Briana Sowers , DO

I grew up in the small town of Hastings, PA, and went to the Univ of Pittsburgh for undergrad (H2P). A former pharmacy tech and scribe before starting medical school in Indianapolis. I married my best friend and have two energetic Australian cattle dogs.

Resident

Organization:

West Virginia University School of Medicine

Department:

Surgery

Classification:

Resident

• DO, Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2022
• BS, University of Pittsburgh, 2014

Brief Bio:

I grew up in the tiny town of Hastings, PA, and went to Pitt for undergrad (H2P). I was a pharmacy technician and scribe before starting medical school in Indianapolis. I’m married to my best friend and have two energetic Australian Cattle Dogs.

What attracted you to WVU Surgery Residency?

• I rotated here as a medical student and loved the experience. The residents were knowledgeable, fun to work with, and they felt like my people. The attendings were also great teachers, I could tell the senior residents were confident in their skills and decision making

What makes our program unique?

• It’s an academic center in a smaller town that covers a large geographic area- you’re going to see everything here. The fresh tissue training program is also a unique experience that will prepare you for the less common procedures of the real world.  

What do you like about living in Morgantown? 

• It has the perfect amount of distractions (restaurants, breweries, nature) and is close to my family and friends.

Professional Societies/Leadership:

• American College of Surgeons – resident membership
• Americas Hernia Society - medical student membership
• Society of Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgeons - medical student membership
• Association of Women Surgeons – medical student membership

Publications: 

• Ackney C, Banaschak C, Sowers B, Szotek P, July 2021. Minimizing Retained Foreign Body in Hernia Repair Using a Novel Technique: Reinforced Biologic Augmented Repair (ReBAR). JClin Med Res, vol 3 (4) 1-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37191/Mapsci-2582-4333-3(4)-073

Poster Presentations:

• Sowers B, Banaschak C, Szotek P. Outcomes using the Reinforced Biologic Augmented Repair (ReBAR) Technique in RoboticTransabdominal Preperitoneal Ventral Hernia Repair. Poster presented at: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine Research Day. 2021 Nov 19; Indianapolis IN.

Abstracts:

• Banaschak C, Szotek P, Sowers B, Nov 2021. P133 Robotic Assisted Reinforced Biologic Augmented Repair (ReBAR) in Inguinal Hernia: Two-Year Outcomes. British Journal of Surgery, vol 108(8). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/bjs/znab395.126

Personal Interests:

• Snowboarding, refinishing furniture, DIY projects, true crime podcasts