Class of 2024

Meet the MacNeal Transitional Year Residency Class of 2024

Pat Buoniconti

Medical School: Western Michigan University 
Specialty: Ophthalmology 
Career Goals: To become a proficient ophthalmologist and seek out areas ripe for innovation 
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: The mission of the hospital and the community it serves. 
Interests outside of medicine: Biking and exploring the outdoors, playing pickup basketball, pretending to play piano or guitar, tacos, pasta, chocolate desserts.

William Chen

Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine 
Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology 
Career Goals: improving patient health outcomes, bridging the gap in health disparity. 
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: robust clinical training and the opportunity to work with experienced community and hospital based attendings in various specialties 
Interests outside of medicine: tennis, biking, board games, exploring new restaurants

Lilian Gibson

Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine 
Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology 
Career Goals: I hope to become a well-rounded and compassionate physician and further my interests and involvement in global health. I will most likely pursue a radiology fellowship in a currently undecided subspecialty. 
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: There is a strong sense of community and support from co-residents and faculty! 
Interests outside of medicine: Running, tennis, skiing, travel

Meredith Hengy

Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine 
Specialty: Dermatology 
Career Goals: My main future career goal is to become a compassionate, well-rounded, and knowledgable physician/dermatologist in order to give back to my patients and community. I have an open mind regarding fellowship plans but know that throughout my training, my destined path will become apparent. I am excited for the journey that residency training brings! 
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: MacNeal Hospital serves an underserved community in Chicago which is something that I value in my medical training. I also felt very welcomed by the faculty and residents during my interview. Living in Chicago is certainly an additional plus! 
Interests outside of medicine: Hiking, traveling, trying new restaurants, exploring new parts of my home city, spending time with family and friends

Kasey Johnson

Marisa Luck

Medical School: Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine 
Specialty: Dermatology 
Career Goals: I am continuing onto Dermatology residency after my transitional year. I am interested in becoming a physician that works to advance the field of dermatology through teaching and research. 
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: I chose MacNeal Hospital because it has a long history providing healthcare to the Berwyn neighborhood and its diverse community. I think this setting will provide the training to make me a well-rounded physician. 
Interests outside of medicine: Skiing, hiking, exploring the farmers' market, and cooking.

Chris Markeson

Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University 
Specialty: Dermatology 
Career Goals: I want to become a well-rounded and compassionate dermatologist who provides excellent and equitable patient care and learn from their unique stories. I see myself working in a hybrid community and academic practice so I can advance the field of dermatology at large while making a difference in the surrounding community. 
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: I liked the feeling of working in a community hospital while having the opportunities offered by a larger academic institution. Additionally, the program emphasizes learning to care for the surrounding community and similar communities that face barriers in their care so I can apply this to my future practice. 
Interests outside of medicine: Snowboarding, weightlifting, collecting vinyl records, photography, and exploring different cuisines.

Tim Mason

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine - Rockford Specialty: PM&R 
Career Goals: I would like to complete training as a physiatrist and gain a well rounded residency education starting with my transitional year at MacNeal. I have a special interest in pain medicine and sports & spine medicine so I could see myself continuing on to fellowship for one of these. 
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: I really like the curriculum/rotation layout as well as the opportunity for many different electives to broaden my knowledge base. I also really enjoyed my interview day, meeting the faculty and current residents. It was clear to me after my interview that the program is very supportive of residents. Lastly, I am from Illinois, and my family lives pretty close to the Chicago suburbs, so staying close to home was important to me. 
Interests outside of medicine: I am an avid fisherman, especially fly fishing! I also love hiking, golfing, woodworking and going to the gym as well as spending time with family and friends. 

Lauren Nakhleh

Anand Patel

Medical School: Loyola Stritch School of Medicine 
Specialty: Radiology 
Career Goals: Neuroendovascular Surgery/Neurointerventional Radiology 
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: The community - the co-residents and faculty! 
Interests outside of medicine: Golf, cooking, travel

Nicole Polyakov

Medical School: Harvard Medical School 
Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology 
Career Goals: I hope to use my experience at MacNeal to become a well-rounded radiologist. I would also like to be involved in teaching and sharing my passion for radiology with others in the future. 
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: I was struck by how kind the residents and faculty were during my interview day and felt very welcomed. I was also attracted to MacNeal for the opportunity to work at community hospital that serves an underserved community in the Chicago area. 
Interests outside of medicine: Cooking, reading, hiking, spending time with friends and family, exploring all the great restaurants in Chicago.

Elmer Steven Romero

Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine 
Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology 
Career Goals: I will most likely do a fellowship in Radiology which I am currently contemplating. I also am interested in global health initiatives in my future career and I am wanting to aid medically underserved populations. 
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: I like that MacNeal serves a diverse population from an urban and suburban setting and I respect and wish to contribute to the hospital's mission and its commitment to serving its community. 
Interests outside of medicine: I enjoy playing Tennis, Volleyball, and really any other outdoor activities. I play video games and watch anime. Recently I have started salsa dancing for fun and I enjoy cooking.

Adrian Rosenberg

Medical School: Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine 
Specialty: Radiology 
Career Goals: Help make the world a better place, one chest x-ray at a time 
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: Diversity, community, and commitment to excellent patient care 
Interests outside of medicine: Avid Salsa/Bachata dancer, novice keyboard player, audiobook addict

Brian Simon

Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine 
Specialty: Ophthalmology 
Career Goals: My goal is to be a caring and skilled ophthalmologist and an advocate for my patients. I plan to be involved in education, mentoring, and serving where there is need in my community. 
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: MacNeal Hospital has committed faculty, a supportive learning environment, and a strong sense of community. The broad curriculum of the transitional year program will help me build a well-rounded foundation for my medical career. 
Interests outside of medicine: The great outdoors, pickup basketball, travel, walking my brother’s dog, White Sox basebal