“Surgery has the ability to change someone's problem immediately,” said Sartino. “I love how satisfying it is to be able to provide a life changing operation.”
After earning his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from Marian University, Sartino chose to stay in Indianapolis to pursue his calling in surgery while remaining close to his family as a new dad. As an intern in the Department of Surgery, Sartino benefits from the invaluable mentorship of his father-in-law and department faculty member, C. Max Schmidt, MD, PhD, MBA, whose guidance has played a key role in his journey.
“It has been a blessing to have Dr. Schmidt as part of my family,” said Sartino. “I get to have a built-in mentor right from the beginning. It also motivates me to perform well so that he can see me excel as a resident.”
Sartino added, “He always has wisdom to pass on.”
As a surgery trainee, Sartino has found Schmidt’s advice to be invaluable as he navigates his first year of residency.
“One thing that has really stuck with me is when he told me to not be shy as a new resident when pursuing the best care for patients,” said Sartino. “I am a set of fresh eyes and bring a new perspective to the table.”
For Sartino, family is a priority. Although surgery residency often requires 80-hour weeks consisting of training and studying, Sartino finds ways to make the most of his time with his wife and newborn son.
“I really try to get my work and study tasks done at work so that when I get home, I can be completely present with my wife and new baby,” said Sartino. “Getting to come home to them after a long day is always the best prize for me, and I am so lucky to have a great family that supports me.”
Sartino and his wife welcomed a new member of the family this fall. As a new father, he is appreciative of the support his family has received from co-residents, as well as department faculty and staff.
“My son was born premature at 33 weeks and had a 5-week NICU stay before he got to come home,” said Sartino. “Brianne Nickel was so supportive and quick to help accommodate whatever I needed, and Manisha Bhata, MD, and Sean McGuire, MD, were more than willing to work with me to figure out a schedule that was best. I quickly learned that when a resident is in need, this is a team that will step up and help out.”
As for his future plans, Sartino is open-minded in discovering potential career paths in surgery. However, his interest in pediatric surgery was sparked due to his love for children.
“Right now, I am thinking about a pediatric surgery fellowship,” said Sartino. “I have always loved working with kids and really could see myself in that role. However, I have a lot of time in the next several years to see what else is interesting to me.”
