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UNC Health neurosurgery residents


Chief Residents

UNC Neurosurgery Residency Darshan Shastr, MD

Darshan Shastri, MD
Darshan Shastri is one of our chief residents. He grew up in New Jersey, then attended Johns Hopkins University and attained a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience. He obtained his Master’s Degree in Medical Sciences from Boston University and attained his medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society as a junior and received the Merck Award for Academic Excellence for graduating at the top of his class. Dr. Shastri is one of the neuroendovascular fellows for 2021-2022, an enfolded fellowship with UNC Neurosurgery that he will complete during his PGY5 year. His interest is in cerebrovascular and endovascular neurosurgery and he has published research on hemodynamics of aneurysm formation as well as various endovascular therapies.

He has an interest in furthering resident education and has worked to create transition to intern year and PGY-2 handbooks as well as working to secure a grant funding anastomosis training microscopes for all residents in the program to practice microsurgical techniques at home. Outside of work Dr. Shastri loves spending time with his wife and their rescue dog, Queso.

Dr. Nathan Quig

Nathan Quig, MD

Prior to medical school, Dr. Quig served in the Marines for four years. He graduated from medical school at the University of North Carolina and knew that he wanted to stay at UNC for residency training because of the collegial and educational environment created by UNC’s leadership. Dr. Quig is one of the neuroendovascular fellows for 2021-2022, an enfolded fellowship with UNC Neurosurgery that he will complete during his PGY5 year. He also plans to pursue further fellowship training in skull base and open vascular neurosurgery following residency training.

His research interests include atraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage and pituitary tumors. Outside of work, Dr. Quig enjoys woodworking.


PGY 6

Dr. Andrew Abumoussa, UNC Neurosurgery resident

Andrew Abumoussa, MD, MSc
Born in Egypt, Dr. Abumoussa and his family ultimately found their way to Hendersonville, NC. As an undergraduate at UNC, he studied math and computer science. He worked as a software engineer building smart home technology for assistive living after graduation and went on to study high performance computing and artificial intelligence in graduate school. He returned home  for medical school and neurosurgery residency. His interests include complex spine and neuroprosthetics.
Currently, in his free time, he is trying to learn the piano with his wife and daughter.

Dr. Kelly Chamberlin, neurosurgery resident at UNC Health

Kelly Chamberlin, MD, MSCR

Dr. Kelly Chamberlin grew up in Petaluma, California. She was the first in her family to attend college and earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from UCLA. She went on to graduate medical school from the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University. She was the first student to match into neurosurgery from her medical school. Her passion for neurosurgery was sparked by her love of both the neurosciences and surgery, and she sought out mentorship from the neurosurgery faculty at Yale University. She completed research in pediatric neurosurgery with the Yale neurosurgery department prior to residency.

Dr. Chamberlin completed a Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC during her research year. She is interested in pediatric neurosurgery and her research focuses on pediatric tethered cord syndrome, minimally invasive surgery, and surgical outcomes. She is particularly interested in optimizing surgical outcomes by careful patient selection.

Dr. Chamberlin participated in the residency couples match with her husband, Dr. Gregory Chamberlin, who matched pathology at UNC. Her husband is now finishing up a neuropathology fellowship at Duke University. Outside of work, Dr. Chamberlin enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, along with their rescue pit bull, Chance, and daughter, Lily.


PGY 5

Samuel Reed, MD

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. His interests in neurosurgical subspecialties are still being formed, but he particularly enjoys vascular surgery and skull base surgery.

Outside of neurosurgery he loves running and hiking with his wife and two dogs.

Aaron Gelinne, MD

Aaron Gelinne, MD

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 problems. Though undecided, he is interested in spine and vascular neurosurgery. During his free time, he enjoys windsurfing and spending time with his wife and daughter.


PGY 4

Nicole Silva, MD

Nicole Silva MD

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, where 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.

Her research interests include global neurosurgery, specifically working with neurosurgery departments in Amazon region of Brazil, public health, reducing gender and minority disparities in neurosurgery, vascular and neurotrauma. Dr. Silva enjoys spending time with family and friends, indulging in Portuguese and Brazilian foods and music, planning her next travel destination, and spending weekends at the beach.

Dr. Bethany Andrews

Bethany Andrews, MD

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. Having lived in Suriname, South America as a child and experiencing firsthand the effects that lack of proper health care can have on a society, Dr. Andrews became interested in pursuing a career in the field of medicine at a young age, particularly global health opportunities and working with underserved populations. As a medical student, she was introduced to neurosurgery and was immediately drawn to the field.

Her hobbies include dance and the performing arts, spending time with family and friends, trying new foods, traveling, and barre workout classes.


PGY 3

Dr. Boyi Li, UNC Neurosurgery resident

Boyi Li, MD

Dr. Li was born in Nanjing, China and grew up on the Florida space coast. She attended Cornell University where she graduated with Bachelor 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.

Her current interests include pediatric and vascular neurosurgery, medical student education, and social and healthcare advocacy. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and baking, creating art and music, and spending time outdoors.

Jackie MacDonell, MD, UNC Health Neurosurgery Resident

Jackie MacDonell, MD

Dr. Jackie MacDonell grew up in Miami, FL. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular Biology from Stetson University and subsequently worked as a research coordinator at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Prior to starting medical school, Jackie also obtained a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences from Barry University. During this time, she also married her best friend and together they had their first child.

After graduating from Barry University, Jackie was accepted into Albany Medical College where she pursued her love for the neurosciences. One of her highlighted research projects was becoming lead author for a project called the Robotic Assisted MRI-Guided Interventional Interstitial MR Guided Focused Ultrasound Ablation in a Swine Model. This became the project she later defended to also earn a Distinction in Research as well as her M.D.

In the last year of medical school Jackie and her husband were blessed with their second child. Now, during Jackie’s free time, they explore the beautiful outdoors and play around the house with their two dogs.


PGY 2

Dr. Allie Harbert, neurosurgery resident at UNC HealthAllie Harbert, MD
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.

Dr. Olivia Gilbert, neurosurgery resident at UNC HealthOlivia 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 pediatric, trauma, and global neurosurgery, as well as fetal repair of spina bifida. In her spare time, she enjoys music, backpacking, traveling, and Cajun cooking.


PGY 1

Mitchell Rock, MD, UNC Neurosurgery ResidentMitchell 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. His research at the NIH focused on exploring the relationship between seizure activity and inflammatory pathways, along with work focused on exploring novel therapeutic targets for glioblastoma.

His academic interests include functional neurosurgery and neuro-oncology, along with healthcare disparities and advocacy. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with his fiancé and their dog.

Sierra Smalley, MD, UNC Neurosurgery Resident

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.

 

 

Neurosurgery Resident Videos

Moms in Neurosurgery – Interview with Neurosurgery Resident Moms Drs Randaline Barnett and Jackie MacDonell

Will UNC’s Neurosurgery Residency Program Prepare me to be a Successful Pediatric Neurosurgeon?

Neurosurgery Residency at UNC Health – From our Neurosurgeons & Neurosurgery Residents

Neurosurgery Residency at UNC Health | PGY 1 Neurosurgery Residents

Moms in Neurosurgery – Neurosurgery Resident Dr. Randaline Barnett

Resident on the COVID Ward | UNC Neurosurgery