Skip to main content
menu

Our Residents

Group Photo of Residents

2nd Year Residents 3rd Year Residents  4th Year Residents  Mohs Surgery Fellow Dermatopathology Fellow 

PGY-4

Alexandra Bender, MD, PhD (Chief Resident)

Alexandra Bender, MDHometown: Sartell, MN

Medical School: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Undergraduate School: Johns Hopkins University

Interests In Dermatology: Medical dermatology, Research

Hobbies: Running, cycling, hanging out with my husband, son & daughter, cooking, gardening

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester: biking to dinner, weekend trips to the Finger Lakes and Adirondacks, hiking on the nearby trails​.


Irina Lerman, MD, PhD (Chief Resident)

Irina Lerman, MDHometown: Rochester, NY

Undergraduate School: University of Rochester

Medical School: University of Rochester
Interests in Dermatology: Medical Dermatology, Dermatopathology, Rheum-Derm

Hobbies: Cooking and eating diverse cuisines, traveling, hiking local parks with my husband and our 2 dogs, fishing, escape rooms, watching the X-Files

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester: Exploring new restaurants and frequenting old favorites (Ox and Stone is #1), strolling along Erie Canal while enjoying Pittsford Farms Dairy ice cream, watching our dogs play at Spring Lake Park, wine tasting in the Finger Lakes, finding new escape rooms to try, hanging out with good company.

Eric Kowalski, MD

Eric Kowalski, MD

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Medical School: University of Illinois at Chicago

Undergraduate School: Loyola University Chicago

Interests In Dermatology: Medical dermatology, cutaneous oncology

Hobbies: Exploring our national & local state parks, hiking, skydiving, vegetarian cooking, sashiko style clothing repairs, summiting all 46 Adirondack tall peaks, board games

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester: Farmer's markets, kayaking, the local music scene.

Brendon Verhave, MD

Brendon Verhave, MD

Hometown:  North Salem, NY

Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University

Undergraduate School: Cornell University

Interests In Dermatology: General Dermatology, Dermatopathology, Procedural Dermatology

Hobbies: Weightlifting, Reading/Golf, Watching/Following Sports, Movies/Television

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester: Anything outdoors, going to breweries, restaurants, spending times with friends, and co-residents.

Benjamin Williams, MD

Benjamin Williams. MD

Hometown: Bridgeport, WV

Medical School: Marshall Joan C. Edward’s SOM

Undergraduate School: Marshall University

Interests In Dermatology: Surgical & Cosmetic dermatology

Hobbies: Watching football, baseball, weightlifting

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester: Wegmans, exploring local restaurants, downtown life.

PGY-3

Josephine D’Angelo, MD

Josephine D’Angelo, M.D.Hometown: Rochester, NY

Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University

Undergraduate School: St. John Fisher University (formerly St. John Fisher College)

Interests In Dermatology: Medical and Procedural Dermatology, Autoimmune Skin Disease, Integrative Dermatology, Hair disorders

Hobbies: Cooking and trying new recipes, enjoying nature/being outdoors, traveling, spending time with family

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester: Walking/biking along the Erie Canal, kayaking or paddleboarding at Canandaigua Lake,  going to local shops and markets​.

 


Robert Fort, MD, MBA

Robert Fort, M.D. /M.B.A.Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Undergraduate School:  Case Western Reserve University

Medical School: Penn State

Interests in Dermatology: Procedural Derm, Rheum-Derm

Hobbies: Vinyl record collecting, concerts, working out, cooking

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester: Roc cinema, running in Cobbs Hill Park, going to the many Rochester festivals.

Regina Liu, MD

Regina Liu, MD

Hometown: Arcadia, CA

Medical School: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Undergraduate School: Washington University in St. Louis

Interests In Dermatology: Medical Dermatology, Skin of Color, Environmentalism in Dermatology, Medical Education

Hobbies: International travel, road trips, chilling in coffee shops, reading on my Kindle, hanging with friends

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester: Exploring the ever-growing food scene, taking scenic walks along Erie Canal, enjoying ice cream at Pittsford Dairy, visiting local festivals.

Joy Lowry, MD

Joy Lowry, M.D.

Hometown: Bennington, VT

Medical School: The Robert Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont

Undergraduate School: University of Vermont

Interests In Dermatology: Broad interests! General dermatology draws my interest at this time because it captures so many aspects of dermatology that I enjoy - cutaneous oncology, pregnancy dermatoses, immunologic dermatology, rheum/derm conditions. Who knows how that will change over time!

Hobbies: Pottery, drawing, painting, chasing my toddler, spending time with my family, traveling.

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester: So far I've enjoyed exploring the many parks and beautiful natural areas Rochester has to offer. There are also many farmers markets and Rochester Public Market is really neat! The city is very family friendly!

Liliana Montoya, MD

Liliana Montoya, M.D.

Hometown: Oak Brook, IL

Medical School: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Undergraduate School: Northwestern University

Interests In Dermatology: Pediatric Dermatology, Procedural Dermatology, Cosmetic Dermatology, Dermoscopy, Clinical Research

Hobbies: We​ight lifting, playing piano, biking, make-up artistry

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester: Visiting Wegman's, breweries, and wineries.

PGY-2

Leah Laageide, MD

Leah Laageide, M.D.

Hometown / Gjøvik, Norway 

Medical School / Roy J & Lucille A Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 

Undergraduate School / St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

Interests In Dermatology / Medical, procedural, and cosmetic dermatology - I enjoy the whole spectrum! I am also very interested in clinical research. I enjoy working with faculty and students on projects spanning dermato-immunology, -oncology, and rheumatology, among others. 

Hobbies /  photography and digital design, fitness - particularly skiing and hiking, cooking and traveling with my husband

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester / Genuinely, there are too many to write. I've lived in both small towns (population <2000) and metropolitan areas (>800,000). Rochester has everything one could ask for: broad spectrum cuisine; skiing and trails; lakes and waterfalls; countless wineries and breweries; easy to maneuver airport with cheap parking/shuttle; short commutes to other US and Canadian experiences! 

 


Gayin Lee, MD

Gayin Lee, M.D.

Hometown / Amherst, MA

Medical School / University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

Undergraduate School / Wesleyan University 

Interests In Dermatology / General Dermatology, Cosmetic Dermatology, Psychosocial Impact of Skin Disease, Medical Education, Skin of Color 

Hobbies / Cooking (mostly Korean food!), traveling, rock climbing, snowboarding, watching TV while knitting

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester / Checking out different restaurants/breweries with my husband, hosting dinner parties, hiking on nearby trails

Alicia Mizes, MD

Alicia Mizes, M.D.

Hometown / Rochester 

Medical School / University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Undergraduate School / Pomona College

Interests In Dermatology / cutaneous oncology, general dermatology, medical and procedural dermatology, LGBTQIA+ dermatology 

Hobbies / distance running (marathons, half marathons, RAGNARs), hiking, biking, camping, lifting, Zumba, international travel, arts and crafts, pampering my kitty 

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester / running along the Genesee River/Erie Canal/in Mendon Ponds Park, enjoying breweries/restaurants, going to the various music/art festivals, joining running and workout clubs, WEGMANS, going to ROAR

Jay Patel, MD

Jay Patel, M.D.

Hometown / Dayton NJ

Medical School / Western Michigan 

Undergraduate School / Rutgers

Interests In Dermatology / Autoimmune, Skin Cancer, Surgery, Dermatopathology 

Hobbies / Weightlifting, Cars, Matcha 

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester / Explore local gyms, hiking, tackling buffets

Christopher Yao, MD/MPHD

Christopher Yao, M.D./M.P.H.D.

Hometown / Long Island, NY

Medical School / University of Rochester

Undergraduate School / University of Pennsylvania

Interests In Dermatology / Medical dermatology, Public health

Hobbies / Hiking, swimming, running, chess

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester / Dining at Aladdin's in Pittsford, shopping at Rochester Public Market, exploring the Finger Lakes and Adirondacks

 

Mohs Surgery Fellow

Benjamin Kahn, MD

Benjamin Kahn, MD

Hometown / Indianapolis, Indiana

Medical School / Emory University School of Medicine

Undergraduate School / Northwestern University

Interests In Dermatology / Procedural Dermatology and Cutaneous Oncology

Hobbies / Tennis, hiking, fitness, developing recipes and cooking diverse foods, exploring restaurants, mindfulness

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester / Excited to explore local restaurants, hike in the Finger Lakes region, and to walk/bike across the city!

 

Dermatopathology Fellow

Chau Minh Bui, MD

Chau Minh Bui, M.D.

Hometown / Quang Ngai, Vietnam

Medical School / University of Medicine and Pharmacy Ho Chi Minh City

Interests In Dermatology / Dermatopathology

Hobbies / travel, movies/television, trying new food

Favorite Activities To Do In Rochester / Exploring nature and taking in the greenery, trips to nearby parks and lakes, snowboarding, visiting Rochester Public Market

 

Back to the top