Internal Medicine Second-Year Residents

B

Olgert Bardhi, M.D., M.Sc.

Home Town: Tarpon Springs, Florida
Undergraduate School: University of Florida
Medical School: University of Florida College of Medicine
Career Interests: Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Academic Medicine
Personal Interests: Writing, Physical Fitness, Food Blogging, Podcasting, Hiking, Traveling

William Black, M.D.

Home Town: Macon, Georgia
Undergraduate School: University of Georgia - Athens
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University
Career Interests: Hematology/Oncology
Personal Interests: College Football, Trout Fishing in the Appalachian Mountains, Cooking Dinner with Wife

William Brandon, M.D.

Home Town: Westcliffe, Colorado
Undergraduate School: University of Colorado - Colorado Springs
Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine
Career Interests: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Personal Interests: Homebrewing, Hiking, Camping, Biking, Fishing, Kayaking

C

Ayla Cash, M.D., M.P.H

Home Town: Cleveland, Ohio
Undergraduate School: Ohio State University
Medical School: The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Career Interests: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Public Health, Academic Medicine
Personal Interests: Reading about Politics and Current Events, Playing Tennis, Calligraphy, Journaling, Spending time with Family
PSTP Program

Jeff Chen, M.D., Ph.D.

Home Town: Los Angeles, California
Undergraduate Schoo: University of Kentucky
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Career Interests: Academic Cardiology
Personal Interests: Sewing, Home DIY, Cooking, Restaurants, Computers
PSTP Program

Luis Chinea, M.D.

Home Town: San Antonio, Texas
Undergraduate School: Texas A&M University
Medical School: McGovern Medical School at UT Health Science Center at Houston
Career Interests: Hematology/Oncology, Rheumatology, Hospital Medicine
Personal Interests: Soccer, Disc Golf, Board Games, Podcasts, Reality TV, Museums, Biking

Zainali Chunawala, M.B.B.S.

Home Town: Pune, India
Medical School: Seth G.S. Medical College
Career Interests: Cardiology
Personal Interests: Running, Biking, Hiking, Meditation, Soccer, Tennis, Bowling, Bungee Jumping, Skydiving

Kristina Collins, M.B.B.S.

Home Town: St. Catherine, Jamaica
Undergraduate School: University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jamaica
Medical School: University of the West Indies Faculty of Medical Sciences, Jamaica
Career Interests: Endocrine, Nephrology, General Internal Medicine
Personal Interests: Playing Badminton and Tennis, Playing the Guitar and Keyboard, Writing Poems and Songs

Julie Cooper, M.D.

Home Town: Flower Mound, Texas
Undergraduate School: Kansas State University
Medical School: UT Southwestern Medical School
Personal Interests: Hiking, Running, Reading Mysteries
PSTP Program

D

Diana De Oliveira Gomes, M.D.

Home Town: Venezuela
Undergraduate School: Ohio State University
Medical School: Universidad Central de Venezuela Escuela de Medicina Luis Razetti
Career Interests: Cardiology
Personal Interests: Cooking with Nephew, Watching International Soccer, Roller Skating

Emily Decicco, M.D.

Home Town: New Hope, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois
Undergraduate School: Cornell University
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Career Interests: Health Equity, Cardiology
Personal Interests: Playing Lacrosse, Live Jam-band Music, Running, Long-distance Cycling, Hiking, Downhill Skiing, Cooking Italian Dishes

Paige Della-Penna, M.D.

Home Town: Hershey, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate School: Elon University
Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
Career Interests: Cardiology, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Quality Improvement, Medical Education
Personal Interests: Cooking, Opera, Hiking, Backpacking, Cycling, Traveling

John Deng, M.D.

Home Town: Newton, Massachusetts
Undergraduate School: Brandeis University
Medical School: Washington University School of Medicine
Career Interests: Hospital Medicine
Personal Interests: Traveling, Backpacking, Camping, Bouldering, Climbing, Video Games, MMA, Reading, Watching Movies, Technology, Sichuan Cooking

Ruchi Desai, M.D.

Home Town: Milpitas, California
Undergraduate School: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine
Career Interests: Gastroenterology
Personal Interests: Reading, Puzzles, Cooking, Listening to Podcasts, Watching Sports

Manasa Dutta, M.D.

Home Town: Austin, Texas
Undergraduate School: University of Texas at Dallas
Medical School: UT Southwestern Medical School
Career Interests: Evolving
Personal Interests: Professional Bharatanatyam, Art, Coffee, Watching Movies

F

Luise Froessl, M.D.

Home Town: Sunnyvale, California
Medical School: Faculte de Medecine Universite d'Aix-Marseille AMU
Career Interests: Hematology/Oncology
Personal Interests: Hiking, Baking, Pencil Drawing

G

Mustafa Ghanem, M.D., Ph.D.

Home Town: Jerusalem
Undergraduate School: Brooklyn College
Medical School: Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Career Interests: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Viral Respiratory Disease
Personal Interests: Aspiring Adirondack 46er, Flatwater Paddling, Backcountry Camping, Night Hiking, Wildlife Photography, Horticulture, Carpentry
PSTP Program

Mary Gwin, M.D.

Home Town: Redmond, Washington
Undergraduate School: Vanderbilt University
Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine
Career Interests: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Personal Interests: Reading, Cycling, Cooking, Baking, Writing Restaurant Reviews

H

Eileen Hu, M.D.

Home Town: Milpitas, California
Undergraduate School: Ohio State University
Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine
Career Interests: Hematology/Oncology
Personal Interests: Chinese Dizi, Cooking, Visiting National Parks, Reading
PSTP Program

Charlotte Hunt, M.D., M.P.H.

Home Town: Sugar Land, Texas
Undergraduate School: Texas A&M University
Medical School: McGovern Medical School at UT Health Science Center at Houston
Career Interests: Gastroenterology
Personal Interests: Baking, Kickboxing, Weightlifting, Spinning, Trampoline, HIIT

Jimin Hwang, M.D.

Home Town: Daejeon, South Korea
Medical School: Yonsei University College of Medicine
Career Interests: Cardiology
Personal Interests: Cooking Korean Food, Hiking, Spinning, Weightlifting, Pilates, Singing, Playing Acoustic Guitar, Drawing Cartoons, Exploring Restaurants, Bars, and Coffee Shops

K

Anishka Kappalayil, M.D.

Home Town: Frisco, Texas
Undergraduate School: University of Texas at Dallas
Medical School: UT Southwestern Medical School
Career Interests: Evolving
Personal Interests: Traditional Indian Carnatic Vocal Training, Vinyl Records, Electric Guitar, Soccer, Cooking, Water Sports, ATVing, Traveling

Peter Kentros, M.D.

Home Town: Scarsdale, New York
Undergraduate School: Brown University
Medical School: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Career Interests: Pulmonary and Critical Care, Climate Change and Health
Personal Interests: Carpentry with Salvaged Wood and Restored Tools, Curing and Fermenting Foods, Tennis, Soccer, Reading, Dog Walking

Han Wool Kim, M.D.

Home Town: Los Angeles, California
Undergraduate School: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
Career Interests: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Gastroenterology, Hospital Medicine
Personal Interests: Snowboard, Basketball, Fantasy Sports, Spanish, Cooking, Fingerstyle Guitar, Powerlifting, Beatbox, Rubik's Cube

Eden Koo, M.D.

Home Town: Honolulu, Hawaii
Undergraduate School: University of Michigan
Medical School: University of Hawaii, John A. Burns School of Medicine
Career Interests: Gastroenterology, Academic Medicine
Personal Interests: Watching Sports, Replicating YouTube Cooking Recipes, Tennis, Running, Hiking, Fantasy Football

Beverly Kyalwazi, M.D.

Home Town: Sacramento, California
Undergraduate School: University of Notre Dame
Medical School: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Career Interests: General Medicine, Gastroenterology, or Hematology/Oncology
Personal Interests: Playing Piano, Singing, Hiking, Morning Runs, Soccer, Basketball, Flag Football, Reading

L

Blake Lackey, M.D.

Home Town: Coppell, Texas
Undergraduate School: University of North Texas
Medical School: McGovern Medical School at UT Health Science Center at Houston
Career Interests: Nephrology or Academic Medicine, Healthcare Disparities
Personal Interests: Skateboarding, Guitar/Bass, Spoken Word Poetry, Kung Fu

Gloria Lin, M.D.

Home Town: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate School: University of Pennsylvania
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Career Interests: Gastroenterology, Hematology/Oncology
Personal Interests: Distance Running, Gardening, Hiking, Photography

M

Dimitri Maamari, M.D.

Home Town: Beirut, Lebanon
Undergraduate School: American University of Beirut
Medical School: American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine
Career Interests: Cardiology and Genomic Medicine
Personal Interests: Certified Wine Taster, Skiing, Playing Futsal

Kareem Malas, M.D.

Home Town: Brown Deer, Wisconsin
Undergraduate School: University of Wisconsin
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Career Interests: Cardiology
Personal Interests: Soccer, Fitness, Weightlifting, Running, Video Games, Milwaukee Bucks, Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers

Paris Malensek, M.D., M.B.A.

Home Town: Birmingham, Alabama
Undergraduate School: University of Alabama
Medical School: University of Alabama School of Medicine
Career Interests: Cardiology or Hospital Medicine, Healthcare Administration
Personal Interests: Golf, Tennis, Downhill Skiing, Traveling, Singing, Dancing, Fishing, Yoshukai Karate, Playing Flute, Piccolo, Piano, and Ukulele

Caroline McLeod, M.D.

Home Town: Albemarle, North Carolina
Undergraduate School: University of South Carolina
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
Career Interests: Gastroenterology/Hepatology
Personal Interests: Running, Reading Novels, Listening to Podcasts, Enjoying the Culinary Scene

Bernadette Miramonte, M.D., M.P.H.

Home Town: Mishawaka, Indiana
Undergraduate School: University of Notre Dame
Medical School: University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
Personal Interests: Kayaking in National Parks, Snowboarding, Cooking, Snorkeling, Painting, Writing Poetry

N

Aman Narayan, M.D.

Home Town: Houston, Texas
Undergraduate School: Rice University
Medical School: UT Southwestern Medical School
Career Interests: Hospital Medicine, Cardiology, Rheumatology
Personal Interests: Cooking, Playing/watching Sports, Fantasy Football, Playing the Dhol, Politics, Healthcare Economics, Healthcare Accessibility

Rohit Nathani, M.D.

Home Town: Bilaspur, India
Undergraduate School: Abhinav Public School New Delhi
Medical School: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
Career Interests: Cardiology
Personal Interests: Soccer, Running, Badminton, Chess, Cricket, DC Universe, Thriller Movies and TV Series, Alternative Rock Music

Niharika Neela, M.D.

Home Town: Houston, Texas; Bangalore, India
Undergraduate School: Cornell University
Medical School: McGovern Medical School at UT Health Science Center at Houston
Personal Interests: Vegetarian Cooking, Podcasts, Reading, Hiking, Working The New York Times Crossword Puzzle, Dancing, Singing

Michelle Ng, M.D.

Home Town: Chicago, Illinois; Hong Kong
Undergraduate School: University of Michigan
Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School
Career Interests: Gastroenterology
Personal Interests: Fitness, Hiking, Podcasts, Cooking, Exploring Bookstores, Watching Cantonese and Mandarin TV Shows

Ali Noorbaksh, M.D.

Home Town: Houston, Texas; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate School: University of Pittsburgh
Medical School: McGovern Medical School at UT Health Science Center at Houston
Career Interests: Cardiology
Personal Interests: Architecture and Design, Literature Review, Healthcare Topics, Space and Science Fiction, Surfing, Hiking, Camping

O

Patrick O’Hara, M.D.

Home Town: East Rockaway, New York
Undergraduate School: University of Pennsylvania
Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine
Career Interests: Evolving
Personal Interests: Hiking, Climbing, Golfing, Table Tennis, Running, Weight Training, Basketball, Frisbee, Volleyball, Learning New Languages, Traveling, Movies

P

Do Park, M.D.

Home Town: Seoul, South Korea
Undergraduate School:University of Colorado - Denver
Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine
Career Interests: Cardiology
Personal Interests: Outreach to Non-English Speaking Patients, Cooking, Playing Fingerstyle/electric Guitar, Spending Time with Fiance and Cat

Sanghoon Park, M.D.

Home Town: Seoul, South Korea; Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Undergraduate School: Swarthmore College
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Career Interests: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Cardiology
Personal Interests: Soccer, Running with Fiance, Cooking, Playing with Cat

Mausam Patel, M.D.

Home Town: Merritt Island, Florida
Undergraduate School: University of Miami
Medical School: University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
Career Interests: Cardiology, Gastroenterology
Personal Interests: Dancing, Indian Garba-Raas Team, Reading, Cooking, Indian-American Fusion, Sitcoms, Exercising

Marissa Peyer, M.D.

Home Town: Woodridge, Ilinois; Onalaska, Wisconsin
Undergraduate School: University of Pennsylvania
Medical School: University of Minnesota
Career Interests: Hospitalist, Infectious Diseases, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Medical Education
Personal Interests: Singing, Soccer, Tennis, Restaurant Exploration

Heather Postma, M.D., M.B.A.

Home Town: Dallas, Texas
Undergraduate School: University of Texas
Medical School: UT Southwestern Medical School
Career Interests: General Internal Medicine
Personal Interests: Cooking, Baking, Cycling, Skiing, Golf, Traveling, Volunteering, Backgammon, Gin Rummy, Listening to Podcasts

R

Kaitlin Reagan, M.D.

Home Town:
Undergraduate School:
Medical School: Wayne State University
Career Interests:
Personal Interests:

S

Claudia Saborit, M.D.

Home Town: Havana, Cuba; Miami, Florida
Undergraduate School: Cornell University
Medical School: University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
Career Interests: Gastroenterology
Personal Interests: Latin Dancing, Journaling, Writing Short Stories, Outdoors

Matthew Sawyer, M.D.

Home Town: San Angelo, Texas
Undergraduate School: Baylor University
Medical School: UT Health Science Center at Houston
Career Interests: Hematology/Oncology
Personal Interests: Pickleball, Soul Cycle, DIY Projects, Porch Hangs

Tejus Satish, M.D.

Home Town: Sugar Land, Texas
Undergraduate School: Rice University
Medical School: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Career Interests: Cardiology
Personal Interests: Amateur Radio (callsign K2TDZ), Hobby Electronics, Learning Piano and Guitar, Reading Science Fiction, History, and Philosophy

Sonali Srivastava, M.D.

Home Town: Brookfield, Wisconsin
Undergraduate School: Cornell University
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Career Interests: Gastroenterology
Personal Interests: Swimming, Chess, Debate, Biking, Cooking Indian Dishes

T

Lauren Taylor, M.D.

Home Town: Fremont, California
Undergraduate School: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine
Career Interests: Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Hematology/Oncology
Personal Interests: Hawaiian Dancing, Chinese Yo-yo, Crafting, Traveling, Cooking, Playing with her Dog and Going to Dog Parks, Yoga, Hiking, HIIT

Sanaa Tejani, M.D.

Home Town: Plano, Texas
Undergraduate School: University of Texas at Dallas
Medical School: UT Southwestern Medical School
Career Interests: Cardiology, Endocrinology
Personal Interests: Yoga, Discovering New Restaurants, Exploring Art Museums, Class Pass, Puzzles

Carlos Tovar, M.D., M.E.

Home Town: Houston, Texas
Undergraduate School: Texas A&M University
Medical School: McGovern Medical School at UT Health Science Center at Houston
Personal Interests: Drones, Cooking, Music, Soccer, Kickball, Racquetball, Pickleball, Spikeball, Reading about Technology, Science, and Interstellar Travel

V

Christopher Viamontes, M.D., M.A.

Home Town: Chicago, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri
Undergraduate School: Loyola University Chicago
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine
Career Interests: Cardiology, Hospital Medicine
Personal Interests: Chess, Notre Dame Athletics, Ballroom Dancing, Sabre Fencing

W

George Waldenmaier, M.D., MPHTM

Home Town: Onancock, Virginia
Undergraduate School: University of Virginia
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
Career Interests: Gastroenterology
Personal Interests: Aviation, Gardening, Traveling, Hiking, Reading, History, Scuba Diving, Guitar, Cooking, Fishing, Hunting

Isabel Wees, M.D.

Home Town: Fort Worth, Texas
Undergraduate School: University of Texas
Medical School: UT Southwestern Medical School
Career Interests: Gastroenterology/Hepatology
Personal Interests: Vegetarian Cooking, Hiking in National Parks, Traveling, Hot Sauce, Barre and Spin Classes, Reading, Thrift Shopping

Julianna West, M.D.

Home Town: Dallas, Texas
Undergraduate School: Texas Christian University
Medical School: McGovern Medical School at UT Health Science Center at Houston
Career Interests: Cardiology, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Personal Interests: Golf, Cooking, Sewing, Hiking in State and National Parks

Anna White, M.D.

Home Town: Cape Coral, Florida
Undergraduate School: Oakwood University
Medical School: University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Personal Interests: Playing the Piano and Flute, Cycling, Poetry, Reading, Writing, Listening to Poetry, Sewing, Cooking

Lexis Will, M.D.

Home Town: Evansville, Indiana
Undergraduate School: University of Southern Indiana
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Career Interests: Cardiology, Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine
Personal Interests: Horseback Riding, Traveling to National Parks, Hiking, Scuba Diving, Cooking, Baking