Current Residents

Michael A. Hii, MD

Medical school
MD: Medical College of Wisconsin

Undergraduate education
BS: University of Victoria, Biochemistry

Why I chose Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
I knew residency was going to be a strenuous 4 years regardless of the program. Coming from a small town, I knew I wanted to train and eventually practice in a setting with a similarly small feel. As I learned more about Dartmouth, I found the people to be incredibly genuine and warm. It’s clear the faculty and residents here are very close and function well as a cohesive team. Though the city is small, there is a wide catchment area served here to ensure great clinical exposure and surgical experience. As a newer program, I find it exciting that my input will contribute to the direction and growth of the program for myself as well as future residents. Lastly, the surrounding nature in this area is exceptional and I’m looking forward to exploring it throughout my time here.

What inspired me to go into Ophthalmology
When I first entered medical school, I wanted to pursue family medicine. Throughout medical school, I found I had a strong affinity for procedures, but I wasn’t overly interested in any of the cases I saw until I stepped into an ophthalmology OR. This specialty blended well with my passion for photography, particularly through slit lamp exams and imaging in the clinic. I was fascinated by the life-altering surgeries as well as the unique pathologies presenting in the eye, and I loved that the exams were largely observation-based. The continuity of care with my patients is something I sought after through family medicine and am pleased to see this follows with ophthalmology as well.

My favorite things to do outside of the hospital
I enjoy playing soccer, hiking, camping, swimming in lakes, running, skiing/snowboarding, and just about anything else that gets me out in nature. I enjoyed CrossFit throughout medical school but may be limited on time now. I love cooking and spending time with my fiancée and her dog.

Brennan M. Schilling, MD

Medical school
MD: Wayne State University School of Medicine

Undergraduate education
BS: University of Michigan, Biopsychology, Cognition, Neuroscience

Why I chose Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
One of the biggest things I was looking for in my Ophthalmology residency was a welcoming, supportive culture and environment. This was so evident during my interviews that I knew I would fit in well here. This residency also provides a robust clinical experience with wide-range of pathologies. I was also happy to hear that the program will be able to support my interest in research too. Finally, the area itself was a big draw for me, and I am very excited to see what the Upper Valley and New England in general has to offer!

What inspired me to go into Ophthalmology
The eye and how vision/perception works has always been so interesting to me. Once I got involved in research in Ophthalmology at my medical school, I knew I couldn't be in any other field. The combination of clinical work, where you get to work with your patients for a long period of time, and surgery all focused on improving someone's vision and quality of life creates a perfectly balanced field of medicine for me.

My favorite things to do outside of the hospital
Running, hiking, video games, reading, pickleball, baking, and the occasional TV binge are what keep me going! I'm excited to add skiing to that list during my time in the upper valley.

Divy Mehra, DO

Medical School
DO: Nova Southeastern University Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

Undergraduate Education
BS: Nova Southeastern University

Why I chose Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
As a leading academic medical center in the Northeast with a wide catchment area, plentiful academic resources, brilliant and accomplished faculty, and a culture of compassion for patients and workers alike, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center is a wonderful home for training. I chose Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in large part due to the goodwill culture of both the hospital and the eye clinic. Medical training can be a challenging period, requiring the right balance of academic learning, surgical experience, as well as hands-on support and independence in handling tough clinical situations. My experience thus far has been nothing but validating, and I feel confident that our program will continue to provide me with these essential components of a robust training experience.

What inspired me to go into Ophthalmology
Pursuing a career in medicine requires years of focused effort and sacrifice, and for students/trainees, mastering the vast amount of knowledge required to excel can be a challenge, and further makes choosing 1 specialty a difficult task. For me, the opportunity to preserve sight always felt like a natural use of my academic strengths and growing clinical abilities. Ophthalmology, as one of the most advanced fields in medicine, offers a unique array of qualities: the backdrop of enormous data sets and research, a plethora of examination tools, regular use of cutting-edge technology, and a willingness to advance, particularly in the surgical arena. With a background in research and a general interest in surgery, ophthalmology was an ideal fit for me.

My favorite things to do outside of the hospital
When I'm not in the hospital, I enjoy exploring the natural beauty of the surrounding area and am fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful landscapes of America. In addition, I am a fan of anything sports, and regularly play pickup basketball, tennis, and frequent the gym as time allows. My recreational academic interests include public health, philosophy, and politics.

Grant Schultheis, MD

Medical School
MD: Jefferson Medical College

Undergraduate Education
BS: Princeton University

Why I chose Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Since residency is relatively short compared to the material to learn, the most important factor for me was finding a compatible team with whom to learn. I have found the hospital staff - especially the ophthalmology staff - making special effort to teach each other, especially when it improves current or future care of patients. In addition, I am interested in building tools that increase the quality, decrease the cost, and improve the access to ophthalmologic care. I was impressed with the support of the ophthalmology department and the resources Dartmouth Health offers to pursue my interests.

What inspired me to go into Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology offers an amazing set of tools to help the visually impaired see… what could be more appealing? Also, I was attracted to visualizing beautiful anatomy in the physical exam and performing technically challenging surgical procedures. Ophthalmology also offers opportunities to apply my interests in engineering to further patient care.

My favorite things to do outside of the hospital
My wife and I enjoy biking, running, and watching animals in beautiful New England. Also, I like to write software, study math and read history books.

Andrew J. Catomeris, MD

Medical School
MD: Georgetown University School of Medicine

Undergraduate Education
BA: Middlebury College, Neuroscience

Why I chose Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
I chose DHMC because I wanted an excellent clinical experience with a tight-knit team. We are lucky enough to treat a wide-range of pathologies in a beautiful environment.

What inspired me to go into Ophthalmology
I loved the anatomy, pathology, and clinical pace of ophthalmology. It is a remarkable privilege to be able to improve and restore the vision of our patients.

My favorite things to do outside of the hospital
I enjoy mountain biking, skiing, and generally exploring the Northeast with my wife and new dog, Maple.

Emily S. Levine, MD, MS

Medical School
MD: Tufts University School of Medicine

Graduate Education
MTM: University of California, Berkeley and University of California, San Francisco

Undergraduate Education
BA: Bryn Mawr College, Biology

Why I chose Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
The opportunity to help build a new program with a team of like-minded folks in such a beautiful location was too good to pass up. The faculty’s excitement to have us has been palpable since the interview day, and I know I will be well supported in this environment. Plus, my husband and I love all the outdoor adventures the Upper Valley has to offer!

What inspired me to go into Ophthalmology
I adore color and light, and vision has always fascinated me. I also like to work with my hands, so I gravitated towards the slit lamp exam and microsurgery as crafts to master. Ophthalmology combines everything I love.

My favorite things to do outside of the hospital
Cycling, running, hiking, skiing, general ‘outdoorsiness,’ cooking, perfecting our homemade pizza recipe with my husband, kissing my sweet dogs on the face!

Cong T. Phan, MD

Medical School
MD: Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech

Undergraduate Education
BS: University of Texas at Houston School of Nursing

Why I chose Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center ophthalmology stood out to me for many reasons. It has a wide variety of pathology and serves a big catchment area. It also has top-notch, well-trained faculty with a wealth of experience who are very down to earth and eager to teach. The programs offers a high surgical volume with opportunities to get involved in surgery very early on which is very important to me. Even though the focus is on clinical training, there is still plenty of opportunity for research if you wish to pursue it. Moreover, I was impressed with the easy-going, family-like environment in the clinic and among the faculty and staff.

As an added bonus: the fact that the program is in one of the most beautiful parts of the country - with mountain, ponds, lakes and beautiful trails nearby - is also a huge plus!

What inspired me to go into Ophthalmology
I entered medical school with the aim to pursue ophthalmology but tried to keep an open mind. However, I knew early on that I wanted to perform surgery. I played piano and guitar when I was young, I competed in table tennis all through my teenage years, and I was part of the IV access team as a critical care nurse, so I had always loved working with my hands. I also loved to spend time interacting with patients, getting to know them, and hearing their stories. Ophthalmology was therefore an easy choice for me. It is an interesting, challenging field and offers the right mix of surgery and medicine. Ophthalmologists, oftentimes, get to know their patients and care for them for a long time, some for 30, 40 years, which makes for a very rewarding career.

My favorite things to do outside of the hospital
I enjoy competitive table tennis, soccer, reading fiction novels, being outdoors, cooking, and spending time with my wife and daughters!

Mark D. Travor, MD

Medical School
MD: Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Undergraduate Education
BS: Pennsylvania State University

Why I chose Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
I chose Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center because I was excited to join a new program with great, experienced, and motivated faculty who are interested in and eager to teach! I immediately felt welcomed and supported and the overwhelming feeling of kindness and friendliness was obvious even on interview day. I felt like I belonged right away. Furthermore, being in the idyllic Upper Valley is exactly where I pictured myself being; I’d much rather be in the woods and nature than in a city, having grown up and lived in small towns most of my life.

What inspired me to go into Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology was always a field I found fascinating, and the more experience I got through shadowing and in medical school, the more enamored I became. It’s an excellent mix of clinic and surgery, emergency and procedural, it is a technologically advanced and driven specialty with lots of neat equipment and the physiology of the eye and the physics of optics are so elegant, it’s hard to choose anything else. Not many other fields allow you to directly see the pathology in many cases. In short, it’s fun! I am planning to practice general ophthalmology in the rural mid-Atlantic region, and am excited to bring excellent ophthalmologic care to the rural communities I have lived in and around all my life.

My favorite things to do outside of the hospital
Outside the hospital, my wife and I enjoy hiking and biking around trails in the area, going to art museums, trying new restaurants, and I’ve begun to do some more cooking/baking too, much to my wife’s delight!