Meet Our Pathology Residents and Fellows
About Our Residents and Fellows
PGY1
Sierra Amaya (AP/CP)Sierra joined us from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, where she was co-president of Pathos, the MUSC pathology interest group, and was invested in helping others through formal mentoring of both prospective and incoming medical students and participation in a non-profit clinic serving uninsured and underserved populations. Her undergraduate studies in microbiology and internship in public health will surely serve her well in today's medical world. In her downtime, she especially enjoys drawing and painting.
Maureen Dean (AP/CP)Maureen joined us from the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she served as a teaching assistant in osteopathic manipulative medicine and studied a new technology to measure bone strength, bringing together her passion for athletics with her burgeoning medical career. In college, she ran competitively for Ohio University's division one cross country and track & field teams. She has continued to train through medical school and will hopefully be able to mentor us all in healthy work-life balance!.
Melissa Delio (AP/CP)Melissa completed her medical studies at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and returned to her Boston roots to train with us. Melissa has an extensive teaching history covering topics such as osteopathic manipulative medicine, graduate-level histology, and physiology. Her research interests include endothelial cell dysfunction in atherosclerosis and the effects of IL-1beta and IL-6 on lipolysis and insulin signaling in human adipocytes. When relaxing, Melissa enjoys cooking, tennis, and kickboxing.
Christian Hirt (AP/CP)A graduate of Universität Bern Medizinische Fakultät (MD) and the University of Basel (PhD in biomedical engineering), before joining us Christian was a postdoctoral fellow in Zurich, where he used organoid cell lines and CRISPR technology, among other techniques, to develop personalized treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients. His PhD work was in the colorectal cancer tumor microenvironment. In an intermission in his medical training, he joined the Swiss Army, where he underwent extensive leadership training and was responsible for a French-German platoon. As he has skills in six different languages, don't try to keep a secret around him by whispering in another language!
Kirill Karlin (AP/CP)Kirill, a graduate of Universität Zürich Medizinische Fakultät, Switzerland, co-authored PathoMaps, a German textbook in pathology for students and junior pathology residents. He is the cofounder of Asimov Medical, which builds a software solution to assist physicians with diagnoses of rare diseases, and is currently a product manager at January.ai, which is a startup working on metabolomics. Kirill has a background of training in clinical toxicology, is also a polyglot, and in his spare time likes to read medical history and run long distances. Welcome, Kirill!
Katya Merkulova (AP/CP)Katya completed her MD/PhD program at SUNY Downstate, where she authored multiple curricula including a life sciences 101 curriculum implemented in over thirty New York middle schools, a four-week forensic pathology course, a week-long STEM camp (including grant funding to pay for all campers), and a four-year-long extracurricular course on bioethics for medical students. Her PhD work focused on intracellular ATP modulation of the ion channels TRPC4 and TRPC5, and she has also pursued data analysis and guideline development for the evaluation of complex suicides. Dr. Hayne (French horn) hopes someday to play chamber music with Katya (trombone).
Lindsay Nelson (AP/CP)Joining us from the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lindsay is passionate about global health, which she has pursued through both on campus activities including coordinating the global health club, and off campus activities, including a total of thirteen service trips to deliver medical, dental, and surgical care in Haiti, with a nine-month residence there as well. Closer to home, she has served as a Svenskarnas Dag Swedish Ambassador, a six-time summer camp counselor, and as a medical scribe.
Masa Peric (AP/CP)Masa obtained her MD degree from the University of Belgrade, where she was a mentor of young students as part of the pathology interest club. Reflecting her fluency in French, Serbian, and English, Masa has a rich background of work with the United Nations and of organizing the humanitarian services of Rotary International. While pursuing her hobbies of boxing, canoeing, travel, and board games, she impressed everyone on her rotation with us last spring, and we are very excited that she chose to join us for residency.
Marc Rodriguez (AP/CP) Marc completed his MD/MBA at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, where he found time to carry out work in renal pathology, ranging from a case presentation at the CAP 2019 annual meeting to studying machine learning in identification of glomeruli in whole slide imaging. Also at UIC, Marc had leadership roles in the Class Board and Latino Medical Student Association. In his spare time, he enjoys DIY projects, staying physically active, and reading both fiction and non-fiction.
Lynette Viruet-Guzman (AP/CP)Lynette, holder of an MPH, obtained her MD from the Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine, Puerto Rico, where she received the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Award and was the recipient of the Academic Excellence Scholarship. She also carried out many volunteer commitments in community healthcare and studied knowledge of intimate partner violence in the general Puerto Rican population. Her disparate talents include oboe, paddle-boarding, and American Sign Language.
PGY2
Sarah Beck (AP)Sarah joined us from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where she received her MD degree after a prior career in education and nursing. She has independently designed and executed two studies on the inclusion of populations underrepresented in medicine. Hopefully her undergraduate and graduate study in philosophy will help us all find even greater meaning in our work! When not pursuing her medical studies, she enjoys fostering animals, gardening, and cooking.
Michael Meade (AP/CP)Mike came to us from the Medical College of Wisconsin. An Eagle Scout, he has remained continued in Boy Scouts as an adult leader, and has been wonderfully active in many other volunteer pursuits both within and outside of his medical school. His legacy at MCW will include the rotation changes effected subsequent to his work on medical school curricula and evaluation mechanisms. In his free time, he especially enjoys running and other outdoor activities, table tennis, and competitive chess. Mike is currently serving as a social co-chair.
Xenia Parisi (AP/CP)Xenia grew up in Massachusetts and attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she studied for her BS in biochemistry and microbiology. She completed her MD at Georgetown University while working at the National Institutes of Health, where she distinguished herself as a Medical Research Scholars Program fellow in 2016. Her interests vary but specifically include the natural history and molecular pathogenesis of disease. Within the department, she is involved in the Resident Training Committee. In her spare time, she is active on PathTwitter (@XeniaParisi), enjoys restaurants, and the South Shore waterfront with family, friends, and two dogs.
Dimitra Pouli (AP)Dimitra obtained her MD degree from the University of Athens and then her PhD from Tufts University, where she won multiple awards and honors for her work in novel microscopic imaging techniques for noninvasive monitoring of cellular and tissue function. She has a truly impressive publication record and holds a patent. When she has the opportunity,she enjoys horseback riding, helicopter pilot training, and snowboarding, among other pursuits.
Cana Tompkins (AP/CP)Cana completed her medical studies at the University of New Mexico, where she garnered significant pathology expertise already in the course of a post-sophomore fellowship. She came highly recommended by BIDMC alumni there! A former small business owner, Cana also takes time to mentor young people in STEM careers. When not busy with all of these, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and cooking.
Leo Wu (AP/CP)Leo joined us from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, where he capped off his studies by presenting an abstract summarizing his statistical analysis of 1300 appendectomy surgical pathology reports. He also holds a master's degree in medical science. He enjoys travel, especially backpacking; his passion for this was solidified after a three-month, nine-country odyssey between college and medical school. Maybe he'll be willing to hold all the snacks on the next Pathletes: Summit Edition outing! Leo is currently serving as a social co-chair.
David Yang (AP/CP)Dave graduated from the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science. His premedical career included extensive research in immunotherapy as well as an MPH, during which he studied the racial differences in prevalence, incidence, treatment, outcome, and survival of glioma. His diverse non-scientific interests include blogging, performing ragtime versions of piano classics, tennis, and truly impressive amateur film-making. Dave is currently serving as a social co-chair.
Tiffany Yin (AP/CP)Tiffany graduated with her MD from the University of Queensland School of Medicine, Australia. She holds a master's degree in comparative pathology, and has been a chemist and researcher in both industry and academics. Her current research activity is centered on prognostic markers of lymphoma. In her spare time, she enjoys the arts, hiking, racquetball, gaming, and dogs.
PGY3
Joshua Goldsmith (AP/CP)Josh joined us from the University of New England. He has consistently pursued a variety of volunteer activities, both at home and abroad, and has teaching experience ranging from tutoring anatomy in medical school to a year as a high school substitute teacher. His work experience includes the development of point-of-care assays. Josh is currently serving as a CP chief resident.
David Jou (AP/CP)David came to us from the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University, where he combined his interest in research with his athletic pursuits (running and cycling, among others) in work studying cardiac biomarkers in runners post-marathon, and was active in community volunteer work. His prior history in cancer research (STAT3) informed his career choice – we are fortunate that his final decision was pathology, and with us.
Simon Lamothe (AP/CP)Born in Montreal and the holder of a Masters in Science in Molecular Genetics from the University of Montreal, Simon completed his medical studies at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine, where he tutored pathology and founded the pathology student interest group. His background includes work as a science communicator, international educator on infectious disease, and researcher focusing on cytokines. Simon recently concluded his tenure as a program representative to CAP and is currently serving as a CP chief resident.
Maximiliano Ramia de Cap (AP)A native of Ireland, Max performed a transitional year at Cork University Hospital after having completed his medical studies at The University of Limerick. He found time during his medical studies to also organize medical curricular units for teenagers and to complete a project in melanoma staging. He has a fondness for DIY projects – perhaps he will build us some new multiheaded microscope tables!
Dmitry Ratner (CP)Dmitry is our 2020-2021 microbiology fellow, after which he will return to residency to complete his CP-only curriculum. He hails from the University of Massachusetts MD/PhD program, where his PhD work involved generating a comprehensive model describing the interactions of Y. pestis with several inflammasomes, a subset of which has clinical relevance to patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever. In what little time remains after his research, medical studies, and being a father, he enjoys chess, martial arts, and music.
Harry Rosenberg (AP/NP)Harry completed his MD/PhD at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, where his PhD work focused on astrocyte cytoskeletal morphology in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, including in reaction to light. He is also continuing with long-term work in inflammatory bowel disease. In his spare time, he volunteered helping recent immigrants settle into their new lives. In Boston, he has continued his hobby of classical singing.
Steven Schwartz (AP/CP)Steven completed his MD at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. The veteran of extensive graduate-level training in chemistry, he has in more recent years taken on projects analyzing usage patterns and storage needs of whole slide scanning. Steven has a passion for puzzles, and can carry on at least basic conversations in Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and Hebrew.
PGY4
Jared Ahrendsen (AP/NP)Jared joined us from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where for his PhD he studied oligodendrocyte signaling mechanisms and response to injury and where he was president of the pathology student interest group. He is an avid mountaineer, having climbed all fifty-eight of Colorado's 14,000-foot mountains (14ers) and eighty-two of Colorado's highest 100 mountains (Centennial Peaks). He also enjoys playing with his dog, Bowser. Jared is currently an AP chief resident.
Yaileen Guzman Arocho (Breast Pathology)Yaileen is currently our breast pathology fellow, after which she will return to residency to complete her AP/CP training. Yaileen joined us from Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine, where she was a very active volunteer in the community, organizing events educating the community about infectious diseases, raising funds to support those affected by HIV/AIDS, and charity runs raising funds for cancer research. In her spare time, she enjoys nature, foreign cuisine, and literature.
Cassie MacRae (AP/CP)Cassie joined us from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland School of Medicine. A native of Canada, she holds a M.Sc. in neuroscience from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, where she taught biochemistry and psychology at the undergraduate level and was active in the field of addiction research. She is an accomplished athlete, having qualified for the Boston Marathon, among other feats, and completed a full-length triathlon between medical school and residency.
Yuho Ono (AP/CP)Yuho joined us from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, where she was a founding member of the pathology student interest group and very active in on- and off-campus volunteer activities including coordinating blood drives. She has worked as a Japanese calligraphy instructor, and in her free time enjoys gardening, guitar, and travel. She recently concluded her tenure as a CP chief resident and program CAP delegate, and is currently an AP chief resident.
Russell (Skipper) Plowman (AP/CP)Skipper is wrapping up his AP/CP studies with us. His outside interests include theater and long distance running.
Bentley Rodrigue (Transfusion Medicine)Bentley is currently our transfusion medicine fellow. Bentley joined us from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, where she was very active in functions related to recruitment, mentoring, and campus life on top of continuing her notable track record in community volunteerism. As an undergraduate, she took her studies in chemical engineering in London for a year, followed by a month of volunteer work at a medical clinic in India. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, volleyball, painting, and learning new sports/games, among other active pursuits.
Jasmine Steele (AP/CP)Jazzy joined us from the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and has an extensive background in cardiac research. During her MD, she concurrently pursued an MPH and has employed her biostatistics background in many research projects. Prior to medical school, she was president of her chapter of a national honor society and managed numerous successful fundraisers and outreach projects. In her leisure time, she enjoys a variety of marine sports and domestic hobbies.
Robert Ta (AP/CP)Robert joined us from Trinity College Dublin School of Medicine, Ireland. A native of Canada, he has a significant research background, with ongoing projects in pancreatic cancer and lymphoma. He was a medical radiation technologist before completing a master’s degree in medical biophysics, and was the scientific editor of the International Journal of Medical Students. He enjoys playing the piano; other leisure time pursuits include squash (former president of the squash club) and long distance running. He recently concluded his term as a CP chief resident, and is currently an AP chief resident.
Yubo Wu (AP/CP)Yubo joined us from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he cofounded the student pathology interest faction, served as a teaching assistant in the histology course, and was an active community volunteer as a member of Sigma Sigma Phi. He is a polyglot with a fondness for acquiring new languages, so he should respond to any of Hello! Guten tag! Bonjour! 你好!or Здравствуйте! We appreciate his service as social chair for 2018-2019.
PGY5
Adam Booth (Gastrointestinal Pathology)Adam is currently a gastrointestinal pathology fellow, after completing his anatomic and clinical pathology residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. His research interests include serrated polyps of the colon, GI post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, artificial intelligence in pathology, and the use of social media in pathology. Adam serves on committees of several national specialty organizations primarily focused on resident representation, medical student recruitment to pathology, and improving resident education.
Shoreh Fazeli (Surgical Pathology)Shoreh is currently a surgical pathology fellow, after having completed her AP/CP studies at Boston Medical Center.
Mayra Medina (Dermatopathology)Mayra is currently a fellow in dermatopathology, after having completed her AP/CP studies with us.
Laleh Montaser-Kouhsari (Dermatopathology)Laleh is currently a fellow in dermatopathology, after having completed her AP/CP studies with us.
Allison Onken (Cytopathology)After serving as first a CP chief resident and then an AP chief resident during her AP/CP studies with us, Ally is currently a cytopathology fellow. Next year she will complete a second fellowship in Breast Pathology.
Alexander PydenAlex has returned to us to complete his AP/CP studies, after completing an out-of-sequence Microbiology fellowship.
Barbara Vidal (Gastrointestinal Pathology)After serving as first a CP chief resident and then an AP chief resident during her AP/CP residency with us, Barbara is currently a gastrointestinal pathology fellow. Next academic year, she will undertake a forensic pathology at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Boston.
Zunair Zi (Hematopathology)Zunair is currently a hematopathology fellow.
Jessica Ziemba (Hematopathology)Jessica joined us from the University of Texas School of Medicine in San Antonio. She obtained a BS in Neuroscience at Texas Christian University. She completed AP/CP residency at BIDMC and served as AP Chief Resident. Jessica is currently a Hematopathology Fellow.
PGY6
Rose Lee (Medical Microbiology)Rose is currently completing her second year of training in our Medical Microbiology CPEP Fellowship Program.
Grace Malvar (Surgical Pathology)Grace is currently a Surgical Pathology fellow, after completing a fellowship in gastrointestinal pathology in the 2019-2020 academic year.