Meet Our Trainees - Radiation Oncology Residency (Minnesota) - Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science

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Meet Our Residents

Our residents 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.

From the Chief Resident

Robert Gao, M.D. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Radiation Oncology in Rochester, Minnesota!

We are honored that you are considering our program for your medical training.

Mayo Clinic is an incomparable center that prioritizes extraordinary patient care, education, and research. At Mayo, we are fortunate to work alongside world-class experts across all subspecialties and have access to the most cutting-edge technology and clinical trials.

Our department is committed to providing the best experience for our trainees. As chief, I have the privilege of collaborating with residents and faculty to enhance our curriculum and promote learning, growth, and well-being.

Consistently voted as one of the best cities to live in the U.S., Rochester is distinguished by its spirit of innovation and scenic beauty. It is a thriving city of over 100,000 and just a 75-minute drive from the Twin Cities.

Thank you for your interest in our program! There is truly no better choice for furthering your medical career.

Robert Gao, M.D.
Chief Resident

Current residents

Our program draws trainees from across the U.S. and around the world. While all our trainees have a love of learning and a compassionate approach to patient care, they come from diverse backgrounds, family status, and professional and personal interests.

Meet our current residents in the Radiation Oncology Residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Class of 2024

	Kaitlin Qualls, M.D. Hometown: Savannah, TN Medical school: University of Tenessee Health Science Center Interests: CNS, head and neck About me: In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing piano, taking naps with my cat, traveling whenever possible, and going out with my friends.
	Roman Kowalchuk, M.D. Hometown: Rochester, NY Medical school: University of Virginia School of Medicine Interests: SBRT, lung, CNS, pediatric cancer About me: In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two sons, as well as hiking or playing sports.
	Robert Gao, M.D. Hometown: Minnetonka, MN Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School Interests: Prostate cancer, oligometastasis directed therapy About me: I love staying active and visiting family and friends in the nearby Twin Cities.

Class of 2025

	Jessica Burlile, M.D. Hometown: Boise, ID Medical school: Georgetown University School of Medicine Interests: Head and neck, palliative radiotherapy, veterans' health About me: I enjoy live music, playing cello, reading poetry, and being in the mountains.
	Daniel Ebner, M.D., M.P.H. Hometown: Greenville, SC Medical school: Brown University Interests: Clinical trials of novel technology: heavy/multi-ion, FLASH, machine learning About me: In my free time, I enjoy traveling, cars, college football (go Tigers!), and swimming.
	Yasamin Sharifzadeh, M.D. Hometown: Ashburn, VA Medical school: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (Medical College of Virginia) Interests: Geriatric oncology, radiation for non-malignant diseases, patient reported outcomes About me: On weekends, you can find me at antique or thrift stores, listening and reading about design and architecture, and out with friends!

Class of 2026

	Kelsey Frechette, M.D. Hometown: Rochester, MN Medical school: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine Interests: Pediatric and adult lymphoma and CNS malignancies; proton therapy, reducing late toxicities of treatment, medical education About me: I love spending time with my toddler daughter and husband. I also enjoy playing tennis, going on date nights, and exploring new breweries and restaurants.
	Elizabeth McKone, M.D. Hometown: Houma, LA Medical school: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Interests: Radiographic anatomy, pediatric oncology, palliative care, survivorship About me: After work, you can usually find me in my vegetable garden and staying active (climbing, yoga, hiking). I also enjoy painting, music, and cooking with my husband.
	Elsa Parr, M.D. Hometown: Lincoln, NE Medical school: University of Nebraska Medical Center Interests: Improving access to care for underserved populations, SBRT About me: I love spending time with my family and friends, trying new food and drink, and playing with our dog, Freya.
	Muhammad Shuja, M.D. Hometown: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Medical school: Ayub Medical College Interests: Innovations in radiation oncology, biomarkers-driven research, particle therapy in recurrent and challenging cancers, promoting rad onc education in LMICs About me: I love spending time with my family, planning outdoorsy stuff, playing soccer with my kiddos, brunching on weekends, and looking forward to having a new pet cat soon.

Class of 2027

	Alexandra Bennett, M.D. Hometown: Delavan, WI Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin Interests: GYN, brachytherapy, GI, and quality improvement research About me: In my free time, you can find me playing outside with my dog, Luther, and spending time with my husband and family. I also enjoy exercising (running, biking, pickleball), playing board games, and exploring the food and wine scene.
	Jared Hobson, M.D. Hometown: Rocklin, CA Medical school: St. George’s University Interests: Global health, CNS malignancies, and palliative care About me: I love traveling, good food, and outdoor activities. You’ll often find me in the garden, trip planning, or adventuring with my wife and daughter.
	Adam Kessel, M.D. Hometown: Rapid City, SD Medical school: University of Utah School of Medicine Interests: pediatric oncology, palliative care, and genitourinary malignancies About me: I enjoy spending time outdoors with my fiancée and dog, Stella. I am an avid mountain biker, snowboarder, rock climber, and runner.