Residents
UH MacDonald Women's Hospital is an integral part of the system of care at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. MacDonald Women's Hospital is one of only eleven freestanding women's hospitals in the United States, and, excluding electives, our residency program is based entirely within this hospital.
We have a proud history of a strong annual fellowship match and successful alumni of our program.
Current Residents
- Class of 2027
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Elif Baglam, MD 
Hometown: Trabzon/ TurkeySchool/Degrees: Marmara University School of Medicine/ MD
Career/Research Interests: I want to be a generalist and I am very interested in serving underserved communities and advocating to reduce disparities in healthcare
Personal Interests: Cooking, reading sociology
Movie: The Green Mile
Books: When Breath Becomes Air
Coffee or Tea: Love them both, can’t choose
Favorite restaurant in Cleveland: Istanbul Mediterranean Grill
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Hiking in different Cleveland Metroparks locations
Languages: English, Turkish
Sonali Patel, MD 
Hometown: Cary, NCSchool/Degrees: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Career/Research Interests: Probably general OBGYN or family planning! And definitely want to incorporate medical education.
Personal Interests: Baking, dancing, exploring new restaurants and bars
Movie: The Proposal
Books: Song of Achilles, Colleen Hoover books
Coffee or Tea: Coffee!!
Favorite restaurant in Cleveland: Cloak and Dagger
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Catch a sunset at the solstice steps!
Vivian Roan, MD 
Hometown: Saratoga, CASchool/Degrees:
BA - UC Berkeley
MD - Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineCareer/Research Interests: health disparities, LGBTQ+ health, undecided on subspecialty
Personal Interests: Photography, guitar, trying new restaurants, dog watching
Movie: Good Will Hunting, Mean Girls
Books: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Coffee or Tea: tea (matcha)
Favorite restaurant in Cleveland: Zhug, Vero, Rood
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Watch the sunset at the Solstice steps or Edgewater park
Languages: Mandarin (conversationally)
Adrienne Simmons, MD 
Hometown: Mason, OHSchool/Degrees: Case Western Reserve University (BA Cognitive Science, MA Bioethics, MD). Clearly, I love Cleveland.
Career/Research Interests: I'm leaning towards being a generalist right now. I'm interested in ethical considerations in OBGYN practice & racial disparities in Women's health
Personal Interests: Salsa dancing, weight lifting, cooking
Movie: Bring it On
Books: Little Fires Everywhere, Black Girls Must Die Exhausted
Coffee or Tea: Coffee!
Favorite restaurant in Cleveland: Soho
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: All of the summer festivals!
Languages: English
Breauna Sanders, MD 
Hometown: Sumter, South CarolinaSchool/Degrees: Emory University: Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology with a Minor in Spanish, The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville: Doctor of Medicine
Career/Research Interests: Racial disparities, advocacy, reproductive education among adolescents
Personal Interests: Baking, perusing YouTube, playing volleyball, exercising, and being a doting dog mom to my dog, Jasper.
Movie: Bird Box
Books: Pretty sure the last book I read cover to cover was First Aid!
Coffee or Tea: Tea but coffee has become a necessity!
Favorite restaurant in Cleveland: Cheesecake Factory
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: There’s so much to do here, it’s hard to choose just one! I really like going to orchestra performances and other cultural events, visiting Cedar Point, and watching the sunset with my dog at Edgewater Park.
Languages: English, Spanish
Emily Villarreal, MD 
Hometown: Benicia, CASchool/Degrees:
Undergraduate – UC Davis
Medical School – Medical College of Wisconsin MilwaukeeCareer/Research Interests: Obesity and nutrition within OB/GYN and advocacy work!
Personal Interests: Propagating and keeping up with my houseplants, and trying out new breweries with friends!
Movie: Legally Blonde, duh
Books: Mix of fiction and non-fiction
Coffee or Tea: Both, but mostly coffee ;)
Favorite restaurant in Cleveland: Vero in Cleveland Heights
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Exploring new restaurants!
Languages: English
- Class of 2028
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Rebecca Barnett, MD, MPH 
Hometown: New YorkSchool/Degrees: Cornell University, BA (Spanish Major); University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (MD/MPH)
Career/Research Interests: gender-affirming care, sexual medicine, gynecologic surgery
Personal Interests: podcasts, cookbooks, hiking, RuPaul's Drag Race, live music, watching videos of other people's doggos and manatees
Movie: The Princess Diaries
Books: A few favorites are Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin, In Love by Amy Bloom, Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison, and anything by Jasmine Guillory
Coffee or Tea: Coffee all the way! What's tea?
Favorite Restaurant in Cleveland: TBD! It will likely involve coffee and/or tacos.
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: TBD!
Languages: English and Spanish
Franci Douglass, MD 
Hometown: Shaker Heights, OHSchool/Degrees: CWRU undergrad and The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Career/Research Interests: Medical education and general OBGYN! DEI research specifically looking at access to care for patients and the experiences of those with low English proficiency.
Personal Interests: Knitting, yoga, and dogs!
Movie: Ratatouille
Books: Anxious People and A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman; We Are All Perfectly Fine by Jillian Horton
Coffee or Tea: Both but tea if I had to pick!
Favorite Restaurant in Cleveland: The Original Pancake House and Melt:)
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: the dog pack walk at Horseshoe lake and kayaking on the river!
Languages: English and Spanish
Lahari Nandikanti, MD 
Hometown: Farmington Hills, MISchool/Degrees: University of Michigan, BS (Public Health) and MD
Career/Research Interests: I am interested in being a generalist with a focus on racial disparities and underserved communities
Personal Interests: Dancing, painting, baking
Movie: The Pink Panther
Books: I recently got into the “romantasy” genre
Coffee or Tea: Coffee but I also love bubble tea!
Favorite Restaurant in Cleveland: Zhug, Townhall, Mitchell’s
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Exploring new restaurants/bars and the lakefront area
Languages: English, Telugu (conversationally)
Grace Noel, MD 
Hometown: Latrobe, PASchool/Degrees: Saint Vincent College, Bioinformatics BS. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, MD
Career/Research Interests: Likely generalist but open-minded. Interested in intimate partner violence research.
Personal Interests: I like to cook and crochet and also read books of all different genres.
Movie: Past Lives
Books: Tana French novels, Pachinko (Min Jin Lee), East of Eden
Coffee or Tea: Tea always!
Favorite Restaurant in Cleveland: Slowly trying different ones, enjoyed Barroco on Larchmere so far!
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Hiking the Metroparks and perusing the art museum.
Languages: English
Denean Taylor, MD 
Hometown: Valdosta, GASchool/Degrees:
- Undergrad: Mercer University
- Medical School: Medical College of GA
Career/Research Interests: I love love the OR and the gynecologic side of the specialty but I’m open to whatever route residency takes me!
Personal Interests: Fitness, walking, traveling
Movie: Django Unchained - Jamie Foxx did his thing in this movie! Unhinged. Performance - top tier. Argue with me.
Books: Anything Crime/Mystery
Coffee or Tea: I LOVE tea. Any and all tea. I drink it!
Favorite Restaurant in Cleveland: I don’t even know. I just got here. I need all the recommendations I can get lol!
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: The lakeside parks are amazing (Edgewater, Solstice Steps, Lakefront off Lakeshore Blvd, etc). They are great for walking or just sitting and decompressing after a long day.
Languages: English
Sarah Zimmerman, MD 
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MISchool/Degrees: Pitzer College, BA in Spanish and Global Public Health, Goucher College, Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program, University of Michigan Medical School
Career/Research Interests: I am interested in being a generalist or complex family planning. I was a doula and childbirth educator for adolescent mothers in my former life. I am interested in community health program development and evaluation, health disparities research, advocacy work, contraceptive/abortion care, and working with adolescent populations.
Personal Interests: Hanging out with my 1 year old son, Michigan sports, baking/cooking, working out
Movie: Stick It
Books: A Tale for the Time Being
Coffee or Tea: Tea (I don't like coffee...)
Favorite Restaurant in Cleveland: Brassica for takeout, Amba for sit down
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Walk to Van Aken on a Friday or Saturday evening for music and food
Languages: English, Spanish
- Class of 2029
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Emiko Hasegawa, DO 
Hometown: Colorado Springs, ColoradoSchool/Degrees: Undergrad: University of Denver
Medical School: Des Moines University
Career/Research Interests: Generalist!
Personal Interests: I love to read, bake, and cook. I also love doing anything outdoors, especially pickleball!
Movie: The Big Sick
Books: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Coffee or Tea: Coffee, please!
Favorite restaurant in Cleveland: So far Zhug, but am slowly trying new places!
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Exploring new places with my co-residents!
Languages: English
Pragnya Iyengar, MD 
Hometown: Plainsboro, NJSchool/Degrees: B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Career/Research Interests: I'm still undecided on generalist vs sub-specialty, but am interested in health equity and working with medically underserved populations
Personal Interests: Cuddling with my cat, singing, playing video games, and spending time outdoors
Movie: I love Disney/Pixar, my favorite is Inside Out!
Books: My favorite genres are historical fiction and fantasy; I'm currently reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
Coffee or Tea: Both! Coffee in the morning and tea before bed 🙂
Favorite restaurant in Cleveland: South India Cuisine <3
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: I love going to concerts and visiting the Cleveland museums, aquarium and zoo!
Languages: English, Spanish, Tamil
Sameeha Jilani, MD 
Hometown: Manhattan Beach, CASchool/Degrees: University of Washington (B.S. in Public Health), Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (MD)
Career/Research Interests: I'm interested in gynecologic oncology, and am also very passionate about abortion care and reproductive justice!
Personal Interests: Hiking, reading, board games, and hosting dinner for my friends.
Movie: The Princess Diaries
Books: I love anything sci-fi/thriller
Coffee or Tea: I love both, but coffee if I had to pick.
Favorite restaurant in Cleveland: LJ Shanghai for an everyday pick, Cordelia for a fun/fancy night out!
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: going to events at the art museum, trying new restaurants, and exploring the Metroparks
Languages: English
Nia Johnson, MD 
Hometown: Silver Spring, MDUndergraduate School: Fordham University
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Career/Research Interests: Health disparities particularly, Black maternal morbidity and mortality, weight stigma and experiences of patients with higher BMI in healthcare systems, and community engagement in healthcare. I am still exploring in terms of general OBGYN vs. subspecialties for my future practice.
Personal Interests: Reading, Knitting, Going for a Hot Girl Walk
Movie: Princess Diaries 2
Books: Kindred and Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
Coffee or Tea: Honestly both! Coffee in the morning, Tea in the afternoon
Favorite restaurant in Cleveland: Poppy
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Explore new restaraunts and breweries with co-interns <3
Languages: English
Mackenzie King, MD 
Hometown: Dublin, OhioSchool/Degrees: BS in Neuroscience with minor in medical humanities from Ohio State, MD from Ohio State
Career/Research Interests: Still figuring out my career path, but interests include mental health in pregnancy and the postpartum period, LGBTQ+ care, and addressing disparities in maternal and infant outcomes
Personal Interests: exercise/running, reading, live music
Movie: I don't really have a favorite movie but my favorite TV show is Broad City
Books: The Silent Patient, Tuesdays with Morrie
Coffee or Tea: coffee!
Favorite restaurant in Cleveland: favorite so far is Stone Oven Bakery
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: go on runs around Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights and explore new shops and restaurants
Languages: just English
Hannah Yarolimek, MD 
Hometown: Lexington KYSchool/Degrees: Florida State University- Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Career/Research Interests: I am interested in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility!
Personal Interests: I love to sing and perform! I try to find any opportunity to sing in choir, in a cappella groups or just for fun. I also love to garden!
Movie: Inception
Books: An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
Coffee or Tea: Coffee!
Favorite restaurant in Cleveland: Zhug
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Go to Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Languages: English (Fun fact: I used to sing in French, Italian, and German- but it's been a while!)
- Class of 2030
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Araam Abboud, MD, MPH, MS 
- Hometown: North Royalton, OH
- School/Degrees:
- The College of Wooster: BA: Biochemistry and molecular biology; BA: Classical Studies, Concentration in History of the Ancient Mediterranean
- Georgetown University: MS, Physiology, Concentration in Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine: MPH, MD
- Career/Research Interests: Perinatal addiction medicine, reproductive justice and abortion care, global health, community-engaged research, health disparities, program/curriculum development
- Personal Interests: Photography (film!!), thrifting, traveling, a lil craft, crystal collecting, cat mom of 3/bird mom of 1/dog mom of 1, and plant mom of many
- Favorite Movie: Shrek
- Favorite Book(s): The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran (but I also love a good romantasy and Greek mythology)
- Coffee or Tea: A dirty iced chai latte, always
- Favorite Restaurant in Cleveland: Hecks in Ohio City
- Favorite Thing to Do in Cleveland: Third Fridays at 78th Street Studios or going to a concert!!
- Languages Spoken: English, Arabic
Esha Ghosalkar, MD 
- Hometown: Detroit, MI
- School/Degrees: Undergraduate: University of Central Florida; Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
- Career/Research Interests: interested in MFM!
- Personal Interests: travelling, exploring new coffee shops/restaurants, reading
- Favorite Movie: Devil Wears Prada
- Favorite Book(s): The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
- Coffee or Tea: Coffee (always!)
- Favorite Restaurant in Cleveland: Il Rione or Amba
- Favorite Thing to Do in Cleveland: try new restaurants or coffee shops! (recently tried Atmos coffee)
- Languages Spoken: English, Marathi, Hindi
Holly Houenstein, MD - Hometown: Buffalo, NY
- School/Degrees: Undergrad: University at Buffalo, Medical school: Jacobs School of Medicine, University at Buffalo
- Career/Research Interests: I’m interested in pursuing a career in gynecologic oncology
- Personal Interests: I love all types of fiber arts, especially crochet! I love reading fiction, cooking, and caring for my pets!
- Favorite Movie: The Trial of the Chicago 7, The Pink Panther 2
- Favorite Book(s): Anything by Annie Hartnett, I who have never known men, Drive your plow over the bones of the dead
- Coffee or Tea: COFFEE
- Favorite Restaurant in Cleveland: To be determined!
- Favorite Thing to Do in Cleveland: Bowling at Mahall’s
- Languages Spoken: English
Marisa Lake, MD 
- Hometown: Long Beach, CA
- School/Degrees: Undergrad- UCLA, BS in Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology, Minor in Biomedical Research; Medical School- Case Western
- Career/Research Interests: Trauma-informed Care, Medical Education
- Personal Interests: Spending time with my mini dachshund, Dutch, trying new ice cream and coffee spots, going to country concerts
- Favorite Movie: A Star is Born, Wicked Part 1
- Favorite Book(s): The Names by Florence Knapp, anything by Carley Fortune
- Coffee or Tea: Coffee (iced 99% of the time)
- Favorite Restaurant in Cleveland: Brassica
- Favorite Thing to Do in Cleveland: Seeing shows in Playhouse Square, Cavs/Browns games
- Languages Spoken: English
Laura VargasWalker, MD 
- Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
- School/Degrees: University of Arizona, BS in Physiology and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, MD
- Career/Research Interests: I am very passionate about qualitative research and I am especially interested in opportunistic salpingectomy and equitable care for people of all sizes. Not sure about my career path yet, but I’m considering urogynecology!
- Personal Interests: I love singing & playing guitar, video games, escape rooms, & trivia
- Favorite Movie: Shrek or the Princess Bride
- Favorite Book(s): I love any true crime and mysteries/thrillers. Most recently I read Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
- Coffee or Tea: Both, I love a dirty chai :)
- Favorite Restaurant in Cleveland: Abundance Culinary
- Favorite Thing to Do in Cleveland: Going on walks on Coventry road, going thrifting & getting coffee at Phoenix Coffee
- Languages Spoken: English
Kristina White, MD 
- Hometown: Xenia, OH
- School/Degrees:
- University of Cincinnati - BS (Major - Medical Sciences; Minors: Psychology and Public Health)
- The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences - MD
- Career/Research Interests: I'm interested in becoming a generalist, but still very open! I'm interested in addressing healthcare, racial, and social disparities in underserved populations.
- Personal Interests: Reading, indoor cycling, outdoor walks, reality TV competition shows, trying new restaurants and activities
- Favorite Movie: She's the Man
- Favorite Book(s): Educated by Tara Westover, The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
- Coffee or Tea: Both! I love coffee in the morning and tea in the evening
- Favorite Restaurant in Cleveland: So far I've loved takeout from Brassica but I have a long list of restaurants to still try
- Favorite Thing to Do in Cleveland: Taking a walk by the lake and exploring different coffee shops!
- Languages Spoken: English