Trainees

David Ebertz, M.D.

PGY-7 Chief fellow

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Undergraduate: University of Arizona 
Medical School: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine

David Ebertz completed his general surgery training at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio. Throughout his time there, his interests in research, medical education, and things such as theatre and board games flourished. He and his wife, Natalie, are proud cat parents. Both of them have a strong love for animals, the outdoors, and music. If you can't find David in the hospital at any point, there's a good chance he may be in forest park at The Muny or another local production. David loves the creativity and planning that vascular surgery has to offer. He often finds himself applying similar creative skills and strategies that he has honed during his dynamic experience with musical productions. And yes, he loves bowties and has claimed the online title @TheBowTieSurgeon 

Fawwaz Almajali, M.D.

PGY-7 Fellow

Hometown: Amman, Jordan
Medical school: Hashemite University

Fawwaz Almajali is originally from Jordan and completed medical school there before moving to Saint Louis University for his general surgery residency. After completing his residency, he chose to stay at SLU to continue his training in vascular surgery. Over the years, he has built strong relationships with his colleagues and patients, and found a supportive, collaborative environment that has made staying a natural decision. In addition to his clinical training, he has a deep passion for teaching and enjoys mentoring medical students.

Mark Awad, M.D.

PGY-5 Chief resident

Hometown: Staten Island, New York
Undergraduate: Fordham University – New York
Medical school: St. George’s University School of Medicine

Mark Awad, a native of New York, was drawn to vascular surgery for its blend of technological advancements and longitudinal patient care. He finds great satisfaction in creating educational videos for surgical demonstrations and complex endovascular peripheral arterial disease treatment. Outside his medical pursuits, Awad is actively working towards his pilot's license and indulges his passion for cooking.

Pavitra Ravishankar, M.D.

PGY-4

Hometown: Fremont, California
Undergraduate: University of California - Davis
Medical school: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Pavitra Ravishankar first found vascular surgery as a second-year medical student looking for a free dinner by signing up for a TEVAR simulation workshop and was immediately hooked. These days, her passion for free pizza has since waned but her love of vascular surgery remains. She was drawn to vascular surgery for the wide diversity in day-to-day cases and the ability to work with an often-underserved patient population. Since joining, her favorite thing about SLU has been the incredible program culture and comradery between trainees. In her free time, she enjoys reading sci-fi and fantasy books and cooking, has an unhealthy obsession with loose-leaf tea, and plays in a local soccer league.

Michael Carey, M.D.

PGY-3

Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas
Undergraduate: University of Texas at Austin, Cockrell School of Engineering
Medical school: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine

Michael Carey's background is in petroleum engineering and fluid dynamics with nearly a decade of industry and research experience before attending medical school. His interest in medicine began after learning about the continuous flow artificial heart, and he eventually chose vascular surgery because of how tightly interwoven fluid flow and engineering were into the specialty. His hobbies include cooking, tennis, cycling, skiing, hiking, and exploring the local farmer’s market with his significant other and dog. What he enjoys most about the SLU vascular program are his fellow trainees and enjoys spending time with them both during and after the workday.

Noah Cassidy, M.D.

PGY-2

Hometown: Puyallup, WA
Undergrad: University of Washington
Medical School: University of North Carolina

Noah Cassidy completed his Bachelor of Science in Microbiology at the University of Washington, where he established a strong foundation in biomedical research and pursued his interest in medicine. Prior to medical school, he conducted basic science research for two years with a primary focus on developing a multiplex assay to quantify the HIV reservoir in global populations. He then attended medical school at the University of North Carolina, where he discovered his passion for surgery. Cassidy was drawn to the diversity and innovation within vascular surgery that allows for the delivery of personalized patient care. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, weightlifting, basketball, and playing with his dog.

Nicholas Schaper, M.D.

PGY-1 Intern

Nicholas Schaper was born and raised in central Minnesota. He moved to St. Louis in 2015 to attend Saint Louis University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics, a Master of Science in Engineering Physics and a Doctor of Medicine. In college and graduate school, he had the opportunity to participate in research investigating the biomedical properties of nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene and zinc oxide nanowires. He also conducted research in the clinical arena, working in various facets of vascular surgery during medical school. Schaper was introduced to vascular sugery during graduate school and has enjoyed the breadth of experiences the field offers, with a diversity of cases in both open and endovascular modalities. Outside the hospital, Schaper enjoys cycling, skiing, walking his golden retriever and spending time with family. His favorite part about his training is the sense of community felt from the very first day.