Harry van der Kloot
Temple University Hospital

"I completed medical school and residency at Temple and chose to stay for Infectious Disease fellowship because of the program’s exceptional clinical training, supportive community, and strong commitment to underserved populations. My clinical interests include HIV medicine, harm reduction, and LGBTQ+ health. Temple has been an incredible place to grow both personally and professionally—and I love living in Philadelphia, especially our amazing food scene. Some of my favorite spots include Monk’s Café, Royal Izakaya, and Kalaya, though there’s always more to explore here."

Hira Naqvi
Atlantic Health System Morristown Medical Center

"Temple offers an excellent infectious disease program with a wide variety of interesting pathology to learn from. But what truly drew me to Temple ID were the people. Everyone—attendings and fellows—were super friendly, and the conversations felt easy and real and that hasn’t changed since I arrived. I was also drawn to Temple's commitment to serving a large population affected by HIV, Hep C and substance use disorders, and I wanted to be a part of that."

Kellyn Wilkes
Rochester Regional Health

"For fellowship, I was looking for a program that was in an urban environment after spending much of my medical training in rural and suburban communities. I thought this would be the best way to gain experience with an unfamiliar patient population and see a wide variety of pathologies. As somebody who may be interested in transplant ID, having a strong transplant program was a huge plus. The entire department here feels like a second family who shares a common passion for ID. After getting to know everybody on interview day, it was clear that Temple was my #1! "

Elisa Mercando
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

"I was absolutely thrilled to match at Temple for ID! To me, ID is the most fascinating specialty—it’s like solving a complex mystery, piecing together clues to uncover a diagnosis and guide treatment. Having completed my IM residency in the Philadelphia area, I’ve seen firsthand the critical role ID specialists play and the profound impact they have on patients’ lives. I chose Temple for its diverse and medically complex patient population, and I was drawn to the opportunity to care for some of the sickest patients. What truly set Temple ID apart for me was the program’s incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and approachable faculty. I’m honored and proud to be part of the Temple family!"

PGY 4

Sarah Kanell, DO

Allegheny General Hospital

“I’m originally from Massachusetts, but I’ve lived in 5 different cities in the past 10 years, with Philly now as my 6th! I love the field of infectious disease, because it allows me to combine my medical interests with my passion for working with underserved and traditionally marginalized groups. In my free time, I enjoy craft nights, true crime documentaries, and exploring the incredible Philly food scene!”

Elena Tran, DO

Brooklyn Methodist Hospital

"I was drawn to ID for the challenge of solving complex problems, the constant learning, and the reward of seeing critically ill patients recover. Training at Temple offers invaluable opportunities to care for a diverse patient population and experience high-acuity cases. The ID program fosters a collaborative and supportive environment with faculty who are dedicated to teaching (and keeping the snack supply well-stocked). It's inspiring to be part of a program where people genuinely enjoy what they do. Outside of fellowship, I enjoy cooking new recipes, swimming, and spending time with my friends and family."

Sofia Zhang

Medstar Baltimore

“I wanted a program where I’m just as happy in the hospital as I am out, and I really found it here! Everyone is so genuine, in their interactions with each other, and with patients. The emphasis on harm reduction and second chances (and third, and fourth, etc.) for a population that historically has not been treated this way, is such a welcome approach. The robust transplant exposure is also so fantastic to have. I can’t wait to explore Philly, try new restaurants, jog along the river, and overall just be a city girl!”

Kristine Wong

Jefferson New Jersey

"I love Infectious Diseases because it feeds my curiosity and spans all aspects of medicine - each case feels exciting and there is always something new to learn! I chose to train at Temple because of its warm and supportive environment, diverse patient population with a broad range of pathology, passionate faculty, and many of the ID attendings I worked with completed their training here so I felt confident in the quality of education I would receive. I also love living in Philadelphia and being able to take the SEPTA to work every day is a huge plus! There are so many great eats in Philly; one of my favorites is BB Tee House - they have the best banh mi and a great boba tea selection! For dessert, Matcha Cafe Maiko in Chinatown is my go-to with delicious seasonal soft serve flavors! I also enjoy drawing/painting, crocheting, and playing board games/video games!"