Residents - PGY1 | Graduate Medical Education

Grace Cromwell, D.O.

Hometown: York, ME
Medical School: UNE COM
Research Interest: Not sure yet!
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN: The large scope of practice and experiences we get across 3 hospitals and 40 residents!
What are some small things that make your day great? A quick hug or pat on the back from a co-resident, a sincere thank you from a patient, learning a new quick tip to make exams/life smoother.
How do you relax at the end of the day? Tend to my plants and cook dinner with my husband.
What languages do you speak? English and the smallest amount of high school French.
Favorite thing about Connecticut? All the wildlife! There are bears in my neighborhood.
Fun fact about your family? My sister, grandmother, and I all share the same birthday.
What is something that everyone should do at least once in their life? Travel to another country and eat the food native to that place.
If you had to give a 20-minute talk without any preparation, what would you discuss? Gardening, I learned it from my mother as a child and continue to grow vegetables every summer.

Avni Jain, M.D.

Hometown: Farmington, CT and New Delhi, India
Medical School: University of Connecticut
Research Interest: Global Health, Simulation, Education.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN? Exposure to everything, clinical training that leaves no gaps, and a community I can't imagine leaving.
What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue? Carpentry .
What are some small things that make your day great? When our cat doesn't stand on my face at 3am. When my favorite teams win.
How do you relax at the end of the day? Sunset walk around the neighborhood.
What languages do you speak: English (99%), Spanish (50%), Hindi (30%).
Favorite thing about Connecticut? UConn Women's Basketball.
Fun fact about your family? Mom's side is from Kisumu, Kenya.
What is something that everyone should do at least once in their life? Go to a professional football match in Europe.
If you had to give a 20-minute talk without any preparation, what would you discuss? Chai, how to make it and its cultural significance.

Shivanki Juneja, M.D.

Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Research Interest: Reproductive Ethics, Nutrition, Health Disparities, Medical Education, Oncofertility.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN? The people! I could not have dreamed of a more supportive environment to train in.
What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue? Travel Photography/Videography.
What are some small things that make your day great? My Nespresso Machine, My Emotional Support Water Bottle, and My afternoon Diet Coke.
How do you relax at the end of the day? Watching reality TV and walking around Blue Back Square.
What languages do you speak? English, but always working on my Spanish.
Favorite thing about Connecticut? All the nature!
Fun fact about your family? Growing up in Houston, we take food recommendations seriously and routinely look up the menu and pick our entrees before we get to the restaurant.
What is something that everyone should do at least once in their life? Move somewhere completely new, even if it’s just for a little while.
If you had to give a 20-minute talk without any preparation, what would you discuss? Probably an unnecessarily detailed analysis of Vanderpump Rules and why I believe it is actually a masterclass in friendship, conflict resolution, and terrible decision-making.

Trevor Lyford, M.D., M.P.H.

Hometown: LaGrange, ME
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Research Interest: Maternal and reproductive health policy; health services and outcomes research; healthcare access and disparities in obstetrics and gynecology.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN? It's so important to enjoy the people you learn with and learn from. UConn has some amazing people both in the residency and beyond. The emphasis on early, hands-on learning is also a huge plus!
What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue? If I had unlimited time and money, I would buy season tickets to the Bruins and the Celtics and go to as many games with my family as I could! Or I would get better at golf!
What are some small things that make your day great? A nice, cold, caffeinated beverage in the mid-morning and a grape Uncrustable at any point, for any reason.
How do you relax at the end of the day? Bath time with my son and reading Curious George together.
What languages do you speak: English.
Favorite thing about Connecticut? So far, it is getting back to the New England seasons and being closer to family.
Fun fact about your family? My wife is also an OBGYN!
What is something that everyone should do at least once in their life? Everyone should train for and finish something they once thought they couldn’t do. For me, that was a marathon.
If you had to give a 20-minute talk without any preparation, what would you discuss? Probably an unnecessary amount of The Office trivia and why it’s the most rewatchable show ever made.

Zoe Paige, D.O.

Hometown: West Pawlet, VT
Medical School: University of New England
Research Interest: Reproductive healthcare access in rural areas, Gynecologic malignancies.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN? I love the variety that comes from learning at each of the three hospitals and the attendings who are eager to support our career goals and research interests. Most of all, I love my co-residents! They are some of the most supportive people I have met and push me to become better doctor and more confident every day.
What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue? I would have a farm and open a farm-to-table restaurant!
What are some small things that make your day great? A good coffee, sunny weather, laughing with my co-residents and coming home to see my fiancé Alex and two cats Goose and Georgie!
How do you relax at the end of the day? Going on a long run outside or going for a bike ride with my fiancé, making dinner, and having movie nights.
Favorite thing about Connecticut? How easy it is to get everywhere! I love being within a few hours of the beach, mountains, and family.
Fun fact about your family? My parents ran a bagel store in Arizona for many years
What is something that everyone should do at least once in their life? Go to New Zealand! It was the most beautiful place I have ever been with the most amazing hiking.
If you had to give a 20-minute talk without any preparation, what would you discuss? Everything you need to know about backyard chickens and how to build a predator-proof chicken coop!

Sarah Pogge, M.D.

Hometown: Hopewell Junction, NY
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Research Interest: Exercise in pregnancy, family planning.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN? Co-residents that make you feel supported from day 1!!!
What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue? Have a garden and harvest all my own food and flowers.
What are some small things that make your day great? My morning egg bites at sign out 🙂 And watching the sunrise during postpartum rounds!
How do you relax at the end of the day? A home cooked meal and FaceTime with my people.
What languages do you speak: English.
Favorite thing about Connecticut? Elizabeth Park rose garden.
Fun fact about your family? My dad is 6’5 and my mom is 5’0 and I am exactly in between.
What is something that everyone should do at least once in their life? Visit Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
If you had to give a 20-minute talk without any preparation, what would you discuss? How anyone can go from couch to Marathoner.

Jeyrie Ramos Aponte, D.O.

Hometown: Mayaguez, PR
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Research Interest: Maternal health disparities and improving outcomes for underserved populations.
Why do you love UConn OB/GYN? I love the people and the supportive environment. I feel like I’m surrounded by people who genuinely want me to learn, grow, and succeed. I also love the variety of patients we care for and the breadth of clinical and surgical training.
What hobby would you start if time and money weren’t an issue? Traveling the world and hiking different national parks.
What are some small things that make your day great? A really good iced coffee, Diet Coke, getting outside when the weather is nice.
How do you relax at the end of the day? Usually by getting comfy on the couch and watching reality TV.
What languages do you speak? English and Spanish.
Favorite thing about Connecticut? I love that you can get a little bit of everything: cute New England towns, hiking, great food, and easy access to both the coast and bigger cities.
Fun fact about your family? My great grandmother was the first woman to ever serve as mayor in Puerto Rico.
What is something that everyone should do at least once in their life? Walk the Camino de Santiago.
If you had to give a 20-minute talk without any preparation, what would you discuss? Probably why everyone should visit Puerto Rico, complete with where to go, what beaches to visit, what food to eat.

Graduate Medical Education

Residents – PGY1