In This Section
Current Residents
PGY4
Annabelle Abdo, DO
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate: Pennsylvania State University
Favorite middle school trend: Forcing my older sister to iron - yes I repeat - iron my frizzy hair straight before straighteners were a thing. I also loved wearing two polos layered with the collars popped and matching Juicy sweatsuits (I have pictures to prove it).
Post-call tradition: Bacon and egg sandwich on an everything bagel with lots of buffalo sauce from Spread Bagelry and then falling asleep to some franchise of Real Housewives.
Is a hotdog a sandwich? Absolutely not and I'm offended that it even tries to be one.
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate: Pennsylvania State University
Favorite middle school trend: Forcing my older sister to iron - yes I repeat - iron my frizzy hair straight before straighteners were a thing. I also loved wearing two polos layered with the collars popped and matching Juicy sweatsuits (I have pictures to prove it).
Post-call tradition: Bacon and egg sandwich on an everything bagel with lots of buffalo sauce from Spread Bagelry and then falling asleep to some franchise of Real Housewives.
Is a hotdog a sandwich? Absolutely not and I'm offended that it even tries to be one.
April Dobkin, MD
Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Undergraduate: Brandeis University
Favorite thing about Philly: All the different neighborhoods within the city that each have their own feel! Also, the food!!
Favorite middle school trend: Cutting my own bangs and dyeing my hair all sorts of strange colors.
Is a hotdog a sandwich? Not into hot dogs, but burgers 100% are.
Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Undergraduate: Brandeis University
Favorite thing about Philly: All the different neighborhoods within the city that each have their own feel! Also, the food!!
Favorite middle school trend: Cutting my own bangs and dyeing my hair all sorts of strange colors.
Is a hotdog a sandwich? Not into hot dogs, but burgers 100% are.
Ashley Harvard, MD, MS
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Undergraduate: Temple University
Favorite thing about Philly: If there is something you want to do in Philly you pretty much can find it. Great indoor and outdoor bars and restaurants. Close hiking. You can even kayak and jet ski behind the art museum.
Favorite middle school trend: Brightly colored glittery gel pens. I have toned it down with the glitter but there is still a 50-50 chance that if you ask me for a pen it is bright purple.
Is a hotdog a sandwich? No it’s not, because then if it’s grilled it would be called a panini which is just disrespectful to paninis.
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Undergraduate: Temple University
Favorite thing about Philly: If there is something you want to do in Philly you pretty much can find it. Great indoor and outdoor bars and restaurants. Close hiking. You can even kayak and jet ski behind the art museum.
Favorite middle school trend: Brightly colored glittery gel pens. I have toned it down with the glitter but there is still a 50-50 chance that if you ask me for a pen it is bright purple.
Is a hotdog a sandwich? No it’s not, because then if it’s grilled it would be called a panini which is just disrespectful to paninis.
Marigloria Maldonado-Puebla, MD
Medical School: University of Miami School of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Miami
Favorite middle school trend: My pop punk phase where I learned how to play the base guitar, specifically blink-182 songs.
Post-call tradition: Stopping at Dunkin’ Donuts on my way home, then sleep!!!
Is a hotdog a sandwich? Definitely not, it’s a hotdog.
Medical School: University of Miami School of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Miami
Favorite middle school trend: My pop punk phase where I learned how to play the base guitar, specifically blink-182 songs.
Post-call tradition: Stopping at Dunkin’ Donuts on my way home, then sleep!!!
Is a hotdog a sandwich? Definitely not, it’s a hotdog.
Miriam Raffeld, MD
Medical School: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Undergraduate: Mount Holyoke College
Favorite thing about Philly: I’ve only been here for 2 months but so far definitely the food! Can’t wait to try more places when this pandemic is over.
Favorite middle school trend: Spending hours a straightening all of my hair and immediately then putting it into a ponytail for the whole day.
Post-call tradition: Heating up a frozen pizza and falling asleep on my couch under many blankets.
Medical School: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Undergraduate: Mount Holyoke College
Favorite thing about Philly: I’ve only been here for 2 months but so far definitely the food! Can’t wait to try more places when this pandemic is over.
Favorite middle school trend: Spending hours a straightening all of my hair and immediately then putting it into a ponytail for the whole day.
Post-call tradition: Heating up a frozen pizza and falling asleep on my couch under many blankets.
Mary Williamson, MD
Medical School: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Undergraduate: UCLA
Favorite thing about Philly: Definitely THE FOOD. Also being able to walk anywhere I need to go.
Favorite middle school trend: Not having any sense of style at all.
Post-call tradition: Is falling asleep immediately a tradition? Is a hot dog a sandwich? Sure, why not.
Medical School: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Undergraduate: UCLA
Favorite thing about Philly: Definitely THE FOOD. Also being able to walk anywhere I need to go.
Favorite middle school trend: Not having any sense of style at all.
Post-call tradition: Is falling asleep immediately a tradition? Is a hot dog a sandwich? Sure, why not.
PGY3
Michelle Benassai, MD
Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Undergraduate: University of Rochester
Favorite things about Philly: walkability, museums, Schuylkill river trail, street murals, diversity, and food/bar scene.
Favorite middle school trend: wearing my hair in a side ponytail, low or high
Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Undergraduate: University of Rochester
Favorite things about Philly: walkability, museums, Schuylkill river trail, street murals, diversity, and food/bar scene.
Favorite middle school trend: wearing my hair in a side ponytail, low or high
Sarina Dutta, MD
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Princeton University
Favorite thing about Philly: The food! There’s no shortage of amazing food and drink. I also love that Philly has so many outdoor spaces – parks, restaurants, and roof decks!
Favorite middle school trend: angsty AIM away messages and gelly rolls.
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Princeton University
Favorite thing about Philly: The food! There’s no shortage of amazing food and drink. I also love that Philly has so many outdoor spaces – parks, restaurants, and roof decks!
Favorite middle school trend: angsty AIM away messages and gelly rolls.
Claudia Flores, MD
Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Undergraduate: Wesleyan University
Favorite thing about Philly: The many community gardens!!
Favorite middle school trend: Scrunching my hair with a handful of gel each morning and playing with my straw hair during class.
Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Undergraduate: Wesleyan University
Favorite thing about Philly: The many community gardens!!
Favorite middle school trend: Scrunching my hair with a handful of gel each morning and playing with my straw hair during class.
Sara Fuhrman, MD
Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Undergraduate: Tufts University
Favorite middle school trend: gel-pens and Lisa Frank, otherwise blacked out that part of my memory due to sheer embarrassment.
Is a hotdog a sandwich? No, this question is offensive.
Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Undergraduate: Tufts University
Favorite middle school trend: gel-pens and Lisa Frank, otherwise blacked out that part of my memory due to sheer embarrassment.
Is a hotdog a sandwich? No, this question is offensive.
Brian Goddard, MD
Medical School: New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Drexel University
Favorite thing about Philly: So many different neighborhoods with totally different vibes for whatever you're feeling.
Favorite middle school trend: Band t-shirts, Hot topic, going to the mall on Friday night, other embarrassing things.
Post-call tradition: Maybe eat a bagel, go to bed, wake up in the afternoon and get a vegan cheesesteak or Italian hoagie from Blackbird.
Is a hotdog a sandwich? The OED says, "an item of food consisting of two pieces of bread with meat, cheese, or other filling between them, eaten as a light meal". So, to meet this definition the two halves of the bun would have to physically separate from each other to be considered two pieces of bread and therefore a sandwich.
Medical School: New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Drexel University
Favorite thing about Philly: So many different neighborhoods with totally different vibes for whatever you're feeling.
Favorite middle school trend: Band t-shirts, Hot topic, going to the mall on Friday night, other embarrassing things.
Post-call tradition: Maybe eat a bagel, go to bed, wake up in the afternoon and get a vegan cheesesteak or Italian hoagie from Blackbird.
Is a hotdog a sandwich? The OED says, "an item of food consisting of two pieces of bread with meat, cheese, or other filling between them, eaten as a light meal". So, to meet this definition the two halves of the bun would have to physically separate from each other to be considered two pieces of bread and therefore a sandwich.
Daphney Noel, MD
Medical School: Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Undergraduate: Rutgers University, New Brunswick
Post call tradition: Picnic brunch with my fellow foodie co-res!
Favorite middle school trend: My pink Motorola razor, white Fubu kicks, and Lisa Frank trapper keeper <3
Medical School: Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Undergraduate: Rutgers University, New Brunswick
Post call tradition: Picnic brunch with my fellow foodie co-res!
Favorite middle school trend: My pink Motorola razor, white Fubu kicks, and Lisa Frank trapper keeper <3
PGY2
Sophia Bunde
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Undergraduate: College of William and Mary Williamsburg
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Undergraduate: College of William and Mary Williamsburg
Favorite thing about Philly: The Schuylkill River Trail Favorite Restaurant in Philly—still exploring but Zama Sushi is soooo good.
Thomas Donaldson
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School of the Medical College of Hampton Roads
Undergraduate: Clemson University
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School of the Medical College of Hampton Roads
Undergraduate: Clemson University
Favorite thing about Philly: I haven’t been here long but I have enjoyed all of the different neighborhoods and areas there are to explore in the city.
Fun fact: I am the world’s biggest New York Knicks fan, I’m not sure how that is going to be received in Philadelphia…
Melanie Levine, MD
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Favorite thing about Philly: You can definitely find any kind of restaurant you're looking for.
Favorite middle school trend: All the different iPods everyone had (RIP to my 1st gen shuffle).
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Favorite thing about Philly: You can definitely find any kind of restaurant you're looking for.
Favorite middle school trend: All the different iPods everyone had (RIP to my 1st gen shuffle).
Ellen Marcus
Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Favorite thing about Philly: So far has been walking around different neighborhoods and trying out new coffee shops!
Fun fact: Growing up in Vermont, we made our own maple syrup!
Lindsay Serwatka
Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Undergraduate: George Washington University
Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Undergraduate: George Washington University
Favorite thing about Philly: there is fantastic food everywhere, whether it’s someplace new that just opened or a gem you just discovered. My list of places I want to try keeps growing!
Fun fact: my favorite hobbies to relax are reading, knitting, embroidery and paint-by-number.
Marisa Wozniak
Medical School: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Undergraduate: Northeastern University
Medical School: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Undergraduate: Northeastern University
Favorite thing about Philly: There are too many to choose! The food scene is fabulous, you can walk around the city on a nice day but also escape to nearby parks like Wissahickon or Valley Forge for a hike, and hanging out along the Schuylkill at Parks on Tap is always super fun.
Favorite Restaurant in Philly: Mission Taqueria
PGY1
Tiana Acosta
Medical School: Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Undergraduate: Brown University
Medical School: Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Undergraduate: Brown University
Favorite middle school trend: The Twilight Series!
Most excited for coming to Philadelphia: The food! So many people have said that Philly has the best food and I'm excited to try them out.
Most excited for coming to Philadelphia: The food! So many people have said that Philly has the best food and I'm excited to try them out.
Katie Donovan
Medical School: Albany Medical School
Undergraduate: University of Southern California
Most excited for coming to Philadelphia: Exploring the Philly food scene with my co-residents!
Medical School: Albany Medical School
Undergraduate: University of Southern California
Most excited for coming to Philadelphia: Exploring the Philly food scene with my co-residents!
Interests outside of medicine: Baking, skiing, binge watching television shows, and trying to keep my plants alive.
Melissa Kuriloff
Medical School: University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences, The Pritzker School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Brown University
Favorite middle school trend: My favorite middle school trend was angsty CW teen dramas. I feel so nostalgic for the days of Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill as I write this!
Medical School: University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences, The Pritzker School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Brown University
Favorite middle school trend: My favorite middle school trend was angsty CW teen dramas. I feel so nostalgic for the days of Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill as I write this!
Most excited for coming to Philadelphia: After 5 years in the midwest, I am excited to live in close proximity to all of the great cities of the Northeast and also to remember what hills look like.
Nihita Manem
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh
Favorite middle school trend: Roll-on body glitter making me feel superior, bright pink juicy couture pants with 'sassy' written on the back lmao, black tattoo chokers with matching bracelets and rings, Lisa Frank everything, soffe shorts rolled up 2-3 times.
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh
Favorite middle school trend: Roll-on body glitter making me feel superior, bright pink juicy couture pants with 'sassy' written on the back lmao, black tattoo chokers with matching bracelets and rings, Lisa Frank everything, soffe shorts rolled up 2-3 times.
Interests outside of medicine: Traveling, taking care of my plant babies, cute farmers market finds, love trying new types of coffee + coffee shops, will overly spend on flowers, being by water (although can't say I can swim too well), sewing, binge eating any type of chocolate, strict window shopper, eating katie donovan's pasta, avid TV + candy crush binger, thrifting.
Niyati Rangnekar
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Favorite middle school trend: Juicy Couture track suits and hanging out at the mall!
Most excited for coming to Philadelphia: The food scene! I love trying new foods, and Philly has plenty of diverse restaurants to choose from. Also, my sister lives here!
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Favorite middle school trend: Juicy Couture track suits and hanging out at the mall!
Most excited for coming to Philadelphia: The food scene! I love trying new foods, and Philly has plenty of diverse restaurants to choose from. Also, my sister lives here!
Emily Schultz
Medical School: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Undergraduate: Clemson University
Favorite middle school trend: How can a girl decide?? It's a toss-up between intentionally wearing two different colored Vans, splatter-painted Bermuda shorts, and straightening only my side bangs before making the rest of my hair crunchy with gel.
Medical School: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Undergraduate: Clemson University
Favorite middle school trend: How can a girl decide?? It's a toss-up between intentionally wearing two different colored Vans, splatter-painted Bermuda shorts, and straightening only my side bangs before making the rest of my hair crunchy with gel.
Interests outside of medicine: I am a self proclaimed "crazy dog lady" and have fostered and adopted several dogs throughout college and medical school. I always gravitate to those older, sicker pups in the shelter that others overlook.
Maeve Serino
Medical School: Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Williams College
Favorite middle school trend: Relentlessly flat ironing my hair every morning and rocking double eye liner with clumpy mascara - oh, and those weirdly long tunic shirts from Hollister.
Medical School: Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Williams College
Favorite middle school trend: Relentlessly flat ironing my hair every morning and rocking double eye liner with clumpy mascara - oh, and those weirdly long tunic shirts from Hollister.
Interests outside of medicine: Hiking, skiing, running, cooking/trying new food, sailing, playing guitar, and singing.