Our Residents
As you consider taking your first step in residency training, we encourage you to apply to the University of Rochester. We look forward to introducing you to Western New York, sharing more about our program and are confident you will be pleased with what you find.
1st Year Residents 2nd Year Residents 3rd Year Residents 4th Year Residents Fellows
Co-Chief Residents
Nosaibah Hariri, MBBS
Hometown: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Medical School: King Abdulaziz University
Family: I'm married and we have a wonderful son.
Why did you select URMC for your residency? I was searching for a residency program with exceptional faculty members, supportive peers, and a diverse patient population, and URMC fulfilled all my expectations. It's an outstanding institution for learning, and everyone is willing to assist and share their knowledge. There are numerous opportunities for research, teaching and fellowships. Also, the experienced mentors guide us in determining our career paths.
Hobbies and interests: Knitting, cooking, and watching crime shows and documentaries.
Social media handle: Instagram: @NOSAIBAH_HARIRI
Where would you like to end up/career goals or aspirations? I want to explore all subspecialties before choosing a final career path. However, I am sure that I want to teach pathology at an academic institution.
Jordan Payne, MD
Hometown: Dover, NH
Family: I am married and have a gigantic orange cat who we treat like our child.
Why did you select URMC for your residency? I chose URMC because of the vast fellowship opportunities, as well as the amazingly welcoming faculty and residents on interview day!
Hobbies and interests: I am a big fan of trivia, and love to play Jeopardy and do crossword puzzles in my spare time! I enjoy cooking as well, and am currently doing lots of experimentation with a sourdough starter that was gifted to me. I am also a very slow runner and enjoy just getting outside whenever I can.
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? I am pursuing my lifelong dream of going into forensic pathology!
Virginia Venta Pacheco, MD
Hometown: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Medical School: Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC)
Family: I live with my husband (and hopefully will be adopting a fur baby)
Why did you select URMC for your residency? When searching for residency programs to apply to, I was looking for programs that offered a supportive environment with warm, kind people within an academic setting that provided a high volume of diverse cases. URMC checked all those boxes. During my interview, the conversations flowed naturally, and it was clear that the residents genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. It really clicked for me, and I am very grateful to be part of this team.
Hobbies and interests: Playing sports during the summer (soccer, tennis, etc), reading, watching reality TV shows and anime, and playing cozy video games.
Social Media Links: Instagram: @ViviVenta & @ViviPathology (which I intend to be more active on)
Where would you like to end up/career goals or aspirations? Planning to apply for an oncologic surgical pathology specialty and +/- GI or cytopathology. I have really enjoyed learning from all AP rotations and wish to continue to do so.
PGY-4
Olalekan Lanipekun, MBBS
Hometown: Ogbomosho, Nigeria
Medical school: University of Ilorin College of Health Sciences, Ilorin, Nigeria
Hobbies: I like spending time outdoors, riding my bike, and I recently took up golfing. I enjoy rock music, my favorite bands are Black Sabbath, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Savatage, Korn, and Rammstein.
What made you choose URMC?I was looking for a residency program with brilliant faculty, great residents, and a diverse patient population, and URMC met and exceeded all my expectations. It is an amazing learning environment full of people who are ready to teach and help out every time. There are multiple research and fellowship opportunities and the guidance from experienced faculty mentors enables residents to make informed decisions about their future career plans. Rochester is a nice place to live with many golf courses and lots of summer and winter activities.
What are your career goals? I am interested in GI, GU, cytopathology, and several other subspecialties. I would love to work at URMC and contribute to the growth and expansion of the Pathology Department.
Madhurya Ramineni, MBBS
Hometown: Hyderabad, India
Medical school: Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Adilabad (India)
Family: Myself and my husband
Hobbies/interests: Yoga, cooking and reading about personal finance.
Social media handle: Twitter: @Madhury57496817
What made you choose URMC? great subspecialty exposure and wide range of fellowship opportunities. Most importantly I was happy and felt deeply connected with the team during the interview.
What are your career goals?
I am currently interested in molecular and GI/hepatobiliary pathology.
Margaret Smith, MD
Hometown: Portage, MI
Medical school: Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine
Family: My family is mostly in the Midwest.
Hobbies/interests: Trivia, crochet, writing, window shopping, and baking. I also like catching up on all the tv shows and movies that when I tell someone I haven't seen it they act like I've personally insulted them.
What made you choose URMC?
I liked that URMC offered a large number of surgical specimens including transplants, varied CP options, and forensics exposure. I also liked what I heard about Rochester during my interview day. The city feels like a spot where the Midwest meets the East Coast which seemed like a perfect mix of where I grew up and somewhere new to explore. I love the proximity to Lake Ontario and other major cities along the East Coast. Also, getting to try traditional poutine.
Social media handle: Instagram: @kangakzoo
What are your career goals? I discovered the field of forensic pathology in middle school and immediately decided that is what I want to do with my life. A decade plus down the line I am still dedicated to becoming a forensic pathologist and will be pursuing fellowship and a ME job after residency.
Stephanie Thompson, MD
Hometown: The Bronx, New York
Medical school: Howard University College of Medicine
Family: My immediate family is in Rochester, with extended family in Monroe, NY, New Jersey, and New York City.
Why did you select URMC for your residency? I liked that URMC offers a large volume and diversity of specimens with subspecialty exposure and fellowship opportunities of interest. I really enjoyed my observership/pathology exposure. The environment is very collegial with great educators all throughout, from the ancillary staff to faculty, in addition to strong mentorship. These particulars as well as locale were positive and attractive draws to remain in Rochester for residency training. Rochester also has "great plates", which I knew nothing about until moving here.
Hobbies and Interests: Watching movies/tv shows, jumping double dutch, roller skating, track and field, singing, reading, arts and crafts, DIY projects, board games, and traveling.
Where would you like to end up/career goals/aspirations? I am currently interested in cytopathology, dermatopathology and pediatric pathology, and I'm looking forward to exploring all areas of pathology to expand my breadth of knowledge. I plan to do a fellowship, and utilize that training coupled with my passion to educate, mentor and promote interest in pathology for young scholars.
PGY-3
Heong Jin Christian Ahn, DO
Hometown: Seoul, Korea
Medical School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Family: I have two older brothers and one younger sister. Mother and father live in South Korea.
Why did you select URMC for your residency? All of my interactions with residents seemed really genuine. Felt like they were a close-knit group that had no false pretenses. The program itself is super flexible and the attendings were so kind!
Hobbies and interests: Reading and writing poetry. Learning all I can about ancient history and anthropology. Music especially classical, and cool-jazz. Enjoy museums and the ocean.
Where would you like to end up/career goals or aspirations? Still trying to figure it out but leaning towards hematopathology, GI, or thoracic pathology.
Nosaibah Hariri, MBBS
Hometown: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Medical School: King Abdulaziz University
Family: I'm married and we have a wonderful son.
Why did you select URMC for your residency? I was searching for a residency program with exceptional faculty members, supportive peers, and a diverse patient population, and URMC fulfilled all my expectations. It's an outstanding institution for learning, and everyone is willing to assist and share their knowledge. There are numerous opportunities for research, teaching and fellowships. Also, the experienced mentors guide us in determining our career paths.
Hobbies and interests: Knitting, cooking, and watching crime shows and documentaries.
Social media handle: Instagram: @NOSAIBAH_HARIRI
Where would you like to end up/career goals or aspirations? I want to explore all subspecialties before choosing a final career path. However, I am sure that I want to teach pathology at an academic institution.
Alex Schmidli, MD
Hometown: The Bay Area (San Francisco Bay Area)
Medical School: TUSM
Family: My family is mostly on the West Coast
Why did you select URMC for your residency? It was important to me to train at a residency program that had strengths in both Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology. I was impressed with the central lab, the large patient population served, the range of cases that the hospital system sees, and the culture of the program. There are great opportunities to get involved with research and teaching at URMC. I knew that training here would allow me to become a well-rounded and skilled pathologist and thoroughly prepare me for fellowship training.
Hobbies and interests: Archery, painting, sculpting, martial arts, working out, nature documentaries, museums, hiking, and cooking.
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? I ultimately would like to practice somewhere that is in/near a major city where I can serve a large patient population and see a broad range of cases.
Jordan Payne, MD
Hometown: Dover, NH
Family: I am married and have a gigantic orange cat who we treat like our child.
Why did you select URMC for your residency? I chose URMC because of the vast fellowship opportunities, as well as the amazingly welcoming faculty and residents on interview day!
Hobbies and interests: I am a big fan of trivia, and love to play Jeopardy and do crossword puzzles in my spare time! I enjoy cooking as well, and am currently doing lots of experimentation with a sourdough starter that was gifted to me. I am also a very slow runner and enjoy just getting outside whenever I can.
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? I am pursuing my lifelong dream of going into forensic pathology!
Hangchuan Shi, MD, PhD
Hometown: Shenyang, China and Rochester, NY
Medical School: Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (MD) & University of Rochester Medical Center (PhD)
Family: Myself, my wife, and our lovely daughter.
Why did you select URMC for your residency? Rochester holds a special place in my heart – it's where I met my wife, welcomed my daughter into the world, and completed my PhD at URMC. I love this city and proudly call it my hometown. URMC has played a significant role in shaping my professional skills and personal growth. I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community that has nurtured me. URMC, along with the city of Rochester, offers the perfect balance of work and life. As a large medical center, URMC provides sufficient exposure to a diverse range of samples and cutting-edge technologies. As a right size city, Rochester offers a welcoming community of mentors, educators, colleagues, neighbors, and friends in a stress-free and friendly environment.
Hobbies and interests: Engaging in research, reading Japanese detective novels, and tasting instant noodles from different countries.
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? My career goal is to become a GU pathologist-scientist working at a university hospital.
Virginia Venta Pacheco, MD
Hometown: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Medical School: Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC)
Family: I live with my husband (and hopefully will be adopting a fur baby)
Why did you select URMC for your residency? When searching for residency programs to apply to, I was looking for programs that offered a supportive environment with warm, kind people within an academic setting that provided a high volume of diverse cases. URMC checked all those boxes. During my interview, the conversations flowed naturally, and it was clear that the residents genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. It really clicked for me, and I am very grateful to be part of this team.
Hobbies and interests: Playing sports during the summer (soccer, tennis, etc), reading, watching reality TV shows and anime, and playing cozy video games.
Social Media Links: Instagram: @ViviVenta & @ViviPathology (which I intend to be more active on)
Where would you like to end up/career goals or aspirations? Planning to apply for an oncologic surgical pathology specialty and +/- GI or cytopathology. I have really enjoyed learning from all AP rotations and wish to continue to do so.
PGY-2
Anna Savin, MD
Hometown: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Medical School: Saint-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University
Family: I live with my husband and our two very spoiled corgis. They’re full of personality and always keep us entertained!
Why did you select URMC for your residency? I was lucky to attend the open house in September and was genuinely shocked by how warm and welcoming the program was. The residents were truly happy—and it showed. I was also amazed by the academic strength of the program, the variety of cases, and the incredible research opportunities. The faculty struck a perfect balance between being deeply knowledgeable and incredibly supportive. All of those feelings were reaffirmed on my interview day, which felt truly special. Everyone I met made me feel seen and welcomed. It was clear to me that this was my dream program.
Hobbies and interests: I’m a big fan of video games and anime—it’s a huge part of my life and even inspired me to start learning Japanese. Visiting Japan was an unforgettable experience and deepened my love for the culture. I also enjoy listening to true crime podcasts, and spending time outside with our corgis is one of my favorite ways to unwind.
Social media handles: X: @AnnaSavin19
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? I hope to pursue an academic career in gastrointestinal and liver pathology. I am drawn to the combination of complex diagnostic work, opportunities for research, and teaching. Long-term, I would like to be part of a collaborative academic environment where I can continue to grow as both a diagnostician and educator.
Sabrina Hollar, DO
Hometown: I was born in Amherst, New York but grew up in Mount Vernon, Indiana
Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Parker Colorado
Family: I have three sisters - two older sisters and an identical twin - and a younger brother!
Why did you select URMC for your residency? During my two-week audition rotation at URMC, I was immediately drawn to the program. I was incredibly impressed by the high quality of teaching from the faculty, as well as the supportive, collegial environment fostered by the residents. The sense of community and dedication to education left a lasting impression on me, and I knew early on that URMC was where I wanted to train. Additionally, with extensive family in upstate New York, choosing URMC felt like a natural and meaningful decision—one that aligns both professionally and personally with my goals.
Hobbies and interests: Outside of medicine, I’m passionate about the arts and creativity—I love drawing and painting and enjoy knitting and crocheting as a relaxing outlet. I’m also an avid reader and movie enthusiast, with The Lord of the Rings being my all-time favorite series in both forms. I enjoy exploring the outdoors through travel and hiking, and I find a lot of joy in admiring the beauty of nature. Recently, I’ve taken up yoga and have really enjoyed the balance it brings to my routine. I'm also a dedicated football fan—go Buffalo Bills!
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? I’m deeply passionate about pursuing a fellowship in gastrointestinal pathology. While I’m still exploring whether I’d ultimately like to work in private practice or academic medicine, I’m drawn to both settings—private practice for its clinical focus and fast pace, and academia for the opportunity to teach and contribute to medical education. My goal is to find a path that allows me to stay engaged with the diagnostic challenges of GI pathology while also fostering continued learning and collaboration.
Aaron Jones, MD
Hometown: Canandaigua, NY
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Family: I have a fiancé who works in Rochester and all of my immediate family members live in Upstate NY.
Why did you select URMC for your residency? I wanted a program that had a high volume with complex cases, but also one that was small enough that the program felt tight knit and fostered a supportive learning environment. I also wanted a program that was close to family.
Hobbies and interests: Backpacking, board games, video games, pickle ball, and hanging out with friends and family!
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? I am still exploring the many different fields of the specialty. I would like to continue growing my career in the Upstate NY region after residency.
Sergei Savin, MD
Hometown: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Medical School: Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University
Family: I live with my wife and our two corgis.
Why did you select URMC for your residency? Everyone I met during the interview process was incredibly kind and supportive. The program offers strong training, great fellowship options, and a welcoming culture. After a few years in NYC, I was also ready for a quieter, more nature-filled place—Rochester was a perfect fit.
Hobbies and interests: I’ve played soccer since childhood and I’m a big Liverpool fan. I enjoy hiking, running, video games, anime, and playing the handpan. I’m also passionate about mentoring IMG physicians through the Match process.
Social media handles: @CorgiPath
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? I’m interested in breast, GU, and GYN pathology, and hope to pursue a career in academic medicine and teaching.
PGY-1
Meghan Coggins, MD
Hometown: Evans, GA
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Family: My husband, Tanner, is a Neurology resident at URMC. Both my parents still live outside of Augusta, GA along with my step brother and his kids, and my sister and step-sister both live out in Colorado!
Why did you select URMC for your residency? My husband went to URMC for his medical school, and after doing a pathology elective he encouraged me to check out the program for myself. During my away rotation at URMC, everyone was incredibly kind to me. I knew this would be a program where I would be appropriately challenged and would learn a lot of pathology, while also making friends and getting to live in a nice, fun city!
Hobbies and interests: Reading (mainly fantasy, but also literary fiction, sci-fi, romance, and non-fiction), running, cooking and baking, and going to the movie theater
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? I know I want to do a fellowship, but right now I am completely undecided as to which one I want to do! I do know I want to stay in academics and be involved in medical student/resident education.
XI (Catherine) Xu, MD
Hometown: Shanghai, China; Toronto, Canada
Medical School: Medical College of Nanchang University (MD) & Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University (PhD)
Family: My husband, our daughter, and myself
Why did you select URMC for your residency? I selected URMC for its strong academic reputation and robust educational infrastructure. The program provides a comprehensive training environment with abundant resources to support both clinical excellence and scholarly development. My interview experience further underscored the faculty’s deep commitment to education and mentorship, as well as a resident community that is both supportive and collegial. In addition, the city’s size and livability foster an environment well suited to maintaining a sustainable work–life balance throughout residency.
Hobbies and interests: My interests include academic research, as well as baking and exploring diverse global cuisines with my husband.
Social media handles: Twitter: @Cathyle489312
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? My long-term goal is to pursue a career as a physician scientist in an academic medical center, with a focus on transplant pathology and molecular pathology, integrating diagnostic practice with translational research.
Catherine Rood, MD
Hometown: Rome, NY
Medical School: St George's University
Family: I have two younger sisters and my mom, dad, and stepmom.
Why did you select URMC for your residency? Being from the Upstate New York area, I was always familiar with the University of Rochester’s strong reputation, and a personal experience allowed me to see firsthand the level of care and dedication within the hospital. During my interview I was drawn to the sense of community among the faculty and residents and I knew this was a place where my interests would be valued and I would be supported in my growth as a physician.
Hobbies and interests: I love staying active—whether I’m in the gym, running, or playing ice hockey or golf. I’m a die-hard fan of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres. I also enjoy coaching youth hockey, traveling, cooking, and attending concerts.
Social media handles: instagram: @catrood_
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? I have wanted to become a forensic pathologist since I was 16 and will continue pursuing that dream!
Ian Clapp, DO
Hometown: Morganton, NC
Medical School: Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Family: I live with my spouse and fellow URMC resident, KJ, and our two cats, Orville and Amelia.
Why did you select URMC for your residency? My spouse and I first became interested in URMC for our residencies after meeting several URMC residents at a conference during our second year of med school and being impressed by our respective programs’ positive resident culture, strong academic opportunities and fellowship offerings, and beautiful upstate New York location.
Hobbies and interests: Heavy Metal Music, Classic Video Games, Cooking, Sewing, and Playing the Banjo
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? I’m Interested in academic practice, and I’m considering GI, Hematopathology, or Pediatrics as potential subspecialties.
Jacob Rudie, DO
Hometown: Rockford, MN
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Erie
Family: My wife and our two black cats, Brigadeiro and Lua, relocated to Rochester. Most of my family is back in Minnesota where I grew up and lived until leaving for medical school!
Why did you select URMC for your residency? I heard very good things about URMC from my pathology mentors in Buffalo, NY as well as an alumni of the program. After completing an elective rotation at URMC, I knew that I would receive excellent training, but additionally I loved the close-knit and welcoming environment of the pathology department. The faculty and residents were very welcoming, and I felt a certain sense of fit that I didn't experience anywhere else. I had the sense that URMC would be my top choice after those two weeks due to my positive experiences there.
Hobbies and interests: I enjoy a range of computer-based hobbies including video games, video game level design, learning to code, graphic design and video editing, learning new software, and building PCs. Outside of tech, I enjoy cooking and baking, creative writing, hiking, reading, and watching movies, shows, and anime. I’ve also recently gotten back into regularly playing D&D as a DM.
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? I enjoyed my histology and pathology classes in medical school, making surgical pathology a strong contender, bone and soft tissue in particular being of interest to me currently. I also have a background in and love for microbiology, which has me considering a clinical pathology route as well.
Taylor Jayne Perrye, DO
Hometown: Jacksonville Beach, FL
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-KPCOM)
Family: My fiancé, Ian, and I have been together for 11 years. We have a golden retriever named Gemma and an all-white, fluffy cat named Lovebug!
Why did you select URMC for your residency? When deciding where I should apply for residency, the University of Rochester was at the top of my mind due to their strong record of outstanding education in both anatomic and clinical pathology, high specimen volume, and reputation for both training and mentorship in autopsy and forensic pathology. URMC is also known amongst pathology applicants as having some of the kindest faculty and residents, which was reflected during the interview season. During the application season, I had the chance to meet the Autopsy Director and a few residents who attended the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) conference, where I was presenting a case I worked on with the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office. Their considerable involvement with an organization that promotes excellence in forensic pathology meant a great deal to me. Consequently, I knew that I would thrive and be supported in achieving my goals during my residency training at URMC.
Hobbies and interests: I love any type of crafting, collecting vinyl records, thrifting vintage jewelry & clothing, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, playing video games, card games, board games, and chess, concert going, making playlists, dancing, and spending time with friends & family.
Social Media Links: @drtperrye (Instagram), @taylorperrye13 (X), www.linkedin.com/in/taylorjayneperrye
Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? I have wanted to become a Forensic Pathologist since I was 7 years old. My interest turned into a true trajectory when I entered college and interned for the autopsy department at the University of Florida, which steamrolled into many subsequent rotations and observerships at various medical examiners offices during medical school, such as the Wayne County MEO, Oakland County MEO, Cobb County MEO, Cook County MEO, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI). My experience further facilitated my desire to continue pursuing a career in forensic pathology and I intend to apply for a fellowship in forensics once I have gained a proficiency in both anatomic and clinical pathology.
Year Out Research Fellows
Hannah Bell, MD, Phd
CP Only
Hangchuan Shi, MD, PhD
AP Only
Fellows
Jared Lee, MD
BB/TM Fellow
Kenneth Harris, MD
Breast/GYN Fellow
Huy Vuong, MD
Dermatopathology Fellow
Olivia Gabriel, MD
Forensics Fellow
Olivia Sagan, MD
GI Fellow
Alex Besen, MD
Hematopathology Fellow
Julia Rivera Sustache, MD
Hematopathology Fellow
Tausif Siddiqui
Year Out Student Fellow