Current Residents
Hemant Kalia, M.B.B.S., M.P.H. (PGY4)
- Favorite Rochester Hangouts: Chen Garden, Sinbad's, Alladin's, Haveli
- Most interesting diagnosis seen to date: One and a half syndrome after pontine stroke
- Medical / Research Interests: Low back Pain, Chronic Pain, Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, Spinal Cord Stimulation
- How did you hear about the residency program? I was introduced to the program while doing my residency in Preventive Medicine & Public Health at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
- Thoughts about the residency: An intellectually inspiring experience in all domains of Physical Medicine & rehabilitation
- Why Rochester? Perfect sized city with exceptionally well knit, collegial community.
Future Plans
Upon graduation in 2012, Dr. Kalia will be joining the University of Rochester Medical Center Department of Anesthesiology's Pain Management Fellowship Program.
Sonya Kuhar, M.D. (PGY4)
- Favorite Rochester Hangout: At home with my husband and kids
- Most interesting diagnosis seen to date: Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS)
- Medical / Research Interests: I greatly enjoy general inpatient rehabilitation and the fact the I can form wonderful relationships with my patients and help them through some of their most "vulnerable" stages as they are trying to regain their quality of life. I am currently interested in the LVAD population and their functional outcomes on acute inpatient rehab.
- Personal Interests: Spending time with my family and friends, cooking (when time permits), and watching my children grow and learn every day!
- How did you hear about the residency program? I attended medical school at the University of Rochester so I had exposure to this program through student PM&R workshops/lectures and various elective rotations. I felt that it would be a good fit for me and am happy to be here.
- Thoughts about the residency: I think there is tremendous support from faculty, staff and colleagues. I love the fact that it is a small program and you get a lot of one-on-one time with the attendings. I like the fact that we manage the patients' daily medical issues along with their rehab issues. We have wonderful faculty that are always willing to teach us and our Program Director is always open to "change". I feel that we are gathering the appropriate skills to be successful physiatrists in the community, whether we decide to do inpatient or outpatient medicine. We also get plenty of procedures.
- Why did you choose PM&R? Once I discovered it, I realized it was a perfect fit for me. I love the fact that there are so many facets to it (TBI, SCI, neurologic conditions, orthopaedics, rheumatology, procedures like NCS/EMGs, injections, intrathecal baclofen management, etc.) and you can make it what you want. There aren't too many fields where you can be part of a "long term" journey with your patients and help them improve their function and quality of life.
- Why Rochester? I think it is a wonderful city and the surrounding areas are beautiful. It is large enough to give you the sense of a larger city (without all the traffic), but small enough where you actually feel part of the community. You can drive a short distance and go to the Finker Lakes, Adirondack Mountains, Niagara Falls and the Thousand Islands. I came to Rochester for medical school and I really enjoyed the city; it has been a wonderful home to us. During medical school I built relationships with some of the PM&R attendings and the Program Director and spent time at the various clinical sites. After that, it became home and I will be sad to leave!
Future Plans
Upon graduation in 2012, Dr. Kuhar will be joining Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky, Ohio as an attending physician in PM&R.
Matthew Perkowski, D.O. (PGY4)
- Favorite Rochester Hangouts: Outside in the summertime or along the Erie Canal path; Jojo's American Bistro, Simply Crepes or Hicks & McCarthy.
- Most interesting diagnosis seen to date: Every admission on the inpatient rehab unit brings unique and challenging diagnoses to reconcile and rehabilitate.
- Medical / Research Interests: Musculoskeletal medicine, pain medicine, inpatient consult service
- Personal Interests: Sports (Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, Syracuse Orange Basketball, football and lacrosse), exercise (weight lifting, running) and the beach.
- How did you hear about the residency program? I was born in Syracuse and knew the quality of the University of Rochester. I spent a month in the rehab elective at URMC. I felt this program offered qualities that best fit my personality and would help me to best achieve my career goals for education and training.
- Thoughts about the residency: This program gives well-rounded education with exposure to different fields of physiatry. I like the size of the residency program.
- Why did you choose PM&R? As a third year med student I rotated with a physiatrist who had an outpatient musculoskeletal practice and was medical director of a SNF rehabilitation unit. I enjoyed the broad spectrum of patients he saw and how he was able to improve their quality of life by maximizing their functional potential.
Future plans
Upon graduation in 2012, Dr. Perkowski will be joining the URMC Department of PM&R as a faculty member and attending physician.
Nathan Odom, M.D. (PGY3)
- Favorite Rochester Hangouts: The Village Gate and the great outdoors
- Most interesting diagnosis seen to date: Charcot arthropathy of the spine
- Medical / Research Interests: Above all, I like to examine the whole patient's clinical and social situation when it comes to medicine. Medicine is such a complex, ever-growing field with more new and groundbreaking interventions on the horizon. I keep an open mind to all the treatment options, but above all a patient's decision to pursue a particular treatment is what interests me most about clinical medicine. In research pursuit, I am working with fellow residents to further examine DVT in the rehabilitation population.
- Personal Interests: I love to exercise, with main sports being running, cycling, swimming, and most recently, ice skating. A good book is always open, and if I can manage to cook a decent meal and strum some guitar afterward, it's time well spent relaxing and having fun.
- Why did you choose PM&R? PM&R combines everything I envisioned in medicine: pathophysiology, patient-centered care, teamwork, and an overall goal to improve patients' quality of life.
- How did you hear about the residency program? I had heard of the program during my medical school in Buffalo, but did most of my research online about the program.
- Thoughts about the residency: I am always in appreciation and admiration of our very congenial, cohesive group of residents, faculty, nurses, therapists and staff. I feel that this is where my learning really grew and "took off" in all my years thus far in medicine, and I have this program to thank. Specifically, I value our time spent on the inpatient service and on consults, as we are both guided by faculty but given autonomy to make decisions with which we are comfortable. On the outpatient side, our experiences span a wide breadth, giving us time to spend with rheumatologists, spine and pain interventionists, orthopedists, neurologists and prosthetists/orthotists to name a few.
- Why Rochester? Having spent college in Ithaca, NY and medical school in Buffalo, NY, I must say that I enjoy Rochester the most! During the summers the festivals take off, the bike trails open up and the restaurants and shops on Park Ave. start to bustle. Autumns you can find yourself in the beautiful countryside of the Finger Lakes or picking apples with friends at nearby orchards. By winter, the city is still full of things to do: a world-class art museum (Memorial Art Gallery), the Eastman School of Music is always alive with concerts, the Strong Museum of Play is a must-see, and if you like winter sports, a 15-minute drive lands you in Mendon Ponds for an afternoon of snowshoeing. Downhill skiing is an easy drive just south of Rochester.
Simer Singh, M.B.B.S., M.P.H. (PGY3)
- Favorite Rochester Hangouts: PM&R Resident Room, Chipotle, Owl House
- Most interesting diagnosis seen to date: Painful hair and clothes syndrome (everything hurts!)
- Medical / Research Interests: CRPS, Neuropathic pain, Spasticity, Brain Injury rehab, Prosthetics
- Personal Interests: Cooking, reading, music
- Why did you choose PM&R? Gratification in seeing someone improve their function.
- How did you hear about the residency program? From a friend
- Thoughts about the residency: I find this residency very well balanced with an excellent and very supportive faculty and staff. It is very resident friendly.
- Why Rochester? I came to Rochester because I have family here. I find that Rochester is full of surprises!
Brandon Snead, M.D., M.S. (PGY3)
- Favorite Rochester Hangouts: Sticky Lips BBQ, Sodam (best Korean BBQ around)
- Most interesting diagnosis seen to date: Complex regional pain syndrome types I and II
- Medical / Research Interests: Injury prevention programs in young athletes; Factors involved in venous thromboembolism formation in the inpatient rehabilitation population.
- Personal Interests: Swimming, computer renovation, snowboarding
- Why did you choose PM&R? I had an opportunity to see PM&R before starting medical school and I saw the great strides that patients made after inpatient rehab.
- How did you hear about the residency program? Word of mouth. The program is very strong and has a great reputation.
- Thoughts about the residency: This residency is comprehensive and diverse enough to suit most candidate's needs. It fosters an environment of caring and shared investigation.
- Why Rochester? Rochester is a nice, middle-sized city that is fun for kids.
Woojoong Lee, M.D. (PGY2)
- Favorite Rochester Hangouts: Dog Town, Next Door Bar and Grill, Good Luck, SEA Restaurant, John's Tex-Mex
- Most interesting diagnosis seen to date: Locked In Syndrome; academically interesting, but terrible terrible stuff.
- Medical / Research Interests: Still getting a feel for things, but I get the most satisfaction when working with my hands. So I am thinking about pain, spine, or prosthetics/orthotics.
- Personal Interests: Still in search of that elusive perfect meal I can make at home. Fish tacos and chile verde have come close. Bicycling, rock climbing, audiophile, welding/brazing, sleeping, dog fish head, more sleeping...
- How did you hear about the residency program? I used to be into film photography, so the natural connection to Kodak.
- Thoughts about the residency: It's been great! Patient variety is outstanding, attendings are approachable and friendly, staff support is great. This is a program that truly cares about its residents. Some things could be improved, such as exposure to prosthetics and orthotics, but changes are in the works.
- Why Rochester? If you look, you can usually find most things here. Good restaurants and art scenes are easy to find. For you photographers, there is a public studio where you can still make black and white prints. Cost of living is really affordable. On a resident salary, I can enjoy some of the luxuries in life and that's a nice feeling!
Brett Teran, D.O. (PGY2)
- Favorite Rochester Hangouts: At home with my family or at the Strong Museum of Play with my kids; Owl House, The Gate House, Black and Blue.
- Most interesting diagnosis seen to date: Acute liver failure from mushroom ingestion or Disseminated Herpes Zoster
- Medical / Research Interests: Interventional Spine
- Personal Interests: Sports fan (baseball, basketball, snow-skiing, golf, football), food/cooking, playing sports with my kids, music (learning to play the guitar)
- Why did you choose PM&R? Diverse specialty field, interested in interventional spine practice
- How did you hear about the residency program? I had visited Rochester before, but then re-encountered Rochester through the application/interview process.
- Thoughts about the residency: I've enjoyed my time here so far. The program has great attendings who love to teach and are excellent role model physicians. The program has a good balance of all settings within PM&R.
- Why Rochester? Rochester is family-friendly and I liked the program. Great schools, plenty to do with kids in all seasons, terrific public market and many great farms in the surrounding area, fantastic hiking and sight-seeing in the nearby finger lakes!
Konstantin Tsymbalov, D.O., M.H.A. (PGY2)
- Favorite Rochester Hangout: Highland Park
- Most interesting diagnosis seen to date: Basketball size fibroid with abdominal pain
- Medical / Research Interests: Interventional Spine and Pediatric TBI
- Personal Interests: I like boating, fishing, shooting, and, of course, to travel...
- Why did you choose PM&R? It is the only specialty truly about function, independence, and promoting physical activity and fitness.
- How did you hear about the residency program? I searched online
- Thoughts about the residency: I appreciate the one-on-one experience of working with each of the attendings performing procedures and taking care of patients in inpatient and outpatient settings.
Maya Modzelewski, M.D. (PGY1)
- Favorite Rochester Hangouts: The pool, SPoT Coffee, my bed, Sinbad's, Bistro 135 for good food, wine and live Jazz.
- Medical / Research Interests: TBI, spinal cord injury, pain
- Personal Interests: Traveling, swimming, beach days, outrigger canoe paddling, kayaking, surfing poorly, snorkeling/diving, hiking, tennis, photography
- How did you hear about the residency program? Researching PM&R programs preparing for application to residency.
- Why Rochester? Very friendly people, small community feel of a big teaching hospital.
Denise Norton, M.D. (PGY1)
- Favorite Rochester Hangouts: Sinbad's, SPoT Coffee
- Medical / Research Interests: Still thinking this through, but I am interested in muscle memory and genetics of injuries.
- Personal Interests: Health/fitness, any outdoor activity, soccer, cycling, music, family and food!
- Why did you choose PM&R? I love the functional aspect of medicine.
- How did you hear about the residency program? Through FRIEDA when I was doing research about programs.
- Thoughts about the residency: Residency is an eye-opening, opportunity-filled, lifestyle I did not understand until I was here. It makes you realize that upon graduation that all things are possible.
- Why Rochester? Clearly the weather!
Claudia Ramirez, M.D. (PGY1)
- Favorite Rochester Hangouts: Java's, SPoT Coffee, Tapas, Salena's, India House and Biaggi
- Medical / Research Interests: Trauma, fractures, spine injuries
- Personal Interests: Medical missions, education, mentoring and volunteering
- Why did you choose PM&R? Love the focus on function!
- How did you hear about the residency program? ERAS
- Thoughts about the residency: Building of general medical knowledge during intern year, followed by three years of PM&R
- Why Rochester? Rochester has beautiful summers with great places to go bike riding, hiking, running, and great indoor places to discover the rest of the year.
