Our Residents

Eumee Cha, M.D.

Eumee Cha, M.D., is a Princeton, New Jersey native who earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology and Spanish from Cornell University. One of her favorite memories from college was studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, where she deepened her love for culture and language. She went on to graduate from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she served as president of PATHways, connecting students with an interest in pathology. As a medical student, Eumee also joined Dr. Tamara Lotan’s lab and studies the use of artificial intelligence / deep learning algorithms designed to predict metastatic outcome in patients with prostate cancer. During her time in Baltimore, Eumee developed a deep connection to the community. She enjoys volunteering with local organizations and taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in Baltimore City. 

In her spare time, Eumee enjoys playing pickleball, solving jigsaw puzzles, and cheering on the Baltimore Ravens – with her cat (Pinecone) and her partner (Austin) always by her side. 

Eumee will be pursuing AP/CP training. 

Aaron Dobbins, M.D.

Aaron Dobbins, M.D., was born in Charlotte, NC, but raised in the mountains of western North Carolina. As an undergraduate at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC, he was a member of the football team and received a B.S. in Biochemistry. During his senior year, he was awarded the Faculty Award for Excellence in Biochemistry. Aaron met his wife, Jade, at Campbell, and they married before he started medical school. Aaron attended medical school at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. During his first year in Chapel Hill, Aaron developed his passion for pathology while participating in endometrial cancer research. Specifically, he studied the underlying mechanisms in CTNNB1-mutated endometrial cancers, a subset of tumors at high risk of recurrence. As a medical student, Aaron helped kickstart the UNC School of Medicine Pathology Interest Group, and he served as Co-President for over three years. 

Outside of medicine, Aaron enjoys spending time with his wife, Jade, and their two-year-old son. Aaron is an avid Green Bay Packers fan and is excited to wear his cheesehead when the Packers come to play in Baltimore. 

Aaron is pursuing AP/CP training.

Francesco Emiliani, M.D., Ph.D., M.S.

Francesco Emiliani, M.D., Ph.D., M.S., was born in Milano, Italy but moved to Dubai in the UAE when he turned six and he spent the next twelve years meeting people from all over the world. This is not his first time in Baltimore, he attended Johns Hopkins and pursued the combined BA/MS in Neuroscience doing research on the role of oxidative stress in psychiatric disorders with Dr. Akira Sawa. After graduating he spent two years honing his molecular biology skills in the lab of Dr. Jeremy Nathans. He then moved to New Hampshire to experience real winters (and decided he preferred hot summers) and joined the MD-PhD program at Dartmouth School of Medicine, where he met his wonderful wife, Lucia. For his thesis work, he developed CRISPR-based tools for cellular lineage tracing in the McKenna Lab. Towards the end of his PhD, he started working with Dr. Chun-Chieh Lin in the pathology department, developing nanopore based assays for rapid diagnostics, an interest he plans to continue pursuing during residency and an eventual molecular pathology fellowship. 

Outside of work, Francesco keeps himself busy with multiple hobbies, including growing hot peppers, creating terrariums and aquariums, drone photography, silversmithing, and lots and lots of cooking. 

He will be pursuing AP-only training.

Justin Johnson, M.D., Ph.D.

Justin Johnson, M.D., Ph.D., was born in Atlanta, Georgia but grew up in South Georgia. He attended Yale University where he received a B.S. in Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics. After college, he stayed at Yale and joined the M.D./Ph.D. program. He did his thesis work in the Immunobiology department where he studied how IFNg production by intraepithelial T cells contributes to epithelial injury in celiac disease. 

In his free time, he enjoys cooking, rock climbing, biking, watching scary movies, and playing piano.

Justin will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Seth Moore, M.D., Ph.D.

Seth Moore, M.D., Ph.D., was born and raised in Syracuse, NY and received his B.S. in Biological sciences from Cornell University. After his undergraduate studies, he worked as a laboratory technician at Syracuse University investigating the therapeutic potential of Vitamin D in a murine model of Rett Syndrome. His passion for biomedical research led him to enroll in a combined MD/PhD program and he earned both degrees from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biological Sciences SUNY at Buffalo. His graduate work focused on evaluating novel treatment approaches in mouse models of inherited demyelinating peripheral neuropathies which included pharmacologically activating proteasomes and genetic modulation of transcriptional coactivators. Seth has explored his passion for teaching throughout his undergraduate and graduate work, and he hopes to continue this during his residency training. 

Seth enjoys Latin dancing, reading/watching sci/fi and fantasy series, seeing Broadway shows and orchestra performances, playing the trumpet, hiking/outdoor activities. He is excited to explore these passions in Baltimore and to hopefully learn how to swing dance and sail! 

Seth will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Daniel Shou, M.D.

Daniel Shou, M.D., was born in Kansas but grew up in Clarksburg, MD and adopted Maryland as his home. He graduated from the University of Maryland College Park with a bachelor's degree in Biology. As an undergraduate, he conducted research on transgenic gene silencing in the roundworm C. elegans and tutored elementary school students. He also volunteered at the local fire station, where he became a firefighter/EMT and met his wife. Daniel earned his M.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. While initially wanting to go into emergency medicine, he became interested in pathology during his preclinical coursework. During medical school, he explored different aspects of pathology, became involved in the pathology interest group, and mentored pre-medical and medical students. As a third-year medical student, he was the recipient of the William H. Welch Medical Student Award. 

Outside of medicine, Daniel enjoys spending quality time with his wife Christine, their two cats (Moomoo and Milky), and their numerous plants. He also enjoys spending time outdoors, especially camping, hiking, and SCUBA diving. 

Daniel will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Alexandra Vlk, M.D., Ph.D.

Alexandra Vlk, M.D., Ph.D., was born in Towson, MD and raised in Cockeysville, MD. She attended Towson University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree, double majoring in biology and chemistry and minoring in physics. During this time, she contributed to research in molecular ecology, experimental physical chemistry, and translational cancer research. These experiences helped her recognize her love of investigating the unknown through research and she decided to pursue MD/PhD training. She earned her doctor of philosophy degree in innate immunology from University of Maryland, Baltimore; she studied the role of two single nucleotide polymorphisms in Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in severity of murine inflammatory bowel disease and found these mutations conferred a reduced ability to polarize macrophages to a tissue repair M2 phenotype. She earned her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine where she is grateful to have found the wonderous field of pathology. 

Alexandra enjoys running, Latin dancing, crafting, and spending time with her three children. 

Alexandra will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Yu Wang, M.D., Ph.D.

Yu Wang was born and raised in Hebei, China. She completed her Bachelor of Science at Jilin University. Her undergraduate research focused on tellurium-containing glutathione peroxidase mimics and the genetic variability of CYP2C9. After graduating, she relocated to the US to pursue a Ph.D. in Dr. Douglas Goodwin's laboratory at Auburn University, where she contributed to the understanding of bifunctional KatG and developed a plasmid construct for the expression of shikimate kinase. Subsequently, she joined Dr. Robert White's laboratory at Virginia Tech for postdoctoral research, where she reached a significant milestone by elucidating the biosynthesis pathway of methanofuran. Following her training, she became faculty at the University of North Georgia, where she taught biochemistry, supervised undergraduate research projects, and served as a pre-medical advisor. She achieved tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor. 

She then pursued a medical degree at Morehouse School of Medicine, where she was involved in research of discovering biomarkers for the development of rapid diagnostic solutions. She was actively engaged in a community health initiative, which aids local elementary school students from underprivileged backgrounds by fostering preventive care, mentorship, and education. During her third year, she was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha. She graduated with the honor of Magna Cum Laude.

In her personal time, she enjoys playing music, hiking with her family, and reading books with her daughter. As a mother and an educator, she enjoys writing articles designed to inspire younger generations' interest in science and medicine.

Yu will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Briana (Bri) Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., M.S.

Briana Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., M.S., (Bri), was born and raised in Statesville, NC. She attended Duke University, where she studied philosophy before obtaining a master’s in physiology at North Carolina State University, during which she developed a strong interest in biochemistry and molecular biology research. She then pursued her MD and PhD through the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where her graduate work focused on small RNA regulation. Her interest in neuropathology grew during a fourth-year elective, leading her to pursue AP/NP training. Her research interests include neurodegeneration, particularly alpha-synucleinopathies. 

Outside of medicine, Bri enjoys birding, reading, watching documentaries, and spending time with friends and family. 

She is pursuing AP/NP training.

Catherine (Cathy) Bradley, M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc.

Catherine (Cathy) Bradley, M.D., Ph.D., M.Sc., is from Houston, TX and earned her bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University. In school, she worked as a microbiology teaching assistant and  organic chemistry tutor. A formative experience in viral genome assembly motivated Cathy to pursue further research training at the Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, MD where  she studied lung inflammation and discovered her passion for physician-scientist careers. Cathy earned her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine as part of the Medical Scientist  Training Program. There, she worked as a histology teaching assistant and served on the Student Operating Committee. Her early doctoral research in the Department of Molecular and Human  Genetics focused on DNA damage. Following the 2019 outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, Cathy refocused her efforts on developing a new method for sequencing viral RNA mutations. Her work helped  establish the de novo mutation rate for SARS-CoV-2 and uncovered mutation patterns across the viral genome. Overall, Cathy earned six research awards and two service awards as a McNair  M.D./Ph.D. Scholar. In her free time, Cathy enjoys experimenting with new recipes and exploring local hiking and cycling trails with her dogs, Penny and Oliver.

Cathy is pursuing AP/CP training with a strong interest in molecular pathology and solid tumors.

Monika Chung, M.D., M.Phil.

Monika Chung, M.D., M.Phil., was born in Japan to a Polish mother and Korean father, and as such grew up in a household appreciative of different cultures. At a young age, she moved to the  United States with her family and spent most of her childhood in New Jersey. She completed a B.S. in Biotechnology from William Paterson University of NJ followed by an M.Phil. in Translational  Biomedical Research from the University of Cambridge in the UK. She also worked as a postbaccalaureate fellow at the NIH on a project to understand the impact of age and immunity on breast  cancer metastasis to the brain. Wanting to combine her strong passion for basic science inquiry with a desire to directly impact today’s patients on a clinical level, she began her medical  education at Rutgers NJ Medical School.

Outside of medicine, Monika enjoys traveling and long hikes. She also enjoys keeping up with her two favorite childhood activities - figure skating and playing the violin.

Monika will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Krystal English, M.D., Ph.D.

Krystal English, M.D., Ph.D., was born and raised in Dallas, TX. She attended Amherst College in Amherst, MA where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Neuroscience cum laude. After  college, she successfully completed her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Neuroscience at the UTHealth MD Anderson Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Her dissertation focused on  astrocytic mitochondrial transfer to neurons damaged by the platinum-based chemotherapeutic, cisplatin. During her time in MD Anderson, she became inspired by the synergistic relationship 
between research and patient care expressed by many physician-scientists.  This encouraged her to pursue her medical doctorate at UTHealth McGovern Medical School. She continued her  contributions to the field of cancer neuroscience in the Kalluri lab at MD Anderson where she studied the effects of pancreatic cancer on neuronal survival, microglial function, and behavior. She worked on several medical education projects to enhance the effectiveness of McGovern curricula for her peers, including fighting for the creation of a sub-internship in Pathology. She also  spearheaded the enhancement of interpersonal violence education in the clinical years. Her research interests include paraneoplastic neurological disorders, the various pathologies of the aging  brain of cancer patients, and neuronal-glial dysfunction in nervous system pathologies. During her free time, she enjoys saltwater/freshwater aquaria husbandry, playing with her dog (Stormy), 
baking/cooking, gardening, video games, and outdoor activities. 

Krystal is pursuing AP training.

Tracee Guthrie, D.O., M.A.

Tracee Guthrie, D.O., M.A., was born and raised in Georgia. She attended Columbus State University in Columbus, GA where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of  Arts in Chemistry. This is where she developed a passion for education and research. Her senior projects focused on Progesterone in Astrocyte viability and Antibiotic activity of N, N’-bis-substituted 1,2,4-triazolium salts with cyclic substituents. After undergrad, she decided to pursue a Master of Arts in Biomedical Science where she researched heavy metals, specifically mercury, in  rice. This research highlighted the impact heavy metals can have on the body while illustrating the necessity for further research and the importance of public awareness and education for  prevention of exposure to mercury via rice ingestion. This research was continued while in medical school.

Tracee earned her medical degree with research distinction from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Auburn campus. She continued her passion for education by being a tutor to her  peers and by being a Medical and Simulation Innovation Intern, where she assisted in prototyping, testing, fabrication of novel medical/educational simulation technologies. 

Tracee enjoys collecting a wide variety of things, such as Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Ancient Egyptian items, and much more. Really anything that is shiny will be collected. She also likes to  craft/work with her hands and do as many indoor activities as she can, since the sun is enemy number one. 

Tracee will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Cooper Hayes, M.D., Ph.D.

Cooper Hayes, M.D., Ph.D., was born in Seattle, Washington. As a child, he spent several years living in Michigan and Hong Kong before returning to the Seattle area. He attended Seattle University  where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology. Cooper developed his love for all things virology while studying the life cycle of a family of retroviruses called foamy viruses  as an undergraduate researcher.  Cooper began his physician scientist training at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL as part of the Medical Scientist Training Program. His thesis work focused  on using mouse models to study herpes simplex encephalitis, identifying important viral and host factors that contribute to viral virulence and neuroinflammation. This work resulted in multiple first author publications and conference presentations. Cooper was awarded an NRSA Individual Predoctoral MD/PhD Fellowship (F30) by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases  (NIAID) and was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA). He has a continued interest in neurovirology and neurodegeneration. 

Cooper enjoys exploring the city with his wife, Taylor, and their Australian Shepherd, Murphy. He also has a love for running and is a lifelong Seattle Mariners fan.

Cooper is pursuing AP/NP training.

Ahmad Kohsar, D.O., M.S.

Ahmad Kohsar, D.O., M.S., was born as the youngest of four children in Kabul, Afghanistan and immigrated to the United States in  1997.  He grew up in the great state of Connecticut and would spend his summers working at his family’s fast-food store. He  attended the University of Connecticut where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. After college, he spent a few years  in Boston where he attended the Tufts University School of Medicine’s Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Program. While in  Boston, he met some of his best friends and worked a few odd jobs including working at a public stool bank. Ahmad earned his  degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine.  While at medical school, he became heavily  involved in medical education and bioinformatics research involving HIV sensory neuropathy. Outside of medicine, Ahmad enjoys  spending time with his wife and family, visiting art and history museums, playing video games, going for walks, and watching  movies that he has already seen. Fun fact: As a part of his wedding vows, Ahmad has promised to take his wife on a sushi date every  month. Ahmad is heavily relying on his peers to help him stay true to his word as he juggles his life as a pathology resident for the  next four years.

Ahmad is beyond excited to have matched at Johns Hopkins and will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Nikhil Krishnan, M.D., Ph.D.

Nikhil Krishnan, M.D., Ph.D., was raised in Solon, OH. He received a BS in Physics and an MD from Case Western Reserve University.   Afterward he received a PhD in Physics from University of Cambridge. Nikhil’s research has been focused on the evolution of  microbial communities, particularly during spatial expansions, and has included experimental, computational, and theoretical work.

In his free time, Nikhil enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching Cleveland sports, traveling to new places, making  music, and trying new types of food.

He will be pursuing AP/CP training during residency.

Fatima Zaman, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., M.M.Sc.

Fatima Zaman, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., M.M.Sc., was born and raised in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and received her MBBS from Army Medical College. After graduation, she enrolled in the MMSc Immunology program at Harvard Medical School, working under Dr. Raif Geha;  her thesis was “The Effect of Acetaminophen on the Neutrophil Oxidative Burst and its Implication in the Screening of Chronic  Granulomatous Disease.” Her experience in the program enhanced her interest in basic science research. However, she became  more aware of the gap between bench science and bedside implementation, especially from a global perspective during COVID-19  pandemic. Driven by curiosity, she decided to pursue an MPH at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where she  developed a deeper understanding of current global health problems and acquired translational research skills to solve these issues.   She then pursued her postdoctoral research in Dr. Aaron Tobian's lab in HIV cure-related projects. Fatima is passionate and optimistic about finding a definitive cure for HIV and developing innovative diagnostic tools applicable to both developed and under developing countries around the Globe. Fatima's hobbies include travelling, and spending time with family and friends.

Fatima will be pursuing CP-only training.

Nicole Bracewell, M.D.

Resident Leader of Recruitment

Nicole Bracewell was born in Fairfax, VA but grew up in Satellite Beach, FL, watching the rockets go off and rowing along the Indian River Lagoon. She attended the University of Florida as a third generation Gator and graduated with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Anthropology. She then attended the University of Oxford in the first cohort of Frost Scholars to receive her MSc in Archaeological Sciences. Her graduate research focused on the perimortem interval and the relation to changes in collagen content in bone. She returned to the US and started working as a medical assistant for a multi-specialty clinic in Mobile, AL, which is where she first discovered her interest in pathology.

Nicole earned her M.D. from University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in Memphis, TN. At UTHSC, she spent her free time tutoring the preclinical students and volunteering at Clínica Esperanza, a student-run free clinic that serves the underserved and uninsured Hispanic and LatinX community, for which she was nominated and inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and the Imhotep Society. During medical school, she completed her research at the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center, focusing in toxicology in suicides in Memphis, TN. In her fourth year, she was inducted in Alpha Omega Alpha.

Outside of medicine, Nicole enjoys attempting new baking recipes, knitting, running with her dogs, and reading far too many books.

Nicole will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Troi Lake, M.D., M.S.

Troi Lake was born in Miami, FL and has a diverse family background. Her father is from Saint Kitts and Nevis, a small Caribbean island and her mother a Native American.

Troi graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with a focus on Neuropsychology. She earned her medical degree from Saint James School of Medicine, Anguilla where she reconnected with her extended family and her culture. While in medical school, Troi decided she wanted to gain a better understanding of the healthcare system by obtaining a master degree in Healthcare Administration.

During her free time, Troi enjoys volunteering and giving back to her community. She also enjoys traveling, strength training, and video gaming.

Troi will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Alicia Sandoval, M.D.

Alicia Sandoval was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended Arizona State University for her undergraduate degree in Forensic Science prior to earning her MD at University of Arizona. During the course of her education, Alicia spent a significant amount of time with the Office of the Medical Examiner, where she kindled her passion for forensic pathology. She has participated in research in forensic pathology and forensic limnology.

Alicia has a passion for advocacy and is hoping to find a way to incorporate advocacy into her practice of pathology. Outside of medicine, Alicia enjoys dabbling in the arts. She plays flute and bass clarinet, crochets, and paints. She is always looking for new hobbies to try.

Alicia will be pursuing AP/NP training.

Sanika Satoskar, M.D., M.P.H.

Sanika Satoskar was born in Boston, MA and raised in Columbus, OH. She attended the 6-year combined BS/MD program, where she earned her BS in Biology at Youngstown State University and her MD at the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED). Sanika also participated as a student intern at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where she worked in a vaccine science research laboratory focusing on the development of a live, attenuated vaccine for Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical infectious disease affecting primarily lower middle-income countries. With her growing interest in global health, Sanika took a gap year during medical school to pursue a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) at Johns Hopkins where she concentrated in Infectious Diseases. Interestingly, the COVID-19 pandemic happened in the same year as her MPH training, which provided her with several unique opportunities to learn and apply her public health skills in real-time. Her MPH thesis focused on head injury trends in the pediatric population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sanika also worked with the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust based in India, which fostered her interest in global health further. Sanika started the Pathology Interest Group at her medical school and served as the Vice President throughout her medical training. She was also selected as one of the Society of 67’ Kinney Scholars by the Association of Pathology Chairs and was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha.

Outside of medicine, Sanika enjoys music and is an avid pianist. She started a YouTube channel with her twin sister three years back and they both enjoy composing music to Bollywood songs. Sanika enjoys traveling (20 countries so far!), Indian classical dance, hiking, and entertaining her two ragdoll cats.

Sanika is thrilled to have matched at Johns Hopkins, and will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Yoseph Sayegh, M.D.

Yoseph Sayegh was born in Damascus, Syria before moving to the United States at a young age, where he grew up in South Florida. He attended the University of Miami and received his Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Political Science. After college, Yoseph attended the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine where he developed an interest in ocular oncology, researching the pathophysiology and genetics of intraocular tumors. He spent a year as a research fellow at the Harbour Oncology Laboratory creating unique cell lines and mouse models to help characterize potential therapeutic targets in uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma. Throughout medical school, he was also heavily involved in education, teaching anatomy to local high school students, as well as developing and implementing clinical skills training workshops for other medical students. After obtaining his medical degree, he completed a pre-residency clinical fellowship in Ocular Pathology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami.

Yoseph enjoys basketball, tennis, diving, playing the saxophone, and traveling.

Yoseph will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Jesse Suben, M.D.

Jesse Suben was born in New York City and grew up in rural Central New York. He received a B.A. in Anthropology from SUNY Albany. After graduating, he took several years to develop his interests, during which time he worked mainly as a bartender. Jesse moved out to San Diego in 2013, where he began working with children with autism and volunteering at the Center for AIDS Research at UCSD. These two experiences led to him pursuing a career in medicine. He completed a post-baccalaureate degree at Cal State San Marcos and received his M.D. from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In medical school, Jesse worked in the Goldstein Lab investigating HIV-infected monocyte transmigration across the blood-brain barrier. He also worked for the Office of Academic Support and Counseling as a tutor and mentor for other medical students. He is passionate about medical education.

Outside of medicine he enjoys ultra-distance running, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, backpacking, and cooking.

Jesse is pursuing AP/CP training.

Andrew Sulaiman, D.O., Ph.D.

Andrew Sulaiman was born and raised in Markham, Canada and received his B.Sc. in Biochemistry from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. His undergraduate sparked a fascination with science and cancer research, leading him to complete a PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Ottawa where his thesis was on novel methods/approaches to target Triple Negative Breast Cancer with a focus on targeting the cancer stem cell populations. He received several awards throughout his research training including the Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship. He then completed his medical school training at Kansas City University.

Outside of medicine, Andrew enjoys spending his time with his wife Sarah, his son Theo, German Shepard Zoey and cat Ari. Andrew is an avid weightlifter (always trying to increase those PBs), is always looking forward to travelling (especially internationally!), playing video games and loves attempting new recipes.

Andrew is pursuing CP-only training.

Yeh Wang, M.D., Ph.D.

Yeh Wang was born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan, and received his M.D. from Fu-Jen Catholic University. After graduation, he moved to the United States and spent a year working as a research fellow in the lab of Drs. Ie-Ming Shih and Tian-Li Wang, where he learned essential benchwork skills and developed an interest in translational research. As a result, he decided to pursue Ph.D. training in Pathobiology at Johns Hopkins. Yeh's passion for pathology was cultivated during his doctorate training. His projects focused on elucidating the earliest molecular events in the development of ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma and applying these findings toward the early detection of cancers from Pap specimens. He received a translational research award for presentation of his thesis work at Pathology Young Investigators’ Day.

Outside of medicine, Yeh enjoys trying out new restaurants (especially Indian and Thai food) with friends, spending time with his cat, and traveling.

Yeh will be pursuing AP-only training.

Kevin Zhang, M.D., M.A.

Kevin Zhang was born and raised in China and moved to California at the age of eleven. He attended UCSD and earned dual degrees in Biochemistry and Economics. After undergrad, he spent several years conducting basic research on immunometabolism at the Salk Institute in La Jolla before attending Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. Prior to finishing medical school, Kevin moved to Baltimore with his wife. He spent two years pursuing research at Johns Hopkins University in the laboratory of Thomas V. Johnson, M.D., Ph.D. and investigated the use of stem cell transplantation in treating optic neuropathies.

Outside of medicine Kevin enjoys the NBA, cooking, hiking, trying new restaurants, and spending time with his wife Rowena, two sons Blake and Brook, and puppy Doug.

Kevin is pursuing AP/NP training.

Waqar Arif, M.D. Ph.D.

Waqar Arif was born in Florida but grew up in Toledo, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Toledo with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Physics. As an undergraduate, he conducted research investigating the biophysical properties of mitoNEET, an outer mitochondrial membrane protein. Waqar then went on to complete his M.D./Ph.D. training at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His Ph.D. research focused on studying posttranscriptional gene regulatory mechanisms involved in facilitating liver regeneration during injury. His doctoral work was supported by an NRSA Individual Predoctoral M.D./Ph.D. Fellowship (F30) from the NIDDK. Waqar’s current research interests include gastrointestinal cancers, stem cell biology, and bioinformatics.

In his free time, Waqar enjoys spending time with family, playing video games from his childhood, programming and watching random videos on YouTube. He also loves cooking, especially pizza, and dreams of one day building his own outdoor pizza oven.

Waqar is pursuing AP only training.

Diana Fang, M.D.

Diana Fang spent her early years in China, then moved to Charleston, SC where she spent most of her childhood. The first in her family to go to college, Diana obtained her B.S. in Biochemistry and Genetics at Clemson University, where she was involved in research on how Cryptococcus neoformans develops resistance to the antifungal drug, fluconazole, as well as research on the differential bioenergetics expressed in cancer cells as a druggable target.

While earning her M.D. at the Medical University of South Carolina, Diana developed interests in Nephrology and Pathology. She wrote a case detailing the use of hypertonic saline in conjunction with continuous renal replacement therapy in a critically ill patient to limit neurologic sequalae. Diana also mentored pre-medical and medical students at MUSC. Additionally, she received various awards and distinctions for her dedication to Academic Pathology, becoming a Society of ’67 Kinney Scholar, awarded by the Association of Pathology Chairs, and receiving the ASCP Medical Student Award, given by the American Society of Clinical Pathology.

Diana enjoys boba tea, reading, making UV resin jewelry, and trying out local restaurants. Diana will pursue AP/CP training, and if someone is interested in a boba tea run, please let her know!

Julia Gales, M.D.

Julia Gales was born and raised in Mason City, Iowa. She graduated from Saint Louis University with a B.S. in public health and minors in health care ethics and biology. During this time she did volunteer work developing and teaching after-school music programs for kids in St. Louis. She then worked as an EMT in an emergency department in St. Louis during the year following college graduation. Julia received her M.D. from University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. During medical school she volunteered with the Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition and the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic. She also completed a research project regarding end-of- life surgical outcomes in pediatric patients. Between her second and third years of medical school, she completed a one year externship in the pathology department, where she further participated in teaching and curriculum development for an introductory pathology course and worked on research projects regarding surgical pathology and digital image analysis.

She enjoys reading, crochet, running, playing board games, and wandering through antique stores and museums.

Julia will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Jeremy Johnson, M.D., Ph.D.

Chief Resident

Jeremy Johnson was raised in Bluefield, VA, a small town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He attended Roanoke College in Salem, VA, and received a B.S. in Chemistry and a Minor in Math. While there, he developed a passion for basic scientific research by working with Dr. Vern Miller to synthesize bisamine boron cations. He presented posters at two national meetings of the American Chemical Society and received the Goldwater Scholarship.

Upon graduation in 2013, he joined the MD/PhD Program at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He completed his dissertation under Dr. Mark Evers, and his work involved targeting metabolic proteins (Akt and AMPK) to improve therapeutics of triple negative breast cancer. He has published three first-author manuscripts and presented posters at four annual meetings of the American Association for Cancer Research.

In his free time, Jeremy enjoys working out, hiking, reading epic fantasy, and playing video games.

He will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Molly McGowan, M.D.

Molly McGowan grew up in Valparaiso, Indiana where she cultivated a passion for classical music and playing the cello. After earning her undergraduate degree in Music Theory from the Hartt School at the University of Hartford in Connecticut, she began working for Whole Foods Market and held many leadership positions over the following nine years, eventually bringing her to Texas. After deciding to finish her medical school prerequisites, she earned admission to the John Sealy School of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Both in her grocery career and medical school career, she cultivated her enjoyment of mentoring, celebrating her mentees’ successes both in the retail and medical worlds, and eventually serving as an official Step 1 Mentor through her medical school. As a fourth-year medical student she was awarded the William Todd Midgett, MD Award for Superior Clinical Practice and was elected to AOA.

Outside of work, Molly enjoys the outdoors, keeps an active interest in music, and enjoys spending her time off with her partner and their cat, Aurora.

Molly is pursuing AP/CP training.

Brian Pedro, M.D., Ph.D.

Brian Pedro was born and raised in Portland, Maine and received a B.A. in Biochemistry from Tufts University. As an undergraduate, Brian discovered his passion for cancer research, leading him to enter the MD/PhD program at Emory University. His dissertation focused on characterizing the mechanisms of collective invasion and metastasis in lung cancer. Brian’s interest in pathology grew throughout his MD/PhD training, as he realized the impact he could have on patients while also pursuing a research career.

In his spare time, Brian enjoys spending time with his wife Tori and their three sons, rooting for Boston sports teams, playing Ultimate, and trying out new breweries.

Brian is pursuing AP-only training as part of the Physician Scientist Research track, where he plans to continue working to better understand solid tumor metastasis.

Keysabelis Rivera Alvarez, M.D.

Keysabelis Rivera Alvarez was born in Mayagüez and raised in San Sebastián, Puerto Rico. She grew up playing volleyball, surrounded by nature, and going to the beach. She graduated with honors from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, where she received her B.S. in General Science. Seeing the healthcare disparities in her hometown inspired her to pursue a career in medicine. Keysa moved to the Midwest to earn her M.D. from Wright State University. For the last four and a half years, Keysa has worked at Hopkins as a Research Data Analyst. She has been involved in several projects including the AACR Project GENIE consortium; she has reviewed thousands of pathology reports and clinical charts to fulfill an unmet need in oncology by providing the statistical power necessary to improve clinical decision-making. She has had a critical role in the implementation of various digital pathology systems in the department and completed a validation study for the remote digital pathology system allowing pathologists to have the flexibility to do signout remotely.

Keysa has adopted Maryland as her "second home" where she lives in Pasadena with her husband Miguel and two dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, cycling, working out, cooking, eating, and doing DIY home improvement projects. She likes to spend quality time with her husband, family, and friends. She is a proud Army wife!

Keysa will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Mahalia Robinson, D.O., M.S.

Chief Resident

Mahalia Robinson was born and raised in Fayetteville, NC. She attended the illustrious North Carolina A&T State University (NCAT) and obtained her BS in biology premedical concentration. She then went to Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) and obtained her master’s degree in biomedical science and shortly matriculated into the DO curriculum. At CUSOM, she spent her free time mentoring the youth in the surrounding area as well as being present on panels at Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) to help inspire the future of medicine. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are very important to Mahalia and she takes pride in being a role model. She also helped start a diversity taskforce at CUSOM which she was a huge asset in starting a pathway program from her alma mater, NCAT, to CUSOM for students interested in medicine. Mahalia is also highly interested in teaching. 

Outside of medicine, Mahalia is involved in real estate development as well as novel business ideas such as snack vending. She enjoys live music, trying new foods, and traveling. 

Mahalia is pursuing AP/CP training and will also be pursuing a cytopathology fellowship.

Rachel Schendzielos, M.D.

Chief Resident

Rachel Schendzielos was born on Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado, but spent the majority of her childhood growing up in Chantilly, Virginia. She attended college at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and in Cellular, Molecular, & Physiological Biology. During her time at CNU, she researched the 3xTg-AD trangenic mouse model, specifically focusing on their ability to model the behavioral and histological changes seen in Alzheimer’s Disease. She additionally had the opportunity to complete a summer internship in Surgical Pathology at a local hospital, Riverside Regional Medical Center, which first sparked her interest in Pathology. Rachel earned her medical degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, where she served as a society leader, the Pathology Student Interest Group President, and in multiple Medical Student Government roles. In medical school, Rachel honed her passion for education by serving as an individual peer-to-peer tutor, as a teaching assistant for the Foundations of Disease Course, and as a dedicated teaching assistant for a group of M1 students identified by the curriculum office as needing additional assistance.

During her free time, Rachel enjoys baking, cake decorating, cooking, crafting, reading, playing video games, and playing her oboe & saxophone.

Rachel will be pursuing AP/CP training.

Malavika Pia Sengupta, M.D., M.Sc.

Malavika Pia Sengupta was born in Mumbai, India but grew up between the Midwest and southern Canada. She attended University of Michigan for her undergraduate education, studying neuroscience and linguistics. She then enrolled at Case Western Reserve University, where she earned a master’s degree in medical physiology. Taking time off from school, she worked at the Cleveland Clinic as a research assistant investigating tools to aid in early diagnosis of cognitive impairment while she applied to medical school. She soon found her way back to Dayton, OH—where her journey in the Americas started—for medical school at Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine. Throughout all of her education, Pia has been passionate about research and in using it to improve medical education in evidence-based ways. She has also been honored with the James L. Funkhouser Scholarship for medical students pursuing pathology.

Pia loves running, trying out new cuisines and restaurants, listening to true crime podcasts, dancing, and hanging out with her husband, Matt—a PM&R resident in Greenville, NC—and their cats, Ymir and Daisy.

Pia is absolutely thrilled to be pursuing AP/CP training at Johns Hopkins.