Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency - Current Residents

Michael Ang, DMD, MS

Undergraduate: University of Illinois Chicago
Dental School: Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine - Arizona
Personal Interests: Studying languages, being outdoors, traveling, and trying new restaurants.
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: Dental school brought me to Arizona four years ago, and I’ve enjoyed being here ever since. I’ve come to appreciate the outdoors and the friendships I’ve made along the way. During dental school, I spent time with the U of A OMFS program and was impressed by the cases, faculty, residents, and culture. The attendings are knowledgeable, experienced, and committed to training competent surgeons, while the residents are collaborative, supportive, and genuinely great people. I don’t feel that my time in Arizona is up yet, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to continue my training with UA OMFS.

Olivia C. Bartholomew,DDS

Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh
Dental School: University of Iowa College of Dentistry
Personal Interests: Road trips, cheering on all the Pittsburgh sports teams, listening to music’s of all genres and decades, rating and reviewing local coffee shops and restaurants.
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: Having spent my entire life in the Midwest and East Coast, I had never been to Arizona. What completely drew me to the University of Arizona – Banner OMFS program was the exceptional reputation of the training itself. I was looking for a program with full-scope Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, paired with a supportive environment. I am incredibly fortunate to be training alongside people who challenge and support each other every single day!

Yawen Chen, DMD

Undergraduate: University of Ottawa
Dental School: McGill University 
Personal Interests: Being active outdoors, bouldering (exclusively indoors), thrifting, shopping, exploring new restaurants and cafes.
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: When looking for an internship I had some boxes I wanted to check. A busy program with a broad scope of coverage, attendings who are eager to teach, and other residents looking to foster a culture of support and growth. I was also hoping to spend a year somewhere I haven't lived before. The OMFS program at Banner in Phoenix fits the bill! The program and hospital are super busy with all facets of oral and maxillofacial surgery. There is dedicated time for didactic learning. As a group, we're all very self-motivated and eager to learn and help each other grow. The attendings lead by example and hold themselves and the residents to the highest standard as surgeons and as patient-centered care providers. Phoenix is a great base for city life - shopping, restaurants, an international airport 10 minutes away and an amazing jumping point for nature! 

John (Jack) McKearney III, DDS

Undergraduate: Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University
Dental School: Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine
Personal Interests: Golf, basketball, movies, making ice cream.
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: I grew up in Tucson and completed my undergraduate education in Phoenix, so I was excited for the chance to return home. I was drawn to the program's busy clinical setting, the high standards modeled by the residents and faculty, and its culture of humility and teamwork. The broad scope of the OMFS service and variety of trauma offer excellent opportunities to learn. I also appreciated the emphasis on mentorship and attention to detail in everything from patient interactions to surgical technique. I've already learned so much in my short time here and look forward to continuing to improve throughout the year.

Seth B. Kroll, DDS

Undergraduate: Dixie State University, St. George Utah
Dental School: Lola Malinda University-California
Personal Interest: Basketball, pickleball, hiking.
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix:Growing up in St. George UT, I cross the Arizona border countless of times. Over the years I have learned to love the sun, clear blue skies, and desert terrain. From the moment I interacted with this program, I could tell it fostered a strong culture of teamwork, mentorship, and surgical excellence. The residents and faculty were welcoming, supportive, and deeply invested in each resident’s success. I am honored to be part of such an excellent team.

Syed (Junaid) Qadir, DDS

Undergraduate: Virginia Tech
Dental School: University of Maryland School of Dentistry
AEGD Residency: University of Florida
OMFS Internship: JPS Hospital
Personal Interests: Basketball, tennis, pickleball, hiking, paddleboarding, working out, cooking.
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: From my very first interactions with the residents and attendings, I felt that this program had an unmatched culture of teamwork, strong work ethic, and genuine camaraderie. The program fosters a family-like environment while maintaining high standards of excellence, which immediately stood out to me. In addition, the diversity and depth of clinical training mixed with the strong didactic curriculum makes this program an exceptional place to become a highly competent and well-rounded oral and maxillofacial surgeon. In addition to the program and team here, Phoenix has a great quality of life with beautiful weather, outdoor adventures, and vibrant community. Altogether, the University of Arizona felt at home. I have always believed the saying, “You get out of residency what you put into it,” and I was also advised to choose a place where I would be happy living and surrounded by people I would want to spend four years with. This program embodies both of those ideals, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to train here.

Daniel Shin, DMD

Undergraduate: University of California, Berkeley 
Dental School: A.T. Still University, Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health 
Personal Interest: Eating good food with family and friends, finding new TV series to watch, building Legos.
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: I have spent the past four years in Arizona for dental school, and during that time, I grew to love the area. It has become my second home and continuing to stay in Arizona just made sense especially after seeing what the program had to offer. What stood out to me was how the attendings truly created an environment for learning and how the program cares about the well-being of the residents. The program also provides great exposure to trauma and management of medically complex patients. Lastly, the residents all work together and genuinely help each other succeed. 

Nipun Mahajan, DDS

Undergraduate: Christian Medical College, Punjab,  India
Dental School: UCSF School of Dentistry
Personal Interests: Spending time with my wife and dog, hiking, cycling, Soccer, watch enthusiast.
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: The OMFS service at  UofA/BUMC is a busy Trauma service and provides a well-rounded exposure to all aspects of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The program has a culture of professionalism, respect and collegiality which is hard to come by in surgical programs across the country. I love the southwest and the cultural diversity it provides. I feel fortunate and proud to continue my training here. 

Daniel Jameson, DMD

Undergraduate: Loyola University Chicago
Dental School: Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Personal Interests: Spending time with my fiancé and cats, photography, hunting, fishing, cooking, hiking, golf.
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: I’ve had ties to AZ since the early 2000’s; my father commuted frequently for work. I fell in love with the area over the years, and it is a welcome change of pace. I could tell through speaking to the residents and attendings while interviewing this program has a phenomenal culture with everyone having strong values. Every person was so welcoming and truly showed they were happy to be a part of this team. Hearing about the responsibilities and exposure each resident has demonstrated that this program clearly prepares surgeons well. From day one, I felt like I was trusted to make decisions and provide quality care, while knowing I have a support system at my disposal whenever I need it. On a weekly basis, you can expect patient exposure within the clinic, emergency department, trauma bay, inpatient rooms and operating room. Our resident team works so well together — I never feel isolated. I am learning at a pace I never thought possible, and I am so grateful for my time here thus far!

Sydney Woods, DDS

Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis 
Dental School: University of Iowa College of Dentistry 
Personal Interests: College volleyball, Nebraska Football, hiking with my dog, trying new restaurants around Phoenix.
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: I loved University of Arizona's blend of excellent surgical experience, comradery between the residents and attendings, and promoting academic excellence. It's such an amazing opportunity to see trauma cases I thought I would only ever see in academic journals. Phoenix is a great place to work hard and learn a lot but also get sunshine all year round!