Sarah Al-Najar, MD, MS
Hometown: Aurora, CO
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Where Did You Attend College? Colorado State University
Hobbies/Interests: I love running and working out! Always down to try a new fitness class. I also love playing in social sports leagues in the city when I have the time. Aside from physical stuff, I love to read, travel, try different restaurants and especially breweries around Mass, and I love game nights/trivia with friends!
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: I love the Commons; I spent a lot of time walking through there while I was at Tufts. I also love walking through Beacon Hill because of the awesome architecture. I currently live in Somerville so I spend a lot of time in the Cambridge/Somerville area, which is all great. Definitely check out some of the squares -- MIT/Kendall, Central, Harvard, Porter, and Davis. There are lots of cool restaurants, bars, and shops to check out at each of them!
Why BIDMC? It's hard to explain why I chose BIDMC because a lot of my selection came down to the intangibles. I got a really good gut feeling on my interview day and I felt totally at ease the whole day, which was a big sign for me. I also felt like the department was really invested in each of its residents -- it seemed like they were there to foster our interests and make sure that whatever path we wanted our careers to take was open to us here. The biggest strength of the program for me is my resident class. We get along so well and it already feels like a supportive family, as cheesy as that sounds.
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: I'm mostly unsure but I do think I want to do fellowship. I'm thinking either OB (because I have a strong interest in reproductive health policy) or regional pain!
Douglas Barnes, MD, MS
Hometown: Concord, MA
Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
Where Did You Attend College? Boston College
Hobbies/Interests: I love skiing, hiking, camping, watching the New England Patriots, and doing anything outside with my wife and one-year-old son!
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: For great food you can't go wrong with anywhere in the North End, although if I had to name a favorite I'd say Monica's. I also love the huge selection of local breweries, especially the pop-up locations they set up in the summer. Finally, I'd be hard-pressed to think of a better time than playing volleyball with friends on Carson Beach in South Boston.
Why BIDMC? I chose to apply to BIDMC for residency because of its reputation for producing outstanding clinicians and medical research, and because I love the city of Boston. I knew BIDMC was the right choice when every resident I met at the dinner and on interview day seemed genuinely happy with his or her decision.
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: I'm interested in critical care medicine.
James Burns, MD, MS
Hometown: Landenberg, PA
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Where Did You Attend College? George Mason University
Hobbies/Interests: Running, working out, coffee, scuba diving
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: Yard House, running along the Charles, Arb, Citizen's Public House
Why BIDMC? The program felt like a family to me during my interview experience. Both the faculty and residents I met were very easy to talk to. Strong leadership is another strength I saw with the program.
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: I'm hoping to learn more about pain medicine and regional block techniques.
Bahinah Callahan, MD
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
Where Did You Attend College? University of the Incarnate Word
Hobbies/Interests: A few of my favorite activities outside the hospital are biking, gardening, cooking, hiking, and exploring new restaurants.
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: Boston is a city with proximity to many outdoor activities! I love hiking at the Blue Hills, relaxing at the Arnold Arboretum, or grabbing a craft beer at a local brewery.
Why BIDMC? BIDMC's biggest strength is its investment in the educational and professional development of its residents. As a medical student, I was able to attend the ASA annual meeting, which held a medical student clinical skills workshop at BIDMC. I was immediately impressed by how every resident and attending I met was caring, down-to-earth, and invested in teaching. This camaraderie was echoed during my interview, which solidified my decision to choose BIDMC.
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: Chronic pain fellowship
Jonathan Hauptfeld, MD, Chief Resident
Hometown: Berlin, CT
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Where Did You Attend College? Muhlenberg College
Hobbies/Interests: Running, international travel, muay thai, cooking, hiking/backpacking
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: Fenway Park, Charles River Esplanade
Why BIDMC? I chose Beth Israel Deaconess as my #1 residency choice for a few reasons:
- Boston is an incredible city
- Having all of the resources affiliated with Harvard available to you
- Attending a mid-sized program lends the opportunity to develop close professional and personal bonds between and within classes
- Quality of simulation center and exposure to a wide variety of clinical cases on the wards
- Availability and quality of fellowships within Beth Israel and at nearby institutions
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: At this point I'm interested in pursuing a fellowship in pain medicine or pediatrics, I know I'll have exceptional exposure to both subspecialties at BIDMC and this was one of the reasons I ranked it so highly.
Joanna Kabuye, MD
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Where Did You Attend College? University of Notre Dame
Hobbies/Interests: Piano, guitar, musical composition, cooking, tennis, hiking, conservation, marine life, safari enthusiast, and global health.
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: Boston Public Gardens, Boston Harborwalk, Charles river path for running, and Quincy Market.
Why BIDMC? The program stood out and offered several unique strengths. I truly enjoyed hearing about the dynamic nature of the program, and its ability to adapt in order to meet the individual interests of each of its residents. I have a strong interest in global health, and the program offered numerous service and education based global health initiatives. The level of exposure across the curriculum is truly comprehensive, with ample opportunity to observe a variety of complex cases early on, allowing residents to easily meet ACGME case requirements. This, in addition to the program's strong commitment to resident education, academic excellence, and patient safety, truly impressed me.
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: So far I have enjoyed all of the clinical aspects of anesthesia that I have been exposed to. I am yet to decide which specific area I want to specialize in.
Sara Khundkar, MD
Hometown: Harrisburg, PA
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Where Did You Attend College? Gettysburg College
Hobbies/Interests: Coffee shop exploring, gardening, and golfing!
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: Coolidge Corner, Jamaica Pond, and the Arnold Arboretum!
Why BIDMC? Fantastic clinical experiences, an abundance of global health opportunities, and the supportive team dynamic amongst the residents and leadership
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: Global health and medical innovation in anesthesia
Christopher Kim, MD
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Where Did You Attend College? The College of New Jersey
Hobbies/Interests: Tennis, piano, karaoke singing, baseball, exploring new restaurants and trying out new cuisines
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: Still have to figure this out, but likely Fenway Park will be one of them (baseball)!
Why BIDMC? I felt that first and foremost the environment was very cohesive and felt strong support amongst all the residents on my interview day. Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Neves clearly seemed like amazing, supportive PD and APDs who would really bat for the residents. In the end all the top programs provide a similar training experience, so I was really looking for a warm environment to be in. In-house fellowships are undoubtedly strong, and it seemed like residents always got their top choice of fellowships if they chose to pursue one.
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: I'm leaning towards cardiac anesthesia/transplant (liver) anesthesia, or chronic/interventional pain management. I've found invasive hemodynamic monitoring/aggressive management and the active thinking process behind cardiac/liver transplant anesthesiology truly interesting. On the other hand I'm equally drawn to pain management, especially for the long-term relationships with patients and the ability to drastically change patients' quality of life.
Sravya Madabhushi, MD, MBA
Hometown: Western MA
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Where Did You Attend College? Boston University
Hobbies/Interests: Anime, books, tea, museums, ancient civilizations, wandering around Boston, being outside, and signing up my friends for random activities on Groupon with me
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Gardner Museum, sunsets on Memorial Drive, Chinatown, The Esplanade, and Newbury Street
Why BIDMC? Excellent teaching, supportive environment, and faculty that can help me explore career interests
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: Unsure what my specific clinical interests are, but excited to have the opportunity to explore the world of anesthesia over the next few years.
Parker Merrill, MD
Hometown: Brunswick, ME
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Where Did You Attend College? University of Virginia
Hobbies/Interests: Skiing, boating, volleyball, spikeball, reading, and computer games
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: Coolidge Corner, Lolita's, and House of Blues!
Why BIDMC? Approachable faculty, friendly staff, excellent support and resources at our disposal, and great location in Boston!
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: I am interested in cardiac anesthesia, as well as critical care medicine.
Heba Naseem, MBBS
Hometown: New Delhi, India
Medical School: Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College
Where Did You Attend College? Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE University, India
Hobbies/Interests: Painting, graphite sketching and am addicted to bookstores. Ecstatic upon finding cafés with character but am an ardent consumer of tea. Never pass a chance to attend or participate in a debate. Enjoy watching stand ups with a political disposition, always interested in international and national politics. Oh and love reptiles!
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: Haven't had the chance to explore Boston except for an excellent yet short trip to the Museum of Fine Arts.
Why BIDMC? BIDMC encompassed excellent clinical training and mentorship integrated with research. As I intend to become a physician scientist this program was the perfect choice for me.
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: Cardiothoracic anesthesia
Chinonso Nduaguba, MD
Hometown: Boston, MA
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Where Did You Attend College? Tufts University
Hobbies/Interests: Soccer, biking, cooking, traveling, salsa dancing
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: Jamaica Pond, Esplanade, Davis Square, Seaport District, Spectacle Island
Why BIDMC? I chose BI because of the emphasis on resident well-being. I am excited to have the opportunity to train at a program that is close to home and where I'll be supported to pursue my academic and clinical interests.
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: Critical care, regional anesthesia, global health
Kimberly Ona Ayala, MD
Hometown: Centreville, VA
Medical School: Yale School of Medicine
Where Did You Attend College? Pomona College
Hobbies/Interests: I like running and cycling both indoors and outdoors! I ran cross country in high school and college, but picked up cycling in medical school and am really enjoying it. I also like to do pilates, yoga, and spend time outdoors.
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: I haven't moved to Boston yet but I'm excited to explore all that the city has to offer!
Why BIDMC? I loved my interview experience! The residents were amazing and the learning opportunities seemed to be unparalleled.
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: I'm interested in pain but am keeping a very open mind given that I haven't had much clinical anesthesia experience yet!
Edgar Remotti, MD, Chief Resident
Hometown: Dobbs Ferry, NY
Medical School: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Where Did You Attend College? Boston University
Hobbies/Interests: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu/MMA, playing guitar, heavy metal concerts, and videogames
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: I love that Boston is a walkable city. You’ll often find me at the Esplanade, Boston Public Garden, or at Fresh Pond. I’m a big foodie, but if I had to pick my favorite local spot to eat, I have to give it to Happy Lamb Hot Pot in Cambridge.
Why BIDMC? The vibe that I got during my interview day really made the BIDMC stand out to me. I felt a great sense of camaraderie and collegiality between the residents and faculty. The BIDMC has a strong reputation, both academically and clinically; however, the Arnold-Warfield Pain Center really sold me on the program. Finally, I’ve considered Boston my home for the past 10 years, so I was excited at the prospect of coming back!
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: Healthcare Administration, Pain Management, Medical Education
Christopher Robinson, MD, PhD
Hometown: El Paso, TX
Medical School: Weill Cornell Medicine
Where Did You Attend College? Georgetown University
Hobbies/Interests: Traveling
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: Don't have any yet.We'll find out!
Why BIDMC? Strong pain program
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: Pain
Krist Tase, MD
Hometown: Corinth, Greece
Medical School: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Where Did You Attend College? Cornell University
Hobbies/Interests: I am big on the outdoors especially hiking and rock climbing. New England is the perfect place for that! I like going swimming and playing soccer with friends. Going to soccer games (or technically football as it should be called here in the US) when I get a chance. Bit of an amateur skier as I started skiing about 3 years ago. I am big on music festivals, especially EDM ones. A ton of great EDM artists have been coming to Boston the past few years, which is awesome! Lastly can’t wait to travel around the world again!
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: A couple of my favorite places around Boston include the North End (great Italian food and gelato), the Esplanade where you can walk along the Charles River, and the Harpoon Brewery, which organizes the legendary Harpoonfest every spring!
Why BIDMC? I chose BIDMC for my anesthesiology residency because from the moment I walked in on my interview day, everyone was friendly and warm. All the faculty I interviewed with valued education both for the residents but also the medical students and the greater community. BIDMC is a leader in Anesthesiology training with world class faculty. The ultrasound program is top notch. Could not be happier to match here!
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: I am interested in pediatric anesthesia and critical care!
Stephen Woloszynek, MD, PhD
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Where Did You Attend College? Drexel University
Hobbies/Interests: Music/concerts, baking/cooking, film, basketball/NBA, sneakers, restauranting, running
Why BIDMC? Research, sim center, hospital affiliations, location
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: Pediatrics, research
Evan Zhang, MD, Chief Resident
Hometown: Newton, MA
Medical School: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Where Did You Attend College? Dartmouth College
Hobbies/Interests: In my spare time I try to prioritize my fitness interests, which includes boxing, cycling, and weightlifting. I also enjoy playing games of all sorts, including video games, board games, and competitive card games.
Favorite Hangout Place(s) in Boston: Time Out Market Boston, Earl’s at the Prudential Center, the Hot Pot Buffet at Chinatown, and pretty much any of the small restaurants/food courts in the Allston area
Why BIDMC? BIDMC was #1 on my list going into ERAS because I had done an away rotation in the SICU during my 4th year of medical school. Literally every person I worked with during my month there was fantastic and made me feel welcomed right away. The teaching environment was extremely collegial and organized. There just really seemed to be a strong emphasis on medical education, wellness, and community.
Specific Interests in Anesthesia: I really like how versatile and diverse the different fellowship options in anesthesia are. I enjoyed my critical care experiences the most coming into residency, but I also enjoyed my chronic pain rotation, which is totally different. I haven’t had much exposure to cardiac anesthesia yet and am looking forward to learning more about that.