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Meet Our Fellows

Our fellows and faculty foster a collegial environment and education-focused culture that provides an inclusive learning experience. Training can be challenging, but our program is close-knit and each resident brings a dedication to providing stellar patient care as well as a collaborative learning experience.

Meet our fellows and learn why they chose Mayo Clinic's Hematology/Oncology Fellowship program in Rochester, Minnesota.

Caitlin Conboy, M.D., Ph.D.

Caitlin Conboy, M.D., Ph.D.

What drew you to Mayo Clinic? The culture of Mayo was a big draw for me. There is a genuine commitment to the guiding ethos: 'The needs of the patient come first.' Excellence is the standard for patient care. Education and research are also highly prioritized. Collegiality is the norm, and people are generous in sharing their expertise for patient care and research collaborations. Additionally, as an aspiring physician-scientist, I was looking for a training program with a strong residency program, fellowship program, and research environment. Mayo Clinic checked all those boxes for me.

Medical school: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Residency: Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Graduate Medical Education

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Joselle Cook, M.B.B.S.

Joselle Cook, M.B.B.S.

What aspects of Mayo Clinic’s fellowship program do you feel are unique? Each fellow has an individual patient panel, scheduled one half-day a week as our Continuity Clinic. Over the past two years, I have crafted a panel of patients with both hematologic and oncologic malignancies, as well as some benign heme disorders. This panel is built through new patient oncology and hematology clinics, as well as new patients we inherit through our hospital months.

Medical school: University of the West Indies, Jamaica
Residency: SUNY Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY

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Paul Hampel, M.D.

Paul Hampel, M.D.

What are your plans for after fellowship and how do you envision your future? I am interested in lymphoproliferative disease with my primary focus in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Strong mentorship from leaders in the field with a genuine interest in my career development has led to meaningful projects resulting in publications and national/international presentations, including an oral presentation awarded the YIA Top Rated Abstract oral presentation at iwCLL 2019.

Medical school: University of Missouri, Columbia School of Medicine, Columbia, MO
Residency: Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN

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Lionel Kankeu Fonkoua, M.D.

Lionel Kankeu Fonkoua, M.D.

What aspects of Mayo Clinic’s fellowship program do you feel are unique? I think a feature that is quite unique to our program is the Fellow’s Continuity Clinic where each fellow acts as the primary oncologist for their own continuity clinic patient panel. The autonomy afforded by this continuity clinic, combined with a robust well-rounded clinical training and opportunities to work with world-class faculty in a collegial environment, provides a depth and breadth of education that is unparalleled.

Medical school: Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
Residency: Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA

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Class of 2023

Nadine Abdallah, M.D.

Nadine Abdallah, M.D.

Hometown: Beirut, Lebanon
Residency:
Wayne State University
Why Mayo:
The perfect balance of clinical and research training, mentorship, and patient-centered care.

Allison Bock, M.D.

Allison Bock, M.D. 

Hometown: Fargo, ND
Residency: University of Colorado
Why Mayo: The unique continuity clinic and strong lymphoma department — provide great clinical mentorship and excellent resources for clinical research.

Matthew Braithwaite, M.D.

Matthew Braithwaite, M.D.

Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD
Residency: University of Utah
Why Mayo: The fellowship program truly provides the opportunities and experiences that prepare trainees for any type of hematology/oncology career one may desire.

Grace Choong, M.D.

Grace Choong, M.D.

Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Residency: Mayo Clinic
Why Mayo: The collaborative and amazing team-based approach to medicine in a world-class institution.

Aakash Desai, M.B.B.S., M.P.H.

Aakash Desai, M.B.B.S., M.P.H.

Hometown: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Residency: University of Connecticut
Why Mayo: The emphasis on patient care, research, and education.

Brett Grieb, M.D.

Brett Grieb, M.D.

Hometown: York, Nebraska
Residency: Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota
Why Mayo: The outstanding support and patient-focused care.

Akeem Lewis, M.D.

Akeem Lewis, M.D.

Hometown: Trinidad and Tobago
Residency: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Chief Residency: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Why Mayo: I knew it would provide me with the clinical skills needed to be an independently practicing hematologist/oncologist while providing me with a plethora of resources to pursue my research interests.

Patrick McGarrah, M.D.

Patrick McGarrah, M.D.

Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Residency: Mayo Clinic
Why Mayo: Mayo Clinic has unparalleled dedication to patient care, something that permeates the culture of the whole institution.

Jacob Orme, M.D., Ph.D.

Jacob Orme, M.D., Ph.D.

Clinical Investigators Program
Hometown: Logan, UT
Residency: Mayo Clinic
Why Mayo: Because the needs of the patient really come first.

Joshua Pritchett, M.D.

Joshua Pritchett, M.D.

Clinical Investigators Program
Hometown: Cloquet, MN
Residency: Mayo Clinic
Why Mayo: The opportunity to train within a community that is collegial and focused on serving the patient first. Also, my family loves it here.

Sri Harsha Tella, M.B.B.S.

Sri Harsha Tella, M.B.B.S.

Hometown: Visakhapatnam, India
Residency: Internal Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE; Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD
Why Mayo: One visit to Mayo Clinic tells how unique this place is. I feel like it’s a one-stop shop to make a career, be it a physician-scientist, scientist-physician, or physician. I’m impressed with the three shields of Mayo Clinic — patient care, education, and research.

Colt Williams, M.D.

Colt Williams, M.D.

Hometown: Reno, NV
Residency: University of Colorado Denver
Why Mayo: The opportunity to blend clinical and research excellence.

Class of 2024

Nikolaos Andreatos, M.D.

Nikolaos Andreatos, M.D.

Hometown: Athens, Greece

Residency: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

Why Mayo: A 158-year tradition of excellence coupled with an unwavering commitment to innovation makes Mayo Clinic a truly unique place. In an era of unprecedented technological and institutional change, the program’s commitment to broad, thorough clinical training and strong support for impactful research across the spectrum of hematology/oncology are excellent foundations for a successful career in any practice setting.

Oluwadunni Emiloju, M.B.B.S., M.S.

Oluwadunni Emiloju, M.B.B.S., M.S.

Hometown: Abeokuta, Nigeria

Residency: Einstein Medical Center, PA

Why Mayo: The multidisciplinary collaboration is excellent.

Richard Godby, M.D.

Richard Godby, M.D.

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Residency: University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

Why Mayo: I chose this fellowship because of the training opportunities and comradery among the fellows.

Steven Hwang, M.D.

Steven Hwang, M.D.

Hometown: Madison, AL

Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Why Mayo: I chose to stay for the fellowship training because of the collaborative relationship between the fellows and staff that I witnessed during my time in residency. Also, my dog loves the snow.

Arjun Lakshman, M.B.B.S.

Arjun Lakshman, M.B.B.S.

Hometown: Kozhikode, Kerala, India

Residency: UPMC Presbyterian-Shadyside, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Why Mayo: I was drawn to the great clinical training and mentorship opportunities.

Stephanie Pritzl, M.D.

Stephanie Pritzl, M.D.

Hometown: Manitowoc, WI

Residency: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

Why Mayo: The outstanding clinical training experience and emphasis on the needs of the patient come first.

Gordon Ruan, M.D.

Gordon Ruan, M.D.

Hometown: Champaign, IL

Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Why Mayo: Mayo Clinic has strong clinical exposure, a culture of collegiality, and the opportunities to work with world-renowned experts.

Jacob Shreve, M.D., M.S.

Jacob Shreve, M.D., M.S.

Hometown: New Buffalo, MI

Residency: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

Why Mayo: Through a combination of clinical leaders, multidisciplinary advocates, and research-supportive policies, Mayo Clinic is uniquely positioned to allow me to continue investigating the use of artificial intelligence for improving cancer care.

Caleb Smith, M.D.

Caleb Smith, M.D.

Hometown: Imperial, MO

Residency: Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Why Mayo: This fellowship has remarkable clinical training and excellent research and career mentorship.

Katherine Smith, M.D.

Katherine Smith, M.D.

Hometown: Born in Dayville, Connecticut; Grew up in Bonaire, GA

Residency: Emory University

Why Mayo: The well-rounded and diverse hematology/oncology training experience is what drew me to the Mayo Clinic. The program emphasizes education from renowned experts, clinical experience in our unique longitudinal continuity clinic, and a collaborative environment with many opportunities for research and career development.

Saurabh Zanwar, M.B.B.S.

Saurabh Zanwar, M.B.B.S.

Hometown: Nagpur, India

Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Why Mayo: The whole training experience at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota is trainee-centered. Our feedback is valued and changes are incorporated based on the suggestions. Mentorship has been excellent. The continuity clinic in the fellowship is the best part of the program. The patients on my panel truly recognize me as their hematologist/oncologist, which is further motivation to provide that personalized care and helps tremendously in learning due to the longitudinal care.

Class of 2025

Hadiyah Audil, M.D.

Hadiyah Audil, M.D.

Hometown: Albany, NY
Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Why Mayo: It’s a rare privilege to work with the most brilliant minds in each field and have them also be the kindest and most encouraging teachers. I chose Mayo Clinic again for fellowship because I knew I could not find a more supportive and nurturing culture with this level of teaching expertise anywhere else. 

Binav Baral, M.B.B.S.

Binav Baral, M.B.B.S.

Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Residency: John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
Why Mayo: Mayo Clinic combines its legacy of being a world leader in research and innovation with excellent clinical training and an extremely humble, collegial, and supportive work environment.

Jennifer Gile, M.D.

Jennifer Gile , M.D.

Hometown: Boise, ID
Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Why Mayo: I was looking for a program that offered rigorous training by world-renowned physicians, emphasized patient care, and had a strong track record for research. Mayo Clinic surpassed my expectations with the resources and support available to fellows.

Antonious Hazim, M.D.

Antonious Hazim, M.D.

Hometown: Portland, OR
Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Why Mayo: The world-class training, robust research opportunities, excellence in patient care, and wonderful culture.

Ashley Hickman, M.D.

Ashley Hickman, M.D.

Hometown: Hot Springs, AK
Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Why Mayo: When I interviewed with Mayo Clinic, I was impressed with the warm collegial environment along with the strong mentorship, and felt that this would be a place where I could grow as a clinician and researcher during training.

Khalid Jazieh, M.B.B.S.

Khalid Jazieh, M.B.B.S.

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Residency: Cleveland Clinic Internal Medicine Residency, Cleveland, OH
Why Mayo: I was fortunate enough to visit Mayo Clinic as a medical student, and I was truly impressed by the warmth, collegiality, and respect everyone demonstrated. Add to that the clinical and academic excellence, and it felt like the ideal work environment I'd want to join!

Marissa Li, M.D.

Marissa Li, M.D.

Hometown: Westlake, OH
Residency: Mayo Clinic
Why Mayo: Having been here for residency, I wanted to continue to work in a supportive and friendly environment and to learn from staff who are all experts in their field.

Prasanth Lingamaneni, M.B.B.S.

Prasanth Lingamaneni, M.B.B.S.

Hometown: Vijayawada, India, and Seminole, FL
Residency: John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
Why Mayo: The educational and research opportunities, well-rounded clinical training, and the autonomy to develop skills necessary for longitudinal patient-centered care.

Sarah Premji, M.D.

Sarah Premji, M.D.

Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Why Mayo: The unparalleled research and clinical opportunities while training with leaders in their respective fields in a world-class facility that prioritizes patient care, collegiality, and education.

Mason Webb, M.D., Ph.D.

Mason Webb, M.D., Ph.D.

Hometown: Augusta, GA
Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Why Mayo: As someone interested in translational research, I chose Mayo Clinic because it has the patient population, experience, and resources to create and host high-impact clinical trials.

Grant Wintheiser, M.D.

Grant Wintheiser, M.D.

Hometown: Sartell, MN
Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Why Mayo: I knew I would have the opportunity to deliver top-notch, innovative cancer care with the guidance of renowned experts in the field, all within the collegial and collaborative environment for which Mayo Clinic is known.

Class of 2026

Erica Andres, M.D.

Residency: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Ryan Augustin, M.D.

Hometown: Eagan, MN

Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Why Mayo: Mayo provides one-on-one mentorship with disease-specific experts, unmatched administrative support, unique autonomy in a fellow-run clinic, and an overall immersive clinical experience.

Isla Johnson, M.D.

Residency: Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota

Dhauna Prasad Karam, M.D.

Hometown: Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India

Residency: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science/ Chicago Medical School

Why Mayo: Growing up in India, I have always looked up to Mayo clinic as the place where people go for "Medical Miracles." So when I was pursuing my residency in Chicago, I was constantly evaluating opportunities at Mayo Clinic. Initially, I joined the Mayo Family as an Internal medicine physician and experienced the extensive research advances and unparalleled teamwork firsthand. Also, the ability to learn from world renowned disease experts accentuated my dream of being a trainee at Mayo. Hence it was natural that I chose to pursue a hematology oncology fellowship at mayo Rochester and the learning has been extraordinary. You know you made the right choice when you are learning from professors who are on the cover page of renowned hematology oncology textbooks every day! This is where guidelines are written, drug discoveries are made, above all patients are treated with utmost respect and compassion. I am grateful to be a trainee here and will make the choice again anytime.

Brittany Kimball, M.D.

Hometown: Circle Pines, MN

Residency: University of Minnesota

Why Mayo: I chose Mayo Clinic because of the welcoming atmosphere. I appreciated the opportunities for mentorship. I was also drawn to the format of the continuity clinic which promotes true continuity with our fellow patients.

Savannah Liddell, M.D.

Residency: Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota

Rosalyn Marar, M.D

Residency: University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nicole McLaughlin, M.D.

Hometown: Lino Lakes, MN

Residency: Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota

Why Mayo: Emphasis on clinical skills and experience, autonomy in managing own patient panel, location/closeness to family. 

Syeda Mina, M.B.B.S.

Hometown: Arizona 

Residency: Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona

Why Mayo: For its values, reputation, and mentorship availability.

Clifford Csizmar, M.D., Ph.D.

Hometown: Sandypoint, ID 

Residency: Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota

Why Mayo: I chose Mayo Clinic for the unparalleled combination of patient care, research, and educational opportunities. Mayo Clinic cares for local, national, and global patients, thereby providing a comprehensive exposure to diverse pathologies. Importantly, fellows serve as the primary Hematologist or Oncologist for their own patient panel, which enables longitudinal relationships with patients and families while also enriching the educational experience. There is also robust institutional and extramural support for basic, translational, and clinical research, all of which are bolstered by renowned and enthusiastic mentors. As part of the Clinician Investigator Training Program, the fellowship was readily able to accommodate my protected time for bench research. Moreover, the fellowship maintains a keen focus on education, with didactic sessions led by experts in each subspecialty. Indeed, graduates from the fellowship program at Mayo Clinic are well equipped to transition into general community and sub-specialized academic practices alike. Finally, these opportunities are provided in a beautiful town with a low cost of living and no traffic, which help facilitate an excellent work-life balance. I would happily choose Mayo Clinic for my residency and fellowship training again!

Class of 2027

Aldo Acosta Medina, M.D.

Residency: Mayo Clinic Rochester

Jonathan Day, M.D., Pharm.D.

Residency: University of Iowa

Ayo Falade, M.D., M.B.A.

Residency: Mass General Brigham Salem Hospital

Yoshito Nishimura, M.D., M.P.H.

Residency: University of Hawaii

Olisaemeka Ogbue, M.B.B.S.

Residency: Cleveland Clinic Foundation/ Fairview

Emma St. Martin, M.D.

Residency: Stanford University

Michael Storandt, M.D

Residency: Mayo Clinic Rochester

Jana Wieland, M.D.

Residency: Mayo Clinic Rochester

Alexander Xiao, M.D., M.B.A.

Residency: Mayo Clinic Rochester

Jabra Zarka, M.D.

Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

 

Aamod Dekhne, M.D., Ph.D.

Residency: Mayo Clinic Rochester

Yuan Yao, M.D., M.S.

Residency: Mayo Clinic Rochester