Current Renal Fellows
First-Year Fellows
Olivia Drummond, MD
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Medical School: University of Texas at Houston (McGovern Medical School)
Residency: Tulane University
Research/Clinical Interests: Medical Education, AKI, Electrolytes, Acid- Base, Still exploring specific interests within Nephrology
Hobbies: I like to read, swim, play volleyball, try new restaurants and spend time with my pets. I don't know much about the classic Colorado hobbies like skiing, but I am excited to have pretty nature to explore with my dog.
Why did you choose the University of Colorado? I like the diversity of practicing at three different types of hospital systems. I felt the program has the breadth to offer training in all aspects of nephrology and also allow flexibility for me to explore my interests throughout fellowship. I am interested in medical education and the program also has a lot of opportunities and mentors within that field. Also, when I was interviewing, the people seemed nice and happy!
Kayla Gu, MD
Hometown: Nanjing, China
Medical School: UCLA David Geffen SOM
Residency: University of Colorado, Denver CO
Research/Clinical Interests: broad and undifferentiated in everything kidney, plus AI research and medical education
Hobbies: video games, Werewolf game, watching movies/TV shows, hiking/rock climbing
Why did you choose the University of Colorado? I had the pleasure of working with multiple CU renal fellows and faculties during residency and admired the work they did, their dedication to education, and the excellent care they provided. They inspired me to pursue this path and follow it alongside them.
Jayce Pangilinan, MD
Hometown: Chandler, AZ
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson
Residency: University of Colorado
Research/Clinical Interests: transplant nephrology, health disparities, peritoneal/home dialysis, CRRT and critical care nephrology
Hobbies: hiking, camping, cooking, concerts, international travel whenever I can!
Why did you choose the University of Colorado? During my time in residency at the University of Colorado I was able to work with inspiring and dedicated faculty and fellows within the Nephrology department. The program was exceptionally strong in teaching, research and patient care. It not only offered me ample opportunities to explore my varied interests, but also provided support and community. It was an easy choice for me to continue my training here. Plus, I love living in Colorado!
Jeff Ramsey, DO
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Medical School: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Healthone Skyridge Medical Center
Research/Clinical Interests: home dialysis, hypertension, glomerulonephritis
Hobbies: I enjoy hiking, trivia nights, skiing, spending time with family
Why did you choose the University of Colorado? I chose the University of Colorado because of its focus on fellow education while also balancing wellness for its fellows. I also chose CU due to this program's long-standing track record of producing outstanding nephrologists.
Kathie Zhang, MD
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Medical School: University of Arizona, Tucson
Residency: University of Iowa
Research/Clinical Interests: Quality improvement, medical education, health disparities
Hobbies: Exploring new restaurants, post-prandial walks, visiting art museums, crochet, caring for my plants, learning new languages
Why did you choose the University of Colorado? During my interview, I was impressed by the robust curriculum, the dedication of the faculty, and the commitment to support fellows towards their career goals, whatever they may be. In addition, I liked how the three unique clinical sites offer a strong training experience—all while getting to live in a great city, with plenty to enjoy outside of the hospital.
Second-Year Fellows
Peter Dock, DO
Hometown: Duluth, Minnesota
Medical School: A.T. Still University KCOM
Residency: Hennepin County Medical Center
Research/Clinical Interests: Glomerulonephritis, transplant medicine, home dialysis
Hobbies: I enjoy reading, finding new restaurants, hiking, mountain biking, and snowboarding
Why did you choose the University of Colorado? I chose the University of Colorado because the focus on education is at the core of the program. Also, the opportunity to explore a wide variety of clinical avenues and for the research experiences available for fellows. Also it never hurts to have mountains to explore in your backyard!
Matt Johnson, MD
Hometown: Augusta, GA
Medical School: Quinnipiac University
Residency: Rush University
Research/Clinical Interests: Transplant, medical education, health disparities
Hobbies: Piano, cats, knitting, trying new food, whiskey, making references to Derry Girls in every conversation, Beat Saber!
Why did you choose the University of Colorado? I was impressed with the emphasis on the curriculum being centered and flexible around the fellows’ interests, career goals, and wellness. I was also drawn to the wide range of clinical experience with the combination of three different hospital types and a large transplant program, as well as a lot of opportunity to get involved in medical education.
Marko Karakadze, MD
Hometown: Miami, FL
Medical School: Ponce Health Sciences University
Residency: University of Texas Houston (UTH Houston)
Research/Clinical Interests: Vascular access, Home dialysis modalities, AKI
Hobbies: Playing with my dog (Henley, named after Loop of Henle), watching sports, video games, Skiing/snowboarding, playing pickle ball, spearfishing, Netflix
Why did you choose the University of Colorado? Its history of contribution to the world of nephrology as well as the sense of joy I felt from communicating with current fellows. Given that plus its location, it was a no-brainer to rank them #1.
Mona Panda, MD
Hometown: Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean, Sint Maarten
Residency: Mercy Catholic Medical Center, Darby, Pennsylvania
Clinical Interests: I have a wide variety of clinical interests within Nephrology including Glomerular diseases/ANCA vasculitis, Renal Nutrition, Hemo- and Peritoneal Dialysis, Mineral and Bone disorders and anemia management in CKD/ESRD, Diabetic nephropathy, Obesity management, Kidney Stones, and Nephrology Medical Education.
Hobbies: I enjoy drawing and painting in all mediums, traveling, ziplining, hiking, and exploring Colorado with my yorkie, Sophie. I also enjoy scuba diving including diving with sharks, exploring coral reefs and shipwrecks, and cavern diving.
Why did you choose the University of Colorado? I chose University of Colorado because the faculty's dedication to fellow education and wellness, personalized career development/mentoring, flexibility in training tracks, and clinical and patient diversity across three hospitals. Also, Denver is super dog friendly and provides so many outdoor activities I can explore with Sophie and sunny weather year round.
Marco Ramos Castaneda, MD
Hometown: Aguascalientes, Mexico
Medical School: Tescuela de Medicina Ignacio Santos, Tec de Monterrey
Residency: Harlem Hospital Center, New York, NY
Research/Clinical Interests: Transplant nephrology, AKI, health disparities, glomerulonephritis
Hobbies: Music (guitar, piano, drums), playing tennis and golf, training and playing chess, hiking and recent skier, cinephile
Why did you choose the University of Colorado? First, due to its trajectory and contributions to the field of nephrology by its faculty. Second, it offers education and academic training that no other program matches, including research, clinical educator, and transplant tracks which I was drawn into. Third, it offers ample clinical training in several hospitals, which definitely provides exposure to different patient populations. Besides, Denver is one of the greatest cities to live in that offers a great quality of life compared to other cities in the US.
Dual Adult-Peds Fellow & Chief Fellow
Angelina Dixon, MD
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Medical School: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Residency: Tulane University Internal Medicine-Pediatrics
Research/Clinical Interests: Improving morbidity/mortality in AYA with CKD, transitions of care, nephrology medical education, women’s health advocacy
Hobbies: Singing, hiking, biking, skiing, traveling, eating, and just adventuring in general
Why I chose Colorado: I chose the University of Colorado because I knew I would get a great education and see a wide breadth of clinical cases. I also felt that I would receive incredible mentorship and would be supported in my individual career goals, whatever they may be.
Research Nephrology Fellow
Amy Li, MD
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Medical School: University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine
Residency: University of Colorado
Research/Clinical Interests: I love electrolytes (especially hyponatremia), acid/base, AKI, CKD, and dialysis so... All of it! I'm also particularly interested in basic science research.
Hobbies: wildlife/bird photography, cooking, traveling, and kitty cats - I have three cats with more room to love (in my heart but not at home). Also, I am an avid not-skier, not-snowboarder, and I don't follow sports!
Why did you choose the University of Colorado?
The faculty, no doubt! The faculty is full of supportive, kind-hearted people. I met the renal faculty as early as when I interviewed for residency, and they have supported me throughout the years without fail. They are so approachable and engaging and truly have the best interests of the learners at heart (medical students, residents, and fellows alike). Also, we're so lucky to rotate through three different hospitals - an academic hospital (UCH), our county and safety-net hospital (Denver Health), and the VA. What's not to love about CU?
Transplant Nephrology Fellow
Shannon Lyons, DO
Hometown: Rockford, Washington
Medical School: Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Residency: Parkview Health System
Research/Clinical Interests: I love teaching especially when it comes to electrolytes, acid/base, and renal physiology. I also have a special interest in ESRD and renal replacement therapies and how we can improve the quality of life of ESRD patients.
Hobbies: Reading, hanging out with my dog Honey, trying (and usually failing) to grow my little house plants, and exploring the many breweries that Colorado has to offer!
Why did you choose the University of Colorado? The quality of the teaching and wide variety of clinical experience was what initially attracted me but what really won me over was the people. The faculty is incredible and really loves to teach and I could sense how collegial the atmosphere was amongst the fellows.