General Surgery Residency

Hello! My name is Lauren Delmastro, but many friends call me Del. I am so excited to join the General Surgery Residency at MAHEC. I am from northern Wisconsin and studied Biochemistry and Spanish at UW-Madison. As a proud Badger and Wisconsinite, I will always have a supply of Wisconsin cheese in my fridge and Badger football on in the Fall. I moved to North Carolina after college for a year and fell in love with it, especially the Blue Ridge Mountains. I attended medical school back in the Midwest at Rush Medical College in Chicago, IL.

I am so excited to go back to Western North Carolina and train at MAHEC. I was looking for a program with supportive co-residents, early and extensive operative experience, and leadership that is committed to provide me what I need to achieve my career goals. After my away rotation here and getting to know some of the amazing residents and faculty, I knew this program would give me these. My career interests include surgical disparities, social determinants of health, and surgical oncology.

When I am not at the hospital, I love to hike, play soccer and ultimate, or just be outside with my partner, Matt . We love to enjoy the food scene in AVL – our favorite places are Hole Doughnuts and Chai Pani. I plan to get a mountain bike and start climbing more outdoors once I move in!

I was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, and raised in a small city in Northern Afghanistan - Kunduz city. After graduating high school, I received a scholarship to attend medical school in Ukraine. After returning home, I joined Kunduz Trauma Center, a Doctors Without Borders Hospital, and lectured at Kunduz University. Every lived day was a blessing, and I learned enormously from experience. Since 2018, I have been living in Virginia and worked as a Surgical Assistant, working with fantastic colleagues, outstanding physicians, and esteemed mentors.

I am thrilled to join the MAHEC Surgery family and pursue my surgical training. I loved the MAHEC resident family when I attended a Virtual meet and greet for applicants and talked to people who have worked at Mission Hospital about the culture in the program. Asheville is a gorgeous city. The mountains remind me of my childhood in Afghanistan, can not wait to start exploring.

In my free time, I go to the gym, love hiking, cooking new dishes, and watching comedy and documentaries.

Hi all, I’m Ben and I am glad to continue my medical education at MAHEC in Asheville. I grew up in a small town outside Aiken, SC. While at college at the University of South Carolina-Aiken, I discovered a love of medicine from working as a ED scribe. I was then accepted into the USC School of Medicine – Greenville in 2019, and developed a passion for surgery while on my third-year clerkships, especially on our community surgery and trauma/acute care surgery services. Living in Greenville SC meant I was close to Asheville and would become acquainted with the area and its unique culture which I came to love. I feel humbled and privileged to work with, and be trained by, the lovely people here at MAHEC, and can’t wait to see where residency takes me.

Outside of the hospital, I enjoy playing pickup and competitive grass volleyball, gardening, backpacking in the nearby national and state parks such as Pisgah and Great Smoky Mountains, and hanging out with my pup, a sweet little 4-year-old American Staffie mix named Lady.

My name is Drew Rickelmann, and I was born in Ann Arbor, MI but grew up in Southern California. I attended the University of Michigan for undergrad where I played club soccer. I then spent a year at Georgetown University where I completed a Master’s in Physiology before heading to Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA for my medical degree.

I was inspired to practice medicine by my mom (an emergency room nurse) and other family members who work in healthcare. I saw how my neighbors were able to rely on my mom for anything healthcare-related, and I decided I wanted to be that person, too. Medicine is a special field that combines my passion for helping others and my love of learning. MAHEC’s emphasis on teaching and clinical experience, along with the opportunity to serve both urban and rural populations, drew me to the program. I was also impressed with the collegiality and relationships between residents and faculty. I am so excited to be a member of MAHEC and contribute to its well-rounded surgery residency.

Outside of medicine, my partner, Liz (a MAHEC Family Medicine resident) and our dog, Wren, love to explore the outdoors, eat amazing food, and discover new coffee shops. This made the decision to move to Asheville a no-brainer for us. In my free time, I also enjoy golfing, yoga, and cooking.

Hello! My name is Khalid, and I’m originally from Sudan, a beautiful country in North Africa. I grew up and attended medical school in Gezira State—a lush, green region nestled between the two tributaries of the Nile River, home to vibrant farming communities. During medical school, I had the honor of leading missions that provided medical care and health education to people in rural areas, an experience that deeply shaped my commitment to rural health.

I’ve been fortunate to have incredibly supportive parents who encouraged me to pursue my dreams from an early age. After graduating medical school, my passion for surgery and helping others led me to train across Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and Ireland before eventually continuing my journey in the United States. These experiences have not only enriched my clinical knowledge and skills but also introduced me to a diverse range of people, cultures, and perspectives.

Now, I’m thrilled to be in Asheville and to join the MAHEC Surgery family as I begin this exciting new chapter.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy playing and watching soccer, spending time in nature—especially exploring scenic lakes—and recently, I’ve taken up cooking. I'm on a mission to master as many recipes as I can!

Hi- I’m Victoria Johnson! I am originally from northern Wisconsin along the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. I am a Badger at heart and have completed all my schooling at UW Madison. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Neuroscience, I moved back to northern Wisconsin and became an EMT because while I was interested in medicine- I did not feel I had a complete understanding of what it truly entailed. The time I was able to spend with patients driving them an hour away to the nearest hospital really solidified my understanding of the severity of the health disparities facing my rural community. This experience inspired me to pursue medical school through the rural track at UW-SMPH where I was able to receive additional training for practicing in underserved areas.

I fell in love with general surgery during my core rotations. I found that everything I had liked about other specialties were all incorporated in general surgery with the bonus of having many career pathways through fellowship or general practice. Having the opportunity to serve such a multifaceted diverse population in Asheville and surrounding areas is an honor and I look forward to getting to know this new community. I knew MAHEC was the program for me the more I learned about its tight knit culture and fierce dedication to our education without sacrificing a patient first mentality. While I do not know what my practice will look like in the future, I know that I want to be involved in medical education. I cannot wait to expand on my teaching skills during residency so one day I can teach the next generation of general surgeons.

I am thrilled to move to Asheville as it is the perfect fit for my outdoorsy lifestyle. I am an avid fisherman and love to bike and hike (and afterwards, having the best local food and drink is a must). I look forward to settling into residency so I can get a dog and spend my free time exploring all that the Blue Ridge Mountains have to offer!

Hi everyone! My name is Thomas, and I grew up in Northern Maine where I spent much of my time working on my family’s potato farm. I attended Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where I studied biochemistry and explored my love for medicine and helping others. During this time, I also followed my passion for music and performed a lot of local shows with my best friend, Scott. Throughout my time in the Maine Track program at Tufts University School of Medicine, I became more interested in rural and community hospital general surgery. I knew MAHEC would be the perfect place to learn as a surgical resident given the incredible culture, wonderful support by the faculty and staff, and beautiful location with opportunities to serve the communities of Western North Carolina.

Outside of the hospital, you can find me at local concerts, enjoying the food and craft brewing scene, playing tennis or pickup soccer, or exploring the WNC area with my fiancée and our dog, Hazel. I am so excited to see where this journey takes us.

Hello! My name is Mei Ray (it rhymes). I was adopted from China and grew up in Memphis, TN. I graduated from The University of Alabama where I majored in art and minored in biology and psychology. I moved back to Memphis to serve with Impact America, an AmeriCorps program, as their FocusFirst coordinator before attending medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. I am grateful for my time at UT Chattanooga as a preliminary general surgery intern and excited to continue my surgery journey at MAHEC.

Outside of the hospital, I enjoy hiking, painting, baking for Café Mei, and cuddling with my cat Appy.

My name is Mandy Stallard, and I am incredibly excited to join the MAHEC General Surgery Residency Program. I was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and lived in both Virginia and New York while my father served in the Navy. We eventually settled in Johnson City, Tennessee to be closer to our family. The Appalachian area quickly became home, and I loved growing up surrounded by both the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains.

My academic journey led me to the University of Tennessee Knoxville (Go Vols!) where I pursued a degree in Biochemistry, Cellular & Molecular Biology. I then attended the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Spartanburg, South Carolina for my medical training. During my clinical rotations at Haywood Regional Medical Center, I discovered my passion for General Surgery and recognized the vital role MAHEC plays in providing healthcare to the Western North Carolina community.

My professional interests lie in Surgical Critical Care, Transplant Surgery, and Hepatobiliary Surgery. Outside of medicine, I spend my time playing tennis, exploring Asheville with my dog Leo, trying out new restaurants, and reading Science Fiction books. I am so thankful for the opportunity to complete my General Surgery Residency at MAHEC and am looking forward to the next 5 years!

My name is Greg Watts, and I was born and raised in Tulsa Oklahoma and lived in a town outside of Tulsa called Broken Arrow until I was about 12 years old. My family then moved to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania where I ended up completing middle and high school. During that time, I was involved in a variety of sports including football, basketball, and wrestling. After completion of high school, I attended the University of Kentucky for undergraduate majoring in Psychology with a minor in Business, graduate school for a master’s in medical sciences, and then Medical School.

My family consists of my wife an Internal Medicine Resident here at MAHEC, My mother and father, and my younger sister. In our free time my wife and I enjoy outdoor activities such as pickleball, hiking, and taking our golden retriever Bailey on new adventures. We also enjoy finding time for reading, going to coffee shops, and trying new restaurants.

My clinical interests are very broad and include a vast majority of the areas of general surgery. Two subspecialty disciplines that are most fascinating to me currently are minimally invasive surgery or trauma and surgical critical care.

I am excited about completing my surgical residency at MAHEC because I feel confident it will provide a training environment with high clinical volume, an apprenticeship type training model, and a close-knit collegial environment.

Hi! My name is Patrick Carroll, and I was born and raised in Ventura, California, where I grew up the son of an acupuncturist and a surfing math teacher. From a young age, they both instilled in me a love for knowledge and working with my hands, whether it was rebuilding computers, cooking delicious food, or handcrafting leather shoes. I studied nanoengineering at UC San Diego where I was drawn to the interface of materials science and medicine. After working in the medical device industry as a clinical specialist with Brainlab, I realized that my heart was in direct patient care. I went on to earn my medical degree at California University of Science and Medicine, where I fell in love with surgery.

My clinical interests include abdominal wall reconstruction, trauma, and surgical critical care. Outside of work, I love to spend time outdoors with my beautiful wife and young son, listen to live music, do yoga, pick up heavy things, and keep up with the friends I’ve made along the way. I am incredibly stoked to be joining the General Surgery Residency at MAHEC. I’ve told my wife for years that I’ve always been called to the mountains. I’m excited to train in a place where I can grow as both a surgeon and a person—and call the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains my home.

Hey y’all! My name is Kayden Maddox (they/them) and I’m excited to be returning to my WNC community for my General Surgery Residency. The first part of my life was spent along the Florida Gulf Coast (Bradenton) before moving to Western North Carolina (Fletcher) in middle school. I, then, completed undergrad and medical school at UNC Chapel Hill and have spent the past decade in the NC Triangle soaking up these humid pollen counts and rooting myself in community that fills my cup.

Surgery most definitely found me, and I cannot wait to see where this adventure goes. Being the first in my family to attend college, and seeing this dream come to life has been so surreal to say the least! With interests from trauma/burns to plastics to rural general surgery, my commitment, first and foremost, is to my community and finding ways to best serve them.

Outside the hospital, I’m probably with my doggo, Kornbread, on a trail in the woods, by/on some body of water, or lounging on our porch with a coffee and a good book.

My name is Eduardo Navarro, and I was born in California. I spent most of my early years in Nicaragua, where my parents are from, before moving to Miami at the age of 12, which has been home ever since. I attended the University of Florida for my bachelor’s degree in health science and completed medical school at Ponce Health Sciences University in Puerto Rico.

Before medical school, I became interested in burns and trauma through volunteer work with burn patients in Nicaragua and research at the University of Florida. My professional interests include burns and trauma, and I hope to continue working with underserved populations both in the U.S. and abroad.

In my free time, I enjoy learning about the complex relationship between exercise, nutrition, activity, and overall health. You can usually find me lifting weights, attempting to run, pretending I’m Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen, or hiking through the mountains of North Carolina.

I am confident that training in General Surgery with MAHEC will provide the hands-on experience, mentorship, and patient exposure I need to become a well-rounded surgeon. I’m looking forward to the next 5 years in Asheville.

I grew up just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, and stayed close to home for undergrad and medical school at Campbell University. It didn’t take long for me to realize surgery was the right path—I’ve always loved working with my hands, solving complex problems, and being part of a team that supports patients through some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

During my rotation at MAHEC, what stood out most wasn’t just the strength of the surgical training but the program's culture. Every person I met—from residents to attendings—was kind, down-to-earth, and genuinely invested in helping each other grow. I felt supported, challenged, and welcomed all at once, and that kind of community is precisely what I was hoping to find in a residency.

Outside of medicine, I love being outdoors and active. I’ve always dreamed of living in the mountains, and Asheville feels like the perfect fit. Whether golfing, hiking, rafting, or trying a new recipe on the smoker, I’m happiest when outside or spending time with my wife. We’re both excited to make Asheville home, explore the trails, and discover new spots to eat (we haven’t had a bad meal here yet!). I’m incredibly grateful to be at MAHEC and can’t wait for what’s ahead.

Hello! My name is Bo Wiseman, I was born and raised in Western North Carolina about an hour west of Asheville in a small town called Cullowhee. I attended Western Carolina University (WCU) for my undergraduate degree in Environmental Health. After graduating from WCU I began medical school at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC. I always knew I wanted to return to Western North Carolina and had an interest in surgical training at MAHEC since I began medical school. MAHEC is an ideal place for me and my family as I will be living and training in the community, I have grown up in and become so fond of. This opportunity means the world to me, and I cannot wait to get started!

Outside of the hospital you can find me spending time with my wife Karanda, our husky Koda, and our cat Isaac, enjoying the many breweries Asheville has to offer, playing golf, and enjoying nature through fishing and hiking.

Hi! My name is Jared Canary (he/him). I’m a born and raised Hoosier coming from Indianapolis, IN. I completed undergrad at Purdue University and medical school at Indiana University. I am honored to be starting surgery residency and excited that I get to do that in a place as beautiful as Asheville.

I was drawn to surgery because it’s a unique field where we can directly fix what’s ailing patients and save their lives. Additionally, I love the technical and mental challenge of surgery. Practicing a complex set of skills in the OR and managing complex pathologies both pre and post op is all so rewarding. I’m currently interested in HPB surgery or MIS.

Outside the hospital I love to run, hike, travel, and cook. I’m looking forward to finding new hikes and run routes around the area, trying all the local breweries, and creating a close community with my co-residents. I’m here with my wonderful partner, Denver. He and I are excited to welcome our new kittens- Violet and Dash- to our home in late July!

My name is Abby, and I grew up in Juniata, Nebraska, a small town in south-central Nebraska. I later attended college in Chadron, Nebraska where I studied chemistry and biology. After my time in Chadron, I moved to Omaha, Nebraska for medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Spending much of my life in rural communities has shaped my perspectives and career goals. I have developed an appreciation for the unique nature of rural healthcare, specifically rural general surgery. Although I am open to other subspecialties, right now, my hope is to pursue a career as a general surgeon in a rural community.

Outside of the hospital, I enjoy spending time outdoors, whether that’s running on local trails, hiking, or relaxing with a book. I am always on the lookout for the coffee shop with the best americano. As much as I love staying busy outside, I am equally as happy winding down with an episode of New Girl.

I am ecstatic to be venturing out of the Midwest for residency. I was drawn to this program because of the people and culture. From the day I interviewed, I instantly knew that this place felt like a family. I am so grateful to be a part of such a great program that both supports and challenges its residents to be the best version of themselves.

Greetings! I’m Casey! I was born in Florida but have since roamed across the US calling Texas, Colorado and Wyoming home.

As an undergraduate I majored in literature and foreign language at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. After college I worked for a wilderness school called NOLS where I lead backpacking and mountaineering expeditions across the globe. My exposure to remote wilderness medicine kindled an interest that ultimately led to medical school at the University of Washington.

Professionally I am drawn to underserved community health and rural surgery. Spending time in the mountains or on a bike are my favorite ways to recharge. I also love to woodwork, bake, read, crossword, swim, watch a good film and perform the occasional karaoke power ballad.

I am thrilled to be part of the MAHEC and Asheville communities along with my partner Kelsey, our cat Tula and dog David Bowie.

Hi y’all, My name is Abigail Roop, and I am from mountains of Beckley, West Virginia. I completed my undergraduate degree in exercise physiology and my MD at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV.

I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity to train in general surgery at MAHEC. I was so impressed with how friendly MAHEC’s surgery department was and just how much they valued resident and department wellness. This alongside the mountains of Asheville and the emphasis on well-rounded rural care drew me in. In my free time, I love cooking and hosting, art (I’m completing a colored pencil fish series currently), yoga, traveling, plant-keeping, enjoying the outdoors (biking, hiking, swimming), and spending time with my 2 cats, Roadie and Bob!

Hello everyone. My name is Sydney Thornton (she/her), and I am so excited to continue my journey with the MAHEC general surgery residency team! I am originally from Graham, NC. I completed my bachelor’s degree down the road at Elon University, where I studied Biochemistry and Neuroscience. After graduation, I worked in the research and development sector. While I enjoyed the complexity of working in a lab, I truly missed human interaction. I decided to pivot and apply to medical school. I spent the next four years earning my doctorate at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Virginia. This is where I found my love for surgery. I love surgery because it encompasses every facet of medicine. My current interests are in trauma and breast; however, I am very excited to continue learning about the full breadth general surgery residency has to offer.

I was fortunate to complete a fourth-year rotation with the MAHEC general surgery program, which is when I knew this was where I belonged. The culture is supportive, and the surgeons are incredibly skilled. I enjoyed working with everyone, and I am excited to continue my journey here.

Outside of medicine, I am a huge foodie. My partner and I love to try new foods and new food experiences. I love board games and a fun arcade. I also have two guinea pigs, Periwinkle and Petunia. I am excited to explore all Asheville has to offer and make a home here in beautiful WNC!