Current Clinical Scholars

Angela Marie Bailey, MD

Dr. Bailey’s research interests center on reducing health disparities, particularly for Spanish-speaking patients and those with mental health disorders. Her fascination with big data research and the potential to create personalized care tools was sparked during her time at the Michigan Genomics Initiative. Her journey led her to delve into health informatics and machine learning, and in medical school, she collaborated on a project using machine learning to predict newborn readmission risks. These skills are transferable, and Dr. Bailey aims to apply them to benefit trauma patients during her dedicated academic development. Her commitment to leveraging data and technology to improve healthcare is evident in her pursuits.

Kelley Chan, MD

Dr. Chan’s research interests include surgical and oncologic outcomes, quality improvement, and health disparities. Dr. Chan grew up in New York City and then went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from The University of Notre Dame and medical degree from the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. She is currently taking time away from general surgery residency at Loyola University Medical Center to complete her research fellowship at the American College of Surgeons. As a Clinical Scholar with the Cancer Programs, her research will center on oncologic outcomes review, quality improvement, and evidence-based standards for cancer care.

Lauren M. Janczewski, MD

Dr. Janczewski will be spending two years with the American College of Surgeons' Cancer Programs in collaboration as a T32 funded postdoctoral fellow at the Surgical Outcomes and Quality Improvement Collaborative at Northwestern University. Her research interests include surgical and oncologic outcomes, specifically hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy, oncologic staging standards, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the delivery of cancer care.

Dr. Janczewski grew up in upstate New York. She then went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Saint Joseph’s University and medical degree from the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. During her dedicated research time, she will also obtain a Master's in Health Services and Outcomes Research through Northwestern University, where she is currently a general surgery resident as well. She plans to incorporate these interests and training into a future career as a surgical oncologist and health services and outcomes researcher.

Brett Allan Johnson, MD

Dr. Johnson’s career aspirations are deeply rooted in his life experiences. He is determined to pursue a fellowship in surgical oncology and an academic surgery career to enhance patient care. As a former Division 1 baseball player, he values teamwork and thrives in high-pressure environments, akin to the operating room. Brett's commitment to optimal patient care and academia stems from supporting his wife through her breast cancer journey, which included chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. While he strives for excellence in surgery, he dedicates a significant part of his career to pioneering research to improve patient care.

Shelbie Kirkendoll, DO, MS

Dr. Kirkendoll will be spending two years with the ACS Committee on Trauma to conduct research related to firearm injury prevention. During her dedicated research time, she will obtain a Master’s in Health Services and Outcomes Research through Northwestern University. She grew up in a rural town outside of Kansas City, Missouri, and attended Missouri Western State University where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biology. She then went on to receive both a Master of Biomedical Science and a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from Kansas City University. She completed her surgical internship at Baystate Medical Center and is currently taking two years off from her surgical residency at the Valley Health System in Las Vegas to pursue her research fellowship.

Jessica K. Liu, MD

Dr. Liu will be spending two years with the American College of Surgeons as a Clinical Scholar in Residence working on various Continuous Quality Improvement projects in the areas of equity and inclusion, emergency general surgery, and colorectal surgery. One of her areas of focus will be on using hospital-level data and system-level interventions to understand and address complex healthcare gaps in delivery of equitable healthcare to surgical patients.

Dr. Liu grew up in Southern California and received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development from University of California, Davis. She went onto obtain her Medical Degree and Master of Public Health from the UT Health Long School of Medicine in San Antonio. She is currently taking time away from her general surgery residency at Harbor-UCLA in Torrance, CA and will simultaneously earn a Master of Science in Health Services and Outcomes Research from Northwestern University. She plans to apply the training from her tenure in Chicago to a future career as a colorectal surgeon and clinical investigator with the goal of improving quality and access of health services for all groups of individuals.

Anoosha Moturu, MD

Dr. Moturu’s passion for quality improvement and patient safety is rooted in her technical training and deep understanding of morality. Her background in human factors and ergonomics sparked her interest in system improvement methods, which naturally transitioned to quality improvement research during medical school. Her study of philosophy and ethics further fuels her dedication to quality improvement, as she sees healthcare as a moral act that must prioritize safety and equity.

Xane Peters, MD

Dr. Peters is a general surgery resident at Loyola University Medical Center. Dr. Peters received his Bachelor's degree in biology from Illinois Wesleyan University and subsequently his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago.

Dr. Peter's research interests include clinical outcomes and quality improvement in surgical care, health systems and resource management, and surgical education. He plans to incorporate these interests into a career in academic surgery. Dr. Peters will be working with the Geriatric Surgery Verification Program, a collaborative effort designed to establish evidence-based standards in the care of our aging population of surgical patients.