Current Residents

PGY 1

Eric Abbenhaus, MD

Hometown: Carmel, IN
Undergraduate: Indiana University
Medical School: Indiana University
Why UK? The camaraderie between residents and staff. 


​
​
​
​







​

Mark Nazal, MD, MPH

Hometown: High Point, NC
Undergraduate: Duke University
Graduate: Boston University School of Public Health
Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Why UK? ​Well-rounded program and extremely strong operative training, level 1 trauma, VA, and Shriners. Positive and cohesive culture, great camaraderie, and invested leadership. Tremendous research opportunities and all subspecialties are well represented.

Joseph Hare, MD

Hometown: Scott Depot, WV
Undergraduate: Trevecca Nazarene University
Medical School: West Virginia University
Why UK? This program allows me to join a community that will push me out of my comfort zone, challenge me to become the best surgeon possible, continue to foster the development of my teamwork and leadership abilities, provide research opportunities and resources, and provide exposure to a wide variety of injuries and pathology during my residency. After spending a month here as a rotating medical student, I knew this was a place I wanted to learn and grow both as an individual and as a physician/surgeon. 

​

Timothy Westbrooks, MD

Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
Undergraduate: University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Medical School: University of Tennessee
Why UK? When choosing a residency program I wanted to find a place where I would work very hard for five years and come out prepared to be an independent orthopaedic surgeon, but also one that would have the academic resources and faculty to help me match into whatever fellowship I decide to apply to. UK absolutely checks these two boxes. Aside from this, I think the program has a great team atmosphere to it. We all work together to help our patients, and it is this teamwork that leads to hands on learning.

Gavin Hautala, MD

Hometown: Pittsville, WI
Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Why UK? The camaraderie here is unparalleled and is one of the main reasons I chose UK. The residents and faculty take every opportunity to teach, always have your back, and have fun. Also, it was important to me for a program to have all the subspecialties covered in one place, a high operative volume, and great fellowship matches. Lexington is an affordable place to live with plenty of activities to do.

PGY 2

Zeeshan Akhtar, MD

Hometown: New Hartford, NY
Undergraduate: SUNY Geneseo
Medical School: University of Kentucky
Why UK? As a home student, I thankfully had an extended opportunity to get to know the program and people who form it. The culture, camaraderie is ultimately why I chose UK. 

Charles-Antoine Mechas, MD

Hometown: Lexington, KY
Undergraduate: University of Louisville
Medical School: University of Kentucky
Why UK: I chose UK for residency because of operative experience, volume, and exposure to all subspecialties of orthopaedics in one place. Also, Lexington is a fun place to live. 

Ferras Albitar, MD

Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
Undergraduate: Tufts University
Medical School: University of Kentucky
Why UK? Nowhere else in the country gives you the ability to see and treat such diverse patients and pathologies, to work with a great tightly knit group of residents and attendings. 

Jonathan Grabau, MD

Hometown: Lexington, KY
Undergraduate: University of Kentucky
Medical School: University of Kentucky
Why UK? I knew the UK residency program had an established history of producing skilled, well-practiced, and highly successful graduating residents. I also knew the program's faculty to be respected across the nation, as well as to truly care about resident education. 

Matthew Eads, MD

Hometown: Maysville, KY
Undergraduate: University of Kentucky
Medical School: University of Kentucky
Why UK? What I wanted in a residency program was great operative training,  variety of consults in the ER, and a family friendly environment. We work hard but also enjoy spending time outside of work together whether that’s at breweries, sporting events, Keeneland, or just a backyard barbecue. 

---

PGY 3

Kyle Boden, MD

Hometown: 
Undergraduate: Emory & Henry College
Medical School: East Tennessee State University 
Why UK? UK provides a comprehensive, high-volume operative experience in a program where residents and faculty support one another in our work and personal lives. Lexington is a fun, vibrant town with plenty of activities for residents and their families to enjoy.

Tyler Kalbac, MD

Hometown: Miami, FL
Undergraduate: University of Virginia
Medical School: Florida International University
Why UK? My away rotation at UK showed by that this was a group of hardworking residents, who cared about one another, had a blast together, and ultimately became great surgeons. 

Brandon Collofello, MD

Hometown: Minooka, IL
Undergraduate: St. Francis (Joliet, IL)
Medical School: Univ. of Illinois at Chicago
Why UK? UK offers early operative experience and autonomy with appropriate supervision in a nice city with good food and outdoor activities where you can buy an affordable home. My fellow co-residents treat each other like family and made the transition from Chicago easy. 
​

Boshen Liu, MD

Hometown: Jackson, MS
Undergraduate: Lehigh University
Medical School: University of Mississippi
Why UK? ​UK Orthopaedics has created a unique environment of operative experience, meaningful friendship, and faculty mentorship. Because we're surrounded by people who are experts in their highly specialized fields, we're exposed to differences in treatment thought processes. If you are a self-motivated, resilient, and coachable individual, this is a perfect place for you to grow and become an orthopaedic surgeon.

Lindsay Hockensmith, MD

Hometown: Jamestown, KY
Undergraduate: Virginia Tech
Medical School: University of Kentucky
Why UK? UK has a great reputation for producing well-trained and competent surgeons. Kentucky is a beautiful state to live in and the people here want everyone to feel welcome and a part of the family.

---

PGY 4

Syed Mehdi, MD

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Undergraduate: Emory University
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
Why UK? The combination of high operative volume, early OR experience, and the camaraderie between the residents










​

Michael Stevens, MD

Hometown: Saline, MI
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Why UK? UK is a place where you learn by doing, and your classmates and colleagues are truly there for you no matter what. 

Brian Muffly, MD

Hometown: Corbin, KY
Undergraduate: University of Virginia
Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Why UK? UK provides an extremely well-balanced training program, with excellent operative experience, research opportunities, and didactics. I was confident that the program would prepare me well for any future career in orthopaedic surgery. The residents and faculty look out for each other, function as a team, and hold patient care as a top priority. The supportive and familial environment at UK was very important when deciding where to train.
​
​

John Whitaker, MD

Hometown: London, KY
Undergraduate: Western Kentucky University
Medical School: University of Kentucky
Why UK? Being born and raised in the Commonwealth, UK offered me the chance to serve my fellow Kentuckians while being trained at one of the best programs in the county. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, too good to pass up. 

Zachary Skipper, MD

Hometown: Buford, GA
Undergraduate: University of Georgia
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Why UK? One of my mentors in medical school came from UK and really had nothing but great things to say about the people and the quality of training. My wife and I couples matched up here and and we both really had a great feeling about this place after our interview days so it felt right for us. 

---

PGY 5

Andrew Carlone, MD

Hometown: Stone Mountain, GA
Undergraduate: Emory University
Medical School: Mercer University SOM
Why UK? UK offers a well-rounded orthopaedic resident training program with a top notch surgical experience (case volume around 90th percentile in the nation) and appropriately graduated responsibility in a family-like atmosphere. Lexington is a fun college city with many outdoor activities, great social and sporting events, and a huge variety if restaurants and bars.  

Mitch Wattles, MD

Hometown: Waterloo, IL
Undergraduate: University of Kentucky
Medical School: University of Kentucky
Why UK? I chose UK because the program had everything I needed and its located in an amazing city. UK covers all specialties on one campus and has great faculty. Lexington is also a big bonus as there are so many fun things to do!

Ola Oshikoya, MD

Hometown: Miami, FL
Undergraduate: University of Florida
Medical School: Florida International University
Why UK? I wanted to train in a place where I felt confident I would be exposed to lots of operative experience and leave feeling equipped with good evidence based technique to provide my future patients with the best care possible. 



​​

Tony Zacharias, MD

Hometown: Green Bay, WI
Undergraduate: St. Norbert College
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Why UK? I choose UK because of the comradery and work ethic I saw.

Ryan Mayer, MD

Hometown: Yorba Linda, CA
Undergraduate: University of California, Irvine
Medical School: University of California, Irvine
Why UK? I was looking for a strong operative experience in an affordable, family-friendly location.