Madison Buchman, D.O.
Hometown: Marietta, GA Medical School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine Research interest: Family Planning and Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery! Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: UConn OB/GYN stood out to me most because of the friendly, team work oriented nature of the program. I love how supportive both the residents are of each other and the attendings are of the residents. Everyone is incredibly welcoming and willing to teach and help at any time, it truly makes for both a great learning and work environment and makes me really proud to be a part of this program. Favorite thing about Connecticut: I love how close we are to so many different places to venture in New England. We are just a short drive from NYC, Boston, Rhode Island, the CT coastline, Vermont. So much beautiful nature surrounding us and places to venture to! Always new cool places to explore! Favorite show: GIRLS on HBO, I have been known to be a doppelganger of Shoshana. If you know, you know. Skills or talents that most people don't know about: I can name every Duggar child from 19 kids and counting in order and all of their children. I can't say they inspired me to do OB/GYN, but I also can't say that they didn't. Fad or trend do you hope comes back: The blow up furniture from Limited Too, the 90's were the best of times let’s do it again.
Louisa Drake, D.O
Hometown: Riverside, CT
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Research Interest: Postpartum depression
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: I love UConn because of the people! There is a very strong sense of camaraderie among the residents, which was important to me. In addition, the program faculty are friendly and supportive. The program also offers excellent training because we work at three different hospitals and treat diverse patient populations.
Favorite thing about Connecticut: Connecticut has many beautiful places to hike and enjoy the outdoors, but is also not far from major cities like New York and Boston. The state has a good balance of urban and rural areas throughout it.
Something that everyone should do at least once: Go sky diving
Most interesting place you’ve been: Japan
What book impacted you the most? Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
Britton Gibson, M.D.
Hometown: Flat Rock, MI Medical School: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University; MPH from Yale School of Public Health Research Interest: HIV/STIs, PrEP for HIV prevention, Justice-involved women Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: The people! My co-residents and attendings absolutely make this experience so enjoyable and my patients daily remind me why I chose this field. Favorite thing about Connecticut: You can have it all- the shoreline and beaches, hiking and mountains, easy access to NYC and Boston, and some absolutely amazing restaurants, wineries, and breweries! Hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue: I would make sparkling wine and have a beautiful vineyard with amazing mountain views Languages you speak: Only English fluently, but am conversational in Spanish and Bahasa Malaysia and we speak toddler-level Tamil at home! Something that everyone should do at least once in their life: One of the most incredible things I have ever done in my life is cage diving with great white sharks and I feel like everyone should do it.
Lucille (Luci) Howard, M.D
Hometown: Clutier, Iowa Medical School: University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine Research Interest: Sex worker health, reproductive health policy Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: I love learning in a space where everyone involved in patient care is passionate about respecting and celebrating the strengths of the patients we serve. Favorite thing about Connecticut: Easy access to hiking trails, beach and plenty of ice cream! Fun fact: While neither of my parents attended college, my two younger sisters and I all have professional degrees. Hobbies: Exploring breweries - I count myself especially lucky to find one with kombucha on tap! What are some small things that make your day great? The gorgeous landscape during the drive to the hospital and local farmers’ markets. What are you passionate about at work? Patients feeling seen, heard, and valued as individuals while we support them in making informed choices about their reproductive and sexual health.
Audrey Marinelli, M.D
Hometown: Columbia, CT
Medical School: University of Illinois – Chicago
Research Interest: Family Planning
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: My co-interns, the family planning curriculum and exposure to the subspecialties, and the faculty
Favorite thing about Connecticut: Harkness Memorial Park, Farmington River Trail
Fun fact: We just adopted our first puppy, Ella. She’s an energetic 1 year old Wheaten Terrier.
Hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue: I would get my pilot’s license!
Small things that make your day great: My morning coffee, fun socks and shoes, playing with my dog
Chioma Ogbejesi, M.D.
Hometown: West Haven, CT
Medical School: Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Research Interest: Transplant and Gynecologic/Obstetrics
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: The people! Everyone is soooo supportive and willing to teach. They really aim to encourage a safe learning space for anyone to learn
Favorite thing about Connecticut: UConn Huskies
Fun fact: I have a pretty large extended family, a total of 12 aunts and uncles plus they all are like G4P4 or more so you can imagine how many cousins there are. Nigerians know how to procreate, lol
Hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue: Traveling, cooking, cosmetology
Small things that make your day great: Talking with my family and friends, reading Scriptures before starting my day
Something that everyone should do at least once: Explore a new city
Korey Onulack, M.D.
Hometown: Hamburg, PA Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine Research Interest: Oncology and Addiction in Pregnancy Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: I am surrounded by the most supportive and passionate co-residents, faculty, and attending physicians that truly foster my personal growth and prove their investment in furthering the field of OB/GYN through training and educating residents every single day! I am pleasantly surprised more often than not by how passionate and patient the people I get to work with each day are. Favorite thing about Connecticut: Experiencing all four seasons and the endless hiking opportunities! Hobbies: Running, cooking, adopting other residents’ pets as my own. What is special about the place that you grew up? I grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania and at our peak we had 50 cats that lived on our property. It was quite the childhood experience to say the least! What are you passionate about at work? I’m most passionate about supporting women and their families through some of the largest milestones in their lives. Many times it’s one of the patient’s best days but often times it’s something more serious, socially complex, and takes a good amount of listening and patience to build a relationship of trust and support for patients who are experiencing a loss or major life or personal health change. I find that at the end of long days these experiences stick with me the most and remind me why I chose to pursue a career in OB/GYN. My work with patients who experience the stigma of managing addiction also fuels a passion to show my patients that they are respected and that I actively emphasize the partnership that I promise to provide moving forward in their care and struggle with substance use.
Dillon Paulo, M.D.
Hometown: Valdosta, GA Medical School: Mercer University Research Interest: MFM, LGBTQ+, HIV Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: I love UConn OB/GYN for many reasons! I have loved getting to know my fellow interns this year. The faculty is also so welcoming and make you feel at home from the start. My fellow residents are also great! They are always available to help in any way I needed throughout intern year so far. Favorite thing about Connecticut: The weather! It’s not as hot here in Connecticut as it is back in Georgia, but I have also not experienced a winter here yet so I may need to change my favorite thing about Connecticut after surviving the winter here. I also enjoy the landscape of CT. It has provided some great hiking trails! Hobbies: Traveling, hiking, concerts, and music festivals Best way to start the day? A big cup of coffee and doing a full Beyonce performance while getting ready for the day. Favorite show: Schitt’s Creek is by far my current favorite TV show to binge watch. Moira Rose is an icon!
Natali Senocak, M.D.
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkey Medical School: Quinnipiac Research Interest: Family Planning Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: Oh my gosh! SO many reasons! First – I cannot convey how much I love my co-residents. Everyone is so smart, hardworking, and fun. I feel more supported and cared for then I could have imagined. I also love that we get such a wide breadth of experience – the three hospitals are different, and serve different populations, which has been really satisfying to learn from and experience. Favorite thing about Connecticut: Lots of great hikes, good breweries, fun bike rides – also so many parts of the state have such different identities that it is continually fun to explore! Hobbies: I love hiking/backpacking! I also rock climb. Additionally, I’m a big arts and crafts person, particularly watercolors and painting! Small things that make your day great: Seeing anyone of my co-interns in the hospital instantly elevates my day! Even though we’ve all known each other for a little over a month, there is such instant warmth and comradery! Languages you speak: English, Turkish, and French If you had to give a 20 minute talk without any preparation what would you discuss? It would probably be about reproductive rights and all the ways that legislation in the past several years have chipped away at those rights in a variety of different ways – and along with that how important it is for physicians to be politically involved and aware of legislation (both local and state) that affects their patients.
Rosanne (Rose) Zandvliet, D.O.
Hometown: The Netherlands
Medical School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Research Interest: International Women’s Health
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: Everyone is welcoming, fun, patient, and kind.
Favorite thing about Connecticut: The beautiful seasons!
Fun fact: My brother and I grew up moving around the world, I’ve lived on 4 continents and in 7 countries!
Small things that make your day great: Seeing my amazing co-residents at work, being outdoors, and cooking good food.
Languages you speak: Dutch is my first language, but I also speak French, Spanish and German!
How do you relax at the end of the day? A glass of wine, a cooking show on TV, and quality cat time.
What is something that everyone should do at least once in their life? Travel the world!
If you had to give a 20 minute talk without any preparation what would you discuss? An in depth commentary on why pineapple belongs on pizza.