Our Team | Save The Bottoms

Elliot Arsoniadis, MD, PhD

Elliot G Arsoniadis, MD, PhD, is the founder and Principal Investigator for SAVETHEBOTTOMS!!! He is an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Department of Surgery. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois (BS 2007) and the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (MD 2011). He trained in General Surgery at the University of Minnesota (2011-2018) and Colon & Rectal Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Florida (2018-2019). He completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Informatics at the University of Minnesota in 2020. He practices colon & rectal surgery, and treats benign and malignant conditions of the colon, rectum, & anus. He has special expertise in performing High Resolution Anoscopy to find and treat anal pre-cancers. When he’s not performing surgery or writing grants to fund SAVETHEBOTTOMS!!! you can probably find him at the gym, at brunch, or chasing his pug, Louie, around Minneapolis.

Kathryn Vera, PhD

Clinical Research Program Manager, Surgery Clinical Trials Office

Kathryn provides research support for the Save the Bottoms!!! Foundation, and is responsible for day-to-day management of the organization. Outside of work, she is an avid cyclist and recently completed her first “century ride” (>100 kilometers) around the Door County peninsula in Wisconsin!

Stephanie Woods

Division Manager, Surgical Oncology and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Project Manager, Global Surgery & Disparities Program

Onboarding Champion, Dept of Surgery

Stephanie manages the Divisions of the Surgical Oncology and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Divisions at the University of Minnesota. She is also the Project Manager supporting the Medical School's Global Surgery & Disparities Program, which is how she got involved with STB. Stephanie closely partners with STB team members to help lead strategic growth and operational oversight. Outside of work you'll find her playing with her 5 nieces, checking out new restaurants or walking with her cats, Bill and Popi.

Arin Johnson

Arin Johnson is the Academic Administrative Assistant for the Divisions of Surgical Oncology and Colon & Rectal Surgery within the Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota. She is a graduate of Iowa State University (BS 2022). Through her work with the Colon & Rectal Division, she has partnered with the STB team to serve as the program's Project Specialist. She facilitates community outreach, event planning, and budget management for SAVETHEBOTTOMS!!! Outside of work, you can find her diving into a new project, such as needle felting or jewelry making, as well as cuddling her two pudgy cats, Beans and Ziggy.

Alexander Troester, MD

Alexander Troester, MD is a general surgery resident at the University of Minnesota interested in colon & rectal surgery and a member of the SAVETHEBOTTOMS!!! clinical team. He is a graduate of Drake University (BS 2016) and the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine (MD 2020). When he’s not at the hospital, you can likely find him swimming, biking, and running around Minneapolis getting ready from his next Ironman triathlon.

Julia Kohn, MD

Julia Kohn, MD, is a resident trainee in the Department of Surgery at the University of Minnesota, and previously graduated from Notre Dame (BS, 2013) and the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine (MD, 2019). She became involved with SAVETHEBOTTOMS!!! during dedicated research time during her general surgery residency; it has been a unique opportunity to combine her interests in LGBTQ+ healthcare and colorectal surgery. She hopes to pursue colorectal subspecialty training after completing her residency. When not in the operating room, she enjoys photography, classical music, and birdwatching around the Twin Cities (and will hopefully get her “life list” to >200 this year!)

Lindsay Welton, MD

Lindsay Welton, MD, is a General Surgery Resident at the University of Minnesota. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, and then went on to earn her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She is currently earning a Master of Arts in Medical Gerontology from the University of Southern California while completing her residency professional development and research years. Her research and clinical interests are in colorectal surgery and she is a resident investigator for SAVETHEBOTTOMS. After training, she aspires to have a vibrant clinical practice in colon and rectal surgery. She enjoys exploring Minnesota with her husband, son and Bernese Mountain Dog, Bunsen.

Shelbi Olson, MD

Shelbi Olson, MD is a current general surgery resident and research team member for SAVETHEBOTTOMS!!! She graduated from Harvard University in 2014, where she played softball for four years. After undergraduate, she spent one year as a high school teacher in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia and a second year doing clinical research at the University of Kansas, back in her home state. She graduated with honors in 2020 from medical school at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she was part of the global medicine (GMED) program. She began general surgery residency in 2020 and plans to pursue a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery. She is passionate about resident and surgeon wellbeing. Outside of the operating room she can be seen practicing and teaching yoga, going for a bike ride or a walk around the chain of lakes, or snuggling with her cat, Jordy.

Sydney Samborski

Sydney Samborski is the social media manager and merch extraordinaire for SAVETHEBOTTOMS!!! She has been with SAVETHEBOTTOMS!!! since it first began, and is looking forward to the continued growth and lives that it will change along the way. She attended the University of Minnesota for Marriage and Family Therapy, but now serves the Minneapolis community via spin and fitness classes. Along the way, she has learned more than the average person about anal cancer, and likes to see medical professionals flex their humor sides via creative social media content. She was also a cheerleader for football and basketball at the University of Minnesota, and is now SAVETHEBOTTOMS!!! very own personal cheerleader. When she isn't behind a screen creating content, she is on a spin bike, or throwing dumbbells around in the gym.

Katie Koon, RN

Katie Koon, RN is one of the RN Care Coordinators within the Colon and Rectal Surgery Department. She's been with the CRS team since 2021, prior to that she was an inpatient RN at the University of Minnesota hospital for seven years. She has a BA in Sociology from the University of Minnesota, and a BS in Nursing from South Dakota State University. She coordinates for Dr. Arsoniadis, so managing patients with anal dysplasia or anal cancer is a big part of her clinical role. This is her first time being involved with SAVE THE BOTTOMS!!! - She is looking forward to assisting in HPV and anal dysplasia screening and educating high risk individuals at PRIDE 2024. When she is not in clinic, she is probably spending time with her partner Ray and their three kids Malcolm (6), Audrey (10), Eliza (12), reading, running, working out at Orange Theory, or cleaning her house!

Megan Duellman, RN

Megan Duellman is a registered nurse at MHealth Fairview. She graduated with her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 2016 from South Dakota State University. She has enjoyed working in the Colon and Rectal Surgery Department for 8 years. Her current role as a care coordinator focuses on patient education, medical coordination between specialties, and management of patient treatment plans. In her free time, she enjoys playing pickleball with family and friends, yoga classes, and trying new restaurants.

Kalyn Anderson, CMA, A.S.

Kalyn Anderson, CMA, A.S. is a healthcare professional dedicated to providing compassionate and high-quality care to patients. Kalyn has always been passionate about the field of medicine and the opportunity to make a positive impact on people's lives. As a member of SAVETHEBOTTOMS!!!, Kalyn’s primary goal is to ensure the well-being and comfort of patients. She has over 3 years of experience in Colon and Rectal Surgery, which has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of various medical conditions and treatment options. When it comes to SAVETHEBOTTOMS!!! Kalyn primarily assists in High Resolution Anoscopy procedures and the administration of HPV Vaccines. In addition to clinical responsibilities, Kalyn is also a small-town girl where you will find her spending time outdoors tending to her chickens, or fishing at the lake during the day and watching a movie with her fiancé and her Dog, Layla.

Elizabeth von der Marwitz, NP-C

Elizabeth von der Marwitz, MSN, APRN, NP-C has been providing anal cancer screening and prevention services at the University of Minnesota for over 10 years. Elizabeth performs in clinic anal cytology and high resolution anoscopy and supports the SAVETHEBOTTOMS!!! research initiatives. When she is not saving bottoms in clinic she is kicking butt doing karate, spending time with her dogs, Oreo and Waffles, traveling, and can be found at the gym or paddling on a lake in the summer.

Adeline Beck

Adeline Beck is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the Surgery Clinical Trials Office, specializing in the Divisions of Colon & Rectal Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery. She provides research support for the Save the Bottoms!!! Foundation, and is responsible for recruiting, patient coordination, and other day-day research activities. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, playing pickleball with friends and family, and trying new restaurants.