{"id":35108,"date":"2025-07-25T08:37:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T12:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/?page_id=35108"},"modified":"2025-08-07T09:08:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T13:08:53","slug":"residents-pgy2-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/obstetrics-and-gynecology-residency-program\/residents-pgy2-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Residents – PGY2"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Emilse<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Emilse Almanza, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown: <\/strong>Fairfield, CT
\nMedical School: <\/strong>University of Connecticut School of Medicine
\nResearch Interest: <\/strong>Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
\nWhy do you love UConn OB\/GYN? <\/strong>I love the specialty of OB\/GYN because it combines surgical skill with long-term patient care, supports women through life-changing moments, and allows me to advocate for reproductive health.
\nWhat hobby would you start if time and money weren\u2019t an issue? <\/strong>I love the beach and swimming. I hope one day to learn how to scuba dive!
\nWhat are some small things that make your day great? <\/strong>When I get to see my co-residents from my graduating class and free food Friday!
\nHow do you relax at the end of the day? <\/strong>I like to relax by drinking some tea and catching up with friends over the phone.
\nWhat languages do you speak? <\/strong>Spanish and English
\nFavorite thing about Connecticut? <\/strong>I love how Connecticut has four seasons and the close proximity to Boston and NYC!
\nFun fact about your family? <\/strong>My parents are both Peruvian, and I was born in Argentina. I have two younger brothers who I am very close with!
\nWhat is something that everyone should do at least once in their life? <\/strong>Everyone should travel solo at least once\u2014it challenges you and helps build confidence.
\nIf you had to give a 20-minute talk without any preparation, what would you discuss? <\/strong>I\u2019d talk about the power of choice in women\u2019s health\u2014how access to information, resources, and autonomy allows women to make informed decisions about their bodies, their care, and their futures. Empowering choice is key to achieving true health equity and well-being.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Lindsey<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Lindsey Hurley, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown: <\/strong>Chicago, IL
\nMedical School: <\/strong>Tufts School of Medicine
\nResearch Interest: <\/strong>Placenta accreta spectrum \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>
\nWhy do you love UConn OB\/GYN: <\/strong>This program is full of residents that inspire me every day to be a better doctor, educator, and patient advocate. We are privileged to serve a diverse patient population across three different hospitals. Each one offers unique learning opportunities resulting in a well-rounded training program. Not to mention Free Lunch Friday and Craft Night!
\nFavorite thing about Connecticut: <\/strong>Long walks at local trails, local breweries, exploring new restaurants; proximity to Boston and NYC
\nWhat are some small things that make your day great? <\/strong>Team Starbucks runs at Hartford Hospital.
\nHow do you relax at the end of the day? <\/strong>Walk around the neighborhood with my husband and our two dogs, and the occasional Peloton class when I am feeling really motivated
\nWhat is something that everyone should do at least once in their life? <\/strong>Get a dog, scratch that... get two! It\u2019s chaotic, but in a good way (not unlike OB\/GYN!)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Haddijatou<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Haddijatou Jallow, M.D., Preferred Name: Haddija<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Hometown: <\/strong>The Gambia
\nMedical School: <\/strong>New York Medical College
\nResearch Interest: <\/strong>Global health, health care in low-resource areas, maternal morbidity, and mortality
\nWhy do you love UConn OB\/GYN: <\/strong>The diversity of the residents and faculty. I also love the fact that there is a variety of rotations, and we get to experience working with different faculty in multiple OB\/GYN specialties at different sites. I also really love to have had the opportunity to learn from the ICU team during the first year about how to take care of our sickest OB\/GYN patients.
\nFavorite thing about Connecticut: <\/strong>The beautiful fall foliage.
\nFun fact about your family? <\/strong>My two daughters look very much alike. I tell them they are twins born four years apart.
\nWhat hobby would you start if time and money weren\u2019t an issue? <\/strong>Travelling around the world to experience different places and cultures.
\nWhat are some small things that make your day great? <\/strong>Eating my three meals on time, spending some time with my family at the end of the day. It is such a beautiful feeling to have my 2-year-old hug me and say \u201cmommy\u201d when I come home from a long day at the hospital.
\nWhat languages do you speak? <\/strong>Fulani (my ethnic language), Wolof (everyone speaks\/ understands this language in the Gambia), French (which was the second language I learned in school), and, of course, English.
\nHow do you relax at the end of the day? <\/strong>Watch a Senegalese show with my husband.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Shrisha<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Shrisha Maskey, M.D.<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Sydney<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Sydney Miller, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown: <\/strong>Ashland, MA
\nMedical School: <\/strong>Quinnipiac University
\nResearch Interest: <\/strong>Health disparities
\nWhy do you love UConn OB\/GYN? <\/strong>I love my fellow co-residents and our patient population!
\nWhat hobby would you start if time and money weren\u2019t an issue? <\/strong>Skiing & traveling.
\nWhat are some small things that make your day great? <\/strong>Fun drinks from Panera\/Starbucks, and running into my friends from medical school who also came to UConn Residency in other programs.
\nHow do you relax at the end of the day? <\/strong>A glass of wine and watching a show on Peacock.
\nWhat languages do you speak? <\/strong>English, some Spanish, and learning ASL.
\nFavorite thing about Connecticut? <\/strong>I love how close I am to my family\/friends, having all 4 seasons, the proximity to NYC and Boston and how progressive\/liberal the state is.
\nFun fact about your family? <\/strong>My brother and I are the only \u201ckids\u201d in the family - not a single cousin! (I have 5 uncles combined on both sides.)
\nWhat is something that everyone should do at least once in their life? <\/strong>Travel abroad and live alone.
\nIf you had to give a 20-minute talk without any preparation, what would you discuss? <\/strong>Why Boston is the best sports city in the U.S.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Rachel<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Rachel Moody, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown:<\/strong> Richmond, RI
\nMedical School:<\/strong> Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
\nResearch Interest:<\/strong> Gynecologic surgery
\nWhy do you love UConn OB\/GYN?:<\/strong> There are so many reasons! I love that this is a large program with 40 residents and three clinical sites, which allows us to have such a wide variety of cases, patient populations, and different teams to work with. We get such a broad range of experiences and plenty of opportunities to see complex clinical cases. Plus, my co-residents and attendings are wonderful to work with and learn from!
\nWhat hobby would you start if time and money weren\u2019t an issue?<\/strong>\u00a0I would learn how to play guitar
\nWhat are some small things that make your day great?<\/strong> Getting a perfectly made iced coffee, having a fresh manicure, and free lunch Friday
\nHow do you relax at the end of the day?<\/strong> Going on a long walk with my fianc\u00e9e, cuddling with my cat, and watching The Bachelor!
\nIf you had to give a 20-minute talk without any preparation, what would you discuss?<\/strong> The best ways to fancify boxed mac and cheese<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Kelly<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Kelly Rios, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown: <\/strong>Stratford, CT
\nMedical School:<\/strong> University of Connecticut
\nWhy do you love UConn OB\/GYN?<\/strong> Not only do we serve a wide variety of patients, but we also learn from and work with attendings and staff from so many different walks of life!
\nWhat hobby would you start if time and money weren\u2019t an issue?<\/strong> I would learn to ski!
\nHow do you relax at the end of the day?<\/strong> A workout, an episode, a chapter, and\/or a sweet treat (the combination of which depends heavily on the current rotation!)
\nFavorite thing about Connecticut?<\/strong> Aside from the UConn Huskies, I love that there is something fun to do here in every season! My favorite is the fall since it\u2019s all about enjoying the changing leaves, whether that\u2019s through hiking, during apple picking, or while indulging in some apple cider donuts!
\nFun fact about your family?<\/strong> I am an Auntie to two sets of twin girls, and they\u2019re six months apart in age!
\nWhat is something that everyone should do at least once in their life?<\/strong> Try a food you think you would hate! Mine was oysters. Even though I still don\u2019t get the hype, I\u2019m glad I can at least have an opinion about them (especially as a born and bred New Englander).
\nIf you had to give a 20-minute talk without any preparation, what would you discuss?<\/strong> \u201cWhat to Look for in a Rental Property (and How to Bargain for the Price It\u2019s Actually Worth)\u201d because in true millennial fashion, I rented for over 10 years and am now passionate about the quality of windows and door locks.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Erika<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Erika Rodriguez, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown:<\/strong> Stamford, CT
\nMedical School:<\/strong> Boston University
\nResearch Interest:<\/strong> improving representation in research and making fertility care more accessible
\nWhy do you love UConn OB\/GYN?<\/strong> My co-residents. Even though it's cheesy, they really make the long work hours pass so much more quickly. Also, so unbelievably fun getting to learn and operate with your friends!
\nWhat hobby would you start if time and money weren\u2019t an issue?<\/strong> I would be a professional chef or baker
\nWhat are some small things that make your day great?<\/strong>\u00a0Coffee runs and getting treats with co-residents
\nHow do you relax at the end of the day?<\/strong> Enjoying TV series, cooking, and baking
\nFavorite thing about Connecticut:<\/strong> 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.
\nIf you had to give a 20-minute talk without any preparation what would you discuss?<\/strong> I would 100% discuss beekeeping. I started keeping bees several years ago. Unfortunately, they did not make the move to Connecticut 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.
\nWhat hobby would you start if time and money weren\u2019t an issue?<\/strong> 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.
\nWhat are some small things that make your day great?<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Jeannine<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Jeannine Whelan, M.D.<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Karley<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Karley Whelan Fitch, M.D.<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Emilse Almanza, M.D. Hometown: Fairfield, CT Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine Research Interest: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Why do you love UConn OB\/GYN? I love the specialty of OB\/GYN because it combines surgical skill with long-term patient care, supports women through life-changing moments, and allows me to advocate for reproductive health. What […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":119,"featured_media":0,"parent":2491,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-01 00:32:44","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35108"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/119"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35108"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35369,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35108\/revisions\/35369"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}