PGY2

Dr. Nadav Mortman was born and raised in Sharon, Connecticut. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Boston College. Nadav then completed his Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University School of Medicine. He came back to Connecticut to attend the University of Connecticut School of Medicine where he earned his medical degree. Following his medical education, he completed his internship as a transitional year resident at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, NY. Nadav’s hobbies and interests include skiing, running and playing the piano.

Dr. Keerthana Sharma Anand was born and raised in Bangalore, India. She obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) degree from Bangalore Medical College, India. In 2022, Keerthana then moved to Connecticut, where she completed her PGY1 and PGY2 residency years, including her preliminary year with the UConn Internal Medicine program. Keerthana’s hobbies include reading, watching tennis (ardent fan of Rafa Nadal), traveling to tennis tournaments, and being close to nature. She loves cats, wildlife, and nature conservation. Keerthana plays a musical instrument called the Veena. She also wrote a novel called ‘The Keriyads’ when she was 13, it is a work of historical fiction.

PGY3

Dr. Kevin Haines was born and raised here in Connecticut just outside Hartford. He attended the University of Connecticut where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Biology. Kevin then lived in Ghana working for an NGO to provide primary care access to developing communities in conjunction with the national and regional healthcare sectors. Kevin attended medical school at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, ME. He completed PGY1 and 2 in General Surgery at the New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital in Park Slope. Now he has returned home.

Kevin pursues a number of hobbies with the support of his SO, including cooking, Kintsugi, golf, New Yorker crossword puzzles, and searching for Costco deals.

Dr. Racquel Helsing was born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Physiology and Neurobiology at the University of Connecticut. She then attended the University of Connecticut School of Medicine where she earned her medical degree. Following her medical education, she completed her internship as a transitional year resident at Eastern Connecticut Health Network in Manchester, CT.

In her free time, she enjoys all things outdoors including kayaking, hiking, biking, and playing in the park with her miniature dachshund Benjamin. She also enjoys cooking, curating charcuterie boards, and collecting vintage vinyl records.

PGY4

Dr. Caleb Busch was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended the University of Kansas where he studied exercise physiology and then medicine. During medical school, he spent one year in Osaka, Japan pursuing a research fellowship at the Osaka University School of Medicine. After graduating, Caleb completed a surgical internship at Riverside Community Hospital in Southern California and his first year of radiology residency at Emory University, where he was part of the integrated informatics track, before joining University of Connecticut.

In his free time, Caleb enjoys hiking, reading, writing, computer programming, and playing the violin. He also enjoys expanding his knowledge of foreign language and culture.

Dr. Sarah LaPierre was born and raised in Great Falls, Montana. She attended Carroll College in Helena, MT where she studied not only biology and biochemistry but also literature. She continued her training as a member of the Montana class of the University of Washington School of Medicine - WWAMI program. After graduating, Dr LaPierre stayed at the University of Washington in Seattle for a surgical internship prior to moving east. Her academic interests include procedural radiology and palliative medicine.

In Sarah’s free time outside of the hospital, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, cross-country skiing, reading, and aspiring to raise a successful garden.

Dr. Joseph Ryan was born and raised in Shrewsbury, MA. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He then spent two years working full-time as an EMT in Lawrence, MA and part-time doing biomedical research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Joe then went on to attend the University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine and Graduate School, where he earned his M.D. as well as his Ph.D. in Biomedical Science, studying cancer immunotherapy under the mentorship of Adam Adler, Ph.D. and Anthony Vella, Ph.D. After graduating, Dr. Ryan completed his internship at the Eastern Connecticut Health Network’s Transitional Year Residency Program in Manchester, CT.

In his free time, Joe enjoys cycling, skiing, hiking, racquet sports, traveling, car repairs and other mechanical pursuits. He also enjoys spending time with his wife Julia, son Daniel, and the rest of his family and friends.

PGY5

Dr. David Baltrusaitis hails from the great dairy state of Wisconsin, from which stems his great love for the Green Bay Packers and cheese. He studied bioinformatics at Loyola University Chicago, and attended medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin. David completed his preliminary year in general surgery at The Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati and a PGY2 year of general surgery, right here with us at the University of Connecticut.

During his free time, David enjoys spending time outside hiking, developing his skills as a photographer, reading and playing computer games. He also loves spending time with friends, family, and his church community.

Dr. Paola Tabaro Pico was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She did her undergrad studies at the University of the Sacred Heart where she completed a major of Biology with a minor in Psychology. Paola also has a Master’s Degree in Medical Sciences from Ponce Health Sciences University prior to starting medical school. She graduated from Ponce Health Sciences School of Medicine and did her intern year in Northwell, John T. Mather Hospital in Long Island NY.

Paola enjoys going to the gym, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys going to the beach, running, and hiking.

Recent Fellowships Achieved by Our Residents 

Our residents have obtained exceptional fellowship positions at premiere training programs throughout the country in a variety of subspecialties