UMN Medical Center Residents

Abigail Gil Eastman, DO

Medical school: Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA

Medical interests: Palliative medicine, community and street medicine, and working with Hispanic/Latino communities.

Personal interests: Reading fiction, quilting, scrapbooking, gardening, and spending time with my husband and dogs. 

Why UMN Medical Center: I chose the University of Minnesota Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program (Smiley's) because of its commitment to treating a diverse patient population and training its residents in this environment. I was impressed by the interview day and felt right at home with the residents! Not to mention, the program is located in a great area of Minnesota and has many amenities to offer in the nearby neighborhoods. 

Career goals: Practice family medicine and palliative/hospice medicine in an urban underserved area. I would also like to be intricately involved in free clinic/Federally Qualified Health Center and street medicine work. 

Alexa Flanders, DO

Medical school: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lynchburg, VA, USA

Medical interests: LGBTQ+ healthcare, full-spectrum reproductive healthcare, social medicine, mental health and wellness, holistic primary care, osteopathic manipulative medicine, and public health education.

Personal interests: Video gaming and tabletop RPGs as the healer, cooking, drawing and painting, metalworking, fantasy novels and media, graphic novels, sewing and embroidery.

Why UMN Medical Center: I am excited for the opportunity to learn more about primary care for Minnesotans, LGBTQ+ healthcare including gender-affirming care, full-spectrum reproductive healthcare and to expand on my osteopathic skills. The Twin Cities are my home, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to complete my training while serving my community!

Career goals: I am undecided as to where I want to practice in the future, but I intend to provide holistic, empathetic and evidence-based care to my entire community. I highly value the "womb to tomb" model of family medicine in which physicians care for patients at all stages of life. 

Mahitha Lampimukhi, MBBS

Medical school: Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India

Medical interests: My medical interests include preventive care, women’s health and chronic disease management, particularly diabetes and hypertension. I am drawn to the continuity of care in family medicine and enjoy building long-term relationships with patients, with a focus on improving outcomes through early intervention and patient education.

Personal interests: In my free time, I enjoy creating content for my USMLE-focused page, painting and exploring new hobbies. I like going on long walks with my husband, working out, and recently I’ve been enjoying making pipe cleaner flowers as a creative outlet.

Why UMN Medical Center: I chose the University of Minnesota Smiley's program because of its strong emphasis on comprehensive family medicine training, continuity of care, and serving diverse and underserved populations. I appreciate the program’s supportive learning environment and its focus on both clinical excellence and community-based care, which aligns well with my career goals.

Career goals: My career goal is to become a well-rounded family medicine physician focused on preventive care and continuity of care. I hope to work with underserved communities, build long-term patient relationships and contribute to improving access to quality primary care.

Laurel Neufeld, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN

Medical interests: Weight-inclusive care aligned with Health at Every Size® principles, abortion care, gender care, queer/LGBTQIA+ health, care for people who use drugs, adolescent medicine, and racial justice in medicine.

Personal interests: Knitting and sewing (show me your projects!), bike commuting, camping, reading (always looking for a recommendation!)

Why UMN Medical Center: I'm thrilled to be at UMMC/Smiley's because of the program's commitment to educating residents skilled in providing gender care, abortion care, and care for immigrant communities. I also went to high school a few blocks away (go, Tigers!) and feel rooted in this community. 

Career goals: I plan to provide primary care in Minneapolis, with a focus on gender care and on care aligned with fat liberation and Health at Every Size® principles. I hope to be in community with my patients and responsive to their needs, both interpersonally and as an advocate in the medical system.

Alyssa Salamanca Ghajarieh, MD

Medical school: Creighton University, Omaha, NE

Medical interests: Obstetrics and comprehensive women's health, rural medicine, family planning, healthcare advocacy, procedural family medicine and palliative care.

Personal interests: Embroidery, Korean dramas, travel, and spending time with my husband and two dogs!

Why UMN Medical Center: I chose the UMMC Smiley's program after truly falling in love with the Twin Cities during my surgical intern year; both the community and patient population made it feel like home. The University of Minnesota offers exceptional exposure to reproductive health and obstetric training, which aligns closely to my long-term interests. I also value the program's strong emphasis on full-spectrum family medicine. Overall, UMMC Smiley's program is the ideal environment for me to continuing growing professionally and provides a great community for myself to grow personally and for my family to thrive. 

Career goals: I hope to complete an obstetrics fellowship following residency and practice as an FMOB in a rural midwestern environment. I am also interested in pursuing additional training in palliative care.  

Alexandra (Ali) Zinnen, MD

Medical school: The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio

Medical interests: Community-focused, full-spectrum family medicine dedicated to caring for patients across their lifespan, with special interests in LGBTQ+ care, procedural medicine, sports medicine, and geriatrics.

Personal interests: Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my family and my dachshund, Moxie, taking on home improvement projects, crafting felt ornaments and embroidery, watching reality TV, and traveling.

Why UMN Medical Center: I chose the University of Minnesota Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program (Smiley's) because I admired the way the program consistently demonstrated its commitment to the community, especially during challenging times, extending its impact beyond the walls of the clinic. During my interview day and resident socials, I was equally impressed by the people. The residents and faculty were welcoming, supportive, and genuinely invested in one another's growth. It was clear that they were not only striving to become the best physicians they could be, but were also dedicated to helping those around them do the same. I knew I wanted to train in a culture defined by service, collaboration, and mentorship.

Career goals: I aspire to forge long-term relationships with patients and their families, becoming a trusted presence during both life's celebrations and its challenges. Through service, advocacy, and community engagement, I hope to create meaningful change that extends beyond individual clinic visits and contributes to healthier, stronger communities.

Annika Ballantyne, MD (she/her)

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School 

Medical interests: Gender-affirming care, palliative care, reproductive and sexual health, and addiction medicine.

Personal interests: Music, yoga, meditation, flower gardening, and reading.

Why UMN Medical Center: I chose UMMC/Smiley's because of the program's commitment to social justice, diverse patient population, and emphasis on gender-affirming care and reproductive/sexual health. 

Career goals: I plan to practice full-spectrum primary care in an urban underserved area following residency. I have a passion for healthcare advocacy and hope to work with local legislators on issues directly impacting my patients. 

Sarah Elsiddig Eltraify, MBBS (she/her)

Medical school: University of Khartoum, Sudan

Medical interests: Refugee and immigrant medicine, preventive and integrative medicine, pain management, health at every size, comprehensive women's health.

Personal interests: I enjoy taking long walks in nature with my family, reading, yoga, and putting puzzles together with my son.

Why UMN Medical Center: Aside from the strong curriculum, the truly inclusive and diverse nature of the UMMC/Smiley's training program, I had the pleasure of spending some time with Smiley's residents during two weeks of inpatient care. Immediately, I noticed the deep care that the residents and attendings gave to each other, the patients, and me as a student. It was a type of care that was inclusive, gentle, and attentive. I witnessed true respect through patient-centered rounding, and immediately knew that this is where I want to get the opportunity to further my education and medical training.

Sophia Goodchild, MD (she/her)

Medical school: University of Minnesota

Medical interests: Gender care, reproductive health, community outreach.

Personal interests: Baking, reading, traveling, and playing with my dog.

Why UMN Medical Center: I chose UMMC/Smiley's because of its dedication to providing equitable care to communities with limited access to health care due to systemic barriers, its promotion of gender care and reproductive justice initiatives, and its emphasis on interprofessional teamwork. When I rotated there, I felt valued and I was excited to come home and tell my husband all about my day. The real question is how could I not choose UMMC/Smiley's?

Alex Hart, MD, MBS (he/him) 

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Sports medicine, ultrasound, LGBTQIA care, prenatal obstetrics.

Personal interests: Strength training, reading, listening to recorded and live music, cinema.

Why UMN Medical Center: I chose UMMC/Smiley's because of the unique opportunity to care for some of Twin Cities' communities that have been historically marginalized or excluded from equitable health care. 

Emily Johnson, DO (she/her)

Medical school: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical interests: I'm interested in LGBTQIA+ health and gender-affirming care, comprehensive reproductive health, pediatric medicine, and substance use disorder treatment.

Personal interests: I love to read and play tennis. I also try to spend as much time as possible with my friends and family, as well as my fiancée and our two dogs. 

Why UMN Medical Center: I chose UMN Medical Center/Smiley's for residency because of the program's dedication to advocating for their patients and serving their community. More than that, after just a short time interacting with the UMMC/Smiley's team, I felt the environment of support and inclusion that they have created, and knew it was the place I wanted to spend the next three years.

Jennifer Rha, MD (she/her)

Medical school: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School 

Medical interests: Refugee and immigrant health, strengthening health systems globally, gender-affirming care, family planning, human rights and equitable access to healthcare.

Personal interests: Running, being in nature, traveling, learning languages, reading, thrifting, collaging.

Why UMN Medical Center: I chose this U of M program because of its curricular strengths in reproductive health and family planning as well as gender-affirming care. The program also has a clear commitment to antiracism, advocacy, justice, community health, and a supportive learning educational environment. I also am really excited about U of M's global family medicine program!

Alix Bernholtz, MD, MS (she/her) 

Medical school: Wayne State University School of Medicine

Medical interests: LGBTQIA+ health (including gender-affirming care), mental health, addiction medicine, integrated primary care, and Health at Every Size.

Personal interests: In my spare time, I enjoy theatre, spending time with friends and family (especially board game nights), listening to music and dancing, exploring history and art, and designing and crafting jewelry and beadwork. 

Why UMN Medical Center: I chose UMN Medical Center/Smiley's because of the program's commitment to respect and inclusivity. As I explored the program, I found that the faculty, residents, and staff seem to radiate warmth, empathy, and passion! UMN Medical Center/Smiley's offers full-spectrum family medicine training, with an emphasis on understanding and advocating for patients and the community. 

Career goals: I plan on working as a full-spectrum community-based family medicine doctor. My goal is to provide patient-centered care in an outpatient setting as part of an integrated primary care practice. I also hope to continue to engage in social justice and advocacy.

Kelsey Christianson, MD (she/they) 

Medical school: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Medical interests: I am interested in size inclusivity in medicine, LGBTQ+ and gender-affirming healthcare, reproductive and sexual health, and addiction medicine. 

Personal interests: Growing up in rural Wisconsin, I have always loved being in nature. I like to go hiking, camping, swimming, and kayaking. I also enjoy cooking, reading, playing board games, and spending time with my girlfriend and two cats.

Why UMN Medical Center: I knew immediately after meeting with U of M faculty and residents on interview day that UMN Medical Center/Smiley's was the program for me! I loved the clinic's focus on LGBTQIA+ healthcare and knew I would be in a space that was inclusive and supportive of my personal and professional goals. I also appreciated the program's focus on full-spectrum OB/GYN healthcare and procedures. The opportunities to increase my experience in gender-affirming care and women’s health procedures through the longitudinal tracks made the program even more perfect for me. Most importantly, the faculty, staff, and residents were all down-to-earth and friendly, and I knew I would be supported as both a learner and person by choosing UMN Medical Center/Smiley's.

Career goals: In my career, I want to treat patients holistically and build long-term professional relationships with patients, families, and communities by practicing full-spectrum family medicine with OB. I hope to continue improving healthcare equity by engaging in patient- and population-centered advocacy in my career. I am passionate about practicing a size-inclusive approach to medicine and improving access to gender-affirming care.

Ben Garrison, DO (he/him)

Medical school: Des Moines University

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, preventive medicine, and osteopathic manipulative medicine

Personal interests: I prefer to be outside, no matter the season. In the summer, I enjoy boating, pickle ball, and disc golf. In the winter, I ice skate, play pond hockey, and go downhill skiing or snowboarding. I also like board games, card games, video games, and Dungeons and Dragons.

Why UMN Medical Center: As someone who grew up in the Minneapolis metro area, this is where I consider home and where I wanted to complete my residency training. I chose the University of Minnesota Medical Center program specifically because it had osteopathic recognition and provided some of the most comprehensive gender-affirming care and RHEDI sexual and reproductive health curriculum in the country.

Victoria Kasprzak, DO, MS (she/her)

Medical school: A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

Medical interests: Preventative medicine, refugee medicine, and sports medicine 

Personal interests: Photography, hiking, and painting 

Why UMN Medical Center: I chose this program because of its supportive learning environment for residents, impactful focus on immigrant and refugee health, and the strong sense of community. 

Jagneet Kaur, MD (she/her) 

Medical school: St. George's University School of Medicine

Medical interests: Comprehensive women's health, obstetrics, reproductive health, public health, healthcare advocacy, addiction medicine, and procedures

Personal interests: Hiking, indoor rock climbing, reading, cooking, going to concerts, and playing board games with family and friends! 

Why UMN Medical Center: I chose UMN Medical Center/Smiley’s because of its commitment to becoming an antiracist residency by promoting justice and addressing structural racism. Additionally, I am excited to have the opportunity to train with an institution that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. Lastly, during my interview, I genuinely felt a connection with the faculty. Everyone was so welcoming and eager to learn more about my life outside of medicine.

Career goals: I am still working on my specific career goals, but I want to work in a setting where I can make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of diverse communities, advocating for health equity and justice. 

Carly Norden, MD, MS (she/her)

Medical school: University of Illinois College of Medicine

Medical interests: Reproductive healthcare and inpatient medicine

Personal interests: Reading, houseplants, and hiking

Why UMN Medical Center: I chose UMN Medical Center/Smiley's because Smiley's places a huge focus on a diverse patient population and LGBTQ healthcare. Additionally, since I am interested in reproductive health, attending a RHEDI program was very important to me! Everyone on my interview day was very warm and welcoming!

Jae Creger, MD

Future plans: Outpatient clinic - West Metro of MSP

Hannah Fagen, MD

Maryam Faooqui, DO

Adam Lord, MD

Future plans: M Health Fairview - Eden Prairie - Eden Prairie, MN

Soumya Polavarapu, DO

Future plans: Sports Medicine Fellowship - Austin, TX

Sofia Haile, MD

Future plans: Park Nicollet Clinic Brooklyn Center Brookdale, MN
 

Christine Harb, DO

Alexander Kenyon-Johns, DO

Future plans: M Health Fairview Clinic - Uptown, MN
 

Julia Krumholz, MD

University of Utah Family Medicine OB Fellowship
 

Jessica Sukharan, MD

M Health Fairview Clinic Brooklyn Park

Lily Ward, MD

Future plans: HealthPartners Clinic St. Paul Wabasha, MN
 

Christy Atkinson

Future plans: Starting in October 2024, Dr. Atkinson will practice at an M Health clinic in River Falls, WI.

Emily Feng, MD

Future plans: Dr. Feng is heading to Boston to complete a Faculty Development fellowship and earn a Master of Education.

Rita Ferri-Huerta, MD 

Future plans: Dr. Ferri-Huerta will be joining Entira Family Clinics - Highland, practicing Family Medicine with Obstetrics.

Jessica Jordan, DO

Future plans: Dr. Jordan is excited to be taking a hybrid Family Medicine Clinic/Hospitalist—OB position with Sanford in rural Vermillion, South Dakota. She is excited to take her knowledge of gender-affirming care and reproductive justice into her new state! Her 2-year-old will be surrounded by most grandparents and has no idea how much love awaits him! 

Gagandeep Singh, DO

Future plans: Dr. Singh will be heading to Indianapolis, IN to practice urban underserved primary care at Eskenazi Health.

Deepti Vedere, MD

Pacific Medical Group, North Portland Clinic

Sarah Copelas, DO 

Future plans: Dr. Copelas will work at local urgent care clinics while finding the best clinic to pursue her passions for reproductive health and community medicine.

Christian Matthews, MD

Future plans: Dr. Matthews will complete a sports medicine fellowship at the University of Minnesota and plans to pursue a career in primary care sports medicine in the Twin Cities area.

Abigail Moeller, DO

Future plans: Dr. Moeller is completing an addiction medicine fellowship.

Kristina Parthum, MD

HealthPartners Inver Grove Heights

Margo Tomka, DO

Future plans: HealthPartners Clinic, Arden Hills, MN