Welcome, New Residents!
Meet our new residents!
Heartfelt thanks to everyone who played a part in this year’s recruiting. We have a fine group of CA-1 and PGY-1 residents who will be joining us very soon.
2013 CA-1 Class
Colton Arrant will graduate from the University of Utah School of Medicine this May. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biology from Southern Utah University. During medical school, Colton participated in multiple health clinics and organizations. He also received an NIH grant for a summer’s research endeavors. He enjoys spending time with his wife and son, outdoor activities such as hiking, snowboarding, and rock climbing, as well as power lifting, and restoring cars. He is also fluent in Spanish.
Chukwudi “Chuks” Obiori Chiaghana will graduate from Vanderbilt School of Medicine this May. He earned an undergraduate degree in Biology from Moorehouse College in Atlanta. He has been involved in research during his entire academic career , resulting in several publications. He was elected as Vice President of his medical school class, and won the Dean’s Award, which is given to the person who best unites his class through humor. Chuks grew up in Nigeria. His dedication to his adopted Nashville community is reflected in the many local events he organizes there. He also manages his own need-based scholarship which funds tuition for 2 students to attend college in Nigeria. In his free time he enjoys lifting weights, playing soccer, and ping pong.
Florian Dibra will graduate from Jefferson Medical College in May. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biology from Villanova University. Florian has participated in multiple research efforts, authoring or co-authoring several poster presentations, publications, and a book chapter, mostly in the field of orthopedics. He is passionate enough about playing and watching soccer that he took a weekend trip to cheer on his home team, Albania, as they beat Belarus. He speaks English, Albanian, and Italian, and he also enjoys cooking and traveling.
Brian Hardy will graduate from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle this May. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Wyoming. During medical school, Brian has been involved in research examining the effects of perinatal iron deficiency and its association with learning disabilities. Brian also was elected to serve as a member on his medical school honor council – a position he continues to hold. He is a father of 3, and his hobbies include spending time with his family, reading, photography, cooking, and crafts.
Eric Hilgenfeldt is currently a fourth year medical student here at the University of Florida College of Medicine. He completed his undergraduate studies in Biology at Florida Atlantic University, where he spent his first year on the varsity swim team. Eric is an ASA delegate, serving as a liaison between UF and the ASA Medical Student Council. He will be attending the national conference in shortly in Chicago. His hobbies outside of medicine include intramural swimming, college football (go Gators!), and spending quality time with his wife, friends, and family, snowboarding, and fishing. He has completed 2 marathons and is also an Eagle Scout.
LaTasha Denise Moore is currently a fourth year medical student here at University of Florida College of Medicine. She earned a psychology undergraduate degree here at UF as well. During medical school LaTasha participated in an international medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic, and she has also been involved in research in the department of Neurology focusing on the treatment of depression and other “non-motor” symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. Her interests outside of medicine include cooking, running marathons, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.
Davoy Murray is a fourth year medical student at Indiana University School of Medicine. He earned his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Albany State University in Georgia. During his entire academic careeer, Davoy has been extensively involved in several research ventures including the FAER summer research fellowship. His hobbies include playing soccer, reading, participating in outreach and volunteer organizations, mentoring/teaching, and traveling.
Brandon Radmall will graduate from the University of Nevada School of Medicine in May. He completed his undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Biology. During medical school, Brandon participated in a FAER research program through the ASA, during which he conducted critical care based research at Emory University. He is also his medical school’s student delegate to the ASA. Brandon’s hobbies include running, snowboarding, and playing soccer.
2012 PGY-1 Class
Lee Audd will graduate from the University of Utah School of Medicine this May. He received his undergraduate degree from Utah State University in biochemistry, and worked in the construction industry prior to attending medical school. During his medical school career, Lee actively served his community, including participation in an outreach program that educates people in rural areas about health care careers. He plays several musical instruments, preferring the cello, and also enjoys reading, sports, outdoor activities, and spending time with his wife and three kids.
Matthew Bzdega will graduate from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in May. Before attending medical school, Matthew earned a bachelor’s degree in Applied Physics from Emory University and a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan. At Emory, he was a member of the varsity swim team. He applied his engineering expertise at the University of Michigan to several research projects involving orthopedic instrumentation. Mathew’s hobbies include being a Ukulele Luthier, playing intramural soccer, sailing, scuba diving, surfing, paddleboarding, and traveling
Nick Cummings is a fourth year medical student at Florida State University College of Medicine. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and Microbiology from the University of Central Florida. During medical school, Nick has been involved in numerous philanthropic organizations ranging from volunteer health clinics to being a counselor at Camp Boggy Creek. Besides medicine he enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, running, kayaking, and weightlifting.
Michael Draney is a fourth year medical student at Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. He earned a degree in Biology with a minor in Spanish from Brigham Young University. Prior to and during medical school, Michael’s community service included holding positions in community health care teams and being a youth group advisor at his church. Michael is also fluent in Spanish. His passions outside of medicine are his family (he has a 1 year old son), participating in and watching sports, music, dancing, and going to concerts.
Shawn Hughes will graduate from University of North Texas Health Science Center – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in May. His undergraduate studies were completed at the University of North Texas. Shawn was originally trained in nursing and worked as Surgical (CT) ICU nurse for several years before seeking a degree in medicine. He has been involved in several philanthropic organizations during medical school and also assumed many leadership roles in medical student associations. His research involvement resulted in a poster presentation on the evaluation of a novel chest tube drainage system. In his free time, Shawn enjoys carpentry, comic book collecting, and film and video production.
Ferenc Rabai is originally from Hungary, where he completed medical school at the University of Debrecen. After earning his medical degree, Ferenc spent the next five years completing general surgery training in the United Kingdom. He was granted membership into the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2010. Ferenc’s interests include traveling, tennis, classical music, economics, go-karting, and obtaining his private pilot’s license.
Brad Royal will graduate from the Medical College of Georgia this May. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biology from Valdosta State University. Prior to and during college Brad worked in his family business in the agriculture industry as a peanut and cotton consultant. In his spare time he enjoys outdoor activities such hunting, fishing, and playing various sports.
Gregory Sams is a fourth year medical student at Ohio State University College of Medicine. His undergraduate degree is in Chemistry from Northwestern University. During his medical school career, Gregory was involved in volunteer organizations and in research on lymphoma and leukemia. He participated in each step of the research process, from bench work to the writing process, resulting in a publication and a poster presentation. Besides medicine, Gregory has run three marathons, he enjoys a cappella singing, small boat sailing (he is an instructor), traveling, coffee, and cycling.
Christina Sarrica is a fourth year medical student at Des Moines University – Osteopathic Medical Center. She completed her dual undergraduate degrees in Biology and Chemistry at Russell Sage College in New York. During medical school, Christina helped organize and operate a student-run medical clinic for the underserved. She also participated in research examining protein expression in different types of cancer. In her spare time she enjoys scuba diving (PADI certified rescue diver), international travel, swimming, gymnastics, Pilates, skiing, and formal canine training.
Ashley Screws is a fourth year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Biology at Xavier University in New Orleans. During medical school, Ashley has been involved in several different community service projects and volunteer work. She also completed a summer research fellowship at the Henry Ford Hospital, during which she focused on airway protective reflexes after topicalization with lidocaine. During her spare time, she enjoys music, professional DJ-ing, and she is a licensed cosmetologist.
Cameron Smith, our new Gravenstein Scholar, is a fourth year student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph in Canada and then attended pharmacy school at the University of Toronto. Beginning in medical school and ongoing until 2013, Cameron is actively researching animal model treatment of traumatic brain injury, treatment of decompression sickness using perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsions, and treatment of arterial gas embolism with PFC emulsions. He is a first author on several articles and multiple poster presentations. A former chocolatier, his hobbies include cooking, SCUBA diving. He also plays bass guitar and sax.
Timothy Walter Vollmer is a fourth year medical student at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA. He earned an undergradaute degree in biochemistry from Allegheny College, where he played varsity golf. Prior to and throughout medical school, Timothy has been involved in many philanthropic organizations. As part of his long-term commitment to the Special Olympics of North Central Pennsylvania, he was a volunteer swim coach. His other interests include fishing, camping, and participating in various sports.