2024-2025 Interns

Varun Bansal, MBBS

Background: I went to medical school in Mumbai, India, following which I did research for two years at UChicago and Yale before moving to Colorado.
Why Colorado Surgery? I loved my interview experience here! The program scrutinized our applications with a focus on culture and leadership and tailored their questions accordingly. Also, Colorado offers the perfect balance between a city life and the outdoors.
Current research or fellowship interests: Surgical oncology, with a focus on regional cancer therapies including cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC.

George Burnet, MD

Background: I am a Pittsburgh, PA native, and completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh before coming to the University of Colorado for medical school.
Why Colorado Surgery? I chose Colorado Surgery for the exceptional clinical and operative training, the breadth of academic and career development opportunities, and, perhaps most importantly, the people. During my time here as a medical student, I was impressed by the close-knit camaraderie and mutual respect shared by co-residents, program leadership, and faculty, and I knew that this was a place where I would be valued and respected. The world-class skiing, the backpacking, the Red Rocks shows, and everything else Denver has to offer certainly doesn’t hurt, either!
Current research or fellowship interests: My research interests are in breast surgical oncology, physician well-being, surgical education, and quality improvement.

Danielle Gilbert, MD

Background: I have lived in Colorado most of my life and completed my undergraduate degree in Public Health with a minor in Health Humanities from the University of Colorado Denver. I then went on to complete my MD at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Why Colorado Surgery? After completing my medical school training here, I realized how unique and valuable the training experience here was when applying for residency. The diversity of clinical rotation sites is near unparalleled as is the benefit of the geographic distribution of healthcare in this state and in the surrounding area. We care for patients of all backgrounds and conditions, from the local patients in Denver and Aurora, the trauma transfers from the mountains, and the patients referred to our sites for specialty care from New Mexico to Montana. This, in addition, to working with the General Surgery residents as a trainee demonstrated the quality of training, collaborative team environment, and strong program support essential to surgical training.
Current research or fellowship interests: I am interested in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, but also have an interest in working in Global Health in my practice in the future.

Shadi Razipour, MD

Background: I did my undergrad at the University of Southern California where I studied biomedical engineering. Then, went to medical school at Tulane University
Why Colorado Surgery? I loved the numerous opportunities available at Colorado Surgery! Not only do I get excellent training in surgery, but I get to be in an environment where I am actively encouraged to explore my other academic interests and tie them to my training.
Current research or fellowship interests: I want to pursue research that integrates my engineering background with surgery, creating new innovative approaches to advancing the surgical field!

Valeria Noguera, MD

Background: I graduated from LSU with a major in biology and minor in business! I completed a Masters of Anatomy and medical school at Tulane.
Why Colorado Surgery? CU has everything I was seeking in a residency program - an excellent culture, strong fellowship matches, abundant research opportunities, and training at high level centers with wide-ranging exposure.
Current research or fellowship interests: I'm interested in Thoracic Surgery!

Oleg Kruglov, MD

Background: I graduated from South Ural Medical University in Russia and completed my residency in DR and Ural Medical Academy, Russia.
Why a preliminary year with Colorado Surgery? University of Colorado Surgery is attractive because the training does not differentiate between preliminary and categorical residents. Everyone receives broad exposure to different areas of surgery, regardless of their ultimate goals.
What’s next after your prelim intern year? I am continuing my training with an AI fellowship at UPMC Pittsburgh.

Sami Majdalany, MD, PhD

Background: I completed my Bachelor of Science undergraduate degree at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Following medical school, I completed 5 years of research at the University of Michigan and Henry Ford Vattikuki Urology Institute and in that time completed a PhD.
Why a preliminary year with Colorado Surgery? Colorado Surgery had a unique opportunity of a preliminary urology intern year. As someone dedicated to the field of urology, this position gave me the opportunity to learn from both the urology and surgery teams, both of whom are excellent teachers and mentors in faculty and resident levels. They allowed me to focus my year on urology, which amplified my application in the following cycle.
What’s next after your prelim intern year? The experience and mentoring I received has allowed me to successfully match into a PGY-2 urology residency position at UC Davis. I would like to continue my passion for academics and incorporate clinical research of surgical techniques and innovations in the field of urology.