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
Anjana Abraham, D.O.
Birthplace/Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Undergraduate School: University of South Florida
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: I love spending time with family and friends. I also hope to continue traveling as much as I can. However, I still love exploring what Connecticut has to offer!
Academic Interests: Primary care, medical education, public health, endocrinology.
Ginikachukwu Agudosi, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Eastern Nigeria, Washington, D.C Metro Area (DMV)
Undergraduate School: Marymount University, Graduate School: Bowie State University
Medical School: Trinity School of Medicine, St. Vincent and the Grenadines/Warner Robins, GA
Hobbies/Interests: Outside of medicine, I enjoy cooking, working out, fashion designing, dancing, watching movies and shows, and spending quality time with my family and friends
Academic Interests: My professional interests include hospitalist, pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Urgent care, medical aesthetics, and community health promotion.
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
Aparna Arigala, D.O.
Birthplace/Hometown: Cary, North Carolina
Undergraduate School: North Carolina State University
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with friends and family, exploring different cultures and cuisines
Academic Interests: Primary Care.
Grant Backer, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Undergraduate School: University of Michigan
Medical School: Michigan State College of Human Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Soccer, tennis, skiing, hiking
Academic Interests: Hematology/Oncology.
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
Beatrice Carpo, D.O.
Birthplace/Hometown: Manila, Philippines/Hartford, Connecticut
Undergraduate School: Boston University
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury
Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, dining out, spending time with family and friends, film photography, arts and crafts
Academic Interests: Pulmonology & Critical Care.
Megan Carugati, D.O.
Birthplace/Hometown: Denton, Texas
Undergraduate School: Texas A&M University
Medical School: Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Trail hiking/running, sailing, yoga and trying out new restaurants
Academic Interests: Women’s Health, Healthcare Policy, 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
Muhammad Kamal, M.B.B.S.
Birthplace/Hometown: Okara, Pakistan/Lahore, Pakistan
Undergraduate School: Government College University, Pakistan
Medical School: Shalamar Medical and Dental College
Hobbies/Interests: Outside of medicine, I love engaging in sports, particularly soccer, cricket and swimming. I have a keen interest in theater and I cherish quality time with my friends and family. Academic Interests: Professionally, I am interested in Cardiology, Gastroenterology and Hospital Medicine. I am passionate about improving human health and very excited to begin my medical training here at UConn!
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
Abdul Khuram, D.O.
Birthplace/Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan / Fairfax, Virginia
Undergraduate School: The George Washington University
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Virginia Campus
Hobbies/Interests: Snowboarding, playing cricket, cars
Academic Interests: Gastroenterology, Outpatient Medicine.
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
Steven Ripley, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Duxbury, Massachusetts
Undergraduate School: Northeastern University
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Exercise, playing guitar, learning Spanish, and cooking
Academic Interests: Primary care, Hospital Medicine, Endocrinology.
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
Sabika Sherwani, D.O.
Birthplace/Hometown: West Hartford, Connecticut
Undergraduate School: University of Connecticut
Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies/interests: Cooking, Baking, True Crime, Thriller movies and books, Jigsaw puzzles, Fitness, Painting, Listening to music, Being outdoors
Academic Interests: Hospital Medicine, Health Disparities/Equity, Geriatrics, Medical Education.
Vallabh Shet, M.B.B.S.
Birthplace/Hometown: Bangalore, India
Undergraduate School: N/A
Medical School: Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute
Hobbies/Interests: In my free time, I love listening to metal and composing progressive rock. I also enjoy laid-back sunny days with dogs, friends, and good food.
Academic Interests: While everything about internal medicine excites me, I am currently drawn to hematology/oncology. Additionally, I’m interested in hospital medicine, primary care, and preventive medicine. I am eager to explore all of this and more during residency. I look forward to growing both professionally and personally at UConn!
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
Vivek Sreepathi, D.O.
Birthplace/Hometown: Warner Robins, Georgia
Undergraduate School: University of Georgia
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: I like to spend my free time going on hikes! I also like to play tennis and I used to fence, which I hope to pick up again soon
Academic Interests: I'm interested in infectious diseases, epidemiology, global health, and health disparities particularly in under-represented populations.
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
Coleman Swaim, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: Manhattan Kansas
Undergraduate School: James Madison University
Medical School: Quinnipiac University
Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, cooking, spending time with my wife and kid
Academic Interests: Pulmonology/Critical Care, POCUS, Hospital Medicine.
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
Reshma Thomas, D.O.
Birthplace/Hometown: Union, New Jersey
Undergraduate School: Rutgers University
Medical School: Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Cycling, cooking, reading
Academic Interests: Primary care, Geriatrics, Rheumatology, Endocrinology.
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
Maria Urrutia, M.D.
Birthplace/Hometown: General Juan Madariaga, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Undergraduate School: N/A
Medical School: Universidad del Salvador Facultad de Medicina and Universidad de Buenos Aires
Hobbies/Interests: I love singing, playing guitar, theater, and going to musicals. I am dog person at heart and I love being my daughter, Lara’s, mother
Academic Interests: Endocrinology, inpatient diabetes management, clinical research, and new technologies in diabetes management/treatment.
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
Sarah Williamson, D.O.
Birthplace/Hometown: Warren, Rhode Island
Undergraduate School: Vanderbilt University
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Baking, Musical Theatre, visiting National Parks
Academic Interests: Hospital Medicine, Cardiology, Women in Medicine.
Rameesha Zubair, M.B.B.S.
Birthplace/Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
Medical School: Nishtar Medical College
Academic Interests: Rheumatology
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