North Memorial Residents

First year: Class of 2029

Ella Ardoin, MD

Medical school: University of Maryland - Baltimore, Maryland

Medical interests: Women's health, caregiver-child dyads, underserved patient populations, community health, global health and advocacy.

Personal interests: I love gardening, reading novels, working on puzzles, and exploring ethnic cuisines!

Why North Memorial: I was drawn to many things at North Memorial. I loved their commitment to the community they serve, strong inpatient training and full-spectrum medicine. There are countless opportunities for advocacy, service and teaching for patients and colleagues alike. The faculty and residents at North Memorial were extremely welcoming during my interview and felt like a program where I could create true community and a work family. The faculty are diverse in their expertise and areas of interest, which would allow me to have well-rounded training.

Career goals: My career goals are vast! I would love to continue to practice full-spectrum family medicine as well as inpatient medicine for underserved and minority patient populations rooted in advocacy and health equity. I am also interested in pursuing global health in the future!

John S. Babich, MD

Medical school: SUNY Upstate Medical University Norton College of Medicine, Syracuse, NY

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, street medicine, lifestyle medicine, inpatient and outpatient procedures, OB, medical education, health policy and advocacy, planetary/one health, and bioethics.

Personal interests: Taking walks with my wife, playing with our cats Owen Wilson and Bug, learning tennis, biking, weight lifting, exploring public parks, and going down the occasional Wikipedia rabbit hole.

Why North Memorial: I met some residents and faculty from North Memorial/Broadway at the AAFP FUTURE 2025 conference and felt a connection to them and their mission. This was reinforced during my interview where I sensed the genuine enthusiasm about growing new family physicians. I visited the program in person for a second look in January 2026, and after meeting more residents and faculty, I felt like it would be a great place to grow into the family physician and leader I hope to become. I am excited by the emphasis on full-spectrum training, cultivation and belief in a growth mindset, and vast opportunities to learn from faculty who are "walking the walk" every day.

Career goals: I would like to practice full-spectrum family medicine, teach students and residents, and work in policy/government/systems leadership.

Johnny Bird, MD, ScM

Medical school: Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island

Medical interests: Harm reduction/addiction medicine, healthcare for the unhoused/street medicine, reproductive justice, refugee and immigrant health, and abolition medicine.

Personal interests: City biking, basketball (Naz Reid), chess, and reading novels.

Why North Memorial: I chose North Memorial because I wanted to train at an urban community hospital with a strong addiction medicine curriculum. I was born and raised in Minneapolis, and I'm honored to be coming home for residency.

Xin Chen, DO

Medical school: Des Moines University - Des Moines, IA

Medical interests: Urban underserved, refugee/immigrant health, preventative medicine, behavioral health/psychiatry, urgent/emergency care, dermatologic procedures, and academic medicine.

Personal interests: Outside of medicine, I am most passionate about music. I have been playing the saxophone since sixth grade and later picked up the clarinet and flute. In my free time, I also enjoy exploring parks and the outdoors, taking road trips and traveling to new places, and trying a wide variety of cuisines.

Why North Memorial: I chose North Memorial because of the wonderful experience I had during my fourth-year rotation. The faculty and residents were incredibly welcoming, supportive, and dedicated to teaching. I was especially drawn to the strong sense of camaraderie and community within the program. There was a culture of mutual respect where residents and faculty were approachable and treated learners as valued colleagues, making it easy to ask questions and seek guidance. The program's commitment to serving medically underserved populations also strongly aligned with my career goals. Finally, the opportunity to return to Minnesota and be closer to my family made North Memorial an easy choice.

Career goals: I hope to ultimately practice outpatient medicine in underserved communities with a focus on preventive care and behavioral health. I am also interested in academic medicine and hope to become involved in teaching and mentoring medical students.

Max Kuehn, MD

Medical school: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Medical interests: Addiction medicine, reproductive care, LGBTQ+ care, back pain, constipation, POCUS, and office procedures.

Personal interests: Birdwatching, swimming, US history, and cats.

Why North Memorial: Everything! Awesome people and supportive culture, excellent clinical training in the areas that matter most to me (especially providing care for people who use drugs), and the chance to return to my home state and serve an inspiring patient population. I'm so grateful to work with (and alongside) the resilient people of Minneapolis.

Career goals: Provide full-spectrum primary care with a focus on addiction medicine.

Katelyn Maliszewski, DO

Medical school: Des Moines University, Iowa

Medical interests: Reproductive health, sexual medicine, LGBTQIA+ care, OB, pediatrics, psychiatry and clinical procedures.

Personal interests: Crocheting, spending time with my partner and dog, listening to true crime podcasts and reading.

Why North Memorial: I chose North Memorial because of the program's passion for community involvement and advocacy as well as the opportunity to get solid, full-spectrum family medicine training. The community vibe between residents and faculty was apparent from my first interaction via virtual interview and has only grown over time. I'm so excited to be part of the North Memorial team and look forward to meeting future patients!

Career goals: I hope to practice full-spectrum family medicine with OB and teach in a community or academic setting.

Nath Samaratunga, MD, MPH, MBA

Medical school: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Medical interests: Health policy, addiction medicine, underserved and community medicine, and adolescent medicine.

Personal interests: Walking around the lake, cooking (especially Sri Lankan food), singing, running, and spending time with family.

Why North Memorial: I chose the North Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program because of their strong dedication to and partnership with the community in which it exists. The faculty and residents also made a profound impact on me and assured me that this program would offer me a community of social justice-minded, competent, and compassionate physician-advocates to learn from and with.

Career goals: I hope to practice medicine in support of urban underserved communities, potentially at a Federally Qualified Health Center! I also aspire to work at the intersection of medicine and policy to translate patient stories into longitudinal change.

Marc James Thor Uy, DO, MPH

Medical school: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Las Cruces, New Mexico

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, osteopathic manipulative medicine, community, preventive, underserved and academic medicine, addiction medicine, behavioral health, health equity and advocacy.

Personal interests: I enjoy spending time with my wife and our two adorable and energetic cats (Pistachio and Piper), and hosting board game nights. I also enjoy hiking, weightlifting, exploring different coffee shops, cooking Filipino food, and singing (prior to medicine, I was classically trained in opera and Broadway).

Why North Memorial: My connection to North Memorial began before medical school when I worked as a research project coordinator at the Broadway Family Medicine Clinic. During that time, I witnessed firsthand the supportive, collaborative, and academically rigorous environment essential to training well-rounded family medicine physicians. Returning years later for an audition rotation, I was thrilled to find that same exceptional culture completely unchanged, which solidified North Memorial as my top choice. Furthermore, the program’s deep, tangible commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of the local community perfectly aligns with my own dedication to advancing equitable healthcare.

Career goals: I aspire to be a full-spectrum family medicine physician with an emphasis on underserved and community medicine. As a first-generation immigrant, I am deeply aware of the privilege of this position and am committed to becoming the advocate and clinician my community deserves. Additionally, I hold a strong interest in medical education and look forward to contributing to a medical school or residency program in the future, where I can mentor and teach the next generation of physicians.

Second Year: Class of 2028

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Yaseen Abdalla, MD

Medical school: Kharkiv National Medical University, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Medical interests: Community health, full spectrum family medicine.

Personal interests: I enjoy the outdoors, hiking, going to national parks, and nothing can beat a good cup of chai.

Why North Memorial: Definitely the staff and future colleagues! The program is welcoming and has a lot to offer. I chose the North Memorial Family Medicine program because it aligns closely with my passion for community-focused, patient-centered care. I was drawn by the program level of advocacy and program's mentorship. I'm thrilled to embark on this new journey with this wonderful program.

Career goals: To deliver full-spectrum family medicine grounded in health equity, serving historically marginalized and immigrant populations, and to promote inclusive medical education and mentorship.

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Janine Bennett, MD

Medical school: The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Medical interests: Full spectrum medicine, community health, health equity, and underserved medicine.

Personal interests: Cooking, baking, spending time with family and friends, relaxing with Max (my cat).

Why North Memorial: I chose North Memorial for the full spectrum training within a supportive learning environment that would train me well to be a competent and confident physician. I was also impressed by the program's dedication to the community, evidenced by extensive social engagement and advocacy work.

Career goals: Full spectrum family medicine in an underserved rural or urban community.

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John (Jack) Freesmeier, DO

Medical school: University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical interests: Preventative care, addiction medicine, mental health, sports medicine, lifestyle medicine, LGBTQ+ health, men's health.

Personal interests: Barry's / high intensity interval training, running, cooking, traveling, spending time with friends and family, boating.

Why North Memorial: I chose North Memorial because it aligned with many of the qualities I was looking for in a residency program. I knew I wanted to be at a program located in an urban environment that was affiliated with a large research university. During my interview, everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming. I could tell that there was a real sense of community between the faculty, staff and residents. I felt North Memorial had the support and resources I needed to advance my clinical training and prepare me for independent practice.

Career goals: After completing residency, I hope to work in a practice that advances care for marginalized individuals and young adults. I am particularly interested in incorporating elements of addiction medicine and infectious disease into my future practice.

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Tahir B. Geleto, MD

Medical school: Hayat Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Medical interests: Community and preventive medicine – particularly outreach, vaccinations, and early screening for chronic diseases.

Personal interests: My interests include spending quality time with my family, especially my wife and children, which brings me joy and balance outside of medicine.

Why North Memorial: I chose the University of Minnesota North Memorial Family Medicine program because of its strong commitment to community-based care and its mission to serve diverse and underserved populations—values that deeply align with mine. During my interactions with the faculty and residents, I was inspired by the program's supportive culture, dedication to teaching, and emphasis on developing holistic, humanistic physicians. As someone who trained internationally and now lives in Minnesota, I am excited to train in a program that not only reflects my passion for equitable healthcare but also allows me to serve the community I now call home.

Career goals: My career goal is to become a compassionate, community-centered family physician who provides comprehensive, preventive, and culturally sensitive care to the communities I serve. I am particularly committed to improving access to care for underserved populations, including immigrants and refugees. Long-term, I aim to engage in public health education, mentor future physicians, especially international medical graduates, and create accessible health education materials to empower patients and promote better health outcomes.

Savannah Maynard, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

Medical interests: Addiction medicine, obstetrics, LGBTQ+ care, family planning and contraception, mental health, medical education.

Personal interests: Crocheting, reading, exploring coffee shops and new restaurants, spending time with friends and family, hanging out by the pool, board/card games, visiting the bookstore.

Why North Memorial: I chose UMN North Memorial because of their dedication to providing full-spectrum training while emphasizing health equity, patient-centered care, and community-based medicine. The residents and faculty I met while rotating at Broadway clinic during medical school were so supportive and welcoming. It was obvious how much everyone cared for one another and were dedicated to serving their patients and community while promoting a safe and healthy educational environment for residents and medical students. I was also impressed by their emphasis on providing all patients with judgement-free substance use care and ensuring all residents were comfortable prescribing Suboxone.

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Andrew Poffenberger, DO

Medical school: Des Moines University

Medical interests: Broad spectrum primary care, sports medicine, palliative care.

Personal interests: Getting outdoors! Former Olympic/Paralympic development coach for cross country skiing. I love to spend time exploring the amazing parks of Minnesota with my wife and son.

Why North Memorial: North Memorial is an unopposed family medicine residency that allows for access to patients from all walks of life. I am excited to work at a Level I trauma center for training. The Broadway clinic is also home to the Sports Medicine Fellowship with opportunities to work alongside those attending and fellows throughout residency.

Career goals: I am a hobbiest at heart and find myself interested in all corners of medicine. Residency will be a time to explore the abundant career paths available to family medicine physicians.

Andrew Sibley, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Sports medicine, preventative care, pain management, sexual health, sleep medicine, LGBTQ+ care.

Personal interests: In my free time I love to exercise, talk books with my book club, cook, walk my dogs, and explore the Twin Cities!

Why North Memorial: I knew North Memorial would provide me the training I need to become a well-rounded family physician capable of addressing a broad range of health issues. The program's high-volume inpatient service, emergency medicine rotation at North Memorial's Level 1 trauma center, and clinic emphasizing community health were all huge draws for me.

Third year: Class of 2027

Joey Buytendorp, MD (he/him)

Medical school: University of Minnesota

Medical interests: Community health, preventative care, addiction medicine, mental health, health equity and advocacy.

Personal interests: Improv, soccer, basketball, spending time outdoors, traveling, and cooking new recipes.

Why North Memorial: I chose UMN North Memorial because of the dedication to providing full-spectrum training through the lens of patient-centered care and health equity. During medical school, I spent a year in the residency program, and there was a palpable sense of community among the residents, staff, and patients. I was a welcomed team member and felt supported throughout my time at Broadway/North Memorial. I am also very excited to continue to learn from the North Minneapolis community and how to positively impact the health of our patients beyond the clinic walls.

Victor Furman, MD (he/him)

Medical school: University of Minnesota

Medical interests: Underserved medicine, full-spectrum family medicine, preventative health, and medical education.

Personal interests: Music, spending time with family and friends, and exercise.

Why North Memorial: I chose North Memorial because of its strong focus on community-based medicine. The faculty and residents I met during my interview were all very passionate about serving their community, and that resonated with me deeply. I also wanted to train at a program that focused on providing high-quality full-spectrum training, and I am confident that I will get that at North Memorial.

Sydney Geiger, MD (she/her)

Medical school: University of Minnesota

Medical interests: Health equity, underserved and community medicine, sexual and reproductive health, gender-affirming care, LGBTQ+ care, addiction medicine, immigrant and refugee health, medical Spanish, and minimizing language barriers to care.

Personal interests: Dancing, walking my dog, watching telenovelas (La Reina del Flow is my favorite), trying new group fitness classes on ClassPass, learning to crochet, and spending time with family and friends.

Why North Memorial: I chose North Memorial for the community. Getting to know the residents and faculty, it was clear they were passionate about caring for patients of diverse backgrounds, forming strong relationships with the surrounding community, and advocating for health equity. During my medical school rotation at Broadway, I observed residents support one another, and I saw their faces light up when they talked about the program. I knew that the comprehensive and collaborative learning environment at Broadway/North Memorial would help me grow as a physician, advocate, and human being.

Reem Ghanem, MD (she/her)

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School, Twin Cities

Medical interests: Reproductive health and justice, behavioral health, substance use disorder, and palliative medicine.

Personal interests: Environmental justice and ethical/sustainable living, social justice, and advocacy. I also love curating memes and hunting for niche music, and I adore animals of all kinds. I enjoy looking at nature (from indoors), writing mediocre poetry, and exploring new foods and restaurants.

Why North Memorial: In choosing a residency program, it was important to prioritize programs that shared my priorities within medicine. I particularly wanted to find a program that committed itself to social justice and community engagement within and beyond their neighborhood. I wanted a program that "walked the walk," as I've heard some people phrase it—a program that did more than list social justice as a core commitment, but demonstrated a genuine connection to these principles through its curriculum, electives, didactics, and community engagement. I wanted a program where I wouldn't feel like it was exclusively up to me and others of color to push for change and equity against staunch resistance. North Memorial stood out to me because it met all of those needs and more! I saw and heard from administrators and residents the program's commitment to the values of social and racial justice and equitable care, and I felt welcomed rather than isolated, and that was such a lovely experience.

Career goals: I want to practice full-spectrum family medicine with a special emphasis on engaging with advocacy, social justice, and decolonization within medicine, healthcare, and our broader communities. I'm considering a palliative care fellowship after residency, but I am so open to discovering new passions and goals within family medicine.

Cedith Giddings, MD (she/her)

Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine

Medical interests: Full spectrum and obstetrics.

Personal interests: Anything that involves spending time with family.

Why North Memorial: Minnesota is home, so being back home with family/support system and North Memorial/Broadway specifically because of its heavy involvement with the community they serve.

Career goals: Fellowships in surgical-OB/women's health.

Tim Nyangacha, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Underserved medicine, social determinants of health, community health, sports medicine, health equity, and health policy.

Personal interests: Cooking, trying new restaurants, Cribbage, coffee, playing and watching sports, and biking.

Why North Memorial: As a Robbinsdale native whose primary care physician was through North Memorial, this hospital has played an important role in my story as well as my family's. I chose this program because of its commitment to partnering with the vibrant North Minneapolis community and its goal of graduating competent, compassionate family physicians who will positively impact their communities.

Denise Paola Quintanilla, MD, MPH (she/her)

Medical school: University of Minnesota

Medical interests: OB/GYN, sports medicine, addiction medicine.

Personal interests: Plants, cats, soccer (going to Allianz Field for games), and reading.

Why North Memorial: I chose North Memorial because I had a wonderful time there during a clinical rotation, the wonderful team dynamic (positive, friendly, supportive), and the diversity of the staff, attendings, patients, and, most importantly, residents.

Career goals: I would like to work closely with a Spanish-speaking population and provide services to those who do not have access to health care. I hope to do this by addressing social determinants of health and working alongside organizations prioritizing health equity.

Pa Ta Xiong, MD (she/her)

Medical school: UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health

Medical interests: Underserved and community medicine, maternal and child health, reproductive justice, preventative health.

Personal interests: DIY projects, spending time with my family and dogs, going on long walks, practicing mindfulness, football (Go Pack Go!)

Why North Memorial: The faculty and residents stood out to me most during the interview process. You could sense their commitment to advocacy, community health, and health equity. There was also a great sense of community within the program itself. This, in addition to the curriculum, made me feel that North Memorial was the best place to support me in becoming the community-responsive physician I want to be.

Graduates