Residents
The Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program prepares residents for a vast assortment of future career opportunities. We promote a collaborative learning atmosphere which engages attending physicians, residents and ancillary staff in a team-based approach to provide residents with the knowledge and skills for success.
Learn More about Resident Life and Our Alumni
We value interpersonal relationships as much as we value education. Our residents and alumni come from broad and diverse paths. These collaborative relationships are strengthened through both professional experiences and getting to know our residents outside the workplace.
PGY1
Amber Estes, MD
Hometown: Tinley Park, IL
Undergraduate School: The University of Chicago
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Professional Interests: I have many interests and I see myself pursuing either primary care or a combined fellowship (infectious disease, cardiology, rheumatology...we'll see!). I am passionate about advocacy, LGBTQ+ medicine, community engagement, and medical education.
Personal Interests: I like to bake, cook, read, draw, dance, try new restaurants (there are many great ones in Cleveland), and check out the metro parks while birdwatching. I also always love spending time with my two cats.
Mary Irwin, MD
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Undergrad: Virginia Tech (Go Hokies!!)
Medical school: University of Cincinnati COM (Go Bengals!!)
Professional interests: Possible dual hospitalist, PICU, adolescent + advocacy and med ed
Personal interests: Plants, yoga, most popular fantasy series, trying local breweries, hiking, anime, reading a good book (fiction and nonfiction), ice cream (most varieties)
Andrea Janis, MD
Hometown: Westport, Connecticut
Undergraduate School: University of Michigan (Go blue!!)
Graduate School: N/A
Medical School: Wayne State School of Medicine
Professional Interests: Med-Peds hospitalist, primary care, transitions of care, medical education
Personal Interests: dogs, baking, hiking, live music!
Jaysa Withey, DO
Hometown: Flint/Mount Morris, MI
Undergraduate School: Case Western Reserve University
Graduate School: Chatham University
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Professional Interests: Dual Hospitalist, Global Health Medicine
Personal Interests: Reading (non-academic), cycling, HIIT classes, Hiking, DIY projects, Gardening, Home Goods/Home Sense (Obsessed with the store).
PGY2
Shradha Chhabria, MD, MPH
Hometown: Stroudsburg, PA
Undergraduate School: Georgetown University
Graduate School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Medical School: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Professional Interests: Obesity medicine, global health equity, non-communicable disease epidemiology, health disparities, cultural competence in healthcare delivery
Personal Interests: Trying and making vegetarian food from around the world, yoga, meditation, traveling, and exploring Cleveland with my wonderful new co-interns!
Monica Larson, MD
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Undergraduate School: Wheaton College, IL
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Professional Interests: Hospital medicine (both IM and pediatrics), inpatient care for medically complex people across the lifespan, POCUS, advocacy and research for community violence, global health equity
Personal Interests: Traveling to visit friends & family, swimming, hiking & camping, always trying to cook new recipes. And already having 3 new best friends in my Med/Peds co-interns!
Gwendolyn Thomas, MD
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Undergraduate School: Miami University (in Ohio)
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Professional Interests: Primary Care for pediatrics and adults, with focus on transition care, however, still very open to change or specialization
Personal Interests: Music, going to concerts/plays, playing flute, hiking (local or in national parks), exploring museums and historical sites, findings new tasty food spots.
Gates Failing, MD
Hometown: Abington, PA
Undergraduate School: Elizabethtown College
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Professional Interests: Primary care, hospital medicine, allergy/immunology, US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
Personal Interests: Listening to NPR podcasts (Marketplace, Fresh air), reading biographies (anything by David McCullough), swimming, bicycle commuting, skiing, Amtrak train trips, visiting National Parks, baking homemade bread
PGY3
Sathya Areti, MD
Hometown: Glen Allen, VA
Undergraduate School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Professional Interests: Genetics and how it ties into various disciplines of medicine
Personal Interests: Dancing, Weight lifting, Netflix, anything chocolate
Sarah Redmond, MD
Hometown: Bainbridge Island, WA
Undergraduate School: University of Washington
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Professional Interests: infectious diseases, public health, or maybe primary care
Personal Interests: running in the Cleveland parks, plant and mushroom identification, knitting, local history, libraries and bookstores, houseplants
David Ritzenthaler, MD
Hometown: Sandusky, OH
Undergraduate School: Xavier University - Cincinnati
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Professional Interests: Primary care, medical education, access to care, health equity, substance use disorder
Personal Interests: Spending time with my wife and dog, cooking, improv comedy, and hanging out with my fellow residents!
Shwetha Sudhakar, MD
Hometown: Berwyn, PA
Undergraduate School: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Professional Interests: med/peds hospitalist, adult congenital heart disease, transitions of care, refugee health
Personal Interests: trying new restaurants, cooking, reading, Broadway shows, Jeopardy
PGY4
Sofia Bertoloni Meli, MD
Hometown: Bloomington, IN
Undergraduate School: Indiana University
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Professional Interests: Endocrinology, medical education, hospitalist medicine
Personal Interests: I love to travel and cook foods from different countries. I also love to read!
Mackenzie Cater, MD
Hometown: Barrington, RI & Villanova, PA
Undergraduate School: UC Berkeley
Medical School: University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine
Professional Interests: Medicine and advocacy work with underserved populations; med-peds hospitalist and/or ID; Global health; teaching and medical education (I’m still figuring out how to put it all together!)
Personal Interests: I love to travel, spend time with my family and friends, go camping and be outside as much as possible! Also food but I’m still learning how to cook!
Kendall Franz, MD
Hometown:Buffalo, NY (Go Bills!)
Undergraduate School: Canisius College, Buffalo, NY
Medical School: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo
Professional Interests: Primary care, hospitalist med-peds, comprehensive care, transitions of care, medical education, alternative reimbursement models, business of medicine
Personal Interest: Rock climbing, hiking & being outdoors, trying new restaurants, brewing (and enjoying) craft beer, watching The Office, spending time with family and friends.
Louise Sawaya, MD
Hometown: Westland, Michigan
Undergraduate School: Central Michigan University
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Professional Interests: Transitions of care for children with chronic disease and adults with pediatric illness, global health, healthcare for underserved patient populations, healthcare for Spanish-speaking patients, congenital cardiology, med-peds hospitalist medicine, medical education
Personal Interests: Singing, cooking, running, going to church, hanging out with my cats, camping, hiking, traveling, coffee and tea, and spending time with friends and family