Current Residents

 

Thomas Larrew 

Thomas Larrew, M.D.

PGY Year: Chief, 7
Undergraduate: Clemson University
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina
Clinical Interest: Pediatric Neurosurgery, hydrocephalus, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy surgery
Why you chose MUSC: MUSC offers a truly well rounded training experience. The program has a good mix of surgical training, research opportunities, and work-life balance. As a medical student, I got to work with the residents so I knew they all had good surgical exposure with a reasonable level of autonomy. Our attendings have trained everywhere from UCSF and NYU to institutions in Japan (under Sugita) so a wide variety of surgical techniques are seen. In terms of research, I’m interested in cerebrovascular and pediatric neurosurgery so I wanted to go somewhere that would expose me to exciting research in those fields. The cerebrovascular attendings publish at least once a month and one of our pediatric neurosurgeons, Dr. Ramin Eskandari, has an extensive research background so I was excited at the thought of working with them. A unique research component to our program is the Zucker Institute for Applied Neurosciences. This is a program that serves to bring device concepts to fruition, all the way from design and manufacturing to patenting and selling. Examples of devices include unique percutaneous screws created to prevent overlap and a device placed on the skin used to stereotactically evacuate clots. With a couple of rough device concepts, it was an added bonus to know that there was an outlet for those thoughts or any other ideas I’d have during residency. Lastly, but equally as important, the program boasts a good work-life balance. Getting into neurosurgery you know that it’s something you have to sacrifice, but it’s nice to be in a program that at least supports your well-being. In fact, we have a fitness program called La Sierra that is dedicated to the wellness of our residents. This includes weekly workouts, healthy meals, and occasional lectures on well-being and diet. A good work-life balance isn’t all about being healthy though. All of the residents (and attendings) are very laid back so whenever we get a bit of downtime, it’s nice to be with a group of good people you can grab a beer with after work.
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital: Exploring the outdoors, finding new music and enjoying live music, spending time with my two golden doodles, Fiona and Gracie, and my wife, Hannah.

Guilherme Porto 

Guilherme Porto, M.D.

PGY Year: Chief, 7
Undergraduate: College of Charleston
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina
Clinical Interest: Cerebrovascular and Complex Spine Surgery
Why you chose MUSC: Strong academic and operative program in the Holy City.
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital: Boating in the marshlands of Charleston is one of my favorite weekend activities. Never a bad day on the water!

Mithum Sattur photo 

Mithun Sattur, M.D.

PGY Year: 7
Undergraduate: Kamataka Institute of Medical Sciences - Hubli, India
Medical School: Kamataka Institute of Medical Sciences - Hubli, India
Clinical Interest: Endovascular

Laura Wolgamott 

Laura Wolgamott, M.D.

PGY Year: 6
Undergraduate: Denison University
Medical School: Wright State University
Clinical Interest: Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine
Why you chose MUSC: During my interview at MUSC, I felt that the group was really close-knit and that there was clearly a good environment to learn and gain experience from.
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital: I enjoy many outdoor activities such as Hiking, Backpacking, Climbing, Running/Walking with my dog Kirb. I also enjoy Yoga and HIIT when I can't hit the trails/get outdoors.

Jeffrey Wessell 

Jeffrey Wessell, D.O.

PGY Year: 6
Undergraduate: Boston University
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University
Clinical Interest: Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine, Tumor
Why you chose MUSC: The interaction between residents and attendings caught my attention as it was an outlier in terms of great teamwork and camraderie. Charleston also has plenty to do so you can decompress when you have time off.
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital: I enjoy working out and following football. Otherwise my free time is spent with my two dogs and my wife.

Zachary Hubbard 

Zachary Hubbard, M.D., MPH

PGY Year: 5
Undergraduate: Auburn University
Medical School: University of Miami
Clinical Interest: Endovascular, peripheral nerve, spine
Why you chose MUSC: During my sub-I at MUSC I really respected the strong clinical skills that were present. The residents tackled a busy service with ease and displayed a great amount of competence. The relationship between the faculty and residents was truly special.
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital: Running, playing Tennis. Exploring the food scene in Charleston. Battery Soccer games.

Orgest Lajthia 

Orgest Lajthia, M.D.

PGY Year: 5
Undergraduate: George Mason University
Medical School: Georgetown University
Clinical Interest:
Why you chose MUSC:
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital:

Aimee Weber 

Aimee Weber, M.D.

PGY Year: 4
Undergraduate: Williams College
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina
Clinical Interest: Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery, connectomics, addiction and brain circuitry, machine brain interface
Why you chose MUSC: Seven years is not short and the people were a big draw. Attendings have diverse clinical and research interests, while being approachable, available and down to earth. Residents have a team mentality and typically foster a supportive/receptive environment. Oh and Charleston!
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital: Spending time with family and friends, soaking every moment up in my spare time. Golf, sporting clays, diving, lifting, kayaking, alpine skiing, travelling and trying to take advantage of the activities and experiences Charleston and the Low Country have to offer.

Arunprasad Gunasekaran 

Arunprasad Gunasekaran, M.D.

PGY Year: 4
Undergraduate: Louisana State University
Medical School: University of Arkansas
Clinical Interest: Skull base and Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery
Why you chose MUSC: Great team and high volume clinical exposure
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital: Playing Tennis, Road Biking, Hiking

Timothy Webb 

Timothy Webb, M.D.

PGY Year: 3
Undergraduate: Virginia Commonwealth University
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Clinical Interest: General neurosurgery with special interest in functional and cerebrovascular neurosurgery. 
Why you chose MUSC: Primary goal in choosing residency was a place where I would graduate as a highly skilled technical neurosurgeon with good clinical accumen. MUSC met that goal, but further impressed me with the dynamic of the resident team as highly cohesive group.
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital: I enjoy working outside a good bit, usually building something in my backyard. Big fan of podcasts and reading, particularly as it relates to history. My wife and I have several pets that we enjoy hanging out with. I also like to hike, kayak, travel, sample good cigars and whiskey, play my saxophone. Of course, the best times are often hanging out with others within the resident cohort and their friends/sig others.

Brian Saway 

Brian Saway, M.D.

PGY Year: 3
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina
Medical School: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Clinical Interest: Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine
Why you chose MUSC: It was important for me to find a program that had a diverse case load, that was able to open doors for future career opportunities, and created an environment that allowed for me to reach my maximum potential as a neurosurgeon in training. MUSC clearly met all the criterai regarding case load and renowned faculty, similar to other programs, but what set it apart was the strong interest in resident well being that led to systemic changes within the program. At MUSC we work hard to treat our patients, but the program also recognizes that if the residents are not mentally well, then their maximum potential is not being met. For these reasons, I chose MUSC.
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital: I enjoy surfing at Folly Beach, playing guitar with friends, playing soccer on the competitive MUSC intramural soccer team, and exploring the amazing Charleston cuisine.

Matheus Pereira 

Matheus Pereira, M.D.

PGY Year: 2
Undergraduate: University of California, San Diego
Medical School: University of California, San Francisco
Clinical Interest: Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine, Tumor
Why you chose MUSC: Wonderful faculty and department, high clinical volume, vast research opportunities and support, and awesome resident team.
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital: All things related to sports such as soccer, football, basketball, baseball, MMA, exercise/running, beach volleyball, snowboarding. Music, playing guitar and drums, traveling. Faith.

Matthew Triano 

Matthew Triano, M.D.

PGY Year: 2
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania
Medical School: Georgetown University
Clinical Interest: Functional neurosurgery, machine brain interface, complex spine
Why you chose MUSC: Camaraderie, high operative volume, emphasis on wellness, excellent research opportunities
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital: Traveling, language learning, cooking. Attending concerts, DJing. Weightlifting, hiking, biking

Mohammed Alshareef 

Joshua Lucas, M.D.

PGY Year: 1
Undergraduate: Muhlenberg College
Medical School: Drexel University 
Clinical Interest: Endovascular, Open Vascular/Skull Base
Why you chose MUSC: I realized early on that I wanted more from a neurosurgery residency than just clinical excellence. For me, enjoying the people that I would be spending the next 7 years of my life with was equally as important as clinical excellence. MUSC stood out to me in both of these realms. Not only does MUSC offer outstanding clinical training, but the camaraderie among the residents and attendings assured me that this program was the perfect fit for me.
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital: Going to the beach, riding my bike, surfing, playing video games

Mohammed Alshareef 

Ricardo Domingo Cabreja, M.D.

PGY Year: 1
Undergraduate: Iberoamerican University (UNIBE)
Medical School: Iberoamerican University (UNIBE)
Clinical Interest: Skull Base, Hybrid Endovascular and Open Vascular Surgery
Why you chose MUSC: Beyond academic excellence and clinical proficiency, I was especially drawn by the valuable mentorship, resident autonomy, and most importantly the companionship and affinity between residents. 
Special Interest or what you enjoy to do outside of the hospital: Weight lifting, playing soccer, surfing, fencing, watching sports, traveling, and exploring different culinary scenes!