Fresh Look Editor
Fatima Z. Syed, MD, MSc
Fatima is an internist in North Carolina. She recently completed her training in Philadelphia. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. She has a background in public policy, having received her MSc in comparative social policy from the University of Oxford.
Fresh Look Deputy Editors
Sonya V. Patel-Nguyen, MD
Dr. Patel-Nguyen trained in internal medicine and pediatrics at UNC-Chapel Hill before beginning her career as a hospitalist at Duke University. Her clinical time is divided between inpatient adult and pediatric patients, as well as bedside procedures. She is also involved in medical education, with interests in bias training and expanding knowledge and best practices regarding health care equity. In addition to her work at Duke, Dr. Patel-Nguyen has interests in global health, having worked with refugee and immigrant populations in Greece, Jordan, Palestine, and Mexico.
Lavanya Viswanathan, MD, MS
Dr. Viswanathan is Associate Professor of Medicine at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, where she works as a neurogastroenterology and motility specialist. She completed her internal medicine residency in San Antonio, followed by fellowship at Augusta University. She completed her career in the United States Air Force where she was Chief of GI at Travis AFB. She is a former Chair of the Council of Resident/Fellow Members and served on various ACP committees. She is passionate about public health issues, such as disparities in care for both patients and physicians and mentoring tomorrow’s health care leaders.
Fresh Look Authors
Dr. Oyepeju Abioye is an aspiring internist and oncologist who is passionate about advancing equitable health care. Originally from Nigeria, she is pursuing U.S. medical residency and has recently completed a master's degree in epidemiology and biostatistics from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. Her major clinical and research interests include survivorship among marginalized populations, as well as diversity and inclusion in clinical trials. Dr. Abioye hopes to contribute meaningfully to these spaces through clinical practice and evidence-based research and is currently a research assistant at the Florez Laboratory of Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Miriam Al-Saedy is an incoming third-year medical student at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in Spokane, Washington. She is from Everett, Washington, and received her undergraduate degree in B.S. Biochemistry and an English minor from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. Miriam is interested in internal medicine and improving patient care and is passionate about allergy, asthma, and immunology.
Salsabeal Al-Saedy is an incoming first-year medical student at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in Spokane, Washington. She is from Everett, Washington, and received her undergraduate degree in B.S. Biochemistry and an English minor from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. Salsabeal is passionate about improving patient care and is interested in gastroenterology and anesthesiology.
Fatima Al-Shimari, MPH, BS, BA
Fatima Al-Shimari is an epidemiologist and global health researcher at the University of Washington (UW); she also dedicates her time to mentoring students as a clinical affiliate faculty with the UW School of Public Health, Department of Global Health. She is from Seattle, Washington, and received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from UW. She also serves as the current chair of the Women in Global Health Seattle Chapter and is the founder of Kalema Nonprofit. She formerly worked as a project manager to support the research needs of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and as a research consultant with the World Health Organization. Her research interests include community and population health, internal and family medicine, and social determinants of health.
Chelsea Amo-Tweneboah, BS
Chelsea Amo-Tweneboah is a fourth-year medical student at St. George’s University School of Medicine. She is from New York and received her undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. She has plans to apply into internal medicine, with future plans to become an interventional cardiologist. She also plans to pursue an MBA and MPH to help with her future work in addressing the cardiovascular needs of patient populations both in the United States and abroad. She is currently a part of and has leadership roles in the American College of Cardiology, CardioNerds, the Association of Black Cardiologists, and the Student National Medical Association.
Moises is an academic Med-Peds hospitalist and an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, where he is the Quality Improvement Officer of Hospital Medicine and a Core Faculty of the Internal Medicine Residency Program. He is the immediate past-chair of the ACP Council of Early Career Physicians and an immediate past-member of the ACP Board of Regents.
Zein Barakat, originally from Jordan, holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences and a master's in pharmaceutical nanotechnology from the University of South Florida. She pursued an osteopathic medical degree at Nova Southeastern University. As an internal medicine resident at Lakeland Regional Health, she is dedicated to patient empowerment, global health care enhancement, and advocacy for improved health care quality and accessibility.
Callie Berkowitz is a second-year internal medicine resident at Duke University, where she also earned her undergraduate and medical school degrees. She serves on the residency Quality Improvement Counsel and is interested in health services research.
Brian is an assistant professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He attended Harvard Medical School and completed internal medicine residency at Columbia University where he also served as Chief Medical Resident. He completed fellowship training in pulmonary and critical care medicine at UCSF. He is a former member of the ACP Council of Resident/Fellow Members and one of the founding clinicians of the UCSF Optimal Clinic, which provides multidisciplinary care for patients recovering from COVID-19.
Nathan is a third-year medical student at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. He is an ensign in the U.S. Navy and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. His research interests include medical education and patient advocacy. His opinions and assertions are his own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences or the Department of Defense.
Teva D. Brender, MD, is a first-year internal medicine resident at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He graduated from Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine. His interests include pulmonology and critical care, health policy, physician advocacy, and narrative medicine.
Garrett is a second-year Doctor of Medicine candidate at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in Spokane, Washington. He is from Wenatchee, Washington, and obtained his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. Garrett is interested in urology and is passionate about patient care and biomedical research related to the genitourinary system.
Taylor is a new junior faculty member and lymphoma specialist in the Department of Hematology and Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, where he recently completed his fellowship after internal medicine training at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem, North Carolina. He was an Annals editorial fellow for the 2023–2024 academic year.
Sarah G. Candler, MD, MPH
Sarah is a practicing primary care physician and Practice Medical Director at Iora Primary Care in Houston, Texas. Her value-based care practice serves exclusively Medicare patients and uses a team-based, relationship-centered approach to senior care. Dr. Candler completed medical school and her MPH at Emory University, and finished her internal medicine residency at Tulane University. She is a former chair of ACP’s Council of Resident Fellow Members and a current ACP delegate to the AMA. She teaches health policy and economics, advocacy, and social determinants of health as voluntary faculty in Houston.
Her opinions here are her own and do not represent the opinions of her employers.
Steven is an MD-PhD student at Indiana University. His academic interests include medical education and medical genetics. He is the Chair of the ACP Council of Student Members.
Dr. Choi is dual Board-certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases and serves as a Chief of Internal Medicine of her practice and faculty at Harvard Medical School. Her expertise includes infectious diseases as well as health advocacy and health care disparities affecting the Asian American Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (AANHOPI) populations. She received the Unsung Hero Award from the Annual Asian American Pacific Islander Civil Rights Forum in Massachusetts for her contributions to Asian American Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander populations there. Dr. Choi is Governor of the ACP Massachusetts Chapter and current member of the Executive Committee of the ACP Board of Governors.
Vinay Choksi, MD, is the Graduate Medical Education Chief Resident of Quality Improvement and Patient Safety. He is also a hospitalist at Duke University. His academic interests include medical education and quality improvement in hospital medicine.
Pierce is a second-year Doctor of Medicine candidate at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in Spokane, Washington. He hails from Clarkston, a small community in southeastern Washington State and is the son of a third-generation dryland wheat farmer. Pierce is pursuing a career in internal medicine, then subsequent training in gastroenterology and hepatology.
Amanda L. Collar is an MD-PhD candidate at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine (class of 2024). Amanda is currently completing her doctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. Kathryn M. Frietze, where she investigates the antibody response to natural urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women and is engineering prophylactic Chlamydia trachomatis vaccine candidates to be tested via in vitro assays and murine challenge models. She is interested in infectious diseases, women’s health, and health policy. Amanda holds numerous leadership roles, including the Health Policy and Advocacy Chair for the New Mexico American College of Physicians and Student Representative for the UNM School of Medicine MD-PhD Steering Committee and is on the Council of Student Members. Amanda has also been awarded numerous academic scholarships, research presentation awards, and grants to support her research efforts.
Abigail K. Cone, RDCS, BS
Abigail Cone is a second-year medical student at Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in Spokane, Washington. She received her undergraduate degree from Seattle University in diagnostic ultrasound and worked as a pediatric cardiac sonographer before pursuing her graduate medical degree. Abigail is interested in radiology and internal medicine and is passionate about health care equity.
Andres F. Diaz (he/him) is an MD/PhD student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. He is passionate about the optimization of adoptive cell therapies and immunotherapies for low-resource settings, especially in the context of addressing global pediatric cancer care disparities. Beyond his academic endeavors, Andres is involved in STEMM graduate student mentorship and wellness through his work at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) as well as his leadership in the American Medical Student Association (AMSA). In his free time, Andres enjoys playing soccer, cooking, and reading science fiction.
Lauren is a second-year medical student at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in Spokane, Washington. She is from Seattle, Washington, and graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology. Lauren has a passion for the gut microbiome and is interested in internal medicine and increasing health care access to underserved populations.
Andrew Engel-Rodriguez, MD
Andrew Engel-Rodriguez, MD, is an Internal Medicine Resident at Veteran Affairs Healthcare Systems in San Juan, PR. He is a graduate from San Juan Bautista School of Medicine in Caguas, PR. In addition to his work, Dr. Engel-Rodriguez also has an interest in community service, volunteering to work at internally displaced persons camps in Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria and during a series of earthquakes that brought destruction to the southern part of the island.
Dr. Omotomilola Fadipe, originally from Nigeria, holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and obtained her MD degree from Ryazan State Medical University in Russia. Her journey in medicine has been characterized by unwavering dedication, a relentless pursuit of knowledge, and a deep sense of empathy. Driven by her profound passion for improving health care standards, she has volunteered with several NGOs, demonstrating a strong commitment to providing medical care in marginalized communities. Dr. Fadipe firmly believes that primary care is the cornerstone of medicine and is determined to make a meaningful impact on the global health care landscape.
Athena Failla is an internal medicine physician with Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health. She completed her medical degree at Florida International University and her internal medicine residency at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Prior to her medical training, she completed a Master of Public Health in epidemiology at the University of South Florida. She is passionate about preventative health and providing collaborative and patient-centered care.
Mariam is a third-year Doctor of Medicine candidate at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in Spokane, Washington. She is from Federal Way, Washington, and obtained her undergraduate degree in cellular, molecular, and developmental biology from the University of Washington. Mariam is interested in internal medicine and gastroenterology, and is passionate about global health, cultural humility, and increasing language accessibility within healthcare.
Syed is the Associate Program Director and Director of Research for the Southeast Health Internal Medicine residency program and a clinical preceptor for the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is also the President of the Society of Hospital Medicine Wiregrass Chapter. His passions are medical education and promoting the quality of clinical care by integrating evidence-based medicine into clinical practice.
William is a second-year medical student at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in Spokane, Washington. He is from Seattle, Washington, and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, where he majored in biology and biochemistry before working at Sea Mar Community Health Centers for 4 years as a care coordinator. He is passionate about community-based health and is currently interested in hematology-oncology as a specialty.
Emily Harris is a second-year internal medicine resident at the University of California, San Francisco. She completed her undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Washington. Her interests include pulmonary medicine and advancing health equity.
Tracey L. Henry, MD, MPH, MS
Dr. Henry is a general internist in the Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics at Emory University. She is an attending physician for the inpatient teaching services at Grady Memorial Hospital and Assistant Health Director and supervising attending in the Primary Care Center. Dr. Henry’s teaching and research interests include health policy, quality improvement and patient safety, health disparities, and integrating behavioral mental health care into primary care.
Vernicia Hernandez is a second-year internal medicine resident at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. She has a passion for promoting cultural diversity, advancing medical education, and research. Vernicia intends to apply for a fellowship in sleep and become an academic hospitalist/sleep medicine physician.
I am currently a chief of internal medicine at Wake Forest with an interest in caring for vulnerable populations, including the homeless. I am returning to my medical school in Athens, Georgia, as a primary care doctor and want to inspire trainees to treat all of their patients with compassionate care.
Dr. Farzana Hoque is an academic hospitalist and an associate professor of medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. She serves as the codirector of the Internal Medicine Acting Internship and the inaugural medical director of Bordley Tower at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Dr. Hoque is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom and the President of the Society of Hospital Medicine St. Louis Chapter.
John Hunninghake, MD, is the Chair-Elect of the National ACP Council of Resident and Fellow Members (CRFM). He is currently completing his second year as a pulmonary and critical care fellow at San Antonio Military Medical Center, where he also completed his residency. He graduated from medical school from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 2013. His views are his own and do not reflect those of the U.S. Department of the Air Force nor the U.S. Department of Defense.
Catherine is a medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Before medical school, she pursued public health training at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, served as an Epi Scholar at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and completed a pharmacoepidemiology fellowship at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Noel Ivey is a hospitalist at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina where she currently serves as codirector of Project COMET (Caring for patients with Opioid Misuse through Evidence-based Treatment), a quality improvement project seeking to improve care for hospitalized patients with opioid use disorder. In addition, she is involved in clinical trial work for hospitalized patients with COVID-19, and she has a special interest in physician wellness.
Leah is a general medicine and dermatology trainee from New Zealand. She completed her medical degree at the University of Otago and her Master of Health Science at the University of Auckland. She has an interest in health care equality.
Joseph is a medical student at the Texas A&M University College of Medicine, class of 2019, and an ACP medical student member. He received undergraduate degrees in exercise science and economics at The University of Texas at Austin.
Ryan is in his first year of Internal Medicine Residency at Oregon Health & Science University. He completed his medical degree at the Medical University of South Carolina and his Master of Public Health in the Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Kate is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Pennsylvania. Before medical school, she worked as an environmental engineer. Her interests include the incorporation of humanities and arts into medical education, and she currently serves as a coordinator for the Art, Observation, and Empathy course for first-year medical students at Penn.
Morris is in his first year of Internal Medicine Residency at Oregon Health & Science University. He completed his medical degree at Tulane University School of Medicine. He is a member of the Council of Residents/Fellows for the ACP Oregon chapter.
Tiffany I. Leung, MD, MPH
Tiffany is an internist and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at Maastricht University in The Netherlands. She completed her MD, MPH, and internal medicine residency training at Northwestern University. She also completed an Advanced Fellowship in Medical Informatics at the Department of Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University. Dr. Leung is is Chair-Elect of the ACP Council of Early Career Physicians and a global member of the ACP's Global Engagement Committee.
Josh practices at the University of Washington, where he is an Associate Professor in the Schools of Medicine and Public Health, as well as the Medical Director of Payment Strategy. He obtained his MD from Baylor College of Medicine and trained at Brigham & Women's Hospital, where he was also a Clinical Fellow in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania.
Tammy is an internal medicine specialist and a Voluntary Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, Health Sciences. She has strong interests in wellness, mentorship, and strengthening the pipeline for underrepresented groups in medicine. Dr. Lin is the Governor-Elect Designee of the ACP California Southern Region III Chapter and a member of the ACP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Subcommittee.
Yuri Matusov, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He trained in internal medicine at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and completed PCCM fellowship at Cedars-Sinai. His research and clinical interests are in pulmonary vascular disease and right ventricular failure in pulmonary hypertension, parenchymal lung disease, and ARDS. He is an Annals editorial fellow for the 2023–2024 academic year.
Sophie C. Miller, MD, MPH
Dr. Miller is a resident physician at the University of Washington. She earned her MD from the University of Washington School of Medicine and her Master's degree in health policy and management from the T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health. Her interests include policies to promote access and high-quality care to vulnerable populations, as well as the impact of technology and artificial intelligence on medicine.
Dr. Millstein is an internist, writer, and educator and serves as a Regional Medical Director for Penn Primary Care. He leads initiatives for clinicians and staff to help improve patient-centered communication skills.
Dr. Myers is a pulmonary/critical care physician at the Massachusetts General Hospital and fellow in Quality/Safety at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. She is interested in workforce safety and value-based health care delivery.
Patrick O'Dowd, MS, is a third-year medical student at Ross University School of Medicine. He graduated with a BS in forensic science from Madonna University in Livonia, MI, going on to earn an MS in toxicology from the Rackham Graduate School at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor. Patrick is interested in hospitalist medicine, gastroenterology, and medical education. He plans on pursuing a residency in internal medicine.
Sandeep Palakodeti, MD, MPH
Sandeep is a Regional Medical Officer at CareMore Health, Memphis, Tennessee. He is a former member of the ACP Council of Resident/Fellow Members. He is a dedicated advocate for quality and humanity in health care and is currently leading a dynamic team working in a capitated Medicaid model serving a diverse patient population.
Sophie Padelford is fourth-year medical student at University of Washington School of Medicine. Before medical school, she worked internationally for 2 years as a teacher in Bulgaria and the United Kingdom. Currently, Sophie serves as the lead for Othello Clinic, which is a screen and refer clinic in South Seattle. This monthly clinic is run in conjunction with the Somali Health Board and Mercy Housing. Her interests include medical education and improving the delivery of medical services to immigrant communities.
Dr. Stacey Regis is an internal medicine resident and rising chief at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. She is passionate about patient advocacy and has keen interests in preventative cardiology.
Harneet S. Sangha, BS, is currently a first-year medical student at the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, where he majored in biology. Harneet has a deep-seated passion for health equity and is dedicated to improving access to quality health care for underserved populations. His commitment to medicine is driven by a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of his future patients, and he is enthusiastic about the diverse opportunities and challenges that a career in medicine offers.
Hunter Scott, BS, is a third-year medical student at the Heersink School of Medicine at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. He graduated from The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, with a major in psychology and a minor in biology. Hunter is interested in hematology, hepatology, and medical education with plans to pursue a residency in internal medicine.
Arman is a first-year internal medicine resident at the University of Chicago. He received his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and worked at Boston Scientific as an engineer and market access consultant for a few years before medical school, focusing on projects in Brazil and Colombia. When he's not in the hospital he loves to play and watch soccer.
Dylan Sherry is an internist and palliative care physician in Philadelphia. He recently completed his fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine in Boston where he also completed his residency training. He is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He has a background in bioethics, having received a Master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University.
Kunal is a radiation oncology resident. He completed his internship in internal medicine at Beth Israel Hospital in New York and is a graduate of the Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University. Prior to medical school, he worked as a middle school science teacher in Newark, New Jersey, and as a management consultant in New York.
Oak Sonfist (they/them) specializes in medical school education reform, focusing on disability rights advocacy, transgender health care, rural health, trauma-informed care, and clinician mental health and well-being. Oak, a rising 4th year osteopathic medical student, recently completed an Education and Advocacy Fellowship with the American Medical Student Association. Oak continues advocacy efforts to foster growth and deeper understanding within the medical community. Oak enjoys painting and hiking with their dog Prudence.
Sarah Takimoto is a graduating medical student at the University of California, San Francisco. She will start her internal medicine residency at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is the President of the ACP California Council of Student Members and member of the ACP California Health and Public Policy Committee.
Ashley Inez Thrower is a third-year internal medicine–pediatrics resident at Duke University Hospital. She also serves as President of Duke’s Minority Housestaff Association. Her academic interests include hematology and hospital medicine.
Dr. Van Doren is a PGY-2 in the Emory University School of Medicine’s J. Willis Hurst Internal Medicine Residency program and a current participant in the Health, Equity, Advocacy, and Policy Track. She is a past national board member of Students for a National Health Program and past Health Policy Committee Leader of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine’s American Medical Student Association (AMSA) chapter. She co-founded the Health Advocacy Leadership Organization, a longitudinal 4-year health policy and advocacy elective at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Van Doren's career plans are focused on ways to integrate research, clinical medicine, and advocacy to help build a truly equitable health care system.
Michelle is a third-year Doctor of Medicine candidate at the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in Spokane, Washington. She grew up in Olympia, Washington, and studied kinesiology and health science at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC. Michelle is passionate about a career in internal medicine and health equity, bridging the two fields together for greater patient advocacy.
Ryan Yarnall is an assistant professor of medicine, ambulatory medical director, and practicing internist at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He also serves as the co-chair for the ACP Council of Early Career Physicians Oklahoma chapter.
