Categorical Interns

 

 

Veronica Bernardo  Veronica earned her BS in Biology at Providence College and is a graduate of New York Medical College.  She grew up outside of Providence and is glad to be back in Little Rhody.  She has a broad range of interests in Pediatrics and is enjoying her time at Hasbro.

  

    

 

Meghan BeucherMeghan moved around a lot as a child.  She grew up mostly in sweet home Alabama.  She spent four wonderful years at Middlebury College in Vermont, followed by two years teaching 9th grade chemistry in New Jersey before returning to the Green Mountain state for medical school.  She loves traveling, hiking, shopping, dancing, running, Zumba, laughing, the color pink, dogs (or any pet for that matter), coming up with new versions of the "awkward turtle," chocolate and peanut butter (together), and of course Hasbro. :) 

 Rhode Island Favorites: I love that I can get a city and small town feel at the same time here (there is a farmer's market right down the street from my house and I can be in downtown providence in 5 minutes, and to Boston in an hour).  The beaches are beautiful and a wonderful way to relax after a long week at work.  There are tons of delicious restaurants of ALL varieties which are fun to explore too.  My co-residents really seal the deal though.  Everyone is very supportive and we enjoy spending time together!

 

Jamie FierceJamie grew up in Stow, Massachusetts. She then moved north to attend Colby College in Maine where she majored in biology.   After graduating she went straight to medical school at Tufts University.  While there, she spent time researching the genetic determinants of resistance to babesia infection. After living in Boston for four years she was ready for a smaller city, and fell in love with Providence. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, snowboarding, and cheering for all of the New England sports teams.

 Rhode Island Favorites: My favorite thing about living in Rhode Island is all of the outdoor activities. I have really enjoyed exploring the beaches, bike paths, and of course Block Island.             

 

Colleen GerrityColleen grew up in Western Massachusetts and earned a BA degree in History at Williams College. During her time at Williams, she spent a semester abroad studying public health in India, China and South Africa. After graduation, she spent the year abroad teaching English in Turkey before heading north to Vermont for medical school.  Outside of the hospital, Colleen enjoys reading, spending time with her husband, Alex (a fellow peds intern), and escaping to the Cape.           

 Rhode Island Favorites:  Being so close to the beach and exploring all the wonderful restaurants!

 

 Alexander HoganAlex is a born and raised Brooklyn Boy who has learned to love RI. He was an English major at Williams College and was accepted to Mount Sinai Medical School via the Humanities in Medicine program. During medical school, Alex was actively involved in teaching and tutoring; whether that was local first generation college bound High School student or peers in medical school. In addition, Alex was a research assistant in a study examining the effect of high fidelity simulation teaching on PALS performance of pediatric residents. Outside of work Alex enjoys playing Ultimate Frisbee, Squash and homebrewing beer!

Rhode Island Favorites:  The seafood, the beaches, and affordable living!         

 

 

 

 

Edward HurleyEd grew up about 30 miles north of Providence in Massachusetts. He had a circuitous path to medicine that included being a newspaper reporter in New Hampshire, an editor at an Internet start-up and a retinal photographer for the VA hospital system.  When not in the clinic or on the wards, he loves spending time with his beautiful wife Sarah and our new daughter Maddy.  As for hobbies, he loves to cook especially grill.  He is trying to perfect his grilled sweet potato recipe.

 Rhode Island Favorites: I actually live just over the border in Massachusetts but I do spend a lot of time in Rhode Island. I love the beaches and the picturesque little seaside towns that have great seafood restaurants and quirky little shops. There are some great breweries in Rhode Island. The Roger Williams Zoo is the best!

 

Jessie KerrJessie grew up in Concord, MA and earned her BA in biology from Williams College.  She took time in between college and medical school to do clinical research and then taught outdoor education in California. She attended the University of Vermont College of Medicine where her active involvement in global health initiatives in Peru and Lesotho earned her the William Eustis Brown Award for broad cultural interests. Jessie adores all outdoor pursuits, especially hiking and camping. While she enjoyed her four years of proximity to Lake Champlain while in medical school, she is very happy to return to the far better Atlantic Ocean, where she can continue to develop her already fantastic boogie boarding skills.

 Rhode Island Favorites: Restaurants, beaches, the farmer's market, East Bay bike path, food trucks, walking paths, and my co-residents of course.

 

Renee KlerisRenee was born and raised in Atlanta, GA and attended Emory where she majored in Classical Civilization and Biology. She became interested in pediatrics while volunteering on the Cancer and Blood Disorders floor at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in college. She later worked on clinical research at Emory University and Grady Memorial Hospital where her team studied health literacy and ways to improve patient care. Renee attended medical school at Mercer University in Macon, GA and is a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Her family is originally from Greece so during medical school she had the chance to visit and volunteer at a health center near Sounion. She hopes to become more involved with international health in the future. Renee loves being outdoors, going to the beach, hiking, biking, kayaking, travel, and reading.

Rhode Island Favorites: I feel so lucky to have joined the Brown Pediatric Family and am enjoying life in PRovidence.  I ahve loved helping out with our Sail Away Program and am looking forward to getting involved with our Refugee Clinic.  My favorite things about Rhode Island include the many beaches and the weekend Farmers Market on the East Side.

 

 

Jessica KremenJess is a New York native, born and raised in Manhattan.  She completed her undergraduate degree at Brown, and returned to her old neighborhood for medical school at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. There, she became interested in many aspects of service work and outreach, including barriers to care, reproductive health and obesity prevention. In med school, she co-ran a program teaching med students in the clinical years to identify patients with low health literacy, and developed new resources to facilitate effective communication with these patients. She hopes to continue working to improve access to health care for children and their families in Rhode Island.             

 Rhode Island Favorites: I was very excited to return to Providence for residency. In my spare time I likes to cook (and eat) and can’t wait to pick up where I left off, exploring Rhode Island’s bountiful culinary offerings.

 

Alison LabadieAfter growing up in Baltimore and college at Penn, Alison took a job doing grassroots health and education development work in (very rural)  Ghana. It was through the work that she did in Ghana that she discovered that she wanted to be a doctor. Four years later, and after a two year post-bac program,  she returned to her hometown to begin medical school at the University of Maryland. It wasn't until 3rd year that she decided on pediatrics and she has never doubted that decision since. Knowing that she is working on behalf of a child is what motivates her the most. This is also what drew her to the Brown program. There is a level of commitment to serving our community, immigrants and natives alike, that is tangible and it is very much the heart of this program. The educational opportunities here are endless and the ability to personalize my residency training for my specific goals is really exciting.  She and her husband moved to Providence the day after returning home from our honeymoon. We love living here so far and especially exploring the beaches and park with our big brown dog! I love to bake, run, bike, watch HGTV, and talk to or about my identical twin sister whenever possible.

 Rhode Island Favorites: Hasbro Peds community, the beaches, the FOOD, the music, the fact that everyone in RI seems to have a dog, the abundance of farmer's markets, my co-interns!!

 

Juanita Law Juanita grew up in Seattle, WA and moved to the east coast for med school at NYMC.  Coming from a place where there wasn’t much sunshine or any sandy beaches,  her favorite thing to do on her days off is head to the beach, which RI has so many of.  She also enjoys reading (currently on book 2 of Game of Thrones) and running.

Rhode Island Favorites: The beaches and the food!  So far East beach is my favorite, and Mama Kim's food truck has the best Korean BBQ for super cheap.

 

 

Allison LemkinAllison grew up in Cromwell, CT and attended the University of Connecticut for college and The Pennsylvania State University for medical school.  She enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.  She plans to combine a career in academic pediatrics with public health.

Rhode Island Favorites: Exploring Providence's many diverse restaurants!

 

 

Rebecca Macdonell-YilmazBecky grew up on Long Island but headed north to Dartmouth where she earned a BA in French Language and Literature and later an MPH.  She spent several years working in clinical oncology research at Dana-Farber Cancer Center and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center before returning home to attend medical school at Stony Brook University.  During med school, she rekindled her long-dormant love of writing, composing many poems and a collection of essays.  Her other interests include running, yoga, skiing, and travel.  She and her husband are thrilled to be back in New England.

 

 

Timothy MenzTim is originally from Braintree, MA and is the youngest of five children.  Coming from a big family,  he feels like his siblings had a strong influence on his choice to pursue Pediatrics as a career.  That and because he’s really just a big kid at heart!  He went to UMass Boston for undergrad and, while there, was fortunate to earn a Fulbright Fellowship to India studying neonatal mortality.  He then attended UMass for medical school and could not be happier to be at Brown for residency!  In his spare time he likes spending time with his family, cooking with his wife (who is also an intern in the family medicine program), and pretty much playing any sport that allows him to be outside.

 Rhode Island Favorites: I love all of the restaurants in RI as well as the easy access to the many wonderful beaches.     

    

Timothy Porter Tim grew up outside Boston and went to Amherst College in western MA, before working in a biochemistry lab in Boston, and then attending UMass in Worcester for medical school.  He has truly branched out by traveling far to move to Rhode Island.  He enjoys running, playing soccer, and entertaining his cat Buster.  His potential career interests include critical care, emergency medicine, nerding out with computers, and hospitalist and academic pediatrics.

 Rhode Island Favorites: A uniquely diverse population (and the great food that comes along with that)!

 

Meghan Small Meghan grew up in a little town just outside of Burlington, VT for the first half of her childhood, then lived near Allentown, PA for 8 years, through high school. She received my BA in Anthropology from Northwestern University and then returned to Vermont for medical school at UVM. Most of her time not spent in school or studying, has been spent playing sports. She grew up playing every sport she could then played field hockey in college. Now she enjoys training for various running/triathlon events. She is a big fan of all outdoor activities from skiing to hiking, to sailing, to camping etc. She moved to RI with her boyfriend who is a general surgery resident, after going through the couples match. They love their apt on the east side of Providence and despite their schedules they still find time to get out and explore their new city together.

 Rhode Island Favorites: Providence is a perfect size for residency training: large enough that we gain exposure to a high volume of very sick patients and see a very diverse group of patients, but small enough that it is manageable to get around and affordable to live. There is also a ton of events happening all the time - lots of music, food, and sporting events. The beaches of RI are so close that we go for just a few hours after work, or on a weekend day. I love being in New England where you get to be both close to big cities, but also minutes away from the beautiful back-country areas.

 

 

                                                                                                                Medicine-Pediatrics Interns

Nkiruka EmeagwaliNkiruka earned her BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and completed her PhD in immunology.   She has published and presented her work on HIV at international meetings.  A native of New York City, she is enjoying intern life in Rhode Island.

 

 

 

Matthew Germak  A graduate of the University of Michigan with interim training at Berklee College of Music, Matt and his wife moved to Rhode Island after earning his MD from the University of Massachusetts and they are very excited to be here.  During medical school, Matt served as chapter president of AMSA, organizing various community-service events. Matt brings to his residency training experiences as a residential counselor and clinical research coordinator at McLean Hospital, Mass General, and Children's Hospital Boston.  He also has led an original pop/rock band that actively played in live music venues throughout the northeast, and he hopes to squeeze in some time for music during residency training.

 

Ryan Hirschfeld Ryan earned his BA from Stonehill College and completed a masters program at Boston University.  He was a clinical research coordinator at Boston Children’s Hospital working on spinal deformities.  He is an AOA graduate of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and a Massachusetts native. 

 

  

Brian LeeBrian earned a BS in Chemistry from the College of William and Mary.  He is an AOA graduate of Jefferson Medical College.  During medical school, Brian served as Chapter President of the Gold Humanism Society and was active in the JeffHOPE student clinics as well as an organizer of the SquashSmarts program providing tutoring and squash training to middle school youth in Philadelphia.  We’re waiting on his re-establishing his interest in winemaking in his post-duty hour time. 

 

Triple Board Interns

Kahleb GrahamKahleb received his MD from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in May, 2012. He also has a B.A in Religious Studies from the University of Pittsburgh. He attended the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education where he earned certification in middle school mathematics. Following graduate school worked as a middle school math and science teacher in the very competitive Teach for America program. Kahleb is a member of the Arnold P. Gold Humanism Honor Society and was the recipient of the American Academy of Family Physicians “Tomorrow’s Leader Award.” He was awarded an R25 NIMH Medical Student Research in Mental Health Fellowship relating to collaborative physical and mental health care of pediatric patients.

 

Christina Pastorello Christina received her MD in May 2012 from Tufts University School of Medicine. She also has a Bachelor of Science in dual majors, Biology and Clinical Psychology, from Tufts University. She was president of the Tuft’s chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association and organized several events to enhance leadership, advocacy and mentoring skills to medical students. Christina has broad experiences working with adolescent girls with complex psychological and physical trauma in a Massachusetts residential facility as well as with teaching typically developing younger girls’ leadership skills in a summer camp. Christina remained active in teaching as a medical student and recently was a Problem Based Learning tutor for first year medical students.

 

Jason RaffertyJason is a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar who received his M.D., M.P.H. in Maternal and Child Health, and Ed.M. in Child Development and Psychology from Harvard University. At graduation, he was recognized with the Intellectual Achievement/Faculty Tribute Award for dedication to scholarship that enhances academic life and positively impacts fellow students. He was a Charles A. Dana Scholar who graduated magna cum laude with honors in neuroscience and a concentration in philosophy from Bates College in 2005, and spent a year teaching in a public junior high school before starting graduate work at Harvard. In medical school, he has served in faculty positions as a clinical preceptor and Gross Anatomy tutorial and lab instructor where he was recognized by his students with an “Excellence in Tutoring” award. Pursuing interests in medical ethics, Jason served as vice-chair for the American Medical Association’s Student Bioethics and & Humanities Committee. Jason’s interest in health policy has recently led him to China and Japan to study international health systems, and to numerous leadership courses at the Harvard Kennedy School. During his tenure at Harvard, he was elected to two terms as the Vice-President of Student Advocacy on the Harvard Graduate Council, the University-wide graduate student government. His aspirations are to care for at-risk adolescents and, for the past four years, he has collaborated with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in the design and implementation of a peer leadership intervention to increase health literacy and utilization of school-based primary care services.

 

 

Categorical PGY2’s

Tanya Baca Tanya is a transplant from the Southwest. She completed her BS at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and earned her MD from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Outside of the hospital she enjoys travel, eating spicy food, reading, and visiting the many RI beaches. 

  

 

 

 

Timothy BlegenTim is originally from Cape Cod, attended college at UMass Amherst, and then went to New York Medical College. Outside of pediatrics there's a lot he likes to do. He loves to bike (which Providence is excellent for), run, go to concerts, and do outdoorsy stuff. He also gave surfing a try once moving here and fell in love with it. When he’s not on a surfboard, he is usually trying one of the new awesome restaurants or food trucks in the city.

 Rhode Island Favorites: There's so much to love about living here, it's a lot of fun. One of the best things about Providence is the food. After living in New York I'm still regularly surprised how many awesome options there are. Also, Providence is very easy to bike and things are close together. Rhode Island is beautiful and it's so easy to go to the beach for a day. Also, working here is a lot of fun, the people are awesome, the patients are amazing, and I love what I do.

 

Jennifer Brondon  Originally from New Jersey, Jennifer completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and during her time there was a Division I Track and Field sprinter. She completed her MS at Drexel University in Philadelphia and her MD from SUNY-Syracuse with Co-Resident Ambrish Patel (Go Orange!) She enjoys hiking and running with her husband and dog Beef, cooking (at least trying to) and is anxiously awaiting baby #1 Andrew in January, 2013!

Rhode Island Favorites: Jen lives about 30 minutes north since my husband is an Internal Medicine Resident in Boston. Even though the commute is easy I still wish I lived in RI !

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiffany FilippellTiffany grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, but took off for Boston for undergraduate and medical school.  She has enjoyed living in New England and learned that she loves oysters and lobster! She also has loved exploring Rhode Island beaches, fruit farms, and local vineyards. When she gets the chance, she tries her hand at experimenting in the kitchen and sharing the results with whichever unsuspecting friend she can.  She has found great ways to relax with yoga,  jogging,  and swims in the (beautiful) Brown pool.

 

Rhode Island Favorites: Proximity to beaches, Boston, NYC. Lots of great restaurants downtown. Great farmer's markets. Beautiful changing of seasons.

 

Carly GussCarly received her BA in history from Yale University where she also was a member of the fencing team. Her medical interest lies in adolescent medicine and her favorite extracurricular activities are baking cupcakes and traveling. A California desert native, Carly loves fall in New England and the ability to spend days off at the beach. 

 

Lauren HaleLauren is a native of RI and attended Brown University for undergrad concentrating in Biology and History, as well as running varsity track and field.  She then went to Penn State for medical school.  She still enjoy exercising, as well as playing the piano, reading, writing, baking, sailing, and going to the beach

 

 

Allison HeinlyAllison is from Columbia, Maryland. She attended Lehigh University for undergrad and Georgetown University for medical school. She was so excited to come to Brown for residency. She says “it has been an incredible experience so far!”

 

Rhode Island Favorites: Love the beaches! And the many delicious restaurants in and around Providence : )

 

Amanda MalloneeA native of Baltimore,  Amanda made the "long trek" to central Pennsylvania to attend Gettysburg College where she obtained a BS in Biology and Spanish. She also had the opportunity to study abroad in both Spain and Argentina. She then remained in PA to attend medical school at Pennsylvania State University in Hershey. While there she was an active member of the Student Pediatric Society and had the opportunity to travel to Ecuador on a medical mission to provide open heart surgery for children with congenital heart disease, strengthening her interests in both pediatrics and caring for underserved populations. She is happy to be in New England for residency and has enjoyed providing care to a diverse patient population. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, spending summer days on the beach, and traveling.

 Rhode Island Favorites: Good restaurants, beaches that are close, my awesome co-residents and Hasbro family, the diverse cultural population of Providence.

 Kristina Nazareth A native of Long Island, NY; Kristina moved to New England to complete her undergraduate studies at Boston College. After earning a degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry, she went on to Tufts University School of Medicine to pursue her dream of become a physician. While at Tufts she fell in love with caring for children and decided that pediatrics was her ideal specialty. Kristina could not be more excited and humbled to be a part of the Brown/Hasbro pediatrics residency. 

 

Ambrish PatelAmbrish was born & raised in (New) Jersey, and he went to medical school in Syracuse, NY (SUNY Upstate). He enjoys hanging out with friends here and back home, playing video games (it allows him to relate to kids), and doing just about anything. And he loves gadgets.

 Rhode Island Favorites: The awesome people that I've met here, the great places to eat, and cool things to do around Providence.

 

Erealda Prendaj

 Alda was born in Albania and moved to Connecticut with her family when she was 14. She attended Trinity College in Hartford, CT and double majored in biology and Italian. One of the highlights of her college experience was studying in Rome for one summer. She obtained her medical degree from UConn School of Medicine, where she served as adjunct faculty for Principles of Medicine Course, was the director of one of the student run medical clinics, and was involved in student government. She spent six weeks in Costa Rica learning medical Spanish, and greatly enjoyed being immersed in the culture and exploring the country.  Some of her favorite pastimes are traveling, watching the Food Network (addicted to Iron chef, and Chopped), kickboxing, and the occasional "adrenaline junkie" activity (most recently skydiving and zip-lining).

Rhode Island Favorites: Waterfire, awesome restaurants, beautiful beaches

 

 

 

Jessica Sayre Jessica was born and raised in Charlottesville, VA. She attended University of Virginia for college. After completing her undergraduate studies, she moved to Boston to work in a research lab at Mass General, studying transplant immunology. She then attend medical school at University of Vermont. Four years later, she and her fiance relocated to Providence for residency. Jessica enjoys travel, cooking, and exploring the delicious (and affordable) restaurants of Providence and the beautiful coastline of Rhode Island.

 

Jana Venema Jana is originally from Centerville, OH. She received her B.S. in Biology from Wittenberg University, where she was involved in neurobiology research and America Reads. She then attended The University of Toledo College of Medicine where she was an active member of the medical student council, organized a fundraiser to support a Make a Wish Foundation's child's wish, and sang in an acapella group. Jana is now enjoying being on the east coast and exploring all that it has to offer. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, reading, running and exploring the beaches and restaurants near Providence.

Rhode Island Favorites: Having come from the midwest, I love being so close to the beach. There are so many great ones just a short drive away!

 

 

 

 

Sienna VoronoSienna grew up in California before moving east for college at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.  She then worked in research in Boston before doing the post-bac program at Goucher College in Towson, MD.  She went to medical school at Brown and liked it so much she decided to stay for residency!

 Rhode Island Favorites: Whether it's a beach, a park, or a restaurant overlooking the water, I love being close to the ocean!

 David Young Hailing from the shores of Lake Ontario by way of the icy plains of Indiana and the windy streets of Chicago, David Returned to the relatively temperate clime of Rhode Island after completing his M.D./PhD at the University of Chicago. During what was possibly the best decade of his life (since he was only at Notre Dame for four years) he learned to combine mice, genetics and calculus into a thesis on leukemia. He then applied his training in starting IVs on mice onto children with surprising success. Although his ultimate plans are for a fellowship in hematology/oncology, he has loved his time at Brown and Hasbro learning to take care of the smallest inhabitants of the smallest state.

Rhode Island Favorites: Having moved from snow and wind to snow to wind, the relative warmth of Rhode Island is a welcomed change that offers so many opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, sailing, and even trying out the latest restaurant from the next great J&W graduate. Being only minutes away from the shore, Block Island, and Newport, there's never a shortage of things to do, and at Brown, there's certainly never a shortage of great people to do them with.

 

 

 

 

Jennifer ZuckerAfter growing up in Long Island, New York, Jenn graduated with a BA in Psychology and Sociology from NYU, where she also spent time studying abroad in London. After undergrad, she attended medical school at New York Medical College where she was the President of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. She made her first move out of New York to Rhode Island where she is now living with her soon-to-be husband Adam. In her free time she likes to read, eat at new restaurants, get ice cream with her co-residents, and beg Adam to buy her a dog!

 Rhode Island Favorites: The restaurants, close proximity to Boston and NY, Newport in the summer, and my new family at Hasbro!

Medicine-Pediatrics PGY2's

Nicole GergenNicole is a Minnesota transplant who earned her BA in Chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College and was recognized as an NCAA All-American gymnast. She received her MD from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine. She was a junior inductee and state chapter president of AOA and was  inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society for her work with the student-led Phillips Neighborhood Clinic. Nicole is looking forward to adapting to New England and finding service opportunities and time for outdoor activities and cooking during her intern year.

 

 Eyal MaidanEyal comes from a multicultural background that blends Israeli, Argentinean, and French traditions. He grew up in Miami and obtained a BA degree in East Languages and Literature at the University of Florida, Gainesville. He spent a year abroad studying in Japan. He completed his MD degree at the University of Miami, where he was very active in community service activities through the Department of Community Service (DOCS) and served on the executive board. He is a member of AOA and the Iron Arrow society, the highest honor attained at UM for his service to the university and community. He looks forward to moving to RI where he plans to continue his tradition of service, teaching and patient care while enjoying the many dining opportunities the state has to offer.

Joshua Orabone Josh is a native of Cumberland, RI. He earned BA's in Psychology and Physiology/Neurobiology from the University of Connecticut and completed research at Brown's Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies before moving to New Orleans, where he completed his MD and MPH at Tulane University School of Medicine. He worked in many student-supported community activities, and was a co-founder of Tulane's service learning program with the Lazarus Project. His primary focus has been on promoting healthy lifestyles in underserved populations through the Don't Weight to Lose program and he was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society for his commitment. He looks forward to returning to Rhode Island and making time for music (he plays saxophone and guitar), basketball and caring for his Bonsai trees and aquarium.

David Washington David is a native of Ohio. He obtained a BA in ethnomusicology and Biology from Brown University and loved it so much he decided to stay on for medical school and residency training. During medical school he sought to study and advocate for the integration of social music into health care as powerful tool for community heath. David is a recognized and talented musician. As a professional trombonist, he has performed in several music tours in Portugal, Spain and Italy and can be found playing in the Jazz band at India Restaurant every other Thursday or performing at area nursing homes with the medical school musical group Chordae Tendinae, which he co -founded. For his commitment to service and his personal attributes, he was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Other than music, David enjoys sports, traveling, advocacy and education, and spirituality.

 

Triple Board PGY2's

Jennifer Downs Jen received her MD from the University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, in May 2011. She received her undergraduate degree from Colby College in Maine where she graduated magna cum laude. She has been actively involved in a variety of community service activities during medical school and she received the Outstanding Leadership and Community Service Award in 2006 because of her efforts. Jennifer was also selected as a Clinical and Translational research fellow in 2008-09 studying the relationship between children with chronic illnesses and their health care providers. She also co-authored a study entitled “Integrating Clinical Hands-On Experiences into the Curriculum for First Year medical students”. Jennifer likes running, art, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and their pets.

 

 Stephanie LichtorStephanie received her MD from the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine in May 2011. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She did bench work in epigenetics and genetics as an undergraduate and volunteered at the Center for Treatment and Study of Anxiety. Prior to starting medical school, Stephanie was a high school teacher and then studied prescription drug abuse as a research technician at the University of Chicago. Stephanie has also served as editor of "Vital Signs," the medical student newspaper. She published two articles and wrote essays about medicine, ethics, and history for which she won the Robert D. Sparks Essay contest and took second place the following year.

Paul Stevens Paul received his MD from The University of Utah School of Medicine in May 2011 where he was also inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society. He completed his undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University. He has been a volunteer/mentor teaching behavioral and social skills to autistic children through the arts and swimming and has mentored a developmentally disabled man in life skills. Paul co-authored a study entitled "Identification of Hearing Loss in Pediatric Patients with Down Syndrome". He is noted for his advocacy, hard-work, responsibility, and ethics. Paul also worked full time as an electrician before entering medical school. He is married and has two boys.

 

Categorical PGY3’s

Allison Behrle A military brat, Allison grew up all over the US before her parents finally settled down in northern Virginia. She received her BS in Nutrition and BA in Spanish Studies from the University of Delaware before heading to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond for medical school. While there, she developed an interest in global health and was very involved in a group that provides medical care in rural Honduras. Allison also spent time in the free clinics around Richmond and participated in VCU's Inner-City/Rural program designed for students with an interest in serving the underserved. She finally decided on Pediatrics and was so excited to head up to Rhode Island for residency. She enjoys running in her spare time and is hoping to get back into marathon shape before she moves to DC next summer for a fellowship in Gastroenterology.

Rhode Island Favorites: The East Bay bike path (actually all the bike paths), being so close to the beach, and trying out all the delicious restaurants in Providence.

 

 

 

Diana BradfordA native New Englander, Diana is a loyal alumna of Dartmouth College; there, she was a double major in French and Biology.  During medical school at the University of Massachusetts, she pursued work in global health in the Dominican Republic and Ecuador, was a leader in Medical Students for Choice, and produced her Class Show. Diana enjoys cooking, running and other outdoor activities and is an avid film-goer and reader. Clinically, she is interested in nutrition and global health in addition to pediatric oncology; she will be moving to DC after residency for a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at Children's National Medical Center.

 Rhode Island Favorites: Newport Folk Festival, Hope St Farmers' Market, East Bay Bike Path, and the multitude of good fooding opportunities in the Ocean State!

 

Alexis BurakoffAlexis is originally from Newton, MA and as an undergraduate studied public policy at Princeton University. During college she spent a semester in Cape Town, South Africa which sparked an interest in global health. After college, she moved to Vientiane, Laos to work for a year before heading back to start medical school at NYU, taking an additional year to earn an MPH in global health. During residency, Alexis has had the opportunity to return to Laos to teach suturing and splinting. Next year she is excited to begin a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Interests include travel, Asian cooking, reading and watching Masterpiece Mystery.

  

 Meaghan DohertyMeaghan is from North Andover, MA. She went to Northeastern University for undergrad and attended medical school at the University of Massachusetts. She is excited to start fellowship next year in Pediatric Cardiology at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

 Rhode Island Favorites: The beach, awesome restaurants and my amazing co-residents!

 

Carrie Gregory

Carrie is a native of northern New York. She graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a degree in Biochemistry and went to the University of Rochester for medical school. She took advantage of Brown's study abroad opportunities and participated in a month- long elective in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. She is a former cross country and track runner at Geneseo and still continues to run marathons. In her free time she likes plan for her wedding. 

 

Caitlin Hurley

 Caitlin is lifetime New Englander. She grew up in a suburb of Boston, and earned her BS in Biology from Boston College in 2003. During her undergraduate years, she spend a semester abroad studying at the National University of Ireland, Galway and traveling extensively throughout Europe, as well as volunteering locally; most memorably,  at a shelter for teenage mothers and their young children.  After college, she settled in Boston's North End and worked as a Clinical Research Assistant in Neonatology at Tufts Medical Center and Beth Israel Deaconess for three years before pursuing her MD at the University of Massachusetts. Throughout medical school, she continued her volunteer efforts at local free clinics and traveled to an orphanage in Nicaragua. In her free time, Caitlin enjoys exploring RI, the Providence restaurant scene, practicing yoga, all while staying close to friends and family...especially escaping to Cape Cod in the summer! 

 

 

Mellory Kaserman

 Mell grew up in Bingham, Maine, a tiny town where there are arguably more moose than people. In her younger years, Mell spent much of her time training in gymnastics, ultimately earning an athletic scholarship to college. She competed four years of gymnastics, and graduated from the University of New Hampshire Summa Cum Laude. From there she went to went to the University of Vermont (UVM) for medical school and was named to the AOA Honor Medical Society. At UVM, Mell met her husband, Joe, and continuing the New England tradition, they couples matched at Brown. Along with their new addition, mini-dachshund Howie, they have truly enjoyed exploring Rhode Island, although the BEST thing about Brown by far has been the people, in particular her fellow co-residents. Mell plans to pursue a career in hospitalist medicine after residency.

Rhode Island favorites: So many great restaurants and beaches!, farmer's markets, Lincoln Woods 

 

 

Jaclyn KlineJaclyn is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is known to bring her Terrible Towel to football parties despite being in Patriot territory.  She received a BS in Biochemistry with a minor in Bioethics from the University of Virginia where she was very involved in volunteer work through Dance Marathon, a large fundraiser for the UVA Children's Hospital.  She then stayed in Virginia and received her MD from Virginia Commonwealth University where she was an active member of student government, serving as class secretary.  She plans to pursue a career in Pediatric Emergency Medicine after her chief residency year at Brown.

 Rhode Island Favorites: Trying the many great restaurants that Providence has to offer.  Going running along Blackstone Boulevard or for a bike ride on the East Bay Bike Path.  Walking around the East Side.  East Beach and Little Compton Beach.

 

 Michelle McCloskeyMichelle is originally from Colorado and went to medical school at NYU. She chose Brown for residency because it is a close knit supportive family in a thriving academic environment. She says “I feel so lucky to be a resident here”. In my spare time, she likes to drink wine with friends, go to the beach,  hike and do yoga.

 

Stephanie RobertsThe oldest of 6 children, she was raised in East Hampton, Connecticut. She attended the University of Rochester for undergraduate and the University of Connecticut Medical School. She is currently a 3rd year pediatric resident and plans to attend pediatric endocrinology fellowship at Boston Children’s. If she went through the match all over again - she would still choose Hasbro as my top choice!

 Rhode Island Favorites: What's not to love - everything you could want within an hour's drive. In one weekend it's possible to beach hop in Watch Hill, take the ferry to Block Island, go for a hike in Exeter, take the shuttle around Gallery night, stop at the farmer's market in Lippitt Park, tour a local winery, catch up with friends at Waterfire and eat some amazing food at one of the many Providence restaurants.

 Clara SandersClara is originally from South Carolina, where in addition to learning southern charm, she minored in Trombone and medical humanities, while completing  her undergraduate studies at University of South Carolina.  She stayed in Columbia, South Carolina to complete Medical School training. During medical school, she was an advocate for AMA regarding health policy, as well as an active Big Sister in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program.  Her main hobbies now include Scuba Diving and snarky comments.

 Rhode Island Favorites: I love RI mainly because of my fellow residents.  I have no family nearby, so my class is my family (and I love it).  In addition, after living in South Carolina, I love the Rhode Island summers.  After moving to Rhode Island, I have taken up road cycling on the excellent East Bay Bike Path (and anywhere in between).  Other things I love about RI: the smell of the ocean, sail boats on the harbor, running on the East Side, the restaurant Julians.

Joanna SchatzAfter graduating summa cum laude from Mount Holyoke College with a BA in Neuroscience, Jo spent time in Boston doing clinical research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Neuro-Oncology as well as coaching high school crew.  During her time in Boston she was co-author on several publications.   She then continued on to Yale University School of Medicine where completed her thesis research in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.  During her medical school training, she took an additional year to complete her thesis research while at home with her newborn son.  Jo has spent time in residency obtaining her certification in lactation counseling and is a member of the Rhode Island Breastfeeding Coalition.  A native of Rhode Island, Jo was happy to return home to Providence where she and her family have maintained residence throughout her training.  In addition to spending time with her growing family, Jo enjoys running with her husband and siberian husky, Koa, gardening and baking.

 

Clota SnowClota is a life-long New Englander, having grown up in Maine and attending college and medical school in Massachusetts.  She is a graduate of Amherst College with a BA in French, including a semester abroad in France.  She worked for a year as a research assistant at Brigham and Women's Hospital before attending Tufts University School of Medicine, where she was inducted into AOA.  She spent a month as a medical student in rural Nicaragua, sparking an interest in global health that she hopes to continue to pursue.  She is hoping to start a career in Hospitalist Medicine after residency.  She has loved living in Providence and particularly enjoys exploring all of the delicious restaurants the city has to offer.  In her spare time she enjoys movies, theater, dancing (she was an accomplished tap dancer in a previous life) and spending time with her husband Mike.  She's expecting her first child in January, who will likely become a fixture at residency social events this spring.

Juan VasquezJuan was born and raised in Pawtucket, RI. He went to Harvard for undergraduate where he majored in Anthropology. He was unable to resist RI for too long and returned for medical school at Brown. When he is not working I enjoy watching trashy T.V. like the Real Housewives series. He will be at Yale next year for Hem/Onc fellowship.

 Rhode Island Favorites: I enjoy the beaches and great restaurants all within a short ride.

Lauren Ward Lauren is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended the University of Scranton for college (Yes, where The Office is based) and George Washington University for medical school. She was involved in student government and volunteered at her student-run urban clinic during her time in Washington, DC. She lives with her husband, Rob, a radiology resident, and their 2 dogs, Fred and Ginger, on the east side of Providence. They enjoy spending time at the beaches and playing outside with their dogs.

 

Jeremy YardleyJeremy is a native of Maine. He attended Brown University for undergrad and earned a BS in biophysics. He then moved to Boston and attended Tufts University for medical school. He is an avid fan of all sports teams in New England as you will come to find out. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, poker, watching movies, and participating in hot wing eating challenges. 

Medicine-Pediatrics PGY3’s

Margret ChangMargret graduated with a degree in English from the University of West Georgia. Not sure what direction her life would take after college, she dabbled for a year in science journalism before entering a health education and writing fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control. It was there she developed her passion for immigrant and refugee medicine - one that only strengthened during her years as a medical student at Brown University. Within Rhode Island, Margret has been credited with extending medical services to the state's large SE Asian community, offering frequent health screenings at local Buddhist temples and annual educational conferences for health care providers. Outside the hospital, Margret enjoys playing violin and piano, traveling, cooking, hiking, eating (Yum, chocolate!) and caring for her two pet froggies. She is looking forward to taking care of patients from all over the globe, and is also aspiring to travel the world learning to play the music and cook/eat the food from each country she visits.

 Benjamin FelixAfter graduating from Manchester College with a BA in Spanish, Ben's interest in global health has led him to experiences in India, Nicaragua and Kenya - including a rotation at Mother Theresa's home for the Dying in Calcutta. Ben enjoys photography, music and tennis. He looks forward to exploring this coastal state (and less so the intricacies of Rhode Island DMV!) and training for a career in global health.

 Christina LeoneA graduate of McGill University, Christina decided to relocate to the warmer climes of New England. While a student at UMass Medical School, Christina developed programs promoting global health rotations in Central America. She and her husband Andrew, a urology resident, look forward to finding time together, and for their other interests, which include international cooking, kayaking, reading, skiing and snowshoeing.

Kathryn PalumboA native of Rochester, NY, Katie earned a BA in Biology from the State University of New York. She brought her training (and followed her heart) to Texas. As a middle school science teacher at a charter school in Houston, she developed a forensic science summer program and braved stints as a chaperone on the class trip to Washington, DC. At the University of Texas Health Science Center, she advocated for community health and was awarded grants for child safety, health screening and outreach. She is happy to be back in the NE weather and enjoys traveling and baking. (Her interest in home cooking may be linked to her recent publication, prepared as an NIH summer research intern, on the prevalence of e.coli contamination of desserts at commercial food establishments.)

Medicine-Pediatrics PGY4’s

Melinda BiernackiAfter completing undergraduate studies in Biology at Reed College in Oregon, Melinda settled into New England. In Boston, she divided her time between bench research in hematology/oncology, co-authoring numerous publications, and working as a certified rape crisis intervention counselor. Completing her medical degree at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, she chose Med/Peds because she cherishes establishing long-term relationships with patients of all ages and looks forward to opportunities to bring the results of current research to bear on their conditions and needs. She enjoys long-distance running, bicycling (walking the walk for her patients by biking through the streets of Providence with her helmet!) and reading and has had a well-watered summer to support her interest in sustainable/local agriculture!

 Rachel EpsteinAfter completing her BA and MA in Biology and Bioinformatics at Wesleyan University, Rachel matriculated to Jefferson Medical College in PA. Returning from a rotation in Ghana with Unite for Sight, she helped found a program at her medical school promoting visual health for the homeless in Philadelphia and providing on-going support for visual health programs overseas. She enjoys playing and teaching tennis and squash and has completed several half-marathons and long-distance charity bike events. Photography and painting are her more restful enjoyments, but the clinic staff is especially grateful for her experiments in baking!

 Anne Gabonay FrankAs an undergraduate at the University of Dayton, Anne's immersion experience in Cameroon sparked a collaboration between the local government and her university that ultimately beget the Kumba Municipal library - Anne remains active on their board today. Following completion of her undergraduate degree, Anne made a one year service commitment to Mother Cabrini HS in Washington Heights, NYC, teaching world history and study skills and taking on the additional role of faculty advisor to the Energy Up! Program - promoting healthy lifestyle skills for adolescents. In medical school, her interests led her to experiences in post-Katrina relief efforts, Honduras, and Kenya and were recognized with a Gold Humanism Award from the Indiana University School of Medicine. She's looking forward to more opportunities in residency, but also settling into Rhode Island with a new home and chances to pursue her joy of running, backpacking and exploring national parks.  She recently welcomed into her family a beautiful daughter, Nora.

 Stephanie TecunAlthough Boston-born, Stephanie lived with her family in Guatemala until the age of 9, when they moved to Rhode Island. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Providence College. As a medical student at Brown University, she built on her experiences in the Rhode Island Free Clinic and became one of the founders of a group committed to expanding free clinical services for the uninsured community in Providence. She is co-author of an article outlining the demanding process of planning and funding a new clinical site. She loves traveling - exploring the history and cuisine of the places she can visit - and looks forward to more experiences during residency. When local, she stays busy with swimming, running, bowling, board games and reading fiction. She will be staying on at Brown after her residency to be one of the pediatrics chief residents. 

Triple Board PGY3’s

Beth BrannanBeth earned her MD in 2010 from University of California at Davis School of Medicine in Sacramento, California. She completed her undergraduate training at Stanford University in California and taught there as a Human Biology Course Associate for two years prior to entering medical school. During medical school, she served as the student representative on the Curriculum Committee for four years and was elected by the faculty and students to receive the Golden Goblet Award for her service. She was also inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society. During residency, she is currently participating in The Adolescent Leadership Council with teens with chronic illness, plans to do research on nurse- resident communication surrounding difficult patient interactions, and would like to pursue a career in consultation-liaison psychiatry working with children with medical and psychiatric needs. Outside of work, she enjoys going to farmers markets; hiking, bike riding, and doing anything else outdoors; exploring the Northeastern coast in her intrepid Prius; and hanging out with her amazing co-residents.

 Vedika NehraVedika earned her MD in 2010 from New York Medical College. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou), in Columbia, MO, majoring in biochemistry and creative writing. Vedika’s interest in the arts and teaching blossomed at Mizzou. During medical school, she developed a strong interest in rural medicine, mental health, and infectious disease leading her to create the Nehra-Savent Foundation (NSF), a non-profit organization focused on providing health and education assistance to rural communities (for more information please click http://nehra- saventfoundation.webs.com). During her intern year of residency Vedika presented her work at the department of pediatrics grand rounds in February 2011. She received the Warren Alpert School of Medicine outstanding teacher award in June 2011. As a second year TB resident Vedika is currently fundraising and working to expand NSF’s work in India. Specifically, she is organizing projects to improve immunization rates in rural Haryana, develop a permanent family clinic, and build a rural public library. In the realm of mental health, Vedika has a strong interest in suicide, particularly as it relates to children and the rural population. In her spare time Vedika can be found running (a new interest and her legs are still sore), sketching, teaching arts and crafts, meandering museums, and writing short stories.

 Anastasia WermertStacey is from Marietta, Georgia and earned her MD in 2010 from Medical College of Georgia. She completed her undergraduate training at Barnard College in New York City with a major in psychology. After college, she worked as a research assistance in the substance abuse unit at the NY State Psychiatric Institute. During medical school, she co-authored a book entitled “Adherence to Mental Health Treatment.” Since high school, she has been involved in coaching Special Olympics swimming, and is interested in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities. Other interests include international travel and volunteer work. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, being outdoors, relaxing, laughing, or planning her next trip abroad.

Triple Board PGY4’s

Lisa HutchisonLisa earned her MD in 2009 from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. She completed her undergraduate training at Duke University in North Carolina. During medical school, she had an interest in community health care and was involved in the student run free clinic. During residency, Dr. Hutchison has continued to be interested in high risk populations with a focus on children in the foster care system. She spent a month abroad during residency working in a community clinic in Guatemala. In her spare time, she can usually be found somewhere near water, jogging, reading, or wishing she owned a sailboat.

 Daniel SpencerDan is originally from upstate New York, but is a Red Sox fan and thinks of himself as a New Englander. He received a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Brown University here in Providence, RI. During college, he conducted research on mammography screening and played varsity water polo. Following graduation, Dan spent a year doing clinical pediatric orthopedic research at NYU. He earned his MD in 2009 from the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles. During medical school, he was interested in a wide range of specialties including pediatrics, psychiatry, ophthalmology, and oncology. He taught health topics at a local middle school, participated in a program which matched medical students to children with chronic illness, worked on research projects in the pediatric ophthalmology department at CHLA, and played on a champion intramural dodge ball team. During residency, Dan has been become involved in EMR improvement committees and the Patient and Family Centered Care Steering Committee. He also wears a bow tie every Friday for “Bow Tie Friday”, a tradition which he and a fellow pediatric resident started while on a PICU rotation. Dan is married to Emily and has one son named Henry, and another child on the way. He spends most of his free time with his family, and also enjoys home brewing beer, watching cheesy movies and TV shows, and golfing. 

Triple Board PGY5’s

 Rasa HeydaRasa received her MD from Duke University School of Medicine in May of 2008. She completed her undergraduate studies in the San Diego Community college system, the University of California, Los Angeles and Duke. Prior to medical school, Rasa was an elementary school teacher for seven years teaching language arts, math, social studies, science and art. She was instrumental in curriculum creation and worked intensively with students with special learning needs. Working with children with special needs prompted her interest in psychiatry and her desire to change career paths. At Duke medical school, she received an NIH Roadmap fellowship which funded her research year at Duke's Brain Imaging and Analysis Center. Rasa's passion lies in helping children succeed in the face of neurological, developmental and psychiatric challenges. Rasa is also an artist, has studied classical Indian music in India and the U.S., has taught Indian drumming, and enjoys yoga, reading, cooking and quilting.

 Michelle PalumboMichelle is originally from New Jersey. She attended Rutgers University where she completed a double major in Biological sciences and Psychology in 2003, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. Michelle migrated south to Richmond, Virginia to attend medical school at the Medical college of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University and graduated in 2008. During medical school, she was involved as her class curriculum representative, LCME accreditation committee, admissions committee, and a fourth year co-leader for the foundations of clinical medicine course for first year students. Michelle had received two Commonwealth awards, the Nancy B. King Memorial scholarship for pediatrics, an AMA foundation award, and the High score award for the second year behavioral sciences course. Michelle was also elected to the National Pathology Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Omega Alpha during her time at MCV/VCU. During residency, Michelle has been actively involved as a parent group co-leader in The Adolescent Leadership Council (TALC), a resident created and led group involving teens and parents with chronic illness. When not working, Michelle enjoys spending as much time with her family in NJ as possible, running, dancing, and knitting.

 Chase SamselChase earned his MD in 2010 from the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine in Augusta, Georgia. He completed his undergraduate training with a B.S. in Biomedical Ethics at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. During medical school, he was Social Chair of his class and very involved in social experiments involving loud music, lots of medical students, and good times. During residency, Chase was was accepted into the Pediatrics Global Health Certificate Program while rotating at Moi University in Eldoret, Kenya. He is interested in global psychiatry, pediatric palliative care, chronic and lift-limiting illness, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and serves as the Assistant Director of the TALC Program. To those ends, he is the currently doing prospective research on palliative care initiatives in the NICU, presenting a poster at the 2011 AACAP annual meeting on adult transition outcomes of chronically ill adolescents in the TALC program, co-presenting a workshop on Procedural Hypnosis in Pediatric Patients at the 2011 AAP annual meeting, working with the pediatric refugee clinic in establishing better trauma screening and treatment options, attends the Philosophy and Psychiatry reading group at Brown, and will start a psychotherapy fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis in the Fall of 2011. Outside of work, he enjoys jet-setting, eating the delicious foods of Providence, getting ripped at CrossFit, and continuing his social gallivanting ways.