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

PGY-3s

Alexander Besen, MD

Hometown: Chappaqua, NY

Medical school: New York Medical College

Family: My parents live in Westchester County and my younger sister lives in Manhattan. My parents and I adopted a golden doodle, Molly, in 2017, but she's staying downstate with them.

Hobbies: Big into video games, particularly Pokémon and platformers. I'm especially drawn to challenge runs and the speed running community over on Twitch. I also enjoy DnD campaigns with some online friends and reading and writing sci-fi and science fantasy stories.

Social media handle: Twitter: @alexmbesen

What made you choose URMC?
I was already familiar with the Rochester area thanks to attending RIT and loved my time there. I also worked for URMC Specimen Management before medical school. When I knew I wanted to apply to a pathology program, URMC was immediately on my radar because of the sheer volume and diversity of samples and specimens I knew they received. And I really enjoyed the folks I got to (virtually) meet through open houses, interview day, and Grand Rounds. I just knew it would be a perfect fit!

What are your career goals?
My hope is to move onto fellowship in one or two subspecialties (possibly heme or molecular) and then use that training and my love of teaching to work as an attending pathologist and train the next generations of physicians.

Fun fact about you?
I attended the great Wayne Gretzky's final NHL game before retirement. Unfortunately, I lost the commemorative hockey stick.
 

Jann Gael Uy, DO

Hometown: Amarillo, TX

Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest

Family: All of my family is in Texas. I’m the eldest of three siblings and easily the worst at Mario Kart (I hold my own in Smash Bros, though).

Why did you select URMC for your residency?: How considerate and supportive the people are. Those I met during my interview day treated me like I was already a part of their team (even as my fire alarm went off halfway through!). Additionally, I value the flexibility the program offers. Whether you come in already with a set career path in mind or find yourself uncertain about the details, the faculty work to ensure that you have the resources and support you need to pursue what you want.

Hobbies and interests: Live music of any sort (partial to EDM and alt rock). If you need someone to go to a concert with you, I'm your dude! I also play piano, harp, guitar, ukulele, and even started taking singing lessons during my second year of residency. Other things I'm interested in are video games, writing poetry, travelling, hiking, camping, road trips, Dungeons and Dragons, and rock climbing (thanks, Andrew). I'm always down to try something new!

Career goals: While I have a background in research, at the moment, I'm finding myself pulled towards the idea of becoming a community physician. Regardless of where I end up, I want to be a physician who can compassionately deliver difficult diagnoses and support my patients and my peers to the best of my abilities.
 

Giby V. George, MBBS

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Medical school: Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Kerala, India

Family: I am married to my medical school sweetheart and we have a daughter.

Why did you select URMC for your residency? I enjoyed my pre-residency pathology experiences at URMC.

Hobbies and interests: I enjoy traveling, being outdoors, rock climbing (indoor), trying new foods, and reading and playing with my daughter.

Where would you like to end up/career goals or aspirations? I will be pursuing a career in hematopathology and molecular genetic pathology.
 

Jared Lee, MD

Hometown: Miami, FL

Medical school: University of Miami

Hobbies/interests: 

What made you choose URMC? 
The positive work culture and friendliness of the residents and the sheer amount of mentorship opportunities.

What is the best feature of your residency program? : I feel that our faculty genuinely care about resident feedback in enhancing the residency experience.

Hobbies/interests: Wine tasting, Dancing, Running, Horror Flicks, listening to R&B, EDM and Indie Rock Music

What is your favorite thing(s) about Rochester? The summers in Rochester are exceptionally beautiful, both in terms of access to nature and the numerous festivals going on every month.

What are your career goals? Still figuring it out! Potentially GYN, Derm or Molecular pathology

One thing you wish you knew before you started your residency here?  I wish I knew proper microscope care!
 

Alicia Schmidt, DO

Hometown: Warner, NH

Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hobbies/interests: Arts and crafts, exploring the outdoors, drumming, my dog 

What made you choose URMC? 
I chose URMC for the people and the wide breadth of resources and opportunities.

What are your career goals?
I am still considering several different fellowships and career paths.
 

PGY-2 

Ola 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 am very interested in forensic pathology, but I'm looking forward to exploring all areas of pathology during 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-1

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. 
 

Hannah Bell, MD, PhD

Hometown: Baltimore, MD/Elkton, MD

Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 

Family: My parents relocated to Rochester and love it here. I also have 2 cats and hope to add a dog to our household eventually. 

Why did you select URMC for your residency? The people! During my interview, my interactions with the faculty, residents, and laboratory personnel were overwhelmingly positive. I selected URMC because I knew I would receive excellent training from world-class faculty and work with a great team. The city is also a very easy place to live, with many options for food and hiking.  

Hobbies and interests: Yoga, video games, cooking tasty vegan food, and running. 

Social media handle: Instagram: @hannahbanana2828

Where would you like to end up/career goals or aspirations? I hope to work in an academic setting specializing in hematopathology or clinical microbiology. 
 

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: California

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 variety (and volume) of patients and cases 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, national/state parks, cooking.

Where would you like to end up/career goal/aspirations? I ultimately would like to practice in a large academic center in/near a major city that serves a wide variety of patients and sees a broad range of cases.

Jordan Schneider, MD

Hometown: Dover, NH

Family: Looking forward to moving to Rochester with my fiance and our enormous orange cat, Squash.

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 have wanted to pursue forensic pathology for a very long time, and look forward to getting more experience during residency that either supports that choice or steers me in a new direction!
 

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: All of my family lives in DR and we are a family of 6.

Why did you select URMC for your residency? When searching for programs to apply to, there were certain criterias I wanted it to fulfill. Firstly, I’ve always wanted to be in a program that offered diverse cases where I could learn and become the best professional I could be. Secondly, I preferred a location in the Northeast. Thirdly, I sought a supportive environment with warm and nice people willing to teach. All of this were met when I applied and had the opportunity to interview in URMC. They made me feel welcomed and I knew I wanted to be part of their family.  

Hobbies and interests: I love playing sports like tennis, soccer, paddle, etc. I also love reading, watching anime and playing cozy video games. 

Social media handles: Instagram: @ViviVenta & / @ViviPathology (Which I intend to be more active on) 

Where would you like to end up/career goals or aspirations? Currently, I have no idea hahahahaha. I love paths, and I want to be exposed to everything before deciding. 

Fellows
 

Aijan Ukudeeva, MD, MS
Breast/GYN Fellow

Natalia Yanchenko, MD, PhD
Breast/GYN Fellow

Nicholas Tong, MD
Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine Fellow

Irina Lerman, MD, PhD
Dermatopathology Fellow 

Bailey Mosher
Microbiology Fellow

Sean Thomas
Microbiology Fellow

Eli Rust
Year Out Student Fellow

Buket Bagci, MD
GI Pathology Fellow 

Sanket Choksi, MBBS
Hematopathology Fellow

Rebecca Flugrad, MD
Medical Directorship 

Wilrama Lima, MD
Surgical Pathology Fellow

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