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The fellowship

Where America’s cosmetic surgeons are made.

Tulsa Surgical Arts runs one of only sixteen general cosmetic surgery fellowship programs listed nationally by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery — accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, directed by Dr. Angelo Cuzalina with co-director Dr. James Koehler. Its graduates now run “Surgical Arts” practices across the country.

Fellows at a time2 — staggered Jul 1 / Jan 1
Case volume1,000+ procedures per fellow
Operating tempo2–3 majors/day · Mon–Thu
PrerequisiteAlready board-certified surgeons
Graduates becomeABCS board-eligible

“Training Fellows are taken on July 1 and January 1 so that one Training Fellow always has a 6-month seniority their last 6 months… The average Training Fellow is directly involved in over 1000 surgical procedures over the course of the program.” — AACS program page · “Angelo Cuzalina, MD, DDS / Co-Director: James Koehler, MD, DDS” — ABCS national fellowship register · “eligible to become board certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery” — practice fellowship page

Where the year happens

The rooms, and the podium.

A fellow’s year runs between the operating rooms and the teaching theater beside them — and follows the director to the academy’s own stage.

An operating room at Tulsa Surgical Arts, with surgical lights and equipment set for a case
An operating room — the AAAHC-accredited surgery center where fellows are directly involved in 1,000+ procedures.
The observation theater at Tulsa Surgical Arts: rows of seats facing a window into an operating room
The observation theater beside the operating rooms — surgery watched through the glass.
Dr. Angelo Cuzalina operating, in surgical cap and mask, with an assistant across the table
Dr. Cuzalina in surgery — the year is spent at his side.
Dr. Angelo Cuzalina lecturing at the podium of the 2024 AACS 40th Annual Scientific Meeting
AACS 40th Annual Scientific Meeting, New Orleans, 2024 — in his words, “I usually give roughly 5 lectures per meeting.”

Current fellows · Class of 2026–27

The two surgeons in the chair right now.

Fellows here are already surgeons — the year under Dr. Cuzalina is where they master the aesthetic craft. Meet the current class.

Austin M. Kluis, MD — portrait

Austin M. Kluis, MD

Cosmetic Surgery Fellow · July 2026 cohort · 2026–27

Surgeon-scientist and inventor — 32 peer-reviewed publications, 19 society presentations, three USPTO provisional patent applications, and $209,150 in competitive research funding — now training under Dr. Cuzalina.

EducationBS Neuroscience with Distinction, University of Minnesota (2016) → MD with Honors Distinction (top 20%), University of Minnesota Medical School (2020) · Alpha Omega Alpha nomination · USMLE 246 / 262
ResidencyGeneral surgery, categorical six-year track — Chief Resident, Baylor University Medical Center / JPS Health Network, Dallas–Fort Worth (2020–2026)
Research fellowshipCardiothoracic surgery research fellowship, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano (2022–23), under the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute
Publications32 peer-reviewed manuscripts + one book chapter (Massachusetts General Hospital Illustrated Tips and Tricks in Thoracic Surgery) — 21 PubMed-indexed under “Kluis A” · full list below
Trials & registriesPrincipal Investigator, AWAITED multicenter RCT (FDA IND exemption secured at resident level) · architect of a 160-variable trauma registry with 85% automated Epic extraction · North Atlantic Ross Consortium data architect
InventionsSole inventor on three USPTO provisional patent applications — closed-loop patient repositioning (94 claims), biomimetic pressure-redistribution surface (255 claims), smart-catheter hemodynamic monitoring (89 claims)
Funding$209,150 across six independently authored grants awarded by the Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Research Review Committee
Operative volume~1,567 residency cases logged at chief year, >1,700 projected at graduation; combined residency + fellowship projected at >2,700 (per CV)
The parallelLike his mentor — a wrestler first: three-time Minnesota state tournament qualifier and Academic All-State first team; Dr. Cuzalina wrestled varsity at Oklahoma State (per their CVs)
The complete publication record — 32 peer-reviewed manuscripts

Reverse-chronological; 21 items PubMed-indexed under “Kluis A” (checked 2026-08-18). Bold = Dr. Kluis.

  1. Becker T, Kluis A, Al-Azizi K, et al. Blinded computationally derived peak areal stretch location to predict aortic root rupture in TAVR. J Heart Valve Society. In press 2026.
  2. Hocking JA, DiMaio JM, Kluis A, et al. Noninvasive imaging to confirm technical outcomes of left atrial appendage exclusion. BUMC Proceedings. 2026.
  3. Eisenga J, McCullough K, Dorton C, Kluis A, et al. Insights from a multidisciplinary heart team for highest-risk valve disease. BUMC Proceedings. 2026;39(2):227–236.
  4. Schaffer JM, Squiers JJ, Kluis A, et al. Insurance-related differences in CCW comorbidities of Medicare beneficiaries. Am J Managed Care. 2025;31(11):e336–e346.
  5. Schaffer JM, Kluis A, Squiers JJ, et al. Survival after surgical ablation of AF during CABG in Medicare beneficiaries. Ann Thorac Surg. 2025;120(4):693–703.
  6. Dorton CW, Eisenga J, Hocking J, Kluis A, et al. Balloon-expandable valves for surgical treatment of mitral valve disease in severe MAC. JTCVS Struct Endovasc. 2025.
  7. Pickering T, Kluis A, Shih E, et al. Long-term survival after heart-team-guided management of complex CAD. BUMC Proceedings. 2025;38(5):589–597.
  8. Eisenga JB, McCullough KA, Kluis A, et al. Surgeon proclivity for coronary endarterectomy during isolated CABG. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2025;67(3).
  9. Hocking J, Eisenga JB, Kluis A, et al. Predictors of survival after triple valve surgery. Ann Thorac Surg Short Reports. 2025;3(1):25–30.
  10. Pickering T, McCullough K, Dorton C, Shih E, Kluis A, et al. Detection of aortic arch tears using epiaortic ultrasound in type A dissection. Am J Cardiol. 2025;237:14–16.
  11. Moubarak G, Kluis A, Eisenga J, et al. Outcomes of patients who failed screening for transcatheter tricuspid interventions. Am J Cardiol. 2024;220:67–76.
  12. Al-Azizi KM, Moubarak G, Szerlip MI, Kluis A, et al. Impact of iodinated contrast shortage on contrast-associated AKI. BUMC Proceedings. 2024;37(2):218–226.
  13. Eisenga J, Hocking J, Kluis A, DiMaio JM, et al. A comprehensive DVT prophylaxis regimen in isolated CABG. JTCVS Open. 2024;17:145–151.
  14. Kluis A, Afzal A, Milligan G, et al. Preoperative pulmonary function is associated with LVAD outcomes. Surg Pract Sci. 2024;17:100242.
  15. Kluis A, Squiers JJ, Moubarak G, et al. The investigation for the optimal anticoagulation strategy continues. ASAIO J. 2023;69(8):e403 — the AWAITED rationale letter.
  16. Moubarak G, Gupta S, Ladner J, Kluis A, et al. Valve-in-valve TAVR following two surgical AVRs. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2023;16(11):e013305.
  17. Al-Azizi K, Shih E, DiMaio JM, Squiers JJ, Moubarak G, Kluis A, et al. TVT and STS risk score performance in TAVR. JSCAI. 2023;2(3):100600.
  18. Kluis A, Rawitscher D, Afzal AM, DiMaio JM, George TJ. Impella 5.5 and VV-ECMO as bridge to VAD. BUMC Proceedings. 2023;36(2):208–210.
  19. Kluis A, Hasson L, Squiers JJ, et al. Defibrillator lead migration and delayed RV perforation. JTCVS Techniques. 2022;16:72–75.
  20. Kluis A, Shih E, Squiers JJ, et al. Directed hypercapnia to wean ECMO in COVID-19 pneumonia. Ann Thorac Surg. 2022;114(5):e307–e309 (with editorial commentary).
  21. Kluis A, Eisenga J, Squiers JJ, et al. ECMO for pulmonary embolism undergoing thrombolysis. Ann Thorac Surg. 2022;114(1):e55–e57.
  22. Goodwin K, Kluis A, Alexy T, John R, Voeller R. Neurological complications associated with LVAD therapy. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther. 2018;16(12):909–917.
  23. Plus, per the CV’s own accounting toward its 32-manuscript total: 9 indexed conference-proceedings abstracts (JACC, J Heart Lung Transplant, JSCAI, Am J Prev Cardiol) and 1 manuscript in submission (AJMC) — with 1 medRxiv preprint and the book chapter “Thoracic Duct Ligation (All Approaches),” MGH Illustrated Tips and Tricks in Thoracic Surgery (2021), counted separately.

Dr. Will Alvarez

Cosmetic Surgery Fellow · January 2026 cohort · senior fellow

The senior training fellow of the staggered AACS class — six months ahead per the program’s July 1 / January 1 structure.

CohortJanuary 2026 start — the program takes fellows “on July 1 and January 1 so that one Training Fellow always has a 6-month seniority their last 6 months” (AACS program page)
StatusSenior Training Fellow of the 2026–27 class

The lineage

A teaching tree you can audit.

Cosmetic surgery is taught hand-to-hand. This tree starts two generations up — and every card below quotes the alumnus’s own published bio, with the link to prove it.

AACS President 1993–1995

Howard A. Tobin, MD, FAACS

Directed the Abilene, TX fellowship where Dr. Cuzalina trained (1997–98, ~1,000 procedures). The teacher’s teacher.

AACS President 1999–2000

Peter D. Waite, MD, DDS, FAACS

Chairman during Dr. Cuzalina’s UAB residency — “heavy emphasis on cosmetic surgery and facial reconstruction during residency” (CV).

AACS President 2011–2012 · Fellowship Director since its founding

Angelo Cuzalina, MD, DDS, FAACS

Trained under Tobin in Abilene — 1997–98, ~1,000 procedures per his CV — built Tulsa Surgical Arts in 1998, and turned it into one of the nation’s sixteen ABCS-listed general cosmetic surgery fellowships. The register below is his teaching record.

The publicly documented alumni & teaching register

Entries limited to fellows and trainees whose own published bios or society records document the Tulsa fellowship— the documented register, not a complete roster.

James Koehler, MD, DDSEastern Shore Cosmetic Surgery — Fairhope, AL · Fellowship Co-Director

“Fellowship in General (Full Body) Cosmetic Surgery – Tulsa Surgical Arts, Tulsa, OK” — practiced at Tulsa Surgical Arts 2004–2014; today co-directs the fellowship.

Source →
Matthew Hlavacek, MD, DDSKansas City Surgical Arts — Kansas City, MO

“He attended Tulsa Surgical Arts in Tulsa, OK where he completed a cosmetic surgery fellowship.” Co-authored “Complications of Facial Implants” (2009) with Dr. Cuzalina.

Source →
Andrew Sohn, MD, DMDDallas–Fort Worth, TX & Oklahoma City, OK

“Two prestigious one-year accredited general cosmetic surgery fellowships under the auspices of Dr. Howard Tobin and Dr. Angelo Cuzalina” — trained under both generations of the lineage.

Source →
Clement Qaqish, DDS, MDSan Diego Surgical Arts — San Diego, CA

“An accredited fellowship in Cosmetic Surgery under the president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in Tulsa, Oklahoma.” Co-authored “Revision Rhinoplasty” (2012).

Source →
Calvin Jung, MD, DDSPremiere Surgical Arts — Houston, TX

“Moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he completed an accredited full body cosmetic surgery fellowship under the past president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.” Co-authored the 2016 cleft rhinoplasty article.

Source →
Armando Retana, DDS, MDCapital Center for Cosmetic Surgery — Washington, DC

“Completed a prestigious General Cosmetic Surgery Fellowship through the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery in Tulsa, Oklahoma.” Co-authored “Creating the Ideal Buttock.”

Source →
Landon McLain, MD, DMDMcLain Surgical Arts — Huntsville, AL

Education roster lists Tulsa Surgical Arts; co-authored “Simultaneous Mastopexy with Augmentation” with Dr. Cuzalina.

Source →
Pasha Mostofi, MD, DDSWashington Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery — Seattle metro, WA

“His fellowship in Body and Facial Cosmetic Surgery under Dr. Angelo Cuzalina… Tulsa Surgical Arts, 2022.” Co-authored the specialty’s 2024 surveyed BBL mortality study.

Source →
Anthony Congiusta, MD, DDSConnecticut Surgical Arts — Norwich, CT

“Tulsa Surgical Arts AACS Fellowship in Facial & General Cosmetic Surgery, Tulsa, OK, 2022-2023.” Co-authored two chapters in the 2025 Cosmetic Surgery textbook.

Source →
Pasquale Tolomeo, MD, DDSTulsa Surgical Arts — Tulsa, OK

“In his fellowship, he completed nearly 2,000 major surgical procedures” — then joined the staff he trained with.

Source →
Chase Nelson, DOTulsa Surgical Arts — Tulsa, OK

“His demeanor, surgical acumen, and devotion to excellent patient care afforded him the invitation to stay at Tulsa Surgical Arts after completing his fellowship.”

Source →
Carisa Champion, DO, JD, MPHTulsa Surgical Arts — Tulsa, OK

“After graduation from her general surgery residency, she was accepted into a cosmetic surgery fellowship through the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.”

Source →
Sebastian Gutierrez De Pineres, MDOklahoma Surgical Arts — Oklahoma City

“Is completing his fellowship training under world-class cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Angelo Cuzalina.”

Source →
Sacha Clark, DDS, MDMatched — AACS Match Day, Class of 2025

“Sacha Clark, DDS, MD — Matched with Angelo Cuzalina, MD, DDS, FAACS, Tulsa, OK.”

Source →
The “Surgical Arts” constellation: Tampa Surgical Arts · Kansas City Surgical Arts · San Diego Surgical Arts · Connecticut Surgical Arts · Premiere Surgical Arts (Houston) · McLain Surgical Arts (Huntsville) · Oklahoma Surgical Arts — practices founded, led, or staffed by surgeons trained in this room. The naming is theirs; the training lineage is documented above.

For patients

The surgeon who trains surgeons can be your surgeon.

Book a consultationCall 918·392·0880

For candidates

Surgeons: the match runs through the AACS.

“Only the very best surgeons are handpicked… They spend a year observing and assisting Dr. Cuzalina.” — practice fellowship page.

AACS program page →Contact the program
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