Residency Program Leadership
Kenneth R. Gundle, M.D. — program director
Dr. Gundle is an orthopaedic oncologist at OHSU and the Portland VA, and is dedicated to resident education and training as Program Director. Joining the Department in 2016, Dr. Gundle was the Orthopaedic Surgery Interest Group Faculty Advisor and previously ran our medical student electives before becoming Program Director in 2020. Teaching for him is a great joy, especially when it involves thinking about principles and the ‘why’ behind patient care. Dr. Gundle works alongside residents at all postgraduate levels on a daily or weekly basis. He is also a big fan of data science, as it relates to research interests and helping guide transparent decision-making for the residency.
“I see my primary role as being an advocate for the residents, and their training, in all decision-making within the Department. I love our resident-focused program, with a faculty dedicated to education and building deep bonds that persist throughout our graduates’ careers.”
Dr. Gundle aims to train compassionate, competent, capable and independent orthopaedic surgeons. As the pandemic has shown, we also need to be adaptable while maintaining our core values. Dr. Gundle believes that advocating for residents also means supporting residency applicants. He is proud of our success in recruiting women into our program, and committed to ongoing efforts to expand diversity and inclusion within orthopaedic surgery in order to improve our field and best treat our patients.
Off campus Dr. Gundle enjoys gardening, reading, and most of all spending time outside in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with his wife Megan, their two sons, and their extended family.
More info: OHSU Profile | ResearchGate
Lara C. Atwater, M.D. — associate program director
Raised in Hawaii, Lara Atwater came to OHSU in 2019 following college, medical school, residency/fellowship on the East Coast. She has been delighted by the opportunity to grow her young family in the outdoor-centered Pacific Northwest. It also brought her “halfway home” to Honolulu.
Dr. Atwater divides her clinic and surgical time in foot and ankle surgery between OHSU and an affiliate hospital, Hillsboro Medical Center. She offers residents the OHSU experience and also exposure to practice in a smaller facility with a more rural and diverse population.
At Johns Hopkins, Lara developed a keen interest in helping medical students along their journey to residency. As an orthopaedic resident, she initiated a position to optimize the away-rotation experience that still exists. Since 2020, Dr. Atwater has been the orthopedic clerkship director and the departmental advisor for students pursuing orthopedic surgery residency. She is also the medical school’s career advisor for students interested in general surgery, surgical subspecialties, and pathology. As chair of the medical school’s curriculum committee for three years, she encouraged a curriculum that builds residency-ready medical students. She looks forward to her role of Associate Program Director, supporting Dr. Gundle and the growth of orthopedic residents.
Darin M. Friess, M.D. — department chair
In addition to his role as Department Chair, Dr. Friess has been building the Orthopaedic Trauma Division since starting at OHSU in 2006. For the residents this involves a deep educational and surgical dive into the core orthopaedic disciplines of fracture and infection care. It is a busy service that rewards hard work with opportunities to push one's skill set at the zone of Educational Transformation. As our former Residency Program Director, with nine years of experience, Dr. Friess is a Chair with a deep appreciation and commitment to student and resident education. He brings this passion to the other Department Chairs and Committees as well to push OHSU to further support this mission. He remains a critical source of support and advice for Drs. Gundle and Brady, as well as a mentor for our residents and graduates.
His thoughts on resident education, which remain central to our Program, are detailed in this video from a few years ago. When not thinking such deep thoughts, he enjoys walking with his wife and dogs, following his three childrens' activities, and mowing the lawn for peace and quiet.
Robin Sasaoka — residency and fellowship education manager
Robin is the beating heart of the residency program. Her endless dedication to the residents and their education is palpable on a daily basis. Robin has more than a decade of experience with OHSU Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, and is deeply knowledgeable on Graduate Medical Education and ACGME policies. She is a point of contact for issues big and small for applicants, residents, and medical students.
When not working hard for our educational mission, Robin Sasaoka enjoys her substantial record collection, knitting socks, and reading. She and Dr. Gundle are both fans Ruth Ozeki novels, as well as the amazing local bookstore that is Powell’s.