Meet Our Current Residents | Otolaryngology

	Matthew Groysman, MD – PGY5 My name is Matthew Groysman. I am a native Tucsonan and went to the University of Arizona for both my undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology and my medical degree. I became interested in otolaryngology after a fantastic rotation during my third year of medical school. My time at Arizona has exposed me to the unparalleled diversity of surgical and clinical opportunities in Otolaryngology and Head And Neck Surgery! What attracted you to Arizona? As a life-long native of Tucson and UACOM-Tucson graduate, I am extremely happy to stay on as a resident. This program truly has a family atmosphere with incredible camaraderie among faculty and residents! Furthermore, a large catchment area, the many faculty in a variety of practice environments and a commitment to resident autonomy make for an incredible surgical training environment. What is your favorite surgery to be involved in? My favorite surgeries are parotidectomies and neck dissections. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? In my spare time I enjoy cooking, guitar, tennis, exploring the many hiking trails of the Sonoran Desert. I also enjoy the many restaurants of Tucson, AZ. What are your long-term goals? I am interested in Head and Neck Surgical Oncology as well as Comprehensive Otolaryngology. I am excited to practice in Tucson after my training!
	Austin Lever, MD – PGY5 My name is Austin Lever, I was born and raised in Rock Springs, Wyoming. For my undergraduate degree I attended Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, where I received a degree in Biology. After receiving my undergraduate degree, I spent a year doing biochemical research at the University of Utah before starting medical school at the University of Washington School of Medicine. During my 2nd year of medical school, I was introduced to the field of otolaryngology and was drawn to the interesting anatomy and pathology as well as the clinical and surgical services that otolaryngologists can provide to their patients. What attracted you to Arizona? I was attracted to this program because of the depth and breadth of the surgical and clinical training available here. During my interview day, I could tell that both the faculty and residents were passionate about their work and excited to teach, and I look forward to continuing my training here. What is your favorite surgery to be involved in? My favorite surgeries so far are adenotonsillectomies and endoscopic sinus surgery, however, I look forward to gaining more experience in surgeries across the different subspecialties of otolaryngology. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? In my spare time I enjoy skiing, mountain biking, and spending time outdoors with friends and family. What are your long term goals? I am currently undecided whether I will pursue a fellowship after residency, but I am excited that the training I will receive here will provide me with the knowledge and skills to be a great surgeon.
	Lauren Malaya, MD – PGY4 My name is Lauren Malaya. I grew up in Troy, Illinois. I received my undergraduate degree in Film and Media Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. After college, I worked for a few years as a personal trainer, where I discovered my love of working with others to improve their health. Soon after, I started medical school at University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. I chose otolaryngology during an elective rotation in my third year after discovering how impactful surgeries in the head and neck can be to restoring function and addressing a wide variety of diseases. What attracted you to Arizona? I completed an away rotation at Arizona last summer and immediately felt at home with the whole team. I was extremely impressed with the skill and professionalism of everyone I met. I feel that this program offers an unparalleled opportunity to become a fantastic surgeon in a welcoming family environment. What is your favorite surgery to be involved in? My favorite surgeries so far are reconstructive cases, including laryngectomies and cleft lip repair. What do you do in your spare time? I enjoy bicycling of all types, painting, growing orchids, and going on walks with my husband and two dogs.
	Madeleine St. Peter – PGY4 My name is Maddie and I’m from Chandler, Arizona. I attended Arizona State University for undergrad then moved to Kansas City for a job as a lab manager. I then attended medical school at the University of Kansas where I fell in love with the patient population and surgical techniques in otolaryngology. There is nothing more fulfilling than being able to provide definitive treatments for head and neck pathologies. What attracted you to Arizona? interview day was so much fun! It was clear that the residents work hard but have a great amount of support from the faculty and staff. This program has well-rounded faculty who serve a large, very diverse area of southern Arizona. Graduated autonomy was also mentioned regularly by the residents, which I think is very important for surgical education. What is your favorite surgery to be involved in? The most amazing surgery I’ve ever seen was a carotid body tumor resection. Tympanoplasty is another favorite of mine! What do you do in your spare time? In my spare time, I’m usually at the aerial arts studio or the racquetball courts!
	Zachary Elwell, MD – PGY3 My name is Zachary Elwell. I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. I attended Arizona State University, where I obtained undergraduate degrees in Biochemistry and Spanish Literature and Culture. After graduating, I spent two years as a medical scribe in Pediatric Otolaryngology at Phoenix Children's Hospital (PCH). I then attended medical school at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson (UA). As a medical student, I continued to pursue Otolaryngology through research partnerships at the UA and PCH and a fantastic fourth-year rotation with the UA Otolaryngology team. Additionally, I developed a passion for global surgery through leadership in the Global Surgery Student Alliance and the Global Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Initiative. I am thrilled to join the UA team and learn from incredible physicians committed to providing the best possible care for their patients. What attracted you to Arizona? I was attracted to the UA program because of the faculty's incredible commitment to resident training and education in a friendly, tight-knit environment. The camaraderie between residents and faculty is one of this program's most outstanding features. In addition, because of this program's small size, you frequently work one-on-one with attendings in the OR and clinic. These working relationships allow for a learning experience tailored to each resident because the attendings know you and your skillset well. Finally, UA's commitment to research and education is exciting! As a resident, I look forward to learning from this incredible team as I develop my operative, research, and teaching skills. What is your favorite surgery to be involved in? Currently, my favorite surgeries are reconstructive procedures, including pediatric airway reconstruction and paramedian forehead flap nasal reconstruction. I look forward to gaining more operative experience during residency and finding new surgeries to love! What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Outside the hospital, I enjoy hiking, trail running, and spending as much time outdoors as possible in Tucson's beautiful Sabino Canyon. I also enjoy cooking and spending time with my family and friends. What are your long-term goals? I am currently interested in pursuing fellowship training in either Pediatric Otolaryngology or Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. However, I am excited to explore all subspecialties of Otolaryngology throughout residency training. After residency, I aspire to use my training to advance global Otolaryngology care through research, education, and clinical practice in environments with limited Otolaryngology care. My ultimate goal is to work with others to build sustainable partnerships that provide equitable access to high-quality Otolaryngology care for all.
	Royal Pipaliya, MD – PGY3 My name is Royal Pipaliya. I was born in New Jersey soon after my parents immigrated from India. However, I grew up and spent most of my life in South Carolina. I received my undergraduate degree in Biology from the College of Charleston. Afterwards, I attended the Medical University of South Carolina to begin my medical training. I was introduced to otolaryngology early on in medical school by shadowing a head and neck surgeon in the operating room. I ultimately chose to pursue the specialty because of the diversity of surgical techniques and the profound impact an otolaryngologist can have on the lives of their patients. What attracted you to Arizona? I was fortunate to have the chance to complete an away rotation at Arizona while in medical school. One of the first things that stood out about the program was the camaraderie between residents and faculty. Even as a visiting student, I immediately felt welcomed and an important part of the team. I believe that the small class sizes at Arizona allow faculty to provide high quality, individualized mentorship to each resident in the operating room and clinic. I was also drawn to the fact that residents operate early and often throughout their five years. I believe that the strong emphasis on resident education coupled with the depth and variety of surgical cases offered at Arizona makes it an incredible opportunity for a budding otolaryngologist such as myself! What is your favorite surgery to be involved in? My favorite surgeries so far are neck dissections and cochlear implantations. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? During my spare time, I’m almost always rock climbing. I also love hiking, traveling to new countries, and board game nights with a good group of friends. What are your long-term career goals? I’m currently undecided with my fellowship and career goals after residency. I’m excited to see where the next five years in Tucson takes me!
	Shreya Ramkumar, MD – PGY2 Shreya Ramkumar received her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at Arizona State University in Tempe. She completed medical school at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, pursuing a research fellowship after her third year and publishing over six manuscripts. What attracted you to Arizona? During my away rotation with the department, I immediately felt welcomed to the team and part of the UA family. I was impressed by the close professional relationships between faculty and residents, which translated into personalized surgical training. The variety of practice programs, the breadth of cases due to the large catchment area, and the well-rounded faculty further confirmed the incredible opportunity offered by UA for otolaryngology training. What is your favorite surgery to be involved in? My favorite surgeries include rhinoplasties, tracheostomies, and cochlear implantations. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, drawing, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends. What are your long-term goals? I am currently interested in pursuing a fellowship after residency and am particularly interested in rhinology, neurotology, or facial plastics. However, I look forward to exploring all subspecialties throughout residency training and my interests evolving with time. Ultimately, I aspire to be the best surgeon I can be and provide quality care for my patients.
	Bridget Vories, MD – PGY2 Bridget Vories attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock and completed a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in Graduate Medical Education Sciences. She attended medical school at University of Texas Medical Branch John Sealy School of Medicine, where she was awarded the Kay A. and John P. Reeves MD Medical Scholarship, the Wilhelmina E. Robertson Scholarship, and the Conlon Family Endowed Medical Scholarship. What attracted you to Arizona? I came to the University of Arizona for an away rotation in the fall of 2023, and I was initially attracted to Tucson because I have family in the area. During my rotation, I quickly realized that the residents had ample early operative experience and were very advanced in the operating room. The faculty and residents were all extremely welcoming, and it was clear the faculty were invested in helping each resident meet their professional goals. What is your favorite surgery to be involved in? My favorite surgery to scrub in to is a thyroidectomy. I appreciate the methodical nature of the procedure and the anatomical and procedural knowledge and skills required to successfully complete the surgery. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I enjoy spending time with my golden retriever, Sadie, reading, cooking and baking, event planning, and watching critically acclaimed films. What are your long-term goals? Right now I am open to anything, but I do hope to end up close to family. I could see myself joining my dad's otolaryngology practice in Fort Worth, TX as a general ENT, but I also love academic medicine and medical education so I would love to end up in an academic institution as well.
	Luis Martinez, MD – PGY1 My name is Luis Alfredo Martinez, and I am from Mesquite, New Mexico. I attended New Mexico State University, where I received my degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Biochemistry. After graduation, I worked as a scribe, substitute teacher, and registration employee at a hospital. I also completed a post-baccalaureate program at the University of New Mexico before attending their School of Medicine. I was curious about otolaryngology from day one of medical school, so during my first semester, I scrubbed into a parathyroidectomy and was instantly hooked. As I continued to shadow the faculty, I realized that it was the field for me. What attracted you to Arizona? I had been to Tucson several times for soccer tournaments, concerts, the Arizona Bowl, and triathlon training. I always enjoyed my trips to Tucson, and it’s only a four-hour drive from my hometown. I had an amazing interview day with the faculty, and the fact that they care for patients from the western part of New Mexico drew me toward UArizona even more. I strongly believe UArizona will help me reach my professional goals while allowing me to have a great life outside the hospital. What is your favorite surgery to be involved in? Currently, my favorite surgeries to be part of are any cancer reconstruction cases. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I am an avid triathlete (at least I try to be), so you’ll catch me on my bike, at the pool, or running on most days. I enjoy exploring new coffee shops and am always looking for fun concerts to attend! What are your long-term goals? I want to go back to southern New Mexico to practice in my community while also having an academic affiliation. I plan on establishing a scholarship/mentorship program for underserved, first-generation students who want to pursue medicine.
	Megan Wilson, MD – PGY1 My name is Megan Wilson. I was born in Kentucky and primarily grew up in Rhinebeck, NY and Murray, KY. I went to the University of Oklahoma for undergrad, where I received degrees in Biochemistry and History. After this, I spent a year working at a COVID testing site and as an ER tech before starting medical school at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. Growing up, we didn’t have any otolaryngologists nearby, so I was fairly unfamiliar with the field prior to my medical education. Fortunately, I was able to connect with my home department during my third-year elective, where I fell in love with the field. The diverse scope of practice and ability to make a real difference in patients’ quality of life is what really solidified my resolve to choose otolaryngology! What attracted you to Arizona? Growing up, I had family in Tucson, so I already knew I loved the area and sunny weather. I was fortunate enough to complete an away rotation at UA during the fall of my fourth year. Immediately, I was impressed by how knowledgeable, independent, and involved all the residents were in the OR and patient care. Everyone made me feel like a part of the team, even as a visiting student. Couple that with fantastic research opportunities and great resident-faculty collaboration, and you have a program I’m very excited to be a part of! What is your favorite surgery to be involved in? Currently, my favorite surgeries to be part of are any cancer reconstruction cases. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I love running outdoors, hiking, drawing, and rocking hunting in my free time. I’m also a big history buff, so I like visiting local historical sites whenever I can! What are your long-term goals? I have an interest in Head and Neck Oncology and Pediatric Otolaryngology, but I’m keeping an open mind as I explore all the subspecialties during my training. Ultimately, my goal is to be the best surgeon/clinician I can be and continue to be involved in research and the education of the next generation of physicians.