Amanda Caifano, MD

Undergraduate: SUNY Geneseo
Medical School: Ponce Health Sciences University
Academic Interests: Primary Care, Preventive Medicine, Geriatrics, Adolescent Medicine
Plans: Learn as much as I can during residency while enjoying myself along the way!

About Me: Originally from Rochester, NY I traded the lake effect snow for tropical sunshine when I moved to Puerto Rico for medical school. I have absolutely loved my time in PR and will definitely miss the year-long summer and endless beach days, but I am excited to move back to upstate NY and be close to my family and enjoy the changing seasons again. I’m very active and enjoy going to the gym to lift weights and do group exercise classes, and also love to hike and bike outside whenever the weather permits. I have two fur babies that I adopted in Puerto Rico that I like to take on outdoor adventures with me

Michael Hartnett, MD

Undergraduate: SUNY Geneseo
Medical School: SUNY Upstate
Academic Interests: Hematology/Oncology, Quality Improvement, Medical Education, Care for Underserved Populations, Career Plans: Considering Pediatric or AYA Heme/Onc. 

About Me: I grew up in Massena, New York for the first ten years of my life before moving south to Syracuse. From there I went to undergrad SUNY Geneseo, where I majored in biochemistry and researched ants in Belize. Between undergrad and medical school I served with Rochester AmeriCorps in the Rochester City school district, volunteered with a free clinic in Syracuse, and worked as an MCAT tutor. Outside of work I try to stay active whether it’s running, skiing, or playing basketball. To relax you can usually find me reading a long magazine article, playing guitar, or trying to cook something new. I’m looking forward to continuing to explore Upstate New York and the capital region at Albany Med!

Anh Nguyen, MD

Undergraduate: University of California, Irvine
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
Academic Interests: Hospitalist Medicine, Medical Education
Plans: To learn as much as I can and feel confident in my decisions as a physician! But also to enjoy being in a new place, meeting new people, and making memorable experiences during my residencyp

About Me: Me: Hello~ I’m originally from the OC, California, so I guess you can say I’ve been spoiled when it comes to food and drinks (i.e. boba); that’s why I want to look for all the good eats wherever I go! As a UCI undergrad, I did the quintessential thing where I joined a modern dance team, and was really glad to be able to continue dance in medical school with the school’s annual production, DocOpera. I have a cat named Meatball who I’ve fostered since she was only a week old, and she likes to play fetch with rolled-up trashbags. In my spare time I love to dance, work out, go on hikes, bake, crochet, write in my bullet journal, and hang out with friends. But on lazy days I’m also perfectly fine laying in bed and watching a Korean drama or reading comics on Webtoon 🙂

Carly Feuerstein-Simon, MD

Undergraduate: University of Rochester
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Academic Interests: Med-Peds Primary Care, Adolescent Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology
Plans: Learn a lot, work hard and have fun!

About Me: A native Upstate New Yorker, I grew up in Syracuse and have never lived outside Upstate, NY other than one year before medical school when I worked as a nanny in New York City. I am really looking forward to exploring all that Albany has to offer, though I will miss my family dogs, Noodle and Ginsburg immensely! In my free time, I love to spend time with animals, enjoy the outdoors and travel.

Max Deng, MD

Undergraduate: Stanford University
Graduate: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health 
Medical School: UMASS Chan School of Medicine
Academic Interests:  Health policy, health economics, health systems science, primary care, chronic diseases, electronic health records (yes, really)

Plans: Learning as much as I can about primary care, especially transitional care, and finding chances to improve the healthcare system one small step at a time

About Me: Born and raised in Los Angeles, I took a little detour as a programmer in San Francisco before moving out east. After finishing a master’s and medical degree in Massachusetts, I think I’m finally getting the hang of having seasons. I’m always happy to geek out about comic books, sci-fi and fantasy books, board games, and video games. I also have a deep love for craft beers, pourover coffee, and rescue dogs!

Eshan Kaul, MD

Undergraduate: Rutgers University
Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Academic Interests: Medicine, Pediatrics, Medical Education, Interprofessional Education, Team-Based Care, Healthcare Disparities,  Hospitalist Medicine
Plans: 1. Create plan for future (note to self: resources available) 2. Write a list on how to develop said plan. 3. Execute said plan. 4. Bask in the enjoyment of completing said list and plan

About Me: After being a Jersey boy my entire life, I’m excited to take my talents up north and join Albany Med! I already feel a part of the Med-Peds family here, and I can’t wait to spend the next four years growing and exploring alongside my Med-Peds crew. Outside of medicine, you’ll find me hanging out with friends and family, watching football (Chiefs fan, but I promise I’m not a bandwagoner), crying about football (no, I promise this time it’s Rutgers’s year), and overanalyzing Taylor Swift albums. In the future, I look forward to combining my medical, med-ed, and healthcare disparities interests!  

Francisco Lasso Claudio, MD

Undergraduate: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Pedras Campus
Medical School: Ponce Health Sciences University
Academic Interests: Community outreach, Adult/Pediatric Gastroenterology or Critical Care, Natural Disaster Relief
Plans: Work hard, play harder, sleep hardest.

About Me: Born on Puerto Rican beaches but raised in a Colombian culture. I have many hobbies such as playing the violin, soccer, wine and cheese, cycling, gaming, and going to the movies but my favorite hobby is to sleep!! I am planning on getting a pup during residency, so pray for me or help me hahaha. In my free time you can find me exploring downtown Albany and its parks or might just stay playing videos games! I’m extremely happy to have matched in such an amazing program with so many inspiring and supportive people. Fun fact about me: I am the fastest speed-walker you’ll ever meet. Last but not least, I am always fashionably late!

Rebecca McDonald, DO

Undergraduate: Austin College
Medical School: UNTHSC Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Academic Interests: Palliative care, critical care, healthcare systems
Plans: Undecided! Maybe combined palliative care? Maybe critical care? Maybe hospitalist?

About Me: I have always felt a strong connection to New York as I was born at Albany Medical Center! Even though I moved away from Albany when I was four, I have thought about returning basically my whole life. I grew up mostly in Texas, so I am very fond of the Lone Star State, but I am excited to start my new life here. I am looking forward to exploring all the beautiful nature surrounding Albany! I enjoy hiking, movies, reading, and good bottle of wine. I’m also happy to be closer to family in the NE and look forward to spending time with loved ones. I love our med-peds program already and feel so grateful to be here.

Bozell, Hannah

Hannah Bozell, MD

Undergraduate: Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Primary Care, Pulm Crit, Health Disparities, Patient Education
Plans: Work hard, learn a lot, figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life, and make some friends along then

About Me: This is my first time in the northeast! I grew up in South Bend, Indiana then moved down to Indianapolis for undergrad and medical school. You can catch me rotating through hobbies like crotchet, weightlifting, modding mechanical keyboards, making music, baking, and scrapbooking. I’m always down to try new restaurants, go on a hike, and kayak. Excited to see all that Upstate New York has to offer!

Jennifer Gillin, MD

Undergraduate: Lycoming College
Medical School: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Primary Care, Complex Care
Plans: Learn as much as I can and hike as many new trails as I can in 4 years

About Me: I was born and raised in southern New Jersey, but I have called Scranton, PA home for the last 6 years (but have never seen The Office!). I’ve known I wanted to be a doctor since I was 6 years old. As I progressed through medical school, I found I truly enjoyed many of the specialties I rotated through, and thus, Med-Peds was the perfect fit for me! Outside of medicine, I enjoy traveling, hiking with my rescue dog Cece, and skiing. I’m also looking forward to getting involved with therapeutic horseback riding again. I’m so excited to be a part of the AMC Med-Peds family! 

Kennedy, Kiersten

Kiersten Kennedy, MD

Undergraduate: Le Moyne College
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Academic Interests: Quality Improvement, Advocacy and Community Outreach, Research, Medical Education
Plans: Learn and grow as a physician and person, and make friends and memories here in Albany!

About Me: I grew up in Syracuse, NY, and wanted to stay close to home and family while pursuing Med-Peds. I am so happy to have joined Albany Med, and look forward to taking full advantage of the next four years here. In my spare time, I love to paint, crochet, and do all sorts of crafts. I also like to go roller-skating and dancing. I already love the Med-Peds program here and am excited to explore the Albany area!

Brandon Stahl, MD

Undergraduate: University of Miami
Medical School: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Gastroenterology, Nutrition, Endocrinology
Plans:  Golf and play basketball as much as I can!

About Me:  I was born and raised in Eastampton, NJ, a small suburb ~30 minutes from Philly (Go Birds). Music and sports have always played an important role in my life. Whether it was going to see Blink-182 (my favorite band), playing pickup basketball, going to Van’s Warped Tour or playing golf with friends and seeing how many balls I can lose in one round, music and sports have been how I like to relax. I also enjoy going to the gym to pick things up and put them down and watching sports/TV whenever I can! 

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Phylicia Abraham, MD

Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Chicago
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago
Academic Interests: Diversity and inclusion, healing-centered policy work, caring for underserved populations, nutrition
Plans: To grow in my ability to care for my patients and be kind to myself along the way. I also look forward to finding my support system here in Albany!

About Me: I feel very blessed to have grown up in Chicago—so much so that it took me until residency to leave! During my time there, I developed my academic interests through an internship with a health policy group, trauma-informed care research, a self-designed nutrition elective, and an education-centered medical home initiative at an urban federally qualified health center. I look forward to bringing these experiences to Albany and pursuing new opportunities for personal and professional growth. To relax, I like to make lists, journal, dance, work out, eat something sweet, call my loved ones, or laugh too hard at a sitcom 🙂 

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Rachel Bockol, MD

Undergraduate: Susquehanna University
Medical School: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Developmental Medicine, Med-Peds Hospitalist, Advocacy, Critical Care, Global Health
Plans:  Learn as much as possible alongside amazing doctors! Outside of the hospital I hope to keep doing yoga, gyming, reading and spending time with my cat, Squish. 

About Me:  I’m from Lansdale, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia where my high school was bigger than my undergraduate! Then I moved to Central PA for undergraduate at Susquehanna University where I filled my time in the symphonic band, tour guiding and being a resident assistant. I also got the chance to study abroad in Cape Town, South Africa where I had my first taste of global health while experiencing the beauty of Table Mountain. I took a gap year before medical school where I worked at a summer camp for people with developmental disabilities and built amazing lifelong friendships. While I still love adventure, I also enjoy curling up with my cat and a good book. I’m looking forward to exploring all that Albany has to offer and getting as much as I can out of residency! 

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Krishna Madala, MD

Undergraduate: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Quality Improvement, Advocacy and Community Outreach, Research, Medical Education
Plans: Pediatric/Adult Cardiology, Med-Peds Hospitalist, Medical education

About Me: Born and raised in Hyderabad, India but moved to the Northeast with my family since I was in high school. I love the seasons and truly prefer the cold…I’ve done my time in the tropics hahahah.  I am thrilled to have matched at Albany Medical Center and look forward to learning in such a supportive environment. In my free time, I enjoy painting,  binging on Korean dramas, attempting to learn new dishes, spending time with friends/family or trying out new restaurants. 

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Divya Vinod, MD

Undergraduate: University of Cincinnati
Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine
Academic Interests: Med-Peds Hospital Medicine, Quality Improvement, Medical Education, Health Disparities
Plans:  Unsure! But I am hoping to learn a lot, explore Albany, eat some good food, and sleep well until I figure it out!

About Me:  I’m born and raised in Cincinnati, OH, stayed in Cincinnati for undergrad and then moved right up the highway to attend medical school at the Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. As a midwestern girl, I am so excited to move and explore the Northeast for the first time! Some of my interests over the years have included organizing TEDx events in undergrad, working in the Spanish-speaking student-run free clinic in medical school, and participating in quality improvement projects both in the hospital and out in the community. In my free time, I am always hunting for fun spots to eat and good shows to watch! If I have some extra spare time, I love trying anything new – arts/crafts, hikes, games, recipes – you name it, I’ll try it!