Ngozi Anaemejeh, M.D.
Hometown: Union, NJ
Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Research Interest: Global Health.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: I love the diversity of learning experiences across the 3 major hospitals we rotate at. The people are supportive and willing to teach. I love the patient population, so much learning!
Favorite thing about Connecticut: I'm still exploring but it is a pretty quiet city, has wonderful views, and easy proximity to major cities.
What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue? Perfume making.
What are some small things that make your day great? Praying and reading scriptures before starting my day, having a good breakfast before work.
How do you relax at the end of the day? I enjoy exercising so you can find me at the gym, walking or going for a run at the end of the day. Talking with friends and family. I also love solo date nights.
What languages do you speak? English, Yoruba.
If you had to give a 20 minute talk without any preparation what would you discuss? Global health and the need to create sustainable global health connections and partnerships with under-served countries.
Elliana Gianacopoulos, M.D.
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Medical School: Jacobs School of Medicine at the University at Buffalo.
Research Interest: Mental health, trauma-informed care, health equity, and addiction.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: #1 reason is absolutely getting to do residency with my best friends!! There’s been wonderful support from my co-residents and teammates since day one. We work hard and get amazing experience managing complex patients in multiple settings.
Favorite thing about Connecticut: All of the green! There’s great food and beautiful places to walk. I love being close to New York and my family, while also having a peaceful and beautiful place to call home.
What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue? I’d love to write and make music!
What are some small things that make your day great? Coffee, sunshine, yoga and mindfulness, hugs from my best friends and co-residents.
How do you relax at the end of the day? Get cozy at home with candles, music, and almost always connect with friends/family on FaceTime.
Audrey Hla, M.D.
Hometown: Avon, CT; but also NYC and Wellesley, MA
Medical School: Quinnipiac University
Research Interest: Gynecologic surgery, family planning, medical education.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: Definitely my co-residents! From the start everyone was so welcoming, caring, and a joy to be around. Having friends for co-workers makes the hard work we do even more enjoyable and fun!
Favorite thing about Connecticut: The easy access to nature!
Fun fact about your family? I come from a family of foodies and excellent home cooks – we love coming together to cook and eat delicious meals. On our family vacations, we often cook more than going out to restaurants and can often be found planning our next meal during our current meal.
What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue? I would expand my hobby of traveling!
What are some small things that make your day great? Singing to music on my drive into the hospital, spending time outdoors, treating myself to a special drink or snack, finding time to exercise!
How do you relax at the end of the day? Cooking, spending time with my partner, yoga, watching my favorite shows.
Madison Kasoff, M.D.
Hometown: Orange County, CA
Medical School: New York Medical College
Research Interest: Urogynecology, Medical Education, and Implicit Bias in Medicine.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: Everyone at UConn has been supportive since day 1. I feel like everyone (attendings, co-residents, PAs, nurses, etc.) is so dedicated to my learning experience and feels responsible for helping me become a wonderful physician and surgeon.
Favorite thing about Connecticut: It really feels like the kind of place you want to live in. Everything you could need is right here - parks, hiking, farmers markets, breweries, access to the beach (and Target).
What are some small things that make your day great? A nice cup of cold brew or seeing one of the therapy dogs at the hospital.
What languages do you speak? Conversational Hebrew and Spanish.
How do you relax at the end of the day? Facetiming with my dogs back in California.
What is something that everyone should do at least once in their life? Spend a day alone exploring a new city or take yourself out on a date in your own city.
Sruthi Muluk, M.D.
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh
Research Interest: Cost of health care, access to care.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: You learn so much here every day, attendings and seniors are happy to teach you! We get to see so many different types of patients and practice models between the three hospitals. And most importantly, my co-residents are all so awesome.
Favorite thing about Connecticut: I haven't experienced it yet but I'm excited for the fall leaves! Also, I love how close it is to big cities while still not being too overwhelming.
What are some small things that make your day great? Calling my family on the drive home after a long day.
What languages do you speak? English, Telugu and a little bit of Spanish (enough to understand patients but sadly not to have a conversation).
How do you relax at the end of the day? Crocheting while I watch the latest TV show I'm binge-watching.
Olatoyosi Olafuyi, M.D.
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Medical School: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Research Interest: Pain Management in Obstetrics, High Risk Pregnancies.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: The amazing patients we get to take care of and doing residency with my best friends.
Favorite thing about Connecticut: Four seasons, outdoorsy activities to do on downtime, and the proximity to NYC and Boston.
Fun fact about your family? "Ola" is a family name; all my siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles on my father's side have "Ola" somewhere in their names. It means wealth in Yoruba.
What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue? Makeup! I love putting on makeup and trying different techniques and styles. I would have a full face every day if I could.
What are some small things that make your day great? Special moments with patients, spending time with family and friends, laughing, long walks with beautiful days.
How do you relax at the end of the day? Listen to audiobooks, watch reality TV, go on long walks, and hang out with my fiancée.
Dolapo Olawunmi, M.D.
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Medical School: University at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Research Interest: Health Disparities, Infectious Disease
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: The people, the diverse patient population, my co-residents, and getting to do residency with my best friends! I love how supportive and friendly everyone is and how truly invested everyone has been in teaching.
Favorite thing about Connecticut: How close CT is to so many different places. The nature, wineries, and closeness to major cities like NYC and Boston. There are countless things to explore!
What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue? Traveling to different countries and learning about different cultures and history!
What are some small things that make your day great? My morning tea, a good playlist on Spotify, and speaking to my family and friends!
How do you relax at the end of the day? Lighting some candles and enjoying some snacks while watching my favorite throwback/reality TV shows.
Lauren Robertson, M.D.
Hometown: Wilson, NC
Medical School: East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine
Research Interest: In medical school, my research interest surrounded postpartum care and Pitocin dosage in labor induction. I still feel really passionate about postpartum care however, I am looking for my residency research project. I am working on a few QI projects surrounding pain control for clinic procedures and resources for our antepartum patients that have long hospital stays.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: I am sure most of my co-residents will say the people because the people are the best! That is what really stuck out during my interview and has exceeded my expectations. Moving from NC, I was nervous about feeling homesick; however, my co-residents, faculty and staff made the move so easy! For my birthday, one of my coresidents, Rosie, made sure I had the most amazing yellow cake and chocolate icing cupcakes - just like my mom makes every year. And our birthday queen, Nilli, brought party hats and a card. That is just one example of how much we support and care for each other. An added bonus is the amazing L&D nurses. We have so much fun with them. As the new intern they really made me feel supported.
Favorite thing about Connecticut: Location, location location. I love living in a state with so much to offer but also being close to so many amazing New England adventures. When your time off is limited, it is important to be 15 minutes away from a day of kayaking, hiking, Costco or 45 minutes away from the beach.
If you had to give a 20-minute talk without any preparation what would you discuss? I would 100% discuss beekeeping. I started keeping bees several years ago. Unfortunately, they did not make the move to CT with me. I am obsessed with how honeybee colonies function and what beekeepers do to encourage or discourage their natural tendencies. My favorite book on honeybee behaviors is The Honeybee Democracy by Thomas Seeley. We have a lot to learn from the way honeybees make decisions as a hive.
What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue? I want to have the most amazing garden; however, I think it would slowly evolve into a farm. I have always been a balcony gardener. When/if I have the time and money, I would love to plant my outdoor plants outdoors. Ideally, I would have a vegetable garden and a flower garden. A few chickens are also on my list. Obviously, I would also have beehives everywhere.
What are some small things that make your day great? Small things are so important in residency! Here is my list: the greeting from security at the Hartford doors, running into co-resident on other services in the elevator headed to sign out, when the nurses do a Starbucks run, finishing a book, handing the patients their new baby after a c-section, text from my grandma with updates about the stray cats she feeds, walks with my dogs…
Donique Thorpe, M.D.
Hometown: Bethel, CT/Jamaica, West Indies
Medical School: New York Medical College
Research Interest: Maternal Mortality and Morbidity, Genitourinary cancers, Breast Diseases.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: I love the camaraderie among residents and attendings. They are all willing to teach and a display good sense of humor. Most importantly, I desired to serve a patient population in need, and I am grateful to work with the community of Hartford, CT.
Favorite thing about Connecticut: The proximity to family and friends!
What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue? Collect/buy and restore antique tools/appliances/equipment.
What are some small things that make your day great? My morning coffee!
What is something that everyone should do at least once in their life? The very thing you’ve always dreamed of and believe in yourself!
Tonya Tucker, M.D.
Hometown: Newtown, CT
Medical School: University of Connecticut
Research Interest: Improving pregnancy outcomes, family planning.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: How supportive everyone is! We are one big team all working to provide excellent care for a diverse patient population while helping each other learn along the way.
Favorite thing about Connecticut: So many good food options, variety of things to do, close to family and friends.
Fun fact about your family? I have 3 younger sisters and we were all born within a 5 year period.
What are some small things that make your day great? A delicious meal and a surprise cup of coffee during a long shift.
How do you relax at the end of the day? Wrapped in a nice blanket, watching Modern Family, and enjoying a chocolate chip cookie.
If you had to give a 20 minute talk without any preparation what would you discuss? The best skin care routine!