Abdirazak Ali, M.D.

Medical school: Saratov State Medical University named after V. I. Razumovsky, Russian Federation

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, women's health, procedures, sports medicine, and rural medicine

Personal interests: I enjoy playing soccer, Swimming, watching and listening to science documentaries and podcasts, and learning about other cultures and languages. I love arts and cats. Career goals: To be a full-spectrum family practice physician in Minnesota, and to advocate for preventive medicine and champion women's health across the world.

Why Mankato? I chose Family Medicine Residency at Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato because I was impressed with the clinical training opportunities available and the supportive faculty and residents. During my in-person visit, I found the facility aesthetically pleasing and a well-rounded environment conducive to learning with proper access to resources. Mankato is near my home and has a diverse population with tasty cuisine and fun-filled outdoor activities.

Abdi Jibril, M.D.

Medical school: Windsor University School of Medicine, Saint Kitts and Nevis

Medical interests: Full spectrum family medicine, health disparities, lifestyle medicine, and sports medicine

Personal interests: I grew up in a communal environment where everyone supported and looked after each other despite having limited resources. I enjoy being of service to others in need in my community. Soccer is the sport I love playing and watching, and I enjoy swimming and high-intensity interval training or anything workout related.

Why Mankato? During the interview, I felt a warm welcome from the residents, staff, and faculties. What drew me the most to the Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato is the level of faculties devotion to teaching, the supportive environment for the residents, and collegiality among the residents. I am humbled to be a part of a program that offers exceptional clinical skills and participates in outstanding teaching opportunities from the faculties.

Mikaela Lake, D.O.

Medical school: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL

Medical interests: Full spectrum family medicine, rural health, community health, women's health, addiction medicine, and OMT

Personal interests: I love doing anything outdoors including hiking, biking, kayaking, snowboarding and ice skating. I also enjoy doing crafts, cooking, and weightlifting.

Why Mankato? I applied to Mayo Clinic- Mankato because I was looking for a rural program that is unopposed with osteopathic recognition. The welcoming atmosphere I experienced during the interview process made calling Mankato home an obvious choice.

Sarah Larson, M.D.

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

Medical interests: Cancer screening and supporting patients through cancer treatment and survivorship, maternity care, and procedural medicine (including biopsies and minor procedures to remove "lumps and bumps"). As a former surgery resident, I also find it fulfilling to work with patients in the pre-operative planning phases as well as helping them through surgical recovery. It is a privilege to help patients of all ages and stages to set healthy goals and achieve them.

Personal interests: I enjoy taking walks with friends and family, crocheting, playing board games, canoeing, and learning French.

Why Mankato? As a fourth-year medical student rotating in Mankato, I was drawn to the warm and welcoming group of residents. The faculty seemed to love teaching residents and I admired their commitment to providing the best care to their patients. I knew that working with such great colleagues would help me to become a clinically excellent and kind physician, and a trustworthy partner in health for my patients. I am excited to get to know Mankato and to become a part of this community!

Kalene Mach, D.O.

Medical school: Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harrogate, TN

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine with special interests in women’s health, behavioral health, preventive care, LGBTQ+, and underserved/rural medicine

Personal interests: I would consider traveling of any kind to be my favorite hobby. I love to explore new places and try new foods whenever possible. I also love to read, hike, camp, and do yoga.

Why Mankato? The Family Medicine Residency at Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato was my first choice. This became especially true after my month-long rotation working with the wonderful staff, residents, and faculty at this program. Everyone is so welcoming and approachable. With that, I felt that it provided the perfect environment to continue training to become the most competent and compassionate physician possible.

Emily Heseltine, D.O.

Medical school: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines, IA

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine with special interests in prenatal and obstetric care, pediatrics, and palliative care.

Personal interests: My favorite thing to do is spend time with my family and friends! I love to be outside, especially camping and hiking during Minnesota summers! My goal is to visit all the Minnesota State Parks. I also like swimming, watching HGTV, and reading nonfiction social justice books.

Why Mankato? I had the opportunity to complete my third-year rotations in Mankato, and it was an exceptional experience! The faculty and residents made me feel a part of the team by inviting me to their activities like the social justice book club and osteopathic manipulative medicine nights. Moreover, the attendings emphasized patient centered care and were passionate about teaching. The program’s strength is its balance between academic rigor and community focused medicine, while also tailoring training to meet each resident's medical interests. Additionally, the program is situated in southern Minnesota near my hometown, allowing me to spend time with my family and friends. For these reasons, I chose the Family Medicine Residency at Mayo Clinic Health System — Mankato as my top choice.

Mohamed Ismail, M.B.B.S.

Medical school: Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun City, China

Medical interests: Rural family medicine, sports medicine, prenatal care, minor office procedures, acute care and working with underserved/uninsured patients.

Personal interests: I love playing soccer for fun and coach youth soccer teams, helping young players develop their skills and sportsmanship. I'm fascinated by technology and always eager to learn about the latest advancements and innovations in this field. I also enjoy learning new languages as a way to immerse myself in different cultures. Spending quality time with my family is very important to me, and we love to travel, camp, and explore diverse cuisines from around the world together.

Why Mankato? I chose the Family Medicine Residency at Mayo Clinic in Mankato, because of the amazing experience I had during my interview. The faculty and residents made me feel welcome, and there was a strong sense of camaraderie among the residents, clearly a sign of the program's supportive and nurturing environment. The program's curriculum was thoughtfully designed with dynamism and focus on well-rounded training to prepare residents to practice full-spectrum family medicine. I was also impressed by how attentive program leadership was to resident feedback and made sure to incorporate it into the training. However, what really stood out to me was how everyone was very invested in your training and provided whatever support you needed to reach your academic and career goals.

Karlee Nelsen, D.O.

Medical school: Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine, Yakima, WA

Medical interests: Osteopathic manipulative medicine, procedures, women's health, sports medicine, rural medicine, hospice and palliative care, preventive medicine

Personal interests: Hiking is my favorite hobby and has led me to explore multiple state and national parks. In the summer I enjoy gardening and in winter I enjoy tending to my houseplants. I also enjoy painting, cooking, rock climbing, playing board games, and spending time with my dogs.

Why Mankato? I chose Mankato because I was impressed by the quality of education that is accessible and the level of knowledge demonstrated by senior residents. When I rotated with the team I was impressed by the welcoming environment and smooth functioning of the teams. Several of my preceptors spoke highly of the OMM education in Mankato so I knew that I would be in the best place to continue learning osteopathic manipulation. Furthermore, the rural location reflects a community where I hope to practice.

Bethany Reyhaus, D.O.

Medical school: A.T. Still University of Health Sciences Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO

Medical interests: Preventative care, LGBTQ+ health, reproductive healthcare, health equity, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), neurodiversity

Personal interests: I enjoy cooking various types of plant-based meals, going for walks with my spouse and our dog, swimming, gardening, spending time with family and friends.

Why Mankato? I chose the Family Medicine Residency at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato because I wanted to attend a program that is warm and welcoming. Everyone during my month-long rotation was wonderful and open to teaching in a supportive way. The unopposed, full-spectrum training offered will allow me to grow professionally and the community I have found here will help me grow personally.

Madeline Robbins, D.O.

Medical school: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME

Medical interests: Holistic/Integrative Medicine, Osteopathic Manual Treatment, Preventive Medicine, Nutrition, Narrative Medicine, Community Medicine, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Honoring Traditional Healing Practices, Global Health

Personal interests: My favorite way to spend time off of work is leaving my phone behind and backpacking in nature with loved ones. I also enjoy playing the baritone ukulele while hula hooping and attempting to sing (it is a workout!). While living in Mankato, I hope to learn gardening skills; my partner and I are working towards having a hobby farm. I also enjoy cross-country skiing, playing cribbage, and experimenting with different plant-based recipes as well as movement and meditation practices to care for my mind/body/spirit.

Why Mankato? Mankato was my first choice for residency because I immediately felt at home when I rotated there as a fourth-year medical student. My positive gut feeling was only further affirmed as I got to know the wonderful, down-to-earth faculty, staff, and residents who were invested in student learning and making us a part of the team. The emphasis on outpatient family medicine in the setting of full-spectrum, unopposed training with opportunities to further OMT skills was also a draw. I am excited and grateful to be a part of the team and community in Mankato!

Sara Arfan, M.D.

Medical school: Windsor University School of Medicine, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Medical interests: My medical interests include in-office procedures, women’s health, sports medicine, and urgent care
Personal interests: Spending time with people I love, recharging in nature or close to a body of water, hiking with my dog, reading, and baking.

Why Mankato? I chose the Family Medicine Residency at Mayo Clinic Health System – Mankato because of the warmth, kindness, and collegiality I experienced among the residents, faculty, and staff. From my time as a visiting medical student, it was clear how invested the faculty was in teaching—not just in delivering knowledge, but in creating personalized learning experiences. I received thoughtful feedback and felt like a valued member of the team, even during my short time there.

Training-wise, what stood out to me most was the strong emphasis on full-spectrum family medicine, especially the hands-on procedural training. I’m particularly interested in procedures in women’s health, dermatology, and musculoskeletal medicine. The program's strong outpatient focus, along with opportunities to rotate through urgent care and inpatient settings, aligns perfectly with my goal of becoming a well-rounded, competent family physician.

Beyond the curriculum, I was drawn to the close-knit nature of the Mankato community and the opportunity to build lasting relationships with patients. It’s a place where I know I’ll be challenged, supported, and able to grow into the compassionate physician I aspire to be.

Alexandra (Lexi) Cronin, D.O.

Medical school: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines, IA
Medical interests: My medical interests include full-spectrum family medicine, procedures, sports medicine, OMT, and OB.
Personal interests: I love to travel whenever and wherever I can and am always looking for recommendations. I enjoy golfing and playing volleyball or pickleball. I like to read and listen to podcasts.

Why Mankato? In my fourth year, I was fortunate to spend a month with the residency program at Mankato, during which everyone was so welcoming and warm that I truly felt like a valued part of the team. Additionally, the unopposed setting combined with full-spectrum family medicine and the opportunity to grow my osteopathic skills were all a part of why I chose Mayo Clinic Health System - Mankato for my residency.

Diana Deutsch, D.O.

Medical school: Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Meridian, ID
Medical interests: My medical interests include OMT, procedures, geriatrics, hospice, and emergency medicine.
Personal interests: Spending time with my family, playing board games and video games, crafting with my Cricut, going to concerts, and playing volleyball and pickleball.

Why Mankato? When searching for a residency program, I was looking for the following:

• A program with residents, faculty, and clinic/hospital staff that are kind, passionate, and excited about the learning process of residency.
• A program that would help me meet my career goals of practicing full-spectrum family medicine in a small-to-midsize town, while encouraging me to explore my special interests.
• A program in a town that I could move my family to and we could all thrive.

After my interview with Mankato, it was clear the program fit everything I was looking for. I am SO excited to be here!

Helaine (Laine) Mills, D.O.

Medical school: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Parker, CO
Medical interests: Rural family medicine with special interests in behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, women's health, pediatrics, office procedures, and advancing health equity in my community.
Personal interests: I love exploring new hiking trails with my husband and two dogs. I am an avid reader of fantasy and thrillers, love scary movies, may be a little too competitive when it comes to board games, and enjoy experimenting in the kitchen - brewing my own kombucha and keeping my sourdough alive. Raised in rural Missouri, I've been a loud and proud KC Chiefs fan my entire life.

Why Mankato? I was first drawn to Mankato by the overwhelmingly positive feedback from other students at national conferences during my clinical years of medical school. Mankato proved to be my dream residency program - offering an incredible team atmosphere, an unopposed rural setting, a strong commitment to advancing OMT, and a dedication to shaping leaders in family medicine through advocacy at both state and national levels. With this program’s exceptional resources and training opportunities, ranking Mankato as my top choice for residency was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made. I am honored to join the Mankato family and confident that this program will shape me into the physician, advocate, and community leader I have always aspired to become.

Feisal Yussuf, M.D.

Medical school: Trakya University School of Medicine, Turkey
Medical interests: My medical interests include full-spectrum family medicine with special interest in preventive medicine, prenatal care, and obstetric procedures, rural medicine, global health, and community medicine.
Personal interests: Outside of medicine I am an avid soccer fan and enjoy playing/watching it in my free time. My son has recently introduced me to pickleball, which I have found to be fun and competitive. I prioritize spending quality time with my family, exploring new cultures, cuisines and engaging in community service and youth mentorship.

Why Mankato? I chose Mankato for my residency after a life-changing experience during a 1-month rotation at Mayo Clinic-Mankato. From the moment I arrived, I felt a sense of belonging and was warmly welcomed by the program staff, residents, and faculty. The teaching environment was exceptional, and I appreciated the opportunities for professional growth and development. Additionally, Mankato's proximity to my home, diverse population, and accessible location made it an ideal choice for me. I am excited to continue my training in this supportive and inclusive community.