Completing a rigorous five-year residency program is a significant milestone in the journey of aspiring urologists. Today, we celebrate the achievements of three outstanding individuals who have graduated this past weekend from the UNC Urology Residency Program. Drs. Alysen Demzik, Hannah McCloskey, and Christine Nikas have not only demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill throughout their training but have also left a lasting impact on their colleagues, mentors, and patients. Please join us in taking a moment to acknowledge their accomplishments and the exciting paths they are embarking on as they enter the next chapter of their medical careers.
(From Left: Drs. Hannah McCloskey, Alysen Demzik, Eric Wallen, Christine Nikas)
Exciting but bittersweet time as we send off our *phenomenal* Chief residents this month@MamaNikas ➡️ Winchester Hospital / @LaheyUro @ADemzik ➡️ @UMNUrology @SocietyGURS fellowship@HMcCloskeyMD ➡️ WakeMed / @UNCurology
Grateful to these 3 amazing surgeons/leaders 🚀🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/zbTGvHjYpK
— Urology@UNC (@UNCurology) June 16, 2023
Class of 2023
Graduating Residents
Alysen Demzik, MD
Alumni | Class of 2023
Genitourinary Reconstruction Fellow | University of Minnesota
Hannah McCloskey, MD
Alumni | Class of 2023
WakeMed | Raleigh, NC.
Christine Nikas, MD
Alumni | Class of 2023
Lahey-Beth Israel Urology at Winchester Hospital | Boston, MA
Dr. Hannah McCloskey
Dr. McCloskey will be staying local and is joining the WakeMed Urology practice, where she will primarily be based at WakeMed’s North Hospital in Raleigh, NC.
“UNC Urology is an amazing residency program that I would choose again in a heartbeat. All of the residents, faculty, and staff work together to make it a fun and productive learning environment for young urologists. I had my first child during my chief year of residency, and the support and encouragement I received during the challenging peri-partum period was unparalleled. I especially want to thank my husband, Alex Shanosky, for being my shoulder to lean on these past 5 years – I truly couldn’t have done it without him. I also want to thank my parents, who have always been supportive of my career, but they’ve been extremely helpful of late with childcare for our daughter. My co-residents, Christine and Alysen, have also been a huge source of support during my residency and have become some of my closest friends in the process. I’m sad to leave UNC but am happy to still be involved with the residency program through the 4th year WakeMed rotation. I’m very excited for my brother, Kyle McCloskey, to start his urology residency at UNC this summer and imagine that he will have as positive of an experience as I’ve had.”
Dr. Christine Nikas
After graduation, Dr. Nikas is set to join Lahey-Beth Israel Urology at Winchester Hospital in Boston, MA.
“I’d like to thank my amazing co-residents and wonderful faculty and staff who have made my 5 years at UNC so enjoyable. Also would like to thank my fiance Jack Lucy and my family for being so supportive of me in every way. I’m looking forward to moving to Boston and can’t wait to get started.”
Dr. Alysen Demzik
Dr. Demzik’s journey continues as she embarks on to her top-choice fellowship program, the University of Minnesota’s Genitourinary Reconstruction Fellowship for 2023-2024.
“I matched at my top choice – University of Minnesota’s Genitourinary Reconstruction Fellowship for 2023-2024, located in Minneapolis MN at University of Minnesota medical center. This was not possible without the introduction to reconstructive urology and close mentorship by Dr. Figler as well as guidance and support from Drs. Wallen, Nielsen and Smith as I navigated the fellowship application process. I pursued urologic reconstruction as it exemplifies the marriage of art and science in medicine – where my unconventional background in engineering and painting can be applied as a combination of logic and creativity to approach complex urologic conditions.”