Meryl Gold, DO

Undergraduate: University of Rochester
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Academic Interests: Applying to Geriatric Fellowship, Hospital Medicine, Clinical Research
Plans: Work hard and learn something every day.

About Me: I grew up outside of Boston and have spent most of my life in the northeast. I enjoy spending time outside, hiking, skiing, kayaking. I like to garden and am always buying new plants for my apartment. I always enjoy spending time with my med-peds family in Albany!

Timothy Hartigan, MD

Undergraduate: Siena College
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Academic Interests: Med-Peds Hospitalist
Plans: Learn more about the world of preventative medicine and the social determinants of health

About Me: I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, which naturally makes me a Bills and Sabres fan, as well as a rare person who actually looks forward to winter every year. Like Brittany, I came to Albany for undergrad and medical school and thought at least 4 more years sounded good (which means I am almost at my decade-in-Albany mark!). I was lucky enough to spend 6 weeks in the Philippines during undergrad and can’t wait to go back someday.

Aruna Phekoo, MD

Undergraduate: Macaulay Honors College at CUNY Queens College
Medical School: Frank H Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Academic Interests: Applying to Nephrology Fellowship, health disparities, medical education, public health advocacy
Plans:  Right now I’m focusing on learning and growing and becoming a well rounded physician.

About Me: I am a native New Yorker, born and raised in Queens, NY. I love the diversity of the Queens, especially the diversity of food! I enjoy learning about different cultures, traveling, hiking, cooking, watching Walker Texas Ranger, and spending time with friends and family.

Omar Merdan, MD

Undergraduate: New Jersey Institute of Technology
Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Academic Interests: Med-Peds Hospitalist Medicine, Adult/Pediatric Gastroenterology, Medical Education
Plans: Figure out all the best places to eat in the area and to become the most well-rounded physician I can be

About Me: Born and raised in New Jersey and spent 8 years in Newark going to college and medical school. I was there my entire life, so I figured why not somewhere new. I chose Albany because I think it has the perfect mix of everything (except maybe the snow). I’m very big into sports, both playing and watching. I used to play rugby in college, but now I’m playing more volleyball, soccer, and racquetball. When I want to relax, you can find me playing board or video games or exploring the area. I am very excited for where the next four years are going to take me, and I don’t think I could have chosen a better place to call my new home!

Ayesha Ropri, MD

Undergraduate: Siena College
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Academic Interests: Med-Peds Hospitalist Medicine, Primary Care, Subspecialty, Health Disparities, Patient and Public Health Advocacy
Plans: Not sure yet!

About Me: I grew up in Albany, NY and after finishing undergrad here, I spent 4 years in Syracuse, NY for medical school. Even though I didn’t venture out far, I knew I wanted to come back near my family and hometown for residency. Outside of medicine, I enjoy hiking and outdoor activities, traveling and discovering new places, eating desserts, indulging in craft teas/bubble teas, and spending time with my family and friends!

Christopher Sangster, MD

Undergraduate: University of California, Berkeley (Go Bears!)
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Academic Interests: Primary Care, Gastroenterologyn
Plans: SURVIVE AND THRIVE and eat lots of steak and salad! But also Primary Care.

About Me: Growing up, my Pediatrician kept telling me that he was going to hire me after college … and then he did! I worked in Peds Primary Care for a few years before applying to medical school, and I did so with the intent of going into Peds. But it turns out I like everything, soooo Med Peds! Hoping to do primary care for all ages. Maybe rural? Maybe telemedicine? Also maybe GI (I was also a GI tech; it’s actually super fun work except when you get put on scope-cleaning duty). I like running and hiking and rowing and skiing and fun.!

Gabriel Solorzano, MD

Undergraduate: St. Joseph’s University
Medical School: West Virginia University
Academic Interests: Pediatric/Adult Cardiology, Pediatric/Adult Heme/Onc, Survivorship, Global Health, Health Disparities
Plans: In residency, I plan to work hard and gain the knowledge and skills to become the best internist and pediatrician that I can be. Outside of the hospital, my goals include completing a marathon and raising a dog to become my running partner.

About Me: I was born and raised in Miami, FL, where the only seasons were summer and hurricane.  When I moved to Philadelphia for college, I was always seen on campus bundled up in a huge winter jacket and scarf.  As I adjusted to the cold, I fell in love with the change of seasons and mountainous terrain of the Northeast. Going to school in West Virginia, I picked up an appreciation for hiking and spending time in the great outdoors. Other fun facts about me are that I am bilingual in both English and Spanish, I ran a half-marathon during my second year of medical school, and I love playing guitar.  I’m excited to be back in the Northeast as a resident physician and be a part of Albany Med’s amazing Med-Peds program!

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.