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Wendy Gray
Brown Medical School

I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia as the eldest of four children. One of my brothers is developmentally disabled. We adopted him when he was four. Due to his influence, I grew up very interested in and involved with people with disabilities of all types. After graduating from Emory University with a political science degree, I worked in Jerusalem for a year and then began teaching special education in Florida. After a few years of teaching, I decided to pursue medicine. I moved to Boston and began pre-med courses at the Harvard Extension School while working at a dyslexia research laboratory at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. A few years later, I entered the Brown-Dartmouth Medical School program and graduated from Brown Medical School in 2005. I plan to develop a practice in primary care and would love to care for adults with disabilities. Cerebral palsy is a particular interest of mine. One aspect of the CHA Internal Medicine Residency Program that drew me here is the focus on community-based medicine. I'm also enjoying the atmosphere of this hospital - we work hard, but we also have a lot of fun together as residents!

Matthew Watson
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

As my family moved across the American Southwest following my father's pharmacy career in the Indian Health Service, I have been directly exposed from a young age to incredible social inequalities in our society. These experiences and the strong feelings that they conjured in me led me to UC Berkeley, a place well-known for its political and social activism. There I studied history while preparing for a possible career in medicine. During breaks from school, I worked various jobs for Indian Health Service in the Phoenix Area, the most interesting of which was an HIV/STD program. After acceptance to Columbia University, I agreed to work for the Indian Health Service in exchange for payment of my medical school expenses. At Columbia I took a pause in my medical education to complete a Master's Degree in Public Health, with an emphasis in Epidemiology. With the perspective and tools that I have acquired over time, I intend to practice outpatient general medicine after residency and wish to serve a predominantly American Indian patient population. I also hope to conduct community-based clinical research that will positively influence the health care of the Indian community. CHA was my first choice for residency because of the Alliance's commitment to equal access to care and the residency program's commitment to primary care medicine.

Zarpash Babar
West Virginia University

Zarpash was born in New York City. She completed degrees in Biology and Psychology from the University of Charleston in West Virginia, where she started a student Amnesty International chapter. Zarpash attended the West Virginia University School of Medicine, continuing her interest and leadership in human rights by founding a student chapter of Physicians for Human Rights. She is currently completing a preliminary surgery internship in Charleston, and has recently decided to pursue training in internal medicine. Her hobbies include reading, international travel, and rowing. Zarpash is fluent in Pushto and Urdu.

Michael Hochman
Harvard Medical School

Jude Koomson
University of Ghana

I was born in Ghana and received my undergraduate degree and attended medical school at the University of Ghana, where I participated extensively in community service projects. Following medical school, I went on to complete several years of house officer training in Ghana and in Ireland. I have a Masters Degree in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health and my hobbies include tennis, soccer, and reading about African history.

Scott Malkin
Flinders University School of Medicine, South Australia

I lived in Southern California and studied Anthropology and Biochemistry at UC San Diego. After college I worked in research and development before studying medicine at Flinders University of South Australia. Prior to starting my training in Internal Medicine at Cambridge Hospital, I did an internship in Family Medicine. I interviewed at Cambridge Hospital while contemplating switching training programs. By the end of my interview day I knew that Cambridge Health Alliance was where I wanted to be. It offers an ideal environment to learn medicine that parallels my medical school education experience. This includes an innovative third-year Medical School clerkship with its emphasis on longitudinal care that mirrors the novel clinical education at my medical school as well as problem-based and evidence-based didactics. There is excellent training in primary care with abundant opportunities to experience subspecialty electives at other Harvard-affiliated hospitals. I look forward to continuing my training here and learning more from our diverse patient population. I am also enjoying exploring all that Cambridge, Boston and New England have to offer.

I was born and raised in Brazil, but my family is all of Italian descent. This combination created a curiosity in different cultures beginning when I was quite young. After getting a masters degree in philosophy, I went to the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil for my medical training. After residency, I did 2 years of Endocrine Fellowship. I developed a fascination with the medical and social consequences of diabetes and so I came to the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston for a clinical fellowship in 2001, and spent 3 years doing research on obesity, adipose tissue and insulin resistance. I ended up meeting my husband during a noon conference, and here I am! I enjoy the diverse patient population served by the Cambridge Hospital, in particular the Brazilian immigrants. The physician and nursing staff are sensitive to cultural issues and do an excellent job providing health care to a population in great need.

Daniele Rohne
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

Daniela was born in Germany. She studied Russian literature and language at Smith College, and then worked as a volunteer on an AIDS project in India for six weeks and as a laboratory researcher at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for several years prior to entering medical school at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. Daniela received her MPH degree in May 2006 from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Daniela's hobbies include international backpacking, ballroom dancing, and travel photography. She is fluent in German and Russian.

Tai Temple
University of Hawaii School of Medicine

Aloha! I'm Tai Temple from Hawaii and a senior this year. I plan to be a career hospitalist in a community hospital. As a mother of a 2 ½ year old little guy I am extremely interested in balancing work and personal life. The people at CHA are very family friendly and live up to their belief that part of training should focus on how to manage the stress and demands of work while still nurturing outside interests and relationships. We really help each other out, electives are very free-formed and inventive. I went back home to Hawaii for a month to work in Ho'ola- a wellness program for people dealing with cancer. CHA prepares you well for real life medicine in the community- you know your consultant attendings because you work with them daily. There are no fellows so the housestaff run the service and this creates a dynamic learning environment. In addition, we have a wonderful multidiscipline approach that incorporates social work, physical therapy, nursing, and case management to find safe and effective transfer of care and support services when our patients leave the hospital. Finally, the Boston-Cambridge area is a great place to live and work- whether you want the city sophistication of Boston, the funkiness of Cambridge or the tree-lined world of suburbia you can make it work!

Rebecca Sands
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

I grew up in northwestern Pennsylvania and attended college at Franklin & Marshall College graduating with a degree in Chemistry. After college, I spent time working in biochemistry research at the National University of Singapore and after returning to the US taught 2nd grade in New Hampshire. I felt that a career in medicine was the most effective way for me to do something meaningful in other people's lives. I chose to go to osteopathic medical school in Chicago and was fortunate enough to rotate at large public hospitals such as Cook County where I was able to see first hand the extreme need of underserved populations. I also spent time in Mumbai, India during medical school. I was immediately attracted to Cambridge Health Alliance because it combines my interests of public and community health with a strong academic teaching program and a nurturing environment in which to learn. During my second year of residency I published an article in Community Oncology regarding cancer screening in underserved populations. (http://www.communityoncology.net/journal/abstracts/0507416.html)
Outside of the hospital, I enjoy going to cultural and musical events, exercising, and spending time with my husband.

Charlotte Atiemo
University of Virginia

I was born in Washington, DC and graduated from the University of Maryland College Park with a degree in physiology/neurobiology.After graduating college, I began my medical studies at the University Of Virginia School Of Medicine. While in school, I became interested in looking at medicine not just through a scientific approach, but in examining the relationship between health and the social world. My newfound interest spurred me to help bring forth an unprecedented student-led community health fair targeted at the underserved areas surrounding Charlottesville, Virginia. I later went on to produce and direct a documentary entitled "Access to Healthcare", which examined the need for healthcare within Southwest Virginia. I am very excited about the program here at Cambridge Health Alliance and enjoy being part of such a great community.

Arshiya Chhatwal
Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, India

After volunteering with the Red Cross to help with the emotional and physical devastation caused by a major earthquake in India, I was introduced to the life of a health care provider. Two years later I entered medical school and continued to volunteer my time with adults and children living in the nearby slums. With the best practices and systems knowledge gained in my training, I hope to improve the system in India with backing from one or more non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Cassie Frank
University of Illinois

I was born in Detroit and graduated from the University of Michigan. I then went on to earn a Masters in Public Health from Emory University and a medical degree is from the University of Illinois, Chicago - College of Medicine. Before medical school I worked as a high school science teacher on Chicago's South Side. I have also worked for the Frontier Nursing Service in Appalachia and for the Public Health Service on the Navajo Nation. I have studied health in Ecuador, Mexico, and Cuba.

Eirini Iliaki
University of Crete, Greece

I was born in Greece and attended the University of Crete Medical School. After graduating, I came to the US to conduct research in the Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary and completed a preliminary medicine internship at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center. I then went on to earn a Masters in Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health. While there, I worked on international and domestic projects with the HSPH and the World Bank. I am fluent in Greek and am currently learning Portuguese. My hobbies include running, cooking and theater.

Florian Koci
University DiRoma, Italy

I was born in Tirana, Albania. A s a teenager, I took part in professional chess competitions. Later, I attended Medical School at the University of Tirana, Albania, but graduated from the medical school of the University of “Tor Vergata” in Rome, Italy. I immigrated to the Boston area in 1996, where I worked for several years providing direct patient care as a registered respiratory therapist at the CHA Somerville Hospital campus and Massachusetts General Hospital. Throughout my career in healthcare I have been part of a minority community, and I have developed an active interest in facilitating medical care for underserved minority populations. Therefore, Cambridge Health Alliance, with its well-established reputation for providing the best quality of care to a wide variety of minority communities, is the ideal environment for me to pursue training in Internal Medicine. My experience so far has definitely exceeded my expectations, especially with regard to the faculty's dedication to resident education. Outside of work, I love playing with my two boys. My hobbies include soccer and chess. I am fluent in English, Albanian and Italian.

Arun Mohan
Emory University

I was born in Chicago and graduated from Swarthmore College, where I was Editor of the school newspaper. I then attended Emory University School of Medicine and at the same time, completed an MBA with a concentration in Leadership. I also co-founded "Health Students Taking Action Together", a student-led organization that seeks to increase collaboration and civic engagement among students in Georgia. My hobbies include cooking and basketball.

Carmen P. Mohan
Emory University

I am a graduate of the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. I came to CHA because I believe that primary care physicians play a critical role in reducing health disparities. To promote access to health care, I serve on the Board of Directors of the Community Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH), which is working to increase civic engagement of health professionals. I have also served on the board of directors for several nonprofit organizations including Health Students Taking Action Together, Inc (Atlanta, GA), and The Third Wave Foundation (New York, NY). I received a Bachelor of Science in Biological Resource Engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park, and after college completed the Jane Addams-Andrew Carnegie Fellow at the Center on Philanthropy in Indianapolis, IN.

Tejpreet Kaur Nakai
NY College of Osteopathic Medicine

Born and raised in the culturally rich settings of New York City and Long Island, I completed a combined Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program at the New York Institute of Technology and New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. My family and diverse community surrounded me with examples of service, humility, and compassion; medicine seemed to be the most natural outlet for returning these teachings to all those who helped raise me. The Internal Medicine Program at The Cambridge Hospital provides a range of opportunities in a supportive and friendly environment of like-minded and spirited residents and faculty. During the last year I have worked with Dr. Robert Marlin and our Victims of Violence Program to help my clinic patients through the process of seeking asylum and with Dr. Prudence Lam to evaluate cancer health disparities and promote breast cancer screening within the Boston-area African immigrant population. Our Program Directors are our greatest asset; they support each resident in fully developing and exploring his individual interests and career goals. I am fortunate to be training at a progressive program that is both academically challenging and devoted to the welfare of its patients and broader community it serves. I have embraced the community of Cambridge as my own, and I look forward to sharing the principles and values that drove me to become a physician with my community during my phase as a physician-in-training.

Jay Bhatt
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Jay was humbled and honored to serve as the Immediate Past President of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) in 2006-2007. He was the first Osteopathic President in the association's 57 year history. In that position he has been an incredible advocate for the profession and medical students and he continues to realize his lifelong dream of mobilizing a cadre of health professionals who are committed to improving health care and the world around us and advocate for prevention.

Like AMSA, Jay takes his roots from Chicago, IL, where his heart still lies. Jay was an undergraduate at the University of Chicago majoring in Economics, earned a Masters in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. But he has traveled extensively both domestically and abroad to promote health and well being while empowering local communities to take charge of their lives, including a trip to El Salvador with Patch Adams to build a health clinic for the underserved. Jay served on the Board of Physicians for a National Health Program, and currently serves on the Board of Justice Speaks, and the Governing Council of the American Public Health Association while working with students to help them become active in the issues that affect their profession, health equity, conflict of interest, public health, students, and patients. Jay has been active in engaging others in state, federal campaigns and Presidential elections. Most recently this has been as a co-founder of South Asians for Obama and National Outreach Director for Doctors for Obama. Last November, Jay was honored with a prestigious award from the American Public Health Association (APHA), the Jay Drotman Memorial Award recognizing his work in challenging the public health issues of our time.

Jay has long promoted the integration of public health, public policy, and activism in medical training. His own career includes receiving a Masters in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago, stints with well-known health care consulting firms including the Lewin Group and Mercer Consulting Group, and time on Capitol Hill in the Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain Trust with Congresswoman Donna Christensen, MD (D-VI). He also has the distinction of being a National Health Service Corps Scholar, and has committed to working in medically underserved areas after completing his medical training. He has led numerous community organizing projects around access to care, HIV/AIDS, and elections. He currently serves as an advisor to the Roosevelt Institute, the nation's first student policy think tank along with working for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement on their health professions education collaborative on patient safety and healthcare quality. He has contributed to his community through AIDS fundraisers, the Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago and Habitat for Humanity. His peers have praised his work on behalf of many public health causes, including universal health coverage, underserved, poverty and HIV/AIDS awareness.

Jay wishes to bring sustained growth, passion, and most importantly, FUN to each and every future healthcare professional he comes in contact with! Jay is pursuing a Primary Care Internal Medicine residency program at the Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School in which he can continue his mission of developing physician leaders in social justice and advocacy, practice prevention, take care of the underserved, and move public policy. I came to CHA because of my desire to train in a public hospital that stands behind its mission, interaction with a diverse population for clinical training, its amazing people and the community, and opportunities for engaging in important public health and policy issues with dynamic faculty.

Kristy Cahill
University of Massachusetts

Kristy was born locally in Stoneham. She studied biochemistry at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she participated in research on the mechanism of neurologic damage caused by Ecstasy. While attending the University of Massachusetts Medical School, she has been active as a peer tutor and also volunteered in a free clinic and soup kitchen. Throughout college and medical school, she worked as an ophthalmic technician. Kristy is recently married (congratulations!). Her hobbies take her to the outdoors and include jogging, hiking, basketball, and softball

Malgorzata Dawiskiba
Tufts University School of Medicine

I was originally born in Poland but by the age of 2 we had transplanted to the United States and a few years after that my family relocated again and landed in the Virgin Islands. I enjoyed growing up there and then transitioned to Boston for college, originally studying Biopsychology at Tufts and Fine Arts at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. I graduated and went on to spend some more time in the area working with amazing people through AmeriCorps in the afterschool system in the boston area. I finally made it back to school after a couple years, and found myself at Tufts again studying medicine. During my time there I was lucky enough to be able to participate in an HIV and nutrition project that brought me to India twice. Living in a tiny village near a rural clinic for 6 months was definitely one of my most enlightening experiences. I've grown to love Boston over the years that I've spent here and enjoy being able to take advantage of all that it has to offer… the advantages of a city with the warmth of a small town, beautiful beaches, parks and mountains only a short drive away. The city of Cambridge is incredibly special in itself and I'm so glad I've had a chance to stay and become a part of this community. The diversity of the patient population reflects so well on the diversity of the city as a whole.

Carole Demosthene
U. Autonoma Metropolitana, Mexico

Carole was born and raised in Mexico City. She received her undergraduate degree in biology from the Universidad del Sagrado Corazon, San Juan, Puerto Rico and attended medical school at the Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Mexico. During medical school, she participated extensively in community-based research, presenting work at several international meetings of a WHO-affiliated non-governmental organization, "The Network: Toward Unity for Health." Her hobbies include piano playing, chorus singing, reading, and running. Carole is fluent in Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole.

Shonali Saha
Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Born in St. Louis, I spent my adult life in New York City. I majored in African American Studies at Columbia University with an emphasis on The War on Drugs and its impact on Black families. After college, I trained as a yoga instructor and health supportive chef, working briefly in yoga studios and kitchens. Before medical school, I also worked as and HIV/AIDS and substance abuse/harm reduction counselor and trainer both in New York and India. During medical school my interests devloped in community based participatory research and adolescent medicine. I love being at CHA, because it is in alignment wtih me as a person who is passionate about universal health access, cultural competency, and other aspects of social medicine. My collegues have all done and continue to do very interesting things in and out of medicine while being fun and supportive people to work and hang out with. The faculty also supports us in our work and educates us well. Being is such a healthy environment allows me to both enjoy my work and grow as a physician.

Margaret Seater
University of North Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Margaret was born in Evanston, Illinois. She received her undergraduate degree in general science and chemistry from Grinnell College in Indiana where she was recognized as NCAA Academic All-Conference as a member of the Grinnell College Women's golf team. Prior to medical school, Margaret worked for two years as a laboratory technologist. She conducted community-based HIV research while studying for a Masters degree from the University of North Texas Health Science Center-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she will also receive her DO degree this Spring. Margaret's hobbies include reading, golf, and travel.

Kinna Thakarar
Phildelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

I was born in Pennsylvania and graduated with a degree in Health and Societies from the University of Pennsylvania. During college, I studied abroad in East Africa, which is where my parents were born, and this experience strengthened my interest in international health. I attended the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), which gave me a great foundation in primary care. During medical school, I returned to Tanzania to work for an organization that focused on malaria and HIV prevention. Between my third and fourth years of medical school, I took a year off to pursue a Masters in Public Health degree at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, where I studied Comparative Health Systems and Policies. While in Baltimore, I worked at the Infection Control department, which was also a great experience. In my free time, I enjoy playing racquetball, golf (not that I'm necessarily good at golf, but I'm trying), reading, and traveling. I am excited to be part of the Cambridge Health Alliance, particularly because of CHA's commitment to social justice and community health.

Kurt Velguth
University of Colorado School of Medicine

Kurt was born in Santa Monica, California. He received his undergraduate and Masters degrees in civil engineering from Stanford University. He then worked for a number of years as an energy efficiency engineer. During this time, he volunteered on a rape crisis hotline and as a peer educator for high school youth. Kurt then returned to complete pre-medical coursework at the University of Colorado, where he ultimately attended medical school. During medical school, Kurt volunteered with the Denver homeless population and also traveled to Rwanda and Ecuador. An avid mountain climber, Kurt also has played competitive soccer and ultimate Frisbee. He was a working knowledge of Spanish.