Mowa Ayibiowu, M.D.

She/Her

I grew up in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, where my love for medicine was born. My dad, a Family Doctor, became my inspiration as I watched him live out his motto: treat the patient, not just the disease. My interest in medicine led me to Ireland, where I studied at University College Dublin. Living and studying in Europe opened my eyes to different cultures and beliefs and gave me the opportunity to experience a variety of healthcare systems.

I completed clinical rotations in Canada, Europe, and the U.S., and through these experiences, I discovered a deep passion for Family Medicine. During my rotations, I realized that the most difficult part of caring for patients was not making the diagnosis, but the uncertainty of not knowing how their journey would unfold after I left each service. I soon found that Family Medicine fills this gap. It offers the privilege of continuity, allowing me to walk alongside patients, not just during acute events, but throughout their recovery and over the course of their lives. I want to be the kind of physician who stands with a patient from the day they experience their first stroke to the day they are walking their granddaughter to school again. Family Medicine allows me to do exactly that: to treat the patient, not just their disease.

After interviewing with the University of Connecticut Family Medicine Residency program, I knew this was where I was meant to be. The residents and faculty were so kind and welcoming. I look forward to bringing my own experiences and enthusiasm to the program.

Rachael Cella, M.D.

She/Her

Hi everyone! I was born and raised in Rocky Hill, just outside of Hartford, Connecticut, where I spent my entire childhood. I then went on to study biology at Boston College as a first-generation college student, where I explored my passion for both science and medicine.

During college and after graduation, I spent time exploring the medical field by working as an EMT, providing care at events including the Boston Marathon, and as a medical assistant and scribe at a dermatology practice, where I learned how much I value building relationships with patients, listening to their stories, and being part of their lives beyond a single visit.

I returned home to attend UConn School of Medicine. Throughout my clinical training, I found myself most fulfilled when building longitudinal relationships with patients over time, advocating for those who may not always feel heard, and considering how factors outside the clinic impact health and well-being. Family medicine felt like the natural fit, as it allowed me to care for patients across all stages of life while staying rooted in the community.

Outside of my clinical rotations, I dedicated time to mental health research and community outreach. Most notably, I worked as a volunteer crisis counselor and developed the UConnect program, a telephone-based peer support program aimed at reducing loneliness, social isolation, and depression among older adults. These experiences all reinforced my belief that caring for patients extends far beyond medical treatment alone.

In my free time, I enjoy reading (mostly psychological thrillers and non-fiction books), working out, trying new restaurants with family and friends, crocheting, and spending time with my two cats.

I am incredibly grateful to continue my training at UConn, to work alongside people who are passionate about the same things as me, and to give back to the community that helped shape me.

Lokesh Ethuri, M.D.

He/Him

Haley Hammen, D.O.

She/Her

I was born and raised on the Connecticut Shoreline. My love for medicine, and family medicine, started in high school when I shadowed a family medicine physician. She knew all of her patients so well, and I thought, “This is how I want to practice medicine one day.”

My family are huge Penn Staters, so it was only natural for me to pursue my undergraduate education at Penn State. I majored in Biobehavioral Health, which was a combination of biology, psychology, and public health. This major prepared me well for training in family medicine, as I developed a passion for thinking about “the whole person” and social determinants of health early on in my education. During my undergraduate years, I also developed a passion for addiction medicine. After graduating, I completed research in opioid use disorder treatment which further fueled my passion for addiction medicine. I then attended medical school at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine on Long Island, NY. Through leadership positions, research, and advocacy, I continued exploring my strong interest in addiction medicine during medical school. I noticed during my clinical rotations how much primary care and addiction medicine overlap, and how training in family medicine will allow me to approach substance use disorders with a comprehensive, multi-factorial approach. My goal is to pursue an addiction medicine fellowship after residency. I also have interests in lifestyle medicine, health promotion and education, and preventative care.

I am so happy to be coming home to Connecticut to complete my residency training and serve a community that means so much to me. During my 4th year sub-internship with the UConn Family Medicine Residency Program, I felt the supportive and inclusive nature of the program while learning so much from faculty and residents and knew I wanted to be a part of this team!

Outside of medicine, I love being at the beach, paddle boarding, boating, playing pickleball, watching Penn State football, and spending time with my family and friends.

Jia Li, D.O.

She/Her

I was born in southern China and came to the USA at a young age in pursuit of a better education. Since then, I grew up in southeastern CT and graduated from CCSU with a B.S. in human biology and minors in chemistry and psychiatry.

During my undergraduate years, I was fortunate enough to work alongside numerous UConn physicians as a medical scribe, two of whom later inspired me to pursue my own medical journey at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine.

While rotating through the many interesting specialties in my 3rd year of medical school, I was always drawn back to how unique family medicine is — the long-lasting connections, the wide variety of patients, the many in-office procedures, and of course, the thrill of often being the first investigator, which makes working in family medicine so different and rewarding. As one of my mentors has said, “You can see anything and everything in family medicine; there is no limit.” Building on this passion, I looked forward to the next phase of my education.

After graduating from UNECOM, I am excited to return to UConn, where my medical journey first took flight, and work alongside our many dedicated physicians. My desire to serve is especially focused on pediatrics, women's health, and community medicine, with emphasis on underserved and immigrant populations. This passion has shaped both my clinical aspirations and community involvement.

In my free time, you might find me tutoring English/Math/Science at local libraries, running at the gym, painting landscapes at a park, exploring local festivals, or laughing over a good K-drama with family.

Vivian Li, D.O.

She/Her

I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and spent a majority of my life trying to visit as many coffee shops as I could in the city. I went to undergrad at UMass Boston, where I obtained two Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Psychology. I pursued my master’s degree in biomedical sciences at Tufts, before moving to upstate NY to attend Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition to being the fourth physician in my family, I also had a unique experience growing up in a “holistic” health family with an acupuncturist dad who used herbal medicine for all my ailments. I wanted to pursue an education that would encompass both the traditional allopathic pathway with alternative medical training, which led me to pursue an osteopathic education. Through my experiences working at community health centers and with unhoused patients through Healthcare for the Homeless, I had always known I was passionate about advocacy and working with underserved patients. Being in family medicine allows me to expand my interests in integrative medicine, long-term continuity of care, and establishing meaningful connections with a diverse patient population. Outside of the clinic and hospital, I am a full-time artist, and can be found sketching, painting, crocheting, and embroidering. I am incredibly honored to be a resident at UConn and to serve the residents of Connecticut.

Fangxu "Tiger" Lu D.O.

He/Him

I was born in Beijing, raised in Harbin, and moved to the U.S. at age 10. After moving around, I’ve had the privilege of calling New Haven home since high school. I completed my B.S. in biology with a minor in chemistry at Brandeis University, then spent two gap years working in a primary care clinic throughout the pandemic and coaching soccer—from middle school to adult teams—in Boston.

At Touro College Of Medicine in Middletown, NY, I served as a teaching assistant for histology and OMM, and as secretary of the Sports Medicine Club. Outside of the classroom during medical school, I played semi-professional soccer for 2 years, competing alongside and against players like Christian Fuchs, a 2014 English Premier League champion with Leicester FC.

I’m passionate about Sports Medicine, OMM, and Obesity Medicine.

Outside of medicine, I play most ball sports - especially soccer and squash - and enjoy making music, singing, and the occasional video game or TV show.