Pediatrics residency

Exterior of the Helen DeVos Children's HospitalSpectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine logo

Welcome and thank you for your interest in the Spectrum Health/Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Pediatrics Residency Program at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital! Located in one of the fastest growing cities in the Midwest, we are nationally ranked in four pediatric sub-specialties by U.S. News and World Report and offer a complete educational and clinical experience in our state-of-the-art, free-standing, children’s hospital.

We hope the following information is useful to you. Thank you again for considering us for your residency training and please feel free to contact us with questions

From The Program Directors

“What do you want to be known for when you leave residency?” When our graduates are asked this question, they overwhelmingly answer: excellent in patient care, compassionate and a team player. As program directors for the Spectrum Health/Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Pediatrics Residency Program at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, we share these values with our graduates, and it is our goal to create a learning environment that cultivates them.

When you join this program, you join a team that works to foster a community that is inclusive and innovative in order to impact the health of all the children we care for both now and in the future.

Inclusive

Inclusivity is a top priority. We desire to serve our diverse community effectively. In order to do this, we are supported by the work of Spectrum Health, the diversity, equity & inclusion team and our pediatric diversity and inclusion committee. Through educational events, advocacy projects, candid conversations and intentional recruiting, our goal is to create a learning environment that is supportive, open and affirming to all of our members so that we can provide the best possible pediatric care to our patients.

Inclusivity also means listening to the needs of each individual resident. We desire to support you and your unique professional goals. Attendings and residents work side-by-side and intentionally call each other by first name. By doing so, we strive to know each of you as individuals and work to minimize traditional hierarchy. We strive to truly have an open-door policy that is responsive to issues that impact your learning environment and discuss difficult topics such as burnout, compassion fatigue, professional development, coaching, growth mindset and resilience.

You will have the opportunity to join one of five curriculum tracks that support educational goals. In the third year, every resident has a half-day a week to explore their own career interests. Scholarly and advocacy activity is individualized and supported by mentors from a community of 300 pediatric physicians representing over 50 subspecialties.

Innovative

Innovative means thinking about pediatrics in the future. Along with robust fulfillment of board requirements and board preparation, we provide curriculum for pediatricians to serve as leaders within their communities well into the future. We begin your education with intern immersion and advocacy – a month long rotation that places general pediatrics at the start of your education. This is followed by higher acuity complex care rotations in your second year along with unique leadership electives in your third year that will prepare you for the next phase of practice.

Along the way, you will have the opportunity to earn a certificate in lifestyle medicine or global health. You may even elect to become a health equity scholar or a culinary medicine scholar. If none of these align with your passions, you will also have an opportunity to participate in unique elective experiences such as resident-as-teacher, complex care, rehabilitation medicine, parenting, research, community hospitalist and business of medicine. Each elective allows you to explore the aspects of pediatric medicine that may not necessarily be tested by the boards but is critical to your success.

Impact

None of this would matter if we did not accomplish our ultimate goal: impacting the health of all the children we serve. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital strives to advocate for every child and has been recognized as a tertiary and quaternary referral destination serving a wide region. Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital has earned U.S. News & World Report rankings for providing excellent pediatric care for many years running. With the region’s largest neonatal ICU, a neurologic and cardiac ICU, an award-winning cardiology program, personalized genomics, wireless EEG monitoring systems, an efficient emergency department and growing pediatric fellowship programs, the hospital provides cutting edge care to children from around the state, region, nation and world. We are supported by research facilities including Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and the Van Andel Institute. As leaders in the community, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital has innovative partnerships with our local rehabilitative hospital and psychiatric hospital to provide comprehensive inclusive care for the children in our community.

In addition to excellent medical care, we work to impact our community in additional ways through legislative advocacy, topical advocacy day, volunteer projects and community outreach.

Inclusive. Innovative. Impactful. This is our mission. This work is possible due to the amazing teamwork and compassion within our program. When we ask residents why they came here to train, they list everything above along with the beautiful facilities and vibrant and accessible community of Grand Rapids. Most importantly, they will all unanimously say, ”It is the people!”

In line with our Association of Pediatric Programs across the country, we will continue to host virtual interviews in this upcoming season to promote inclusivity and accessibility. We look forward to meeting you in the upcoming recruitment season. See you soon!

Sincerely,
Jill, Vanessa, Justin, Kira, Jason and Miranda

Group shot of the Pediatric Residency Program Directors and Assistant Program Directors.
Group shot of the Pediatric Chief Residents

Welcome from the Chiefs

Welcome to the Spectrum Health/Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Pediatrics Residency Program at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital! We are excited for your consideration and cannot wait to share HERE why we are an excellent choice for your residency training and a perfect fit for you.

Sincerely,

Aya Al-Noubani, MD; Elijah Huang, MD; Austin Voydanoff, MD

Education

Program Aims

  1. Impact the health of children in the community through innovative opportunities including advocacy, future-minded primary care education and exposure to a wide variety of pediatric subspecialties
  2. To recruit and train an inclusive workforce that represents the community in which we work
  3. Create a supportive learning environment that promotes individual career needs and individualized scholarly pursuits
  4. Foster a culture of wellness, lifelong learning and safety in order to impact the health of patients, families and the community

Our Hospital

The Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital is a state-of-art, free-standing children's hospital and Level I trauma center. The Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital is Michigan's largest neonatal center and the fifth largest in the nation with more than 1,300 babies admitted annually.

Like most pediatrics facilities, we practice a family-centered rounding style. Our continuity clinic experience is unique in that we have the option of spending one half-day per week of the third year in a clinical setting of your choosing, whether a private practice primary care clinic, a community clinic, a subspecialty clinic, or even a hospitalist or critical care role. At Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, we truly care about individualizing your education to help you reach your professional goals. As such, we offer several curriculum tracks.

Electives

Within each track, multiple electives can be selected based on your interests and goals. Here is a sampling of the electives we offer:

  • Advanced Emergency Medicine
  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Anesthesiology
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship Program
  • Bone Marrow Transplant
  • Burn
  • Business of Medicine
  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Cardiology
  • Center for Child Protection (CCP)
  • Culinary Medicine
  • Dermatology
  • Education Leadership
  • Endocrinology
  • ENT
  • Gastroenterology
  • Global Health
  • Healthy Weight Center
  • Hospitalist
  • Medical Examiner
  • Medical Genetics
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopedics
  • Palliative Care
  • Pathology
  • PM&R
  • Primary Care Experience (PCE)
  • Psychiarty
  • Pulmonology
  • Quality Improvement
  • Radiology
  • Research
  • Rheumatology
  • Sedation
  • Sports Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Toxicology
  • Urology

Didactics

Our faculty is dedicated to your learning whether in a clinical setting or through our various didactics.

Residents going through multi-disciplinary case conference
MondayMorning report
TuesdayGrand Rounds or Morbidity and Mortality Conference
WednesdayMulti-Disciplinary Case Conference led by an intern with small group discussion of differential and workup plans with input from various subspecialists depending on the case
ThursdayProtected didactics 1200-1600 consisting of board review Q&As, mock codes, journal clubs, and an 18-month lecture series given by sub-specialty faculty based on Nelson’s with a focus on ABP general pediatrics learning objectives.
FridayMorning report, Psychiatry Rounds, QI/Safety Rounds, or the ever popular Infectious Disease Bug Bowl

Research

Three photos of pediatrics residents presenting their research at conferences.

Scholarly activity at Spectrum Health spans the continuum of medicine and includes translational research, medical education, quality and safety, and advocacy projects and initiatives. Our faculty members are experts in their fields, with a vast array of scholarly interests, and are excellent research mentors for our residents. Each year, residents present their research at a variety of local, regional, and national conferences.

Conferences

  • Academic Pediatric Association Region V Conference
  • American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • American Thoracic Society
  • Adolescent Health Initiative
  • Association of Pediatric Program Directors
  • Endocrine Society
  • Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
  • North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
  • Pediatric Academic Society
  • Pediatric Endocrine Society
  • Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine
  • Society of Hospitalist Medicine
  • The Generalists in Medical Education

Journals

  • Academic Medicine
  • Blood Advances
  • BMC Health Services Research
  • Congenital Heart Disease
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Genetic Medicine
  • International Journal of Cancer
  • JAMA Pediatrics
  • Journal of Adolescent Health
  • Journal of Clinical Immunology
  • Journal of Medical Internet Research
  • Journal of Pediatrics
  • Journal of Pediatric Infectious Disease Society
  • Kidney International
  • Medical Education
  • NeoReviews
  • Obesity
  • Pediatrics
  • Pediatric Annals
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine 
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Physiologic Genomics

Resident Life

Clinic Immersion and Advocacy

Three pictures of groups of residents at various events.

All pediatric interns complete a clinic immersion rotation in their first or second block. During this month, interns have daily morning clinics with a gradual increase in patient load. In the afternoons, they visit various community programs and advocacy groups to better understand what resources are available locally for our patients. Pictured here are interns on a wellness walk, a group preparing food at a culinary medicine class, and the intern day of service at Habitat for Humanity.

Application Requirements

Applications and the following documents are accepted only through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We require:

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Recent clinical experience within the United States
  • Applicants must have graduated medical school within the last three years
  • All candidates must possess U.S. work authorization or be eligible for J-1 status
  • Step 2 exam results are encouraged, but not required prior to your interview. Results for Step 2 CK exam must be available to be considered for ranking.

For more information on our program, contact Julie Beute, program coordinator.

Group shot of the Pediatric Residency Program Coordinators

Pictured: Julie Beute, Sue Heinz and Saron Mogos
Pediatric Residency Program Coordinators

Salary and Benefits

All visiting medical student applications must be submitted through the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities program. The Spectrum Health course catalog for rotation opportunities starting in July for the next academic year will be posted in March. Applications will be accepted starting April 1.

Spectrum Health provides a comprehensive and very competitive benefits package for our residents, staff and their families. In addition, our program provides educational monies to support your ongoing education. Download our salary and benefits document to learn more.

Program Director

Core Faculty

Learn more about our faculty at www.phd.msu.edu.

Chief Residents

Aya Al-Noubani, MD
Aya Al-Noubani, MD

Jordan University of Science and Technology

Elijah Huang, MD
Elijah Huang, MD

Indiana University

Austin Voydanoff, MD
Austin Voydanoff, MD

Michigan State University

Aya Al-Noubani, MD
Aya Al-Noubani, MD

Jordan University of Science and Technology

Elijah Huang, MD
Elijah Huang, MD

Indiana University

Austin Voydanoff, MD
Austin Voydanoff, MD

Michigan State University

Class of 2025

Spencer Adams, MD
Spencer Adams, MD

University of Central Florida

Emily Borgemenke, DO
Emily Borgemenke, DO

University of Pikeville

Jenna Braun, MD
Jenna Braun, MD

Wright State University

Caroline Buckley, MD
Caroline Buckley, MD

Western Michigan University

Spencer Adams, MD
Spencer Adams, MD

University of Central Florida

Emily Borgemenke, DO
Emily Borgemenke, DO

University of Pikeville

Jenna Braun, MD
Jenna Braun, MD

Wright State University

Caroline Buckley, MD
Caroline Buckley, MD

Western Michigan University

Maria Correa Roldan, MD
Maria Correa Roldan, MD

Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud (Ces)

Kristen Erwin, DO
Kristen Erwin, DO

Edward Via College

Swetha Gogu, DO
Swetha Gogu, DO

Kansas City University

Tamara Gonzalez Copo, MD
Tamara Gonzalez Copo, MD

San Juan Batista School of Medicine

Michael Kennett, MD
Michael Kennett, MD

Ohio State University

Connor Kuipers, MD
Connor Kuipers, MD

George Washington University

Meghan Lemmen, MD
Meghan Lemmen, MD

University of Louisville

Lyn Mattathil, MD
Lyn Mattathil, MD

Albany Medical College

Geralyn Moody, MD
Geralyn Moody, MD

Michigan State University

Julia O‘Donoghue, MD
Julia O‘Donoghue, MD

University of Massachusetts

Ann Renner, MD
Ann Renner, MD

University of North Dakota

Sejad Skokic, MD
Sejad Skokic, MD

Michigan State University

Miranda Stein, MD
Miranda Stein, MD

University of Utah

Amanda Stevens, DO
Amanda Stevens, DO

Michigan State University

Yael Straus, MD
Yael Straus, MD

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Kaitlin Zorich, DO
Kaitlin Zorich, DO

University of North Texas

Class of 2024

Grant Adams, MD
Grant Adams, MD

Indiana University

Jolysa Bosco, DO
Jolysa Bosco, DO

Rocky Vista University

David Calafiore, MD
David Calafiore, MD

Ohio State University

Sammy Dia, MD
Sammy Dia, MD

Wayne State University

Grant Adams, MD
Grant Adams, MD

Indiana University

Jolysa Bosco, DO
Jolysa Bosco, DO

Rocky Vista University

David Calafiore, MD
David Calafiore, MD

Ohio State University

Sammy Dia, MD
Sammy Dia, MD

Wayne State University

Jared Doezema, MD
Jared Doezema, MD

Medical College of Wisconsin

Haley Ehrle, MD
Haley Ehrle, MD

University of Wisconsin

Leo Fawaz, MD
Leo Fawaz, MD

Oakland University

Connor Kriz, MD
Connor Kriz, MD

Chicago Medical School—Rosalind Franklin University

Cameron McKenney, DO
Cameron McKenney, DO

Michigan State University

Bridget Moore, MD
Bridget Moore, MD

University of Vermont

Cheryl Mukosiku, MD
Cheryl Mukosiku, MD

St. George’s University

Natalie Payne, MD
Natalie Payne, MD

Michigan State University

Natalia Perecki, MD
Natalia Perecki, MD

Wayne State University

Monica Sinkovich, DO
Monica Sinkovich, DO

Liberty University

Stephen Trombley, MD
Stephen Trombley, MD

Michigan State University

Marie Tysman, MD
Marie Tysman, MD

Western Michigan University

Christina Varghese, MD
Christina Varghese, MD

University of Toledo

Maria Voydanoff, MD
Maria Voydanoff, MD

Michigan State University

Cassandra Weaver, DO
Cassandra Weaver, DO

Nova Southeastern University

Bixi Zeng, MD, Ph.D.
Bixi Zeng, MD, Ph.D.

Michigan State University

Class of 2023

Kayla Acre, DO
Kayla Acre, DO

Michigan State University

Maeve Bartiss, MD
Maeve Bartiss, MD

East Carolina University

Heather Blickenstaff, MD
Heather Blickenstaff, MD

Indiana University

Elizabeth Davis, DO
Elizabeth Davis, DO

Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine—Midwestern University

Kayla Acre, DO
Kayla Acre, DO

Michigan State University

Maeve Bartiss, MD
Maeve Bartiss, MD

East Carolina University

Heather Blickenstaff, MD
Heather Blickenstaff, MD

Indiana University

Elizabeth Davis, DO
Elizabeth Davis, DO

Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine—Midwestern University

Heather Gladfelter, MD
Heather Gladfelter, MD

Saint Louis University

Aubrey Graham, MD
Aubrey Graham, MD

University of Illinois—Rockford

Joshua Green, MD
Joshua Green, MD

Oakland University

Aamna Hafeez, DO
Aamna Hafeez, DO

Michigan State University

Jeffrey Haus, DO
Jeffrey Haus, DO

Marian University

Hollis Johnson, MD
Hollis Johnson, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin
Samantha Johnson, MD
Samantha Johnson, MD

West Virginia University—Morgantown

Sophia Khalil, MD
Sophia Khalil, MD

Oakland University

Emmanuel Kumar, MD
Emmanuel Kumar, MD

Western Michigan University

Danielle Larsen, MD
Danielle Larsen, MD

University of Oklahoma

Hansika Narayanan, MD
Hansika Narayanan, MD

University of Illinois—Chicago

Jonathan Shabab, MD
Jonathan Shabab, MD

Northeast Ohio Medical University

Urmi Sheth, MD
Urmi Sheth, MD

University of Illinois—Chicago

Kayla Smith, MD
Kayla Smith, MD

University of Texas

Joyce Tam, MD
Joyce Tam, MD

Indiana University

Zachary Tolstyka, MD
Zachary Tolstyka, MD

Wayne State University

Pediatrics residency bios

Resident group photo

Ready to Apply?

Review the “Application Requirements” tab on the program page to learn more about the application process.