Kevin Biju, Joseph Kidane, Daniel Palmieri and Andrew Woodhouse will start their residencies at Keck Medicine of USC in 2023.
By: Mollie Barnes
What stood out most to all of the incoming residents were the conversations they had during their interviews with doctors at USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my interview day at USC,” says Joseph Kidane, an incoming resident of the program who is originally from Costa Mesa. “To no surprise, the program was a clinical powerhouse, but I was impressed by the ongoing research taking place in the department and the clear visions and goals to further expand.”
Four people matched to the program at USC Caruso Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. Matching is a process where applicants who have graduated or are about to graduate from medical school visit hospitals and interview. They then rank their top desired programs and faculty at hospital programs rank their desired candidates. Residents are then “matched” to a program based off these rankings, where they start their training after medical school. This year, there were only four spots in the USC’s highly-ranked program. The three clinical residency positions will be filled by Joseph Kidane, Daniel Palmieri and Andrew Woodhouse. Kevin Biju will be a research resident.
Woodhouse says his great conversations with Dr. John Oghalai, Dr. Niels Kokot, Dr. Tamara Chambers and Dr. Michael Johns influenced his decision to rank USC on his list.
“I was incredibly excited to match at such an amazing and sought-after program,” Woodhouse says. “USC will undoubtedly provide me with incredible surgical training. The research opportunities at USC are also unmatched, which will set me up for success in an academic position in the future. I could not have been more proud to match at this program.”
Biju was inspired by prior research to rank USC. He previously worked with Dr. Yuri Agrawal on clinical vestibular research, where he learned to appreciate the public health impacts of otolaryngology, especially as it relates to older adults. He says he also found the surgical tools used within the field to operate on the inner ear quite fascinating.
“One incredible thing that stood out was Dr. Ksenia Gnedeva’s research work, which includes Hippo-YAP signaling, molecular biology and otology, all of which were subjects I had worked on previously,” Biju says. “It was a fortunate coincidence that her research combined so many of my past interests.”
As for what comes ahead, Palmieri says he’s keeping an open mind.
“I know that I want to stay within academia and be a part of teaching the next generation of otolaryngologists,” he says. “I’ve been very excited about some of the translational work on skull base tumor imaging that I did with my mentor in Pittsburgh, and I really hope to continue that in residency and as faculty in the future.”
Meet the Residents
Kevin Biju
Hometown: India and Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
What they’re most excited about moving to Los Angeles: “I am most looking forward to getting more hands-on in complex surgical cases and developing my surgical skills,” he says.
“In addition, I am very excited to meet my co-residents and faculty and develop strong bonds both inside and outside the hospital. I am also excited by the beautiful weather, beaches, incredible food scene and that SoCal life I’ve heard so much about.”
Joseph Kidane
Hometown: Costa Mesa, California
Medical School: University of California- San Francisco
What they’re most excited about moving to Los Angeles: “I really look forward to working at both the county hospital and Keck Medicine. As a resident at USC, being able to see a patient in clinic, then book them in the operating room and follow up post-operatively in a longitudinal format was a huge draw to the program,” he says.
“I am from Southern California originally, so I am very familiar with the endless opportunity for food, outdoor activities and beaches!”
Daniel Palmieri
Hometown: Los Angeles
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh
What they’re most excited about moving to Los Angeles: “There is a lot I’m looking forward to in residency: meeting my co-residents, developing my clinical skills, and mentoring medical students. However, what I’m most looking forward to is learning from the incredible faculty how to become the best surgeon that I can be for my patients.
“My family all lives in Los Angeles, and I can’t wait to live near them again. Besides family, I’m looking forward to the warm weather, the beautiful hikes, the beach and the nearby skiing. I am so excited to dive back into the LA food scene (Mexican food and sushi in particular).”
Andrew Woodhouse
Hometown: Boise, Idaho and South Florida
Medical School: The Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD
What they’re most excited about moving to Los Angeles: “I’m most excited about returning to an academic environment and getting back to the operating room after serving my country with the US Navy,” Woodhouse says.
“The great food and returning to a city that has every major professional sports team is an added bonus.”