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Meet Our Residents

A Mayo Clinic Family Medicine resident checking a patient

Our residents come from medical schools around the U.S. and outside the country. Learn more about the residents in our program and why they chose the Family Medicine Residency in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Class of 2024

Ramesha Ali M.B. B.Ch.

Ramesha Ali, M.B., B.Ch.

I chose Mayo because I want to be a part of a program that emphasizes the physician as an effective educator, collaborator, advocate, and scholar.
Medical school: University College Cork School of Medicine, Ireland
Ideal practice: My ideal practice encompasses inpatient and outpatient medicine, including rural medicine and nursing home care. I also want to be involved in medical education and public health outreach to vulnerable and underserved populations. 
Future plans: My future plans include having a balance of inpatient and outpatient medicine to provide continuous care to patients. I look forward to being a preceptor to medical students. 
Favorite movie: My favorite movies are the Harry Potter series.
Hobbies and interests: My hobbies and interests include baking, especially birthday cakes, traveling, origami, horticulture, and anything indoor plant-related.

Daniel Bobo M.B.B.S.

Daniel Bobo, M.B.B.S.

I chose family medicine because I enjoy taking care of people long-term and caring for their overall health. I chose Mayo because I want to work in a system where everyone involved in patient care prioritizes what is best for the patient.
Medical school: The University of Queensland School of Medicine, Australia
Ideal practice: My ideal practice is outpatient primary care with a focus on certain aspects of lifestyle medicine to improve quality of life and the general well-being of patients and reduce hospitalizations.
Future plans: My future plans include continuing to work with Mayo, or with the Department of Veterans Affairs. I also hope to serve in the Air Force Reserve as a flight surgeon.
Favorite movie: My favorite movie is "Ghostbusters."
Hobbies and interests: I enjoy boxing and football, especially at the college and high school level. I'm also a huge history buff, and I'm learning Portuguese so I can better communicate with my fiancee's family.

Lindsey Knopps D.O.

Lindsey Knopps, D.O.

I chose this program because of its strong curriculum, community involvement, leadership opportunities, the Osteopathic Recognition track, and the support and kindness of the faculty and residents. I also want to be in the vibrant community of Eau Claire. My amazing experience during my away rotation and program interview, as well as my close family ties to the area, are just a few of the reasons why I knew no other program could compare.
Medical school: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future plans: My future plans include staying in Wisconsin to practice full-spectrum family medicine with a special interest in women's health, obstetrics, and osteopathic manipulative medicine.
Favorite movie: My favorite movies are "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" and "Elf." 
Hobbies and interests: My hobbies and interests include spending time with my husband and two dogs, kayaking, hiking, baking, reading, and traveling.

Vanessa Lowdon D.O.

Vanessa Lowdon, D.O.

My dream is to practice broad-spectrum family medicine, including osteopathic manipulative medicine, in a small town. When I found Mayo's Family Medicine program in Eau Claire, I was amazed to find that every aspect of my dream residency was included, along with other innovative ideas I hadn't considered. All of these things, paired with the wonderful people I interacted with during the interview process, made choosing this program an easy decision.
Medical school: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ideal practice: My ideal practice is in a small-town family medicine clinic with osteopathic manipulative medicine incorporated into visits with additional space to host educational events.
Future plans: My future plans include pursuing teaching opportunities with medical students as a preceptor or in a more academic setting.
Favorite movie: My favorite movies are "The Greatest Showman," "White Christmas," "Top Gun," "A Knight's Tale," and "10 Things I Hate About You." 
Hobbies and interests: I love to travel, whether it's internationally or on road trips with quirky stops. I enjoy seeing what the world has to offer; photography; and being outdoors to hike, camp, swim, and canoe.

Alexis Papke M.D.

Alexis Papke, M.D.

Growing up in the Eau Claire area, I always knew I wanted to return one day. I was excited when Mayo started the family residency here. This allowed me to complete my residency in the community I hope to practice in one day while learning alongside driven and compassionate medical professionals who value teaching.
Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin
Future plans: I chose family medicine because I love the breadth of medicine I get to practice as a physician. This fits perfectly with my plans to have a full-spectrum family medicine practice, with specific interests in mental health, addiction medicine, women's health, and obstetrics.
Favorite movie: My favorite movies are "The Mummy" and the Harry Potter series. 
Hobbies and interests: My hobbies and interests include volleyball; baking; and anything involving the outdoors in Wisconsin, such as fishing, hunting, boating, and running.

Class of 2025

Katie Hills, D.O.

Katie Hills, D.O.

I fell in love with the Family Medicine Residency Program in Eau Claire while I was completing a rotation in my fourth year of medical school. I was so impressed with the way the residents, faculty, and staff worked together with such joy and focus on patient care and education. I always dreamed of working in a small town, but I wanted to learn in a place with a diverse population and the resources to learn the full scope of family medicine — and to feel confident in these skills. This program was the perfect fit for these desires.
Medical school: Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harrogate, Tennessee
Ideal practice/future plans: I hope one day to practice the full scope of family medicine with a special interest in outpatient care for every age, women's health, and osteopathic manipulative medicine in a small rural community.
Favorite movies: "The Parent Trap," "Christmas in Connecticut," "The Little Mermaid," and any movie my husband doesn't like.
Hobbies and interests: I love hanging out with my husband and my cat, Pudge. My hobbies include gardening, cooking, hiking, and traveling whenever I get the chance. I also love meeting new people wherever I go.

Nicholas Hora, D.O.

Nicholas Hora, D.O.

As a former Blugold, I chose this program because it brings me back to the people who shaped who I am today in the Chippewa Valley. Mayo has a strong history of community outreach, which I think is key to family medicine, and fostering creativity, which allows us all to become the physicians we want to be. During my away rotation, the faculty could not have provided a more supportive environment conducive to learning, and I knew then that I would grow the most here. Lastly, the program has osteopathic recognition, which will allow me to master my skills over the next three years.
Medical school: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ideal practice: My ideal practice is full-spectrum family medicine, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine.
Future plans: I plan to pursue a sports medicine fellowship after residency and then return to the Midwest, where I hope to find myself in a teaching role in an academic setting.
Favorite movies: "Inception" and the "Mighty Ducks" series. I'm also a big fan of Harry Potter, but you have to read the books first.
Hobbies and interests: I'm a huge sports fan, particularly hockey. I enjoy swimming, coaching, and playing card games, which I am overly competitive about.

Seidu Mahama, D.O.

Seidu Mahama, D.O.

The opportunities for community-based practice, rural medicine, and the ability to tailor my experience to meet my future plans attracted me to this program. In addition, Mayo Clinic Family Medicine — Eau Claire emphasizes resident wellness, which appealed to me.
Medical school: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
Ideal practice: My ideal practice is full-spectrum family medicine. I hope to practice in a medically underserved community.
Favorite movie: My favorite movie is "The Frisco Kid."
Hobbies and interests: My hobbies and interests include soccer, playing guitar, playing drums, and dancing.
Future plans: My future plans are to have a family and practice full-spectrum family medicine in a medically underserved community. I also hope to set up a clinic in my hometown in Ghana.

Danielle McCulloch, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O.

Danielle McCulloch, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O.

When doing away rotations, I was blown away by the comradery of the residents and staff in the Eau Claire program. This intangible difference is what separated Eau Claire from the other programs. Also, the Mayo institution is known around the world for its focus on patient care, evidence-based research, and medical education. These factors, combined with Eau Claire's diverse patient population and rural focus, set the perfect conditions for me to grow my future practice in the direction I want.
Medical school: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland School of Medicine, Dublin, Ireland
Ideal practice: My ideal practice is a full-spectrum family practice in a rural community where I will be able to focus on addiction medicine, procedures, and medical education.
Future plans: Once established in my practice, I hope to mentor medical students as a preceptor and be involved in training future residents.
Favorite movies: The "Harry Potter" series, "The Shawshank Redemption," and any period piece that will make me cry.
Hobbies and interests: My hobbies and interests include water polo, hiking, traveling, hot yoga, reading, and collecting unique pieces of art.

Swaroop Murugesh, D.O.

Swaroop Murugesh, D.O.

During high school, I volunteered at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Since that experience, it has been my dream to train at a Mayo Clinic hospital. I came here to learn about the world-class health care Mayo Clinic is known for. Growing up in a medically underserved area, I became passionate about primary care and rural medicine. Eau Claire is the perfect city to gain valuable experience in full-spectrum family medicine and treating a diverse patient population. The Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency in Eau Claire offers a personalized residency program that will allow me to develop and master skills to become a well-rounded physician for my patients.
Medical school: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Pomona, CA
Ideal practice: My ideal practice is a private practice in a semirural city. I will practice full-spectrum outpatient family medicine, with sports medicine mixed into the practice.
Future plans: Complete a sports medicine fellowship after residency and start my private practice after that fellowship.
Favorite movies: "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" ("You Only Live Once"), "Sachein" (Tamil movie), and "3 Idiots" (Bollywood movie)
Hobbies and interests: Soccer, cricket, volleyball, and snowboarding. I'm a golden retriever dog lover.

Class of 2026

Colton Burns, M.D.

Colton Burns, M.D.

I chose the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency in Eau Claire because of its innovative curriculum, excellent instruction, and the wonderful people I met on interview day. Mayo Clinic is known worldwide as a leader in medical education, and this program in particular gives residents unrivaled access to teaching from experts in both family medicine and specialty care. Resident wellness also is a major focus of this program, which sets it apart from other programs around the country.

Hometown: Sycamore, Illinois

Medical school: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL

Ideal practice: My ideal practice is in full-spectrum family medicine in a rural community.

Future plans: I plan to practice primarily outpatient medicine in the rural Midwest. My goal will be to offer aspects of health care, such as procedures and mental health services, that patients in these areas often have limited access to.

Favorite movies: "Harry Potter," "Star Wars," and "Lord of the Rings" series.

Hobbies and interests: I am a huge sports fan, especially baseball and football. I also love exercising and doing anything outdoors, especially with my wife and two-year old son.

Christina Campbell, D.O.

Christina Campbell, D.O.

I chose the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program in Eau Claire because I wanted a program that was going to push me to be the best physician I could be, a leader in the community and an educator to the next generation of physicians. I was impressed by how personable and academically diverse the residents, faculty, and staff were.

Hometown: Malta, Ohio

Medical school: University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pikeville, KY

Ideal practice: My ideal practice is a full-spectrum family medicine practice with maternity care and osteopathic manipulative medicine. I would like to have the ability to travel to health professional shortage areas a few times a week.

Future plans: I plan to be a part of a full-spectrum family medicine practice with maternity care and osteopathic manipulative medicine. I would love to develop a platform to teach people how to make healthy affordable meals based on their health conditions.

Favorite movies: Hallmark is my guilty pleasure. I enjoy "The Devil Wears Prada," "The Proposal" and "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."

Hobbies and interests: Powerlifting, CrossFit and any outrageous sporting event, including Checkpoint, Spartan and obstacle course racing. I also enjoy a good movie with a glass of wine surrounded by my cats.

Christopher Kotsis, M.D.

Christopher Kotsis, M.D.

What drew me to this program initially was its outstanding culture that fosters resident growth as a learner which, in my mind, lays the foundation for becoming an excellent and well-rounded family physician in the future. The program offers plenty of opportunities to personalize my training experience through its curriculum structure and the one-on-one access to a wide range of supportive specialty staff across departments, which will allow me to gain exceptional procedural skills that I can utilize in my future practice.

Hometown: Astoria, New York

Medical school: SUNY Downtown Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY

Ideal practice: I would like to be a family medicine-obstetrics clinician providing primarily outpatient primary care to all family members, but also offering continuity maternity care and deliveries for pregnant patients. I am equally interested in caring for the child before and after the pregnancy. Within my outpatient clinic, I also would like to have a fully stocked procedure room and be able to perform a wide variety of procedures, including suturing; laceration repairs; wound care; osteopathic manipulative treatment; and gynecological procedures, such as colposcopies, intrauterine device and Nexplanon insertions and point-of-care ultrasound; dermatological excisions, incision and drainage; cyst lipoma removal and joint injections.

Favorite movie: My favorite movies are "Van Helsing," "Man of Steel," "Gladiator," "Interstellar," "It’s a Wonderful Life" and "About Time."

Hobbies and interests: Hiking (in national parks when possible), wildlife watching/photography, fishing, going on road trips and exploring new places, kickboxing, Muay Thai and playing a strategy game on my computer or some old PlayStation game every now and then.

Future plans: My future plans are a combination of being a family medicine-obstetrics clinician that provides primarily outpatient primary care to all family members, performing a wide variety of in-office procedures for future patients and serving as a teacher/mentor to students and/or residents either as a faculty member or in some other capacity.

Omama Samour, M.D.

Omama Samour, M.D.

Since my first interaction with the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program in Eau Claire, I felt a strong sense of community and support. The friendly and warm environment made me confident that this was the ideal program for my training. Furthermore, my passion for rural medicine drew me to this program as it offers an opportunity to encounter diverse cases and learn a variety of procedures. The integrated academic curriculum and research support align perfectly with my goals of receiving comprehensive rural family medicine training while advancing my research and academic skills. I am thrilled to become a part of this community!

Hometown: Ontario, Canada

Medical school: Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey

Ideal practice: My ideal practice is a full-spectrum family physician with a focus on obstetrics, women’s health and mental health.

Future plans: I plan to continue an obstetrics fellowship and then start a private practice with a continuity obstetrics clinic providing the best care for pregnant women and their whole families at the same time.

Favorite movies: "The Pursuit of Happiness" and all Disney movies.

Hobbies and interests: I enjoy shopping, traveling, exploring new places, trying new adventures and pursuing my passion for photography by taking and editing new scenes.

Philip van Huigenbos, D.O.

Philip van Huigenbos, D.O.

I chose the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program for a few reasons. First, I have a passion for full-spectrum osteopathic family medicine. I found this program embodied these elements. Second, the faculty and residents were friendly, seemed genuinely happy with their jobs and felt valued by Mayo Clinic. Finally, Eau Claire is a city that in many ways resembles the small farming community I grew up in.

Hometown: Canada

Medical school: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing, MI

Ideal practice: My ideal practice is an outpatient private practice in a rural or semi-rural environment that delivers full-spectrum osteopathic primary care. I am interested in working in a multidisciplinary environment with a variety of allied health professions that would help to embody the patient-centered medical home approach.

Future plans: Pursue a pilot’s license.

Favorite movies: "Band of Brothers" (TV miniseries)

Hobbies and interests: Hiking, biking, camping, canoeing and all sorts of other outdoor adventures with my wife and our dog.

Class of 2027

 Boshra Al Ibraheem, M.D.

I chose the Family Medicine Residency in Eau Claire because it is known for its outstanding patient care and hands-on training that prepares residents for real-world challenges. The program’s focus on community health matches my desire to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Learning from experienced faculty in a supportive environment will help me build the skills I need to excel in family medicine.
Medical school: Aleppo University School of Medicine, Syria 
Ideal practice: Full spectrum of family medicine, encompassing both inpatient and outpatient care. I am eager to complete my research development and look forward to serving as a preceptor for medical students and residents, fostering the next generation of healthcare professionals. 
Future plans: My future plans include having a balance of inpatient and outpatient medicine to provide continuous care to patients. I look forward to being a preceptor to medical students. 
Favorite movie: Inside Out 1 and 2.
Hobbies and interests: I enjoy cooking, gardening, hiking, and advocating for refugees.

Celine Chedraoui, M.D.

I chose the Family Medicine Residency in Eau Claire because I knew that this would be the place where I could grow the most in a very supportive and collaborative environment. From the interview to the in-person tour, I loved how close knit all the residents and faculty were with one another. The program is unopposed and embodies full spectrum family medicine, which I knew would allow me to become a very well-rounded family physician.
Medical school: University of Balamand Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences. Beirut, Lebanon
Ideal practice: Mix of inpatient and outpatient family medicine. I also love teaching, so I would love to work as a faculty member or community preceptor in family medicine
Favorite movie: I’m more of a tv series kind of person. While there’s too many to choose from, but if I had to pick one, it would be Gilmore Girls. 
Hobbies and interests: Snowboarding, badminton, pickleball, biking, hiking, watching tv series, spending time with family and friends.

Rohini Kalluri, D.O.

I chose this residency program because of the supportive faculty and resources offered by the residency program. The program really supports you in any niche of family medicine you want to explore. Not to mention during my away rotation at the program and program interview I noticed how kind and excited to teach the faculty was. I am also excited to join the fun, rapidly growing Eau Claire community! 
Medical school: Marian College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ideal practice: I have a lot of different interests in family medicine including women’s health, addiction medicine, and palliative care. I am not sure what my ideal practice is yet. I really enjoy the clinic. I am passionate about full-spectrum family medicine.
Favorite movie: When Harry Met Sally, Kal Ho Naa Ho
Hobbies and interests: I enjoy reading mystery novels, watching sitcoms and comedy tv, working out, and spending quality time with my cat, Oliver.

Avneesh Sachdev, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O.

I completed an elective rotation with the Mayo Clinic Health System and knew that I wanted to come back for residency. The Family Medicine Residency in Eau Claire stood out particularly because of the vast learning opportunities available to residents, as we are an unopposed program, as well as the supportive leadership. The residency training program here at Mayo Clinic in Eau Claire offers a personalized approach to develop into a well-rounded and innovative physician for my patients. At Mayo Clinic in Eau Claire, I am able to contribute to the world-class healthcare Mayo Clinic is known to offer, all whilst being part of a diverse, vibrant, and rapidly growing community.
Medical school: Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland
Ideal practice: My ideal practice consists of providing Full-Spectrum care, including both Inpatient and Outpatient care. I have a special interest in women’s health and obstetrics, psychiatry and mental health, in-office procedures, and emergency medicine. I would also like to be involved in medical education, teaching medical students and residents in the future.
Favorite movie: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Hobbit Trilogy, Pirates of the Caribbean Series, Matrix Trilogy
Hobbies and interests: I enjoy traveling (the countries I have explored so far include Canada, USA, Mexico, India, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, and the Dominican Republic), camping, watching anime, gaming (PlayStation or XBOX), weightlifting, sports (particularly basketball, soccer, and hockey), reading, and spending time with my friends and family.

Shaughnelene Smith, D.O.

My decision to choose Mayo Clinic was multifactorial. In addition to its strong program preparing residents for the demands of real-world medical practice, I was drawn to the supportive environment that promotes resident autonomy while providing nurturing guidance. I sensed immense support from the faculty, physicians, and fellow residents, which felt especially welcoming in such a demanding field. The positive energy and camaraderie among the Mayo community stood out to me and played a key role in my decision.
Medical school: Kansas City University
Ideal practice: While it can be challenging to envision the exact nature of my future practice, there are specific areas of medicine I wish to emphasize. First, I aspire to work in a rural setting; having grown up in a rural community, I find fulfillment in being part of a close-knit environment that values connection to nature. Secondly, I hope to provide dermatological solutions for underserved populations, addressing the gap in access to specialized care. I aim to offer comprehensive services, including preventive care, education on skin health, and treatment options for common conditions, ensuring that everyone receives the care they need. Lastly, I want to incorporate an educational component to support young students and medical colleagues in gaining exposure to areas that are often limited.
Favorite movie: Titanic, Blood Diamond, Love Actually
Hobbies and interests: My journey began in Southern Africa, where my family once owned a game farm. It was there that my passion for wildlife photography and conservation blossomed and has maintained a hobby of mine I have continued throughout much of my young adult life.  Equally important to me is interior design; as a natural introvert, I find comfort in creating a warm and beautiful space at home, expressing my creativity after a long day.