Candidates for 2024-2025 Resident Scholar Program Selected

ASA is pleased to recognize and congratulate the next cycle of participants in the Anesthesiology Policy Research Rotation in Political Affairs - also known as the Resident Scholar program. Five talented anesthesiology residents have been selected to participate in the 2024-2025 Resident Scholar program, an ABA-approved rotation that allows resident physicians who will be in their CA-3 or fellowship year to experience the political, legislative, and regulatory factors that affect the delivery of patient care.

The selected Resident Scholars are Justin Cordova, MD, Jackson Dunitz, MD, Hyunjoo Eunice Ko, MD Joshua Pyant, DO, and Olivia Sonderman, MD, MPH. These candidates were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants based on engagement in measurable advocacy activities, regional representation, program representation, and a personal interview. Short biographies of our selected Resident Scholars are included below:

Selected Residents:

Justin Cordova, MD
Originally from Missouri, Dr. Cordova is currently active military and a CA-2 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Prior to becoming an anesthesia resident, Dr. Cordova served in the Military Police Corps for 4 years. Dr. Cordova is a member of the ASA Grassroots Network and is passionate about advocacy related to the opioid epidemic, Safe VA Care, and expanding access to anesthesiologists’ services in rural area.

Jackson Dunitz, MD
Dr. Dunitz is a CA-2 at Grand Strand Medical Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dr. Dunitz is passionate about Medicare payment reform and physician-led anesthesia care. He has attended ANESTHESIOLOGY and is a member of the ASA Grassroots Network as well as an ASAPAC contributor. Upon completion of residency, he will be pursuing a fellowship in critical care medicine.

Hyunjoo Eunice Ko, MD
Dr. Ko is a CA-2 at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and is interested in public service. She has attended LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE and is a leader at the state level, having led NYSSA events engaging anesthesiology trainees in advocacy and currently serving as president-elect of the NYSSA Residents and Fellows Section. Dr. Ko previously worked for the Joint Commission and has a strong interest in health policy.

Joshua Pyant, DO
Dr. Pyant is a CA-2 at the University of North Carolina. Identifying as a life-long advocate, Dr. Pyant is passionate about addressing health disparities and surprise billing. Furthermore, he is a member of the ASA Grassroots Network and has a strong history of ASAPAC fundraising involvement. He looks forward to taking what he learns in Washington, DC back to his home state and institution.

Olivia Sonderman, MD, MPH
Dr. Sonderman attended medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and is currently a CA-2 at Stanford University. She also attended Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health where she graduated with a Master of Public Health in Health Policy. Dr. Sonderman is passionate about educating the public about the vital role of anesthesiologists in medicine and is interested in public service.

Since 2010, the ASA Resident Scholar program has been instrumental in developing resident physician knowledge in advocacy and policy. The program currently has 66 alums who have developed a comprehensive understanding of health care politics and policy and have remained involved in key ASA advocacy initiatives. Residents interested in gaining first-hand experience in a political environment are encouraged to apply. The application for the 2025-26 year will open in December 2024.

Learn more about the ASA Resident Scholar Program.