Fellows
3rd Year Fellows
Carley Mitchell, MD
Hometown: Saegertown, Pennsylvania
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Residency: University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University
Why did you choose UH? This program is highly supportive of all fellow interests and I was lucky to find amazing mentorship working with the faculty here. The program also provides a broad and complete clinical experience with the opportunity to develop your own continuity clinic which was very important in my decision.
Interests: Thoracic oncology, palliative care in oncology
Hobbies: Figure skating, downhill skiing, boating & waterskiing. But day to day, I love nothing more than morning coffee and weekend brunch with family & friends.
Annie Zhang, MD
Hometown: Dublin, OH
Medical School: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Residency: Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Why did you choose UH?& As a resident at UH, I had the opportunity to work with incredibly supportive mentors who were role models for patient care at the bedside and leaders in research and education!
Interests: Solid oncology, lung cancer screening, population health, health disparities
Hobbies: Hiking, camping, biking, and hosting summertime bonfires
Eric Irons, MD, PhD
Hometown: Hong Kong, China
Medical School: University at Buffalo
Residency: University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University
Why did you choose UH? I have found UH to be a great place to train. It is well-rounded in offering excellent clinical training, a variety of research opportunities, and a humanistic orientation to service. Many of the clinicians I have met here balance world-class expertise with a dedication to educating those in training.
Interests: Malignant hematology and transplantation
Hobbies: Travel, language, cooking, piano, gardening
Julian Doolittle (Woo Kyung Lee), MD, PhD
Hometown: Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, Korea (a beautiful port city on the south coast of Korea)
Medical School: Yonsei University College of Medicine (The first modern hospital as well as the oldest university in Korea)
Residency: Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, I also did an IM residency and Endocrinology/Metabolism fellowship at Yonsei University College of Medicine/Severance Hospital.
Why did you choose UH? World-renowned clinical excellence, huge/exuberant research network in Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, and a very supportive atmosphere by amazing people
Interests: I did not decide what to do but I am currently interested in rare aggressive endocrine cancers, melanoma, pancreatic cancer, endocrinopathies in cancer patients, and clinical studies. Also, I have a keen interest in translational research about cancer/immune metabolism.
Hobbies: Traveling/hiking with my husband and our dog, weight training, learning cooking/baking, listening to electronic/house music, playing piano/video games.
2nd Year Fellows
Praveena Thiagarajan, MD, PhD
Hometown: Chennai, India
Medical School: Kilpauk Medical College, Chennai, India
Residency: Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Why did you choose UH? I chose UH Case Western Cleveland Medical Center for its strong academic reputation, comprehensive clinical training, and commitment to cutting-edge research in hematology and oncology. The program’s seamless integration of exceptional patient care with expert subspecialty training, along with its collaborative environment and strong mentorship, deeply resonated with me. With diverse clinical exposure and robust research opportunities, UH offers the ideal setting to develop as a well-rounded clinician and contribute meaningfully to the field.
Interests: I have a broad interest in hematology and oncology and am eager to explore various subspecialties before determining my focus area.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending time outdoors—whether it's hiking or just taking in the fresh air to unwind. I also enjoy gardening and photography.
Rohit Rao, MD, PhD
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Medical School: University of Cincinnati
Residency: Case Western University/ University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Why did you choose UH? I was attracted by the many opportunities to get involved in clinical and translational research. Also working here as a resident, I found the oncologists here to be incredibly supportive and willing to teach.
Interests: Still undifferentiated but leaning towards solid oncology with a focus on the tumor immune microenvironment
Hobbies: Traveling to new places, hiking, reading fantasy/science fiction books, occasionally going to comedy shows
Michael Sheu, MD
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Medical School: Saint Louis University
Residency: Cleveland Clinic
Why did you choose UH? For the Land! Cleveland is an incredible, vibrant city brimming with an abundance of (affordable) entertainment and dining options. From world-class museums and theaters to live music, sports, restaurants, and parks, there’s always something to explore. As someone who grew up in a big city, I admit I was initially skeptical about moving to Cleveland. But, after spending the last 4 years here, I’ve come to truly appreciate everything Cleveland has to offer. I’m thrilled to stay for the next three years for fellowship—and who knows, maybe 30 more years after that!
Interests: Hematology
Hobbies: Rock climbing, disc golf, dancing, tennis, collecting sports cards
Vasu Munjapara, MD
Hometown: Strongsville
Medical School: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Residency: University of Michigan
Why did you choose UH? It is a strong program that gives me the flexibility of exploring both a variety of heme/onc pathologies while also continuing the research that I have been conducting since medical school. Being close to my hometown and my family is a huge bonus!
Interests: Medical Oncology, CNS metastases
Hobbies: Reading, Videogames (MMORPGs, MOBAs, FPS), Magic the Gathering
Dan Qu, MD
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
Residency: University of Miami / Jackson Health System
Why did you choose UH? I really enjoyed my rotations at UH when I was a medical student, and I worked with hematology/oncology faculty who were fantastic teachers. Because UH is an amazing training environment, I was excited to come back for fellowship.
Interests:Malignant hematology, health disparities
Hobbies: Exploring new restaurants, trivia games, video games, TV shows & movies.
1st Year Fellows
Hiba Dirawi, MD
Hometown: Lebanon
Medical School: American University of Beirut
Residency: University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Why did you choose UH? IAs a UH resident, I experienced firsthand the strong mentorship, collaborative culture, and high standard of patient care within the program. I was also inspired by the work at the Seidman Cancer Center, where multidisciplinary care and innovative research come together to advance hematology and oncology. These experiences made UH the natural choice for my fellowship training.
Interests: I am still exploring my specific interests within hematology and oncology, but I am currently leaning toward malignant hematology and have a strong interest in healthcare disparities.
Hobbies: Traveling, playing board games, watching series/ movies, and cooking.
Ki Oh, MD
Hometown: South Korea / Nashville, TN
Medical School: Stony Brook University Hospital
Residency: Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Why did you choose UH? I chose UH for the exceptional clinical training at Seidman Cancer Center and its strong GI oncology group. Tackling complex diseases like PDAC requires a highly collaborative environment, which UH excels at providing. I was also drawn to the institution's openness to innovation; as someone with a background in biomedical informatics, it's a great place to explore how modern tools can practically improve patient outcomes!
Interests: Solid Oncology, Pancreatic Cancer, Biomedical Informatics, Precision Oncology
Hobbies: KBBQ/Hot Pot, Judo/Jiu-Jitsu, Gardening, Camping
Jasskiran Kaur, MD
Hometown: Westlake, Ohio
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine
Residency: Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Why did you choose UH? My residency training at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals provided invaluable mentorship and inspired me to pursue a career in oncology. UH offers exceptional clinical training, robust resources to support my research goals, and a strong commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care.
Interests: Solid oncology, clinical research (including precision oncology), healthcare disparities/equity, public policy, hematology
Hobbies: Cooking/eating, travel, reality TV, reading
Aubrey Stickland, MD
Hometown: Grandville, MI
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
Residency: University of Michigan
Why did you choose UH? I did all of my rotations in medical school at UH and absolutely loved it! The culture was great, the people were welcoming, and there were so many amazing training opportunities to become a well-rounded clinician.
Interests: Solid oncology
Hobbies: Running, exploring new parks/trails with my dog, traveling, and spending time with my family & friends!
Jenny Gong, MD
Hometown: Tenafly, NJ
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
Residency: Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Why did you choose UH? UH offers broad exposure to a range of pathologies, multiple research opportunities, and strong mentorship. I’m very happy to continue my time at UH and in Cleveland!
Interests:Solid oncology, immunotherapy, medical education
Hobbies: Running, lifting, tennis (beginner), walks with my dog, reality TV shows