Baptist. There is also a wide diversity of patients as the main health center
for patients across three different states in the mid-South.
What do you like about Memphis? I love that everyone I meet is so invested and passionate about this city. From supporting
the Memphis Grizzlies, to live music, to good food, to great trails in the forest
just north of the city, Memphis has a little of everything I love while still retaining
the community-like personality of a smaller city. It is very drivable and affordable
which makes life outside of residency much easier.
Why did you choose Memphis? I did my away rotation here at the University of Tennessee. I really enjoyed my time
with the residents and I thought that the pediatrics and trauma experience was very
strong. I felt that the residency program was a good size and was impressed by the
growth of the department over the past several years. I think that this program will
set me up well regardless of the future direction of my career.
Christina Ward, MD
Hometown: Bonner Springs, KS
Undergraduate: University of St. Mary
Medical School: University of Kansas
Fun facts: I have a 5 year old border collie, (Han) Solo. I consider myself a coffee connoisseur
- my favorite coffee shop in Memphis so far is Crazy Gander. I enjoy kayaking, hiking,
and camping!
What do you like about our program? I love the variety in practice settings that we see, everything from a low-resource
county hospital to a private hospital setting in East Memphis. I also really appreciate
the attention that our faculty place on our educational experiences. So far as an
intern, we’ve already participated in one out-of-state bootcamp and four hands-on
workshops.
What do you like about Memphis? Excellent cost of living, minimal to no traffic, great food/coffee, and plenty of
opportunities for outdoor activities! One of my favorite places I’ve explored so far
is Shelby Farms Park in East Memphis.
Why did you choose Memphis? The people are what sold me on this program. Everyone is so supportive of one another
and the faculty really care about their role as educators.
Aaron Zebolsky, MD
Hometown: Marshall, MI
Undergraduate: Ferris State University
Medical School: Western Michigan University Home Stryker School of Medicine
Fun Facts: My wife is an Ob-Gyn resident - we were thrilled to match here together. We have a
corgi named Thor… His name definitely goes to his head. I also love to mountain bike,
brew beer, and skip leg day.
What do you like about our program? I love how often residents and their partners hang out together outside of the hospital.
At least weekly, several (if not most) of us meet up at a brewery or somebody's house
to chill. I also like the uniquely strong exposure to facial trauma that UTHSC has,
as well as the opportunity to work with research fellows in the department for maximizing
research productivity.
What do you like about Memphis? The local breweries here are solid. It's also a good place to have a dog - tons of
affordable dog care services and large dog parks.
Why did you choose Memphis? My wife and I had never been to Memphis, but we both walked away from our (virtual)
interviews at UTHSC with good vibes. For us, it came down to finding a place with
good academic opportunities, fun people, and most importantly a program that wanted
both of us. UTHSC checked all those boxes.
PGY-2
Joel James, MD
Undergraduate: Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program/City College of New York
Medical School: CUNY School of Medicine
Fun Facts: I studied Indian Classical Dance for 14 years. I also enjoy running in my free time, working out, cooking and watching foreign television shows.
What do you like most about our program? Exposure to a diverse patient population across multiple settings similar to what I had experienced in med school, facial trauma exposure, faculty invested in making us excellent comprehensive otolaryngologists
What do you like most about Memphis? Small size city, great BBQ, lots of green spaces, lack of traffic, the warm weather after a lifetime in the Northeast
Why did you choose Memphis? Invested faculty, great vibes during the interview, family atmosphere and strong camaraderie between the residents
Jillian Krebs, MD
Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
Medical School: Case Western Reserve School of Medicine
Fun Facts: I only ever lived in Ohio before moving to Memphis. I like to crochet little animals - Dumbo octopus is my favorite to make. I like to explore new restaurants and coffee shops, and go thrifting and antiquing
What do you like most about our program? I really love the sense of community. The residents are all friendly, smart, and helpful, and the staff want to teach and have your back. We also serve such a diverse patient population at 6 different hospitals which is an extremely unique and beneficial part of this program.
What do you like most about Memphis? It’s shockingly similar to Cleveland! There’s lots of small little pockets of areas around the city that all have their own vibes with fun local restaurants and shops. There’s also many green spaces to enjoy the warm sunny weather. I haven’t been here that long and it already feels like home.
Why did you choose Memphis? I felt a sense of community even through zoom interviews. Since I was moving away for the first time I wanted to make sure I was with a group who was supportive at work and actually got along outside of it. It’s a group that encourages everyone to do their best.
Samantha Moore, MD
Undergraduate: University of Iowa
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Fun Facts: Favorite word is “ope.” I love traveling, hiking, true crime series, good food, and spending time with my people.
What do you like most about our program? The residents! Everyone is fun, authentic, and supportive of one another. The faculty are invested in your learning and take pride in developing you as both a surgeon and person. I also appreciate the various training sites, robust trauma experience, and the opportunity to care for underserved communities.
What do you like most about Memphis? The sunshine and warm weather, awesome BBQ and local breweries, live music scene, and affordable living.
Why did you choose Memphis? I knew the program would be a great fit because of the incredible residents, diverse training opportunities, and overall collegiality among the department. Plus, my significant other is a resident at UTHSC, so coming to Memphis was an easy choice!
Justin Soffer, MD
Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Fun Facts: I am a dual US-Austrian citizen, I speak multiple languages (some better than others!), and I was a baby model back in the day.
What do you like about our program? What I like most about the UTHSC otolaryngology program is our tight-knit resident community. Moreover, residents enjoy unparalleled operative autonomy, most evident in our craniomaxillofacial trauma experience. Not to mention our excellent call schedule and rapid faculty expansion with young, talented members, which foster an environment of continuous growth.
What do you like about Memphis? Affordable and accessible city with minimal traffic. Endless recreational opportunities. Vibrant brewery and food scene. Memphis embraces a diverse patient population. Here, I get to live, learn, and thrive in the heart of the Mid-South.
Why did you choose Memphis? Ultimately I chose Memphis because I was close with a few of the junior residents who I could trust to give me the unadulterated version of their residency experience, and I was blown away by how highly they spoke of their fellow residents, the faculty members they looked up to, and their overall training experience.
PGY-1
Samantha Newman Avidano, MD
Joseph Berry, MD
Meghana Chanamolu, MD
Evan Thomson, MD