Fifth Year Otolaryngology Residents

Luke                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Luke Edelmeyer, MD

Hometown: Ogden, UT

Undergrad: Weber State University                  Major: Zoology/Art

Medical School: Virgina Commonwealth University

Research interest(s): Transmission of maternal innate immune cells to offspring via breastfeeding; parathyroid outcomis; middle ear pathololgy and hearing outcomes.

What drew you to Otolaryngology at MCG? The Residents! World class attendings, amenities, low cost of living, close to the beach, surgical numbers.

What are your favorite things to do in Augusta? Go on walks and bike rides with my wife and kids, farm to table restaurants, swim at Clarks's Hill Lake, hike the FATS trails, Banjo BBQ festival, Arts in the Heart Festival, Greek Festival, dountown museum, Hilton Head is only 2.5 hours away, Augusta Symphony, Riverwatch Luxury Theatre, and spending hours at Sprouts and Costco.  

What are your future plans? Otology Fellowship in ORlando FL then off to Utah private practice.

Do you have any advice for prospective residents going through the application process? Be yourself. Enjoy the process. Get to know fellow applicants. Judge a residency by how well the residents get along. Learn a funny joke. Pick a peculiar hobby. 
Chris Johnson

Christopher Johnson, MD

Hometown: Snellville, GA

Undergrad: University of Georgia             Major: Microbiology

Graduate: UGA College of Pharmacy

Medical School: Medical College of Georgia

Research interest(s): Population and hospital level surgical outcomes. 

What drew you to Otolaryngology at MCG? After medical school at MCG I was ready to see something new. However, the quality of the faculty and their commitment to resident education was as good as any program I interviewed at. Additionally, I talked to several residents who recently graduated from the program and learned that most of them were operating at a higher level and more confidently than their recently graduated peers at their respective practices. 

What are your favorite things to do in Augusta? I love to meet my family after work for an earlier dinner. The relative absence of rush hours traffic; close proximity of work, home, local shops and restaurants; and abundance of local, unique dining options makes doing my favorite things easy. 

What are your future plans? Facial plastics and reconstructive fellowship

Do you have any advice for prospective residents going through the application process? Be yourself and try to find a place where you think you will be happy because no matter where you end up you will get great training. Ultimately, you get out what you put into your training. 
Dan Sharbel

Dan Sharbel, MD

Hometown: Nashville, TN

Undergrad: University of Georgia                       Major: Biology

Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine

Research interest(s): Outcomes in head and neck cancer, pain management in head and neck cancer.

What drew you to Otolaryngology at MCG? The faculty, staff and residents were wonderful. The positive, tight-knit culture of a slightly smaller program was the ideal fit for me, and I really felt that I clicked well with all of the faculty and residents.

What are your favorite things to do in Augusta? I enjoy going for walks with my wife and dog, going for a run on the Savannah River Canal Train, going out to eat at any number of our great restaurants in town, getting coffee at any one of our local coffee roasters (Ubora, Buona Cafe, or Stone), going to Green Jackets games, and participating with my workout group in the early mornings and/or going to the gym. 

What are your future plans? Head and Neck Fellowship followed by a career in academic Head and Neck Surgery. 

Do you have any advice for prospective residents going through the application process? It's iimportant to seek out a program that's a great fit for you based upon size, personal/family circumstances, and subspecialty interests within Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.