Current Neurosurgery Residents
Chief Residents
Samuel Reed, MD
Dr. Reed was born and raised just down the road from Chapel Hill, in Winston-Salem, NC. He’s a Tar Heel through and through, having attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for both his undergraduate and medical school education. He is interested in general neurosurgery and endovascular neurosurgery and plans to complete a neuro-endovascular fellowship at Wake Forest after residency.
Outside of neurosurgery he loves running, hiking, and spending time with his wife, three kids, and two dogs.
Dr. Gelinne was born in Monterey, CA but was primarily raised in Burke, Virginia. He graduated from the University of Rochester with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. Following college, he spent five years in the US Navy as a Nuclear Engineering Officer before making the decision to return to medical school. He received his MD from the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont.
He is particularly interested in integrating his engineering background to come up with innovative solutions to neurosurgical techniques. He will be performing a post-residency fellowship in spine at Emory University. During his free time, he enjoys windsurfing and spending time with his wife and two kids.
PGY 6
Dr. Silva was born and raised in New Jersey. Her parents immigrated from Portugal and she prides herself in being a first generation American and the first person in her family to become a physician. She attended University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. She returned to her home state to pursue medicine, attending Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Nicole earned her MD in 2020 with a distinction in Global Health, of which she focused on immigrant and global health of Portuguese-speaking populations. She was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and received the Edward J. Ill Excellence in Medicine Scholarship as a fourth-year medical student. She will be pursuing a functional and epilepsy neurosurgery fellowship.
Dr. Silva enjoys spending time with family and friends, indulging in Portuguese and Brazilian foods and music, and planning her next travel destination.
Dr. Andrews grew up in a small town in Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry as well as Microbiology, followed by medical school at the University of Oklahoma. She is interested in pediatric neurosurgery and global health.
PGY 5
Dr. Li was born in Nanjing, China and grew up on the Florida space coast. She attended Cornell University where she graduated with degrees in Biology and English. While earning her medical degree at New York Medical College, she served as Vice Chair of the Medical Society of the State of New York – Medical Student Section and was involved in advocacy and public policy initiatives. In medical school, she also grew her passion for neurosurgery, conducting and publishing research focusing on prognostication and management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhages. Upon graduation, she received the Department of Neurosurgery Academic Award.
She is currently completing an enfolded endovascular fellowship and will be pursuing a combined open vascular and endovascular fellowship post-graduation. In her free time, she enjoys kickboxing, reading, painting, and baking.
Dr. MacDonell grew up in Miami, FL. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular Biology from Stetson University, where she was selected for the dedicated research tract and completed translational studies on the gustatory system of Wistar rats. She subsequently served as a research coordinator in the neonatal intensive care unit at Jackson Memorial Hospital, contributing to an industry-sponsored clinical trial on infant formula funded by Nestlé.
Dr. MacDonell earned a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences from Barry University, during which time she married her husband and welcomed their first child. She then matriculated at Albany Medical College, where she pursued her passion for the neurosciences. While there, she became the lead author on a translational project entitled Robotic Assisted MRI-Guided Interventional Interstitial MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Ablation in a Swine Model. She formally defended this work before a faculty committee to graduate with Distinction in Research in addition to her M.D.
She is currently a neurosurgery resident at the University of North Carolina, where she is pursuing a career in pediatric neurosurgery and continues to advance translational and clinical research. During her residency training, Dr. MacDonell and her husband additionally welcomed their second daughter.
PGY 4
Allie Harbert, MD, MPH
Dr. Allie Harbert grew up in Orlando, FL. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Psychology at the University of Georgia, where she competed on the NCAA equestrian team. While in medical school at UNC she also obtained her MPH. Her research focus has been on appropriate utilization of medical resources and disparities in access to care and outcomes based on socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. During medical school she was elected into Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society as a junior and the Gold Humanism Society.
Her hobbies include running, horseback riding, baking, home improvement projects, and spending time with her husband and Great Dane.
Olivia Gilbert, MD
Dr. Gilbert grew up in Berwick, Louisiana. She attended Tulane University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music Performance. As a concert pianist, she has competed and performed around the world, including Carnegie Hall and Italy, and she has sung with the New Orleans Opera and St. Louis Cathedral Choir.
At the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, she served as the Director of the Student-Run Homeless Clinics and founded the school’s chapter of the AANS. Upon obtaining her MD with Research Honors, she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and received the Medical Student Excellence Award from the Louisiana Neurosurgical Society.
Her academic interests include skull base and global neurosurgery. In her spare time, she enjoys music, backpacking, traveling, and Cajun cooking.
PGY 3
Mitchell Rock, MD
Dr. Rock grew up in Baltimore, MD. He attended the University of Maryland, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Physiology & Neurobiology and a Bachelor of Arts in Government & Politics. While at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, he completed the Health Justice Scholars Track to learn more about health policy and advocacy. Before obtaining his MD with honors, he completed the National Institutes of Health’s Medical Research Scholars Program with the Surgical Neurology Branch of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. His career interests include neuro-oncology, spine surgery, and epilepsy surgery, along with healthcare disparities and advocacy. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with his fiancé and their dogs.
Sierra Smalley, MD
Dr. Smalley was raised in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. She played basketball at the University of Detroit Mercy where she majored in Criminal Justice. After completing an internship with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in Detroit, she became a certified firefighter, though a series of foot injuries prevented her from participating in the field. Inspired by personal experience and her husband’s studies in medical school, she opted to pursue her own medical degree at Michigan State University where she fell in love with neurosurgery.
Her academic interests remain broad but include pediatric and functional neurosurgery, particularly the treatment of epilepsy. In her free time, she enjoys adventure sports, music, writing fiction, and traveling to national parks with her husband and son.
PGY 2
Dr. Franklin is a Charlotte, North Carolina native and a proud “Triple Tar Heel.” She earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also completed both her medical degree.
During medical school, Dr. Franklin served as president of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Student National Medical Association. She also founded Neuro Mentoring Matters, a mentorship initiative designed to improve access to neurosurgery for minority pre-medical and medical students. The program remains active and continues to support aspiring neurosurgeons from underrepresented backgrounds.
As a resident, Dr. Franklin is actively involved in national neurosurgical leadership, serving on both the CNS Residents Committee and the AANS/CNS Tumor Section Residents Committee. Her primary research interests lie in neurosurgical oncology, with a focus on clinical trials and outcomes research. She currently serves as a co-investigator for the UNC Sonocloud trial.
Zoe Robinow, MD
PGY 1
Dr. Al-Adli grew up in Houston, TX. He attended Texas Christian University School of Medicine, where he founded their AANS medical student chapter. During his 2nd year in medical school, he began doing clinical and translational research at UCSF studying gliomas and clinical outcomes including clinical trials. He has a strong interest in advanced statistical modeling, bioinformatics, and the clinical application of neuroimaging analytics. He has been involved in clinical trials aimed at enhancing treatment experiences and improving patient care, which he hopes to continue residency. In his free time, he enjoys snowboarding, wakeboarding, and exploring the outdoors with his husky.
Sam Saggi, MD
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