Get to know our residents

Hometown: Jordan

Medical school: Jordan University of Science and Technology

What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? What I liked most about Corewell Health in West Michigan is the people. During my interview, the positive vibes and how caring and nice the residents and the faculty were, made me feel in a place like home. I was looking for a supportive program with a family-like working environment that has excellent teaching and healthcare reputation, and I found Corewell Health in West Michigan as a perfect choice that carries all of that. I was impressed by the educational system and how the program provides great opportunities to develop ourselves from both academic and clinical fields. Plus, Grand Rapids is a great place to live in and I'm so excited to start my residency there.

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in all things in pediatrics, but I like the adrenaline rush in the acute settings of NICU, PICU and ED which I may consider one of them as a future carrier. I also like teaching and being involve in the educational system. Still, I don't know how things could change through residency, but I'm looking forward to it.

Hobbies: I enjoy playing soccer and tennis and outdoor activities like camping, hiking and hunting. I also love spending time with my family and friends. In my spare time, I like listening to podcasts, watching movies and play video games.

Hometown: AL Balqa, Jordan

Medical school: Mu’Tah University

What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? What excites me about the program is how well organized the it is and how much attention they pay to every detail about you. Additionally, the program promotes diversity and inclusivity, as any question or thought you have can be understood or answered. Also, the residents here are very nice and they participate in a variety of activities that I want to be part of. Aside from that, I am very excited to be a part of the educational process, whether as a learner or a teacher, because this is a very unique aspect here. Finally, I can't wait to participate in Michigan's snowy winter activities.

What are your clinical interests? At the moment, I prefer critical care aspects, but I am willing to learn more about everything before making a decision.

Hobbies: I used to play football (soccer) in my home country, and I am a big fan of Manchester City and Barcelona. I also enjoy traveling since it allows me to explore and learn about new cultures—I prefer to be a traveler rather than a tourist. Another thing I like to do is cooking. I used to make 'Mansaf' in Jordan, but I'm currently learning how to cook other types of Arabic food.

Hometown: Holly, MI

Medical school: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? I am very excited to join the community of residents and the rest of the Corewell Health in West Michigan family. I am looking forward to getting to know and working with this unique pediatric population!

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in primary care pediatrics, NICU and endocrinology.

Hobbies: I love anything outdoors, especially hiking with my dog and taking her to the lake. I also enjoy reading, trying new coffee shops and baking.

Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI

Medical school: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? I am a Grand Rapids native and I have dreamt of working at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital on Medical Mile since childhood. It is so exciting to see how Grand Rapids, as well as the hospital systems, have grown and evolved in recent years. I am honored to serve the community that helped inspire and raise me!

What are your clinical interests? I love everything in the world of pediatrics. I am still undecided whether I will pursue a specific fellowship or practice general pediatrics.

Hobbies: Outside of medicine, my partner and I enjoy being adventurous outdoors including skiing, hiking with our German Shepherd, surfing on Lake Michigan, playing volleyball and spontaneously traveling.

Hometown: Ligonier, IN

Medical school: Indiana University School of Medicine

What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? I am excited to get to work with children from all across the region and see a wide variety of disease pathology. I am also excited to get to meet and care for children from a variety of backgrounds. Living in West Michigan so far has been fun and I am excited to get to explore the area more!

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in general pediatrics. Babies are my favorite patients to care for!

Hobbies: I spend most of my free time with my son and husband. Other hobbies of mine are reading, gardening and enjoying the outdoors.

Hometown: Graham, TX

Medical school: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso

What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? I am excited to become an excellent pediatrician who advocates for the members of our community and cares for all patients and families!

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in general pediatrics and developmental and behavioral medicine. I have not decided if I would like to specialize and I look forward to exploring subspecialties during residency.

Hobbies: I enjoy hanging out with my friends, family and dog! I also like to play any type of game, hiking, gardening and traveling.

Hometown: San Jose, California

Medical school: Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine

What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? IOn my interview day with Corewell Health in West Michigan, I was impressed by the welcoming and supportive faculty and program leadership. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join this tight-knit residency family, to get to know the community that we serve and to discover all the wonderful things Grand Rapids has to offer. I am also excited about the global health opportunities available to us!

What are your clinical interests? I currently have an interest in primary care pediatrics and global health, but am also open to exploring different sub-specialties.

Hobbies: I like to find good lavender lattes, watch sunsets by the beach and bake Joulutorttu every December. I also enjoy traveling, trying out new cuisines and capturing candid moments of my family and friends.

Hometown: Havana, Cuba

Medical school: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? I chose Corewell Health in West Michigan because I wanted to work with and learn from all pediatric specialists. I am excited to learn both the bread and butter of pediatrics and also learn to manage and care for the most complex pediatric patients. In addition, I am excited to be a part of a team that is supportive and values patient centered care.

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in going into pediatric primary care, where I can focus on health promotion and disease prevention.

Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with family and friends, hiking, dancing and being in nature.

Hometown: Lawrence, KS

Medical school: University of Kansas School of Medicine

What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? The breadth of resources that Helen DeVos Children's Hospital has access to is exciting to me. Also, I love all the people so far!

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in a fellowship in neonatal critical care! I also have an interest in adolescent medicine.

Hobbies: I love taking my 6 month old on walks to markets or coffee shops. I also am looking for a yoga or pilates studio in Grand Rapids!

Hometown: Rochester Hills, MI

Medical school: Wayne State University School of Medicine

What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? I am very excited to begin my pediatric journey at Corewell Health in West Michigan. Their focus on quality education, the opportunity to treat a variety of patients and the immense support from attending and co-residents are some of the many reasons why Helen DeVos Children's Hospital is a great place for residency.

What are your clinical interests? I am open to exploring all different areas and specialties. So far, pediatric emergency medicine and pediatric sports medicine have been my main areas of interest.

Hobbies: Outside of spending time with family and friends, I like to travel and spend time outdoors. I enjoy playing sports, such as soccer and volleyball. I am also an avid movie watcher, specifically Marvel movies.

Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO

Medical school: University of Central Florida College of Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum because of the phenomenal culture and atmosphere. This is a place where you will be challenged with a huge breadth of clinical exposure and opportunities to grow leadership skills. It is amazing to be a part of a group dedicated to advancing the health of their community.

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in acute care pediatrics. Additionally, in healthcare utilization, how do we get the right resources to the right people in the right time?

Hobbies: I love hanging out with my wife and kids and we can often be found hiking, fishing, biking or camping. I also enjoy board games, soccer, hockey and golf in addition to pen making.

Hometown: Linden, MI

Medical school: Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? My interview day really made love HDVCH. I could see how well residents interacted with each other and with attendings. I loved that everyone was on a first name basis. I also wanted to go to a large children's hospital where I could get lots of experience. I'm from Michigan and wanted to stay close to family. I also liked that everything is in one place/near each other - clinic, hospital, specialty clinics. No 24-hour shifts! Free parking! Overall good vibes!

What are your clinical interests? As of right now I've got lots of interests and I love most things outpatient - both primary care and specialties that are outpatient focused.

Hobbies: I like spending time with family and friends, watching TV shows and movies, listening to music, playing card games and board games and talking about all things pop culture (especially the 2000s).

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

Medical school: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine- Virginia

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health because I felt as though I could get along with the residents very well. The pediatrics program seems like they truly value our time and service.

What are your clinical interests? I am interested becoming a general pediatrician. My specific interests include lifestyle medicine, preventative care and psychiatry.

Hobbies: My hobbies include hiking, camping, cooking plant-based meals and spending time with my pets.

Hometown: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

Medical school: San Juan Bautista School of Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health for residency because it was a free-standing children's hospital in a mid-size city. It offered a wide range of electives, dedicated time for didactics and opportunities for scholarly activity.

What are your clinical interests? My clinical interests are in general pediatrics currently, but I am open to exploring different specialties through residency.

Hobbies: I like to lay on the beach, snorkel, walk trails, meditate and travel. I also love spending time with family and friends.

Hometown: Skokie, IL

Medical school: Albany Medical College

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health because of its supportive and collaborative culture. Spectrum Health's Helen DeVos Children's Hospital offers residents the opportunity to see a vast variety of pathology due to it's large catchment area while training in an environment where everyone is invested in helping you become the best clinician possible. Additionally, I chose Spectrum Health because it allowed me the opportunity to receive exceptional training while being close to home.

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in pediatric hospital medicine, NICU and gastroenterology.

Hobbies: I enjoy hiking, going to the beach, taking walks, trying new restaurants, reading and doing puzzles.

Hometown: Little Chute, WI

Medical school: University of Massachusetts

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I could tell from my resident meet and greet the night prior to my interview that there was a community of support among residents at Spectrum.

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in preventative medicine within the world of hospitalist medicine.

Hobbies: I love running with my husband (we met on our undergrad's track team!), baking and watching cheesy rom coms.

Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI

Medical school: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health for my pediatrics residency because there was a sense of family when rotating throughout their inpatient and outpatient teams. I was also impressed by the level of autonomy given to the residents and the commitment of the faculty to education.

What are your clinical interests? I am currently undecided on my future career path, but am interested in exploring paths to work in global health or more rural areas of the country.

Hobbies: When I find the free time, I am an avid volleyball and soccer player. I also like to explore nature in the various seasons around town and near the beaches of Lake Michigan.

Hometown: Fort Worth, TX

Medical school: University of North Texas Health Science Center - Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health because of the people. My interview day was filled with warm welcomes and everyone I met was excited to meet me and share all of the great things that Spectrum Health had to offer. During the resident social hour, it was very evident that all the residents cared for each other. I was looking for a place that was close-knit and supportive and I found that here when I joined the Spectrum Health family.

What are your clinical interests? I am undecided, but am interested in pursuing a sub-specialty.

Hobbies: I love spending time outdoors, whether that's gardening, playing soccer or going hiking. I also enjoy cooking, baking and spending time with my family or playing with my sweet dogs.

Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN

Medical school: Indiana University School of Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health for my residency training for their dedication to the pediatric population here in Grand Rapids. Their well-earned reputation for excellent care and teaching further solidified my choice.

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in general pediatrics with a focus on community and making sure families have the resources they need to help their children grow up healthy and strong.

Hobbies: I enjoy running, hiking, reading and making mosaics. I really enjoy visiting national parks.

Hometown: Dearborn, MI

Medical school: Wayne State University School of Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? In the new age of virtual interviews, we were presented with the challenge to gauge whether a program was a good fit without seeing the location or meeting the people. I chose Spectrum Health for my pediatric residency because the family-feel environment was tangible through a virtual interview. From the collegial relationships between faculty and residents and the obvious commitment to a positive learning environment, I knew I wanted to join Spectrum Health where I would be supported by a family away from home throughout residency.

What are your clinical interests? My clinical interests lie in general pediatrics and complex care. My academic interests include improving quality of care for children with medical complexity and decreasing caretaker burnout.

Hobbies: I have several hobbies, including food blogging (follow @taaste_buds), refurbishing furniture/antiquing (which helped ensure I could alway afford tea and coffee throughout college), but my greatest passion is cycling! I apologize in advance for being the person riding their bike to work on the road and making your commute just a little longer!

Hometown: Shiocton, WI

Medical school: University of Wisconsin - Madison

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health because the people I met in the interview process were supportive and friendly. I also felt like I could see myself working with them and blending with their culture well.

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in PICU or NICU at this point in time, but I imagine that could change through residency!

Hobbies: My hobbies are running, biking, swimming, baking scones and cookies and being outside doing fun activities!

Hometown: Swink, CO

Medical school: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I knew I would become a better version of myself, both personally and professionally, by choosing Spectrum Health and Helen DeVos Children's Hospital for my residency program. There is a deep sense of community and support that compliments the strong academic presence within this hospital system. Aside from the education, clinical expertise and personalized curriculum within the program, the hospital itself is a beautiful representation of the dedication Spectrum Health has to pediatric health and wellness. I am so excited to have the opportunity to be a part of this community.

What are your clinical interests? While I'm still undecided about my future career goals, I have so many clinical interests at the moment! I am looking forward to exploring more into neonatology, adolescent medicine and allergy/immunology.

Hobbies: My husband and I love to paddle board, ride our bikes and take our dog for walks/hikes during the summers. During the winters, I'm a big fan of drinking coffee and reading a good book under a blanket with our cat while my husband goes skiing. I also love to paint and write handwritten letters to family and friends when I have an extra moment on a weekend. We recently got hooked on Euchre and Monopoly Deal card games, and if it's possible, I'd say we've somehow made Taco Tuesday into a pretty regular hobby in the last year as well.

Hometown: Parma, MI

Medical school: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital combines world-class healthcare with fellows and attendings who are very willing to teach. I was able to spend some time here during medical school and immediately felt welcome. It is in a great city, and as a standalone children's hospital it provides a wide variety of clinical scenarios that is tough to find anywhere else and will prepare residents for any specialty they want to pursue.

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in general pediatrics, pediatric cardiology and childhood nutrition.

Hobbies: I like playing and watching sports, especially Michigan State University, reading, Seinfeld, watching Tom Hanks movies and spending time with friends and family.

Hometown: Chililabombwe, Zambia and Ntlhantlhe, Botswana

Medical school: St. George's University School of Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? During my interview, this was the program where I felt that I could freely express myself (especially as a URiM). My interviewers asked thoughtful questions and allowed for open and honest answers. Also, I really enjoyed the social hour with the residents. It was clear that they all cared for each other and that is exactly the kind of program I wanted to be a part of!

What are your clinical interests? I am currently interested in critical care and global health.

Hobbies: I enjoy playing team sports (volleyball, basketball, soccer). I am also an avid plane spotter, watching planes as they take off and land.

Hometown: Romulus, MI

Medical school: Wayne State University School of Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health for the people. On my interview day I felt like the faculty really supported their residents and wanted them to succeed. Everyone I interacted with was extremely encouraging and genuinely excited while talking about their program and patient population.

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in acute care pediatrics, such as pediatric intensive care or pediatric emergency medicine.

Hobbies: I like to spend my free time outside hiking, kayaking, camping, running or just reading a book while hammocking.

Hometown: Midland, MI

Medical school: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health for my residency training because I had an excellent experience at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital as a medical student. My wife and I also wanted to be close to family and to stay in the great state of Michigan

What are your clinical interests? I am interested in several fields including primary care, developmental/behavioral pediatrics, neonatal intensive care and oncology.

Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my wife and daughter, fishing, mountain biking, hiking, camping and canoeing.

Hometown: Sterling Heights, MI

Medical school: University of Toledo College of Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? Spectrum Health's Helen DeVos Children's Hospital was a a perfect balance of a mid-sized program that offered access to numerous pediatric sub-specialities to explore! In addition, the supportive faculty, residents and staff and returning to my home-state Michigan made Spectrum Health the perfect choice.

What are your clinical interests? Currently, I wish to sub-specialize, possible in pediatric gastroenterology or pulmonology; however, there are so many subspecialties that I wish to explore!

Hobbies: My hobbies include dancing, baking and traveling!

Hometown: Rockford, MI

Medical school: Nova Southeastern Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health for residency because I grew up in West Michigan. I have always had a passion for serving the children in my community. Returning to West Michigan will bring me close to my family and support system.

What are your clinical interests? My clinical interests at this time remains board. I am drawn to neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care and emergency medicine.

Hobbies: I enjoy reading books, riding bikes, playing card/boardgames and spending time with my family.