Class of 2027

Brianna Gonzalez

Hometown: Mission, Texas
Undergraduate: The University of Texas at Austin (HOOK EM')
Medical School: The University of Houston College of Medicine
Why MacNeal? I really loved the community hospital feel of Macneal and the community they worked with. Also my fiancé and I "couples matched" into Loyola!
Interests Outside of Medicine: I love watching The Real Housewives franchises, I am up to date on all the seasons and cities. I also love going on hikes, outdoor walks and when I can, getting a Pilates/Barre class in.

Alicia Kevelin

Hometown: Novi, MI
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Why MacNeal? MacNeal has everything I am looking for regarding my education- high quality and high-volume Pediatrics, Women’s Health, Mental Health, and Sports Medicine. With their fantastic reputation and well-established curriculum, I knew I would be learning the most up-to-date, evidence-based medicine for my patients. After the interview day is when I made my decision. Out of all the programs in Chicago, MacNeal is where I felt most at home away from home. Not being from the area, I wanted a stable, established, and supportive program with people that cared about each other as much as they cared for their patients. I can truly say this is one of the most compassionate groups of people I have met. I feel incredibly lucky to be part of this community.
Interests in Medicine: Pediatrics, Woman’s Health, Mental Health, Sports Medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine: Running, reading (Sci-Fi, fantasy, mystery), trying new foods, and traveling!

Jacob Knupp

Hometown: Woodbury, MN
Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern
Why MacNeal? I was drawn to MacNeal for its great location just outside of Chicago along with our strong sports medicine reputation. The faculty and residents were so warm and welcoming during my interview and I'm grateful that I ended up at this program!
Interests in Medicine: Sports medicine, pediatrics, outpatient medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine: Basketball, playing beach volleyball with my wife Rexi, golf, board games (Terraforming Mars and Gloomhaven are my favs), reading Brandon Sanderson books

Erik Kozina

Hometown: Waukegan, IL
Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine – Chicago
Why MacNeal? I wanted to go to a program where I could receive excellent training in Family Medicine so that I could become a well-rounded doctor. I also wanted to go to a program that would support me and provide opportunities in Primary Care Sports Medicine. MacNeal is also one of the first Family Medicine programs in the country and during my rotation in Medical School it was apparent that this program is well-structured, and the faculty are very passionate and down-to-Earth.
Interests in Medicine: Sports Medicine and healthy lifestyle modifications.
Interests Outside of Medicine: Coffee, Chicago sports, weight-training, basketball, snowboarding.

Hanna Markewycz

Hometown: Oak Brook, IL
Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh #H2P
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria
Why MacNeal? Program culture was always important to me, and MacNeal immediately stood out from other programs during the social and interview. Everyone was friendly, laid back, supportive, and both the residents and faculty seemed genuinely happy…great vibes all around! I’m interested in sports medicine, and MacNeal had lots of opportunities and support for those pursuing sports med, and their residents matched really well into fellowships. I also liked the idea of being at a community hospital with a tight knit feel and the ability to serve and get to know the community you are in, while also having the benefits of being affiliated with the Loyola hospital system.
Interests in Medicine: Sports Medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine: Volleyball, weightlifting, exploring Chicago food scene, listening to music, coffee

Samuel Oo

Hometown: Bourbonnais, IL
Undergraduate: Saint Louis University
Medical School: Midwestern CCOM
Why MacNeal: From the start, I felt welcomed by the faculty, residents, and hospital staff. Being able to do a rotation with the program during med school allowed me to understand and feel the close-knit community that had been built. I also enjoyed being able to see bread and butter cases, as well as more complex pathology. Overall, I knew that everyone wanted you to succeed, and people would go out of their way to make you feel supported. I’m incredibly grateful to be a part of this program/family.
Interests in Medicine: Sports medicine, sleep medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine: Playing basketball, golf, going to the gym, cooking, and going on walks to the dog park with my wife and corgi.

Devika Raju

Hometown: Brownsville, TX
Undergraduate: University of Texas at Austin
Medical School: McGovern Medical School in Houston, TX
Why MacNeal? I wanted something different after living in Texas most of my life, and Chicago was at the top of my list. MacNeal's reputation stood out to me immediately, and I was drawn quickly to how welcoming and collaborative the residents and faculty were during my interview. I was looking for a program that would support my own interests within Family Medicine, and MacNeal has made me feel very supported in that aspect too.  So far, I am loving living in the city and getting to know all my wonderful coresidents!
Interests in Medicine: Geriatric Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine: Walks along the lake, running, biking, reading, crafting

Sherry Shibu

Hometown: Dyer, IN
Undergraduate: Loyola University Chicago
Medical School: Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why MacNeal? I chose MacNeal Family Medicine residency because of its location and its people. Returning to the Chicagoland area was important to me, as I wanted to serve the community and be part of a program that embraces diversity. The supportive and dedicated nature of MacNeal's program was also a major draw. During my interview, I experienced a sense of ease and rapport with both the faculty and residents. I am confident that MacNeal will provide me with well-rounded family medicine training, and I am excited to be part of this program!
Interests in Medicine: outpatient medicine, sports medicine, lifestyle medicine, underserved medicine
Interest Outside of medicine: hanging out with family and friends, hiking/anything outdoors, cooking and trying new food spots

Nadia Sirajuddin

Hometown: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Undergraduate: Saint Louis University
Medical School: Saint Louis University
Why MacNeal? After my interviews, I felt that the faculty here were one of the most down-to-earth and passionate physicians genuinely interested in helping me reach my full potential in all the areas I’m ambitious about. The hospital’s location was valuable as it was close to a big city, Chicago, while still providing the opportunity to work with an underserved population and large Spanish speaking population. I love OB and women’s health and having multiple attendings that specialize in these areas was also a major factor for me choosing this program. Based on talking to the residents, it was clear to see that MacNeal Hospital is an extremely happy and fun environment to work and grow in. I’m so grateful to be a part of the team!
Interests in Medicine: Women’s health, OB, behavioral health, outpatient medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine: writing, blogging, photography, reading, running, and trying new restaurants with friends

Jacky Tran

Hometown: Tampa FL
Undergraduate: University of South Florida
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University
Why MacNeal? MacNeal has a strong history and is one of the oldest family medicine programs in the country. The interview I had with the faculty gave me reassurance that MacNeal is a group that cares deeply about training their residents and caring for their community. I knew I would get amazing training at this residency, and I am so happy I chose MacNeal. The proximity to downtown Chicago allows me to continue being a foodie and explore the vibrant neighborhoods and food scene. You'll find a diverse selection of places to eat in every corner of the city!
Interests in Medicine: Sports medicine, preventative health, health care disparities
Interests Outside of Medicine: Boxing, traveling with my partner, and cooking

Sean Yamakawa

Hometown: Schaumburg, IL
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Medical School: University of Illinois - Chicago
Why MacNeal? MacNeal has a proven history of training well-rounded family physicians. The faculty here are very invested in resident education and are supportive and accessible. Residents have the benefit of both community and academic medicine at MacNeal. The residency classes here are also very social, and we all enjoy getting together outside of the hospital.
I was also interested in MacNeal because Chicago is a world-class city with some of the most exciting restaurants, museums, running events, and more. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is also considered one of the Big Five orchestras in the US, and if you still have your student ID, tickets are only $15. Chicago also has one of the most vibrant LGBT+ communities!
Interests in Medicine: Women's health, LGBT+ health, sports medicine, child and adolescent medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine: Running, weightlifting, cooking, eating out, traveling, reading