Meet Our Rheumatology Fellows
"The CU rheumatology fellowship program, provides a stimulating environment that balances academic rigor with clinical application. Each day, I tackle intricate autoimmune diseases, refining my diagnostic and therapeutic skills alongside supportive faculty and peers. What truly resonates with me is the program's commitment to tailoring training to each fellow's interests, be it through research, subspecialty electives, or MSK ultrasound. This personalized approach fosters my passion for rheumatology and has shaped my journey towards becoming a skilled rheumatologist." - David Defrancisco, MD
"I am generally drawn to places by the people, and this was certainly the case with CU. On interview day, it was easy to see both the warmth and the rigor of this program as well as the variety of the patient population with a large urban center as well as a sizeable rural catchment area. Since matching, Dr. Kolfenbach, Rachael (program coordinator) and the fellows have been responsive and welcoming beyond my expectations. I am excited to be on this journey with CU Rheumatology!" - Laura Nichols, MD
2025-2026 Fellows
Top (left to right): Christine Loftis, Ernesto Castillo-Lopez, Sam Lazaroff, Daniele Marcy, Laura Nichols Bottom (left to right): Dan Carlson, Maedeh Ashrafi, Julia Chernis, Emily Petrinec
New 2026-27 Fellows:
Clinical/Research Interests: Health disparities research, medical education, scleroderma, myositis, sarcoidosis
Hometown: Carmel, Indiana
Medical School: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Residency: Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center, Health Equity and Disparities Track
Hobbies/Interests: Rock climbing, hiking, camping, cooking, and hosting dinner parties
Clinical/Research Interests: Rheumatoid arthritis
Hometown: Hyderabad, India
Medical School: Gandhi medical college
Residency: Mclaren health care/ Michigan state university
Hobbies and Interests: Travelling
Clinical/Research Interests: Health disparities in Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, medical education
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine
Residency: University of Colorado Internal Medicine Residency Program
Hobbies and Interests: Tennis, pickleball, traveling, hiking, trying new restaurants, and watching virtually any sporting event.
Clinical/Research Interests: Health Disparities, Women’s Health, SLE, and Osteoporosis
Hometown: Lexington, South Carolina
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia
Residency: Saint Joseph Hospital
Hobbies/Interests: traveling, running, spending time with friends/family, and trying new restaurants
2025- 2026 Fellows
 | Maedeh Ashrafi, MD Clinical/Research Interests: Spondyloarthritis, health disparities in lupus, medical education
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 | Jordyn Feinstein, MD |
 | Danielle Henry MD Clinical/Research Interests: SLE, vasculitis
Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica
Medical School: University of the West Indies, Mona
Residency: University of Miami
Hobbies and Interests: Pilates, crocheting, movie-going, biking |
 | Emily Petrinec, MD
Clinical/Research Interests: women’s health, lupus, connective-tissue-related interstitial lung disease
Hometown: Hudson, Ohio
Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Residency: Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals
Hobbies/Interests: running, indoor cycling, cooking, hiking, puzzles, coffee, spending time with my partner/family
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 | Samuel Lazaroff, MD
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Former Fellows
 | Daniel Carlson, MD University of Arizona Tucson |
 | Ernesto Castillo-Lopez, MDMedical School: Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña |
 | Julia Chernis, MD |
 | Samuel Lazaroff, MD
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 | Christine Loftis, MD |
 | Daniele Marcy, MD |
 | Laura Nichols, MD |
 | Corwin (Cory) McGee, MD Clinical Fellow Graduation Date: June 30, 2023 Hometown: Mobile, AL Medical School: University of South Alabama College of Medicine Residency: University of Colorado School of Medicine |
 | Smarika Sapkota, MD Clinical Fellow Graduation Date: June 30, 2023 Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal Medical School: Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences Residency: University of Minnesota Medical Center |
 | Rouhin Sen, MD Medical School: Creighton University Residency: Creighton University
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| Sonia Khatter, MD Clinical Fellow 2020-2022 |
| Trevor McKown, MD Clinical Fellow 2020-2022
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Hometown: Littleton, CO Medical School: University of Cincinnati Colorado School of Medicine Residency: University of Colorado |
.jpg?sfvrsn=9e3fdfba_2&MaxWidth=170&MaxHeight=170&ScaleUp=false&Quality=High&Method=ResizeFitToAreaArguments&Signature=EDBD10B0C5CF6B0C2943B6C4E6B7EFF42C2D0C8C "Guiset_1 (9)") | Guiset Carvajal Bedoya, MD Clinical Fellow, 2019- 2021 Community Rheumatologist Billings, MT
Hometown: Cali, Colombia Medical School: Universidad del Valle Residency: Billings Clinic |
 | Emily Bowers, MD Clinical Fellow, 2018- 2020 Community Rheumatologist, TriHealth Cincinnati, OH
Hometown: Edgewood, KY Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Residency: University of Colorado Internal Medicine Program |
 | Sarah Dill, MD Research Fellow, 2017- 2020 Academic and Community Rheumatologist Assistant Professor, Virginia Mason and Pacific Northwest University Yakima, WA
Hometown: Sunnyside, WA Medical School: University of Washington Residency: University of Colorado Internal Medicine Program |
 | Isaac Harley, MD, PhD Research Fellow, 2017- 2020 Academic Rheumatologist Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Aurora, CO
Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Residency: University of Colorado Internal Medicine Program |
 | Abo Mosa, MD Clinical Fellow, 2018- 2020 Rheumatology locum tenens
Hometown: Omdurman/Sudan Medical School: University of Kassala Sudan Residency: University of Texas Health Science/Tyler |
 | Heather Berens, MD, PhD Research Fellow, 2016- 2019 Community Rheumatologist, Colorado Arthritis Associates Lakewood, CO
Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine Residency: University of Colorado Internal Medicine Program |
 | Daniel Erhardt, MD Clinical Fellow, 2017- 2019 Community Rheumatologist, Colorado Arthritis Center Lakewood, CO
Hometown: Brookfield, WI Medical School: University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health Residency: University of Utah |
 | Kyle Maier, MD Clinical Fellow, 2017- 2019 Military Rheumatologist, United States Air Force San Antonio, TX
Hometown: Houston, TX Medical School: University of Texas at Houston (now McGovern Medical School) Residency: Wright State Internal Medicine |
| Melissa Griffith, MD Clinical Fellow, 2016- 2018 Academic Rheumatologist, University of Colorado Aurora, CO | |
| Patrick Wood, MD Research Fellow, 2015- 2018 Community Rheumatologist Helena, MT | |
| Emily Pfeifer, MD Clinical Fellow, 2015- 2017 Community Rheumatologist, Colorado Center for Arthritis & Osteoporosis (CCAO) Longmont, CO | |
| Greg Barron, MD Clinical Fellow, 2015- 2017 Community Rheumatologist, Denver Arthritis Clinic Denver, CO | |
| Lindsay Kelmenson, MD Research Fellow, 2014- 2017 Community Rheumatologist, Rheumatology Care Center Hoover, AL | |
| Neha Ohri, MD Research Fellow, 2013- 2016 Academic Rheumatologist, Mt. Sinai New York, NY | |
| Anthony Kahr, MD Clinical Fellow, 2013- 2015 Community Rheumatologist Bend, OR | |
| Adam Bagley, MD Clinical Fellow, 2013- 2015 Community Rheumatologist Jacksonville, FL | |
| Itziar Quinzanos Alonso, MD Research Fellow, 2012- 2015 Academic Rheumatologist, University of Colorado and Denver Health Denver, CO | |
| Christina Bright, MD Clinical Fellow, 2011- 2013 Community Rheumatologist Bend, OR | |
| Jennifer Stichman, MD Clinical Fellow, 2011- 2013 Academic Rheumatologist, University of Colorado and Denver Health Denver, CO | |
| Joseph Nahas, MD Clinical Fellow, 2011- 2013 Academic Rheumatologist, Creighton University Omaha, NE | |
| Kristen Demoruelle, MD, PhD Research Fellow, 2010- 2013 Academic Rheumatologist, University of Colorado Aurora, CO | |
| Robert Koval, MD Clinical Fellow, 2009- 2011 Community Rheumatologist Austin, TX | |
| Korey Ullrich, MD Clinical Fellow, 2009- 2011 Community Rheumatologist Boca Raton, FL | |
| Lisa Davis, MD Research Fellow, 2008- 2011 Academic Rheumatologist, University of Colorado and Denver Health Denver, CO | |
| Kim Tyler, MD Clinical Fellow, 2008- 2010 Community Rheumatologist, Denver Arthritis Clinic Denver, CO | |
| Jason Kolfenbach, MD Research Fellow, 2007- 2010 Academic Rheumatologist, University of Colorado Aurora, CO | |