Meet the Class of 2022
Samantha Bolz, MD
Hometown
Novi, Michigan
Undergraduate
University of Michigan
Medical School
Rosalind Franklin Chicago Medical School
Why MacNeal?
It seemed like a well-rounded program and I came to realize that I wanted to be somewhere that was more unopposed. There are opportunities in Sports Medicine and Women’s Health. The diverse patient population allows me to continue to develop and use my Spanish speaking in healthcare. It’s close enough to Chicago that I could live downtown, and has some great nearby neighborhoods as well. One thing that really stayed with me throughout the interview season was the people. It seemed like such a friendly, welcoming, down to Earth environment. It’s a family; the residents all get along really well and the attendings are open and supportive. When I’m walking around the hospital, it’s not uncommon that even the specialists will smile, say hello, and ask me how I’m doing. When you’re working, learning, and dedicating the hours that we do, the surrounding environment is incredibly important. I feel engaged, supported, and even though there will definitely be days when we are all exhausted, I really do enjoy my time at work and the people that I work with.
Interests in Medicine
Pretty much everything, that's why I chose FM. I love procedures. Sports Med.
Interests Outside of Medicine
Volleyball, hiking, pretty much anything outside, exploring all the good food in Chicago, traveling, practicing Spanish.
Brian Fremaux, DO
Hometown
New Orleans, Louisiana
Undergraduate
Texas State University
Medical School
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why MacNeal?
I first heard of MacNeal while on a fourth-year rotation in rural Alaska, where I worked with two physicians who trained in the program. I was very impressed by their breadth of medical knowledge as well as their ability to manage complicated patients in a rural environment. I was also doing a ton of OMT, which I did not expect to be doing out in the wilderness. Needless to say, I was inspired to apply to the program where these doctors trained, MacNeal. While in Berwyn, on the interview trail, I remember feeling very welcomed by an enthusiastic group of residents who clearly were not disliking their jobs. On my interview day, I had an opportunity to see and hear how the residents and faculty interact in the clinic while discussing patient cases. I immediately understood why MacNeal held the reputation of training residents who are well prepared to work confidently in a variety of settings around the world.
Interests in Medicine
Full-scope practice, public health, osteopathic manipulative medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine
Exploring new restaurants and record shops in Chicago. Biking around Chicago. Newly found interest in exploring the various rural and urban areas of Michigan.
Christopher Gozali, DO
Hometown
Clarendon Hills, IL
Undergraduate
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Medical School
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why MacNeal?
Having grown up in the Chicagoland area, I knew I wanted to work and train in the Chicago community. MacNeal's strong reputation and legacy as the first family medicine residency in Illinois were very appealing. I knew that by coming here, I would be working in an established community hospital environment that values development of the residents, and I would be exposed to the diverse patient population of the Chicagoland area. The faculty are all helpful and approachable, and the residents share a friendly, cooperative group dynamic. I think MacNeal was a perfect fit for me, and I could not be more thrilled to be here!
Interests in Medicine
Preventative medicine, outpatient care, academic medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine
Chicago sports teams, trying new restaurants with my wife, video games, Shotokan karate, comic books, fantasy football, traveling.
Hiba Jawadi, MD
Hometown
Canton, MI
Undergraduate
Wayne State University
Medical School
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Why MacNeal?
The big things I was looking for in a residency were full-spectrum training in family medicine, so I can tailor my future career however I want, supportive faculty and a strong camaraderie among the residents. I am happy to say to MacNeal fulfilled all of these requirements! One first thing I noticed during my interview here was the strong bond among the residents and how they support each other. Residency is tough and the people by your side make all the difference. MacNeal has a good balance of inpatient and outpatient training with ample opportunity to explore other interests such as OB, sports medicine, urgent care and more. Plus, being a community hospital that is close to the city means getting exposure to both simple and complex cases. Finally, the faculty at MacNeal are dedicated to teaching and very supportive of resident education. Dr. Yang and the rest of the faculty constantly review and update the curriculum to meet changing ACGME standards and so us residents get the most out of our time here.
With family medicine, the right program is all about fit. I am very glad to match at MacNeal and found a very good fit for me!
Interests in Medicine
Inpatient medicine, OB, woman’s health
Interests Outside of Medicine
Baking desserts, watching TV, finding new restaurants to try!
Harshil Matta, DO
Hometown
Richland, WA
Undergraduate
University of Washington (Go HUSKIES)
Medical School
DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine - Tennessee
Why MacNeal?
Best Interview experience on the trail! Everyone was very welcoming and I felt right at home. I was looking for a place where I fit in without trying and I got great vibes during my interview at MacNeal. I saw the caring attitude of the faculty, the togetherness of the residents, and the diverse training options available. I wanted to train at a place which served a diverse patient population while being located near a big metropolitan area. MacNeal fits that description seamlessly and provides an ideal residency environment which is both challenging and enriching. After starting here I know I made the right choice! I feel humbled to be a part of the MacNeal family and excited to grow into the physician I set out to become while knowing everyone has my best interest in mind during my training.
Interests in Medicine
Sports Medicine, Emergency Medicine/Urgent Care, Concussion research, Athletic Team Coverage, procedural skills
Interests Outside of Medicine
Los Angeles Lakers, Finding the best cup of coffee, relaxing on a beach
Reshma Patel, DO
Hometown
Buena Park, CA
Undergraduate
University of California, Irvine
Medical School
Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why MacNeal?
One of the biggest reasons I chose MacNeal is that when I came for interview day, I remember feeling a strong sense of community. This was apparent not only among the staff and residents, but also with the patients. There was a relationship developed between them over time and the trust and continuity is what I was looking for. I also appreciated the staff and the support provided to the residents, they are very understanding of the learning curve, always teaching, and focused on residents' overall well-being. On a different note, I am from southern California and really wanted to experince all the seasons and the amazing city of Chicago. I've been told I'll get tired of the winters, but that day hasn't come yet!
Interests in Medicine
Global health, infectious disease, women's health
Interests Outside of Medicine
Hiking, running, baking, cooking, movies, shopping, museums
Keya Raychaudhuri, DO
Hometown
Oak Park,IL
Undergraduate
University of Wisconsin Madison
Medical School
Des Moines University
Why MacNeal?
I knew I wanted to come back to Chicago for residency, on the interview day I felt like the residents, faculty and staff were very genuine and it felt like a supportive environment. The program is dedicated to resident education, all the faculty here want to teach and we have strong didactics. There is a lot of opportunity for community outreach and exposure to different niches of family medicine. The location of the hospital is great too, one could easily live in the city or the suburbs.
Interests in Medicine
Urgent care, adolescent medicine, geriatrics, outpatient and inpatient medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine
Traveling, petting dogs, smelling candles, dancing
Madiha Rizvi, DO
Hometown
Chicago
Undergraduate
Loyola University Chicago
Medical School
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine NY
Why MacNeal?
I was drawn to MacNeal because the program provides you with a well-rounded experience in all aspects of FM, which is why I wanted to do FM in the first place. The residents are genuinely happy to be here and the team from your co-residents to preceptors is very supportive. The local community is great as well and you get exposure to all sorts of pathology in an underserved community. Another pro was getting all of this while only being 20 minutes away from downtown Chicago with some of the best food and culture in the country!
Interests in Medicine
Pediatrics, sports medicine, women's health
Interests Outside of Medicine
Exploring food places (especially dessert!), traveling, baking, binge-watching Netflix and game nights with friends
Daniella Sandoval, MD
Hometown
Las Vegas, NV
Undergraduate
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Medical School
Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University
Why MacNeal?
I chose to pursue my residency training at MacNeal for several reasons. MacNeal offers a robust training experience alongside an excellent teaching faculty dedicated to your success. The patient population is diverse and provides the opportunity to care for an underserved community. Furthermore, many of the faculty have a strong background in Women’s health, which is one of my primary interests in medicine. The program is situated very close to Chicago, an eventful city which I have grown to love that offers delicious eats, a rich history and endless attractions to explore such as the museums and lakefront. Lastly, the people in the program have all been welcoming and supportive.
Interests in Medicine
Women’s health, underserved and preventative medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine
Curating my houseplant collection, Virtual window shopping, Binging Netflix series, exploring new restaurants and learning to sail
Blanca Serna, MD
Hometown
Brea, California
Undergraduate
California State University, Fullerton
Medical School
Medical College of Wisconsin
Why MacNeal?
MacNeal felt like the right fit for me for many reasons. I was looking for a program that held the residents as their top priority and a program that was well established yet flexible about making changes to meet the residents’ needs. I was very excited to become part of the MacNeal family, and join a wonderful group of doctors and staff dedicated to serve an underserved population. I love my patient population and the community of Berwyn. I also wanted to experience living in Chicago with all of its diversity and rich history.
Interests in Medicine
Geriatrics, Global health medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine
Traveling and exploring the world
Theodore Snyder, MD
Hometown
Madison, Wisconsin
Undergraduate
University of Denver
Medical School
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science -- Chicago Medical School
Why MacNeal?
Succinctly: happy residents, jovial and generous faculty, in a setting that covers all the variety that Family Medicine has to offer.
There is a palpable sense of comradery and common purpose among the program, something I experienced from my first day on. Residency’s a time to grow, and our mentors are top-notch, with a wealth of experience to share. And they truly love to teach, and are always open to help with one more “quick question”.
Finally, MacNeal’s a wonderful place to learn. It's a busy community hospital, with all the variety of pathology and patients that brings. But it's also a pillar of the community, with almost 100 years of service, and the work we do here makes a real difference for Berwyn and beyond.
Interests in Medicine
Reproductive health, medical simulation, sleep medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine
Rock climbing, building computers, and walking around the city with my camera.
Eleanor Teoh, DO
Hometown
Calgary, Alberta
Undergraduate
University of Calgary
Medical School
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why MacNeal?
MacNeal appealed to me because of its solid reputation as the oldest family residency program in Illinois as well as its commitment to caring for an underserved population in an urban area. The opportunities for community outreach and home visits intrigued me. When I came for my interview, the atmosphere was very welcoming, everyone from the staff to all of the faculty were friendly, and the residents all seemed content and not overworked.
Interests in Medicine
Public Health, Underserved Care, Primary Care
Interests Outside of Medicine
Exploring and eating our way through Chicago with my husband, yoga, spending time with my niece and nephew, traveling