Surgical Scholar Program

The Endowed Surgical Scholar Program at Northwell Health is a unique and competitive program, designed to provide a comprehensive clinical experience for gap year students with a strong interest in a career in academic medicine.

Applicants will have completed undergraduate studies and be in the process of applying to medical school with a strong interest in pursuing a career in academic medicine. Surgical Scholars choose this program because of their interest in clinical exposure, patient education, quality improvement, innovation, information technology, and/or continuing medical education.

This one-year program immerses the Surgical Scholar to many aspects of clinical surgery through a variety of activities. These include:

Outpatient Ambulatory Care Observation
Surgery Observation
Clinical Research
Educational Conferences
Attendance At The Annual American Society Of Plastic Surgeons Conference
Abstract Presentations At Annual Plastic Surgery Conferences
IRB Applications
CME Applications
Grant Applications
Patient Education Materials
Innovation Projects
Journal Club

Clinical research activities include collecting clinical data to maintain databases, performing literature searches in support of research initiatives, analyzing data, and assisting in the preparation of research findings for posters, abstracts and manuscripts. Students will learn how to submit Institutional Review Board (IRB), grant, and continuing medical education (CME) applications. Scholars will be supported in authoring peer-reviewed manuscripts and presenting clinical research at national meetings. The Surgical Scholar will function independently, but as part of a broader team including Plastic Surgery faculty, residents, medical students, physician extenders, and support staff. The Surgical Scholar will work directly under the mentorship of Dr. Neil Tanna, Associate Program Director and Professor of Surgery within the Division of Plastic Surgery at Northwell Health. Scholar positions will typically start July 1 of the calendar year and run through June of the next year. Surgical Scholars are paid, full-time, employees of Northwell Health.

Current Surgical Scholar

Isabelle Smith, BA

Surgical Scholar: 2024 - 2025
Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University
Hometown: Darien, Connecticut

Isabelle Smith is the current Northwell Health Surgical Scholar working with Dr. Tanna and the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Northwell Health. Isabelle joined the program after graduating magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Medicine, Health, and Society. As this year’s Surgical Scholar, Isabelle is working in collaboration with multidisciplinary faculty and residents at Northwell Health to contribute to several clinical research projects. She is excited to learn from Northwell’s world class healthcare team, further her research skills, and develop patient education and outreach initiatives. Isabelle intends to take full advantage of her gap year to gain practical experience that will empower her goal of becoming an academic surgeon.
Contact Isabelle

Surgical Scholar Alumni

Christopher Aiello, BS

Surgical Scholar: 2023 – 2024
Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame
Hometown: New York, New York
Medical School: Perelman School Of Medicine At The University Of Pennsylvania

Christopher Aiello joined the Surgical Scholar program after graduating Summa Cum Laude from University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and supplementary major in Spanish. As a Surgical Scholar, Chris was highly productive. During his gap year, Chris was involved with several research projects that resulted in peer-reviewed manuscripts and presentations. In addition,Chris was fortunate to receive a $10,000 innovation grant to improve women’s surgical health. Christopher is eager to continue his medical education, as he leaves our program for medical school at The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Contact Christopher

Julia Silverman, BS

Surgical Scholar: 2022 – 2023
Undergraduate: University Of Michigan
Hometown: Dix Hills, New York
Medical School: Hofstra/Northwell School Of Medicine

Julia Silverman graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, & Neuroscience. As a Surgical Scholar, she was involved in several clinical research projects at Northwell Health. She was fortunate to present her first-author manuscript at a national Plastic Surgery scientific meeting. Additionally, Julia was responsible for developing patient outreach and education materials. Julia is eager to continue her education and training to become a patient-centered physician, as she attends medical school at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
Contact Julia

Sarah Barnett, BA

Surgical Scholar: 2021 – 2022
Undergraduate: Dartmouth University
Hometown: Harrison, New York
Medical School: Perelman School Of Medicine At The University Of Pennsylvania

Sarah joined the Surgical Scholar program after graduating magna cum laude from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Hispanic Studies. Sarah would describe her year as Surgical Scholar as a highly educational and transformative experience. She was able to publish several peer-reviewed manuscripts across a variety of plastic surgery specialties. Additionally, Sarah was fortunate to receive a $5000 grant from the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons and present her first-author manuscript at a national scientific meeting. Her year as Surgical Scholar motivated her desire to pursue a career in academic surgery, and she is eager to continue this journey at The Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Contact Sarah

Mona Clappier, BA

Surgical Scholar: 2020 – 2021
Undergraduate: Princeton University
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
Medical School: Yale School Of Medicine

Mona graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience before joining the program. During her year as the Surgical Scholar, she was involved in several ongoing clinical research projects led by faculty and residents at Northwell Health. Mona also contributed to patient education by learning how to use augmented reality technology and developing informational content for our website. During her year as a Surgical Scholar, she particularly enjoyed spending time in the operating room and grew excited to further broaden her surgical exposure in medical school. She went on to pursue her medical degree at the Yale School of Medicine.
Contact Mona

Alexander Gibstein, BA

Surgical Scholar: 2019 – 2020
Undergraduate: University Of Pennsylvania
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Medical School: University Of Miami School Of Medicine

Alexander Gibstein joined the Surgical Scholar program after graduating summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. During his surgical scholar program, Alex was able to publish several peer-reviewed manuscripts in high index medical journals. In addition, he was able to present at national scientific meetings. Alex was fortunate to receive a $25,000 innovation grant. Finally, Alex was able to create novel patient education and patient care educational tools. Following completion of the Surgical Scholar program, Alex matriculated into a four year M.D./M.B.A. program at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Contact Alexander

Ben Zhang, BA

Surgical Scholar: 2018 – 2019
Undergraduate: Columbia University
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Medical School: Hofstra/Northwell School Of Medicine

Ben Zhang, BA earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Columbia University before spending the year with the Surgical Scholars program. During his time as a Surgical Scholar, he was highly prolific. He authored several peer-reviewed manuscripts, including earning first authorship. In addition, he attended and presented his clinical research at national meetings. Prior to the program, he had an interest in Emergency Medicine. With the broad ambulatory and surgical clinical exposure afforded by the program, he has decided to pursue a career in academic surgery. Immediately after competing our Surgical Scholar program, Ben started medical school at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
Contact Ben

William Chan, BA

Surgical Scholar: 2017 – 2018
Undergraduate: Northwestern University
Hometown: Woodbury, New York
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago School Of Medicine

William Chan completed a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Northwestern University. During his undergraduate studies, he studied progressive motor deficits caused by Parkinson’s Disease in mouse models. His efforts helped his lab achieve a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Research Grant. During his year as Surgical Scholar, he was highly prolific, having completed an IRB for a novel surgical procedure, earned a successful innovation grant, and authored a peer-reviewed manuscript. In addition, he was instrumental in creating an online educational tool for breast cancer patients. After our Surgical Scholar program, William started medical school at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
Contact William