RESIDENTS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Residents Executive Committee

RSS Residents Executive Committee

Bhargava S. Chitti

Bhargava S. Chitti, MD

Chair

Bharggs Chitti is a PGY-4 radiation oncology resident at Northwell Health in Queens, NY, and currently Chair of the Radiosurgery Society Residents Association.

He graduated from the George Washington University with a BS in Biological Sciences and obtained his medical degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Chitti completed a transitional year internship at Bronxcare Hospital and has given a number of presentations at ASTRO, and oral presentations at the RSNA and American Radium Society annual meetings. He is also well published in a number of journals, including Genes and Cancer, and Cureus.

Karin Skalina

Karin Skalina, MD

Vice-Chair

Dr. Skalina is finishing her PGY-3 year in the radiation oncology residency program at Montefiore Medical Center, NY.

Her interests are studying the immunotherapeutic potential of radiation therapy which started during her PhD work in the laboratory of Dr. Chandan Guha. After graduating from the MD/PhD program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2020, she completed her intern year at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, Connecticut before returning to the Bronx for residency. While at Einstein, she participated in a number of organizations and organized multiple alumni events, including the first ever MD/PhD Alumni panel. During the past 2 years of residency, Dr. Skalina has been an active member of RSS, spearheading one of the mentored publications and was elected to the executive board last year and hoping to play an even greater role this coming year.

Fatemeh Fekrmandi

Fatemeh Fekrmandi, MD

Secretary

Fatemeh Fekrmandi is a radiation oncology resident at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, NY.

She earned her MD degree magna cum laude with highest honors from Zanjan University, before entering the MSc program in Cancer Genetics at McGill University, Montreal. Her graduate work was on interplay of cancer and inflammation in a cell and molecular level. She then pursued clinical research projects in radiation late effects at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto. Her research interest is overcoming intrinsic tumor radioresistance in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and glioblastoma using immune system activation, dose escalation and novel therapies.

Robert Hawranko

Robert Hawranko, MS

Executive Member

Robert Hawranko is currently serving as the Chief Resident with the CAMPEP accredited Radiation Therapy Medical Physics Residency program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va.

He completed his undergraduate degree in Physics at Grove City College and went on to pursue a MS degree in Medical Physics at VCU. His recent publications focus on the novel MR-Linac technology.
Rob was invited to speak on his research at the 2022 RSS Scientific Meeting and accept the award for Best Physics Abstract in the Resident category.

Tugce Kutuk

Tugce Kutuk, MD

Executive Member

Dr. Kutuk completed her medical degree at Hacettepe University School of Medicine, ranking among the top candidates in her class.

She pursued a residency in Radiation Oncology at Ankara University School of Medicine in Turkey. With a strong desire to make a significant impact in cancer care, Dr. Kutuk embarked on her career as a radiation oncologist in the United States. Throughout her journey, Dr. Kutuk has been actively involved in research and clinical roles at prestigious institutions such as the Miami Cancer Institute, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, International Atomic Energy Agency, and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Her research interests primarily revolve around brain metastases, glioblastoma, and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Dr. Kutuk has made valuable contributions to multiple peer-reviewed publications, showcasing her expertise and unwavering commitment to advancing cancer treatment.
This year, Dr. Kutuk's project titled "Implementation of an Interactive, Multi-Language, App-Based Neurocognitive Evaluation Program into Routine Stereotactic Radiosurgery Practice" was recognized as a winner in the Members in Training Research Achievement Award by the Radiosurgery Society. As a dedicated clinician and researcher, she is eagerly looking forward to commencing her residency at the Ohio State University Radiation Oncology Department this year, where she aims to contribute to academic learning, drive scientific advancements, and excel in her profession.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Kutuk enjoys playing tennis, exploring new places, watching movies, and spending quality time with friends.