Our Residents
Fourth Years
Bilaal Ahmed
Pennsylvania State College of Medicine
About Bilaal:
Bilaal grew up
in the Bay Area of Northern California. He attended UC Berkeley for
undergrad where he majored in public health with a concentration in
infectious diseases.
He continued pursuing his public health education earning an MPH in
Epidemiology and International Health from Boston University after which
he worked on international HIV/AIDS programs based out of Washington,
DC. After a couple years in DC and a good amount of international work
travel he wanted to do more hands-on clinical work and decided it was
time to go to medical school.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine?
Bilaal loves Med-Peds because it creates a
large skillset allowing physicians to treat people of all ages with
complex medical issues which will be invaluable for his international
health ambitions. He’s also loved the Med-Peds faculty and residents
wherever he’s been and hopes their knowledge rubs off on him. He looks
forward to providing primary care to underserved populations in the US
as part of the National Health Service Corps. In the long-term, he hopes
to do international global health advocacy based on public health
research, while continuing to provide clinical care.
He enjoys traveling, reading, playing most sports, snowboarding, and adding more countries to the list of places he’s been.
Amy Beeson
University of Colorado School of Medicine
About Amy:
Amy claims the southwest (western Colorado,
Arizona, and New Mexico) as home. As an undergraduate at Harvard
College, she sang in choir, majored in Social Studies, and wrote a
thesis about Peruvian political parties. She then moved to Lima, where
she worked for Partners in Health before returning home to Colorado for
medical school. During medical school, she spent a year as a Doris Duke
International Clinical Research Fellow in rural Tugela Ferry, South
Africa.
When not in the hospital, Amy can be found
in Rocky Mountain National Park, roasting local vegetables with her
awesome housemates, or reading novels about faraway places.
After residency, Amy hopes to work to improve patient-centered healthcare delivery for communities affected by HIV and tuberculosis.
Jessica Koontz
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
About Jessica:
Jessica grew up in a small town in northwest
NC before fulfilling her dream of becoming a Tarheel and completing
undergrad and medical school at UNC-Chapel Hill. Because of her rural
background, she has a specific interest in under-served populations and
spent time in medical school working at a mobile clinic in a refugee
community. In addition to learning medicine and cheering on the Heels in
Chapel Hill, she worked in an immunology lab and spent many weekends in
the NC mountains. After finally experiencing a national championship on
Franklin Street, it was time to experience something new so she moved
to the land of rockier mountains with her husband, Joe. In her free
time, you can find her running through a local park, hiking or climbing
with her husband, or enjoying one of the many awesome restaurants in
Denver. Hopefully soon you will find her doing all three with a new
pup!
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine?
This place has it all - strong categorical
programs, excellent leadership, awesome residents, outstanding
continuity clinic, and unbeatable location. The diversity of training
sites, including a county hospital system, the VA, and tertiary care
centers, allows for the depth and breadth of training I desire. Given my
relatively undecided career interests, I was confident that I could
experience all aspects of medicine and pediatrics here and mold my
career under mentors in pretty much any field imaginable.
Jennifer Le
University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
About Jennifer: Jennifer
was born in Montreal, Canada, but moved to Tampa, Florida at the age of
6. After high school, she decided to stay in Tampa, where she completed
the seven year accelerated BS/MD program at the University of South
Florida (Go Bulls!). During that time, she did research in organic
chemistry and developed an interest in medical education. She would like
to be an academic combined medicine-pediatric hospitalist. Jennifer is a
self-described nerd who loves Harry Potter and comic books. She enjoys
boardgames, movies, and reading fiction.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine?
I
feel really lucky to have been matched a residency program that not
only has nurturing and brilliant faculty members but also co-residents
who genuinely care about each other and motivate me to be a better
physician/human being everyday.
In
addition, the Southwest Med-Peds clinic was one of the most
well-designed clinics that I visited on the interview trail, and I
couldn't pass up the opportunity to work with such a diverse population,
ranging from veterans to refugees. After living most of my life in
Florida, I knew I was ready for something new, and I loved the vibe that
I got when I visited Denver. The city was big enough without being
overwhelming, multicultural without losing its unique identity, and
forward-thinking without forgetting the value of nature, not to mention
simply downright friendly. It had all the perks of Florida sunshine
without the humidity or the summer downpours!
I am looking forward to experiencing four seasons and exploring the mountains... and the good restaurants!
Third Years
Rob Broadhurst
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
About Rob:
Rob grew up in Nashville, TN
before moving to Chapel Hill, NC to attend both college and medical
school at UNC. Prior to medical school, he spent a year working with
maternal and child health programs in Haiti. During medical school, he
spent time doing HIV research in Malawi, visiting homes of frequently
hospitalized patients in Chapel Hill, and took extra time to get a MPH
at UNC (and see another Tarheel National Championship). He is interested
in practicing medicine, pediatrics, and public health in low resource
settings both domestically and internationally. Outside of work, he
loves fly fishing, trail running, biking, and playing just about any
sport.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine?
I was looking for a program with diversity in training opportunities, focus on caring for the underserved, and opportunity to work with both local and global public health programs; UC absolutely fits that mold. Being relatively undecided in terms of career interest, the ability to work in a county hospital, university hospital, VA, phenomenal children’s hospital, and outpatient clinic with a large underserved population seemed just about perfect. I loved the residents I met when I came to interview and immediately felt like these could be my people. It certainly didn’t hurt that Denver is so close some of the best rivers and trails in the country! I couldn’t be more excited to live and train in such a vibrant place.
Andrew Freddo
University of Michigan Medical School
About Andrew:
Andrew was born in New York
City, but moved at a young age to the Garden State and continues to
consider himself a proud New Jerseyan! He then brought his East Coast
upbringing to the West Coast, attending the California Institute of
Technology, majoring in Biology and Chemistry. After graduating, he
decided to return to the Eastern Time Zone, and wintertime, for the
MD/PhD program at the University of Michigan. He completed his PhD in
Cell and Developmental Biology studying the development of the small
intestine. He’s excited to be in Colorado, where he can have both
gorgeous weather and snow! He fell in love with Med Peds because of the
ability to incorporate two fields in a unique and special way to help
improve the lives and health of his patients, and is looking forward to a
career combining both research and patient care, possibly in Adult
Congenital Cardiology. When not in the hospital, Andrew most likely will
be making some home-cooked Italian food or trying out a new restaurant
around town with his partner, Jose.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine?
The University of Colorado was always
somewhere that my mentors at Michigan mentioned as having strong
categorical medicine and pediatrics programs, along with an amazing
faculty in the field of Adult Congenital Cardiology! When I visited for
my interview, I was struck by the kindness and openness of the community
here. There is amazing collaboration and collegiality pervasive
throughout the campus, and I am amazed by the strong emphasis on
individualized mentorship. Additionally, coming from a combined program
for med school, I found it was important to have a well-integrated Med
Peds administration to navigate the unique challenges that there are in
bridging two worlds. Even though the program is “young”, there is
absolutely amazing buy-in from both categorical programs, and the
resident support network is amazing.
Sarah Reingold
Emory University School of Medicine
About Sarah:
Sarah
grew up in Oakland, California and went to Bates College, a small
liberal arts college in Maine, where she quickly learned that she
brought too many pairs of sandals. After four long Maine winters and
many mornings walking back from swim practice with frozen hair, she
decided she could handle two years in Minnesota working for the CDC as a
Public Health Associate. Working in the school-based clinics of
Minneapolis helped her realize that she wanted to pursue a career where
she could provide comprehensive care to people at the individual and
community level. In order to complete her pre-medical courses, she
headed back east to attend a Post Baccalaureate program at University of
Virginia, where she performed HIV testing at UVA’s Infectious Disease
Clinic and Emergency Department. Medical school took her further south
to Emory University, where she worked with HIV positive adolescents
transitioning from pediatric to adult healthcare. Sarah has a variety of
interests including adolescent medicine, transitional care, infectious
diseases and public health, but hopes to find a career where she can
work with underserved populations to reduce health disparities
domestically and globally. Sarah loves running and hiking with her
boyfriend, Erik, as well as fueling their activities with homemade baked
goods and by visiting local breweries.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine:
I
knew immediately after my visit that CU was the perfect place for me,
both inside and outside of the hospital. While I was initially
interested in CU because of the opportunity to train in a variety of
healthcare systems with two incredibly strong categorical programs, it
honestly came down to the people. I felt that everyone I met was
passionate about caring for vulnerable patient populations while working
in a collaborative environment. Being able to explore the mountains,
trails and rivers was icing on the cake!
Mi Tran
University of Colorado School of Medicine
About Mi: Mi
was born and raised in the beautiful state of Colorado and attended
college at the University of Colorado at Boulder where she earned a BA
in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Unable to part with
picturesque mountains and 300 days of sunshine, she stayed at the
University of Colorado to complete medical school and to earn a Master’s
in Public Health in Epidemiology and Health Equity at the Colorado
School of Public Health. During her free time, you can find her
exploring new mountains, rock climbing, mountain biking (poorly), and
stealing puppy cuddles from her dog, Oliver.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine?
The people! The faculty and residents at the University of Colorado are not only great teachers and mentors but are also incredibly kind, compassionate, and inspiring people. In conjunction with strong categorical programs on each side, exposure to a variety of clinical sites, and an awesome continuity clinic, I knew I would be well supported in pursuing whatever career I decide upon after residency (all while having the opportunity to bike/camp/ski on my days off!).
Second Years
Samantha Robin
University of North Carolina School of Medicine
About Sam:
Sam was raised in the small town of Sparta, NJ and moved to North Carolina in 2010 to study neuroscience and music at Duke University and then attended medical school at the University of North Carolina. She absolutely loved her time as a Tar Heel, but has remained a loyal Duke basketball fan. Throughout college and medical school, she has maintained a passion for music - she sings, plays the saxophone and piano, music-directed several musical theater productions in college, and taught music in China. In medical school, she discovered her passions for medical education through curricular development roles as well as her interest in quality improvement and systems-level work within healthcare. She would like to work in an academic setting and her interests include pediatric and adult critical care, infectious disease, and primary care. During residency, she is also looking forward to soaking up the Colorado sunshine while on runs and mountain adventures with her husband, Stephen.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine:
As a newer Med-Peds program, I felt like the Colorado Med-Peds program and its leadership were brimming with excitement about new program initiatives and resident projects. The program had clearly been shaped with lots of resident input, and the program leadership showed incredible resident support both for resident wellness as well as mentorship to help residents develop and pursue their own unique interests. The residents I met were kind, smart, and engaging and demonstrated passion both for their work in medicine and their interests outside of medicine. I liked that the program provided training opportunities in a variety of academic and community settings and felt like it was truly connected to and served the local population. Moving across the country to the unbeatable, beautiful location of Denver seemed like the perfect adventure.
Sam was raised in the small town of Sparta, NJ and moved to North Carolina in 2010 to study neuroscience and music at Duke University and then attended medical school at the University of North Carolina. She absolutely loved her time as a Tar Heel, but has remained a loyal Duke basketball fan. Throughout college and medical school, she has maintained a passion for music - she sings, plays the saxophone and piano, music-directed several musical theater productions in college, and taught music in China. In medical school, she discovered her passions for medical education through curricular development roles as well as her interest in quality improvement and systems-level work within healthcare. She would like to work in an academic setting and her interests include pediatric and adult critical care, infectious disease, and primary care. During residency, she is also looking forward to soaking up the Colorado sunshine while on runs and mountain adventures with her husband, Stephen.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine:
As a newer Med-Peds program, I felt like the Colorado Med-Peds program and its leadership were brimming with excitement about new program initiatives and resident projects. The program had clearly been shaped with lots of resident input, and the program leadership showed incredible resident support both for resident wellness as well as mentorship to help residents develop and pursue their own unique interests. The residents I met were kind, smart, and engaging and demonstrated passion both for their work in medicine and their interests outside of medicine. I liked that the program provided training opportunities in a variety of academic and community settings and felt like it was truly connected to and served the local population. Moving across the country to the unbeatable, beautiful location of Denver seemed like the perfect adventure.
Lynne Rosenberg
Weill Cornell Medicine
About Lynne:
Lynne was born and raised in Southern California and completed her undergraduate training at UC Berkeley where she majored in Integrative Biology. She spent the following year conducting clinical research at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center before attending medical school at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. While there, she was involved in a number of research projects at both Weill Cornell and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the pediatric intensive care units. In addition, she worked extensively with the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights and Physicians for Human Rights to provide free medical evaluations for asylum seekers. She has a variety of Med-Peds interests, including pediatric oncology and survivorship and critical care. She hopes to continue serving the asylum seeking and refugee populations during her time in Denver. When not in the hospital, you can find Lynne playing spikeball or pickleball in a park, decorating a cake, or solving a crossword with a cup of coffee.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine?
After deciding Med-Peds was the career path for her, Lynne was looking for a place with stellar categorical programs, opportunities for medical education, and a supportive family environment. University of Colorado provided all three and then some! She looks forward to working with such warm and passionate colleagues in a city with beautiful outdoors in her backyard.
David Scudder
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
About David:
David grew up in Nashville and then headed west to California to study biology at Stanford University. He started his career as a high school science teacher. After college, he moved to Johannesburg, South Africa to join the inaugural faculty of the African Leadership Academy. After fours years in Joburg, David and his wife Hannah moved to Denver, Hannah’s hometown, and taught together at the Denver School of Science and Technology. When David decided to pursue medicine, they moved to Nashville where David attended medical school at Vanderbilt. Still a teacher at heart, David is passionate about medical education, and he was drawn to Med-Peds where he can learn and teach it all. He is thrilled to be coming back to Denver to join an amazing Med-Peds program. Outside the hospital, David can be found hiking in the mountains, running with his wife, and throwing impromptu dance parties with his daughter.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine?
Colorado impressed me across the board. The people are amazing, and I’m excited to learn from a great community of residents and faculty. The program offers training at a diverse set of hospitals and a stellar clinic experience at Federico F. Peña. I’m also excited to be part of a newer program as it shapes the Med-Peds identity in Denver. We are happy to be back near the mountains, and to raise our daughter around a large extended family. But perhaps most importantly, Denver has Lakeside - the historic amusement park and favorite date night spot, where the antiquity of the roller coasters adds to their thrill!
Helena Villalobos
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
About Helena:
Helena was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in Midland, Texas. She graduated from Stanford University (Go Card!) where she majored in Human Biology with a concentration in Urban Health. In college, she was a photographer for the Stanford Daily and spent time abroad working with the NGO Mothers Unite in Cape Town, South Africa. She attended medical school at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. During medical school, she was active in the student-run free clinic, Students for Equal Opportunity in Medicine, the Latino Medical Student Association, and conducted environmental health research as a TL1 Predoctoral Clinical Research scholar. When not in the hospital she can be found outside spending time with family and friends ! She is thrilled to join the Colorado Med-Peds family!
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine?
The Med-Peds continuity clinic in Southwest Denver was a huge selling point as I am interested in primary care, working with underserved populations, and caring for medically and socially complex patients. The strong categorical programs and diversity in training sites were also a given. The community is tight-knit and leadership is incredibly hands-ons and invested in the success and wellness of their residents. Aside from the obvious, it just felt right and the mountains were calling!
First Years
Oliver Bawmann
University of Colorado School of Medicine
About Oliver:
Oliver grew up in Denver, Colorado but left home to attend Santa Clara University where he studied biology and cemented his passion for medicine by working as an EMT. He spent a year working in the Bay Area and then had the fortune to return home to Colorado for medical school. At CU he was involved with the student government, serving as a Class President his first three years, and Medical Student Council President his fourth year. He is passionate about advocacy and worked with the student run free clinic, and the CUSOM LEADS track to bolster these skills. He also pursued his passion for supporting fellow medical students while researching the connection between gratitude and medical student burnout. Outside of the hospital, he loves playing pretty much any sport (especially basketball!), bouldering, cooking, reading and spending time with friends.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine:
As a medical student here at CU, I was blown away by the caliber of the Med-Peds residents and faculty here at Colorado. They were among the best teachers I encountered in the hospital, and immense kindness and competence seemed to be ubiquitous in everyone I met. It’s what inspired me toward med-peds. I hit the interview trail looking to find a program with very strong categorical programs, and a med-peds culture whose pillars were compassion, excellence, and care for one-another. Ultimately it turned out Colorado was the perfect place to provide all of these things in an exceptional program! I am so happy to be here for residency! Oliver grew up in Denver, Colorado but left home to attend Santa Clara University where he studied biology and cemented his passion for medicine by working as an EMT. He spent a year working in the Bay Area and then had the fortune to return home to Colorado for medical school. At CU he was involved with the student government, serving as a Class President his first three years, and Medical Student Council President his fourth year. He is passionate about advocacy and worked with the student run free clinic, and the CUSOM LEADS track to bolster these skills. He also pursued his passion for supporting fellow medical students while researching the connection between gratitude and medical student burnout. Outside of the hospital, he loves playing pretty much any sport (especially basketball!), bouldering, cooking, reading and spending time with friends.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine:
Erika Becerra-Ashby
University of Illinois College of Medicine - Peoria
About Erika:
Erika was born and raised in the small town of Arcola, Illinois. She graduated from Michigan State University where she dual majored in Human Biology and Psychology. She went on to work in several jobs within the healthcare field, but it was her time in case management where she discovered her passion for addressing health disparities. This drove her to pursue a career in medicine. She returned to Illinois to attend medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. She is interested in care with underserved communities domestically and globally, public health, cardiology and transitions from pediatric to adult healthcare. Outside of the hospital she likes running with her husband, hiking, reading, trying new recipes/restaurants or binging a great series.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine?
The program’s strong emphasis on caring for underserved populations and integrating that goal within its educational curriculum was a big draw for me. It’s strong categorical programs and diversity of training sites made me feel that I could be ready for practice in any setting. Additionally, I knew I would be supported throughout my residency after seeing the kindness and collaboration residents and leadership showed during my interview. It also didn’t hurt my husband is from Denver and was definitely selling the mountains and year around sunshine. What’s not to like!
Sutton Higgins
Perelman School of Medicine at the Univ. of Pennsylvania
About Sutton:
Sutton grew up in Wayzata, Minnesota. She attended Dartmouth College where she studied Biomedical Engineering and fell in love with the mountains. After college, she spent a year living in Wyoming, and ultimately returned to the east coast for medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. During medical school, she worked at Covenant House Philadelphia, a crisis center and homeless shelter for adolescents, and conducted research with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on intergenerational health and teen pregnancy. Sutton is interested in adolescent medicine and primary care. While in residency, she hopes to continue to learn how best to meet the health care needs of underserved populations and dismantle racist structures in medicine. Outside of the hospital, you can find her hiking, biking or skiing in the mountains, or at home attempting to befriend her roommate’s cat!
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine?
I was drawn to Colorado for its strong primary care training, commitment to caring for underserved populations, and emphasis on individualized mentorship. On my interview day, I was especially struck by residents’ and program leadership’s commitment to introspection and improvement, in both the residency curriculum and the care provided to patients. The compassion evident within the program - for one another and for patients - and strong sense of community sealed the deal for me (and proximity to the mountains certainly didn’t hurt!).
Maggie Kuusinen
University of Colorado School of Medicine
About Maggie:
Maggie was raised in Ski Town USA--Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Growing up in a small mountain town, she cultivated a love for playing outside. On her days off you can find her skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and river rafting! She loves to travel and has lived abroad in both Slovakia and Tanzania. When she isn't playing outside, she enjoys knitting, sewing, painting, and reading. Some of the best books she has read recently are The Deep, The Nightingale, Dune, Normal People, and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Maggie is a FOREVER BUFF--she went to CU Boulder for undergrad, CU SOM and was lucky enough to stay for residency. Before starting medical school, she worked at the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless and is really passionate about urban underserved care. Her research is in improving transitions of care in adolescents and young adults aging out of the foster care system.
Why the University of Colorado School of Medicine?
I have always been passionate about working with urban underserved populations and wanted ample opportunity to serve medically and socially complex patients. The Denver Health system is a fantastic safety net hospital and it was a huge draw that our continuity clinic is in one of their many FQHC's. It was also important for me to find a residency with a welcoming culture, supportive community, and focus on wellness. I love that at Colorado we are seen as people first and residents second. Finally, it's ColoRADo! It is hard to pass up all the adventure that living in a city at the foot of the Rocky Mountains has to offer!