Get to know our fellows

Our fellows are a diverse group from a variety of backgrounds with unique experiences and interests. We look forward to getting to know you as well!

Class of 2025

Liala Burmeister, DO
Liala Burmeister, DO

Hometown: Muskegon, MI

Medical school: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? For me, it was an obvious choice. The entire group here is warm, inviting and has a commitment to education and their patients. I knew I would have the right amount of social and academic support to succeed clinically.

What are your clinical interests? I'm still early in my training, and while I enjoy hematology, I certainly have a preference for oncology and more specifically, leukemia, but I plan to keep an open mind.

Hobbies: Outside of work, I enjoy being outside with family and friends and any and all sorts of physical activity. Most of all, I enjoy watching the world through my 2-year-old son's eyes.

Class of 2024

Megan Burcham, MD
Megan Burcham, MD

Hometown: Spencerville, IN

Medical school: Indiana University School of Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health for fellowship due to the focus on clinical medicine.

What are your clinical interests? Within hematology/oncology, I am specifically interested in survivorship.

Hobbies: In my free time I enjoy cooking, hiking and spending time outdoors with my dogs.

Class of 2023

Alexander Lake, DO
Alexander Lake, DO

Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI

Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I fell in love with the pediatric hematology/oncology group during an away rotation at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. I know their team will provide the quality education and resources I need to succeed after I graduate from my fellowship.

What do you like most about your program? I am looking forward to joining the pediatric hematology/oncology family and working together as a team.

Clinical Interests: At this time, I am not sure if I want to subspecialize within the pediatric hematology/oncology field. I do have a special interest in bone marrow failure syndromes and leukemia/lymphoma. As my clinic experience grows, I hope to find clarity among these interests.

Living in West Michigan: I love the variety of restaurants, the nearby lakeshore, and the many parks and trails. Since my family lives in West Michigan as well, I enjoy the luxury of being near them.

Hobbies: My outdoor hobbies include: hiking, running, rollerblading, basketball and photography (from my travels). My indoor hobbies include: listening to music, reading, playing video games, and playing board games.

Graduates

June 2022: David Hoogstra, MD - Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI

July 2020: Allison Schnepp, MD - Hurley Medical Center, Flint, MI

June 2019: Jenna Gedminas, DO – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

July 2018: Rebecca Weicht-Graves, DO – Providence Alaska, Anchorage, AK

June 2017: Matthew Pridgeon, MD – Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI

Dec. 2015: Prasanth Pillai, DO – Bronson Health, Kalamazoo, MI

June 2015: Aditi Bagchi, MD, PhD - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN