General Surgery Faculty and Staff

Our surgery faculty come from diverse training programs, bringing a wealth of knowledge and skill sets to teach our residents.

Program director

Cristina Nituica, MD, FACS
Program Director

Medical School: Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmaceutics
Residency: Hahnemann University Hospital, Drexel University

Core faculty

Christina Maser, MD, MHA, FACS
Associate Program Director and Core Faculty

Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Residency: William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak
Fellowship: Yale University

Maher Ghanem, MD, FACS
Core Faculty

Medical School: Tishreen University
Residency: Damascus University and Central Michigan University
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins Hospital and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Omar Marar, MD
Clerkship Director
Core Faculty

Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI)
Residency: St. Barnabas Medical Center
Fellowship: Jefferson Medical College Thomas Jefferson University

John Sharpe, MD, MS, FACS
Core Faculty

Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Fellowship: University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Faculty

Samuel Shaheen, MD, FACS
President and CEO, CMU Medical Education Partners

Medical School: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Residency: McGaw Medical Center and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University

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Akram Alashari, MD
Clerkship Director

Medical School: University Faculty of Medicine Cairo, Egypt
Residency: University of Connecticut
Fellowship: University of Florida / Shands Hospital

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Timothy Hackett, MD

Medical School: University of Toledo Medical Center
Residency: The Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati

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Rikat Baroody, MD

Medical School: SUNY Update Medical University
Residency: Charleston Area Medical Center, WVU School of Medicine
Fellowship: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine

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Narong Kulvatunyou, MD

Medical School: University of Alabama School of Medicine
Residency: New York Methodist Hospital
Fellowship: University of Minnesota Academic Health Center and Medical School

Chet Morrison, MD

Medical School: George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Science
Residency: Fitzsimons Army Medical Center / William Beaumont Army Medical Center
Fellowship: University of Maryland School of Medicine

Wael Solh, MD

Medical School: Tufts University, School of Medicine
Residency: Columbia University, School of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital
Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic Florida

Yong Yoon
Yong C. Yoon, MD, FACS

Medical School: State University of New York College of Medicine at Brooklyn
Residency: St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center
Fellowship: St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center

Nurse practitioners and physician assistant

Hernden_Elizabeth
Elizabeth Hernden, NP
Nurse Practitioner

Laurie Chavez
Laurie Meyer, NP
Nurse Practitioner

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Zachary Retzler, PA-C
Physician Assistant

Staff

Julie Johnson
Residency Coordinator
Phone: 989-746-7857

Email: cmedsurgery@cmich.edu