Current Residents & Fellows

Taylor Crist, MD

Class of 2024 

Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Area of Interest: Hand/Upper Extremity, General Reconstruction
Undergraduate: University of Tennessee
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami?
I enjoy the diversity in patient populations that we treat and the variety of pathology and surgical cases that we are exposed to and perform. I also particularly enjoy the weather and the unique culture of living in Miami.
Hobbies: Playing golf and tennis, going to the beach and pool with friends
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: Byblos (Miami Beach)

Joanne Buitrago, M.D.

Class of 2025

Hometown: Winchester, TN
Area of Interest: Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Microsurgery
Undergraduate: Auburn University
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Additional training/Fellowship: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center ( General Surgery PGY 1-2)
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami?
Faculty and the diversity of cases
Hobbies: Marathon runner, love my dog- Harvey,  cooking
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: Sugarcane and KYU in Wynwood/ Midtown

Lee Weber, MD

Class of 2025

Hometown: Orlando, FL
Area of Interest: Microsurgery, Aesthetics
Undergraduate: Florida State University 
Medical School: Florida State University College of Medicine
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami? The wide variety of training when serving the public at the 3rd largest hospital in the United States including Ryder Trauma, while also being able to train with nationally recognized plastic surgeons through the University of Miami and local Miami area.
Hobbies: Weightlifting, Peloton, cooking, baking, brewing, my dog
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: Bali Cafe

Yaser Abdulgader, MD, MPH

Class of 2026

Hometown: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Area of Interest: Craniofacial Surgery, Reconstructive Microsurgery
Undergraduate: King Abdulaziz University College of Medicine 
Medical School: King Abdulaziz University College of Medicine 
Additional Training/Fellowship: Master in Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine 
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami? Evidence-based medical practices. Performing under a conducive environment, with a learning-centered approach. The dedication to educating and training future plastic surgeons. High ethical standards. Standing by both patients and trainees.
Hobbies: Motorsports 
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: Texas de Brazil

Melinda Choi, MD

Class of 2026

Hometown: Buffalo Grove, IL
Area of Interest: General recon, hand, peripheral nerve
Undergraduate: Marquette University
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami? OR autonomy, wide variety of pathology
Hobbies: Road biking, Zwift, fine dining
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: All Day, Hiyakawa

Benjamin Slavin, M.D.

Class of 2027

Hometown: Jupiter, FL
Area of Interest: Peripheral Nerve Injury, Microsurgery, Facial Reanimation
Undergraduate: University of Miami 
Medical School: University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami?
The depth and breadth of Plastic Surgery pathology that we see daily amongst our patient population is second-to-none. Being able to wear my bathing suit underneath my scrubs in February isn’t bad either.
Hobbies: Skiing, Scuba diving, Tropical Aquariums, Exploring new places through food, and Singing in the OR
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: Uchi, Mi Rinconcito Mexicano

Sinan K. Jabori, M.D.

Class of 2027

Hometown: Baghdad, Iraq
Area of Interest: Facial plastics
Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Medical School: University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami? Faculty, autonomy and variety of complex cases
Hobbies: Beach-ing, snowboarding Dining, Traveling
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: Mandolin and Novikov

Susan Taghioff , M.D.

Class of 2028

Hometown: Miami, FL
Area of Interest: Craniofacial, General Reconstruction
Undergraduate: University of Miami
Medical School: University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami?
The breadth of cases, underserved population, and my co-resident besties that get me through it all!
Hobbies: Cooking, traveling, being a hockey fan, basketball, the Great Sinan Jabori
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: Gekko & Marion

Valeria Bustos Hemer, M.D., MSc, MPH

Class of 2029

Hometown: Barranquilla, Colombia
Area of Interest: Microsurgery, reconstructive plastic surgery, facial surgery, global plastic surgery, and medical education
Medical School: Pontifical Xavierian University School of Medicine
Additional Training/Fellowship: Master of Public Health in Clinical Effectiveness, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health / Master of Science in Clinical Research, Dresden International University /Plastic Surgery postdoctoral research fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/ Harvard Medical School
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami? High-quality training, autonomy, culture, complex pathology, amazing residents, and the opportunity to work with underserved and diverse patient populations. Not to mention the research opportunities the program offers.
Hobbies: Tennis, cooking, oil painting, dining, gym, and spending time with family/friends.
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: Mila

Emily Finkelstien, M.D.

Class of 2029

Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Area of Interest: Hand and Peripheral Nerve, Microsurgery
Undergraduate: University of Maryland
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami? Volume and diversity of cases, the residents and faculty
Additional Training/Fellowship: PRS Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at University of Miami
Hobbies: Running, weight training, traveling, beach days with friends, trying new restaurants
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: Mandolin

Kathryn Rock, M.D.

Class of 2024

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Area of Interest: Reconstructive plastic surgery
Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine
General Surgery Training: Ascension St. John Hospital, Detroit MI
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami?
The volume and diversity of cases. 
Hobbies: Running, snow skiing, hiking with my dog, collecting records, and travel.
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: Beaker & Gray, Mandolin Aegean Bistro

Federico Perez Quirante, M.D., Ph.D.

Class of 2024

Hometown: Murcia, Spain
Area of Interest: Reconstruction and Cosmetic surgery 
Medical School: Universidad de Murcia, Spain
General Surgery Training: Cleveland Clinic Florida / Abington - Jefferson Health
Additional training/Fellowship: PhD in health science, Masters in Healthcare Administration
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami?
The diverse patient population 
Hobbies: Sports, traveling, cooking
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: The Rusty Pelican

Lauren Antognoli, M.D.

Class of 2026

Hometown: Kent, OH
Area of Interest: Reconstructive surgery, microsurgery, Mohs, breast surgery, abdominal wall
Undergraduate: Denison University
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine 
General Surgery Training: Anne Arundel Medical Center
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami?
The autonomy in the operating room, high volume of cases, breadth of pathology, supportive coresidents, and faculty who are great teachers.
Hobbies: Travel, live music and going to concerts, cooking Italian food, word games, spending time with my husband and two kids.
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: Sergio’s and River Oyster Bar

Michael Philippe-Auguste, M.D.

Class of 2025

Hometown: Elmont, NY
Area of Interest: Peripheral Nerve
Undergraduate: University of Miami
Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine 
General Surgery Training: Oregon Health & Science University 
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami?
The complexity and diversity of cases.
Hobbies: : Cooking, brunch, beach days
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: River Oyster

Rita Shelby, M.D.

Class of 2025

Hometown: Dallas, TX
Area of Interest: Craniofacial, diversity and equity
Undergraduate: Northwestern University
Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern 
General Surgery Training: Ohio State University
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami?
Clinical volume is extensive and I feel like I am going to see everything I could ever want to see before training is over.
Hobbies: Weekends on the water on a boat, cooling for friends and family, discovering Miami with my husband and puppy Ford.
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: Contessa

Jonathan Freedman, M.D.

Class of 2024

Hometown: New York
Area of Interest: Hand and Nerve Surgery
Undergraduate: Boston University
Medical School: Boston University
Additional Training/Fellowship:  Integrated Plastic Surgery at University of Colorado
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami?
Autonomy and faculty.
Hobbies: Sports, Hiking, Movies
Favorite Restaurant in Miami:Taquiza

James Aglio, M.D.

Class of 2024

Hometown: Kensington, CT
Area of Interest: Hand surgery/soft tissue reconstruction
Undergraduate: Loyola University Maryland
Medical School: University of Connecticut
General Surgery Training: SUNY Upstate Orthopedics
What do you like most about training at The University of Miami? Looking forward to working with a diverse patient population and being exposed to a wide variety of upper extremity pathologies.
Hobbies: Live music, skiing, golfing, playing guitar
Favorite Restaurant in Miami: La Mar