SCC and ACS Fellowship – Faculty
In addition to the breadth and scope of clinical training, the clear strength of the program is the teaching faculty. The Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery currently consists of exceptional faculty all of whom have been formally recognized for teaching excellence.
The defining characteristics of the faculty include clinical and educational excellence as well as longevity. Half of the teaching faculty have been at ECU greater than 15 years.
Eric A. Toschlog, MD, FACS, FCCM
Dr. Toschlog is Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. In addition, he is Trauma Medical Director for ECU Health Medical Center, and Program Director Emeritus for the Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery Fellowships.
Dr. Toschlog came to ECU in 2000 after completing a two-year Surgical Critical Care and Trauma Fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Toschlog started both the SCC (2004) and ACS (2012) fellowships at ECU. Dr. Toschlog’s research interests have spanned the spectrum of acute care surgery, but special interests include trauma systems, snake envenomation, shark attack and gunshot violence.
Dr. Toschlog is an avid outdoorsman, spending his free time hiking and camping with family, working at his farm, or fishing and boating at his home at Harker’s Island, NC.
Michael R. Bard, MD, FACS
Dr. Bard is an Associate Professor of Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at ECU and came to ECU in 2001. Dr. Bard serves as the Director of the 4th year student clerkship. Dr. Bard’s research interests focus primarily on clinical care and outcomes in surgical critical illness.
Dr. Bard is an avid sports fan and family man. He spends his free time with two daughters, playing golf, and pulling for essentially any team that hails from Philadelphia.
Mark A. Newell, MD, FACS
Dr. Newell is a Professor of Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. In addition, Dr. Newell is Associate Medical Director for trauma and oversees the advanced practice provider program for the Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. Dr. Newell came to ECU in 2003 after completing his training and working at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in Bronx, NY.
His distinguished career at ECU has included multiple teaching awards and leadership positions. Having completed a Masters of Medical Management, Dr. Newell served as Chief of Staff for ECU Health Medical Center in 2021. In addition, Dr. Newell serves on the North Carolina Medical Board. Dr. Newell’s research interests include geriatric trauma, obesity in acute care surgery, and stress-induced hyperglycemia.
Dr. Newell is a movie and music buff. He also spends his free time with family and pursuing other hobbies which include viewing University of Texas sports and photography.
Nicole M. Garcia, MD, FACS
Dr. Nicole Garcia is an Associate Professor of Surgery and Program Director of the Acute Care Surgery Fellowship in the Department of Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. She completed her residency at Virginia Tech-Carilion and her Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at the University of Louisville. She joined the faculty in 2016 with a focus on surgical education and also serves as Associate Program Director for the General Surgery Residency.
Her academic interests include surgical education, leadership development, and clinical outcomes research. She has developed leadership, quality improvement, and educational curricula for residents and fellows and has helped shape multiple educational programs within the Department of Surgery. Dr. Garcia served as Medical Director of Emergency General Surgery from 2023 to 2026 and led the expansion of robotic surgery within the EGS service.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dogs, camping, hiking, and sailing the world. She is also a former member of a local roller derby team.
Kenji Leonard, MD, FACS
Dr. Leonard is an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. Dr. Leonard joined ECU in 2019, after completing his General Surgery Residency and SCC/ACS fellowships at ECU. Dr. Leonard has interest in surgical quality and safety. He serves as Vice Chair for Quality in Surgery for ECUHMC, the NSQIP Champion for ECUHMC, and is the Director for Performance Improvement for the trauma center at ECU Health Medical Center.
Dr. Leonard’s research interests include nosocomial infection, mechanical ventilation, trauma systems, and quality and safety in acute care surgery, He spends his free time with his wife and three children. He enjoys cooking, eating and watching college basketball.
Christina Regelsberger-Alvarez, DO, FACS
Dr. Regelsberger-Alvarez is an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. Dr. Regelsberger-Alvarez joined the division in 2021 after completing Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at the University of Michigan and General Surgery Residency at Henry Ford Health – Jackson.
In keeping with her role as Assistant Medical Director of the SICU, Dr. Regelsberger-Alvarez has strong interests in complex surgical critical care, ECMO, establishment of practice management guidelines/protocols and surgical critical care education at both the fellow and resident level.
Dr. Regelsberger-Alvarez initially worked to establish and expand the SCC & ACS Fellowship journal club and now serves as the Program Director of the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship. Additionally, she is the Medical Director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Regelsberger-Alvarez’s research interests include coagulopathy, ARDS, ECMO and critical care education.
In her spare time, Dr. Regelsberger-Alvarez enjoys spending time with her family, international travel, foreign cuisine, hiking and exploring other cultures.
David Trisler, DO, FACS
Dr. Trisler is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. He completed his Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship at ECU. His clinical interests include traumatic Brain injury, coagulopathy, disaster management and emergency preparedness (DMEP), geriatric trauma, guideline creation and revision, and education at all levels of medical training.
Dr. Trisler currently serves as the Assistant Medical Director of Trauma as well as the head of disaster management and emergency preparedness (DMEP). Outside of work, Dr. Trisler enjoys travelling, cooking, exploring new cuisines, golf and spending time with his growing family.
Sejul Chaudhary, MD, FACS
Dr. Chaudhary is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. Dr. Chaudhary did her residency in Detroit at Ascension St. John Hospital. She completed her Surgical Critical Care fellowship at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and joined the faculty in the Trauma/Acute Care Surgery Division in 2023.
Her passion for critical care is evident and the Surgical Intensive Care Unit is fortunate to have her as its Assistant Medical Director. Dr. Chaudhary enjoys resident/fellow education and her research interests include the intersection of mental health in regards to trauma and acute care surgery patients. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, reading and spending time with her husband and dog.
Aaron Hudnall, DO
Dr. Hudnall is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. Dr. Hudnall joined ECU in 2024 after completing his General Surgery Residency at West Virginia University and his Surgical Critical Care/Acute Care Surgery Fellowship at ECU. Dr. Hudnall has an interest in Emergency General Surgery and is the Medical Director of Emergency General Surgery.
His research interests include diverticulitis, biliary pathology and surgical critical care. During his spare time Dr. Hudnall enjoys spending time outside, going to concerts, travelling and experiencing new cultures, cooking and spending time with his wife. He is a serious coffee geek as well.
Seth Quinn, MD
Dr. Quinn is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the Brody School of Medicine at ECU. Dr. Quinn joined ECU in 2026. He completed his General Surgery Residency at ECU followed by Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at UT Southwestern/Parkland Memorial Hospital.
Dr. Quinn’s interests include resident/fellow education, quality improvement, and surgical critical care in cirrhosis. His research interests include trauma induced coagulopathy and trauma systems. He enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, tabletop gaming, and DIY improvements.