DEI Coaches

Do you want to build community?
Do you want to be empowered by your identity?
Do you want to be a better ally?
Do you want to share positive DEI stories?
Do you want to give us feedback?
Do you want advice on your rotation?
Do you need support in a challenging situation?

The DEI coaches are faculty physicians with diverse backgrounds, identities, and experiences who are trauma-informed. The DEI Coaches want to hear your story so that you can show up fully as a future physician. The program aims to support and advocate for all U of MN medical students in the Duluth and Twin Cities campuses, particularly those who have marginalized identities or backgrounds. This program is supported by Undergraduate Medical Education, Student Affairs, and Office of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at the Medical school.

The DEI coaches seek to:

Be Student-focused
Hold Space
Build community
Be Trauma-informed
Recognize Resiliency
Move at the speed of trust

We look forward to hearing from you!

Would you like to meet with one of our mentors?

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Meet Our DEI Coaches

Each coach is holding a talking piece of personal significance. Pictures were taken during a Restorative Justice, Trauma and Resiliency training with MN Peacebuilding

Aarti Bhatt, MD

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Manitowoc, WI
Undergraduate School: Marquette University
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Hobbies: Reading, Hiking, Dancing, Biking
Languages Spoken: English, Gujarati (conversational)
Furthest I have traveled from home: Nepal
Favorite activity in the Twin Cities or in Minnesota: Camping and Biking the trails
Why I chose my specialty or why medicine: MedPeds: I care about public health and promoting health across the lifespan. I care about addressing health inequities and understanding the connections between structural drivers of health and the health of individuals and communities.

Anjali Goel, MD, MPH

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: I don’t have one!
Undergraduate School: Miami of Ohio
Medical School: Medical College of Ohio
Hobbies: Cooking, Traveling and Reading
Languages Spoken: English, Hindi (Basic)
Furthest I have traveled from home: Calcutta, India
Favorite activity in the Twin Cities or in Minnesota: Eating out
Why I chose my specialty or why medicine: I chose Internal Medicine and Pediatrics because I wanted to practice primary care and also my best residents as a Medical student were the Med/Peds Residents.

Brad Segura MD, PhD

Pronouns: He/His
Hometown: Kingston, Jamaica (but have lived throughout the world!)
Undergraduate School: Arizona State University
Medical School: University of Michigan
Hobbies: Fly fishing, tending my Koi pond, hiking, growing grapes, being with family outdoors
Languages Spoken: English, some Spanish
Furthest I have traveled from home: Fukuoka, Japan
Favorite activity in the Twin Cities or in Minnesota: Being on the water! (fishing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, snowshoeing when frozen!)
Why I chose my specialty or why medicine: I was inspired by a number of physicians in my childhood and training and always wanted to take care of kids (they are the future!). As a pediatric surgeon, I get the best of both worlds: precious, resilient patients from infancy to adolescence (and sometimes beyond!) and the rewarding, amazing field of surgery! :)

Cuong Pham, MD

Pronouns: He/Him
Other Identities: Vietnamese American, Refugee
Hometown: Born in Vietnam and grew up in Little Canada, MN
Undergraduate School: University of Minnesota
Medical School: University of Minnesota
Hobbies: Biking, Cooking, Dancing, Karaoke Parties, Anything DIY
Languages Spoken: English, Vietnamese
Furthest I have traveled from home: Vietnam, China, Refugee camp in Thailand, Backpacking Europe, 6 Countries in Africa
Favorite activity in the Twin Cities or in Minnesota: I bike 3000 to 6000 miles a year. I am a year around bike commuter.
Why I chose my specialty or why medicine: I trained in internal medicine and pediatrics. I am also board certified in Addiction Medicine. My work is in both the hospital and a primary care clinic. I became a physician to serve immigrant and marginalized populations. I see myself as a citizen physician and so it is important that my work is centered on people and community.

Dave Hamlar, MD, DDS

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Undergraduate School: Tufts University
Medical School: Ohio State University
Hobbies: Running
Languages spoken: English, some Spanish
Furthest I've traveled from home: Jacobabad, Pakistan
Favorite activity in the Twin Cities or in Minnesota: Spending time with my family
Why I chose my specialty or why medicine: As a former dentist naturally journeyed to Otolaryngology

Donovan Williams, MD

Other identities you would like to share: Native American/American Indian/Navajo/Husband/Friend/Son
Hometown: Flagstaff, Arizona
Undergraduate School: University of Arizona
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine
Hobbies: Fishing, traveling, movie watching
Languages spoken: English
Furthest I've traveled from home: Hawaii
Favorite activity in the Twin Cities or in Minnesota: Going to the movies
Why I chose my specialty or why medicine: Recognized by colleague of my characteristics

Iris Borowsky, MD, PhD

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
Undergraduate School: Duke University
Medical School: Washington University School of Medicine
Hobbies: Running, Hiking, Dancing, Reading, Drawing, Playing fun cooperative group games
Languages Spoken: English, Medical Spanish (Basic)
Furthest I have traveled from home: Patagonia in Argentina
Favorite activity in the Twin Cities or in Minnesota: Going for runs with family and friends at Bde Maka Ska and Lake Harriet and hiking in Northern Minnesota
Why I chose my specialty or why medicine: I love people and science - for real! It is an incredible honor and privilege to practice medicine as a general pediatrician. I love that pediatrics centers prevention, health equity, promoting healthy development for all children, youth, and families, and having fun!

Justin Penny, DO, MA

Pronouns: He/Him
Other Identities: Queer, First gen college student
Hometown: Ft. Mitchell, KY
Undergraduate School: University of Kentucky
Medical School: Kansas City University
Hobbies: Travel, Weightlifting, Supporting Drag, Theater, Music and concerts, Trivia, PC gaming
Languages Spoken: English
Furthest I have traveled from home: Greece
Favorite activity in the Twin Cities or in Minnesota: Exploring new food spots and kayaking
Why I chose my specialty or why medicine: I do full spectrum family medicine including hospital medicine, obstetrics, primary care, reproductive health and LGBTQ+ comprehensive care as well as clinical ethics consults. This lets me partner with and advocate for patients, especially those who are vulnerable, across many medical contexts and longitudinally. I am passionate about teaching inclusive care to medical students and residents.

Shahnaz Sultan MD, MHSc, AGAF

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Undergraduate School: Brooklyn College
Medical School: SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Languages Spoken: English, Urdu
Furthest I have traveled from home: Australia, South Korea
Favorite activity in the Twin Cities or in Minnesota: Eating out
Why I chose my specialty or why medicine: I chose gastroenterology because it provides the perfect mix of procedural and cognitive expertise. I think gastroenterologists are also fun people.

Viviane Leuche, MD

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Douala, Cameroon
Undergraduate School: University of Minnesota
Medical School: University of Minnesota
Hobbies: Photography, Horticulture, Reading, Travelling
Languages Spoken: English, French, Spanish (Basic), learning Arabic
Furthest I have traveled from home: Home is Cameroon - so Alaska and Hawaii
Favorite activity in the Twin Cities or in Minnesota: Biking, Hiking, Gardening at community gardens, spending time with family and friends
Why I chose my specialty or why medicine: I picked Pediatric EM because I wanted to gain skills in caring for really sick kids and be more comfortable with pediatric procedures. I also have an interest in global child health.

Wendy Nguyen, MD, MEd

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Stevens Point, WI
Undergraduate School: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Hobbies: Watching movies, playing tennis, trying new restaurants, and playing fetch with my dog
Languages Spoken: English
Furthest I have traveled from home: Vietnam
Favorite activity in the Twin Cities or in Minnesota: Being out and about in the fall.
Why I chose my specialty or why medicine: I like the combination of acuity and being able to focus on a few patients at a time. Children are fun to care for.

Zujaja Sadiq MD

Hometown: Canandaigua, NY
Undergraduate School: University of Rochester
Medical School: The Aga Khan University College of Medicine
Hobbies: Being outside in all weather with family or with friends. Running, reading and cooking
Languages Spoken: English, Urdu, learning Spanish
Furthest I have traveled from home: Bhurban (northern Pakistan)
Favorite activity in the Twin Cities or in Minnesota: Walking/running trails
Why I chose my specialty or why medicine: Even though traditionally medicine is thought to be a science, there are so many avenues ingrained in it from psychology, communication, literacy and humanity. It has become a necessity in all areas of the world even if practiced differently. I find it to be not only a welcome challenge, but also a base to which if one desires, they can spring forth from as well, and find what they want from it.