Qais AbuHasan, MD
2023-2025
Interests: Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Health Services and Outcomes, Surgical Education
Mentors: Dimitrios Stefanidis, Tarik K. Yuce
Dr. AbuHasan is a research fellow in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery, with a focus on health services research and robotic surgery. He also collaborates with the surgical education research team, investigating cognitive load, error recognition, and competency-based assessment. Born and raised in Nablus, Palestine, Dr. AbuHasan earned his bachelor's in biomedical sciences and MD at An-Najah National University. After completing his training, he moved to Boston, MA, where he joined the Collaborative Center for X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism at Massachusetts General Hospital for a postdoctoral research fellowship, investigating the disease using stem cell-derived neuronal models. He also joined the Computational Neuroscience Outcomes Center at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital to investigate neurosurgery outcomes. He then transitioned to Indiana University School of Medicine to pursue his deep interest in health services and outcomes research before pursuing his residency training in general surgery.
Interests: Bariatric and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Health Services and Outcomes, Surgical Education
Mentors: Dimitrios Stefanidis, Tarik K. Yuce
Dr. AbuHasan is a research fellow in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery, with a focus on health services research and robotic surgery. He also collaborates with the surgical education research team, investigating cognitive load, error recognition, and competency-based assessment. Born and raised in Nablus, Palestine, Dr. AbuHasan earned his bachelor's in biomedical sciences and MD at An-Najah National University. After completing his training, he moved to Boston, MA, where he joined the Collaborative Center for X-linked Dystonia Parkinsonism at Massachusetts General Hospital for a postdoctoral research fellowship, investigating the disease using stem cell-derived neuronal models. He also joined the Computational Neuroscience Outcomes Center at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital to investigate neurosurgery outcomes. He then transitioned to Indiana University School of Medicine to pursue his deep interest in health services and outcomes research before pursuing his residency training in general surgery.
Jackson Baril, MD, MBA
2023-2025
Interests: HPB Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Surgical Outcomes, Comparative Effectiveness, Innovations in Heath Care Delivery
Mentors: C. Max Schmidt
Dr. Baril is a research resident in the Division of Surgical Oncology under the mentorship of C. Max Schmidt, MD, PhD. His research focuses on surgical outcomes in HPB Surgery. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, MD and MBA at the University of Minnesota prior to starting general surgery residency at Indiana University. He is excited to use his business training to improve healthcare delivery for both patients and providers. The resiliency and compassion of patients, their families, and other health care providers inspire Dr. Baril’s passion for quality health care and lifelong learning.
Interests: HPB Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Surgical Outcomes, Comparative Effectiveness, Innovations in Heath Care Delivery
Mentors: C. Max Schmidt
Dr. Baril is a research resident in the Division of Surgical Oncology under the mentorship of C. Max Schmidt, MD, PhD. His research focuses on surgical outcomes in HPB Surgery. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, MD and MBA at the University of Minnesota prior to starting general surgery residency at Indiana University. He is excited to use his business training to improve healthcare delivery for both patients and providers. The resiliency and compassion of patients, their families, and other health care providers inspire Dr. Baril’s passion for quality health care and lifelong learning.
Sarah Huber, MD
2024-2026
Interests: Surgical Outcomes and Quality Research
Mentors: Rachel Patzer, Katie Ross-Driscoll, Jonathan Fridell
Dr. Huber is a general surgery resident at Indiana University School of Medicine and a T32 surgical health services fellow with SOQIC. Her research interest lies with abdominal transplant outcomes and inequities in surgical care. Though originally from the Chicago area, she grew up in Zionsville, Indiana. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from Indiana University in Bloomington. Prior to medical school she worked as an EMT in Indianapolis for two years. Following this she obtained her medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine. She intends to pursue a fellowship in Abdominal Transplant Surgery following completion of residency.
Interests: Surgical Outcomes and Quality Research
Mentors: Rachel Patzer, Katie Ross-Driscoll, Jonathan Fridell
Dr. Huber is a general surgery resident at Indiana University School of Medicine and a T32 surgical health services fellow with SOQIC. Her research interest lies with abdominal transplant outcomes and inequities in surgical care. Though originally from the Chicago area, she grew up in Zionsville, Indiana. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from Indiana University in Bloomington. Prior to medical school she worked as an EMT in Indianapolis for two years. Following this she obtained her medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine. She intends to pursue a fellowship in Abdominal Transplant Surgery following completion of residency.
Alexa Hughes, MD
2024-2026
Interests: Surgical oncology, Artificial Intelligence, Surgical Outcomes and Quality Research, Medical Education
Mentors: Ryan Ellis, Michael G. House, Karl Bilimoria
Dr. Hughes is a current SOQIC fellow at Indiana University. Her research focuses on the utilization of artificial intelligence, health services and clinical outcomes research in the field of surgical oncology, and medical education.
Dr. Hughes grew up in New Jersey and moved to Pennsylvania for college and medical school. She earned her bachelor's degree in Biochemistry at Penn State University and then went on to earn her MD, and Masters of Adult Education at the Penn State College of Medicine. After completion of medical school, she stated her general surgery residency at Indiana University. During her dedicated professional development time she is working to obtain a master's in clinical research through the Indiana University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. She plans to incorporate these interests and educational experiences into a future career as a surgical oncologist and surgeon scientist.
Interests: Surgical oncology, Artificial Intelligence, Surgical Outcomes and Quality Research, Medical Education
Mentors: Ryan Ellis, Michael G. House, Karl Bilimoria
Dr. Hughes is a current SOQIC fellow at Indiana University. Her research focuses on the utilization of artificial intelligence, health services and clinical outcomes research in the field of surgical oncology, and medical education.
Dr. Hughes grew up in New Jersey and moved to Pennsylvania for college and medical school. She earned her bachelor's degree in Biochemistry at Penn State University and then went on to earn her MD, and Masters of Adult Education at the Penn State College of Medicine. After completion of medical school, she stated her general surgery residency at Indiana University. During her dedicated professional development time she is working to obtain a master's in clinical research through the Indiana University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. She plans to incorporate these interests and educational experiences into a future career as a surgical oncologist and surgeon scientist.
Maya Hunt, MD
2023-2025
Interests: Surgical education, culture, mentorship
Mentors: Dimitri Stefanidis, E.M. Ritter
Dr. Hunt is a Surgical Education Research Fellow working within the IU Department of Surgical Education. She is interested in how education can impact surgical culture and the dynamics between power and leadership. Originally from Austin, TX, she spent a year abroad following high school spent on a leadership program in Israel attending the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and volunteering as a gardener in an agricultural youth village. She returned to the US, moving to New York City, where she obtained two bachelors’ degrees simultaneously through the Joint Program between the Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University, in Biblical Studies and Evolutionary Biology of the Human Species. She returned to Texas attending medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, TX before starting her general surgery residency at Indiana University. She is actively taking time away from residency to pursue research as a Surgical Education Research Fellow and well as the Surgical Education Numbered Trial (SENT) Fellow with the SOQIC at the Regenstrief Institute. In addition to her research endeavors, she is earning her master’s degree in Health Professions Education through the University of Illinois Chicago.
Interests: Surgical education, culture, mentorship
Mentors: Dimitri Stefanidis, E.M. Ritter
Dr. Hunt is a Surgical Education Research Fellow working within the IU Department of Surgical Education. She is interested in how education can impact surgical culture and the dynamics between power and leadership. Originally from Austin, TX, she spent a year abroad following high school spent on a leadership program in Israel attending the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and volunteering as a gardener in an agricultural youth village. She returned to the US, moving to New York City, where she obtained two bachelors’ degrees simultaneously through the Joint Program between the Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University, in Biblical Studies and Evolutionary Biology of the Human Species. She returned to Texas attending medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, TX before starting her general surgery residency at Indiana University. She is actively taking time away from residency to pursue research as a Surgical Education Research Fellow and well as the Surgical Education Numbered Trial (SENT) Fellow with the SOQIC at the Regenstrief Institute. In addition to her research endeavors, she is earning her master’s degree in Health Professions Education through the University of Illinois Chicago.