{"id":38862,"date":"2021-07-09T12:45:19","date_gmt":"2021-07-09T16:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/?page_id=38862"},"modified":"2026-07-15T17:26:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T21:26:28","slug":"residents-pgy1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/internal-medicine-residency-program\/residents-pgy1\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 IM Residents \u2013 PGY1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Categorical<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"No<\/div><\/div>

Rania Abdelaziz, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Cairo, Egypt
\nMedical School: Cairo University Faculty of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: I love traveling and exploring local bakeries. In my down time, I enjoy reading and listening to astronomy podcasts, Neil DeGrasse Tyson is my favorite
\nAcademic Interests: Hematology\/Oncology, Women in Medicine<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Mohamed A. Aboelatta, MBBCh<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Cairo, Egypt
\nUndergraduate School: Cairo University
\nMedical School: Cairo University Faculty of Medicine\/ Kasr El-Ainy
\nHobbies\/Interests: Boxing, soccer, MMA, running and all kinds of sports!
\nAcademic Interests: Medical Oncology, Cardio-oncology, Med-Ed, patient-outcomes-focused research<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Jason Acquaah, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Hometown: Milton Keynes, United Kingdom\/Birthplace: Accra, Ghana
\nUndergraduate School: University of Plymouth, School of Biomedical Sciences
\nMedical School: Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth
\nHobbies\/Interests: MMA, traveling, soccer and hiking with friends and family
\nAcademic Interests: Gastroenterology, Medical Education<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Lina Adil, MBBChBAO M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Barrie, Ontario, Canada
\nMedical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - RCSI
\nHobbies\/Interests: Travelling and exploring new foods, baking, going to the gym and spending time with my friends and family!
\nAcademic Interests: Cardiology, Medical devices\/technology, Women\u2019s Health, Medical Education<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Abdulla Alabed, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Riffa, Bahrain
\nUndergraduate School: East Riffa Secondary School
\nMedical School: Arabian Gulf University
\nHobbies\/Interests: Traveling, Horse Riding, Playing Soccer
\nAcademic Interests: My goal is to complete three years of Internal Medicine training and pursue a Cardiology fellowship afterward. I have a special interest in medical education and clinical research.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Mahmoud Almady, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Queens, NY
\nUndergraduate School: Binghamton University
\nMedical School: UCONN School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Tennis, soccer, video editing, filmography, movies
\nAcademic Interests: Cardiology, oncology, critical care<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Emenyo Apaloo, MBChB<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Accra, Ghana
\nUndergraduate School: University of Ghana Medical School
\nMedical School: University of Ghana Medical School
\nHobbies\/Interests: Reading, singing, dancing
\nAcademic Interests: Pulm\/Crit<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Andreas Bello, D.O.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: St. Louis, MO
\nUndergraduate School: University of Miami
\nMedical School: Nova Southeastern University KPCOM
\nHobbies\/Interests: I love video games. I\u2019m big into single player story mode games like Elden Ring and God of War to name a couple. I also love soccer. I\u2019ve played since I was in grade school. My favorite team is Chelsea. Fitness is also a huge hobby of mine. I love the gym and make it a priority for both my physical and mental wellness
\nAcademic Interests: Cardiology, Hem\/Onc<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Daniel Carrijo, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Goi\u00e2nia, Brazil
\nUndergraduate School: Ribeir\u00e3o Preto Medical School - University of S\u00e3o Paulo
\nMedical School: Ribeir\u00e3o Preto Medical School - University of S\u00e3o Paulo
\nHobbies\/Interests: Soccer, running, weightlifting, traveling
\nAcademic Interests: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Didjana Celkupa, D.O.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Birthplace: Durres, Albania\/Hometown: Rocky Hill, CT
\nUndergraduate School: Mount Holyoke College
\nMedical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Harlem
\nHobbies\/Interests: Trying new restaurants, Cooking new cuisines, Making the perfect cup of coffee
\nAcademic Interests: Cardiology - Interventional\/Heart Failure, GI, Pulm\/Crit Care<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Aditya Chandrashekar, M.B.B.S.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Mysore, India
\nMedical School: Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, India
\nHobbies\/Interests: Soccer, Anime, Racquet sports
\nAcademic Interests: Gastroenterology, Clinical Research<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Alexander Chiera, D.O.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Kingston, New York
\nUndergraduate School: University at Albany
\nMedical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Fitness, cars and automotive performance, Formula One, gardening, hiking, and being outdoors
\nAcademic Interests: Procedural and interventional medicine; interested in pursuing a fellowship in gastroenterology with a focus on advanced endoscopy<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Anthony J. Chillo, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY
\nUndergraduate School: SUNY Cortland
\nMedical School: SUNY Downstate
\nHobbies\/Interests: Outside of medicine, I enjoy recreational sports and strength training, and I\u2019m an avid sports fan. Over the past year, I\u2019ve developed a strong interest in home brewing, where I enjoy experimenting with different beer styles, ingredients, and fermentation techniques
\nAcademic Interests: I am interested in pursuing fellowship training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, with the goal of a career in academic medicine that integrates clinical care, medical education, and research<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Ana Diaz, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
\nUndergraduate School: PUCMM
\nMedical School: PUCMM
\nHobbies\/Interests: Reading, hiking, CrossFit, running, music
\nAcademic Interests: Research, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Grant Dorman, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Granby, Connecticut
\nUndergraduate School: University of Connecticut
\nMedical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Hiking, running, cars, soccer, golf
\nAcademic Interests: Gastroenterology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Lucia Duenas-Bianchi, M.D., MPH<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Birthplace: Arequipa, Peru\/Hometown: Glastonbury, CT
\nUndergraduate School: New York University
\nMedical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Violin, Fitness, Learning Languages, Puzzles, and spending time with Friends and Family, including my two dogs, Jax and Max
\nAcademic Interests: Lifestyle Medicine, Public Health, Chronic Disease Prevention, Gastroenterology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

David Dukenik, M.D., M.S.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Miami, Florida
\nUndergraduate School: University of Miami
\nMedical School: Nova Southeastern Dr. Kiran C. Patel School of Allopathic Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Vinyl Collecting, Hiking, Fishing, Running Marathons, Cycling
\nAcademic Interests: I hope to pursue a fellowship in gastroenterology or hematology\/oncology. I hope to integrate myself in an academic setting where I can collaborate in translational and clinical research, specifically in a holistic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of certain cancers, and in educating future generations, which I find rewarding and invaluable. I also hope to serve underserved communities both locally and abroad as an attending, helping extend access to high-quality care beyond traditional clinical settings<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Lucette El Bitar, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Lebanon
\nUndergraduate School: Lebanese American University
\nMedical School: Lebanese American University
\nHobbies\/Interests: Hiking, singing
\nAcademic Interests: 1- hematology oncology. 2- medical education. 3- public health\/healthcare management<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Priyansh Faldu, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: India
\nMedical School: BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad
\nHobbies\/Interests: I love picking up new skills. Recently, I\u2019ve been getting into sketching, street photography, and inline skating. I\u2019m also learning Arabic on the side
\nAcademic Interests: Hematology\/Oncology, Clinical Research, Academic Medicine<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Carolina Ferraz, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil
\nMedical School: Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Santo Amaro (UNISA)
\nHobbies\/Interests: Running, everything Harry Potter, dogs, documentaries
\nAcademic Interests: Medical Education, Hospital Medicine, Infectious Diseases<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Jose Fuentes, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
\nUndergraduate School: Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE)
\nMedical School: Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE)
\nHobbies\/Interests: Golf, Weightlifting, Chess, Catan, Stock Market and Financial Literacy, Vinyl Records, Manchester United (Soccer)
\nAcademic Interests: Cardiovascular and Academic Medicine<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Porter Galvin, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Harpswell, Maine
\nUndergraduate School: Ithaca College
\nMedical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Pilates, beach walks, reading and traveling
\nAcademic Interests: Pulmonary\/Critical Care, medical education<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Jenna Gannon, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Wallingford, Connecticut
\nUndergraduate School: University of Connecticut
\nMedical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Watching UConn men's and women's basketball, cooking, and going on walks with my dog, Daisy
\nAcademic Interests: Primary Care<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Omar<\/div><\/div>

Omar Ghanem, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Hometown: Jersey City, NJ
\nUndergraduate School: Cornell University
\nMedical School: New York Medical College
\nHobbies\/Interests: Tennis, Swimming, Weightlifting, Piano, Photography, Video Games
\nAcademic Interests: Gastroenterology\/Advanced Endoscopy<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Jessica Ike, M.B.B.S.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Lagos, Nigeria
\nUndergraduate School: University of Lagos
\nMedical School: University of Lagos
\nHobbies\/Interests: Dancing, singing, running, basketball, K-dramas
\nAcademic Interests: Hematology\/Oncology, Cardiology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Maria Katsetos, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Fairfield, CT
\nUndergraduate School: University of Connecticut
\nMedical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Cooking, baking, learning new languages, painting, and working on my food blog!
\nAcademic Interests: Endocrinology\/metabolism, geriatrics, clinical research, and ultrasound<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Gokul Krishnan, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: India
\nUndergraduate School: Kasturba Medical College Manipal
\nMedical School: Kasturba Medical College Manipal
\nHobbies\/Interests: Watching science fiction movies, exploring alternative medicine practices
\nAcademic Interests: Cardiology, Translational research<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Pedro Luiz Lage<\/strong> Bodour Danielian, MD, MPH<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Belo Horizonte, Brazil
\nMedical School: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
\nHobbies\/Interests: Coffee, cooking, soccer, movies, and spending time with my wife
\nAcademic Interests: Clinical research and Hematology\/Oncology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Lizzie Luckashvili, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Paget, Bermuda
\nMedical School: David Tvildiani Medical University
\nHobbies\/Interests: Piano, singing, Pilates, tennis, fitness, and spending time with family and friends
\nAcademic Interests: Internal Medicine, Hematology\/Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Medical Education<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Brigitte Maczaj, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Stony Brook, NY
\nUndergraduate School: Stony Brook University
\nMedical School: Renaissance School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: I like singing, mixed martial arts, any kind of dance, and spending time with my cat
\nAcademic Interests: Infectious Diseases (specifically tropical, zoonotic, fungal and autoimmune illnesses)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Riley Magane, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Wrentham, MA
\nUndergraduate School: Boston University
\nMedical School: UMass Chan Medical School
\nHobbies\/Interests: Running, reading, and cooking (especially homemade pizza!)
\nAcademic Interests: Preventive Medicine, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, Medical Education<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Pranay Marlecha, MBBS<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Bengaluru, India
\nMedical School: Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences
\nHobbies\/Interests: Wildlife Photography, Scuba, Surfing, Hiking and Sports\/F1
\nAcademic Interests: Academic Medicine, Cardiology\/Vascular Medicine, AI-Based Point-of-Care Diagnostics and Medical Technology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Priyanka Murthy, MBChB<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Shrewsbury, MA
\nUndergraduate School: University of Manchester
\nMedical School: University of Manchester
\nHobbies\/Interests: Travel, reading, swimming, baking, and recently padel!
\nAcademic Interests: Global Health, Clinical Research, Nephrology, Rheumatology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Rakan Nasereddin, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Amman, Jordan
\nUndergraduate School: University of Jordan
\nMedical School: University of Jordan Medical School
\nHobbies\/Interests: I enjoy soccer, making new friends, meaningful conversations, and challenging myself through new experiences that push me outside my comfort zone
\nAcademic Interests: I am interested in wellness, patient safety, mentorship and medical education. During residency, I hope to build a strong foundation in internal medicine, contribute to meaningful clinical research, and continue developing my skills in evidence-based ethical patient care. Long term, I hope to pursue a fellowship in gastroenterology and build a career that combines autonomy with complexity<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Benjamin Obringer, D.O.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Chagrin Falls, OH
\nUndergraduate School: The Ohio State University
\nMedical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Watching Cleveland sports, going to the cinema, hiking, camping, trying new coffee shops
\nAcademic Interests: Hospitalist Medicine, Gastroenterology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Niharika Paudel, D.O.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: West Hartford, CT
\nUndergraduate School: University of Connecticut
\nMedical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Outside of medicine, I enjoy weightlifting, long walks, baking, and watching psychological thrillers!
\nAcademic Interests: Hematology\/Oncology, Research<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Jason Peng, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Rockville, MD
\nUndergraduate School: University of Maryland - College Park
\nMedical School: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
\nHobbies\/Interests: Running, camping, fiction writing, portrait sketching
\nAcademic Interests: Cardiology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

C\u00e9sar Rubio Ramos, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
\nUndergraduate School: University of Puerto Rico Mayag\u00fcez
\nMedical School: University of Connecticut
\nHobbies\/Interests: Going to the gym, cooking, playing sports especially basketball and volleyball
\nAcademic Interests: Preventive Care, Health Equity\/Disparities, Medical Education<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Harris Richard, M.B.B.S.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Coimbatore, India
\nMedical School: Coimbatore Medical College
\nHobbies\/Interests: Aquariums and fishkeeping, Interior decoration, Karaoke
\nAcademic Interests: Outpatient Medicine, Endocrinology, Medical Education, Infectious disease and Global Health<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Nourhan Saleh, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Cairo, Egypt
\nUndergraduate School: Cairo University
\nMedical School: Cairo University School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Reading, binging TV shows, watching Formula 1, movies, and live music
\nAcademic Interests: Pulmonary and Critical Care, Cardiology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Anne Schlumprecht, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Offenburg, Germany
\nMedical School: Medical University of Vienna
\nHobbies\/Interests: Running, Sewing, Concerts
\nAcademic Interests: Critical Care Medicine & Health Disparities<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Deniz Seyithanoglu, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Izmir, Turkiye
\nUndergraduate School:\u00a0Manisa Celal Bayar University (6-year medical school)
\nMedical School: Manisa Celal Bayar University
\nHobbies\/Interests: Astronomy, playing the alto saxophone, travelling medieval towns, trivia, learning new languages
\nAcademic Interests: I have matched into the Internal Medicine-Geriatrics combined track. I hope to pursue a career in Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Rushin Shah, MBBS<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Ahmedabad, India
\nMedical School: Smt NHL Municipal Medical College
\nHobbies\/Interests: Running, Playing Cricket, squash or tennis, Watching Movies and TV series (mainly Indian Cinema), Recently have started watching American Football a lot, Going out with friends\/family and trying different bars and restaurants
\nAcademic Interests: Gastroenterology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Kriti Soni, M.B.B.S.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Chandigarh, India
\nUndergraduate School: Government Medical College
\nMedical School: Government Medical College and Hospital
\nHobbies\/Interests: National-level tennis player. Playing tennis and pickleball, Enjoy hosting house parties and social gatherings, spending quality time with family and friends, and being a Bollywood enthusiast
\nAcademic Interests: Interested in building a career in academic medicine with a focus on clinical research. Aspires to pursue fellowship training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology in the future<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Emily Stetkiewicz, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: East Longmeadow, MA
\nUndergraduate School: Bowdoin College
\nMedical School: St. George\u2019s University
\nHobbies\/Interests: Traveling, Exploring Nature, Swimming
\nAcademic Interests: Hospitalist Medicine, Community Medicine, Health Equity<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Christian Tallo, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Shelton, CT
\nUndergraduate School: North Carolina State University
\nMedical School: University of Connecticut
\nHobbies\/Interests: Gardening, Working Out, Reading, Caffeine, Anything and Everything Food
\nAcademic Interests: Gastroenterology, Medical Education, Healthcare Disparities<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Alvaro Taveras Franco, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: Santiago de Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
\nUndergraduate School: Pontificia Universidad Cat\u00f3lica Madre y Maestra
\nMedical School: Pontificia Universidad Cat\u00f3lica Madre y Maestra
\nHobbies\/Interests: Staying active (basketball, lifting), cooking (dominican sancocho is my best dish) and trying out restaurants!
\nAcademic Interests: Academic medicine, cardiology, heart failure, metabolism<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Jonathan Volpe, D.O.<\/h3>\n

Hometown\/Birthplace: East Greenwich, Rhode Island
\nUndergraduate School: Providence College
\nMedical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Alpine\/side-country skiing, mountain and road biking, cooking for friends and family, paddleboarding, strength training, triathlon races, automotive enthusiast, Formula 1
\nAcademic Interests: Gastroenterology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Preliminary<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"No<\/div><\/div>

Charles Abrams, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Easton, CT
\nUndergraduate School: UConn
\nMedical School: UConn
\nHobbies\/Interests: Dogs, Hiking, Powerlifting, Cooking
\nAcademic Interests: PM&R with interests in pain management, sports medicine, and spinal cord injury<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Genaro Herrera Cano, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Birthplace: Lima, Peru\/Hometown: Caguas, Puerto Rico
\nUndergraduate School: Marquette University
\nMedical School: UConn
\nHobbies\/Interests: Videogames, travelling, dance
\nAcademic Interests: Evolve as a teaching physician. In the future after my training, I hope to be involved in the education of future trainees.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Alicia Mitchell, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Charlotte, NC
\nUndergraduate School: Norfolk State University
\nMedical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Trying new recipes, Pilates, DIY projects, attending concerts
\nAcademic Interests: Medical education, Health Disparities, Women's Health, Quality Improvement<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Elleana Paradise, M.D., MEng<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: West Hartford, CT
\nUndergraduate School: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
\nMedical School: Texas A&M University School of Engineering Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Ice Hockey, Skiing, Cello
\nAcademic Interests: Radiology, Engineering<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Dermatology Prelim<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"No<\/div><\/div>

Nathan Gasek, M.D.\/Ph.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Somers, CT
\nUndergraduate School: University of Vermont
\nMedical School: University of Connecticut
\nHobbies\/Interests: Metal detecting, hiking, biking, woodworking
\nAcademic Interests: Geriatric care, aging research<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Seda Grabauskas, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Mystic, CT
\nUndergraduate School: University of Connecticut
\nMedical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Cooking, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends
\nAcademic Interests: All things dermatology!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Sarah Kamsiah Zemlok, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: West Hartford, CT
\nUndergraduate School: Wellesley College
\nMedical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Cooking, Watching Movies, Pilates, Pottery
\nAcademic Interests: Disability Advocacy, Atopic Dermatitis, Patch Testing, Immunology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Anesthesia Prelims<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"No<\/div><\/div>

Amanda Allan, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Easton, CT
\nUndergraduate School: Dickinson College
\nMedical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Cooking\/Baking, Tennis, Jigsaw puzzles
\nAcademic Interests: Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Obstetric Anesthesia<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Joseph Carpino, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Unionville, Connecticut
\nUndergraduate School: University of Connecticut
\nMedical School: American University of the Caribbean
\nHobbies\/Interests: Fitness, Hiking, Travel, Golf, Skiing
\nAcademic Interests: Cardiac Anesthesia, Regional Anesthesia<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

John Colavecchio, D.O.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Farmington, CT
\nUndergraduate School: Boston College
\nMedical School: NYITCOM
\nHobbies\/Interests: Hiking, Fantasy Football, Weightlifting
\nAcademic Interests: General Anesthesia<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Tristan Cummings, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Hilton Head Island, SC
\nUndergraduate School: Davidson College
\nMedical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia
\nHobbies\/Interests: DIY projects, gardening, hiking, skiing, pickleball
\nAcademic Interests: Exploring the different anesthesia subspecialties<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Carson Gifford, D.O.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Central Valley, UT
\nUndergraduate School: University of Utah
\nMedical School: Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Mountain Biking, Trail Running, Smoking\/BBQ, and experimenting with Sourdough Recipes
\nAcademic Interests: Pediatric Anesthesia and Exercise\/Sports Sciences<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Amar Kalaria, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Milford, CT
\nUndergraduate School: University of Connecticut
\nMedical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Tennis, Golf, Cooking, Traveling, Pickup Basketball, Working out
\nAcademic Interests: Anesthesiology, Cardiology, Medical Education, Patient Safety<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Christopher Mahir, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Hatfield, Massachusetts
\nUndergraduate School: Northeastern University
\nMedical School: UMass Chan Medical School
\nHobbies\/Interests: Sports (basketball, football, soccer), movies and TV shows, traveling, trying new coffee shops or food places
\nAcademic Interests: Unsure at the moment, but potentially interested in critical care or pain medicine as a fellowship following residency<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Miranda Matzer, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Guatemala City, Guatemala
\nUndergraduate School: Universidad Francisco Marroquin
\nMedical School: Universidad Francisco Marroquin
\nHobbies\/Interests: Horseback riding, piano, percussion, spending time with my dogs
\nAcademic Interests: Cardiac anesthesia and critical care<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Belinda Mensah, D.O.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Ghana
\nUndergraduate School: Trinity Washington University
\nMedical School: A.T. Still University, Arizona
\nHobbies\/Interests: Reading literature books, Love cooking and eating, traveling
\nAcademic Interests: Critical Care, Trauma and Cardio-thoracic Anesthesiology, Global Health<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Benjamin Pesante, M.S., M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Wakefield, Rhode Island
\nUndergraduate School: The Catholic University of America
\nMedical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Running, lifting weights, exploring Connecticut's various hiking trails, reading, fishing, traveling
\nAcademic Interests: Anesthesiology with interest in pediatrics, critical care, and cardiothoracic subspecialties. Clinical research. Medical education and resident advocacy<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Phillip Smit, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
\nUndergraduate School: Brigham Young University
\nMedical School: Quinnipiac University
\nHobbies\/Interests: Anything outdoors, especially with our two Golden Retrievers, but most especially rock climbing. Cooking and baking (and sharing!). Reading, and newly getting into astronomy!
\nAcademic Interests: First and foremost being the best anesthesiologist I can be to provide my patients the respect, care, and comfort when and how they need it. I have a background in genomics, which I hope to leverage to understand<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Isis Torres Nunez, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: New London, CT
\nUndergraduate School: Connecticut College
\nMedical School: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
\nHobbies\/Interests: Anything water related (kayaking, snorkeling, etc.), reading, working out\/Pilates, traveling, food
\nAcademic Interests: Cardiac anesthesia, health equity<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Jack Wolf, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Hartford, CT
\nUndergraduate School: Wesleyan University
\nMedical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Running around, lifting things, writing, and eating food in cool places
\nAcademic Interests: To be a clinician-scientist, translating scientific research into innovative tools and modalities for optimizing patients peri-operatively<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"No<\/div><\/div>

Paul Farris, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Scarsdale, NY
\nUndergraduate School: Quinnipiac University
\nMedical School: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Golfing, NY Giants, talking about rap and R&B albums, playing with my dog, playing football
\nAcademic Interests: Interventional pain, sports\/musculoskeletal medicine, regenerative medicine, adaptive sports<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Anna Hackett, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Wallingford, CT
\nUndergraduate School: Trinity College
\nMedical School: UConn
\nHobbies\/Interests: Cooking new dishes, finding\/mixing music, outdoor fun like skiing, golfing, hiking, and crafting!
\nAcademic Interests: Various fields of PM&R excite me including sports medicine, neuro rehabilitation, and brain injury<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Dylan Leonard, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Plainville, MA
\nUndergraduate School: University of Pittsburgh
\nMedical School: UMass Chan Medical School
\nHobbies\/Interests: Boston sports, fantasy football, coaching, reading fantasy\/sci-fi, traveling with my girlfriend, and recently getting into cycling!
\nAcademic Interests: Sports medicine, game coverage, TBI, SCI, prosthetics\/orthotics, teaching, and medical device innovation<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Aren Watt, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa
\nUndergraduate School: Davidson College
\nMedical School: UConn
\nHobbies\/Interests: Snowboarding, rock climbing, hiking and home projects with my family
\nAcademic Interests: MSK, sports med, prosthetics\/orthotics<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Neurology Prelims<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"No<\/div><\/div>

Jenna Cherasard, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Yonkers, New York
\nUndergraduate School: The City College of New York
\nMedical School: CUNY School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Yoga, Neurographic Art, Plants, Environmental Sustainability, Cooking
\nAcademic Interests: Vascular Neurology, Neurorehabilitation, Patient Education, Narrative Medicine<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Faranak Ebrahimian Sadabad, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Iran
\nMedical School: Birjand University school of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Hiking, cooking, knitting, playing with dogs
\nAcademic Interests: Research in neurology, become a faculty<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Marian Javier, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Dominican Republic
\nMedical School: Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE)
\nHobbies\/Interests: Reading, running, weightlifting, hiking, and dancing salsa
\nAcademic Interests: Vascular Neurology, Neurocritical Care, Global Health<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Hanyue Lu, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: East Lyme, CT
\nUndergraduate School: UConn
\nMedical School: UConn
\nHobbies\/Interests: Walking my dog, knitting, reading, baking, running
\nAcademic Interests: Clinical Neurophysiology, Headache, General Neurology<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Chelsea Rutagengwa, M.D.<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Kigali, Rwanda\/Nashua, NH
\nUndergraduate School: Northeastern University
\nMedical School: UConn School of Medicine
\nHobbies\/Interests: Anything outdoors \ud83d\ude42 music, art, reading, trying new foods
\nAcademic Interests: Undecided what neuro specialty I will want in fellowship, but I am interested in sleep, stroke, and movement!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Shwetha Shenod, MBBS<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Kerala, India
\nMedical School: PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, India
\nHobbies\/Interests: Reading, Basketball, love anything outdoor-sy!
\nAcademic Interests: Neuro-Immunology, Neurocritical Care<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"No<\/div><\/div>

Neha Sudarshan, MBBS<\/h3>\n

Birthplace\/Hometown: Bengaluru, India
\nUndergraduate School: Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bengaluru, India
\nMedical School: Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bengaluru, India
\nHobbies\/Interests: Hiking, Running, Acrylic Painting, Baking
\nAcademic Interests: Current area of interest is vascular neurology, but I want to explore all the subspecialties before I narrow down on one<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Categorical Rania Abdelaziz, M.D. Hometown\/Birthplace: Cairo, Egypt Medical School: Cairo University Faculty of Medicine Hobbies\/Interests: I love traveling and exploring local bakeries. In my down time, I enjoy reading and listening to astronomy podcasts, Neil DeGrasse Tyson is my favorite Academic Interests: Hematology\/Oncology, Women in Medicine<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":119,"featured_media":0,"parent":1983,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-22 17:28:32","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38862"}],"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=38862"}],"version-history":[{"count":73,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38862\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39047,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38862\/revisions\/39047"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/graduate-medical-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}