Who We Are

Jeffrey Heiferman, MD

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Medical School: Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center

Undergrad & Major: Northwestern University: Biological Sciences, Neurobiology Concentration

Residency Notes:

• STEME/Specialty Track Selection: Medical Education

Hobbies: Geocaching, Ceramics, Piano, Trivia

Interests: Education, EMS, Event Medicine

Email: Jeffrey.Heiferman@luhs.org

Bailee Jacobsen, DO

Hometown: Chico, CA

Medical School: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University

Undergrad & Major: University of Arizona: Chemistry, Minor in Spanish

Residency Notes:

• STEME/Specialty Track Selection: Global & Community Health
• Committees: ICEP Social Emergency Medicine Committee

Hobbies: Watching Sports (Especially 49ers Football), Hiking, Camping, Exploring New Breweries and Coffee Shops, Backyard BBQs, and any activity that can include my dog

Interests: Social Emergency Medicine, Fem in EM

Email: Bailee.Jacobsen@luhs.org

Josue Portillo, DO

Hometown: Modesto, CA

Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Undergrad & Major: Univeristy of Nevada Las Vegas: Biological Sciences

Residency Notes:

• STEME/Specialty Track Selection: Ultrasound

Hobbies: Playing recreational soccer/fútbol in leagues not meant to be super competitive but always have that ultra competitive team thinking it's the world cup, binge-watching netflix aka watching the same three shows over and over again, wine tasting or beer tasting or liqour tasting, coffee in order to be A&Ox3, purchasing food in bulk at costco for a household of one and eating it for a month straight, mountain biking when weather and energy levels are in sync (not often), and managing a professional football team aka fantasy football

Interests: Sports Medicine, Ultrasound, Toxicology, Mass Casualty, and Wilderness Medicine

Email: Josue.Portillo@luhs.org

Shannon Sparrow, MD

Hometown: Ogden, UT

Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine

Undergrad & Major: University of Utah: Anthropology

Residency Notes:

• STEME/Specialty Track Selection: Global & Community Health

Hobbies: Whirlyball, Comedy, Hanging with my dog, Meatball (pics avail upon request or on Instagram @baronvonmeatball)

Interests: Social EM, Critical Care, Global Health

Email: Shannon.Sparrow@luhs.org

Travis Wassermann, MD, MPH

Hometown: Chico, CA

Post-Graduate Training: MPH from The George Washigton University, Washington, DC

Medical School: University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences The Pritzker School of Medicine

Undergrad & Major: University of California, San Diego: Bioengineering

Residency Notes:

• STEME/Specialty Track Selection: Administration
• Committees: Chair-Elect of EMRA International Committee

Hobbies:  I have kids (currently a three-year-old and a five-year-old), so my biggest hobbies these days might be playing with Legos and pretending to be a superhero.  Dad Jokes have become an accidental hobby: I don't try to make them, but I just can't stop-- if I make a corny pun around you, please don't feel obligated to laugh; I already know it's not funny.  I'm not sure whether to call "free food" a hobby or an art-- either way, I spent much of medical school honing my scavenging skills.  I love a good novel, but all my leisurely MS4 reading came to an abrupt end when residency started.  In the right company, I'll enjoy backpacking, board games, or comedy clubs. 

Interests: My dream job is to be program director of the first EM residency in Afghanistan, but a lot of things would need to fall into place for that to become a reality.  I enjoy thinking about systems-level issues, so I like engaging with quality improvement and administration.  Wherever my career takes me, I aim to be a clinician who is good with an ultrasound.  As a resident, my favorite shifts are when I get to do a procedure I haven't done before or see a type of pathology I haven't seen before.

Email: Travis.Wassermann@luhs.org

Andrea Yun, MD, MPH

Hometown: Fairfax, VA

Post-Graduate Training: MPH from Tulane University School of Medicine

Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine

Undergrad & Major: University of Virginia: Biology

Residency Notes:

• STEME/Specialty Track Selection: Global & Community Health

Hobbies: Various outdoor sports (Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee), various indoor sports (Edible chemistry, Crocheting aggressively), appreciating functional public transportation, urban hiking, excessive napping.

Interests: Tropical Medicine, Wilderness Medicine, Global and Community Health, Infectious Disease, Ultrasound, Low Resource Medicine.

Email: Andrea.Yun@luhs.org

Tallib Karaze, DO

Hometown: Columbus, OH

Medical School: Ohio University- Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

Undergrad & Major: THE Ohio State University: Investment Finance & Biology

Residency Notes: 

• STEME/Specialty Track Selection: Medical Education

Hobbies: Playing golf with Bubba (my dad) or anyone who likes to have a good time on the links, cheering on the Buckeyes/Browns/Indians/Cavs/Blue Jackets/Liverpool/Brooks or Tiger to the point of exhaustion (big sports guy), binge-watching Entourage/Harry Potter/Star Wars until I have diplopia, making my own variations of cold brew that always end up quite average and occasionally great/terrible, trying craft brews from around the country (responsibly of course), hiking/backpacking/anything outdoors and adventurous that might land me in the ED as a patient with a cool story, keeping a book on my nightstand that I "plan to read" to make myself feel like a highly functioning adult.

Interests: Medical Education, Simulation, Critical Care Medicine

Email: Tallib.Karaze001@luhs.org

Yana Klein, DO

Hometown: Denver, CO

Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences 

Undergrad & Major: Wake Forest University, B.S Biology

Hobbies: If I could play doubles sand volleyball all day everyday... I would (aside from being in the Emergency Department of course). In the winter time, I go ski as much as possible. I grew up with the mountains! Otherwise, I love brewery hopping and am up for any adventure with friends and famliy!

Interests: Sports Medicine, Global Health

Email: Yana.Klein@luhs.org

Pallavi (Tanya) Mukherji, DO

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Medical School: Des Moines University and College of Osteopathic Medicine

Undergrad & Major: Saint Louis University: Health Management and Policy, Minor in Theology

Hobbies: Spending time with my adorable pup (named Nala after my love of the Lion King!), international travel, cooking, hiking, homebrewing kombucha, exploring new resturants and coffee shops

Interests: Social EM, Administration, Global Health

Email: Pallavi.Mukherji@luhs.org

Jun Soo (Dan) Park, MD

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University

Undergrad & Major: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Molecular & Cellular Biology

Residency Notes:

• STEME/Specialty Track Selection: Sports Medicine

Hobbies: Working out, live music, glamping, watching sports (Cowboys, Cubs, Bulls, Bayern Munich), rooftop bars. Honestly talk music, sports, or tequila to me and we'll be able to talk for hours. Other hobbies include looking for Cotton Wool Spots, looking for bulging tympanic membranes in screaming children. 

Interests: Sports Medicine, Events Medicine, Global Health

Email: JunsooPark002@luhs.org

Andrew (Drew) Reiter, MD

Hometown: Columbus, OH

Medical School: San Juan Bautista SM/Loyola University Chicago SSOM

Undergrad & Major: Wheaton College (IL), Applied Health Science; Minor in Spanish

Hobbies: Being outdoors (hiking/camping), playing sports (disc golf/spikeball), and working out in my garage gym. My wife and I have 2 kids and we love to be outside in the backyard or at the park. We also have 2 dogs who like going on walks. Other things I enjoy include: coffee, board games, bonfires, bourbon, and Toyota Land Cruisers

Interests: Military (Army), Wilderness Medicine, Spanish, Ultrasound

Email: Andrew.Reiter@luhs.org  

Cassandra (Cassie) Ward, DO

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Undergrad & Major: Loyola University Chicago: Biology

Hobbies: Hanging out with my husband and my dog, drinking local beer, hiking (my favorite trails so far are in Hawaii!), home improvement, trying (read: struggling) to grow grass in my yard, watching baseball and hockey

Interests: EMS, Event Medicine

Email: Cassandra.Ward@luhs.org

Sierra

Human: Bailee Jacobsen

Hometown: PAWS Chicago

Hobbies: fetch (without the return part), playing keep away with moms socks, sleeping with all 4 paws in the air, getting "the zoomies" in the backyard

Interests: treats, whatever my humans are eating, squirrels (and unfortunately skunks), every single scent on our walks

Fun Fact: I'm named after one of my parents' favorite breweries, that also happens to be in my mom's home town!

Meatball

Human: Shannon Sparrow

Hometown: New Orleans, LA

Hobbies: Chasing pigeons, squirrels, rats, and occasionally shadows. I also love barking at other dogs on walks, whining for more attention, and licking people with no mercy.

Interests: Snuggles, boops, and all things food

Fun Fact: I am training to be the ring bearer at my parents wedding.

Follow me on Instagram! @baronvonmeatball

Gibbs

Human: Cassie Ward

Hometown: Orphans of the Storm, Riverwoods, IL

Hobbies: Hunting squirrels and rabbits, long walkies, getting pates from everyone he sees, napping on the couch, going to dog friendly resturants and breweries

Interests: Children, human food, destroying tennis balls

Fun Fact: I wasn't supposed to sleep in my parent's bed but now I've claimed it as my own

Nala

Human: Tanya Mukherji

Hometown: somewhere in Arkansas? I was adoped, so I don't know for sure, but I do know that I'm an OG souther gal!

Hobbies: chasing squirrels, borking at squirrels, thinking about chasing + borking at squirrels, exploring all the parks in Chicago, beach days, hiking, watching Netflix with my mom, snoozing while my hoomans are at work to support my lifestyle, belly scratches, and trying to run away from home anytime the front door is accidentally left open for 0.0008 seconds too long

Interests: the art of a good nap, peanut butter

Fun Fact: I am very good at Doggy yoga (planning on getting my Doga instructor certification after this pandemic is over)

Xavi

Human: Drew Reiter

Hometown: Caguas, Puerto Rica

Hobbies: going on walks, car rides, obsessed with fetcing the frisbee

Interests: barking at nothing, chasing squirrels/rabbits

Fun Fact: I was a street dog in my prior life and my humans took me off the street after I got hit by a car

Rico

Human: Drew Reiter

Hometown: Cayey, Puerto Rico

Hobbies: going on walks, car rides, hanging outside in the shade

Interests: shedding my fur everywhere in the house, laying as close to my humans as physically possible

Fun Fact: I have been to Portugal and Spain