Class of 2023
"The Class of 2023 will provide equitable, compassionate and empowering care to all. We commit ourselves to fighting for social justice and anti-racism. We strive to embody our full, authentic selves, and encourage each other to flourish as people and physicians, while remaining accountable and humble. We recognize our role within our community and will use our platform to advocate for each other, our patients, and the betterment of the medical field."
Christian Archer, MD
University of Florida College of Medicine
Hello everyone! I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and attended The University of Florida for both undergrad and medical school. In medical school I had amazing mentorship from faculty who exemplify humanism in medicine and impressed on me the idea that there is a big difference between treating a patient and caring for a person. These mentors came from diverse training backgrounds including integrative medicine, palliative care, and psychology, all of which have become interests of mine. I decided family medicine was the best way for me to combine my interests into a practice that enables me to build meaningful relationships with my patients and use these relationships as the foundation for healing. I was immediately drawn to Rochester by their commitment to the biopsychosocial model which they helped put on the map decades ago. Volunteering at my medical school’s free clinic and on several global medical brigades to Haiti and India impressed on me the importance of caring for populations with the greatest need, and I am excited to begin serving at Brown Square Community Health Center.
When I am not in the hospital, I enjoy spending time with friends and family. I dabble in guitar, indoor rock climbing, cooking, and a variety of outdoor activities from soccer to hiking. I enjoy listening to podcasts, with On Being and Codeswitch as two staples. Two of my great loves are travel and food, and luckily for me they often find a way of intersecting. I am very excited to explore a new part of the country and finally experience seasons besides hot and hotter.
Madeline Bell, MD
University of Illinois College of Medicine-Rockford
I’m from Ventura, California, which is an amazing little beach town about an hour and a half north of LA. It’s a bit sacrilegious that I can’t surf, but I love swimming in the ocean and kayaking! I’ve had type 1 diabetes since I was 9 years old. This was one of my major motivations to go into medicine. I went to college in Moraga, CA, another tiny town in the San Francisco Bay Area. There, I studied Health Science, which is essentially a mixture of Biology, Kinesiology, and Psychology. I also minored in Spanish and studied abroad in Belize, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.
After college, I took a year “off” to work as a study coordinator for several clinical trials for diabetes medications. During that year, I also volunteered at a local hospital and earned my EMT license. In medical school, I focused on women’s health issues and LGBTQ+ health. At this point, I knew I had WAY too many interests to settle into a single sub-specialty right out of medical school. Family Medicine is the perfect blend of primary care, patient advocacy, integrative health approaches, psycho-social issues, and care across the lifespan. I am so excited to continue my training at Rochester to be the best Family Medicine Physician I can be!
Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my fiancé playing video games and board games, working out, painting, singing, hanging out with my awesome cat Hattie, anything and everything Disney, ocean sports except for surfing, and reading (especially horror).
Finally, a fun fact about me: when I was 18, I won an international contest and was picked to sing the theme music for the video game Assassin’s Creed Revelations. It’s on iTunes if you want to check it out!
Ellerie Chen, MD
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
My dad named me after an old detective character from the 1930s, Ellery Queen. We share a love for mysteries and puzzles, which is part of what makes medicine so interesting for me! I’m a Pacific Northwest girl: I was born in Portland, Oregon; majored in biochemistry at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington; and attended medical school at Loma Linda University in sunny Southern California.
I’m passionate about a healthy lifestyle and love to talk about good food and exercise. I’ve experienced first-hand how important a healthy lifestyle can be to managing chronic conditions. After my residency, I’d like to do a fellowship in functional medicine with a possible emphasis on acupuncture. My family is from Singapore and I grew up with both Western and traditional Chinese medicine, and I think they compliment each other in helping patients achieve wellness.
Outside of work, I like to rock climb, roller skate, try new recipes, and paint fat, crooked jungle animals.
Alexis Davis, MD
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Hi All! I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY and I attended Cornell University for undergrad where I majored in Human Development with a minor in Global Health. During college, I worked extensively with the Ithaca Free Clinic where my passions for health equity and social justice were solidified. After college I took a gap year and worked as a Patient Health Navigator in my hometown, coordinating care for community members with chronic illnesses. I then attended medical school at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH where I furthered my interest in community medicine as the Health Outreach Coordinator for the Renee Jones Empowerment Center, a nonprofit dedicated to providing wellness services for victims and survivors of human trafficking.
I hope to expand this work in residency as an advocate for improved health access among medically vulnerable populations like my own. As a first generation college student and the first physician in my family, I am determined to serve and create opportunities for those with similar backgrounds. I ultimately hope to have a career that combines health policy, preventive medicine, community health and trauma informed care. As you can see, I have a LOT of interests and that is precisely why I chose Family Medicine, the specialty where you can truly make your career whatever you want it to be! The U of R Family Medicine program is a prime example of that as it offers its residents so many incredible and diverse training experiences. I feel incredibly lucky to be training here, and as a Buffalo native, I am happy to be close to home. Outside of medicine, I love spending time with my mom, sister and younger brother, brunching with friends, going to concerts, dancing to Soca music and traveling!
Joel Fandel, MD
New York Medical College
I grew up in a rural part of Washington State near the beautiful fishing town of Gig Harbor where I spent most of my time in the woods or on the water. I lived there my whole young life and worked in construction with my dad, as a farm hand at a local farm/orchard, and as a server in a few restaurants. My first passion was caring for animals, and my interest in the sciences began with the idea of pursuing zoology. As I matured and began recognizing the health disparities in my own community, my goals shifted towards a career where I could personally help and advocate for those people. I decided one of the best platforms to accomplish this would be to become a family medicine physician.
I studied neurobiology at the University of Washington as I’ve always been fascinated by the duality of the brain and the mind. I further developed my medical interests while living in Seattle and also saw first-hand how much value there was in preventative medicine, continuity of care, education, and attention to mental health. I also met my now wife at UW! We were fortunate enough to go to medical school at New York Medical College together, and now she is an Orthopedic Surgery resident at URMC. It is a dream come true for me to be joining such a highly regarded program like URMC/Highland Hospital where I will have the best preparation towards furthering my interests in addiction medicine and sports medicine.
Outside of medicine I enjoy watching and playing all kinds of sports, all things outdoors like hiking and rock climbing, woodworking, collecting and selling baseball cards, renovating our condo in Penfield, and relaxing with my wife and two cats.
Catherine Harmer, MD
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
I grew up in Rochester (Irondequoit!) and went away to Yale for college where I studied physics. I lived and studied in France for two summers in college. During one of them, I worked at CERN where I realized that I am more interested in people than particles. I spent one year in New Haven after college working in a lab and learning how to get groceries with only a bike and a backpack. I then returned home to attend medical school at the University of Rochester. I am thrilled to be staying here to serve my home community throughout residency and beyond. Within family medicine, I am passionate about reproductive justice, gender health, and eating disorders.
I enjoy swimming in Lake Ontario and eating Abbott's ice cream with my large extended family here in Rochester. I am an avid backpacker, having thru-hiked the Long Trail and parts of the Appalachian Trail. I also love to sing anything from Bruckner to Janelle Monae. Practicing yoga with Rochester's vibrant yoga community is one of my favorite things to do.
Courtney Kodweis, DO
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Carolinas Campus
I was born in Rochester, NY and was raised not far from here in the North Greece/Hilton area. I have had the good fortune to have the support of an incredible family and of a close-knit community from a young age. I spent my childhood camping in the Adirondacks, boating on Lake Ontario, making friendship bracelets and watching Disney movies with my parents, grandparents and two younger brothers.
After graduating from Our Lady of Mercy High School, I attended the University at Buffalo where I majored in Biomedical Engineering. There, I explored my passions for leadership and education as a teaching assistant and peer tutor. I spent my college summers doing research in the cutting-edge world of 3-D printing, which took me to places like Milwaukee, WI and Hyderabad, India. After college, I decided to continue my education in Biomedical Engineering with a MS at the University of Rochester Center for Medical Technology Innovation. There, my time was spent developing a novel approach to retrieve Inferior Vena Cava filters and learning more about medical device design. Upon graduation, I decided it was time for a “big-girl job.” I moved to a suburb just outside of Detroit, MI to continue work in the 3-D printing space for a company that creates patient-specific, 3-D printed surgical guides for orthopedic surgeries. Though the work was interesting, it didn’t take long for me to realize that my passions lie beyond engineering industry. I decided to return to school (again!), this time to pursue a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. The next year, I started medical school at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) – Carolinas Campus, in Spartanburg, SC. While enjoying the perks of sunny, blue skies almost year-round (and studying, of course), I continued to hone my interests in leadership, medical education and global health. When the time came to decide on a specialty, there was no question in my mind that Family Medicine was the best fit. I have had incredible mentors in Family Medicine and felt that this was an area where I could make the greatest difference.
After five years away from this incredible city, I am very excited to have the opportunity to return home to Rochester to continue my training as a Family Medicine Resident. When I am not busy with medicine, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, making delicious treats in the kitchen, enjoying the great outdoors and, of course, shopping at Wegmans! I cannot wait to call this city home again and look forward to serving this wonderful community.
Sarah Minney, MD
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Hello everyone! I grew up on a farm in Western Massachusetts with my parents, two younger brothers, and many turkeys, sheep, pigs, ducks, chickens, cats, dogs...it was a great adventure. After studying neuroscience at Skidmore College (Creative Thought Matters) in upstate New York, I moved to Pittsburgh to be closer to my now husband and worked in mental health and childcare and finished my pre-reqs at a post-bac program. I was granted the privilege of attending medical school at the University of Pittsburgh (first generation!), where I discovered the field of family medicine and continued my community advocacy and service work. I'm so excited to begin training at the University of Rochester/Highland Hospital Program where I know I will have the best mentors and teachers. My clinical passions include maternal-child health, substance use disorder treatment, and patient advocacy. And when I'm home, I love to spend time with my husband, my rescue beagle-Clarence, and my family and friends.
Scott Neary, MD
Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Hello! I was born and raised right outside of Burlington, VT. Loving the green mountains and the lake I stayed in Vermont for college, attending the University of Vermont. While focusing my studies on psychology and human development, my free time was spent volunteering on the UVM ambulance service. After college I worked for four years in a local emergency department as an EMT before attending the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine.
I am excited to continue my training in Family Medicine at the University of Rochester. My interests within family medicine include underserved populations, addiction medicine, and LGBTQ+ health. Outside of medicine I enjoy spending time with my partner, Drew, our black lab, Echo, and our cat, Duncan. When not at the hospital I love trying new restaurants, exploring new places, and staying active by spending as much time outdoors as possible.
Hannah Root, MD
State University of New York Upstate Medical University
Hello everyone! I am from Lowville, NY, a small farming town on the edge of the Adirondacks. I spent my childhood swimming in lakes, catching toads, visiting family, and shredding papers at my parents' busy Family Medicine practice. I attended Vassar College, where I majored in Science, Technology, and Society, and I spent all of my extra time with the circus performing arts club. After college, I moved to Philadelphia for two years to work with a multidisciplinary team focused on adolescents living with HIV. I moved back to New York to attend SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. There, I participated in Upstate's Rural Medicine program, and completed many of my clinical rotations in Batavia, NY, where I solidified my decision to pursue Family Medicine.
I grew up surrounded by my parents’ stories of working as Family physicians, and I was not surprised when I fell in love with the specialty as well. I am excited to work with people of all ages, and to have the tools to engage with my community and broader healthcare system. My additional interests include adolescent, reproductive, and LGBTQ+ healthcare, as well as healthcare policy and advocacy.
Outside of the clinic, I enjoy hiking and cooking with my husband, crosswords, and board games. I am delighted to be in Rochester for my residency training!
Julia Sanger, MD
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a doctor… for animals! But during high school in Rochester, NY, I pivoted toward wanting to take care of humans. I went to college at SUNY Geneseo with the intention of exploring medicine as a career, and a few meaningful shadowing and volunteer experiences solidified this interest. During college I found that I loved studying Biology, but that beyond the science, I also enjoyed the study of people and minored in Human Development. Outside of studying, I spent most of my time as a goal keeper for the Geneseo Women’s soccer team.
After college I moved to Boston where I worked in a lab at Harvard Medical School for 2 years. I learned a lot during my time there, not least of which was my passion for cooking. Ultimately my gap years paid-off when I was accepted at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Next to Rochester, Philly is the best city! Especially if you like good food and Eagles fans.
Family Medicine found me late in my third year of medical school when I thought my career was heading in a different direction. On my rotation, I became excited by the challenge of being presented with the full spectrum of medicine and I felt a profound sense of purpose in taking care of and speaking up for those who cannot speak up for themselves. I’m smiling just thinking about it! I feel thankful to join the ranks of those invested in the wellness of the Rochester community.
Miguel Sotelo, MD
University of Washington School of Medicine
My family is originally from Mexico, though I was born and raised in Tieton, WA, a small agricultural town in central Washington State. My family still lives in that area. I went to college at Washington State University where I majored in Biology. While I was there, I was able to go on two medical missions to Guatemala as well as study abroad in Costa Rica for a semester. More importantly I was lucky to meet my life partner, Tracy, in college. She and I married at the start of my fourth year of medical school. Being in the rural underserved program at the University of Washington School of Medicine, my clinical rotations were heavily distributed throughout rural Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and Alaska. Those experiences solidified my career goal to practice full spectrum care in a rural underserved area.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my wife, playing board games, rock climbing, and taking our dog on hiking adventures.
Back
Class of 2024
"We, the class of 2024, aspire to empower our patients through equitable and compassionate care. We are committed to justice, humility, and excellence in medical knowledge. We strive to learn from our community, patients, and colleagues. We hope to foster each other's growth and joy through support, respect, humor and adventure."
Jonathan Abres, MD
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Faculty of Health Sciences
I am originally from Jerusalem, though spent the later part of my childhood in Montreal, Canada. I did my undergraduate degree at McGill in psychology and management. I went to live and travel in Southern Africa after my undergraduate degree, where I worked at an addiction clinic. This experience had a great impact on me in terms of defining my future career aspirations in global health and addiction medicine as well as understanding health and treatment through the lens of the biopsychosocial model. I went to medical school in the desert of Israel, at Ben-Gurion University, which focuses on global health. During my clerkship, family medicine piqued my interests because of the relationships I developed alongside the diversity of patient demographics and disease presentations.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy camping trips, traveling, water sports, basketball, and most importantly spending time with my family and friends. I am excited to pursue my training at University of Rochester.
Nicholas Antos, MD
University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences The Pritzker School of Medicine
I was born in Columbus, Ohio and grew up in the neighboring suburb of Hilliard. After high school, I followed my older brother to the University of Chicago, where I studied biology. During college, I enjoyed the opportunity to work in FQHCs with Health Leads to address the various needs that patients had. I learned early on that many factors affect a family’s ability to stay healthy, and I knew that I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to work with people to address these needs. I also spent a summer working on Rikers Island through a human rights internship where I distributed naloxone kits to family members of individuals who were incarcerated. Working with passionate doctors and talking with families about harm reduction confirmed my desire to become a doctor. I stayed at UChicago for medical school and discovered that family medicine was the perfect specialty for me. I am so excited to continue my training at the University of Rochester! I am looking forward to exploring my interests in addiction medicine, LGBTQ-affirming care, and community health.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy playing pickleball and board games, watching my hometown Columbus Crew soccer team, and hiking with my partner.
Tianrae Chu, MD
Gisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Hey there! I’m Tianrae or T-Rae for short. I was born in Boston, MA but moved before I can remember to San Francisco, CA where I grew up. I got my BA in Biology-Neuroscience at Washington University in St. Louis, where I did neuropsychology research and ABA therapy with teenagers with autism spectrum disorders. During that time, I also spent a semester studying abroad in China where I could connect with my roots a bit more (my family is from China and Taiwan). In medical school at Dartmouth, I found meaning in community engagement work with a local teen center, the student free clinic, and various student groups involved in social and racial justice. Wanting to pursue a career in primary care while maintaining a broad skill set, I found my way to Family Medicine. I hope to practice in both rural and urban medically underserved areas in the future. Outside of work, you’ll probably find me playing basketball or cooking up a storm. I’m looking forward to exploring Rochester with my partner who is a General Surgery resident!
Sara Diletti-Swenson, MD
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
Hi everyone! I was born and raised in the Buffalo area working in my family’s restaurant. I attended the University at Buffalo majoring in physics and mathematics. While I loved my classwork, I decided to pursue medicine and haven’t looked back since! After graduating, I spent a year in Binghamton working with a neurology practice as an intraoperative neuromonitoring technician and afterwards made my way back to my hometown for medical school at University at Buffalo.
I fell in love with Family Medicine early in my third year because it allowed me to see, learn, and practice full spectrum medicine. In medical school, I volunteered as the manager of a free student run clinic providing care to un- and underinsured patients in the city of Buffalo. This sparked my passion for underserved medicine, which further fueled my interest in family medicine as a rotator in a safety net clinic. My interests in addition to underserved medicine include addiction medicine, behavioral health, and medical education. I’m excited to explore these and everything Rochester has to offer during residency!
Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my husband and cat, Franklin, taking care of my many houseplants, playing board games, scoping out new restaurants, and exploring outside!
Janice Lau, MD
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Hello! I grew up in Toronto, Canada, and I attended Cornell University, where I majored in physics and fell in love with Upstate New York. Outside of the classroom, I enjoyed apple picking, hiking through the gorges, admiring the picturesque sunsets and fall foliage, and of course, going on endless trips to Wegmans. After college, I completed a master’s degree in medical physics at the University of Pennsylvania. My interests in applying science to healthcare and serving the community led me to pursue medicine. I went to medical school at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. During my time in medical school, I was drawn to family medicine because of the emphasis and value on long-term relationships in patient care. I am thrilled to continue my medical training at the University of Rochester and to be back in Upstate New York!
In my free time, I enjoy photography, travelling and adding souvenir magnets to my collection, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. I am looking forward to exploring Rochester and being a part of the vibrant community!
Sarah Lichenstein, MD
Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
Hello everyone! I was born in Baltimore, MD and was raised in Ellicott City, MD with my parents and younger brother. I attended Northeastern University in Boston for college and studied nursing. I loved exploring Boston, eating lots of seafood, and going to a few Red Sox games; however, I will always be an Orioles fan (Go O's)! After college, I was fortunate to be close with my family again and worked as a PICU nurse at University Maryland Medical Center. I loved working in downtown Baltimore and taking care of my patients; however, I realized I wanted to become a physician a few years after working. I then moved to Philadelphia to complete my pre-medical post baccalaureate program.
During my gap year, I continued to live in Philly and worked as a research nurse at UPenn in phase 1 trials focused on pancreatic, breast and colon cancer. I then was accepted to Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston Salem, NC for medical school, where I met my husband Brett (married in June!), who matched at URMC's internal medicine program. During medical school I also discovered my love of primary care and family medicine. I have interests in OB, addiction medicine, and women's health.
Outside of medicine, I love to spend time being with my husband and our orange tabby (Rory), hanging out with friends, being outside, exploring, traveling, watching new shows, cooking and eating good food. Brett and I are extremely proud that we were able to train Rory to sit, go down, and high five!
I am super excited to be begin my family medicine training at URMC!
Shifra Mincer, MD
State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine
I was born in California and grew up in New York City. From a young age I regularly witnessed homelessness and poverty, and volunteered at a local soup kitchen, which helped me realize I wanted to pursue a life of service.
In college I became fascinated with philosophy and studied both Western and Eastern writings. My study of Chinese philosophy led me to pursue meditation. Sitting quietly allowed me to gain deep insights into my own mind, reflect on my life and find a place of inner peace. I realized that without taking care of myself, I could never truly help anyone else.
After college I participated in several silent mindfulness meditation retreats and trained to become a yoga instructor. The yoga teacher training involved a course on human anatomy and another on nutrition. I became completely fascinated by the human body and realized I wanted to become a physician to help people stay healthy in mind, body and spirit.
In medical school I was active in our student-run free clinic and held several positions on the executive board. I saw firsthand how important primary care is, especially for low-income and uninsured patients. I also learned about the devastating effects of health inequities, which disproportionately affect American communities of color. I spent a year after medical school as a research fellow for the SUNY Downstate Division of Health Equity. I am particularly passionate about women’s health and am excited to train in both obstetrical and family planning care.
In my free time I love to explore nature with my husband and son. We love to garden and cook food using our home-grown veggies and herbs. I also enjoy being physically active, running and hiking outdoors, cycling, and practicing yoga. Other hobbies of mine are knitting, crocheting, and sewing. I’m planning to knit some extra warm hats and scarves for our first winter in Rochester.
Sheema Shabahang, MD
Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
I grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago in a town called Gurnee. I come from an Iranian household and many of my summers were spent visiting family abroad. These experiences were the origin of my passion for traveling and exposing myself to different cultures and ways of life. I attended DePaul University in downtown Chicago, where I majored in biological sciences and minored in Spanish. During my undergraduate career, I volunteered as a peer health educator in Chicago Public Schools where I taught high school students about various health topics such as nutrition, sexual health, and mental health. I also participated in a medical mission trip to Nicaragua where I helped provide medical services to a community that did not have regular access to healthcare. Following my undergraduate career, I attended the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University. During medical school, I founded the organization, PARS (Persian American RFUMS Students), the purpose of which was to connect Iranian students throughout the university and to educate members about Iranian culture and our contribution to the Sciences. I acted as Vice-president of WISDOM (Women in Scientific Discovery of Medicine) and was a member of Medical Students for Choice. One of my most memorable experiences was the six weeks I spent in the village of Ndejje, Uganda, where a group of fellow medical students and I assisted other doctors and medical personnel in providing medical services at a level IV health clinic. While I will miss my hometown of Chicago, I am thrilled to be pursuing my residency career here in Rochester and developing a relationship with this wonderful community as a medical provider.
I was drawn to field of Family Medicine because of its focus on the patient-provider relationship and the opportunity to be a significant resource for the well-being of the community. My interests within the Family Medicine include global health, maternity and childcare, and political advocacy. Outside of my life in medicine, I enjoy painting, crocheting, trying new food spots, and spending time with my friends and family!
Michelle Shellard, MD
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Hello! I am a California native who has found her home on the East Coast. During my undergraduate years at Wesleyan University, I studied Neuroscience and Behavior and spent my free time volunteering in the community, working at a café, and briefly dabbling in intramural rugby. After college, I joined a humanitarian organization and wound up sailing the high seas as a galley cook on a medical ship in the South Pacific. I was then fortunate to attend medical school at the University of Rochester where I enjoyed serving with the homeless street medicine program, volunteer cooking program, and medical school a cappella group. I was also part of the school’s global health track; through that program I returned to the South Pacific for a summer and later for a research year, both times focusing on maternal and child health projects. I found my home in Family Medicine because of the specialty’s commitment to social justice, compassionate care, and holistic medicine. When it came to deciding where to go for residency, I couldn’t imagine leaving Rochester, which had become a wonderful place to live and train (marrying a Rochester native might have something to do with it, too!). I am thrilled to continue my journey with URMC’s stellar Family Medicine department! My clinical interests include women’s health, primary care, community medicine, and global health.
My husband and I have a dog and cat, as well as a host of house plants I try desperately (but not always successfully) to keep alive. In our free time, we can be found exploring the many hiking and running trails in the area, enjoying a meal with friends and family, conquering our never-ending list of home improvement projects, and buying mountains of fresh produce from the Public Market.
Megan Taggart, MD
State University of New York Upstate Medical University
I’m from the small town of Whitney Point, NY just outside of Binghamton. For my undergraduate degree, I went to SUNY Geneseo where I majored in Biochemistry and minored in Mathematics. While in college I played rugby and was captain of my team for 2 years. When home over the summer and on breaks I worked as a nursing assistant in the emergency department. I attended medical school at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse, NY. I fell in love with Family Medicine during my first year after exploring the specialty with some of the inspirational Family Physicians at Upstate. As a member of Upstate’s Rural Medical Scholars Program I completed many of my clinical rotations in Cortland, NY which confirmed that Family Medicine would allow me to treat the variety of people present in a rural community. I look forward to treating people in every stage of life and hope to one day deliver full spectrum care to a rural area. Outside of medicine I enjoy hiking, playing board games, reading, watching The Office, and spending time with my family.
Kavya Timmireddy, MD
Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center
Hi, everyone! I would start this off by telling you about my wonderfully folksy hometown…except, I don’t have one. Having been born to parents with terminally wandering feet, I grew up all over the U.S. We lived in itty bitty villages, big city jungles, and everything in between! Each new year meant a new move, and every one of them was an adventure. My parents settled down in Queens, New York when I was a teenager, but my personal travels had just begun. After all, there were still so many places to see and so many people to meet! I went off to the University of Pennsylvania for college where I majored in Anthropology, further cementing my interest in human diversity. I came back to New York City for a couple of years, where I took that interest and belief in human capability and applied it to public health, which is where I really grew my interest in community and family medicine. Finally, I went off to Chicago to complete my medical school at Rush University.
I am so excited to be back in New York and at the University of Rochester. It’s an honor to be trained as a Family Medicine physician and to be able to serve and work with such a wide swathe of people. I have a particular interest in health equity work, care for the underserved (with specific focus on care for individuals with disabilities or are LGBTQIA etc. identified), family planning, and behavioral health. When I am not in the hospital, I enjoy hiking, reading, traveling, baking (my pecan pie is award winning), opera, and fiber crafts.
Emily Triplett, MD
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
Hey there! I was born and raised right here in Rochester, NY and had a somewhat tortuous journey to medicine. I initially studied Theatre at New York University before transferring to Nazareth College to study Psychology and Biochemistry. After undergrad, I worked for a biotechnology start-up company that grew out of one of the labs at URMC. When I finally connected my passion for people and stories with my love of science and innovation, I was lucky enough to be accepted at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Science in Buffalo, NY (Go Bills!) There, I learned to embrace my diverse interests and fell in love with Family Medicine. I was drawn to Rochester’s broad spectrum training and emphasis on psychosocial medicine. I am so excited to have the opportunity to work back home right next to one of my favorite places: Highland Park.
Outside of medicine, I love the outdoors: hiking through our beautiful parks, biking along the canal, enjoying the slopes as a ski patroller, exploring my neighborhood with my dog, and trying my hand at some gardening. I love cooking, eating, and enjoying local music with family and friends.
Back
Class of 2025
"As active members in our community, we the class of 2025 will work together to reduce healthcare disparities and promote equity through addressing structural, social, and environmental determinants of health.
In our service to our patients we commit to anti-racism and confronting our own biases, meeting people where they are with curiosity and open-mindedness.
We will give ourselves and each other the same compassion and care that we provide for our patients to promote trust and joy."
Jaclyn Grode, MD
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska as the middle of three children. My family spent a lot of quality time in the car as we drove to rural South Dakota to visit family and occasionally struck out on coast-to-coast national park tours - my favorite so far is Mesa Verde. I went to Boston University to study biomedical engineering and to acclimate myself to east coast winters! After graduation I spent another year in Boston working in an emergency department and a research lab before making my way to Philadelphia for medical school at Thomas Jefferson University. During medical school, I spent a year in a program that focused on forming longer relationships with patients as they navigated the healthcare system. I chose family medicine as my future career early on because of its breadth. I'm excited that as a family doc I can care for people of all ages and with health challenges of all kinds. Within family medicine my interests include maternal-child health, rural health care, palliative medicine and addiction medicine, among other things! I’m excited to continue my medical career at Rochester/Highland Hospital!
When not in medicine-mode, I enjoy baking, science fiction, board games, trivia nights, and planning my future travel.
Rhianna Hibbler, MD
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
I grew up on a mountain half an hour outside of town, in the part of the Pennsylvania Wilds known for its dark night skies. My mother was a teacher who encouraged reading and close examination of the natural world, as well as an empathy for people and meeting them where they are. These foundational experiences influenced my later decision to enter Family Medicine - however, it was a bit of a winding road!
I went to Bard College at Simon’s Rock after my sophomore year of high school, then transferred to Brandeis University where I completed a BS in Health: Science, Society, and Policy, with a thesis on Reproductive Decision-Making in Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. After graduation, I stayed in Boston to work as a Clinical Research Assistant at BIDMC on projects relating to diabetes and vascular health. Additionally, I volunteered as a birth doula, as I was considering becoming a nurse-midwife. From these experiences I found that I loved talking to people, learning their stories, and understanding their individual health goals and how to support them. To rule out a future in my other love, evolutionary and developmental biology, I took a research position at MGH studying the intersection of bacterial evolution and human immune response in the context of Cystic Fibrosis. There I worked with amazing physician-scientists, but also saw that the lab bench was not for me.
During this time I read Caring for the Country by Dr. Howard Rabinowitz, which profiled rural family physicians who participated in Jefferson’s Physician Shortage Area Program (PSAP). In it I saw the type of physician I could become, interested not only in the pathophysiology of disease but also invested in serving people and their communities. I was fortunate to complete my medical school training at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, where I participated in the PSAP as well as the Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship, which allowed me to complete my third year rotations in primarily outpatient settings. During my time at Jefferson, I created a podcast 'Along a River in the Wilds', helped lead our Family Medicine and Palliative Care Interest Groups, organized knitting and crocheting volunteers, and took advantage of our rich Humanities and Health program. I continue to be interested in rural medicine, as well as reproductive health, behavioral health, and palliative care. I'm very excited to be joining U of R's program, and to explore more of the Rochester area with my partner, who is from here! In my free time I enjoy walking our two dogs while listening to podcasts, crocheting while watching TV, and cooking with lots of veggies.
Kevin Li, MD
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
I was born and raised in San Francisco, CA, a child to immigrants from southern China. My family’s struggles learning to navigate the health care system and a new culture led to my interests in health care accessibility and the importance of social supports. After getting a degree in exercise science at the University of California, Davis, I spent three years in business and technology working for a start-up company in the field of medical education. Attending the University of Rochester for medical school, I had the privilege of working with the unhoused population, public school athletic programs and being involved with several projects involving behavioral health and interprofessional collaboration. Those roles sold me on family medicine as a specialty to learn from and care for people of all ages and backgrounds. I am fortunate to continue doing so in the diverse and wonderful community I have called home for the past 5 years. Outside of medicine, you will find me hiking, cycling, taste-testing my partner’s delightful cooking and working on my Cantonese with my niece, who already is leaps and bounds more fluent than I am.
Christine Ly, MD
State University of New York Upstate Medical University
Hey everyone! I was born and raised in Flushing, NY where I was surrounded by Asian cuisine and learned to speak three different dialects of Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, and Fujienese). Although I am not a big foodie, I am always down for bubble tea! My interest in medicine started at a young age when I realized the importance of sight in navigating everyday life and wanted to help people preserve their vision. With high school research experience in a corneal wound healing lab at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, I spent a year at New York University studying biological sciences before transferring to Cornell University, partly in pursuit of snowier weather. After majoring in biological sciences and minoring in business and biomedical engineering, I pursued the dual MD/PhD program at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Following defense of my dissertation on retinal development, I received my PhD in Neuroscience and returned to third year of medical school. With an open mind, I fell in love with Family Medicine. From playing with children to talking to adults, I enjoyed my interactions with people and found myself wanting to learn more about their stories. With my vast interests within Family Medicine, I am excited to begin my training at University of Rochester and become more than capable of treating anyone who comes through my doors.
In my free time throughout the years, I dabbled in music (violin, piano, and flute), Chinese traditional dancing, Lion dance, Wushu martial arts, and arts and crafts (drawing, painting, and origami). Small things in life make me happy, from having a Minion with me to watching squirrels frolic around. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family, watching television, playing board games, and trying to practice Spanish through the Duolingo app.
Katherine Macarthur, MD
Tufts University School of Medicine
I was born and raised in Acton, Massachusetts, a suburb 20 miles west of Boston. Much of my childhood was spent in the ballet studio, studying classical ballet. In high school, I fell in love with science and medicine and decided to stay close to home for college and attended Tufts University in Medford, MA. In college I studied biochemistry, and during my summer breaks I traveled independently across Europe and volunteered in wildlife reserves in South Africa. In 2018, I graduated from the undergraduate program at Tufts and started medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine. During medical school, I found that I was most passionate about developing longitudinal relationships with my patients and creating a safe and affirming environment in clinic. I loved all of medicine, especially primary care, leading me to choose family medicine as my specialty. Within family medicine, my interests include reproductive health and LGBTQ+ medicine.
When I'm not working, I enjoy reading novels while cuddling with my cat, a 13-pound black cat named Jem. I also am a huge Broadway fan and currently have a stack of about 50 playbills from the many shows I've seen! I am so excited to move to upstate New York and serve the community of Rochester.
Jessica Meyer, MD
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Hello! I grew up in Belmont, MA just outside of Boston. After high school I headed west to attend Colorado College. After college I was interested in Public Health and worked at a non-profit where I facilitated community-based, multi-stakeholder alliances across Colorado to increase health equity. The passionate community leaders I worked with taught me that communities hold the best solutions to the challenges they face.I then I worked as a clinic and research assistant at Planned Parenthood in Minnesota where I developed a love for cheese curds, and a deeper understanding of how clinical care and research can be tools to investigate the causes and identify solutions to unjust health outcomes.
During medical school at the University of Rochester I worked closely with the local Syringe Exchange Program, served as a community advocate for im/migrant, and was lucky to complete an International Research Fellowship with a team based in Santiago, Chile. I found Family Medicine as the perfect space where people were working on innovative and non-traditional models of primary care to increase health equity via clinical care, advocacy, and research. And the people were just the best.
I plan to focus on the clinical areas of reproductive health and addiction medicine and identifying solutions to better care for marginalized patients through advocacy and mixed-methods research. Outside of the clinic I enjoy outside activities including trying to grow new vegetables in my garden and exploring new trails on foot, skis, or by bike. If I am inside, I enjoy any activity in the kitchen and learning how to throw pottery on a wheel. And I love ice cream, regardless of if I am inside or outside.
Julia Norton, MD
State University of New York Upstate Medical University
Hi all! I grew up in Jamesville, NY right outside of Syracuse. I attended Colgate University where I majored in French and minored in biology. I spent a semester abroad in Dijon, France and eventually completed my honors thesis on women in medicine in post-independence period Algeria. My French studies helped me develop a love for life stories, relationships, and identities, which lends well to a career as a primary care physician. While in undergrad I also participated in rural EMS and enjoyed building connections with the local community. After college I went directly to medical school at SUNY Upstate in Syracuse where I was involved in leadership of the OB/GYN and Medical Students for Choice interest groups as well as research projects on fibromyalgia and public health. Throughout my time at Upstate my passion for Family Medicine grew as I realized it was the best environment to bring together all of my clinical interests!
I am especially passionate about reproductive justice work, adolescent medicine, gender-affirming care, and advocacy. Outside of medicine I love to spend time outdoors with my husband and our boxer mix, Juniper. I also love cooking and baking — especially layer cakes! I’m thrilled to complete my Family Medicine training at the University of Rochester!
Andrew (Jae) Park, MD
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
I was born in Seoul, South Korea and was adopted at a young age to wonderful Korean and American parents. We lived in rural Oklahoma and were members of a small tight-knit community. I attended a one-room school, where I developed a passion for teaching and mentorship, as older students often helped teach younger students. This continued throughout my time at Southwestern Adventist University, where I studied Biology. I attended medical school at Loma Linda University in southern California. I actively participated in mentoring and tutoring peers, in addition to local at-risk teenagers. During my clinical rotations, I particularly enjoyed my Family Medicine clerkship because of the integration of patient education, psychosocial treatment, and multi-system approach in efforts to treat the whole person, regardless of age, sex, or ethnicity. I also have an interest in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system, and completed an Orthopaedic Spine research fellowship at URMC before starting residency. I am excited to continue my training here in Rochester with my wife, who is a Urology resident. I plan to complete a Sports Medicine fellowship and pursue a career in an academic setting where I can combine my passions of medical education and whole person care.
I try to balance my work and personal life by spending time with my wife and friends. Our favorite pastimes are hiking, weightlifting, watching sports games (Go Bills!), cooking, traveling, and exploring new restaurants and breweries (we are always in search of the best burgers and tacos). I also love playing the piano and guitar, as well as songwriting.
William Zachary Prebel, MD
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Hello everyone, my name is William Prebel, but I go by Zach (my middle name). I grew up in Lakewood, Ohio, an inner ring suburb of Cleveland where local programs like Help2Others (H2O) and Key Club helped show me the importance of giving back to the community through service. In high school I discovered my love of the biological sciences through participation in a Biotechnology class sponsored by the local career technical high school. I then went on to major in Molecular Genetics at the University of Rochester, where I also minored in Medical Anthropology. After graduation I worked as a medical scribe in the Emergency Department at Rochester General Hospital for a year before moving back to Cleveland to continue my scribe work in Primary Care through the MetroHealth system. It was through these experiences where I first began to realize that I wanted to continue community work by providing medical care to underserved populations. During my medical school training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine I discovered that the field of Family Medicine really encapsulated all of my prior interests: encompassing a wide breadth of medicine, while at the same time addressing the social determinants of health. Within Family Medicine, I have particular interest in Behavioral Health and HIV care.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy watching documentaries and Youtube videos on various topics, and have recently developed a specific interest in city planning/urban design. I love playing strategy-based computer games, particularly those based in history, such as Sid Meyer’s Civilization and Humankind. I also enjoy spending time outdoors, and love exploring the different greenspaces in my area. I’m really looking forward to spending time in my favorite park in Rochester- the arboretum in Highland Park.
Matthew Sears, MD
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
I was born in Pittsburgh and was raised in Amish country in south central Pennsylvania. I grew up around a lot of people in family medicine, including my mom, a family doctor, and my dad, a physician assistant. I came to Rochester in my late teens to study physics at the University of Rochester. After graduating, I got a PhD and began a career teaching sciences at Texas A&M University. I went through several life experiences that convinced me that I would better serve others as a medical doctor, so I hung up my spurs as a college teacher. I completed the postbaccalaureate program at Johns Hopkins University, spent a year as a clinical researcher for patients with sickle cell disease at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and went to medical school at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Seeing patients in Baltimore and Philadelphia invigorated my passion for meeting new people, learning what makes them tick, and helping them manage their health so that they can be doing the things they want with the people they love. I enjoy caring for people of all ages and from all walks of life. I'm interested in all aspects of family medicine and am particularly passionate about women's health, maternal and child care, behavioral health, and sexual health. I'm honored to work and advocate for these things in Rochester! I’m proud to be at URMC, both as a resident and as a patient.
When I'm not working in the clinic or hospital, you'll find me walking my boxer around Rochester, taking photos of people, architecture, and nature. If I'm at home, you might also find me tinkering under my car, working on new recipes in the kitchen, or playing board games with my partner.
Kalyani Sonarikar, MD
Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
Hi! I grew up in many places but spent a good portion of my life in Round Lake, IL with my parents and younger sister. I got involved in service at an early age through Girl Scouts which taught me the importance of knowing your community. Attending a math and science-focused boarding school led me to try and round out my education by attending Knox College, a liberal arts college in central Illinois. During my undergraduate years, I majored in neuroscience and minored in education policy while staying involved in my local community through various service organizations such as Alpha Phi Omega and Best Buddies.
I stayed close to home for medical school at Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University. During my third year, I fell in love with family medicine because it felt like the perfect combination of serving my community, public health education, and forming long term relationships. Within the field, I am passionate about behavioral health, family planning, lifestyle medicine, nutrition, LGBTQAI+ Health, and medical education.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my fiancé, family, and friends (both in person and over video calls!). I also enjoy cooking new foods, thrifting, and continuing to grow my deep appreciation for fall, warm sweaters, and coffee.
Yuki Takeuchi, MD
Asahikawa Medical University
Hi everyone! I was born and raised in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan, a beautiful snowy city located at the same latitude as Rochester. I completed my medical degree at Asahikawa Medical University in 2016. After finishing the Japanese 2-year postgraduate internship at Teine Keijinkai Hospital, I worked at Teine Family Medicine Clinic and U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka. Through my clinical experience, I have seen many patients with chronic illnesses related to complex factors. When I struggled as an intern in Japan, I was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Ryohei Otsuka, Class 2011 of URMC Family Medicine Residency. His holistic approach was eye-opening for me. He listened carefully to patients' narratives and supported their biopsychosocial treatment needs with interdisciplinary teams, providing evidence-based care. Since then, I have been pursuing an opportunity to learn holistic care at URMC in order to become a reliable family physician for each and every patient, like Dr. Otsuka.
I am especially interested in behavioral health, academic medicine, geriatrics, and palliative care. One of my unique backgrounds is that I completed training as a motivational interviewing trainer in 2021 after six years of practicing. The experience helps me understand patients' own values and support them to fulfill their wishes. Outside of medicine, I enjoy playing sports, hiking, cycling and spending time with my family. Especially soccer is my favorite sport. I was a competitive high school soccer player and participated in Japan National High School Soccer Tournament (Inter-High) as a member of the delegate team representing Hokkaido. Playing soccer taught me team spirit and leadership. I am very excited to work as a member of the URMC Family Medicine Team!
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