Residents

Hannah Bertagnolli, MD

Medical School: Northwestern University
Specialty + Institution: : PM&R, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, MI
About Me: I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago and went to the University of Notre Dame for undergrad before coming back to the city for medical school at Northwestern. My free time is mostly spent with my husband and our two dogs Odin and Baldr. Recently, we bought a small teardrop trailer and we have been trying to explore as many weekend getaways as we can! (So far, Door County has been one of the best for the distance.) We love to hike, snowshoe, and camp. Additionally, I am as avid a gardener as you can get in the city and have recently really gotten into canning our fruits and veggies. Overall, I think I just try to be outside as much as possible, even in the winter!
Why Ascension Resurrection:  Ascension Resurrection was ranked first for my prelim year, and I am so grateful for that choice. One of the biggest reasons was because everyone I had talked to who had done the program had nothing but glowing reviews to report about the experience, attendings, and other residents. I am a huge proponent of work life balance and wanted to be able to spend time with family and friends nearby. I instantly got good vibes from my interview day and that has continued through every interaction I have had so far at Res. Additionally, I knew I wanted to have an experience at a community hospital since my medical school experience was academic. I think having a well balanced medical education is really important, and it has been really interesting to see different problems that might be faced in different settings. I have so far enjoyed my time here, and I would make this decision again and again!

Srinivas Cherukuri, MD

Medical School:  Columbia University
Specialty+ Institution: : Interventional Radiology, Columbia University
About Me: I spent most of my childhood in Wisconsin but lived in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago for all of my high school years. Since graduating I've been entirely on the east coast, but I’ve always considered Chicago to be home. My free time is divided between spending time with my partner, playing golf, and traveling. I also enjoy attending sports games when I can, mostly NFL (diehard Packers fan) and Formula 1 (Ferrari/Mclaren fan). Even though I try to keep myself pretty busy, I can’t express how much I enjoy the occasional garbage TV show (Selling Sunset/OC, Love is Blind, etc.). 
Why Ascension Resurrection: Ascension Resurrection became an easy favorite during my search for the best TY program. Zooming in for my interview day, I could feel the midwestern warmth from Genesis and Dr. Stephan. I was also amazed by the diversity of the outgoing TY class; they came from all walks of life and all felt like they could seamlessly integrate into residency at Resurrection. I’m going into IR at an academic institution next year and wanted to experience what life was like at a smaller community institution. Choosing to come here has, without a doubt, been one of my best decisions I’ve made and I’m looking forward to a fantastic year!

Michaela Dwyer, MD

Medical School: Weill Cornell University
Specialty + Institution: : Diagnostic Radiology, New York, Presbyterian Weill Cornell, NY
About Me: I’m from the south suburbs of Chicago and grew up visiting the city a lot! I went to Boston University for undergrad and Weill Cornell for medical school so I am super excited to be back in Chicago for the year. In my freetime I like to hang out with my cat, play games with friends and try new coffees! I’ve been exploring coffee shops and roasters in Chicago and so far my favorites are Metric for coffee beans and Sawada Coffee for drinks!
Why Ascension Resurrection: I chose Ascension Resurrection for many different reasons and I am so grateful to be here! On my interview day, I was impressed by how easy it was to talk with Dr. Stephan, Dr. Christos, and Genesis and I learned so much about the program. Ultimately, what stood out to me the most about Resurrection was our core medicine rotations. During these blocks, we work on the family medicine service which means you have the chance to take care of patients of all ages including newborns. Additionally, all admitted patients are patients of the family medicine clinic which is great for continuity of care. Lastly, at Resurrection I’m able to live in the city and easily commute to the hospital on the train which lets me keep up with my car free lifestyle! If you have any questions about this feel free to reach out to me!

Lola Giwa, MD

Medical School: Indiana University
Specialty + Institution : : Diagnostic Radiology, Grossman-NYU, NY
About Me: I grew up in a south suburb of Chicago called Homewood, IL. I went to Marquette University for undergrad and Indiana University for medical school. When I’m not doing doctor things, I’m exploring the city for new food spots/coffee shops (my current favorite is Bueno Days!) or trying to pick up new hobbies, like bouldering and making flower arrangements. 
Why Ascension Resurrection: I chose Resurrection because it felt like home and gave me the opportunity to be close to family for another year before the big move. The interview made it clear to me that the program and its faculty and staff are incredibly supportive of their residents and prioritize wellbeing over anything else. The flexibility of the schedule is hard to beat, and I have no doubt that I will come out of this year well prepared for the next stage!

Michael Park, MD

Medical School: University of Minnesota
Specialty + Institution: : Dermatology, University of Colorado, CO
About Me:  grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, surrounded by the lakes. After high school, I went to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where I was able to study vocal music while also being pre-med, which was a perfect blend of my interests. After college, I worked in biotech sales for a British company and got the opportunity to travel to Europe and all over the West Coast, including some incredible trips to Alaska and San Diego. After two successful years in sales, I knew I wanted to pursue medicine, so I enrolled in medical school. Outside of medicine, I’m passionate about singing and enjoy jamming with friends, performing at weddings, and doing home concerts. Fitness is also a huge part of my life—I love lifting, running, and CrossFit. Recently, I’ve been diving into Korean cooking, which has become a new creative outlet for me. I also have a background in portrait photography, though now I focus more on videography for social media content. To balance these passions with my medical career, I’m intentional about recognizing their importance. I chose this residency program because it supports my desire to be a well-rounded person, giving me the flexibility to nurture both my medical and personal interests.
Why Ascension Resurrection: During my interview for Ascension Resurrection, I got a great vibe from Dr. Stephan and Genesis. I connected with the residents, and they had nothing but good things to say about the program. Being in Chicago, a city I love and where I already have some connections, also made it feel like the right choice for me. My coresidents and I share a collaborative, kind, and fun dynamic. There’s no competitive, cutthroat atmosphere here, which is something I really value. The program’s focus isn’t on intense research or academic pressure, which aligns with my own goals for my career. Plus, I appreciate working with a diverse immigrant population, as I can relate to their experiences and am passionate about providing care for people from different backgrounds.
 

Alexander Kazmer, MD

Medical School: Rosalind Franklin University
Specialty + Institution: Diagnostic Radiology, Boston University Medical Center, MA
About Me: I grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for undergrad, and then went to Rosalind Franklin University for medical school. In my free time, I like to lift, play golf, pick up basketball, and do anything outdoors. I have a goal of breaking 80 before heading to Boston for my advanced program. I am also a huge Chicago Bears and college football fan. 
Why Ascension Resurrection: During my interview, I noticed how much the residents were genuinely enjoying their intern year. Resurrection offers a great mix of core rotations and elective opportunities, allowing one to explore various interests before moving on to their advanced program. I also appreciated the excellent support and camaraderie between the faculty and residents. There is a strong emphasis on teaching here that creates a welcoming environment for all residents starting their first year in a new role. Finally, nothing beats summer in Chicago. It's a great city with tons of things to do throughout the year.
 

Ian Kuckelman, MD

Medical School: University of Wisconsin
Specialty + Institution: Diagnostic Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, WI
About Me: I'm from a small suburb of Milwaukee, and went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for both undergrad and medical school.  Chicago is an amazing city with something to do for everyone.  Personally, I am big into fitness and outdoor group activities and there are so many fun, active things to do here; for example, I joined a running club and I play beach volleyball on the weekends.   I also love attending concerts and music festivals and Chicago has such a diverse music scene.  I'll be moving back to Milwaukee for my advanced training in Diagnostic Radiology at Medical College of Wisconsin, where I plan on pursuing a career in academic musculoskeletal radiology.
Why Ascension Resurrection:  Beyond how wonderful Chicago is as a place to live, the TY program here at Ascension Resurrection is incredible.  We have fantastic attendings, leadership, and overall a team of coworkers who are really grateful to have us here.  The program provides us with everything we need to succeed as TYs, while allowing us adequate time and opportunities to maintain a well rounded lifestyle outside of work.  My co-residents are truly amazing; Res does a great job of selecting a cohort that vibes together so well.  I couldn't imagine being anywhere else!

Sophia Liu, MD

Medical School: Northwestern University
Specialty + Institution: Diagnostic Radiology, Northwestern University, IL
About Me: I  grew up in a small town in East Tennessee and went to undergrad at the University of Michigan (Go Blue!). I moved to Chicago for medical school at Northwestern and have loved living in the city. I'm excited to be staying here for intern year and residency! My favorite activities include exploring Shedd Aquarium and trying out new restaurants. In my free time, I enjoy playing board games, binge watching TV shows, and making homemade milk kefir. 
Why Ascension Resurrection: During my interview day, everyone I met was so welcoming and friendly. The current interns especially emphasized the camaraderie of the program and the great support that Dr. Stephan, Genesis, and Yolanda provide. I was also drawn to the comprehensive and flexible curriculum offered, as we could really personalize our learning experience with the different elective opportunities. Now that I am a few months into intern year, I can confirm that this is the best transitional year program, and I am very happy to be at Ascension Resurrection working alongside my amazing co-interns! 
 
 

Ulysses Marquez-Valenzuela, MD

Medical School: Harvard Medical School
Specialty + Institution: Diagnostic Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, IL
About Me :I grew up in Lasalle, IL. I went to college at the University of Chicago. I went to Boston for medical school. I am so happy to return to Chicago for my TY and advanced programs! In my free time, I love to spend time with my family, be active in my church, play volleyball, and play videogames. 
Why Ascension Resurrection: During my interview day, this program stood out from the rest. During my interviews, I felt that the interviewers really wanted to know me as a person. The program is very supportive as we have monthly TY meetings to discuss and address issues. The elective time is valuable as we can tailor our education to our interests. The hospital location is in the north side of Chicago; so you can get to enjoy everything that the city can offer. 
 
 

Mia Mologousis, MD

Medical School: Tufts University
Specialty + Institution:  Dermatology, Tufts Medical Center, MA
About Me: I grew up in the Western suburbs and went to the University of Notre Dame as a pre-med and Italian double major. After college, I spent one year working as a medical assistant at a local dermatology practice before heading to Boston for medical school at Tufts. I spent 5 years in Boston, including a year-long research fellowship in pediatric dermatology at Boston Children's Hospital, and am beyond excited to return to Tufts next year to complete my dermatology training!
Why Ascension Resurrection: I really wanted to come back to Chicago for my intern year to be with local family and friends before returning to Boston. Res easily stood out because of its incredible reputation, which was only confirmed by the friendly, warm faces I met on interview day. I was also really excited about the unique opportunity Res provides for a personalized schedule, so that I can still dedicate time to preparing myself for future specialization while maintaining a comprehensive TY education. I am so excited for the year ahead at Res and know I am going to leave with a great foundation upon which to build the rest of my training! 

Mira Patel, MD

Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Specialty + Institution: Radiation Oncology, University of Chicago Medicine, IL
About Me: Born and raised in Illinois, I grew up in a northwest suburb, Streamwood, and went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for undergrad (Go Illini!). Right after graduating college, I started medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, and only briefly became a cheesehead. In my free time, I love spending time with my family and friends, running, and cooking or baking whenever I have the chance! I’m most excited to finally experience everything Chicago has to offer year- round and to be back in the same city as my loved ones!
Why Ascension Resurrection: Even before I interviewed at Ascension Resurrection, I had heard the greatest things about this transitional year program. In fact, the lasting impact of this program runs so deep that I had program directors and faculty from my radiation oncology interviews around the nation tell me how much they loved their time when they were here. If that wasn’t reason enough, on my interview day, the sense of community, learning, and camaraderie from the prior TY residents as well as Drs. Stephan and Christos and Genesis was just reiterated. Always having the goal of completing my residency training back in Chicagoland, getting the chance to provide patient centered care in a community-based setting has been a great experience. I could not have asked for a better place to complete my intern year.
 

Aliya Rogers, MD

Medical School:  Rush University
Specialty + Institution: Dermatology
About Me: I grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago in a town called Olympia Fields. There I met my high school sweetheart who is now my husband! I went to Michigan State University for undergrad where I studied human biology and sociology. I returned back to Chicago for medical school and attended Rush Medical College. In my free time, I enjoy playing with my 2 cats (Ares and Athena), gardening, traveling with my husband, taking walks in parks around Chicago, and trying out different restaurants in the city.
Why Ascension Resurrection:I had met some former residents of the program and they had nothing but great things to say about it. Then during my interview, all of the residents seemed genuinely happy with the program. Dr. Stephan and Genesis also made me feel so welcome, and I loved how there was an emphasis on caring about the mental health of their residents. From the interview, I could tell that Resurrection had a great culture and that I would be happy there. I also wanted to stay close to family for intern year, and the hospital not being too far away from the city allowed me to do that.
 

Christina Shehata, MD

Medical School: Northwestern University
Specialty + Institution: Diagnostic Radiology, Northwestern University
About Me: I am originally from Orland Park, Illinois - a suburb of Chicago. I went to Northwestern for undergrad, medical school, and will be returning for my residency in Diagnostic Radiology (Go Cats!). In my spare time, I love exploring new restaurants and breweries in Chicago, walking by the lake, and playing on my competitive skeeball team.
Why Ascension Resurrection: Resurrection had everything I was looking for in a TY program. The combination of broad exposure to diverse patients/pathology, happy residents, and supportive faculty/staff makes for an ideal year before starting my radiology training. It also doesn’t hurt that Res is also located (in my opinion) the best city in the world - there are so many things to do and explore in Chicago throughout the year!

Jared Sullivan, MD

Medical School: Northwestern University
Specialty + Institution: Radiation Oncology, Northwestern University
About Me: I grew up in the Boston area and went to Harvard for undergrad where I studied biomedical engineering. Medical school brought me to Chicago, which I now consider to be my home, although I’ll keep rooting for my superior Boston sports teams. While at Northwestern for med school, I met my now wife and so many amazing people that have made my time here so memorable. I am excited to be staying in Chicago for my transitional year here at Res and radiation oncology residency at Northwestern. Outside of medicine, I love to play golf and explore all of Chicago’s unbeatable restaurants.
Why Ascension Resurrection: I feel very grateful to have matched at Ascension Resurrection. From the program leadership to the many skilled clinicians we get to work with and learn from, it is a top-notch place to begin your residency training. Everyone at Res is very supportive and accommodating, and the emphasis on work-life balance makes the transition from medical school to residency seamless. I would 100% choose this TY program again.