Categorical
Nour Abdallah, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Lebanon
Undergraduate School: Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ)
Medical School: Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ)
Hobbies & Interests: Fitness, Piano, Travel, Cooking
Academic Interests: Hematology/Oncology, Artificial Intelligence Research, Medical Education
Nour Aboumatar, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Ellicott City, MD
Undergraduate School: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Medical School: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Hobbies & Interests: Cooking and Baking
Academic Interests: Hospitalist or Primary Care
Karim Al Annan, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Undergraduate School: Lebanese American University
Medical School: LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Soccer, Basketball, Swimming, Karaoke, Travel, History, Psychology and True Crime Documentaries
Academic Interests: Gastroenterology, Advanced Endoscopy, Health Disparities, Medical Education
Rukmoni Balasubramanian, M.B.B.S.
Hometown/Birthplace: Chennai, India
Medical School: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
Hobbies & Interests: Reading fantasy and Sci-Fi, writing, traveling
Academic Interests: Hematology/Oncology, Gastroenterology
Shriya Bavishi, M.B.B.S.
Birthplace/Hometown: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Medical School: B.J. Medical College
Hobbies & Interests: Quizzes, Board Games, Puzzles, Exploring Historic Places and Cuisine, Dancing
Academic Interests: Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Women in Medicine
Karmen Brar, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Windsor, Canada
Undergraduate School: University of Toronto
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Traveling, Fitness, Reading, Binge-Watching TV Shows
Academic Interests: Cardiology, Endocrinology, Health Disparities
Mercedes Cardenas Ona M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Lima, Peru
Medical School: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Hobbies & Interests: Surfing, Running, Nature
Academic Interests: Global Health, Medical Education, Sports Medicine and Gastroenterology
Adail Dsouza, M.B.B.S.
Birthplace/Hometown: Mangalore, India
Medical School: Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore
Hobbies & Interests: Passionate about music and singing, cooking and baking, fashion and Vogue, yoga, swimming and badminton
Academic Interests: Cardiology, Women’s Health, Academic Medicine, Global Health, and Health Equity
Youssof Eshac, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Alexandria, Egypt
Medical School: Alexandria University Faculty of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Soccer, Swimming, Sports Science, Filmmaking
Academic Interests: Cardiology, Sports Cardiology, Interventional Medicine
Yara Hamadah, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Irbid, Jordan
Medical School: Jordan University of Science and Technology
Hobbies & Interests: Sports in general
Christopher Hanna, D.O.
Hometown/Birthplace: Manchester, CT
Undergraduate School: University of Connecticut
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Scouting NFL Draft prospects, cooking, hot yoga, pickleball, playing just about any other sport, traveling
Academic Interests: Hematology/Oncology, Medical Education, Gastroenterology, Rheumatology
Eduardo Dan Itaya, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
Undergraduate School: Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina
Medical School: Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina
Hobbies & Interests: Soccer, handball, tennis, traveling, board games, movies
Academic Interests: Cardiology, Academic Medicine
Ajay Jani, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Westminster, Maryland
Undergraduate School: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests Cooking, Model Building, Computer Science and Technology, Formula 1, Anime
Academic Interests: Gastroenterology, Primary Care, Hospitalist, Medical Education, Medical Technology
Hira Khan, M.B.B.S.
Hometown/Birthplace: Lahore, Pakistan
Medical School: Aga Khan University Medical College
Hobbies & Interests: Baking, watching Formula 1, gardening, spending time with family and friends
Academic Interests: Gastroenterology, Medical Education
Kalika Maheshwari, M.B.B.S.
Hometown/Birthplace: New Delhi, India
Medical School: Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), India
Hobbies & Interests: Dancing, Reading Fiction, Cycling, Traveling, and Experimenting with Coffee Recipes!
Academic Interests: Cardiology and Gastroenterology
Jamie Maignan, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Springfield, Massachusetts
Undergraduate School: University of Florida
Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Basketball, football, karaoke, piano, video games, DC/Marvel, anime, spending time with family and friends, Game of Thrones, foodie
Academic Interests: Sports Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Pulmonology
Atherai Maran, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Undergraduate School: McMaster University
Medical School: St. George's University
Hobbies & Interests: I enjoy being creative! I especially love art and music, spending my free time sketching or singing with my guitar. Also, I love to cook and bake! I love hosting dinner parties to share my homemade treats with my friends.
Academic Interests: My research interests focus on clinical nutrition, obesity, and cardiometabolic disease
Caroline McCauley, D.O.
Hometown/Birthplace: Easton, CT
Undergraduate School: Lafayette College
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine-Seton Hill
Hobbies & Interests: Needlepoint, swimming, walking my dog, board games, going to the beach, spending time with friends and family
Academic Interests: Hematology/Oncology, Endocrinology, Academic Medicine
Lukas McNaboe, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Burlington, CT
Undergraduate School: University of Connecticut
Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Cycling, music, cooking, throwing tennis balls to my dog
Academic Interests: Infectious Diseases, Pulmonology, Addiction Medicine, Quality Improvement
Ursula Medeiros Araujo de Matos, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Medical School: Universidade Federal Fluminense
Hobbies & Interests: Hiking, spending time in nature, reading good books, practicing yoga, and exercising
Academic Interests: Hematology/Oncology
Myles Melamed, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Undergraduate School: University of Ottawa
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Strategy games, sports, gym, hiking, skiing, guitar/piano
Academic Interests: Medical Education, Pulmonology and Nephrology
Renato Melendez, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Guatemala
Undergraduate School: Universidad Francisco Marroquín
Medical School: Universidad Francisco Marroquín, School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Racing and customizing RC cars, watching soccer games, and spending time with my wife and daughter
Academic Interests: Infectious Diseases, Critical Care, and Medical Education
Beatriz “Mella” Soares Pessoa, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Manaus, Amazonas/Brazil
Medical School: Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM)
Hobbies & Interests: I enjoy reading poetry books, playing board games, baking cookies, making charcuterie boards
Academic Interests: Hematology/Oncology, Rheumatology
Craig Mendonca, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Shrewsbury, MA
Undergraduate School: University of Connecticut
Medical School: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Hobbies & Interests: Playing fetch with my dog, micro farming, hiking, skiing, and grilling with my family
Academic Interests: Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, Rural Health, and Medical Education
Daniel Namazi M.D
Hometown/Birthplace: Tamuning, Guam/ Lund, Sweden
Undergraduate School: Linfield University
Medical School: Poznan University of Medical Sciences
Hobbies & Interests: Cooking, playing the guitar, Spending time outdoors, traveling, try new cuisines
Academic Interests: Gastroenterology Specialty, and Teaching
Hannah Neizer, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Undergraduate School: University of Guelph
Medical School: St. George's University
Hobbies & Interests: Any activity that gets me outside (from hiking to patios), binge-watching TV shows, discovering new music and artists, and all things food-related
Academic Interests: Health Equity, Pulmonary/Critical Care, Clinical Research, Medical Education, Knowledge Translation
Anusha Parisapogu, M.B.B.S.
Birthplace/Hometown: Guntur, India
Medical School: Guntur Medical College
Hobbies & Interests: I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, cooking, savoring coffee, watching sunrises and sunsets and engaging in meaningful conversations
Academic Interests: Cardiology, Hematology/Oncology, Health Equity, and Clinical Research
Alisa Pasichnik, D.O.
Hometown/Birthplace: Kharkiv, Ukraine
Undergraduate School: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
Medical School: Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies & Interests Reading, traveling, snuggling my cats, spending time with family and friends
Academic Interests: Pulmonary Critical Care, Hematology/Oncology, or Hospitalist
Vishal Patel, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Undergraduate School: McMaster University
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Basketball, Cooking, Hiking, Farming
Academic Interests: Hematology, Oncology, Cardiology, Gastroenterology
Anjali Rajagopal, M.B.B.S.
Birthplace/Hometown: Chennai, India
Medical School: Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Chennai
Hobbies & Interests: Portrait painting (watercolor, oil, charcoal), acoustic guitar, karaoke, reading (historical fiction, philosophy, nonfiction), hiking, water sports, raising lop bunnies, living outside my comfort zone!
Academic Interests: Gastroenterology, Hospital Medicine, Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Medical Humanities and Narrative Medicine
Mai Salem, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Haymarket, VA; Alexandria, Egypt
Undergraduate School: University of Maryland
Medical School: Medical University of the Americas
Hobbies & Interests: Hiking, snowboarding, swimming, baking, traveling, languages
Academic Interests: Rheumatology, Hematology/Oncology, Gastroenterology
Shruthi Satheesh Kumar, M.B.B.S.
Birthplace/Hometown: Coimbatore/India
Medical School: Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute
Hobbies & Interests: Running, yoga, skating, hiking, and filling my house with plants
Academic Interests: Health Equity, Human Factors Design
Kurt Scanameo, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Tallahassee, FL
Undergraduate School: Johns Hopkins University
Medical School: Ross University
Hobbies & Interests: Skiing, sports cars, fitness
Academic Interests: Cardiology, Critical Care
Lianna Schwartz, M.D., Ph.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: London, England
Undergraduate School: The New School
Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Hobbies & Interests: Playing with my toddler, activism, board games, cooking, embroidery
Academic Interests: Hospitalist Medicine and Molecular Biology
Cameron Scott, D.O.
Hometown/Birthplace: Hampden, ME
Undergraduate School: University of Southern Maine
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: All sports (especially basketball), fitness, camping, hiking, fiction writing and reading, cooking, movies
Academic Interests: Pulmonary Critical Care, Hospitalist, Academics and Teaching
Nicole Sequeira, M.B.B.S.
Hometown/Birthplace: Kuwait City, Kuwait/Mangalore, India
Medical School: Father Muller Medical College
Hobbies & Interests: Gardening, Baking, Yoga, Hiking, Reading
Academic Interests: Hematology/Oncology, Diversity in Clinical Trials, Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
Sukhmani Sidhu, M.B.B.S.
Hometown/Birthplace: Ludhiana/Amritsar
Undergraduate School: Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana
Medical School: Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana
Hobbies & Interests: Singing, dancing and everything music. A big fan of long walks in nature and spending time with family and friends. Love watching cricket.
Academic Interests: Hematology/Oncology, Gastroenterology, Academic Medicine
Anmol Singh, M.B.B.S.
Hometown/Birthplace: Chandigarh, India
Undergraduate School: St. Kabir Public School & Bhavan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh
Medical School: Government Medical College, Chandigarh
Hobbies & Interests: Tennis, Motorcyclist and Enthusiast, Guitar and Music, Travel and Nature Exploration, Photography, Playing Football and Supporting Chelsea F.C. and Driving Around With Friends
Academic Interests: Cardiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology, Teaching and Education
Prarthna Srivastava, M.B.B.S.
Hometown/Birthplace: Pune, India
Medical School: Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai, India
Hobbies & Interests: Photography, film-making, reading, painting, cooking, basketball and playing drums
Academic Interests: Medical Education, Health Policy and Equity, Hematology/Oncology, Gastroenterology Oncology
Karol Suchowiecki, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Birthplace: Ostroleka, Poland, Hometown: Stamford, CT
Undergraduate School: George Washington University
Medical School: George Washington University School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: I enjoy spending time outdoors whether that is fishing, hiking, or kayaking. When I can't be outdoors, I enjoy cooking new recipes and improving my homemade pizza-making skills!
Academic Interests: Gastroenterology, Microbiome, Liver Disease
Hagop Tashjian, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Yerevan, Armenia
Undergraduate School: Lebanese American University
Medical School: Lebanese American University School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: History, Video Games, Films and Filmmaking
Academic Interests: Hematology/Oncology, Hospital Medicine, Medical Education
Fabrizio Tropea, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Avon, CT
Undergraduate School: University of Connecticut
Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Piano, Hiking, Working Out
Academic Interests: Infectious Diseases
Nivedita Zakhar, M.B.B.S.
Benjamin Zuniga, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Santiago, Chile
Undergraduate School: Universidad de Chile
Medical School: Universidad de Chile
Hobbies & Interests: I am an amateur barista who enjoys reading non-fiction books. Living in a country with amazing landscapes (such as Torres del Paine and Patagonia) has sparked my interest in hiking. In the past, I also did rock climbing until I injured my shoulder.
Academic Interests: Cardiology, Research, Teaching
Preliminary
Nathan Leclair, M.D., Ph.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: New Britain, CT
Undergraduate School: University of Connecticut
Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Music, traveling, basketball, coffee making
Academic Interests: Oncology, Research in Basic and Translational Genetics
Patrick McMullan, M.D., Ph.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Easton, PA
Undergraduate School: Rochester Institute of Technology
Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Biking, hiking, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, spending time with my family
Academic Interests: Dermatology, Pathology, Rheumatology
Kelley Sharp, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Olathe, KS
Undergraduate School: The University of Kansas
Medical School: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Hobbies & Interests: I am a musician - I love to sing, play guitar, and write songs! I also enjoy hiking all of the wonderful trails Connecticut has to offer with my husband and hanging out with my French bulldog, Liberty!
Academic Interests: Dermatology, Population Health Research, and Medical Ethics
Rohin Thomas, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: South Windsor, CT
Undergraduate School: University of Connecticut
Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Weightlifting, Formula 1, NFL, Cooking, Legos
Academic Interests: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Rachel Wetstone, M.D., M.P.H.
Birthplace/Hometown: Longmeadow, MA
Undergraduate School: University of Miami
Medical School: Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Trader Joe's, Peloton, Reality TV shows, and spending time with my dog
Academic Interests: Women's Health, Dermatology, Public Health
Anesthesia Prelims
Olaoluwa Adebayo M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Medfield, MA
Undergraduate School: Wesleyan University
Medical School: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Hobbies & Interests: Weightlifting, painting, writing
Academic Interests: Critical Care and Cardiac Anesthesia
David Bachoy, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Detroit, MI
Undergraduate School: University of Connecticut
Medical School: University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Walking the dog, traveling, cooking, playing the drums
Academic Interests: Brain plasticity after stroke or tumor, consciousness, opioid alternatives, psilocybin treatment for PTSD and depression, impact of marijuana use on anesthesia
Emily Chu-Murphy, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Groton, MA
Undergraduate School: University of Connecticut
Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Running, Cycling, Baking, Sports
Academic Interests: Pediatric Anesthesiology, Medical Education
Diedre DeSouza, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Jamaica
Undergraduate School: Western University
Medical School: St. George's University
Hobbies & Interests: Traveling, hiking, weight lifting, cooking, beach volleyball, and survivalist challenges
Academic Interests: Cardiac Anesthesia and Global Outreach
William Duggan III, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Glastonbury CT
Undergraduate School: Trinity College
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Running, coaching track and field, Baseball, hiking, football, UConn men's and women's basketball
Academic Interests: Community Engagement, Reading New Research Articles, Helping Tutor Others
Daria Ivenitsky, D.O.
Birthplace/Hometown: South Salem, NY
Undergraduate School: Vassar College
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Pottery, tennis, gardening, running
Academic Interests: Obstetric Anesthesiology, Medical Education
Arnold Moore III, M.D., M.B.A.
Birthplace/Hometown: Killingworth, CT
Undergraduate School: Union College
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Hobbies & Interests: Hiking, cooking, bar trivia, and rooting for the Buffalo Bills
Academic Interests: Cardiac Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Bioethics
Geetha Nichanametla, M.D.
Daniel Walocha, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Oceanside, NY
Undergraduate School: Stony Brook University
Medical School: Downstate College of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Trying out new New York Times recipes, crocheting, biking, and hiking
Academic Interests: Acute and Chronic Pain Management
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Omar Alsheikh, D.O., M.P.H.
Birthplace/Hometown: Milford, MA
Undergraduate School: UMass Amherst
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Ping pong, chess, swimming, and spending time with my family and friends
Academic Interests: Pain Management and Spine Intervention
Hunter Chuchla D.O.
Birthplace/Hometown: Boca Raton, FL
Undergraduate School: University of Florida
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Bradenton
Hobbies & Interests: Hiking, mountain biking, walking my dogs to Elizabeth Park, volleyball, working out
Academic Interests: Sports/Spine and Musculoskeletal
Zoë Reinus, D.O.
Birthplace/Hometown: Westchester, NY
Undergraduate School: Lafayette College
Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Middletown, NY
Hobbies & Interests: Running and road racing (the half marathon is my ideal distance); horse-back riding; dogs; podcasts
Academic Interests: Medical Education, Role of Animals in Healing
Tommy To, M.D.
Neurology Prelims
Sumeyye Kus, M.D.
Mohamed Mansour, M.B.B.Ch.
Hometown/Birthplace: Egypt, El Monofiya
Medical School: Faculty of Medicine, Banha University
Hobbies & Interests: Soccer, reading, and watching anime
Academic Interests: Neurology
Christian Mouchati, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Undergraduate School: Lebanese University Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanon
Medical School: Lebanese University Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanon
Hobbies & Interests: Fitness, travel, reading, music, and breweries
Academic Interests: Neurology, Clinical Research, and Medical Education
Fatemeh Najmivarzaneh, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Tehran, Iran
Undergraduate School: Tehran Medical Sciences Azad University
Medical School: Tehran Medical Sciences Azad University
Hobbies & Interests: Traveling, swimming, bike riding, and playing with my daughter
Academic Interests: Movement Disorders, Neuroimmunology, Epilepsy
Diego Ojeda, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: Quito, Ecuador
Medical School: Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Hobbies & Interests: Playing soccer and reading
Academic Interests: Vascular Neurology and Neurointernventional Surgery
Rim Rafeh, M.D., M.S.
Hometown/Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Undergraduate School: American University of Beirut (AUB)
Medical School: American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine
Hobbies & Interests: Reading, writing, boxing, hiking
Academic Interests: General and Behavioral Neurology
Jadzia Wray, M.D.
Hometown/Birthplace: North Woodmere, NY
Undergraduate School: Hofstra University
Medical School: St. George's University
Hobbies & Interests: Singing and playing the piano, caring for my two cats, rock climbing, and zip lining
Academic Interests: Stroke Care, Neurorehabilitation