Class of 2024
Scott DiFrancesco, DO- Chief Resident
Hometown: Thetford, VT Undergraduate: Ball State University Medical School: NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies: comedy, hiking, snowshoeing, playing golf, watching live sports
EM Interest: yet to be determined
Sara Reed, DO-Chief Resident
Hometown: Azusa, CA Undergraduate: Randolph College Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies: travel, making animals love me, dance, naps, more naps, being a foodie
EM Interests: international medicine, austere medicine, healthcare disparities
Jeid Merritt, MD-Chief Resident
Hometown: Brea, California Undergraduate: University of Greenwich & Kings College London Medical School: Saba University School of Medicine
Hobbies: Currently hiking, cycling, art and violin
EM Interest: Critical Care and Wilderness Medicine
Brittany Stelmar, DO- Chief Resident
Hometown: Moorpark, CA Undergraduate: UCLA
Medical School: Touro COM-NY Hobbies: working out, traveling, going to the beach, trying new restaurants/bars, piano, flute, shopping
EM interest: critical care, pain management, palliative medicine, research
Louis Loiodice, MD
Hometown: Saint James, New York Undergraduate: University at Albany Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Hobbies: Hiking, Working Out, Beach, Dunkin Donuts
EM Interest: Trauma
Michael Lucarelli-Cowles, MD
Hometown: Morgan Hill, Ca Undergraduate: UC Santa Cruz Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Hobbies: Volleyball, Reading, Hiking/camping, Archery, Scuba, Yoga, Everything about dogs, Board games, Learning history, pretzels, and Mexican food!
EM Interest: Education, Ultrasound
Anna Ivanova, MD
Hometown: Home is where you make it. I spent my childhood in Plovdiv, Bulgaria and once I immigrated to the U.S., it has been Denver, Colorado
Undergraduate: University of Colorado, Boulder Colorado
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine Hobbies: Hiking, biking (mountain/road) or riding my motorcycle (happier on two wheels), camping, brewery and coffee shop exploring with my dog (Clyde). Enjoy getting away any chance I get even if its 1-2 hrs away outside the city and just exploring other cities and towns any chance I get.
EM interest: EMS is my main driver for EM. Also considering tactical medicine or being involved with FEMA later in my career
Angel L. Troche Torres, MD
Hometown: San Juan, PR Undergraduate: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus
Medical School: Saba University School of Medicine
Hobbies: Dancing, Drawing, Exploring NYC, Netflix.
EM interest: Ultrasound, Critical Care, Sports Medicine
Class of 2025
Rebecca (Becca) Galer, DO
Undergrad: University of Rochester
Med School: NYIT college of osteopathic medicine
Hobbies: swimming, cooking chicken riggies, travel, my dog
EM interest: Sim and US
Cameron “CJ” Byrd, MD
Hometown: California -> Florida -> North Carolina -> Colorado.
Undergraduate: University of Colorado – Boulder
Medical School: Saba University School of Medicine
Hobbies: Hiking, skiing/snowboarding, slacklining, crocheting, nerding out on LotR and Harry Potter
EM interest: Wilderness medicine
Carina Vigna, MD
Hometown: Calgary, Canada
Undergraduate: University of Calgary
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Hobbies: Running, traveling, scuba diving, playing sports, reading, hiking, skiing, exploring new places
EM Interests: EMS, Disaster Medicine, Trauma, Wilderness Medicine, International medicine
Andreana Jansen-Kripalani, MD
Hometown: San Francisco, CA Undergraduate: Lehigh University Medical School: SABA
Hobbies: Fitness, learning new languages (currently, Dutch), learning how to be a new mom, traveling and healthy cooking.
EM Interests: EMS and trauma
DeJuan Kinchelow, MD
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Undergraduate: TCU
Medical School: Saint James School of Medicine
Hobbies: Anime, video games, CrossFit, rock climbing
EM interest: International medicine, Trauma, US and Med Ed
Alexandra Hassan, DO
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Undergrad: Baptist College of Health Science, BS in biomedical science
Medical School: Touro Harlem
EM interests: Critical care, ultrasound
Hobbies: cooking, baking, canoeing and kayaking with my dog Jasper
Fav things to do in NYC: trying cuisine from all around the world, art galleries (making my way through the met) and comedy shows, lounging at the park for hours, taking jasper to as many dog parks as I can!
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Hersh Wazir, MD
Hometown: my parents currently live in Brampton, Ontario, but I live in the moment
Medical School: All Saints University College of Medicine (now known as Richmond Gabriel University)
Hobbies: weightlifting, rock climbing, gaming, reading, anime-ing
EM interests: International EM, Ultrasound, Trauma
Favorite things to do in Brooklyn: trying new vegan food, lounging at parks, making friends out of strangers
Bayu Sutarjono, MD
Ottawa was once home, until I grew up to stand on my own
Toronto was once home, in the pursuit of knowledge at the University of Toronto
But then I found people who had to flee their homes, running to borders with Doctors Without Borders, to give them a safe place to call home
Inspired, I chose Saba University School of Medicine to be my home while I became a doctor
Now I call Brookdale my home. Family. Neighbors. Strangers. Brooklyn, we welcome you.
Class of 2026
AURIEL BELL, M.D.
Hometown: West Bloomfield, MI
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean SOM
EM Interests: Critical care and Emergency Medical Services
Hobbies: travelling, baking, watching reality TV, hanging out with friends and family.
Favorite Things to Do in NYC: visit the MET museum, wine tours in Montauk, try different cuisines at local restaurants.
SOPHIA BOUZRARA, MBBS
Hometown: home is wherever I am.
Undergraduate School: University of Limerick, Ireland
Medical School: University of Limerick, Ireland
EM Interests: Trauma & International Medicine
Hobbies: ice cream breakfasts, lunches, and dinners; dancing these off; sometimes I read.
Favorite Things to Do in life: Coffee-and-a-podcast walks, open water swimming (it's cold!)
KERRY CLIFTON, M.D.
Hometown: Born in Pretoria, South Africa but most recently from Ottawa, Canada
Undergraduate: St. Francis Xavier University
Medical School: SGU
EM Interests: Disaster Medicine/EMS, International Emergency Medicine
Hobbies: Scuba diving, travel, and anything that involves my dog, Bear.
Favorite things to do in NYC: Daily walks through Prospect Park with my rescue pup, continuing my search for NYC’s best spicy margarita, and concerts, concerts, and more concerts!
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DIANNE DANG, D.O.
Hometown: Orange, CA
Undergraduate: UC Santa Barbara
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
EM Interests: EMS, Disaster Medicine
Hobbies: dancing, baking, traveling, bothering my dog Bowser while he’s sleeping, board games/puzzles, true crime shows
Favorite things to do in NYC: explore museums, restaurants, shopping
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OLIVIA DOMINIQUE, M.D.
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Undergraduate School: CUNY-Brooklyn College
Medical School: SGU
EM Interests: Medical Education, Critical Care
Hobbies: Watching movies/Netflix, travel
Favorite things to do in NYC: Try new restaurants, going for walks in the beautiful parks and trying new activities like painting, candle-making and Beat the Bomb!
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CAREN GARCON, M.D.
Hometown: Spring Valley, New York
Undergraduate: City College of New York
Medical School: CUNY SOM
EM Interests: PEM, Global Health
Hobbies: Anime, Cosplay, Dance, going to the gym
Favorite things to do in NYC: art and history museums, food festivals, zoos
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KRISHNA PATEL, M.D.
Hometown: Bradford, England & Phoenix, AZ
Undergraduate School: UCLA
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean SOM
EM Interests: Critical Care, Ultrasound, Global Health, Disaster Medicine
Hobbies: boxing, hiking, kayaking, watching European football (go Arsenal!) and formula 1
Favorite Things to Do in NYC: eating, finding good boba spots, coffee shops, walking in Central Park, watching sunsets
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MICHELLE WRYNN, D.O.
Hometown: Rockaway, NY
Undergrad: Biology at SUNY Geneseo
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
EM interests: ultrasound, wilderness medicine
Hobbies: running, skiing, yoga, baking, reading (especially fantasy and sci-fi)
Favorite things to do in NYC: exploring museums, spending time at the beach in Rockaway