PGY 4
PGY 3
PGY 2
PGY 1
Alessandra Daskalakis
Erin Eidsness
Patrick Fleming
Cani Greg Garsuta
Anna Gates
Sarah Gensheimer
Kenleigh Hebel
Harrison Homer
Liam John
Carly Joseph
Taylor Mezoian
Avery Pellnat
Jacob Rha
Rosellen Shahidi
Jessica Evans
Hometown: Van Buren, ME
Undergraduate: Bowdoin College
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine – Maine Track
Interests / Hobbies: spending time with my family and dog, hiking, reading, live music, trying new restaurants
Favorite place in Maine: any of the dog-friendly beaches and trails throughout Maine
Medical interests: hospital medicine, pulmonary/critical care, cardiology
Favorite weekend destination: my family’s camp on Long Lake in Aroostook County
What did you do before medical school: worked as an EMT, completed a Master’s in Medical Science at BU, did research at Boston Children’s, and worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA
Personal goals: Be the best mom, wife, and doctor I can be and continually strive for balance among those roles
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: Harvesting potatoes in the County during middle/high school, and picking rocks out of the potato fields during planting season each spring! Probably qualifies as craziest, best, AND worst job
Why Maine Medical Center: I completed my 3rd and 4th year clerkships here and felt right at home. Residents and faculty were so welcoming, accomplished, and happy. I love that MMC has both a community and academic focus with the opportunity to teach medical students. As a lifelong Mainer I couldn’t imagine a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… teacher or social worker
Favorite restaurant in Portland: So many to choose from but I love Scales, Street & Co and Empire to name a few!
Kim Toomire
Hometown: Portsmouth, NH
Undergraduate: Northeastern University
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: Soccer, running, anything outdoors, cooking
Favorite place in Maine: Acadia National Park
Medical interests: Hospital Medicine, Adult Congenital Cardiology
Favorite Maine activity: Exploring the outdoors
What did you do before medical school: Research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: Best job was lifeguard at Water Country in Portsmouth, NH
Why Maine Medical Center: The people. Plus the collegial environment, supportive and engaged faculty, emphasis on education, smaller program size, great location with both mountains and ocean nearby, fun city with so many restaurants, close to family, the list goes on…
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… social worker or biomedical researcher
Asha Mohamud
Hometown: Lewiston, Maine
Undergraduate: Bates College
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine (Maine Track Program)
Interests / Hobbies: Makeup, traveling, hanging out with my nephew Lido
Favorite place in Maine: Hooyo’s house, Crescent Beach
Medical interests: Hospital Medicine, Health disparities/Social determinants of health, Nephrology
Why Maine Medical Center: Maine is home. I am proud to be training in my home state. I started many passion projects as a medical student at MMC. I am happy I can see all of my projects through as a resident.
Personal quote: Rabbi inni lima anzalta ilayya min khayrin faqeer- Quran 28:24
Garrett Baron
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Undergraduate: Queen’s University
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: TV, movies, gaming, hiking, kayaking, exploring the city and the rest of Maine.
Medical Interests: Oncology, Palliative Care, Medical Education, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
Favourite Weekend Destination: Ocean, beaches, hiking in Acadia or the White Mountains, and visiting family up north in Quebec.
Why Maine Medical Center: The people in the great state of Maine and my colleagues here at MMC have all chosen to live and work in a place where they can find a home and build a healthy and happy life. The natural beauty of the state, the liveliness of the city, and the kindness of everyone I have met create an environment where I will continue to enjoy and take pride in my work.
Hannah Short
Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska
Undergraduate: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: Hiking, tennis, shopping at Trader Joes
Favorite place in Maine: Downtown Portland, the Portland Library
Medical interests: Hospitalist Medicine
Favorite Maine activity: Walking along Eastern Promenade
Why Maine Medical Center: I am so happy to be a resident at MMC. From my first day here, everyone has been so personable and taken the time to show me around the hospital. I wanted to go to a residency program that would not only prepare me to be a great hospitalist, but would be a great learning environment. People at MMC work here because they are excited to teach residents. I also really like the surrounding area. I have the comforts of city life while being able to escape to nature. There is a vibrant downtown with plenty of local restaurants and shops. On the flipside, I can drive 15 minutes to nearby hiking and biking areas.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… downhill ski instructor
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Saeng Thai House Restaurant, Coffee By Design, Portland Pie Company
Katelyn Chadwick
Hometown: Narragansett, RI
Undergrad: Providence College
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interest/Hobbies: traveling, reading, cooking & baking, going to the beach
Medical interests: undecided about subspecialty but passionate about public health, preventative medicine, and advocacy!
Favorite place in Maine: Fortune’s Rock Beach
Favorite Maine activity: exploring all the amazing places to eat & drink
Before med school I: got a Masters in Health Promotion at National University of Ireland, Galway and worked for the Rhode Island Department of Health
Why MMC: for me, MMC is the best of both worlds, a smaller residency size with people who are welcoming and eager to teach, at a large, academic hospital that is a tertiary care center but that also serves such a vibrant and diverse community. On my interview day, we were told about how for Mainers, MMC is “Maine’s Miracle Center” and I wanted to be a part of that.
If I wasn’t a doctor I’d: If I couldn’t be in healthcare, I’d want to work for a place like the America’s Test Kitchen, developing amazing recipes for everyone
Louisa Bauer
Hometown: Bedford, MA
Undergraduate: University of Rochester
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine – Maine Track Program
Medical Interests: Hospital medicine, primary care, GI
Interests/Hobbies: Hiking, travel, skiing, salsa dancing
Favorite Place in Maine: Acadia National Park
Favorite weekend destination: Sunday River (and Butcher Burger for post-ski burgers and fries, the best in Maine)
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Noble Barbecue
Favorite Maine activity: Hiking! I recommend checking out the Bigelows during foliage season, easily one of my favorite hikes ever!
Why MMC: I completed my 4th year medical school rotations at MMC and felt welcome from Day 1. I found the faculty and residents to be talented, caring providers and passionate teachers, all while maintaining a wide range of interests outside of medicine. Also, Portland is a wonderful place to live – it has an incredible restaurant and brewery scene and access to beautiful beaches, lakes, and mountains. I am honored and so excited to spend the next 3 years with such a great group of people!
Madeline Youngberg
Hometown: Rochester, MN
Undergraduate: University of Minnesota
Medical School: University of Minnesota
Interests / Hobbies: Rock climbing, hiking, traveling, cooking, bread baking, and eating my way through Portland’s amazing restaurant scene
Medical interests: Hospital Medicine, POCUS
Why Maine Medical Center: I knew that I wanted to venture out of the Midwest for residency and had a such a great experience on interview day. Maine Med is the perfect combination of having all the opportunities and learning of a big medical center with the incredible support and community of a smaller program. Everyone is so nice! Also, Portland is an awesome place to live.
Mags Lederfine Paskal
Hometown: Andover, MA
Undergraduate: Tulane University
Medical School: UNE COM
Medical interest: Primary care, Endocrinology
Life interests: Running, biking, hiking with my dog, Nala, baking, eating baked goods, and traveling!
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would open my own bakery!
Favorite Maine activity: Beach day followed by a lobster bake.
Christina Clark
Undergraduate: Dartmouth College
Medical School: George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Interests / Hobbies: British murder mysteries, ice cream, exploring Maine’s state parks with my husband and infant son
Medical interests: Cardiology, Medical Education
What did you do before medical school: I got a Masters in education and taught 6th and 7th grade history before completing a postbacc program and applying to medical school
Why Maine Medical Center: I love that there is a strong focus on resident education and a culture of collaboration and support. After living in Washington, DC for the last 10 years, I also wanted to be in a smaller city with easy access to the outdoors.
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Becky’s Diner (get the grilled blueberry muffin)
Nadia Zafar
Hometown: Monroe, Connecticut
Undergraduate: University of Connecticut
Medical School: George Washington University School of Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: Reading, Traveling
Medical interests: Primary Care, Community Health
Why Maine Medical Center: The friendly and supportive environment. I also liked how it’s a smaller program size while still training at a large tertiary care center.
Rachel Heuer
Hometown: Minnesota
Undergraduate: University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Medical School: University of Minnesota, Duluth Campus
Interests/hobbies: biking, hiking, cross country skiing, cooking, reading
Medical interests: rural primary care, procedures, women's health, public health, advocacy
What did you do before medical school: nursing assistant at a nursing home and hospital and bench research on the genetic drivers of glioblastoma
Worst job: picking rock from the corn and soybean fields on my family farm
Why Maine medical center: The RIMM program is unlike any other in the country and is truly what drew me to Maine Med. I was interested in a rural internal medicine program that focused on primary care and would be flexible in allowing me to have significant outpatient procedural training. The RIMM program has all of this and the added benefit of having access to the largest tertiary care center in Maine - Maine Med in Portland. Although I had never been to Maine before match day, the faculty and staff were so genuine during the interview and Maine has easy access to all of the outdoor activities I enjoy.
Jamal Choudhary
Hometown: Tewksbury, MA
Undergraduate: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Medical School: Frank H. Netter SOM at Quinnipiac University
Interests / Hobbies: Watching the Boston professional sports teams, playing baseball and basketball, video games, spending time with family
Medical interests: General internal medicine with a specialty interest in nephrology
What did you do before medical school: Served as an AmeriCorps member for the educational nonprofit organization City Year, supporting elementary school students in the Manchester, NH public schools district
Why Maine Medical Center: The supportive and welcoming community with a strong focus on resident education in a great location
Shannon Donovan
Hometown: Cumberland, ME
Undergraduate: Simmons College
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: Baking, painting, going to the beach, hiking, and fishing.
Favorite place in Maine: The beaches and my family camp up north
Medical interests: Critical Care and Pulmonology
What did you do before medical school: Prosthetic and Orthotic Clinician
Why Maine Medical Center: Growing up in Maine, I only ever heard about one hospital. Everyone I knew who was sick or hurt would go to Maine Med. I’ve always wanted to care for the community I grew up in. Maine Medical Center is an excellent place that provides excellent care. I have been dreaming about working here for a long time.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… detective
Yusuf Ebrahim
Hometown: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Undergraduate: University of New Hampshire
Medical School: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Interests / Hobbies: spending time with family, piano, computer and tabletop games, woodworking, programming, learning math
Medical interests: rural medicine, global & refugee health, end-of-life care, point-of-care ultrasound, medical procedures, medical education, intersection of medicine and computing
Favorite Book: usually whatever I am currently reading...a favorite is The Earthsea Cycle!
Why Maine Medical Center: I felt inspired by the people at the program. Although I had not been to Maine Medical Center prior to residency, it was clear during my interview that the culture was a friendly one that reflected a sincere and remarkable degree of curiosity and integrity with regards to patient care and the teaching of medicine. And there is room to delve into and explore a wide variety of interests and projects throughout your training here. The unique rural internal medicine program is a huge plus for me as well, as it strongly suits my interests and provides the perfect blend of training, between learning at a large academic hospital and living in and caring for a rural community at a critical access hospital. And living in Maine is wonderful.
Camille Ezran
Hometown: Bay Area, California
Undergraduate: University of California, Berkeley
Medical School: University of Rochester
Interests / Hobbies: ballet and salsa dancing, yoga, rock climbing, butter tasting, reading
Medical interests: Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Public Health
Why Maine Medical Center: At Maine Med, I found a group of health care providers that are passionate about providing comprehensive care to its patient population. I feel fortunate to join this dedicated community. And after growing up on the West coast, it’s time to dip my toes in another ocean.
Personal quote: “I’ll take a vet over an M.D. any day. They gotta cure a lizard, a chicken, a pig, a frog, all on the same day.” – Kramer, Seinfeld.
Beth Garbitelli
Hometown: Brookfield, VT
Undergraduate: Georgetown University
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine - Maine Track
Interests / Hobbies: Baking, cooking, exploring Portland’s amazing food scene, aspiring to be outdoorsy, podcasting with The Curbsiders
Medical interests: Infectious disease, hematology, advocacy, medical humanities
Favorite weekend destination: Rangeley
Why Maine Medical Center: MMC is a very special place. The care is patient-centered and MMC is a hub for medical care in New England. There is a focus on excellence and clinical teaching but within a holistic, warm, collegial environment. And I absolutely love living in Maine, with easy access to gorgeous beaches, lakes, mountains, trails, and parks. I feel so lucky to be here.
Michael Gilleo
Hometown: Afton, MN
Undergraduate: University of Minnesota
Medical School: University of Minnesota
Interests / Hobbies: Nordic skiing, rock climbing, running, board games, and cooking!
Medical interests: Point-of-care ultrasound, medical education, and nephrology
Favorite Maine activity: Exploring all the nearby parks and beaches!
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: Working at McDonald’s
Why Maine Medical Center: My wife and I wanted to experience life outside of Minnesota. It felt like Portland would allow us to easily explore the outdoors, while also providing access to a vibrant small town. In addition, I wanted a supportive residency program that put an emphasis on education and wellbeing, and these priorities were apparent during my interview day with Maine Med. It also didn’t hurt that my wife and I visited Maine on a beautiful weekend in October and absolutely fell in love.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a…Meteorologist
Kurt Grahnke
Hometown: Oak Park, IL
Undergraduate: Denison University
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: Surfing, biking, camping, music, creative writing.
Favorite place in Maine: Being in the pocket of a wave or J’s Oysters
Medical interests: I’m interested in everything, which I think lends itself to general IM, but I am open to fellowships as I progress through residency. I’m also interested in making healthcare a more environmentally-conscious field.
Favorite weekend destination: Acadia or the local beaches
Favorite Maine activity: Eating seafood and drinking a local craft beer after getting some good exercise outside
Personal goals: To love what I do on a daily basis
Why Maine Medical Center: It is an excellent program first and foremost. I was also interested in coming somewhere which would allow me to surf, go camping, biking, and hiking in beautiful natural areas with ease on my off days. All this and more is accessible here. I’ve learned that these activities are not only critical for my personal wellness, but they also remind me of why I went into medicine in the first place. These activities show me the beauty of life and that is what I seek to preserve when taking care of people. Hopefully through good medicine, I can help get my patients back to doing the things they love to do, as much as I love surfing and exploring in nature.
Devon Huntley
Hometown: Whitefield, Maine
Undergraduate/Graduate: American University, BS, Boston University, MS
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine – Maine Track
Interests / Hobbies: cooking, gardening, figure skating, coffee/espresso
Favorite place in Maine: Reid State Park in the summer, the Old Port in the winter
Medical interests: sexual and reproductive health through the lifespan, medical education, palliative care
Favorite weekend destination: On Sundays my husband and I have a pizza business at a local brewery, so that is our favorite destination! If we’re not slinging pies, we love to have friends over for a big, cozy dinner that never has leftovers.
Favorite Maine activity: Truly just living in Maine and being able to enjoy the state with so many wonderful people around me is my favorite thing – it truly is a special place!
What did you do before medical school: I worked as a nursing assistant at Maine Med before going to graduate school!
Personal goals: Learn how to sail, help my husband open a restaurant, have a family
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: My first job was scrubbing dirt off winter squash with a shower scrubber in middle school at a nearby farm – an incredible life experience looking back but not easy at the time!
Why Maine Medical Center: I compared every other program to MMC. After working as a CNA and spending my clinical years of medical school here, I knew I wanted to stay. The culture is supportive, people are truly friendly, and I feel completely comfortable asking for help and admitting when I don’t know an answer (not always the case in medical school). If I don’t have a smile on my face while at MMC, find me some coffee!
Celebrity I most resemble: I have been told I look like Julianne Moore more than once!
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… if not a nurse or something within healthcare, probably a teacher
Favorite restaurant in Portland: SO difficult to choose! My husband and I love going to the Miss Portland Diner on the weekend – our order is the same each time, always including a blueberry pancake to share!
Anna Levesque
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: Reading, trivia, trying new restaurants and exorbitantly sugary coffee beverages, exploring art/history museums, light hiking
Favorite place in Maine: Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, Reid State Park
Medical interests: Hospital medicine, infectious diseases
Why Maine Medical Center: My family is from Maine, and it was already one of my favorite places. Maine Medical Center seemed like the perfect balance between community hospital and academic medical center with the chance to see and learn a lot. Most of all, I appreciated that everyone seemed like part of a strong community that looks out for each other.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… history professor
David W. Ngala
Hometown: Kinshasa (DRC)
Undergraduate: Universite de Kinshasa
Medical School: Universite de Kinshasa, Faculte de Medecine
Interests / Hobbies: Watching Soccer, Football, Basketball, Movies, and cooking
Favorite place in Maine: Wells Beach
Medical interests: Universal Healthcare accessibility, GI and Cardiology.
Favorite weekend destination: Have not found one yet!
Favorite Maine activity: Walking and going to the beach (Summer time)
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: Uber and Lyft Driver
Why Maine Medical Center: I have loved MMC since the first day I started working here as a phlebotomist. I have been profoundly affected by the core values of the hospital and how everyone’s job is valued. I also appreciate the emphasis on clinical reasoning in education, and the friendly and supportive culture.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… Sports Critics or a Sports journalist.
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Longhorn!
Sam Pettit
Hometown: La Grande, Oregon
Undergraduate: BYU & Harvard
Medical School: UNE
Interests / Hobbies: Music (jazz & classical trumpet, piano), hiking, biking, skiing, traveling, time with my family (including my toy poodle)
Favorite place in Maine: Acadia National Park
Medical interests: everything!
What did you do before medical school: Corporate Finance for 7 years
Personal goals: just to be a great doc who lives a happy balanced life
Why Maine Medical Center: I love Portland! And MMC has what I feel is the optimal balance of academics in training residents.
Celebrity I most resemble: Buddy Holly
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… band teacher.
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Bird & Co
Lester Sit
Hometown: Petaluma, CA
Undergraduate: University of California, Davis
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: rock climbing, gymnastics, specialty coffee, fermenting foods
Medical interests: clinical reasoning, medical education, hospital medicine, critical care, POCUS
Favorite weekend destination: Boston for the Asian food
Favorite Maine activity: skiing in winter, hiking in the fall
What did you do before medical school: Prior to pursuing a career in medicine, I coached men’s gymnastics. I worked as a medical scribe and barista prior to starting medical school.
Why Maine Medical Center: The attendings, fellows, and residents I interacted with as a medical student were personable, supportive, and passionate about teaching. I felt that the culture was inviting and conducive to learning and growth.
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Miyake
Lukas Sprick
Hometown: Osborne, Kansas
Undergraduate: Kansas State University
Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: rock climbing, mountain biking, snowboarding, camping, starting to get into scuba. Really anything to get outside and active!
Medical interests: Hospitalist or pulmonary critical care
Favorite weekend destination: Horseshoe Canyon Ranch or Bentonville, Arkansas (before moving to Maine)
What did you do before medical school: Before medical school I took a year off and moved to Denver to be a manny (male nanny). It was hard work taking the two boys to school and then going hiking, biking or snowboarding!
Why Maine Medical Center: At first I was interested in Maine Medical for a change of geography. After interviewing at the program, I saw how close knit the residents were, and there was a large focus on medical education. I realized the program would be a perfect fit for me!
Celebrity I most resemble: I’ve been told I look like Shawn white (with short hair) or I could be the third property brother.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… park ranger at a National park OR a carpenter.
Rami Waked
Hometown: Lebanon
Undergraduate: Saint Joseph University of Beirut
Medical School: Saint Joseph University of Beirut
Interests / Hobbies: Reading
Favorite place in Maine: Portland
Medical interests: General Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, medical research
Favorite Maine activity: Walking along Pine Point beach
Why Maine Medical Center: Wonderful place. Amazing supportive faculty. Very friendly environment. The opportunities to learn and grow in this beautiful community.