Class of 2026
Jessica André-Todd, MD
Howard University College of Medicine
she/her
Hey yall! My name is Jessica and I am DM(V) native with Haitian and Jamaican roots. Joining the UofC family has been a dream of mine since early on in my medical school career. The devotion to the community, emphasis of the wellness of the patients, residents, and faculty, breadth of diversity represented in the department, and robust mentorship were just some of the things that drew me to the program. I first became interested in medicine when my oldest brother attended Howard University COM (HUCM). Despite setting my sights on medicine, my journey had many turns and twists but ultimately helped me establish my “why” and grow my confidence in myself as a learner, advocate, and leader. I held a number of clinical jobs prior to medical school but it was working as an ER scribe that truly set me on the path to medicine and specifically, emergency medicine. I was enamored by the teamwork dynamics, complexity of patient care, and the ability to connect and heal in short but meaningful patient interactions. Once at HUCM, I continuously sought out leadership and educational opportunities that kept me engaged in EM and within the DC community. Such opportunities lead me to get involved with Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA) where I was afforded the opportunity to serve on the Medical Student Council for two years and now, serve as a Vice Chair for the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. I am excited for the new responsibilities and the opportunity to make a positive impact on students and residents both inside and outside of the ED. Outside of medicine, I enjoy exploring cities, trying new food, spending time with family and friends, attending live shows, playing video games, watching and playing sports, exercising, and napping.
Lilian Anosike, MD, MS
Howard University College of Medicine
she/her
Hey everyone! I’m Lilian. I was born in Nigeria and moved back and forth between Nigeria and the U.S. a few times, before settling in the DC/Maryland area for college. Transitioning between countries and cultures was challenging, especially while pursuing a career in medicine. Early in college, it became very important to me to find good mentorship and support. With quality mentorship, I was able to graduate college, get involved in a variety of clinical and non-clinical experiences and complete graduate school at George Washington University. My first exposure to Emergency Medicine took place during my gap years, when I worked in the ED in Baltimore city. I learned so much from the patients, physicians and staff during that time and truly appreciated the role of support in their lives. So, I attended Howard University College of Medicine to build a close-knit community and provide support and mentorship to other students along the way! During my clinical years, the variety of patients, collaborative opportunities, social EM, service of community, procedural components and the ample opportunities for mentorship and education solidified my decision to pursue a career in Emergency Medicine. My first visit to Chicago was 2 years ago to see a close friend and I have been in love with the city ever since! I loved the University of Chicago because of how connected I felt with everyone on interview day and the program’s commitment to community service, quality mentorship/support, diversity, and education. I am very honored and happy to be joining the team at UChicago to serve the community here, while developing my interests in mentorship and medical education. When I am not in the hospital, I love exploring new restaurants (especially places with great breakfast food), watching movies and series (love crime shows like NCIS and Law & Order as well as reality tv), reading, dancing (love Afrobeats), traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Kalkidan Aseged, MD, MPH
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
she/her
Hi! My name is Kalkidan Aseged. I am a first generation Ethiopian-American native of Columbus, Ohio and the daughter of two amazing parents. I attended college at Kenyon College where I earned a degree in Neuroscience. Before enrolling at the Ohio State University for medical school, I took a year off to work and travel. In that year I discovered my love for travel and cultural exploration. I was lucky to work and live in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for five months and backpack through Europe with one of my best friends! I attended medical school at The Ohio State University College of Medicine where I discovered my passion for not just Emergency Medicine but also advocacy work and the championing of health policy that supports underprivileged and minority communities. I continued to explore these goals through a Masters in Public Health in conjunction with my medical school career. When I’m not working, I am an avid reader and traveler. I also love movies, game nights, biking and any opportunity to be with my family and friends!
Michael Barton, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
he/him
Hello all! I’m Michael, and I am thrilled to be joining the U of Chicago EM family! I was born in the Windy City but spent most of my childhood in Ann Arbor, MI. Some of my fondest memories as a kid were playing soccer with friends and going to Michigan football games with my parents and two younger sisters. I attended the University of Michigan for college (Go Blue!) where I created my own interdisciplinary major entitled “Human Well-being.” Afterwards, I moved to Boston for medical school and quickly set my eyes on EM during my clinical rotations. I especially liked how EM cares for everyone, including the most vulnerable in our society, as well as how much EM interfaces with public health. I fell in love with ultrasound around the same time, seeking every opportunity to incorporate POCUS in the ED. Between my third and fourth years of medical school, I got my MPH to deepen my passions in health equity and data science. On a personal note, I value family and friends above all else. Some of my favorite activities include plant-based cooking, climbing, running, basketball, yoga, snowboarding, and playing piano.
Karael Campbell, DO, MBS
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
she/her
Hey everyone, I’m Karael! I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, but I’ve lived out of state since college. Hence, I am beyond excited to come back home for residency! I attended Central Michigan University where I majored in Biochemistry. While there I founded a global health organization which helped increase access to care and health education with the goal to help communities in Honduras, Ghana, Nicaragua, and Panama become more self-sustainable. After undergrad, I fell in love with the ED while working as a scribe! I then went to Southern Illinois University Carbondale where I earned a Masters in Biological Sciences. I continued my pattern of exploring academia in the Midwest as I attended medical school at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. While in Athens, OH I co-founded the first student-led free clinic in the county. I am extremely passionate about increasing access to care and improving health literacy specifically in systemically excluded populations. I had the opportunity to do a Sub-I at the University of Chicago where I was amazed by the sense of community, strong emphasis on teaching, and actionable commitment to diversity and the south side of Chicago! After rotating, there was no doubt that UChicago EM was the perfect place for me. When I’m not working you can find me at the gym, trying a new restaurant, or watching anything Issa Rae puts her hands on. I’m also a full-time cat mom to a tabby who requires my full attention while he makes biscuits.
Charlotte Farley, MD
Georgetown University School of Medicine
she/her
Hi, I’m Charlotte! I am originally from Atlanta, GA and have three younger sisters (the youngest is 18 years younger than me!). I grew up watching lots of college football and am overly passionate about my favorite teams (Go Irish). I went to the University of Virginia for undergrad where I studied Biology and was an EMT with the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad. My time as an EMT taught me a great deal about emergency medicine, the importance of continued training, and what it means to care for people different from myself. I was also a scribe in the UVA Emergency Department which further solidified my desire to pursue EM. While in Charlottesville, I enjoyed hiking, eating delicious food, and visiting the local vineyards. I attended the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. During medical school, I had the opportunity to volunteer in opioid overdose prevention and HIV screening. I was also fortunate to join the Health Justice Scholars Track—a longitudinal track partnered with the Georgetown Law School. We learned a great deal about health justice, advocacy, and the role physicians can play in enacting change for our patients. It was clear early on that the University of Chicago had everything I was looking for in a program: diverse clinical exposure, endless opportunities to engage in health justice, and focused training in EMS and critical care. Most importantly, it was clear the residents and faculty at the University of Chicago care deeply for the patient population and are committed to improving the lives of each of their patients. Outside of medicine, I enjoy meeting new people, going to concerts, and snow skiing. I am so excited to join the UChicago EM family and look forward to living in the Windy City (and to my family and friends: yes, I have a winter jacket)!
Taylor Franklin, MD
University of Virginia School of Medicine
she/her
Hey everyone! I’m Taylor, and I was born and raised in the Northern Virginia! Being a first-generation college student, my initial exposure to medicine was witnessing my grandmother’s journey with heart failure (requiring an LVAD), which ultimately inspired me to become a physician. I completed my undergrad at Georgetown and spent a year working as an ED scribe before heading to the University of Virginia for medical school. Throughout my time in undergrad and medical school, I discovered my passions for DEI, youth development, and medical education and have been very involved in various capacities ranging from leadership roles within my school’s SNMA chapter and work with the hospital’s Department of Community Health Programs to serving on the school of medicine’s admissions committee. I chose the University of Chicago for residency because of its commitment to the underserved, diversity at the forefront of the program, and the deep sense of camaraderie. After seeing the residents and attendings interact during Second Look, I knew this was the type of environment I had to be a part of! I also fell in love with Chicago after only visiting once in the middle of January! And I can gladly say that the winter wasn’t that bad (I’ll report back in a year, lol). In my free time, I love finding excuses to plan fun events for friends/family, lifting weights, and spending hours attempting new hairstyles (my grandma was a beautician, and my dad is a barber, so it runs in the family!) I’m looking forward to building another family within the University of Chicago, learning about the Southside’s rich history and the patients I’m privileged to serve, and continuing to grow with an incredible group of people!
Andrew Geiser, MD
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
he/him
Hi! My name’s Andrew. Don’t be confused if you also hear me called Drew, I go by both (imagine like a way less cool Spiderman/Peter Parker situation). I was born and raised in the Chicago area, and I am thrilled to be staying in my favorite city for residency. Growing up, I was a fantasy-fiction fanatic and a budding foodie. I attended University of Illinois for my B.S. and Northwestern University for my MD. A large part of what drew me to EM is the central role of social medicine, which allows us to better support the communities we serve both in and out of the ED. There is perhaps no better place to pursue this than UChicago Medicine, where we navigate complex social issues daily and help bring equitable care to many of Chicago’s historically underserved communities. The amazing culture of the program was another huge reason that I chose UChicago, which was immediately evident in the overall happiness of every resident I met. Outside of work, I am the doting father of a spoiled yet adorable kitten. My childhood love for both fantasy-fiction and trying new cuisines has only grown over time. There’s nothing I love more than finding a new fantasy writer to geek out over, or a new restaurant to talk my friends’ ears off about. I can’t wait to meet my co-residents and explore more of Chicago with them!
Jane Harter, MD, MS
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
she/her
Hi! My name is Jane and I am very excited to start my career in Emergency Medicine at UChicago. I am originally from Chicago but spent most of my childhood in Washington D.C. I moved back for undergrad at UChicago where I studied the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine and subsequently completed my masters and medical degrees at Loyola. I fell in love with emergency medicine as a medical scribe and haven’t looked back since. Outside of clinical medicine, I am interested in health policy and medical-legal advocacy. I have contributed to medical testimony defending the rights of incarcerated individuals, in addition to establishing a medical declarations team to manage testimony requests sustainably. I also was heavily involved in health professions students COVID response efforts at the local and national levels during the early phases of the pandemic, particularly focusing on supporting vulnerable communities. In my time away from the hospital, I love exploring Chicago’s vibrant neighborhoods, particularly through food, architecture, coffee, and dog friendly breweries. My partner and I are animal rescue supporters and have happily fostered twenty rescue dogs to date. We also enjoy taking frequent trips to the Northwoods of Wisconsin to spend time outdoors, whether dockside in the summer or on cross country ski trails in the winter.
Maria Holstrom-Mercader, MD
Penn State College of Medicine
she/her
Hi everyone! My name is Maria and I’m from Northampton, Pennsylvania (although I’ve also bounced around Chicago and Minnesota growing up). I went to Penn State for both undergraduate and medical school (WE ARE!). In medical school, my favorite things I was involved in were LMSA, a sustainability in healthcare group, and global health. Currently I’m interested in Global Health and DEI in Emergency Medicine. For fun I like hanging with friends and my dog Bruce, traveling, water sports, and practicing sustainability!
Courtney Miller, MD
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
she/her
Hi, I’m Courtney. I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i. I moved to San Diego for undergrad, where I played water polo at UC San Diego…go tritons! After graduating and working as an Emergency Department scribe back in Honolulu, I decided to pursue a career in medicine, which took me to New York City. I was drawn to Emergency Medicine because of the broad scope of practice, pace of work, and the enthusiasm of mentors and teachers. My goal is to learn to effectively care for and advocate for patients. During residency interview season, I was impressed by everyone at University of Chicago EM and am excited and honored to continue my training here. Some of my favorite activities include surfing, ping pong, pottery, and spending time with my daughter 🙂
Kenneth Nwankpa, DO
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
he/him
Hey ya’ll, I’m Kenneth! I was raised on the Southside of Chicago, where I became acutely aware of the need to address health disparities quite early on. This realization fueled my desire to become a doctor and bridge the gap in healthcare access and inequity. My journey began with volunteering and progressed to six years of experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant in various healthcare settings, including SNFs, EDs, ICUs, Hospice and Home Health Care. Throughout my clinical experience, I’ve been an advocate for shared decision-making and policy review, which led me to participate in student leadership roles. One of the things that I value most is understanding different perspectives, which helps me to connect with people from all walks of life. With that, I am proud to be Igbo and spend my free time learning more about my family’s origin and connecting with my peers in the diaspora! I am excited about the opportunity to train at UChicago, where I can give back to the community that has played a significant role in shaping who I am today. I am eager to continue learning and growing as a physician, and I look forward to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those around me.
Adetoriola "Tori" Odetunde, MD, MPH
St. George’s University
she/her
Hi, I’m Adetoriola, but anyone who knows me calls me Tori. I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and grew up just outside of Toronto, Canada. For as long as I can remember, I have been telling everyone I would be a doctor when I grew up. I completed my undergraduate degree at McMaster University in Biology. After graduation, I worked on a clinical trial for one year. I then completed my Master in Public Health degree at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Austin (hook’em!), where I majored in Epidemiology. While in Austin, I shadowed an EM physician and that experience changed my life. Watching how the attending interacted with, diagnosed, and treated high-acuity patients while maintaining a calm demeanor was incredibly captivating. My shadowing opportunity helped me determine the type of doctor I wanted and needed to be. I then started medical school at SGU, where I completed my first year in Newcastle, UK, through a Global Scholars program offered by my school. I pursued a career in emergency medicine because I believe this specialty is at the nexus of medicine and social epidemiology. With every interaction in the ED, we must recognize that patients and their presenting symptoms do not exist outside of their circumstances. Knowing this, it is our privilege to get to know our patients on a deeper level in a short time, understand their spectrum of needs and provide them with prompt holistic care at one of their most vulnerable moments. I was drawn UChicago because of its long-standing commitment to diversity and serving the South Side community. After my interview day, it was very easy to add the people to my growing list of why I love this program. In addition to that, the vibes were immaculate, which solidified everything for me. I feel incredibly blessed to train here. Some of my favorite things to do outside of the hospital include traveling, attending concerts, and finding the best brunch spots in all the places I visit. I have professional interests in social EM, administration, and critical care.
Ekiomoado "Eki" Olumese, MD, M.Phil.
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
she/her
Hey y’all! I’m Eki and I was born and raised in the DC metro area (specifically Maryland). For undergrad, I moved to Dallas to attend Southern Methodist University (SMU) where I grew in my interest in studying French and France’s colonial history, as well as the medical humanities. Outside of the classroom, I spent much of my time planning events for our Minority Association of Pre-health Students, and training on the water as a member of the rowing team. After college, I hopped across the pond to the University of Cambridge to study Health Medicine and Society. There, I concentrated in History of Medicine and studied Colonialism’s effects on 20th century health care policies in Sierra Leone. I moved back to the south afterward, but this time to Nashville (yes, Music City!), to attend Vanderbilt for medical school. In med school, I fostered my interests in health equity and health policy. Creating opportunities for mentorship of trainees who are URiM is a passion of mine I have able to develop through SNMA, our Social Mission Committee, and as Vice President of my class. I also am continuing to work on a Pediatric Emergency Triage Project that is based in Sierra Leone. I chose U Chicago because of the endless opportunities to grow personally, professionally, and to be connected to an institution committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in every sense of the word. I am absolutely thrilled to train and serve the community here!! Outside of work, I love traveling, spending time with my friends, spending time on the water, playing tennis, and am SO excited to try new restaurants (esp brunch spots)!
Alexandria Oswalt, MD
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
she/her
Hi everyone, I’m Alex! I grew up in rural southwest Michigan on my grandparents’ farm, spending lots of time in the woods and perfecting my campfire building skills. I went to Kalamazoo College for undergrad where I studied chemistry and played Division III volleyball and tennis, discovering a love for singing loudly and off key with my teammates on our multiple hour-long bus rides every week. After working as a scribe for a year, I attended Michigan State University (Go Green!) for medical school and was a part of the Rural Community Health Program, completing my clinical years in rural northern Michigan. I fell in love with EM when I realized how much I enjoy the fast-paced environment, the diverse and vulnerable patient population, and the constant variety. The University of Chicago blew me away with their commitment to diversity, wellness, and serving the underserved population on the south side of Chicago. I could tell that the residents and faculty loved their work and also really enjoyed their lives outside of work. My professional interests include POCUS, event medicine, and medical education. Outside of medicine, I love to spend my time riding my bike, hiking, cooking, having game nights with friends, trying new restaurants or breweries, going to music festivals, and watching some occasional reality TV.
Minal Patel, MD
Indiana University School of Medicine
she/her
Hi everyone! I’m Minal. I was born and raised in Southern Indiana, where I attended IU for both undergrad and medical school. I always knew I wanted to go into medicine, but it wasn’t until my experience as an ER scribe that I realized emergency medicine was where I belonged. UChicago stood out to me from the second I started my residency journey. Their commitment to service, record of academic excellence, and warm and inviting community immediately made me feel like I’d be at home at their program. Throughout the entire interview process, I felt drawn to UChicago and couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else. I’m beyond excited to be training at UChicago and to call Chicago my new home. Outside of medicine, I love to cook new recipes, travel the world, and dance like no one is watching (except for my husband who sometimes will join in). Here’s to all the new friends and restaurants coming my way!
Christopher "Chris" Puntasecca, MD
Stanford University School of Medicine
he/him
Hey, I’m Chris! I’m originally from Wayne, New Jersey. I went up to Massachusetts for undergrad, where I studied Chemistry and Classics at the College of the Holy Cross. I ran track there, competing as a pole vaulter and eventually decathlete. After college, I ventured west to start medical school at Stanford. My passion for emergency medicine became clear during my first shift in the ED. Seeing providers working quickly as a team to care for critically ill patients, I immediately felt like I had found the pace and collaboration of my ideal work environment. Throughout medical school, I was interested in each new pathology I saw and couldn’t imagine focusing on a single organ system (there was a reason I became a decathlete, after all). More importantly, I was interested in learning patients’ stories and working with them during pivotal moments in their lives. In emergency medicine, I’ve found the opportunity to engage with patients from all walks of life, while also pursuing some of the issues that initially drew me to the medical field, including social determinants of health and global health. Interviewing at U Chicago, I could tell that community outreach and healthcare equity were among the program’s top priorities. I was blown away by the residents’ commitment to addressing social issues and the ongoing projects they’re leading. It was also clear that the residents genuinely support one another and are a tight-knit community. I immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of this amazing team, and I’m now beyond excited to be joining the U Chicago program! Outside of medicine, I enjoy staying as active as possible. I like to spend my free time hiking, playing volleyball, skiing, or biking. While I definitely miss pole vaulting, I tend to run without the long stick these days, and will run anything from a 5k to a marathon with even the slightest peer pressure from friends.
Quinn Stillson, MD
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
he/him
Hey everybody, I’m Quinn! I grew up in the small, 2,000-person town of Wakarusa, Indiana. Growing up, my main activities outside of school involved playing or watching all types of sports, although my main sport became tennis once I got to high school. I went to Purdue University for undergrad, where I studied Biomedical Engineering as I also always had a love for creating/designing things while growing up. Unfortunately, I quickly found out that I did not have a love for desk jobs, and found that engineering was not for me. I then started to explore other careers, and thought that medicine would be a great fit as it would allow me to work with people more directly while also utilizing the problem-solving mindset that I loved about engineering. To get more exposure to the medical field, I started scribing at the local ED and I immediately fell in love with being there. The fast-paced nature, heavy reliance on teamwork, unpredictability, and ability to serve patients in some of their hardest moments, all sold me on the dream of someday becoming an EM physician. That brought me to UChicago for medical school where my love for the ED was confirmed, and I specifically found that I loved the UChicago ED. The people in the program truly made UChicago feel like a perfect fit for residency. I was also so honored to work with the patient population at UChicago for my short time in medical school, so I am extremely happy to have the privilege to continue to serve this patient population during residency. Outside of the hospital, I still enjoy watching and playing all sports (although my teams (Purdue, Bears, Bulls) are often losers), and I am currently a personal trainer. I also enjoy cooking (ask me about flexible veganism), playing guitar, walks with my pug, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.
Trey Williams, MD
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
he/him
Hey everyone, I’m Trey! I was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan. I studied biomedical science at Central Michigan University (Fire up Chips!), traveled to Ann Arbor for my masters degree in microbiology and immunology at that other school (University of Michigan), and then finally decided to come home to my old stomping grounds for medical school at Michigan State University (Go Green!). I’m often asked who I root for during sporting events since I attended both rival universities. The wolverines hold a special place in my heart and I now root for their success, but when it comes to rival games I bleed green! I chose emergency medicine because it is arguably one of the coolest specialties in my opinion and it meshed well with my personality. It brings me great satisfaction to take care of patients from all walks of life with a wide diversity of illnesses. Chicago has always been a place I’ve dreamed of living and I have visited this great city multiple times every year since I was a young child. Clinically, the city contains several vulnerable patient populations who are medically very ill and it was important for me to make an impact on these communities. Non-clinically, the city has such rich culture that I value as an important part of becoming a well-rounded physician. I am excited to merge my passions with the clinical training and exposure as a part of the University of Chicago EM family! Outside of the hospital you can usually find me in the gym doing Olympic weightlifting or at home with some form of dessert streaming some sort of comedy or action film. I enjoy hiking, eating out as much as my wallet will afford me, and hanging out with friends at a local brewery.