2022/2023 Fellows

Isadore Budnick, MD

Hometown
Pittsburgh, PA

Medical School
Tulane University

Residency
University of Virginia

Academic/Research Interest

ARDS, sepsis, critical care outcomes

Why Colorado?
Incredible clinical training, top notch research training, and an enthusiastic and collegial division that is tough to beat. That and the front range is just a hop, skip, and a jump away! 

Marco Colamonici, MD

Medical School
Memphis, TN 

Medical School
University of Illinois Chicago

Residency
University of Illinois Chicago

Academic/Research Interest
Molecular mechanism in ARDS

Why Colorado?
I originally applied to Colorado for the great opportunities offered in both clinical training and research. But if I am being honest, I chose Colorado because on interview day, although via zoom, the program had great family vibes. Everyone seemed to enjoy nerding out about their work but there was an emphasis on maintaining a work life balance. In addition, Denver has all the amenities of a big city but it’s also a stone’s throw away from isolated wilderness.  

Sam King, MD

Hometown
Leawood, KS

Medical School
University of Kansas

Residency
University of Colorado

Why Colorado?

In residency I spent a while trying to decide if I loved pulmonary and critical care, or if I just loved the people in the division. It turns out the answer was “both!” This program provides both outstanding clinical training and strong academic support.

Amy Mathew, MD

Hometown

Medical School

Medical College of Wisconsin

Residency

Brown University

Why Colorado?

Karina Mora Massad, MD

Joey Pryor, MD

Hometown
Portland, OR

Medical School
Oregon Health and Science University

Residency
University of Washington

Why Colorado?
A great mix of clinical and research experiences combined with easy access to the beautiful outdoors Denver and Colorado have to offer.

Megan Watson, MD, MPH

Hometown
Overland Park, KS

Medical School
University of Kansas

Residency
University of Michigan

Why Colorado?

I was so impressed by the diverse clinical opportunities and infrastructure to promote successful research during fellowship. The mountains didn't hurt, either! 

Gwen Day, MD

Hometown
Laguna Niguel, California

Medical School
Wake Forest School of Medicine

Residency
University of California Los Angeles

Academic/Research Interest
Healthcare disparities/health inequity in pulm critical care disease. Obstructive lung disease

Why Colorado?
Ample opportunities, beautiful setting, and positive vibe.

Peter Dunbar, MD

Hometown
Oxford, Mississippi

Medical School
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Residency
Brigham and Women's Hospital/Boston Children's

Academic/Research Interest
Chronic critical illness, chronic respiratory illness

Why Colorado?
Amazing people, amazing science, amazing medicine, amazing outdoors.

Danny Gergen, MD

Hometown
Austin, Texas

Medical School
Georgetown University School of Medicine

Residency
University of Colorado

Academic/Research Interest
Medical education and teaching in the ICU

Why Colorado?
I loved doing residency at Colorado and couldn’t think of a better place to continue training.

Marika Orlov, MD, PhD

Hometown
Los Angeles/San Diego/Seattle

Medical School
University of California San Diego

Residency
University of Washington 

Academic/Research Interest
Innate and adaptive immune response in the lungs in the setting of infection

Why Colorado?
The wealth of immunity research at National Jewish

Sarah Rhoads, MD

Hometown
Bethesda, Maryland

Medical School
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Residency
Brown University 

Academic/Research Interest
Adolescent chronic lung disease, post-ICU care, and end of life care 

Why Colorado?
Friendly people, great location, infinite opportunities

Michael Root, MD, MBA

Hometown
St. Louis, Missouri

Medical School
New York University Grossman School of Medicine

Residency
University of California San Francisco

Academic/Research Interest
Quality improvement, patient safety, and medical education

Why Colorado?
Clinical training

Lisa Ruvuna, MD

Hometown
San Antonio, Texas

Medical School
Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine

Residency
University of New Mexico

Academic/Research Interest
COPD, social determinants of health

Why Colorado?
Even through virtual interviews, it really seemed the fellows were well-supported by faculty and happy. The city had anything I wanted to do in my free time.

Neha Agarwal, MD

Hometown
Upland, California

Medical School
University of California Los Angeles

Residency
University of California Los Angeles

Academic/Research Interest
Medical education in the ICU, care for the immunocompromised patients

Initial thoughts on fellowship?
Fellowship at the University of Colorado has been even better than I could have imagined! From the faculty members' genuine interest and investment in our careers to the breadth of research opportunities, this program has everything to train phenomenal fellows and humanistic physicians.

Kara Calhoun, MD, MPH

Hometown
Tyler, Texas

Medical School
McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Residency
McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Why Colorado?
When looking for a PCCM program I knew I wanted to train at an institution that would make me a strong clinician and researcher. On my interview day it was obvious that Colorado would provide that and more in a beautiful city with great outdoor activities. I love that as fellows we have the opportunity to do procedures like intubations and chest tubes while also having protected research time with some of the world's leading experts in the field. As someone interested in rare lung infections I always dreamed of training at a place like National Jewish so the decision was easy!

Daniel Colon Hidalgo, MD

Hometown
Santiago, Dominican Republic

Medical School
Northwestern University

Residency
Loyola University

Academic/Research Interest
Pulmonary Hypertension

Why Colorado?
Why not Colorado? Colorado has the perfect balance of a very robust clinical training and top-notch research exposure that I wanted. This is an amazing training institution in a beautiful city with really cool people!!

Esther de Boer, MD, PhD

Hometown
Koudum, Friesland, Netherlands

Medical School
Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Faculteit der Medische Wetenschappen Netherlands

Residency
University of Texas Southwestern

Academic/Research Interest
Undifferentiated

Initial thoughts on fellowship?
I'm loving fellowship so far! Let's rock!

Andi Hudler, MD

Hometown
Burlington, Colorado

Medical School
University of Colorado

Residency
University of Colorado

Allison Lange, MD

Hometown
Winchester, Massachusetts

Medical School
Duke University

Residency
University of Texas Southwestern

Academic/Research Interest
Undecided, but leaning toward palliative care and end stage lung disease

Why Colorado?
My husband and I were looking for a more outdoorsy place where we could partake in  our favorite hobbies of hiking and camping without a plane flight. Also I loved the feel of Colorado’s pulmonary division – approachable people doing amazing research and clinical work. Chest X-ray conference sealed the deal on interview day.

Mimi Richert, MD

Medical School
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Residency
University of Maryland Medical Center

Academic/Research Interest
ARDS, acute lung injury

Why Colorado?
All the faculty are so nice and laid back. It seemed like a tremendous opportunity. 

Ryan Sullivan, MBBS

Hometown
Raymond, New Hampshire

Medical School
University of Queensland School of Medicine

Residency
University of Pennsylvania

Meghan Althoff, MD, PhD

Hometown
Palatine, Illinois

Medical School 
Tulane University

Residency
University of Colorado

Why did you choose Colorado PCCM?
The people and the opportunities. I was drawn to Colorado because of the immense resources given to fellows to start a research career in terms of mentorship, time, and support. I came to Colorado because of the collegiality and culture. Fellows are treated like colleagues by faculty and everyone is welcoming and approachable.

Shelley Forbes, MD

Hometown
Sheridan, Wyoming

Medical School
Washington University in St. Louis

Residency
Northwestern University

Academic/Research Interest
Altitude Medicine

Why did you choose Colorado PCCM?
I thought the quality of both research and clinical training, and within clinical training both pulmonary and critical care medicine, was unparalleled. When I was applying, I was not sure of exactly what my future career path would be, but I felt like across the board I would receive exceptional training and opportunities. I also loved the atmosphere -- the fellows and faculty are both inspiring and approachable. Finally, the location for me is a huge plus. At work, it's incredible to see referrals and transfers from all over the region (and country) in a variety of practice settings. Outside of work, the culture, weather and outdoor opportunities encourage true work-life balance in a way that is really unique.

Kelsey Hills-Dunlap, MD

Hometown
Boulder, Colorado

Medical School
Stanford University School of Medicine

Residency
Massachusetts General Hospital

Academic/Research Interest
I am interested in the intersection of substance use disorders and critical care, particularly alcohol use disorders, withdrawal syndromes, and toxidromes. I am currently investigating intervention optimization after critical illness. 

Why did you choose Colorado PCCM?
Colorado gives me access to world-class researchers and clinicians and unparalleled mentorship and support. The breadth of patients at multiple institutions across the city also provides a wide array of pathology to learn from. I knew I would get exceptional clinical training and phenomenal and focused research instruction. Perhaps most importantly, the people at Colorado are fantastic humans. Plus, Colorado is the best state- I’ve been trying to come back ever since I left my hometown, and I’m so happy to be back! It doesn’t get any better than sunshine, mountains and great community.