Current Residents

PGY 1

PGY 2

Jeremiah Atkinson, MD

Undergraduate: South Dakota State University: Brookings, SD

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

BIO: I am part of the leadership thread in the program and am interested in child & adolescent, community psychiatry, and rural mental health. My favorite things about the program are the people! Our residents are amazing and very supportive. I have a cat and a dog and enjoy biking/running on all our amazing trail systems around the lakes and the Mississippi River. There are also fun winter sports like cross country skiing, downhill skiing, and snowshoeing. Minneapolis has many fun festivals throughout the year as well. I also enjoy woodworking, home improvement, board games, reading, gardening, and horseback riding. Ask me about The Hobbit, The Princess Bride, Outlander; and the Green Bay Packers. Time machine: I would love to have dinner with President Abraham Lincoln. I think there are immense lessons to be learned from his leadership during the Civil War. If I was stranded on a desert island, I would want to have a cell phone with service, solar-powered charging pack, and a water filtration system.

Jonas Attilus, MPH, MD

Undergraduate: Rutgers University

Medical School: Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM)

Hamed Ekhtiari, MD, PhD

Undergraduate: Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Medical School: Tehran University of Medical Sciences School of Medicine

Jamie Fyda, MD

Medical School: Universidad Evangelica de El Salvador Facultad de Medicina

Hasti Hadizadeh, MD

Medical School: Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) School of Medicine

Eric Leppink, MD

Undergraduate: Carleton College

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

Christian Morfaw, MD

Medical School: University of Buea Faculty of Health Sciences

BIO: My academic interests include geriatric psychiatry, consult liaison psychiatry, and military psychiatry. My favorite things about the program are its emphasis on resident wellness and diversity and inclusion. I love to bike around the Twin Cities and play soccer, cook, go to movies, and dance. I like Idiots, Black Panther, The Heist, and watching Liverpool FC play. If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be with my spouse. She is my best friend. If stranded on a desert island, I would make sure I had a satellite phone, a fresh water source, and a knife.

Caitlin Raasch, MD

Undergraduate: St. Olaf College

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

Masoud Salehi, MD

Medical School: Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS) School of Medicine

PGY 3

A. Dalsu Baris, MD, PhD

Medical School: Hacettepe University Medical School

Michael Cahill, MD

Undergraduate: University of Minnesota

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

BIO: I am the psychotherapy co-lead for the program and am interested in child and adolescent psychiatry, LGBTQIA+ mental health, and psychoanalysis. My favorite thing about the residency program are my co-residents. The Minneapolis farmers market is lovely. I love getting ice cream and walking around the lakes with my dog son, Edgar. He’s 50% poodle, 50% shih tzu, 100% angel. The cold can be rough in the Twin Cities, but I love a snow day. I also enjoy container gardening, cooking/baking/fermenting/preserving, and movies like I Heart Huckabess. It's a tie for my favorite movie director: Yorgos Lanthimos and Darren Aronofsky. Other favorites include The Leftovers, and Britney Spears (but I'm a secret Barb). My favorite book is The Communist Manifesto. I would love to have dinner with Dolly Parton. It would be both fun and good for my soul. If I get stranded on a desert island, I would want to make sure I had a satellite phone, a solar charger, and a case of flares. I wanna be where the people are.

John Cassady, MD, PhD

Undergraduate: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

Brianna Engelson, MD

Undergraduate: Carleton College

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

BIO: I am on the GME Committee and am interested in forensic psychiatry, advocacy, and child & adolescent psychiatry. My co-residents are so amazing!! They absolutely make the program what it is. We have diverse backgrounds, talents, and interests. I love learning from and working with my colleagues. Plus we have tons of fun! :) I have two puppies and enjoy yoga, art, doggo stuff, local coffee, farmers markets, hikes, and bikes.

Kayleb Koslowsky, MD

Undergraduate: Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine-Tulsa

Brooke Resch, MD

Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin-Madison, College of Letters & Science

Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health

BIO: I am on the program's Social Media and Social Committees. My academic interest includes geriatric psychiatry. I love the variety of patients and experiences in our program. I am looking forward to seeing live concerts and shows in the Twin Cities when they return and enjoy cooking, reading, and houseplants. My favorite book is Just Mercy and my sports team is the Milwaukee Brewers.

Valencia Garcia, MD

Undergraduate: University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Medical School: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine

A. Irem Sonmez, MD (Research Track)

Medical School: Cerrahpasa Medical School

BIO: I am the Wellness Lead and the IMG Social Lead for the program. My primary interest is neuromodulation. This is a resident friendly program! I love the people. During my free time, I enjoy paddleboarding on the lakes in the Twin Cities, playing volleyball, and watching reruns of Frasier. If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be Erich Fromm. I would make sure I had tea if I was stranded on a desert island.

Jonathon Swan, DO

Undergraduate: University of Minnesota

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

BIO: I lead the psychotherapy thread in the program and am on the Resident Social Committee. My academic interests include Integrative, community, and forensic psychiatry. My favorite thing about the program is the amazingly diverse cohort with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds at a program that respects and praises me as a person who has interests outside of work. My favorite things about the Twin Cities are the nice dog parks and lakes, kayaking on the Mississippi, live music at local breweries, and some very impressive restaurants. What keeps me busy? I have an energetic Rhodesian ridgeback puppy and an equally energetic high school-aged child. I enjoy camping/backpacking/hiking, running, yoga, exploring coffee shops, and finding the best IPA and hard cider in the Twin Cities! I love RuPaul's Drag Race, I'm reading The Body Keeps the Score, and cheer on the Edison Tommies! Time machine: if I could go back, I would eat with my grandpa. When I was a kid, we used to go out to breakfast at this cafe by the airport and watch private airplanes take off. I cherish those memories. Stranded on a desert island? I would have a satellite phone to call a rescue and a 4-star resort to enjoy the island before making my rescue call. And my dog, because she has separation anxiety.

Jennifer Zick, MD, PhD (Research Track)

Undergraduate: University of Minnesota

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

BIO: My interests include schizophrenia and psychotic disorders. I love our program's flexibility in scheduling, research opportunities, and our wonderful faculty mentors. During my free time, I bike and hike through the many parks and trails in the Twin Cities. I also enjoy gardening, landscaping, and propagating indoor plants!

PGY 4

Kanjani Shukla Bajgain, DO, MPH

Undergraduate: University of Minnesota

Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM)

BIO: My academic interests include working with young adults. I'm also developing an interest in perinatal psychiatry. My favorite thing about our program is my co-residents! I love to cook and really enjoy trying new recipes - and then eating tasty food. :-) When I have free time, I like to watch Brooklyn 99. It is my absolute favorite TV show.

Lindsey Colyer, MD
Undergraduate: Luther College

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

BIO: I am interested in integrative psychiatry, psychedelics, and trauma-related disorders. My fellow residents are my favorite thing about our program. I love getting out into nature! There are so many great regional and state parks in this area. I have two cats and a puppy and enjoy gardening, hiking, and camping. My favorite movie is Silence of the Lambs (paired with a nice Chianti).

Rebecca Grossman-Kahn, MD, MBA
Undergraduate: Stanford University

Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School

BIO: My academic interests include geriatric psychiatry, first-episode psychosis, forensic psychiatry, and consult-liaison. I am also passionate about medical humanities and narrative medicine. I was looking for a program with a great mix of academic opportunities and community work, a program with strong leadership, and genuine commitment to resident health and wellbeing and I found it at the U. In my free time, I enjoy bike rides on the 50+ miles of protected paths in the Cities, kayaking on the lakes, backpacking at nearby state parks, and getting lunch from the St. Paul Cheese Shop. I also enjoy historic walking tours, reading and writing, vegetarian cooking, baking with cardamom, and listening to Brazilian music. If I found myself stranded on a desert island, I hope I would have coffee beans, a journal, and some jelly beans.

Jacques Maxwell, MD
Undergraduate: University of Minnesota

Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine

Tolulope (Tolu) Odebunmi, MBBS, MPH

Chief Resident
Undergraduate: College of Medicine, University of Ibadan

Medical School: University of Ibadan College of Medicine

BIO: I am the incoming chief resident and the Leadership and Interprofessional thread lead for the program. My academic interests include reproductive/perinatal psychiatry and medical education. My favorite thing about the program is its resident-centered culture and leaders who are open to feedback. I love exploring the restaurant scene around the Twin Cities and going for walks (especially Minnehaha Falls and the Stone Arch Bridge). In my free time, I love watching TV shows and movies, and planning/organizing events. I enjoy almost anything from the Marvel Universe, The Chosen, Star Trek: Discovery, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Vampire Diaries, Downton Abbey, and Grey's Anatomy.

Mary Okafo, MBBS
Undergraduate: University of Lagos

Medical School: University of Lagos College of Medicine

Please feel free to reach out to our resident representatives with any questions about our program or living in the Twin Cities:

Jeremiah Atkinson, PGY2: atkin257@umn.edu, medical student education, fun things to do in the Twin Cities, spirituality in psychiatry, practicing psychiatry as a person of faith (Christain)
Jonas Attilus, PGY2: attil002@umn.edu, IEWB thread lead
Dalsu Baris, PGY3: baris015@umn.edu, IMG, nontraditional applicant
Michael Cahill, PGY3: cahil047@umn.edu, LGBTQ, first-generation physician
John Cassady, PGY3: cass0096@umn.edu, BIPOC, family in residency, nontraditional path to medical school
Hamed Ekhtiari, PGY2: ekhti001@umn.edu
Jamie Fyda, PGY2: fyda0001@umn.edu
Rebecca Grossman-Kahn, PGY4: gros0445@umn.edu, non-Minnesotan/non-Midwesterner, different career before medicine
Hasti Hadizadeh, PGY2: hadiz001@umn.edu, IMG, first-generation physician, couples in residency, medical student education, leadership in residency
Eric Leppink, PGY2: leppi015@umn.edu
Jacques Maxwell, PGY4: maxw0046@umn.edu, family/young children during residency, military background
Christian Morfaw, PGY2: morfa004@umn.edu
Tolu Odebunmi, PGY4: odebu001@umn.edu, medical education, IMG, BIPOC, leadership in residency, social media use, research.
Caitlin Raasch, PGY2: raasc025@umn.edu
Valencia Rogan, PGY3: rogan019@umn.edu, BIPOC, military background, family in residency
Masoud Salehi, PGY2: saleh080@umn.edu, IMG, couples in residency, medical education, research, non-native English speaker
Irem Sonmez, PGY3: sonme005@umn.edu, IMG, research, neuromodulation
Jonathon Swan, PGY3: swanx128@umn.edu, LGBTQ, DO, having a family in residency
Lalita Thitiseranee, PGY1: thiti002@umn.edu, IMG
Jennifer Zick, PGY3: zick@umn.edu, MD/PhD, research

Current Residents

Residency