Residents
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Steve Monk, MD |
Steve Monk, MD, PGY-6
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Undergraduate Education: Vanderbilt University; BA in Economics and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Minor in Chemistry
Academic Honors: SEC Academic Honor Roll, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholarship, Delta Tau Delta Fischbach Medical Scholarship
Q & A
What attracted you to our residency program? The training environment at CMC is simply unparalleled. Residents experience the full spectrum of neurosurgical cases and receive an unusual amount of autonomy both in the operating room and in general patient care from the start of intern year. The program seamlessly combines the advantages of a Level I trauma center with a private practice neurosurgery group to equip residents with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be leaders in the field. The high attending-to-resident ratio provides immense case volume, allows for direct mentorship and fosters a collegial culture in which residents are truly viewed as colleagues.
What have you enjoyed most so far? Being fully immersed in all aspects of neurosurgical care including clinic, floor procedures, operations and endovascular procedures.
What are your personal hobbies? College football (Anchor Down and Geaux Tigers), golf, disc golf, outdoors and reading.
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Rebecca DeCarlo, MD |
Rebecca DeCarlo, MD, PGY-5
Hometown: Gainesville, GA
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Undergraduate Education: University of North Georgia, BS Biology, Psychology
Academic Honors: Dean’s Clinical Honor Society, honored at the White House for her work developing protocols for COVID-19 contact tracing with the Georgia Department of Public Health
Q & A
What attracted you to our residency program? What attracted me to the residency program at Carolinas Medical Center was a combination of early hands on operative experience and enjoying the people that I would be working with for 7 years. The residents work well together as a team and the attendings lead from the front when it comes to patient care. We have frequent discussions about how to ethically care for our patients and also how to best work together with a multidisciplinary team.
What have you enjoyed most so far? So far, I have most enjoyed the operative experience that I feel is so unique at our program. We begin operating regularly as early as intern level and advance under the guidance of our attendings at the level that we are capable rather than a set advancement prescribed by PGY level. Our attendings are attentive teachers in the OR and take the time to explain decision making while also ensuring familiarity with the anatomy. Another huge advantage is that we work closely with a fantastic support team of advance practice providers who allow us to learn the ins and outs of the job in a way that more closely reflects the reality of neurosurgery following residency.
What are your personal hobbies? I enjoy outdoor activities like paddle boarding, running and biking. There are several beautiful lakes and rivers a short drive from Charlotte where my husbands enjoys fly fishing while I can listen to an audio book in my Eno. There are many hiking trails near Charlotte as well and some of my favorites so far have been Crowders Mountain State Park and the Grandfather Mountain ropes and ladders trail near Blowing Rock. Charlotte maintains many greenways for cycling and running that traverse more rural wooded areas and also uptown shops, restaurants and breweries. I take every opportunity I can to ride a new trail and stop to try the special at one of the many breweries.
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Trent VanHorn, MD |
Trent VanHorn, MD, PGY-4
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN
Medical School: Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Undergraduate Education: Wake Forest University, BS in Biology; Minor in Chemistry
Academic Honors: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Academic Honor Roll, Tim Duncan Leadership Award
Q & A
What attracted you to our residency program? I immediately noticed the uniquely high clinical volume at Carolinas Medical Center, which incorporates the full spectrum of complexity and allows for unlimited learning opportunities as comprehensive, efficient neurosurgical management is delivered in all phases of patient care. The experience gained from training at one of the busiest Level 1 trauma centers is supplemented by intimate and longitudinal exposure to one of the most respected private practice neurosurgery groups in the country. I believe this rare combination offers a dynamic training experience unlike many others. The rapid growth and success of the program at CMC is energizing and is fueled by a group of faculty who are dedicated to resident development in all phases of life. Perhaps most importantly, I admired the residents for their leadership in helping to build a relatively new program and for taking pride in its representation by excelling in all aspects of their training.
What have you enjoyed most so far? The opportunity to learn and improve technical skills begins on day 1 of intern year. Our faculty each bring unique techniques and perspectives from excellent neurosurgical training backgrounds and are some of the most approachable and down to earth people I have ever worked with. My co-residents and the mid-level providers are gifted teachers and promote early autonomy in clinical decision making and performance of neurosurgical procedures. Monthly “chief dinners” have been a major highlight. These gatherings allow our group to enjoy time together away from the hospital in the setting of high-quality food and beverages, compliments of our chief!
What are your personal hobbies? I enjoy playing many sports including basketball, golf, tennis, spikeball, pickleball and beach volleyball; all of which can be played year-round in Charlotte. Charlotte offers all the advantages of a big city in terms of restaurants and attractions and is just a short drive from both the mountains and the beach. I am excited to see the continued growth of the city in the years ahead and look forward to exploring all it has to offer.
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Daniel Zeitouni, MD |
Daniel Zeitouni, MD, PGY-3
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Medical School: University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Undergraduate Education:University of North Carolina, BS in Public Health with Highest Honors; Minors in Chemistry and Religious Studies
Academic Honors: Kevin R. Stone Travel Fellow for neurosurgery sub-internship at the Mayo Clinic, President of UNC Chapter of AANS, Carolina Summer Research Fellow
Q & A
What attracted you to our residency program? I am fortunate to be entering this program at the perfect time. As a medical student, I did a sub-internship at Carolinas Medical Center, and the operative experience was the best I had seen. The complexity of cranial and spine cases that junior-mid level residents are actively participating in, and senior residents were leading was incredibly impressive. On top of a very hands-on experience, the level of clinical research that residents have the opportunity to pursue and the support they have to do so is a quickly growing part of the program. The addition of the Charlotte campus of the Wake Forest School of Medicine will only result in more academic opportunities and makes it a very exciting time to join the program.
What have you enjoyed most so far? The neurosurgical faculty and residents have already invested countless hours preparing me for managing the Neuro ICU and participating in operating room. I was immediately treated as a colleague who my seniors were excited to teach so that I can quickly become a productive part of the team. Outside the hospital, I have enjoyed eating at the countless restaurants Charlotte has to offer and attending sporting events here.
What are your personal hobbies? I enjoy playing sports like soccer, basketball, disc golf and spikeball. I love to watch and attend college basketball games (Go Heels!), Panthers NFL football games and Charlotte Football Club MLS soccer matches. My wife and I also love walking and hiking with our dogs.
Erin Miller, MD, PGY-2
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Erin Miller, MD |
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Undergraduate Education: Middlebury College, B.A. in Neuroscience
Academic Honors: Gold Humanism Honor Society, Sam Houston Sanders Merit Scholarship, Bland W. Cannon Scholarship
Q & A
What attracted you to our residency program? The neurosurgery program at Carolinas Medical Center is a unique intersection of one of the largest private practice neurosurgery groups with a busy level 1 trauma center serving a wide catchment area. The recent merging of Wake Forest with CMC has further strengthened educational and research opportunities. Incredible case volume and academic support aside, there is a sense of enthusiasm amongst all team members. During my sub-internship, I recognized how this mentality fosters not only inspiration but team-based dedication to patient care. The independence offered to residents at Carolinas Medical Center sets high expectations, promotes ownership of patients, and encourages earned autonomy in the operating room. As such, residents are treated as colleagues and taught to be leaders.
What have you enjoyed most so far? I was immediately welcomed onto the team and have been involved in all aspects of neurosurgical care, from neuro ICU to trauma, skull base, spine, vascular, neuro oncology, and more. There are endless opportunities here. It is an honor and an inspiration to work alongside enthusiastic residents and learn from highly experienced attendings.
What are your personal hobbies? There are numerous opportunities for outdoor adventuring around Charlotte. I have enjoyed running along the Greenway and nearby trails as well as exploring the many hikes in the surrounding area. I also enjoy cooking, drawing, scuba diving, and reading.
Austin Allen, MD, PGY-1
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Austin Allen, MD |
Hometown: Asheboro, MC
Medical School: UNC School of Medicine
Undergraduate Education: East Carolina University Honors College, BS in Biochemistry
Academic Honors: Robert H. Wright Alumni Award, American Athletic Conference Commissioner’s Postgraduate Leadership Award, ECU Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Q & A
What attracted you to our residency program? I completed an away rotation at CMC as a medical student and absolutely loved the experience. From the outset, I was included as a member of the team and challenged to grow both my knowledge and skillset. The entire faculty and resident group were skilled surgeons who were also incredibly kind mentors that invested deeply in my education. The CMC/CNSA program provides a unique training opportunity with the high patient volume, diverse pathologies treated, and early operative experience. I felt coming to CMC for residency would provide unparalleled training in an engaging and enjoyable work environment that prepares me to deliver quality patient care.
What have you enjoyed most so far? I have enjoyed being in Charlotte and becoming an active member of the CMC/CNSA team. The high expectations for residents promote early autonomy, which makes engaging in neurosurgical patient care both highly enjoyable and rewarding.
What are your personal hobbies? Fishing (especially saltwater), College Sports, Tennis, Spending time with my wife and family.
What are you looking forward to the most? I am excited to continue my professional development in a world-class training program and look forward to serving patients in my home state of North Carolina.