PGY4

Alexandria Plant, M.D.

Alex was born and raised in Swoyersville, PA. She completed her undergraduate studies at Boston College, where she majored in Biology and also competed on their division 1 cross country and track and field teams. She completed medical school at UConn School of Medicine, where she concomitantly also obtained a Certificate in Social Determinants of Health and Disparities through UConn’s Graduate School. After medical school, she was excited to stay at UConn Health for her Internal Medicine Residency. Alex is also very enthusiastic to continue her post-graduate training in Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine at UConn Health. Alex’s interests include academic medicine/teaching, critical care, obstructive lung disease, COVID-19 sequelae, and pulmonary infections. Outside of medicine, she enjoys traveling, long distance running, spending quality time with loved ones, and baking.

Ali Tahir, D.O.

Ali was born and raised in New Jersey (central NJ, which exists). He completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University - New Brunswick in Supply Chain Management and went to medical school at Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine. After that he did his Internal Medicine training at St. Luke’s University Health Network in Pennsylvania. Ali’s medicine interests include point-of-care ultrasound, post-intensive care syndrome, pulmonary vascular diseases and bridging the gaps between business, technology, and healthcare. In his free time, Ali enjoys traveling, sports (mainly basketball), hiking, and spending time with friends and family.

Michelle Zur, D.O.

Michelle was born in New York to an immigrant family. Early in her life, she traveled and experienced different countries and cultures including Russia and Israel. Her mixed background taught her to connect to universal languages such as math and science and thus early on she chose a pre-medical career in college. She attended St. John’s University in Queens and received a bachelor of science in Toxicology. Before attending medical school, she also pursued a masters of science in Toxicology where her thesis focused on mechanisms of injury and compromised immune response in ventilator associated pneumonia. This research initially sparked her interest in pulmonary and critical care medicine. She continued to successfully graduate from Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine where she got the opportunity to experience a different part of the country and develop an interest in medical education. She completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Connecticut along with a chief year that grew her devotion to medical education. At UConn, she attained excellent medical training and along the way built strong personal and professional relationships that cultivated into pursing a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at UConn! Although early in her PCCM career, her professional interests include pulmonary vascular medicine and bedside POCUS. Outside of medicine, Michelle’s interests include yoga, kayaking, skiing, art, and finding new restaurants to try in the area.

PGY5

Pruthwy Addanki, M.B.B.S.

I was born in Hyderabad, India but grew up in Botswana and did most of my schooling there. I then went to medical school in Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, India. During medical school, I was part of the soccer and dance teams. I subsequently completed my internal medicine residency at UConn. My academic interests include bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, and interventional pulmonology. I'm a huge cinema buff and enjoy exploring new cities.

Hnin Oo, M.B.B.S.

Hnin was born in Myanmar and moved to Jamaica at the age of 10. She entered medical school as the top matriculant at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Jamaica and completed her Internal Medicine residency at Hackensack University/Englewood Hospital and Medical Center Program in New Jersey. She then opted to work as a hospitalist/nocturnist at Hartford Hospital prior to pursuing her love for pulmonary critical care medicine. Current areas of interest include point-of-care ultrasound, obstructive lung disease, and sleep medicine. In her free time, she enjoys singing, escape rooms, and casually playing pickleball and golf.

Angela Quental, M.D.

Angela was born and raised in Newington, Connecticut. She completed her undergraduate studies at Fairfield University, completing a double major in Biology and English Literature & Cultural studies; she also minored in creative writing with a focus in fiction and creative nonfiction. Following undergraduate, she participated in research in cellular neurophysiology prior to completing medical school at the University of Connecticut. She subsequently completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Connecticut. Angela’s professional interests include sepsis, asthma, COPD, academic medicine, and physician and trainee well-being. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games, designing costumes, crafting, trying new foods, and spending time with family and friends.

PGY6

Joseph Bahgat, M.D.

Joe was born and raised in Cheshire, Connecticut. He completed his undergraduate studies at Quinnipiac University, CT. After finishing medical school, he completed his Internal Medicine residency at Stamford Hospital, where he served as a chief resident. Joe’s interests include academic medicine, critical care and interventional pulmonology. In his free time, he enjoys traveling (has been to over 20 countries), playing the piano, playing sports, and spending time with his friends and family. He is a big New England Patriots fan.

Garrett Fiscus, D.O.

Garrett was born and raised in Russell, Pennsylvania. He completed his undergraduate at Penn State University, completing a double major in Biology and Biochemistry. While at Penn State, he was a member on the Men’s soccer team. Following undergraduate, he spent time as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s soccer team. He completed medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA and subsequently completed his Internal Medicine residency at UConn. Garrett’s academic interests include academic medicine, pulmonary hypertension, and interventional pulmonology. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, playing soccer, exploring new restaurants or cooking.

Sruti Velamakanni, M.D.

Although Connecticut has been my home for the last five years, I am originally from a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. Following my father's love of his career at 3M, I majored in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota and worked with a team that created composite dental crowns. After college I accepted a career-defining position as a research assistant on a project that studied cryptococcal meningitis in Kampala, Uganda. My time on the wards of Mulago Hospital in Uganda inspired me to pursue medicine and work with the underserved. From the first day I stepped foot on the UConn Health campus in Farmington for my residency interview, everyone's warmth and commitment to their patients was overwhelming. Throughout my three years of residency, I found excellent mentorship in the section of PCCM among both the faculty and fellows. When it came time to apply for fellowship, I had no desire to train elsewhere. While I have just begun my fellowship at UConn, I am interested in pulmonary infections and have recently completed a project on latent TB. When I'm not at the hospital, you'll most likely find me dining in West Hartford, cruising on my peloton, or catching up on cringe-worth reality TV shows with my Mini Goldendoodle.