Our Fellows
Third Year (PGY-6)
Amanda Bennett
Hometown: Lake Oswego, OR
Medical School: Tulane School of Medicine
Residency: Ochsner Clinic Foundation
Hobbies / Interests?: Music performance, traveling, gardening, comic books/sci-fi
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training?: A new perspective and a new location to broaden my horizons. Rochester has every aspect of training I could hope for in an affordable and friendly city.
Favorite Activities in Rochester: Nature walks in Washington Grove, local music festivals, wine tasting in the Finger Lakes, neighborhood parties
Syed Naqvi
Hometown: Galway, Republic of Ireland
Medical School: National University of Ireland, Galway
Residency: Pennsylvania Hospital, University of Pennsylvania
Hobbies / Interests?: Biking, running and eating out
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training?: Well balanced program with availability of sub specialty fellowships. Strong academic center with excellent research opportunities.
Favorite Activities in Rochester: Hanging out in College town, Finger lakes, Rochester Public Market, Park Ave.
Michael Riordan
Hometown: Clifton, Virginia
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Residency: Rutgers- Robert Wood Johnson
Hobbies / Interests?: Anything Outdoors
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training?: The opportunity to train at one of the premier Cardiology Fellowships in a collegial environment.
Favorite Activities in Rochester: Running/biking along the Erie canal, exploring new restaurants
Colin Wright
Hometown: Manlius, NY
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Interests in Cardiology: Critical care, pulmonary embolism
Hobbies: Skiing, snowboarding, sailing, tennis, traveling, cooking, playing cello and piano
Favorite Activities in Rochester: Bringing my daughter to the beach and the zoo, going to the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Ayhan Yoruk
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Medical School: The George Washington University
Residency: University of Rochester
Hobbies / Interests: Spending time with family and friends, enjoying food and culture, exploring the world.
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training: The University of Rochester's motto of Meliora, or ever better, is an ethic I personally witnessed as I grew up in the Rochester community and is what ultimately drew me back for training. In addition to world-class research and training, it is the involved mentorship and overall warm collegiality imbued throughout the program that makes it so special.
Favorite Activities in Rochester: Spending time with family and friends, exploring new restaurants and cafes, frequenting the Rochester public market, hiking/tennis/golf/basketball; always amazing myself with what Rochester has to offer.
Second Year (PGY-5)
Peter Bleszynski
Hometown: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Medical School: Jagiellonian University Medical College
Residency: University of Rochester
Hobbies / Interests: Traveling, trying new foods, working out, tennis, skiing
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training: URMC provides outstanding education with a friendly atmosphere.
Favorite Activities in Rochester: Exploring Canandaigua lake on the boat, hiking through the beautiful parks, wine tours around the Finger lakes
Jesse Doran
Hometown: Sudbury, MA
Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
Residency: University of Rochester Medical Center
Hobbies / Interests: Fishing, spending time in the Adirondacks, traveling, beer league softball, football (especially the New England Patriots)
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training: Great atmosphere, wonderful faculty, balanced fellowship
Favorite Activities in Rochester: Trout & salmon fishing, Finger Lakes wineries, summer festivals, softball
Michael Gagnier
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Medical School: University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Residency: University of Massachusetts
Hobbies / Interests: Working out, cooking, playing guitar, golf and playing other sports
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training: Location close to family, complete training with EP, interventional cardiology, and advanced heart failure along with kind fellows and attendings
Favorite Activities in Rochester: Spending time in the finger lakes, trying new restaurants, going to Wegmans
Sinan Tankut
Hometown: Tulsa, OK
Medical School: University of Oklahoma
Residency: University of Rochester
Hobbies / Interests: Tennis, basketball, traveling, playing the piano, biking
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training: Excellent clinical program with great opportunities to conduct research, supportive faculty and staff who are heavily invested in the education and training of fellows.
Favorite Activities in Rochester: Biking along the Erie Canal, golfing, spending time with friends and family, trying out new restaurants.
Michael Wilber
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Residency: University of Maryland
Hobbies / Interests: Cooking, eating, wine, beer, cocktails, travel, biking, NHL hockey, EPL football, playing music
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training: Great blend of academic research opportunities with large breadth of clinical pathology and available experiences in all areas of cardiology. Affordable and beautiful city with nice people and plenty to do.
Favorite Activities in Rochester: Eating and drinking around Rochester and the finger lakes. Biking along the many river and canal paths. Hanging out with my wife and daughter at the Strong museum, public market, beach. Going to performances at the Eastman Theatre.
First Year (PGY-4)
Zaid Al-Jebaje
Hometown: Baghdad
Medical School: University of Baghdad
Residency: University at Buffalo – Catholic Health System
Hobbies / Interests: Soccer, hiking, travel
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training: Two things: Amazing people and amazing food
Favorite Activities in Rochester: Walk/brunch on Park Avenue and of course Garbage Plate
Erin Armenia
Hometown: TBA
Medical School: TBA
Residency: TBA
Hobbies / Interests: TBA
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training: TBA
Favorite Activities in Rochester: TBA
Michael Hannon
Hometown: Danville, PA
Medical School: Penn State
Residency: University of Rochester
Hobbies / Interests: Running, cycling, skiing (snow and water), anything outside
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training: Like the residency program when I interviewed due to the friendly people and focus on education. Lucky to be able to stay for fellowship at a great academic center with active advanced heart failure and mechanical support program and not be in a major city
Favorite Activities in Rochester: Run and XC ski at Mendon Ponds Park, cycle the canal path, explore the Finger Lakes region
Elliot Mahlof
Hometown: TBA
Medical School: TBA
Residency: TBA
Hobbies / Interests: TBA
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training: TBA
Favorite Activities in Rochester: TBA
Laura Methvin
Hometown: Newark, DE
Medical School: Jefferson Medical College (Sidney Kimmel Medical College)
Residency: Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson
Hobbies / Interests: Outdoors, crafts, eating good food / drinking good beer, and traveling
Why did you choose Rochester for Fellowship training: Evidence-based institution with amazing people, and a well-rounded education
Favorite Activities in Rochester: Local breweries and running in Highland Park