Phyllis Dennery, MD (she/her)
Pediatrician-in-Chief and Medical Director
Robin Kremsdorf, MD (she/her)
Nephrology. Interim Program Director
Sabina Holland, MD (she/her)
Infectious Disease, Diversity Officer, Associate Program Director
Sarah Welsh, MD (she/her)
PICU, Associate Program Director
Allison Heinly, MD (she/her)
Primary Care, Associate Program Director
Dennisse Reyes (she/her)
Program Manager
Deborah Pratas (she/her)
Program Coordinator
Katherine Mason, MD (she/her)
PICU, Vice Chair of Education
Patricia Poitevien, MD, MSc (she/her)
Senior Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Brad DeNardo, MD (he/him)
Heme/Onc, Resident Selection Committee
Michael Herzlinger, MD (he/him)
Gastroenterology Fellowship Director, Resident Selection Committee
Erica Chung, MD (she/her)
Hospitalist, Resident Selection Committee
Ivona Sediva, MD (she/her)
PICU, Resident Selection Committee
Tanya Rogo, MD, MPH&TM (she/her)
Infectious Disease Fellowship Director, Global Health Educator
Cristina Alcorta, MD (she/her)
Chief Resident
Rachel Buckle-Rashid, MD (she/her)
Chief Resident
Ann Ding, MD (she/her)
IM Chief Resident
Danielle Cirillo, MD (she/her)
PGY-3/Rising Chief Resident
Tania Rodriguez, MD (she/her)
PGY-3/Rising Chief Resident
Phyllis Dennery, MD (she/her)
Position: Pediatrician-in-Chief and Medical Director
Phyllis A. Dennery, MD, FAAP, is pediatrician-in-chief at Rhode Island Hospital and medical director of Hasbro Children’s Hospital. She is the Sylvia Kay Hassenfeld professor and the chair of pediatrics at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, where she also is a professor of molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry. Previously, she served as director of neonatology research and associate division chief at Stanford University, and as division chief in neonatology at Children’s Hospital and the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Dennery’s research has been consistently funded by the National Institutes of Health and her work has been published in top-tier medical journals. Her research is focused on oxidative stress-mediated neonatal lung gene regulation and on hyperoxic lung injury and repair. Her clinical interests are in neonatal jaundice, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and the long-term consequences of prematurity, as well as in improving pediatric health through community engagement.
Robin Kremsdorf, MD (she/her)
Robin Kremsdorf has recently been named Interim Program Director the the Pediatrics Residency program at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. She completed medical school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, followed by residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital/University Hospitals of Cleveland. After residency, Robin spent 2 years moonlighting as a pediatric hospitalist and a home-visit doctor and also raising her daughter. She returned to her native West Coast to complete a nephrology fellowship at Seattle Children’s Hospital. During fellowship, Robin conducted clinical research relating to chronic kidney disease/mineral bone disorder, completed epidemiology coursework at the University of Washington, and had another daughter. She is now here at Brown University and Hasbro Children’s Hospital as a pediatric nephrologist and has served as an Associate Program Director for many years!
Sabina Holland, MD (she/her)
Position: Infectious Disease, Diversity Officer, Associate Program Director
Email: sholland@Lifespan.org
Sabina Holland earned her medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport, Louisiana. She completed her pediatric residency and chief residency in Orlando, Florida at the University of Florida Pediatric Residency Program at Orlando Health. After residency, she moved her family to Rhode Island where she completed a fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Brown University/Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Following her fellowship, Sabina joined the faculty and the pediatric residency team where she is working on developing innovative ways to increase diversity in the residency program. She is now the Diversity Officer for the Department of Pediatrics and an active member of the Pediatric Leadership team.
Sarah Welsh, MD (she/her)
Sarah S. Welsh, MD is a pediatric intensivist and the Medical Director of the Hasbro Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). She completed medical school, pediatric residency, and served as chief resident at Golisano Children’s Hospital (University of Rochester School of Medicine) in Rochester, New York. She completed her pediatric critical care medicine fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her clinical and research interests include neurocritical care, including traumatic brain injury and status epilepticus, as well as resuscitation care, medical education, and implementation science.
Allison Heinly, MD (she/her)
Position: Primary Care, Associate Program Director
Allison Heinly completed her undergraduate studies at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, followed by her medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. She then completed her pediatric residency and was selected as chief resident at Brown University/Hasbro Children’s Hospital, where she received the Brown University Student Award in Recognition of an Outstanding Teacher and the Award for Outstanding Dedication to Patient Care. She worked for 2 years in private practice at Blackstone Valley Pediatrics before returning to Hasbro Children’s Hospital Primary Care as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in 2017. Since then, she has been selected twice for the Dean’s Excellence in Teaching Award for the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Her career interests are in medical education and tobacco cessation/vaping.
Dennisse Reyes (she/her)
Dennisse is a proud Puerto Rican. She and her parents came to Providence when she was just a toddler. She lived in Providence for most of her life but has been living in Cranston with her family for the past 2 years. She has 2 young adults, a husband, and a dog named King Bling Reyes! She is the typical Rhode Islander, which means anything more than a 30 minutes drive is too far–she will think twice about going! She has a sister and a brother whom she’s very close with and nieces and nephews she adores! Dennisse has been working at Rhode Island Hospital since the age she was 15 and has worked in many areas in the hospital (she knows a ton of people!), but for the past 20 years, she has been with the Pediatric Residency Program. She continues to love the people, the work environment and sincerely loves helping others. When Dennisse is not at work, she loves spending time with her family and King Bling Reyes. When she’s not with her family, she’s been watching many series on Netflix, and listening to audiobooks and podcasts. A couple of the things she loves about Rhode Island are that everything is nearby, and the beautiful change of seasons can be absolutely breathtaking! and the people are really nice! Dennisse loves the lifelong relationships she builds with her residents and seeing the growth each one makes. She keeps in touch with many!
Deborah Pratas (she/her)
Deborah is a lifelong Rhode Islander, and currently lives in North Providence. She works with all the residents throughout their training preparing schedules, extra clinics, and various activities. The thing she enjoys most about her job is to see the individual growth and transformation that takes place during the three to five years of residency here at RIH and Hasbro Children’s Hospital. She has 3 beautiful adult children, grand-puppies, and enjoys spending time with them, hiking, running, and training for the next race! It is her passion to constantly advance the field of graduate medical education during such an exciting time and love working with the residents, faculty, and coordinators everyday! She is also excited to transfer her medical education and training skills to her role of providing support and coordinating the primary care training program, and ensuring that residents benefit from unique world class and innovative training.
Katherine Mason, MD (she/her)
Katherine Mason is the Vice chair of education for the Department of Pediatrics and an Associate Professor of Pediatric Critical Care and Pediatrics at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and the Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University. Her research has focused primarily on developing best practices in Medical Education, e.g. Learner Assessment, Professionalism and Faculty Development and Advocacy for Clinician Educators. She has also published in the fields of critical care and disaster medicine.
Dr. Mason further contributes to medical education initiatives through her national leadership roles in medical education as the immediate past chair of the Fellowship Executive Committee at the Association of Pediatric Program Directors and as a National Mentor through the New Century Scholars’ Program and the Educational Scholars’ Program, both of the Academic Pediatric Association.
Dr. Mason completed her undergraduate studies in Biomedical Ethics and Biology at Brown University, and her Medical Degree at Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She did her Pediatric Residency and Critical Care Fellowship at Case Western Reserve University and Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.
Patricia Poitevien, MD, MSc (she/her)
Position: Senior Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Email: Patricia_Poitevien@Brown.edu
Dr. Patricia Poitevien has recently been named Vice Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at Brown Alpert Medical School after completing 4 years as the residency’s Program Director. Pat graduated from Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University in 1998 and went on to complete Pediatric Residency Training at NYU Langone Health / Bellevue Hospital Center in New York. She was chosen to serve as a Chief Resident there and stayed on as a Pediatric Hospitalist for 15 years. During much of this time, she was the Section Chief and Medical Director for Pediatric Inpatient Medicine at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital. In 2013 she earned a Masters of Clinical Science from NYU and was subsequently chosen to be the Residency Program Director for NYU Langone Health / Bellevue Hospital Center. In 2018, Pat was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to lead the Pediatric Residency Program at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and serve as an Assistant Dean of Diversity an Inclusion for the Warren Alpert Medical School. Pat is passionate about medical education, particularly around issues of mentorship, diversity and evaluation. She believes that how we teach and how we care for patients must be informed by an environment that is inclusive and representative. Although she will always be a girl from Brooklyn, she has loved her return to Rhode Island with her husband and two boys exploring all the Ocean State has to offer.
Brad DeNardo, MD (he/him)
Position: Heme/Onc, Resident Selection Committee
Dr. DeNardo completed fellowship at Brown University in 2014, during which time he pursued basic science and translational research interests focusing on neuroblastoma tumorigenesis and chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity. After completing fellowship , Dr. DeNardo joined the faculty at Brown University in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
Michael Herzlinger, MD (he/him)
Position: Gastroenterology Fellowship Director, Resident Selection Committee
Michael Herzlinger, MD is an Assistant (Clinical) Professor of Pediatrics at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Hasbro Children’s Hospital. He is the Program Director of the Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship Program and a Mary B Arnold Mentor at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Prior to his current position he completed Residency in Pediatrics and Fellowship in Pediatric GI at Brown University, Medical School at New York University School of Medicine, Postbaccalaureate studies at Columbia University in New York, and Bachelors of Arts at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Dr. Herzlinger is board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Gastroenterology.
Erica Chung, MD (she/her)
Position: Hospitalist, Resident Selection Committee
Erica Chung, MD is a pediatric hospitalist at Hasbro Children’s Hospital with an interest in medical education. After graduating from Brown Medical School, Dr. Chung went on to complete her pediatric residency at the Boston Combined Residency Program (Boston Children’s Hospital / Boston Medical Center). She continued as faculty at Boston Children’s Hospital and joined the pediatric hospital medicine division at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in 2011. Dr. Chung enjoys teaching and mentoring medical students and residents. She is a Mary B. Arnold mentor and the director of the pediatric subinternship at the Warren Alpert Medical School. She is currently involved in a multi-center research study on residents-as-teachers.
Ivona Sediva, MD (she/her)
Position: PICU, Resident Selection Committee
Dr. Sediva recieved her medical degree at Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic. She completed interniship and residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital in New York, NY and pediatric critical care fellowship at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, OH. She is a Medical Director of Quality and Patient Safety at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Dr. Sediva is board certified in general pediatrics and pediatric critical care medicine by the American Board of Pediatrics. Her interests are in medical simulation, medical education, quality improvement science and patient safety.
Tanya Rogo, MD, MPH&TM (she/her)
Position: Infectious Disease Fellowship Director, Global Health Educator
Tanya Rogo is the Global Health Educator in the pediatric department. She was born in Kenya and completed her undergraduate education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and then graduated from the dual MD/MPH program at Tulane University. She completed pediatric residency at Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children, and fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases here at Brown University.
After fellowship, Tanya spent 4 years in Rwanda developing the pediatric residency program at the University of Rwanda through the Human Resources for Health partnership with the Rwanda Ministry of Health. In 2017, Tanya was the first recipient of the Velji Young African Leader Award from the Consortium of Universities for Global Health. Tanya has clinical experience caring for children in Kenya, Rwanda, and Botswana. She continues to teach medical students and residents in Kenya and Rwanda, while also conducting clinical research with her pediatric colleagues at the University of Rwanda. Her clinical expertise is in pediatric HIV, and she also directs antimicrobial stewardship at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
Cristina Alcorta, MD (she/her)
Position: Chief Resident
Undergraduate: Harvard University
Medical School: Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine
Cristina grew up in northern New Jersey, just along the Hudson River. She moved to Cambridge, MA for college and majored in Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard. Finding it difficult to leave the Boston area, she decided to complete a year of research in the Neonatal Pulmonary Medicine Department at Boston Children’s Hospital before heading even further north to Dartmouth for medical school. At Dartmouth, Cristina was heavily involved in advocacy groups for the Upper Valley and its surrounding areas, including Geisel’s Urban Health Scholars and The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. She was drawn to Brown for the quality of resident training, commitment to diversity, and the loving, warm, collaborative culture of Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Here, children hold the primary focus; the entire environment is catered to their enjoyment and well-being. She aspires to become a pediatric intensivist when she grows up.
Outside of the hospital, Cristina enjoys dancing, yoga, all things nature, getting lost in art museums and finding the best paths to longboard skateboard. She thoroughly enjoys the thrill of being a Yankees fan living in New England (and has surprisingly survived after 14 whole years).
Rachel Buckle-Rashid, MD (she/her)
Position: Chief Resident
Undergraduate: Princeton University
Medical School: Emory University
Rachel was born in DC and grew up between Ghana, Michigan, and Georgia. She attended Princeton University for undergrad and majored in psychology with a certificate in gender and sexuality studies. After graduation, she moved to DC and spent a year as a research assistant in a behavioral pharmacology lab at American University. She stayed in DC another year as a policy associate at the National Coalition on Health Care by day and a children’s yoga teacher in her spare time. She attended Emory University School of Medicine where she was actively involved in medical education, community outreach, and mentorship. In her free time, she enjoys kickboxing, drinking tea, watching both excellent and trash television, and getting too competitive with board games. She has enjoyed exploring a new part of the US and getting to care for some great kids!
Ann Ding, MD (she/her)
Position: IM Chief Resident
Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University
Medical School: University of Texas Health at San Antonio (AOA, GHHS)
Ann was born in Fargo, North Dakota, but raised mostly in Knoxville, Tennessee. She went to undergrad at Vanderbilt University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Molecular & Cellular Biology and three minors in Chemistry, General Music, and Chinese Language & Culture. She headed to San Antonio, Texas, for medical school, where she enjoyed mentoring younger students through a program called Veritas, going to Ethiopia for two consecutive summers to provide healthcare and public health education, volunteering regularly at the Student Run Free Clinics, and singing in her medical school acapella group called Egophony. Her medical interests include primary care, underserved populations, medical education, and global health. Hobbies include playing piano and guitar, trying new restaurants and writing reviews for her newly acquired Yelp Elite status, and Body Pump (an aerobics weight lifting class). Brown stood out to Ann on the interview trail because of the authenticity, warmth, and kindness of the faculty and residents, coupled with its academically rigorous learning environment.
Sarah “Sally” Elliott, MD, MPH (she/her)
Position: PGY-5
Undergraduate: Dartmouth College
Graduate: UCLA School of Public Health (MPH)
Medical School: UCLA School of Medicine
Sarah (Sally) Elliott is originally from Massachusetts and is thrilled to be returning to New England for Triple Board residency. After graduating from Dartmouth College, she spent a year working with a children’s nutritional program in Nicaragua and then moved out to California where she worked with a childhood obesity clinic at UCSF and on several food security research projects at Children’s Hospital Oakland. Sally went to medical school at the University of California Los Angeles, where she was part of PRIME, a 5 year MD/MPH program for students interested in addressing healthcare disparities.
Sally chose Brown for several reasons including the strong pediatrics and psychiatry departments, the exceptional training sites, and the supportive culture of the residency program. Her medical interests include working with underserved populations, adolescent medicine and working with children with coexisting medical and psychiatric illness.
In her free time, Sally enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband and baby. She also likes ceramics, designing furniture and printmaking.
Vicenta Hudziak, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-5
Undergraduate: Middlebury College
Medical School: The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont
Vic was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and grew up in Charlotte, Vermont. She went to Middlebury College where she majored in Neuroscience and minored in Chinese. Before medical school, Vic worked at the Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families on studies of childhood dysregulation and the genetics of self-harm and suicide, spent time in Singapore working on growth and behavioral studies in long-tailed macaques, and worked for two years as a research coordinator at the MGH Center for Addiction Medicine. These experiences fostered a desire to work with kids and families that was solidified in medical school, where Vic also discovered a passion for learning about medical education and physician wellbeing and served as a student member of the Learning Environment and Professionalism Committee. Vic is interested in integrated care, juvenile corrections, and mindfulness interventions in pediatrics and psychiatry. In the Brown Triple Board program, Vic found the perfect blend of rigorous clinical training, unique training sites, excited and accessible faculty, and a fantastic group of happy residents that made the ideal environment to pursue her interests. Outside of work, Vic is an avid podcaster and cross-stitcher who enjoys pick-up basketball, hiking, yoga, potlucks, and book clubs. She could not be more thrilled to live near the ocean and to spend the next five years becoming a Providence foodie.
Phillip Sojka, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-5
Undergrad: Indiana University
Medical School: Indiana University (GHHS)
Originally from West Lafayette, Indiana, Phil completed his undergraduate degree from Indiana University, where he studied Psychology and Chemistry. During his time there he worked as a psychiatric technician at a local mental health hospital, which ignited his interest in pursuing medicine and specifically psychiatry. Between undergraduate and medical school Phil spent a year with the Americorps project City Year in Boston, working with underserved youth as a mentor and tutor to help kids get back on track to graduate. During medical school Phil was selected for the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He also volunteered his time as the director of quality improvement for the Indiana University Student Outreach Clinic and founded a peer to peer support training session for medical students. His main career aspiration currently is adolescents with substance use/mental health dual diagnosis, and is excited to see how triple board residency will prepare him to best care for those children. Beyond medicine, Phil is an avid runner and cyclist, exploring the outdoors and reading realistic fiction. Most importantly, he closely follows NCAA college basketball, forever hoping his alma mater will win its 6th national championship. Go Hoosiers!
Chelsea Boyd, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-4
Undergraduate: Brown University
Medical School: Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University
Chelsea hails from Randolph, New Jersey. She attended college at Brown University where she studied neuroscience. During this time, she worked as an EMT and conducted research on the neurometabolic effects of psychostimulant drugs. Before returning to Brown for medical school, she moved to Boston to work in pharmaceutical consulting. Upon returning for medical school, her research focused on the identification of emergent large vessel occlusions in suspected stroke. Chelsea is thrilled to stay at Brown for her training in Internal Medicine & Pediatrics. In her spare time, Chelsea enjoys Crossfit, playing squash, and retail therapy. She is an aspiring unicyclist.
Ashley Nguyen, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-4
Undergraduate: Boston College
Medical School: Thomas Jefferson University
Ashley was born and raised in Naugatuck, Connecticut. She went to Boston College, and she graduated Cum Laude with a BS in Biology and a BA in Philosophy. During her time between college and medical school, she did research in the Pediatric Oncology Department at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA. Her research focused on hematologic malignancies and creating zebrafish animal models. She also served as a Chief Research Associate for the Research Associates Program in St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, CT. Despite her love for Boston, Ashley excitedly left one major city for another, and she attended the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA. Ashley was involved with Jefferson’s Med-Peds Society of Philadelphia, American Medical Women’s Association, Office of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives, and the Clinical Translational Research track. Her professional interests include Women’s Health, Medical Education, and Diversity Initiatives. Ashley chose Brown for her Med-Peds training first and foremost because of the amazingly kind and warm residents and faculty. Additionally, Brown’s academic excellence, numerous training tracks and programs, and strong learning environment made it a perfect fit. In her spare time, Ashley enjoys running, journaling, praying, eating good food (especially sushi burritos), and spending time with friends, family, and her husband, Brandon.
Thomas “Fritz” Siegert, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-4
Undergraduate: Whitman College
Medical School: University of Washington (GHHS)
Fritz was born in Nevada, lived in Arizona and Kentucky, and finally settled on Boise, Idaho with his parents and two younger brothers. He attended Whitman College and graduated with a double-major in Philosophy and Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology (BBMB). One year out of college found Fritz back in Boise working as a medical scribe, tutoring high school students in science and math, and working as an intern at the Basque Cultural Center (little known fact, Boise has a huge Basque population). After that, Fritz spent a year teaching middle school science in Botswana as a Princeton in Africa Fellow. He then attended medical school at the University of Washington in Seattle. During that time he enjoyed organizing “community-based research” looking at free-health clinics and tobacco cessation counseling. He additionally held leadership positions in student government, the Health Equity Circle student advocacy group, and conducted community outreach in Kenya. From 2017 to 2018, Fritz researched pediatric sickle cell anemia in Uganda as a Fogarty Global Health Scholar. With strong interests in global health, policy, and medical education, Fritz was impressed with Brown’s commitment to global health equity, academic rigor, mentorship, and friendly residents. Providence also fondly reminds him of Boise (though with less of a potato emphasis). He loves the outdoors, aspires to one day learn how to play the harmonica, and makes a mean frittata.
Julia Solomon, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-4
Undergraduate: Wellesley College
Medical School: Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University
Julia was raised in Sharon, Massachusetts, and received a BA in economics, cum laude, from Wellesley College in 2013. Between college and medical school she worked in stroke and brain injury research at Rhode Island Hospital, then stayed in Rhode Island for medical school at Brown. During medical school she helped to coordinate the student free clinic at the Rhode Island Free Clinic and to improve sustainability efforts in the medical school building. She is also one of the inaugural cohort of the Primary Care-Population Medicine program at Brown, through which she obtained a master’s degree. In her free time she likes to take advantage of all the beaches and delicious food and coffee that Rhode Island has to offer!
Ashley Adams, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-4
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins
Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine (AOA)
Ashley grew up in Montclair, NJ before attending college at Johns Hopkins University where she majored in psychology. Before medical school Ashley worked for a year as a direct-care counselor at a psychiatric residential treatment facility, an experience that fostered her interest in providing integrated medical and psychiatric care for children and adolescents in the residential setting. Ashley received her MD in 2019 from Duke University School of Medicine where she was selected into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honor society and spent a year researching the clinical phenotypes of autoimmune brain disorders, such as Autoimmune Encephalitis and Hashimoto’s Encephalopathy. While in medical school Ashley developed a strong interest in medical education, taking an active role in teaching first year students and developing seminars on the emotions of shame, guilt, and the concept of resilience within the medical learning environment. She also began a medical humanities program called Scopes, which allowed medical students to develop creative projects with patients in the Durham community that represented their experiences with chronic illness.
Ashley is interested in working within the criminal justice system, foster care medicine, and integrated primary care. She is ecstatic to be joining the Triple Board program at Brown, where she found the perfect balance between rigorous clinical training at a variety of sites and a community of co-residents and faculty eager to encourage her interests. In her free time, Ashley enjoys listening to podcasts, baking, yoga, documentary film, and pickup outdoor sports. She is thrilled to be moving back to the northeast to a city with plenty of new coffee shops to explore.
Yvorn “Doc” Aswad, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-4
Undergraduate: Stanford University
Medical School: Charles Drew University/David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (GHHS)
A native of South Central Los Angeles, Doc attended Stanford University for undergrad, where he majored in Human Biology and minored in African-American Studies. As an undergraduate he was passionate about the STEM pipeline for underrepresented minorities and upon graduation, he co-founded the Leland Scholars Program, a program that improved retention of minority and first-gen students in STEM. He returned to his hometown of Los Angeles to serve a term in AmeriCorps with the Youth Policy Institute where he established grant funding for health and wellness education for low-income children. These experiences shaped his interests in using medicine as a tool for social justice, leading him to enroll in the unique Charles Drew University/UCLA Medical Education Program, which focused on the urban underserved. In medical school, he became deeply interested in youth in the juvenile justice system. He chose to Triple Board in order to have a comprehensive lens as a practitioner and researcher to best serve that population and found that Brown would make him not just an excellent physician-scientist, but also a happy one! In addition to his work, Doc enjoys running, swimming, cooking, and yoga-ing. He can also be found waxing poetic about theater, musicals, West coast hip-hop, veganism, college football, Black history, and way more than a healthy amount of TV! He is happy to be calling Providence home!
Paula Lewis-de los Angeles, MD, PhD (she/her)
Position: PGY-4
Undergraduate: Stanford University
Medical School: Northwestern University, MD, PhD (Neuroscience, GHHS)
Paula Lewis-de los Angeles was born in New York City, grew up in Connecticut, and is thrilled to return to New England for Triple Board residency. After graduating from Stanford University, where she doubled majored in Biology and Psychology, Paula worked at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and then completed a master’s in education in the Mind, Brain, and Education track at Harvard University. Paula then joined the Medical Scientist Training Program at Northwestern University, where she completed her MD/PhD and was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Her PhD was in neuroscience with a research interest in the effect of early experiences on typical and atypical brain development. During medical school, Paula was student director of a science mentoring program for Chicago youth as well as a mentor for various programs encouraging young girls to pursue STEM fields.
Paula is excited to pursue Triple Board Training at Brown because of its interdisciplinary approach to the development of the child across the lifespan, with a unique focus on mental and behavioral health.
In her free time, Paula enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her husband and her two-year old daughter and baby-to-be. Together, as a family, they often walk to local farmer’s markets, flower shops, museums, and libraries. They also spend a lot of time in the kitchen at home, trying out new recipes for fun ice cream flavors or bread. Otherwise, Paula likes to spend time on arts and crafts including knitting, reading memoirs, getting reacquainted with her favorite children’s books through her children, and solving puzzles.
Maria “Carrie” Bryant, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Middlebury College
Medical School: Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine
Carrie grew up in Wellesley, Massachusetts and graduated from Middlebury College in VT with a degree in Classics. After Middlebury, Carrie taught high school Latin and English at a charter school in Malden, MA before deciding to enroll in the post-baccalaureate premedical program at Johns Hopkins University. Upon completing her premed requirements, Carrie worked at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she spent three years conducting pediatric health policy research. She helped develop three national pediatric quality measures and has continued to pursue research in pediatric quality improvement throughout medical school. During her time at Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, she was awarded a grant to study the challenges in transition from pediatric to adult-focused care for adolescents and young adults with chronic illness. Carrie loves working with adolescents and was drawn to Brown for many reasons including its strong adolescent medicine department, the quality of resident training, the pediatric research opportunities, and the collaborative, collegial and supportive environment at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. As a 4th year medical student, Carrie completed an away rotation in adolescent medicine at Brown and is thrilled to be returning as a resident where she hopes to continue working and conducting research with the mentors she developed there. She plans on pursuing a career in adolescent medicine or pediatric rheumatology. In her free time, Carrie enjoys reading (including Latin and Greek), traveling, spending time with family and friends, and all things athletic: running, basketball, hiking, skiing, indoor cycling, soccer, and tennis. During football season, you will find Carrie cheering for her beloved New England Patriots.
Danielle Cirillo, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3/Rising Chief Resident
Undergraduate: Pace University
Medical School: New York Medical College
Danielle grew up in Westchester, NY. She went to Pace University for college where she studied biology, then took a few years off before medical school to scribe in the ER at Westchester Medical Center. She stayed in Westchester to attend New York Medical College, but moved to Stamford, CT for the last 2 years. Danielle was initially unsure what field she wanted to pursue after medical school, but after her first day on pediatrics she knew she had found a perfect fit. She hopes to practice primary care after residency. Outside of medicine, Danielle loves to play with her dog, Oscar and travel. She is thrilled to have matched at Brown due to their supportive team and great teaching, and can’t wait to explore Rhode Island!
Julia Donner, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Brown University
Medical School: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Julia grew up between Gig Harbor, Washington and Munich, Germany and attended Brown University where she received her undergraduate degree in Biology. Unable to say goodbye to Brown, she decided to stay and attend the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. There, she devoted her time outside of class to peer mentorship, work at the free clinic, and community outreach, teaching health lessons in local schools. Julia took time off during her fourth year to explore her interests in global health and academic medicine. She worked at Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap, Cambodia learning how to practice medicine in a resource-limited setting and spent six months in Tübingen, Germany conducting research in Pediatric Endocrinology. Julia is thrilled to be continuing her training at Brown for the excellent education in a caring and collaborative atmosphere, dedicated mentorship, and a good balance between resident autonomy and faculty support. Within Pediatrics she is interested in subspecialty medicine. Outside of the hospital, Julia loves going for hikes and trail runs, skiing, biking, exploring beaches and restaurants, and spending time with her partner Brendan, a Brown EM resident.
Shayla Durfey, MD, ScM (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: University of Rhode Island
Medical School: Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University (AOA)
Shayla was born and raised in Rhode Island. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Rhode Island with dual undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and Medical Laboratory Science. She was offered early acceptance to the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University through the Early Identification Program. At Brown, Shayla enrolled in the Primary Care-Population Medicine Program, earned a dual MD-ScM degree in Population Medicine, and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Her master’s research focused on how health policies impact vulnerable populations, and she hopes to continue conducting health services research as a general academic pediatrician. As a mom of two (both born during medical school), she loves working with and supporting families, and advocates for medical student parents through research. Shayla is so excited to continue to serve her home community in Rhode Island and to continue working with the Hasbro team. In her free time, Shayla can be found chasing after her two spirited young children and enjoys group exercise, baking altogether too elaborate desserts, and reading anything with a good story line.
Mashfiq Hasan, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Brown University
Medical School: New York Medical College (GHHS)
Mashfiq was born in New York City, moved to Bangladesh for several formative years, and then returned to the states to attend Brown University. At Brown, he met amazing mentors and friends, taught children health lessons, conducted neurodevelopmental research with tadpoles, and became a big fan of the Ocean State. He then worked for a year at Bradley Hospital with the Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment and taught children Quran and Arabic at the Islamic Center of RI before moving to NY for medical school. At NYMC, he found great role models who combined excellent pediatric clinical care with teaching, advocacy, research, humanism, and compassion. This cemented his desire to become a pediatrician. He is excited to be back in Providence and to be training with the amazing pediatric team at Hasbro. His clinical interests include emergency medicine, critical care, and gastroenterology. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys reading, watching soccer highlights and cartoons, spending time with his friends and family (and cats!), and all things food.
Chelsea Haynes, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Brown University
Medical School: Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University
Although born in Newport News, VA, Chelsea moved to Rhode Island at the age of 18 months and it is the only home she has truly known. As a two-time pediatric cancer survivor, Chelsea has always been drawn to the field of pediatrics and loves working with children. Chelsea attended Brown University for undergrad, majoring in Human Biology with a concentration in Human Health and Disease. After undergrad, she worked locally as an emergency department medical scribe and medical assistant at Thundermist Health Center. Chelsea returned to Brown for medical school, where she cemented her love of the field of pediatrics. As a (nearly) lifelong Rhode Islander, Chelsea is thrilled to have the opportunity to continue her medical training at Brown. She loves the program because of its wonderful sense of community, focus on patient care, and of course, its Rhode Island location. Outside of medicine, Chelsea is a freshwater aquarium hobbyist, Disney fanatic, holiday decoration enthusiast, and self-proclaimed foodie. Most of all, she loves spending time with her family, friends, and her cat, Lily Pawter.
Aaron “AJ” Heaps, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine (GHHS)
AJ was born in Provo, Utah, and grew up in the foothills of The Rockies. He attended undergraduate in Utah, studying chemical engineering with a minor in ballroom dancing (which would take him all the way out to Blackpool, England to compete at an international level). During undergrad, he found a passion for applying engineering principles to patient care, and shifted his focus towards medicine. While in medical school, AJ got involved in a variety of organizations, including being the Director of Communications for the University Medical Student Council, co-founding the Student Wellness Committee, and participating as a cellist in the school’s orchestra: Musicians in Medicine. Additionally, AJ was honored to be selected into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. He is excited to start his pediatric journey in Rhode Island as he hopes to make the New England area his eventual home! In his spare time, AJ enjoys dancing, running, road biking, anything music or musical, and an occasional video game when time allows. More than anything, he likes to be around the people he loves, and loves spending quality time with others!
Kristen Klemmer, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Kristen grew up in Buffalo, NY before moving to Cleveland, OH for college. She studies biochemistry and anthropology at Case Western where she was also a 4 year varsity softball player. In college, she volunteered in a kindergarten classroom, helping kids read which sparked her interest in the pediatric population. During medical school at Georgetown University, she enjoyed volunteering with the Hoya Clinic Wellness Workshop team, a group from the student run clinic that taught weekly workout classes to residents of a local family shelter. She is excited to be a resident at Brown because of the enthusiasm and welcoming environment from fellow residents and faculty. In her free time, Kristen enjoys cooking, reading, hiking, and playing board games.
Gabriela “Ika” Kovacikova, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Wellesley College
Medical School: Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine (GHHS)
Ika was born in Poprad, Slovakia and moved to New Hampshire during grade school. She attended Wellesley College and graduated with a degree in Health & Society. After college, Ika worked as a Research Assistant at Boston Children’s Primary Care at Longwood. While there, she focused on several quality improvement initiatives aimed at reducing barriers to care for children. She returned to woods of New Hampshire to attend the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. Ika was drawn to the Hasbro family due to its commitment to education, pediatric advocacy, diversity, and community. In her free time, you can find Ika swimming, running, biking, hiking, or re-reading the Harry Potter series on her porch. She looks forward to exploring the Rhode Island coastline with her fiancé and dog, Rosie.
Cara McDavitt, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Fordham University
Medical School: Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Cara was born is Massachusetts but grew up in Portland, Oregon. She attended Fordham University in The Bronx, NY for undergrad and majored in Chemistry with a special interest in synthesizing organic polymers. During undergrad, she was a member of Fordham’s long-form improv comedy troupe and enjoyed performing in NYC. Forever caught between which coast is the best coast, she returned to Oregon to work as a research assistant studying bleeding and clotting disorders. She attended Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine where she conducted research in transfusion medicine. Cara is thrilled to be returning to the East Coast and can’t wait to experience all Providence has to offer! Outside of medicine, she loves going to theater productions, comedy nights, and exploring the local arts scene. She also loves running, snowboarding, and snuggling her fluffy cat, Quinn.
Jessica Pourian, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Medical School: University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
Jessica was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she developed a love of cloudy weather and various ethnic cuisines. She attended MIT for college, majoring in brain and cognitive sciences and minoring in music while writing regularly for the student newspaper. After graduation she worked in healthcare consulting in Boston and San Francisco for three years. She spent her weekends volunteering at the local children’s hospital, which inspired her to pursue a career in pediatrics. Jessica went to UC San Diego for medical school, but found the sun oppressive, and is excited to move back east to begin residency at Brown. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, practicing piano and accordion, petting her cat, and playing video games. She is interested in a potential career in adolescent medicine or clinical informatics.
Tania Rodriguez, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3/Rising Chief Resident
Undergraduate: Harriet L. Wilkes, Honors College of Florida Atlantic University
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Tania is from Royal Palm Beach down in south Florida. She is half Cuban and Puerto Rican and is proud to be first generation American. She attended the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic where she majored in neuroscience. While in undergrad, she conducted research in the metabolism and aging department of the Scripps Research Institute. She was the recipient of the Henry Morrison Flagler Academic Scholarship all four years and graduated Summa Cum Laude. She attended Albany Medical College in upstate New York where she was the recipient of the MD Trustee Scholarship for Excellence all four years. In medical school she was the leader of Cooks for a Cause where she worked with middle and high school refugee children and taught them the basics of cooking, nutrition, as well as life skills and mentorship. Tania was drawn to Brown for its emphasis on academics, teamwork, advocacy and service to the community. At Brown she is looking forward to receiving an excellent training, working with a diverse patient population and the ability to continue to give back to the community. In her free time, Tania enjoys cooking, baking, indoor gardening, watching Netflix, and personal fitness.
Victoria Quinn, DO (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Providence College
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (GHHS)
Torie was born and raised in Massachusetts and studied biology at Providence College. While she always knew she wanted to work with children, her decision to pursue medicine was solidified through several biopharmaceutical internships and studying health care practice and policy in Copenhagen, Denmark. She first worked at Hasbro as a clinical research assistant after college, where she discovered her passion for trauma informed care. Throughout medical school, she stayed involved in the Hasbro network, returning first as a research fellow and later as a visiting medical student. Her decision to choose Brown for residency was rooted in the warmth and collegiality among residents and faculty in addition to their shared commitment and compassion towards their patients. Outside of the hospital, you can usually find Torie at one of her favorite spots – the East Bay Bike Path. She also enjoys skiing, working out, The Bachelor and all desserts. A New England girl through and through, Torie feels extremely lucky to be able to continue this next journey in Providence with her husband (a Brown orthopedics resident!).
Elizabeth Stone, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Binghamton University
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Elizabeth was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. She attended undergraduate at Binghamton University where she majored in Biology. During her time in undergrad she discovered her love of patient care after becoming an EMT-B and volunteering for Binghamton’s student run ambulance service. She then returned home and attended SUNY Upstate Medical University. In medical school she discovered a love of Pediatrics after tutoring and working with children at Upstate’s Cancer Center during her first two years of medical school. Elizabeth chose Brown because of their commitment to advocacy, medical education, as well as the close knit community it has fostered. She is thrilled to be joining the Brown family, and cannot wait to explore Providence! In her spare time Elizabeth likes to travel, try and cook new foods, read, and spend time outdoors hiking and skiing.
Hawa Tunkara, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: The City College of New York
Medical School: Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Hawa is a New York City native, born and raised in the Bronx with family roots in The Gambia, West Africa. She attended The City College of New York with a major in Psychology, and attended medical school at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. Hawa has a niche in social advocacy which started with her work in the NYC Department of Health. She continues to apply public health principles to help understand, explain and address health inequities. Medicine for her is a bridge towards this. After doing a PICU rotation with Brown, she is excited to join the Brown residency team, as it truly feels like a family to her. She is confident that her training will complement her goals to become a Pediatrician who work towards social advocacy and eliminating health inequities. On a lighter note, she loves mentorship, Afro-beats music and food!
Alexandra Vega, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergrad: University of Central Florida
Medical School: Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine
Alexandra was raised in Orlando, Fl where she went to undergrad at University of Central Florida. GO KNIGHTS! There, she majored in Biomedical Sciences and received a minor in Early Childhood Education and Development. Since deciding to pursue a career in medicine, pediatrics has been at the forefront of her mind, encompassing much of her pre-med and medicine related activities. She attended medical school in Puerto Rico at Universidad Central del Caribe, where her parents are also alumni. She is of Puerto Rican descent and is eternally grateful for the experience of living on the island and exploring medicine through a different perspective. At UCC, she renovated the pediatric interest group, called DRS4KIDS, and worked diligently as president to spread her love of pediatrics to her fellow medical school colleagues. Outside of medicine, she loves to dance. She was an avid salsa dancer in college and has tried to keep dancing as well during medical school. She also has one puppy, named Lilou, who has accompanied her through medical school and now has made the big move to Rhode Island with her. She is thrilled to begin a new adventure here, in Rhode Island, doing what she loves, which is working with children and families making their darkest days a bit brighter.
Ruth Cadet, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Brown University
Medical School: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo
Ruth was born in Brooklyn NY and grew up in northern NJ. She attended college at Brown University concentrating in Sociology. At Brown, she discovered her love for public health and after graduating she decided to get her MPH in Epidemiology at Columbia University. While pursuing her MPH she earned a position working with NYC Health + Hospitals, the public safety net health care system of New York City. She started there as a data analyst and eventually went on to manage several initiatives focused on improving community health and chronic disease management. Though she loved her work, she knew she wanted to provide direct care to patients and so she decided to pursue medical school at the University at Buffalo. There she learned about Med-Peds and knew she found her calling. The reasons she wanted to go into Med-Peds are the same reasons why she wanted to come back to Brown for residency. She knows at Brown she will receive great clinical training in caring for a diverse patient population while also being able to pursue work in public health in the US and abroad. In her free time, she likes connecting with family and friends, reading (or really listening to audiobooks at this point), playing tennis, and playing piano & guitar. She is also attempting to cook and bake more with varying degrees of success.
Tamara Lhungay, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: University of Colorado
Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine
Tamara grew up in rural Colorado. She attended the University of Colorado where she graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Biology and dual minors in Interdisciplinary Research Methods and Health Humanities. At the University of Colorado School of Medicine, she developed an interest in oncology and survivorship, as well as in serving refugee and migrant populations (her father is a Tibetan refugee and her mother is the daughter of Dominican and Jamaican immigrants.) Her research was mainly focused on quality improvement and oncology, but her guiding star remained the humanity within medicine.
Then wanderlust struck, and after crisscrossing the country, she fell in love with New England for its oceans, people, and vibrant culture. Brown instantly felt like home for Tamara because of the warm and genuine people, paired with academic excellence and a supportive and growth-focused culture.
In her free time, Tamara enjoys hiking, skiing, (or any outdoor activity), and will say yes to most adventures. When she must stay indoors she enjoys board games, crocheting, and spending time with her two cats, Remi and Theo. She is looking forward to exploring New England and finally trying surfing.
Cameron Ulmer, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Northwestern University
Medical School: Rush Medical College (AOA, GHHS)
Cameron was born in Pennsylvania, then lived in California and Massachusetts before heading to Chicago to attend college at Northwestern, where he majored in Neurobiology and minored in Music Cognition. Before starting medical school, he worked for a year as a phlebotomist. At Rush, Cameron was involved in medical education efforts including TAing, tutoring, and curriculum development, and sat on the committee addressing student mistreatment. Apart from medicine, he loves to volunteer with Camp Kesem, even advising Brown’s camp in 2018! Brown’s Med-Peds program blew Cameron away with the warmth of the residents and faculty along with the strong categorical training programs, and he is thrilled to return to New England to continue his training. In his spare time, he enjoys running, hiking, baking, trying new and adventurous foods, and playing and watching sports (huge Northwestern fan).
Madeleine Ward, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Georgetown University
Medical School: Georgetown University (AOA)
Madeleine grew up in Atlanta, GA. After graduating valedictorian from high school, Madeleine ventured north to spend her days on the hilltop of Georgetown, where she majored in biochemistry and minored in art history. Knowing her passion for medicine and her love for Georgetown, she chose to apply to the early assurance program for medical school and was accepted at age 20. As she transitioned to a new chapter in her Georgetown adventures at medical school, Madeleine decided to explore the intersection between art and medicine. She created a research project to look at how art education at the National Gallery of Art in DC can improve medical students’ communication skills. She hopes to continue learning more about arts and medicine at Brown. The Med-Peds Program at Brown stood out among the rest because of the people. She absolutely loved everyone she met and felt extremely welcomed. She also appreciated the reputation of excellent clinical training in both internal medicine and pediatrics. As an added bonus, Madeleine also realized the incredible extent of art and dance at Brown and in the surrounding community. At this time, Madeleine is currently undecided on her career path, but is interested in the Clinical Educator Track and potentially a dual adult/pediatric fellowship. She is excited to live in Providence and explore all the amazing food. In her free time, Madeleine enjoys crafting, board games, dancing, cooking, and outdoor activities.
Ashley Martinez, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Brown University
Medical School: Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University
Honors: Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME)
Ashley was born and raised in Laredo, Texas. She attended Brown University after being accepted into the PLME where she earned her degree in Cognitive Neuroscience. Ashley volunteered as a crisis counselor with Crisis Text Line throughout medical school and was a member of the Latinx Medical Student Association. She received the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry’s Medical Student Fellowship and spent a summer researching irritability in young children at Bradley Hospital’s Pediatric Partial Hospital Program. Ashley is thrilled to be staying in Providence for residency! She is passionate about mentoring underrepresented minority students and working with underserved communities. Ashley is interested in integrated primary care and increasing access to mental health services. Outside of medicine, Ashley is an avid reader who also enjoys scrapbooking, trying new restaurants, staying active with Zumba, and binge watching all eight Harry Potter movies!
Chase Pribble, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Claremont McKenna College
Medical School: St. Louis University School of Medicine (AOA)
Chase was born and raised in Salt Lake City, UT, then moved to southern California to attend Claremont McKenna College, where he majored in Biology. In college, he discovered a passion for research in a basic science lab, and even considered teaching higher education science. However, his experiences volunteering with cancer patients at City of Hope helped push him into applying to medical school, as he preferred the personal, intimate interactions with patients over the sterility and objectiveness of a basic science lab. Once in medical school at St. Louis University, he continued to pursue research and service. He was accepted into the Rodney M. Coe Service and Advocacy Program, a community service distinction for graduates of SLU, with the majority of his time spent at a local juvenile detention center improving quality of care and follow up for children incarcerated with mental diagnoses. In medical school, he also discovered a passion for medical education, leading several talks to lower classes in topics from test-taking skills to physical exam maneuvers. And while he enjoyed a wide variety of specialties, he ultimately decided to split the difference between his parents (a PICU doctor and a school psychologist) and pursue Triple Board training.
Chase is particularly interested in diagnoses that blur the line between medicine and psychiatry, such as headaches, functional abdominal pain, and catatonia, but also has a passion for working within the criminal justice system, clinically and as an advocate. Outside of medicine, he loves all sports (esp. baseball!), the beach, and listening to Ariana Grande. He is eager to explore Rhode Island, and has plans to try every restaurant in Providence by the end of his 5 years.
Stephanie Wagner, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-3
Undergraduate: Yale University
Medical School: Emory University (AOA)
Steph was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, before moving to New England for high school and college. She attended Yale University for her undergraduate degree and majored in Global Affairs, with a focus on development economics. After graduation, she completed a post-baccalaureate program at John Hopkins University and then spent a year as a research assistant on a health systems research team in the Department of General Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital. She attended Emory University School of Medicine where she was involved in near-peer teaching, undergraduate health research mentorship, and health disparities and quality of care evaluation at a local autism clinic. In addition to her MD, Steph earned an MPH in Epidemiology from the Rollins School of Public Health, where her research focused on epidemiologic patterns in diagnosis and treatment for transgender and gender non-conforming youth. She was selected into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honor society as well as the Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society.
Steph is interested in using her Triple Board training to better understand how to build integrated models of care for patients who have complex medical and psychiatric needs, particularly trans and gender non-conforming youth. She is excited to continue bridging different fields of knowledge to provide more innovative and comprehensive care for children and their families. In her free time, Steph is an avid baker, knitter, U.S. Women’s National Team fan, and long distance runner. She and her husband are excited to be moving to Providence and hosting as many dinner parties as possible!
Anurag Goel, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School: Weill Cornell Medicine
Anu was born in Washington D.C. and raised in Northern Virginia. He studied Neuroscience, Spanish, and Music at Washington University in St. Louis, where he discovered he wanted to be a doctor. He moved to New York City to attend Weill Cornell Medicine, where he focused his non-clinical time on the humanities in medicine. He directed the WCM Journal of Humanities, led the WCM Music and Medicine program, participated in multiple medical humanities electives, and was a performing musician throughout NYC. He also researched the use of complementary and integrative medicine by palliative care providers. At WCM, Anu discovered an interest in medical education, working on curriculum development projects, serving as a tutor and mentor in both preclinical and clinical settings, and completing the Stanford Faculty Development Center’s course in Effective Clinical Teaching. Outside of medicine, Anu continues to enjoy performing music wherever and with whomever he can (#DocsWhoRock), hunting for records, practicing and preaching mindfulness and meditation, binging standup comedy on YouTube, cooking, baking, and eating yummy local food.
Laura Schwartz, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: George Washington University
Medical School: University of Massachusetts Medical School (AOA, GHHS)
Laura Schwartz, Med-Peds class of 2025, is originally from Framingham, MA. She attended George Washington University in Washington, DC for undergrad, worked in research for 2 years, then attended University of Massachusetts Medical School. Her clinical interests include infectious disease, LGBTQ+ health, refugee/asylum seeker health, and reproductive health in a primary care setting. Outside of work, her favorite hobbies include yoga, skiing, singing, baking apple pie, and baseball (go Nationals!)
Becca Raymond-Kolker, MD (they/them)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Smith College
Medical School: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University (GHHS)
Becca grew up in Austin, Texas and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies. After graduation, Becca worked for several years as a case manager in a supportive housing building where they became interested in pursuing a career in medicine. Becca completed the Premedical Postbaccalaureate at Bryn Mawr College in 2017. During medical school, Becca was a member of the Medical Humanities and Ethics Scholarly Concentration, a participant in the Brown Advocates for Social Change and Equity (BASCE) Fellowship, a co-leader of the Spectrum LGBTQ organization, and a part of the national leadership team of the Medical Student Pride Alliance. Becca is currently a producer on the popular pediatric podcast The Cribsiders. In true Med-Peds fashion, Becca’s clinical interests include primary care, hospital medicine, adolescent medicine, and infectious disease. Becca is also passionate about medical education, trauma informed care, practicing LGBTQ+ inclusive care, and working collaboratively to dismantle structural racism within medicine. In their free time, Becca enjoys practicing yoga, listening to and producing podcasts, going to the farmers’ market, and spending time with their family here in Providence. Becca is thrilled to be continuing their medical training at Brown as a resident at the combined Internal Medicine – Pediatrics Residency.
Emily Kruse, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame
Medical School: University of Minnesota
Emily grew up in Bloomington, MN, a suburb of Minneapolis. She attended undergrad at the University of Notre Dame, where she studied abroad in London for a semester and graduated with a Science-Business major and Poverty Studies minor. She worked as a medical scribe and volunteered with incarcerated veterans transitioning back into society from prison during her gap year after college. At the University of Minnesota Medical School, Emily researched ethnic and gender biases in medicine and worked to implement opioid harm reduction strategies in the Twin Cities community through syringe exchanges and street outreach programs. She hopes to become a dual internal medicine/pediatrics urban academic hospitalist and complete fellowships in addiction medicine and toxicology. Outside of medicine, Emily enjoys kayaking in the Boundary Waters of MN, vegetarian cooking, crosswords, teaching her female cat Jimmy new tricks, and spending time with her loved ones.
Elizabeth Modde, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Loyola University of Chicago
Medical School: University of Missouri
Elizabeth grew up on the land now known as St. Louis, Missouri, where she loved frequenting the free art museum, botanical garden, and outdoor concerts. She moved to Chicago, where she majored in dance and biology. Gazing at Lake Michigan’s waves were the perfect way for her to calm down with her busy schedule. After graduating, she was lucky enough to spend the year after graduation doing a year of service program in inner-city Baltimore. Her patients were the inspiration to attend medical school! So she moved back to the midwest. She had many social justice passions in medical school. She ran the local free clinic and lived at the local homeless shelter, St. Francis House. She led efforts to improve gender affirming care, care for survivors of intimate partner violence, and trauma informed care. Her research focused on Indigenous health. She is excited to meet, listen to, and support her new patients and community as a triple board resident! Elizabeth enjoys travel, vegetarian cooking, dancing…
Hannah Cohan, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Muhlenberg College
Medical School: Penn State College of Medicine (AOA)
Hannah is from Ridgewood, NJ. She majored in neuroscience at Muhlenberg College, where she first became interested in the oh-so intertwined relationship between mind and body. After graduating, Hannah worked at the Child Mind Institute in NYC, where she developed a passion for working with young children and their families who have anxiety conditions, with a special interest in Selective Mutism. She also worked at a non-profit called Positive Exposure, which uses the visual arts to create human-centered medical education resources that celebrate the beauty in human diversity. At Penn State College of Medicine, Hannah combined her love for medicine and the arts as an active member of the on campus a capella group and an actress in several performances on campus. As a triple board resident, Hannah is interested in pursuing a career in integrated care. She aspires to work with children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and to continue to develop and apply her love for behavioral, exposure based therapies for children with anxiety conditions.
Kathryn Lamere, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Washington University
Medical School: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University (AOA)
Katie grew up in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and graduated cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology and minors in Global Health and the Environment and Music. After college she spent 2 years working at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in women’s mental health research before starting medical school at Brown University in the combined M.D.-Master of Science in Primary Care and Population Medicine program. Throughout medical school, Katie’s scholarly work focused on leveraging the pediatric primary care setting to improve access to mental health care for children and their moms, as well as community-based work focused on improving health care for women with substance use disorders in early recovery. She was also involved in many teaching and mentorship activities throughout her time at Brown, and hopes to continue to grow as a medical educator throughout residency. Katie was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society, and was awarded the Christopher Benedick, MD, Child Psychiatry Award upon graduation. Katie is passionate about improving access to mental health care for children and their families, and hopes to work in integrated behavioral health in the primary care setting for children and adolescents, and to be involved in policy and advocacy efforts around improving mental health care for kids on a systems level. Outside of medicine, Katie loves spending time with her friends and family, exploring the Providence restaurant scene with her husband Danny, making homemade pasta, playing board games, singing, cuddling with her cat Daisy, and knitting. During her four years of medical school, Katie has fallen in love with Providence and Rhode Island thanks to the vibrant community, fabulous beaches, and unparalleled mentorship at Brown, and she could not be more excited to officially join the Brown Triple Board and Pediatrics families.
Wendi Bao, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: University of Georgia
Medical School: AU/UGA Medical Partnership (AOA)
Wendi grew up near Atlanta, Georgia and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia, where she majored in biology with a minor in French. She enjoyed her time in Athens, GA so much that she decided to stay for medical school at the AU/UGA Medical Partnership, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society and served as curriculum chair for her class. She hopes to pursue a career in pediatric allergy and immunology with a special interest in the effects of lifestyle and socioeconomic factors on atopic disorders. Outside of medicine, Wendi enjoys reading (her favorite author is David Foster Wallace), travel, and cooking (she is especially passionate about viennoiserie). She is thrilled to be moving closer to the ocean and even more excited to join the pediatrics team at Brown!
Ioanna “Joanna” Barkas, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Bryn Mawr College
Medical School: Tufts Medical School
Joanna grew up in Queens, NY where she spent all of her life before moving to Pennsylvania for college. She studied biology and anthropology at Bryn Mawr. After college, Joanna did research in pulmonary critical care at Weill Cornell in NY and Brigham & Women’s in Boston. She then got her MS in biomedical sciences at Tufts where she stayed for medical school (Double Jumbo!). In medical school, Joanna spent time volunteering with Horizons for Homeless Children which solidified her interest in pediatrics. Her current clinical interests include primary care and immigrant and refugee healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and kitty, Onnie, exploring all the beautiful spots in New England, reading (YA novels!), baking, cycling and finding any and every excuse to eat ice cream. She’s so excited to join the awesome Brown pediatrics family! And to try every single ice cream flavor in Providence over the next three years!
Stephanie Camhi, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Endicott College
Medical School: University of Miami (AOA)
Stephanie was born and raised in Weston, Connecticut and completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts. She then worked in clinical research at Mass General Hospital for Children while completing her post-baccalaureate studies at Harvard Extension School, before finally completing her MD and MPH in a four-year combined program at the University of Miami. Stephanie aspires to become a pediatric gastroenterologist and is interested in health and food literacy, health promotion, disease prevention and improving access to pediatric subspecialty care for underserved populations. Outside of medicine, she enjoys spending time with her 9-year-old rescue dog Daisy, reading suspense/thriller novels, discovering great local coffee shops and relaxing at the beach!
Michelle Crowley, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Brianna Dillon, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Ed
Medical School: CUNY School of Medicine
Brianna was born and raised in Queens, New York. She attended the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education/CUNY School of Medicine, a combined B.S./M.D. program in New York City. During her time in the program, she worked in a charter school serving children with learning difficulties and assisting low-income families of color. She also worked in an organization that helped teach middle school students about healthy eating. Her experiences in those settings further solidified her dedication to the welfare of all children. In addition, she conducted research on healthcare disparities that affect patients of color. Brianna is committed to advocating for health equity and ensuring all patients receive quality healthcare. She was drawn to Brown because of the excellent training, strong social justice and advocacy initiatives and down to earth leadership and residents. In her free time, Brianna enjoys hanging out with family and friends, spending time outdoors, and watching T.V. shows/movies. Brianna is very happy and excited to be a member of the Brown family and looks forward to exploring all Providence has to offer!
Natasha Furtado Dalomba, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Harvard University
Medical School: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University (AOA, GHHS)
Natasha is a first-generation college student who grew up in Easton, MA. She graduated Harvard University with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology. While on the pre-med and research track, Natasha unexpectedly fell in love with teaching. She pursued her interest in education access work for three years in Boston with AmeriCorps, first with City Year and then with College Advising Corps. She remains passionate about educational equity and taught throughout her time at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She co-led Sex Ed by Brown Med and HealthCORE (pre-health programming for high school students) in addition to engaging in various opportunities to teach in surrounding communities. She is excited to participate in Medical Education throughout her career. Natasha loves working with adolescents and is passionate about Reproductive Justice and Gender Affirming Health Care. As she enters intern year, Natasha is excited about a possible career in Primary Care. Natasha enjoys going on adventures with her dog, drawing, dancing, figure skating, and exploring Providence’s food scene.
Elizabeth “Lillie” Haxton, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Tufts University
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Lillie was raised in Syracuse, New York. She attended Tufts University for undergrad where she received her B.A in clinical psychology. After graduating, she spent two years working as a research coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital doing clinical research in the Center for Rare Neurological Diseases where she discovered her love of medicine and working with children and families. She then attended medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine. In her free time, she enjoys rock climbing, playing board games, playing basketball, and cooking. On her interview day, she was immediately drawn to Brown by the warmth of the residents and faculty as well as their clear passion for teaching. She is so excited to be starting her residency at Brown!
Lauren Irvin, DO (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Queens University of Charlotte
Medical School: University of NE School of Osteopathic Medicine
Lauren was born and raised in Concord, North Carolina. She attended Queens University of Charlotte for her undergraduate degree where she obtained a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy. As part of the degree, she completed a music therapy internship in hospice and bereavement in Asheville, NC. Shortly after graduating she was employed by Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, NC where she provided music therapy to a variety of patient populations, primarily focusing on patients with life limiting and life-threatening illness. In the course of her work, Lauren recognized a growing desire to become involved in the medical aspect of care and decided to pursue medical school. She obtained her prerequisite courses at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and attended medical school at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine. Lauren is thrilled to continue her education at Brown and from the start was drawn to its supportive culture as well as its dedication to advocacy and educational excellence. She hopes to expand on her interests in palliative and critical care medicine as well as care for underserved populations in her future practice. In her free time, Lauren enjoys making music, reading, baking, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.
Arushi Jauhari, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Brown University
Medical School: Hofstra/Northwell (GHHS)
Arushi is originally from the small (but mighty!) state of Connecticut. She attended Brown for her undergraduate years, graduating with a major in Applied Mathematics-Biology. After college, she worked in special education, where she interwove her interest in medicine with teaching neurodiverse children. She later moved to New York to pursue her medical degree at Hofstra/Northwell. There, she excitingly led her school’s pediatrics interest group and met incredible mentors and pediatric patients along the way. She is particularly passionate about exploring maternal-infant health and their impact on subsequent child development. During the interview trail, Arushi was looking for a medium-sized program that emphasized a strong sense of community in the setting of a rigorous clinical training experience. She felt Brown not only had these attributes, but also stood out with its residency leadership and advocacy opportunities. She is thrilled to return to Rhode Island to explore the ocean state’s culinary scene further! During her free time, you can find her spending time with family, reading with a warm cup of chai, adventuring to a new pizza joint, or befriending a dog.
Emma Livne, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Carnegie Mellon University
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Emma grew up in White Plains, NY and attended Carnegie Mellon University where she received her undergraduate degree in Global Studies, with a concentration in Sustainable Social Change and Middle Eastern conflict. After graduation she served in AmeriCorps at Vital Village Network in Boston: a community-driven non-profit committed to strengthening child and family protective factors. Emma stayed in Boston for medical school, where she was involved in an underserved medicine track, and lead a volunteer organization offering support and play to Pediatric Oncology patients. She also took a research year at the Tufts Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program, where she studied the late effects of cancer treatment from the survivors’ perspective. Emma is excited to join the warm and impassioned Hasbro community, and begin exploring local food spots in Providence. Outside of the hospital, Emma enjoys cooking (and eating) fish tacos, reading, playing ultimate frisbee, and spending time outdoors
Greg Lopez, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Boston College
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Jefferson University (GHHS)
Greg was born and raised in Wayne, Pennsylvania. He majored in biology at Boston College. After graduating, he stayed in Boston as a member of the Beth Israel Deaconess Emergency Medicine research team, focusing on sepsis, pancreatitis, and the implementation of clinical pathways. During his time in Boston, he volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Greg enrolled at Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia, where he achieved his two lifelong dreams of becoming a doctor and attending an Eagles Super Bowl parade. While at SKMC, he volunteered with a student-run clinic at a shelter for women and children. He also coached for Snider Hockey, an after-school youth sports program in West Philadelphia. His interests in medicine include advocacy, patient education, and universal healthcare. In his free time, Greg enjoys rollerblading, tailgating, and getting upset about Philadelphia sports.
Noah Lupica, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Brown University
Medical School: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Noah was born in Livingston, New Jersey and moved to Portland, Maine at 6 months of age. He graduated from Brown University with honors in Science, Technology, and Society where he studied the healthcare experiences of trans and gender diverse youth. Noah went on to attend the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Reproductive justice, comprehensive and inclusive sexual health education, and teaching were just a few of Noah’s interests in medical school. There he lead “Sex Ed by Brown Med” which provided sexual health education to the 7th graders of Central Falls, RI. He also tutored high schoolers at Youth Pride Inc. in downtown Providence, and spearheaded several preclinical curricular initiatives for his med student peers. Noah is thrilled to be staying at Brown for his pediatric residency training and looks forward to exploring a career in adolescent medicine and integrated primary care; the perfect mix of sexual health, mental/behavioral health and sexuality/gender affirming care. In his spare time, you can find Noah experimenting in the kitchen, restoring neglected bicycles, and exploring Rhode Island’s many beaches and trails with his dog, Freiberg
Julia Millikan, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Indiana University
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine (GHHS)
Julia was born and raised in a small town in Northern Indiana. She attended Indiana University in Bloomington where she majored in Human Biology and completed a Certificate in Social Research in Health and Medicine. During undergrad she grew her passion for medicine and pediatrics through her involvement in IU Dance Marathon, which supported a children’s hospital. Julia attended Indiana University School of Medicine and chose the South Bend campus to be close to home and work with a more rural, underserved population. At IUSOM, she was involved with the Medical Student Council, served as a class representative, and was involved in a COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Center. Julia was selected to Gold Humanism Honor Society during medical school. Brown was the perfect choice for residency because of the support for advocacy, diverse patient population, and excellent training. She is still deciding what avenue to pursue in pediatrics but hopes to blend advocacy into her career. Outside of medicine, Julie loves spending time with her two dogs, hiking, and being by the water, so she is excited to move to Rhode Island.
Shirley Mo, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate/Medical School: Sophie Davis Program in Biomedical Ed/CUNY School of Medicine
Shirley was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She attended the Sophie Davis Program in Biomedical Education/CUNY School of Medicine, which was a combined BS/MD program focused on addressing social determinants of health and health disparities. Shirley has enjoyed working with the Asian American, immigrant and underserved populations at a federally qualified health center throughout medical school. Her interests led her to a variety of youth development programs, community advocacy projects and hepatology research. Shirley is thrilled to join the Hasbro Family because of the welcoming and diverse community at Brown, emphasis on resident work-life balance and opportunities to further develop her passions. She hopes to combine her interests in advocacy, health policy, mentorship, and education, alongside her clinical practice. Outside of medicine, you can find her hiking in the wilderness, having a solo dance party (feel free to join!), snacking on Bark Thins dark chocolate and spending time with her family and friends. She is excited to explore the food and beach scenes in Rhode Island!
Haley Moulton, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Dartmouth College
Medical School: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Haley Moulton grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and she moved to New Hampshire for undergrad where she majored in biology modified with ethics at Dartmouth College. At Dartmouth she became involved with shared decision making initiatives and is passionate about patient engagement and ensuring that a patient’s preferences and concerns guide the direction of their healthcare. Haley continued her studies at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and as a medical student spent a year working as a research coordinator for OPENPediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is interested in continuing work on medical education projects, including video-based learning and simulations in medical education. While she is still figuring out her specific career goals and exploring potential subspecialties, she is committed to providing patient and family centered care. She chose Brown because of the incredible teaching, and community of dedicated, genuine, and fun-loving residents and faculty. Outside of the hospital Haley likes spending time on the water kayaking and paddle boarding, spinning, binging television ranging from crime dramas to The Bachelor, and is looking forward to exploring eateries and breweries around Rhode Island.
Kimberly Pianucci, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Columbia University
Medical School: Rutgers NJ Medical School
Kimmie grew up in a small town in New Jersey with her three sisters, and she decided to change gears and make the move to NYC for college. She attended Columbia University, where she studied Neuroscience and Behavior and played varsity field hockey. She returned to New Jersey and worked as a scribe in the Emergency Department of the hospital where she was born. She attended medical school at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, where she enjoyed volunteering at the student run free clinic and teaching students with special needs at a local middle school. She is very excited to join the Brown Pediatrics Residency Program and learn to provide exceptional care to a diverse population alongside incredible colleagues. She is looking forward to discovering the Providence food scene, exploring Rhode Island beaches, and enjoying the fall in New England!
Rebecca Wingerter, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-2
Undergraduate: Union College
Medical School: University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Becca grew up in Newton, Massachusetts and attended Union College for her undergraduate studies. Upon graduation, she received a fellowship grant to live and work in Siem Reap, Cambodia, where she taught at an NGO school that served formerly street working children. While there, she also developed a culturally conscious physical and sexual health curriculum to address the needs of her teenaged students. This fostered Becca’s passions for pediatric and adolescent medicine and advocacy work. When she returned, Becca worked as a research coordinator in the cardiology department at Tufts Medical Center and completed her pre-medical coursework at Northeastern University. She notably worked on two NIH-funded disease registries, a prospective, randomized study assessing exercise and disease progress in patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Long-QT Syndrome, and a Phase 4 drug trial. Following 3 years in Boston, she moved with her husband and Australian Shepherd to Orlando, Florida where she attended medical school at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. At UCF, Becca’s interest in pediatrics grew as she participated in various mentorship experiences, clinical rotations, research projects, and volunteered for a Crisis Text Line. Becca is thrilled to join the Brown family. She was immediately drawn to the program’s commitment to advocacy work, the diverse patient population, the nurturing educational environment, and the tight knit relationships amongst residents and program leadership alike. In her free time, Becca spends time with her newborn son and large family, enjoys time outdoors—particularly downhill skiing and hiking, tries out new recipes from her extensive cookbook collection, and reads by the beach.
Anita Gandhi, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina
Medical School: East Carolina University (AOA, GHHS)
Anita received her BSPH from the University of North Carolina, with an honors thesis on molecular mechanisms of alcoholic steatohepatitis. She worked as a biology teacher in an under resourced high school and as a medical scribe before enrolling in medical school. Her medical school projects reflected her interests in education, quality improvement, and health disparities. She completed projects assessing educational interventions promoting use of POCUS in the NICU, access to long-acting reversible contraceptives in the OB resident clinic, and QI projects on diabetic foot exams in the Med/Peds resident clinic. She was inducted into AOA and GHHS and founded an IHI student interest group. She enjoys event planning, design and baking, interval training, karaoke, and cultural immersion opportunities. She considers her hometowns to be Essex Junction, VT, Jersey City, NJ, and Sanford, NC.
Tabitha Ndung’u, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: Warren Wilson College
Medical School: Louisiana State University
Tabitha is from Kijabe, Kenya. She attended Warren Wilson College where she was a biochemistry major. Following graduation, she received an MPH from Tulane. She attended LSU for medical school, where she was a rural scholar. In medical school she was a facilitator for Critical Consciousness in Medicine course and held leadership positions in Wilderness Medicine SIG as well as the Christian Medical and Dental Association. After her rural service commitment in Louisiana, Tabitha hopes to return to Kenya with the goal of establishing chronic disease management clinics. Tabitha enjoys cooking Kenyan cuisine, trail running, and visiting zoos, aquariums, and museums.
Cecillia Paasche, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: Swarthmore College
Medical School: Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University
Cecilia attended Swarthmore College, graduating with a degree in Neuroscience with honors in 2016. She attended Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, where she was awarded Outstanding Student in the Internal Medicine Clerkship and Outstanding Student in the Pediatrics Clerkship. At Sackler, she published research on the impact of virtual physician disclosures of personal struggle on medical students as well as research on substance use disorders. She also served as managing editor of the Sackler Journal of Medicine chapter, co-president of the American Medical Women’s Association, and led workshops on Racism in Medicine, Maternal Mortality, and the Impact of COVID-19 on Women. Cecilia enjoys writing and reading fiction and poetry, watercolor painting, playing Scrabble and solving crossword puzzles, yoga, and playing piano and percussion instruments.
Maya Tsao-Wu, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: Pomona College
Medical School: Penn State College of Medicine
Maya grew up mostly in Alaska and Vietnam before going to Pomona College, where she graduated Cum Laude with a BA in molecular biology. After a year working as an ED scribe in Washington state, she moved to Hershey, Pennsylvania for medical school. Maya enjoyed volunteering with the student pediatric society, especially in her role as the Paw Prints Editor, delivering monthly activity booklets to children in the hospitals, ED, and clinics. She also enjoyed mentoring pre-med students from throughout southcentral Pennsylvania and returning to Arizona to work with Indian Health Service as part of Penn State’s Global Health Scholar Program.
Brown stood out to Maya on the interview trail because of the incredible kindness and warmth of the faculty and residents, along with the strength of its categorical training programs. Maya is currently undecided on her career path, but she has particularly enjoyed her experiences in childhood obesity research, infectious disease, and global health.
In her free time, Maya enjoys cross country skiing, sci-fi/fantasy audiobooks, lettering, bullet journaling, praying, and eating good food with friends and family.
Nicole Felix, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: Amherst College
Medical School: Albert Einstein School of Medicine
Nicole (She/her) was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in the Bronx, New York. She completed her undergraduate studies at Amherst College where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Asian Languages and Civilizations and completed a post-baccalaureate program. She received her MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she was selected for a Dean’s Recognition Award, Distinction in Research, and the Maurice Greenhill Award in Psychiatry. At Einstein, she was part of the ECHO Board, a student-run Saturday clinic providing free healthcare to uninsured patients. She is excited to join the Triple Board team and she is passionate about caring for the physical and mental health of children and their families. She is interested in getting more training in eating disorder treatment, mood disorders, and Perinatal and Infant Psychiatry. For fun she likes spending time with her husband Matt and her dog Stitch, dancing, and exploring new restaurants and coffee shops in Providence.
Michael Hoggard, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: B.S. – Economics, Utah State University
MD: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth (AOA)
Graduate: MPH, Public Health, University of Eastern Finland
Hometowns: Long Beach, CA & Highland, UT
Michael Hoggard was born in California but was raised between Utah and Finland. He studied economics for his bachelor’s degree before completing a master’s of public health in Finland, during which he focused on refugee health and health economics. He spent 5 of the 7 years before medical school living, studying, or conducting research on 3 continents.
Niralee Shah, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Niralee is the daughter of first-generation immigrant parents and grew up in North Adams, MA. She majored in Mathematics and Arabic at Williams College. After graduating, she spent five years working abroad—first teaching high school math in Jordan, then joining a Palestinian tech-startup and codeveloping a mini-MBA program for youth entrepreneurs. She was then director of Tomorrow’s Youth Organization, a community center in Nablus, Palestine providing psychosocial support to children and families living in refugee camps and underserved urban neighborhoods in the northern West Bank. The work taught her a lot about early life and intergenerational trauma, alongside the power of community organizing and resilience; this ultimately compelled her to retrain in medicine to better understand, diagnose, and treat the impact of trauma on the mind and body. After completing a premedical post-bacc at Goucher College, Niralee moved to Rhode Island to start medical school in Brown’s combined M.D.-M.Sc. program in Primary Care and Population Medicine, where she grew her interests in teaching and improving access to mental health care. Upon graduating, she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honors Society and awarded the Christopher Benedick, MD, Child Psychiatry Award.
Niralee is thrilled to stay at Brown for integrated training in pediatrics and psychiatry, and she is grateful to continue growing among such supportive peers and mentors! She looks forward to providing care that centers the stories and strengths of her patients and their communities. In addition to her work, Niralee loves to dance, rock climb, bike along the RI coast, and cook up a storm for her friends and family.
Shanelle D’Alessio, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: UNC Chapel Hill
Medical School: Quinnipiac University
Shanelle grew up in East Lyme, CT and spent many childhood summers at the beach in Rhode Island. She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a Bachelors in Biology and Psychology and a new found love of college basketball (go Tar Heels!). After undergrad, Shanelle moved to Nicaragua where she worked for an NGO teaching ESL and managing community health programs focused on infectious diseases and chronic conditions. A few years later, Shanelle returned home to attend medical school at Quinnipiac University in North Haven, CT. As a medical student, Shanelle led a student-run free clinic and community health collaboration in Bridgeport, CT and graduated with a concentration in Global, Community and Public Health. She was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and was the recipient of the Dean’s Leadership Award. Shanelle is very excited to now become a part of the Brown and Hasbro family. She is interested in primary care, endocrinology, and hematology/oncology, and no matter what, she hopes to be involved in the greater Providence community. Shanelle enjoys crosswords, coffee, and puzzles. Outside the hospital, you can find Shanelle on the beach with a good book, in the gym trying to keep up with her exercise-enthusiast husband, or spending time with her family throughout New England.
Jean Devera, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: University of the Virgin Islands
Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
Jean was born in Manila, Philippines and grew up on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He majored in Biology at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI). In college, he participated in service-oriented organizations such as Brothers With a Cause, Rotaract, and the UVI Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS Prevention Program. His passion in working with adolescents and young adults and helping the underserved inspired him to pursue Pediatrics. He attended Boston University School of Medicine through the Early Medical School Selection Program (EMSSP). In medical school, Jean developed his interests in research through the Summer Training as Research Scholars program (STaRS). The clinical research and quality improvement studies included topics on maternal-infant health, vaccine attitudes, COVID-19, and social determinants of health. His other interests include teaching and mentorship. He taught students at a summer program from 6th to 12th grade about organ systems, disease presentations, career planning, and surgical techniques at Boston Leadership Institute throughout Massachusetts. He also mentors college and medical students through the Populi Foundation, EMSSP, and STaRS. He was drawn to Brown for the clinical training, diverse patient populations, commitment to teaching and medical education, and the residency’s vibes. Jean is excited to be at Brown for his pediatric residency training and looks forward to exploring the primary care niche or subspecialty that aligns with his interests. Outside of medicine, Jean enjoys making home-cooked Filipino and Puerto-Rican meals, trying new restaurants, playing/watching basketball (Let’s go Celtics!), personal fitness, and trying new activities.
Cody Goldsmith, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: Cornell University
Medical School: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (GHHS)
Cody grew up in Oceanside, NY. He attended college at Cornell University where he majored in Nutritional Sciences and minored in Development Sociology. He completed medical school at the University of Pennsylvania where he studied food insecurity, food justice, and home cooking. Cody is interested in wellness and disease prevention, specifically, synthesizing health with neighborhood environments, daily habits, sports, dance, music, and the arts. Cody was drawn to Brown for its inclusive culture, diverse perspectives, and its encouragement of advocacy and social change. Outside the hospital, Cody enjoys searing fish (but not when it sticks to the pan). He also likes meditating, reading philosophy, rewatching Rocky movies, playing music, and finding new ways to break a sweat – whether it’s along the bike path, in the gym, or on the dance floor.
Jennifer Hadley, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Emily Jaimerena, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: Harvard University
Medical School: Alpert Medical School at Brown University
Emily hails from Southern California, but has happily called New England home for almost a decade despite being the sole Lakers fan in a 300-mile radius. She came east for college at Harvard where she studied Human Evolutionary Biology and English, played a lot of basketball, and worked several jobs. After graduating in 2017 she did an AmeriCorps education program, teaching ELA and running afterschool programs at an elementary school in Seattle. She found a passion for education equity work that combined perfectly with her interest in serving kids and underserved populations. Then fate brought Emily back to the east coast for medical school at Brown where she was involved in First-Gen/Low-Income peer mentorship, leading and coordinating pre-orientation hiking trips for incoming M1s, and researching ethics pedagogy in medical education. She also volunteered in preschools and at a local Boys & Girls Club as a youth basketball coach, and spent a lot of time perfecting her carrot cake recipe.
Brown’s support for maintaining the whole self during medical training, its opportunities to advocate for reproductive justice and early literacy, and emphasis on family-centered care are just a few reasons it has felt like a perfect fit for Emily. She fell in love with Rhode Island’s amazing food, breweries, people, and community during medical school and is so excited to continue her journey to becoming a pediatrician here alongside these amazing folks!
Anne Kennedy, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Sarah Lake, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: Middlebury College
Post-Baccalaureate: NIH
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Sarah grew up in Greenbelt, Maryland and attended Middlebury College where she majored in Physics. After graduating from Middlebury, Sarah spent a year as a post-baccalaureate fellow at the National Institutes of Health working in a lab studying tether proteins using fluorescence microscopy. Sarah attended University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore where her interest in pediatrics grew through her involvement in the Primary Care Track, clinical exposure, and volunteer work in Baltimore Public Schools and as a volunteer coach for KEEN of Greater DC and Baltimore helping to facilitate social and athletic events for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Sarah is over the moon about joining the Hasbro Community and excited to explore Rhode Island’s beaches. Outside of residency, Sarah enjoys hiking, knitting elaborate sweaters, participating in trivia activities, and spending time exploring New England with her dog Trixie.
Jacqueline Lee, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: University of Virginia
Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine
Jackie was born and raised in Northern Virginia. She attended college at the University of Virginia, where she pursued her interests in neurobiology, computer science, education, and the myriad of ways these disciplines intertwine. She graduated with a B.A. in Cognitive Science and spent a year working as an emergency department scribe at her local hospital back home before returning to Charlottesville for medical school. There, she fell in love with Pediatrics and sought out ways to combine this with her continued interest in education by co-leading her school’s Pediatrics Interest Group, hosting review sessions for clerkship students, and serving as a teaching assistant in the Microbes and Immune System preclinical curriculum. Heading to Providence for residency marks her biggest move thus far, but with such a welcoming and supportive group of co-residents, Rhode Island is feeling more and more like home every day! Outside of the hospital, Jackie can be found enjoying all of the classic grandma hobbies — knitting herself a new wardrobe, cozying up on the couch with a good book, and tending to her ever-expanding houseplant collection.
Kelly MacPherson, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Steven Maksymowych, MD (he/him)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: Union College
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Steven was born and raised in the small suburban town of Succassuna, New Jersey. He attended Union College as part of the Leadership in Medicine (LIM) Combined Medical Program where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Biology/Psychology. As part of the program, Steven was dual enrolled in Clarkson University where he graduated with his MBA in Healthcare Administration. After matriculating to Albany Medical College, he involved himself in numerous extracurricular activities including co-founding a service-learning opportunity for at-risk youth in the Albany community, engaging in research involving the use of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) in monitoring NICU patients with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), co-leading the medical school orientation for the Class of 2023, and peer mentoring. He is a proud 2 nd -Generation Ukrainian-American and is involved in Plast, an international Ukrainian Scouting Organization. He also helped to organize fundraisers within Albany Medical towards ongoing humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. He graduated Albany Medical College with induction to the Gold Humanism Honor Society and is thrilled to be pursuing his passion of Pediatric Medicine at Brown! His career interests include medical education, community outreach and volunteering, and improving patient-centered care and advocacy. In his free time, Steven enjoys keeping active and fit at the local gym, exploring Providence as a first-time Rhode Islander, and discussing his love of epic fantasy novels to anyone who is willing to listen!
Ana Ravelo, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Evelisse Viamonte, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: The City University of New York – Hunter College
Medical School: The State University of New York – Upstate Medical University
Evelisse is a Coney Island, Brooklyn native and daughter of immigrant parents hailing from Guyana and Cuba. She graduated Cum Laude from CUNY Hunter College with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Special Honors (interdisciplinary studies). While attending SUNY Upstate Medical University, Evelisse served as secretary of the DocsForTots pediatrics interest group, cultural representative of the South Asian Medical Student Association, logistics coordinator and program editor for the 46th Annual LMSA Northeast Regional Conference, and a Student Advisory Council member and Community Engagement Committee leader for the SUNY Upstate Blackwell Advocacy Learning Community. Through the Blackwell Advocacy Learning Community, Evelisse spearheaded various civic engagement endeavors in Syracuse and is most proud of her work in collaborating with local community leaders to establish monthly, student-run health screenings and COVID vaccine outreach events geared towards vulnerable populations in the greater Syracuse area.
Evelisse was drawn to the Brown Pediatrics Residency Program because its mission directly aligns with her passion for health equity, advocacy, community engagement, and serving diverse and medically underserved populations. She especially appreciated Brown’s close-knit culture and family feel. Evelisse is currently very interested in primary care but is open to being inspired during residency.
Outside of medicine, Evelisse adores dancing to Soca and Chutney music, singing along to 90’s-Early 2000’s R&B hits, watching all things horror and true crime, and is a self-proclaimed procrastibaker and cook that loves to share her delicious, stress-induced culinary creations. She is excited to join the Pediatrics team at Brown and cannot wait to explore all that Providence has to offer.
Olivia Young, MD (she/her)
Position: PGY-1
Undergraduate: Boston College
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine
Olivia (Liv) (she/her) is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio and went to Boston College, where she majored in psychology with a thesis in child development. She also pursued research interests in collaborative care for chronically ill children and studied the Dutch healthcare system while abroad in the Netherlands. Before medical school, she was passionate about her work as a clinical research coordinator, primarily focusing on postpartum depression and women’s mental health. She attended the University of Toledo College of Medicine where she enjoyed tutoring preclinical students and scribing in the medical oncology clinic. She is excited to explore pediatric subspecialties but has a specific interest in pediatric hematology/oncology. In her free time, Liv enjoys kayaking, brewing beer and kombucha with her husband, searching for good vegetarian food, and watching/reading/listening to all things true crime. She is thrilled to be at such a supportive program and to be near the ocean again.