Abrazo Internal Medicine Residency Program

Jason Klein, MD Program Director	Leslie Easley, DO Associate Program Director	Perminder Sanghera, MD FACP Associate Program Director	Paden Hendrickson, MD Core Faculty
Deepanshu Garg, MD Core Faculty	Shrilkumar Bhatt, MD Core Faculty	Michael Wilk, MD Core Faculty	Nadia Munson, C-TAGME Program Coordinator

Jason Klein, MD - Dr. Klein is a board-certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease. He is cardiologist and medical director of the Vascular Lab at Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona and completed his Internal Medicine and Cardiology Fellowship training at Banner-University Medical Center in Phoenix. Dr. Klein is committed to leading the Abrazo Health Network Internal Medicine Program and training residents to become excellent internal medicine physicians.

Leslie Easley, DO - Dr. Easley is AOA-certified in Internal Medicine and serves as Associate Program Director of Abrazo’s Internal Medicine Residency Program along with her Core Faculty role for Transitional Year. She serves as the system Medical Director for Sound Physicians in Phoenix. Dr. Easley graduated medical school from Midwestern University and completed her Internal Medicine training at Sierra Vista Regional Health Center in 2010.

Perminder Sanghera, MD FACP - Dr. Sanghera is board-certified in Internal Medicine and is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Internal Medicine at Midwestern University. Dr. Sanghera is a founder and president of Desert Valley Medical Associates, a group of 25 Hospitalists providing coverage to Abrazo Arrowhead Campus since 2005. He completed residency in internal medicine at St. John Hospital & Medical Center in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Sanghera is married, has two children, and is fond of traveling and hiking.

Paden Hendrickson, MD - Dr. Hendrickson is ABIM certified in Internal medicine and serves as the Chief Hospitalist at Abrazo West Campus. He is also core faculty of Abrazo’s Internal Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Hendrickson serves on multiple committees and is chair of Peer Review at Abrazo West Campus. Dr Hendrickson graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School in 2006 and completed his internal medicine training through the University of Iowa-Des Moines internal medicine residency program in 2009. He also served as Chief resident in 2009-2010. Dr. Hendrickson is married with two children and when not at the hospital he enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.

Deepanshu Garg, MD - Dr. Garg is a board certified in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine. He currently serves as Chairman of Medicine at Abrazo West Campus. Dr Garg started Med-Cure Internal Medicine in 2010. He graduated in Internal Medicine from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and completed his MBA in health care from George Washington University. He currently also serves as Quality Payment Program Clinical Champion with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Michael Wilk, MD - Dr. Wilk is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Core Faculty at Abrazo’s Internal Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Wilk has a passion for Medical Education, Hospital Medicine, Quality Improvement, and Point of Care Ultrasound. Dr. Wilk completed his Internal Medicine training at the Lankenau Internal Medicine program in Wynnewood Pennsylvania.

Joey Bettencourt, DO	Blake Bewley, MD	Amber Childers, MD	Allison Diehl, MD
Amith Gavini, DO	Adam Gerry, DO	Anmol Grewal, MD	Cecil Guardado, DO
Ramanpreet Johal, DO	Aayushi Kacheria, MD	Winston McCormick, MD	Vamsi Sanagala, DO
Austin Simister, DO	Shreyesi Srivastava, DO

Joey Bettencourt

Hometown: Modesto
Undergraduate School & Location: CSU Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
Medical School & Location: Midwestern University
Personal Interests: Soccer, pickleball, comedy, watches
Professional Interests: Ultrasound
Other Education & Location / Comments: n/a
Recent Presentations & Publications: ACP Regional Oral Vignette, Cardiotoxicity associated with TKIs, PNH Case report

Blake Bewley MD

Hometown: Stockton CA
Undergraduate School & Location: California State University Chico
Medical School & Location: Tufts University
Personal Interests: Rock Climbing, Home Bartending, Tinkering
Professional Interests: Critical Care
Fellowship Institute & Location: Boston Medical Center-Brighton
Other Education & Location / Comments: NA
Recent Presentations & Publications: NA

Adam Gerry, D.O.

Hometown: New Providence, NJ
Undergraduate School & Location: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Medical School & Location: Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ
Personal Interests: Travel, cooking, baking, gardening
Professional Interests: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Other Education & Location / Comments: Graduate School at Tufts University, Boston, MA
Recent Presentations & Publications: Upcoming poster presentation at CHEST 2026

Cecil Guardado

Hometown: El Paso
Undergraduate School & Location: UTEP
Medical School & Location: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Personal Interests: Flower arranging
Professional Interests: Hospital medicine
Other Education & Location / Comments: New Mexico
Recent Presentations & Publications: NA

Winston McCormick, MD

Hometown: Rome, GA
Undergraduate School & Location: University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Medical School & Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Personal Interests: Coffee, Hiking, Reading, Music
Professional Interests: General Medicine, PCCM
Other Education & Location / Comments: N/A
Recent Presentations & Publications: Wales R, McCormick W, Matteo AB, Del Pozo JL, Has P, Mermel LA. Impact of
Catheter-Drawn Blood Cultures on Patient Management: A Multicenter, Retrospective
Cohort Study. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2024 Jun 17;11(7):ofae339. doi: 10.1093/ofid/
ofae339. PMID: 38962523; PMCID: PMC11221777.

Vamsi Sanagala , DO

Hometown: Fremont , CA
Undergraduate School & Location: UC Riverside, Riverside
Medical School & Location: Touro University Nevada, Las Vegas
Personal Interests: Playing and watching Sports, Video Games, Mentoring
Professional Interests: Primary care
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo Health
Fellowship Institute & Location: N/A
Other Education & Location / Comments: n/a
Recent Presentations & Publications: N/a

Austin Simister, DO

Hometown: Coalville, UT
Undergraduate School & Location: Brigham Young University
Medical School & Location: Midwestern University
Personal Interests: Skiing, Hiking, Music
Professional Interests: Cardiology
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo Health Network
Fellowship Institute & Location: N/A
Other Education & Location / Comments: N/A
Recent Presentations & Publications: 1. Bharaj IS, Brar A, Kacheria A, Purewal K, Simister A, et al. Contemporary and Emerging Therapeutics in Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome: In Memory of Professor Akira Endo. Biomedicines. 2025;13:2192. doi:10.3390/biomedicines13092192
2. Simister A, Kacheria A. A Case Report of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) in the Absence of Uncontrolled Hypertension. ACP Arizona Annual Meeting; 2024.
3. Cruz A, Simister A, Velez X, Nijjar S. A Rare Case of Hemorrhagic Cholecystitis in Decompensated Cirrhosis: Diagnostic and Management Challenges. ACP Arizona Annual Meeting; 2025.
4. Velez X, Simister A, Cruz A, Nijjar S. Unmasking Empyema: A Case Report of Massive Empyema Without Respiratory Distress in a Patient with Forgotten Ureteral Stents. ACP Arizona Annual Meeting; 2025.
5. Gunther B, Grewal H, Kacheria A, Simister A. Medicare Price Negotiation for 10 Prescription Drugs (2026): Quantifying the Impacts on Heart Failure Treatment. ACC Annual Scientific Session; 2025.
6. Simister A, Nagothu R. Recognizing the Signs Before It's Too Late: A Case Report of Fulminant Myocarditis. Abrazo Research Day; 2025.
7. Gunther B, Simister A. Left Ventricular Thrombus Causing Renal Infarct in a Patient on Exogenous Testosterone. AOMA Conference; 2024.

Shreyesi Srivastava DO

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Undergraduate School & Location: UCLA
Medical School & Location: AT Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine Arizona
Personal Interests: Traveling, trying new cuisines, and spending time with family
Professional Interests: Rheumatology
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo Health Internal Medicine Residency
Other Education & Location / Comments: N/A
Recent Presentations & Publications: Breaking The Mimicry: Distinguishing aHUS From TTP In Acute MAHA Presentation
Meropenem Induced Cholestasis: a rare complication of a well-tolerated drug
Clostridium septicum: an organism with malignant association
A rare case of necrotizing pneumonia from Group F Streptococcus

Jacob Andersen, DO	Angel Cruz, DO	Ariel De Leon, MD	Casey Giblin, DO
Aaron Ireland, MD	Samin Kargari, DO	Kinza Najam, MD	Sulaiman Paika, DO
Sarah Peloquin, DO	Daneshka Rivera Miranda, MD	Taylor Schrunk, MD	Amarjit Sekhon, MD
Jason Steele, DO	Xionelys Velez Lopez, MD	Marcellina Wiertek, DO	Emanuel Zayas Diaz, MD

Jacob Andersen, D.O.

Hometown: Idaho Falls, ID
Undergraduate School & Location: Utah State University; Logan, UT
Medical School & Location: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine; Erie, PA
Personal Interests: Puzzles, fishing, hiking, card games, spending time with family
Professional Interests: Cardiology, Pulmonology/Critical Care, or Hospital Medicine
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, Abrazo West Campus, Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital
Other Education & Location / Comments: NA
Recent Presentations & Publications: Andersen JR, Larson C, Smith K, Allenbaugh J, McKee J, Shah S, Schmeling J, Hoh M. LECOM Bradenton Interprofessional Research Day. Poster presented: The Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy on Migraine Pain: A Meta-Analysis of Current Literature. Bradenton, FL, United States of America; 04/25/2024.
Andersen JR, Bernhardt SA. Biology Undergraduate Research Symposium. Poster presented: Exposure of Phlebotomus argentipes to permethrin and DDT using CDC bottle bioassays to evaluate insecticide resistance. Logan, UT, United States of America; 04/18/2019.

Angel Cruz, DO

Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Undergraduate School & Location: Southern Utah University - Cedar City Utah
Medical School & Location: Rocky Vista University - SU campus, Ivins Utah
Personal Interests: Watching Formula 1 with my family, being outdoors hiking, going to the gym, and playing golf! When I have time, I enjoy cooking various foods
Professional Interests: I have an interest in exploring more of the pulm/crit care specialty and GI. However, I can see myself being a hospitalist as well!
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo Health, Glendale Arizona
Fellowship Institute & Location: N/A
Other Education & Location / Comments: N/A
Recent Presentations & Publications: N/A

Ariel De Leon, MD

Hometown: Syosset, New York
Undergraduate School & Location: Franklin & Marshall College
Lancaster, PA
Medical School & Location: Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine
Tel Aviv, Israel
Personal Interests: DJing, Weight Lifting, Philosophy, Sporting/Athletics
Professional Interests: Mechanisms and Treatment Approaches to Neurodegenerative diseases.
Role of gut microbiome in health and disease.
Biological correlates of cognition.
Other Education & Location / Comments: Masters of Science in Biomedical Science; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Recent Presentations & Publications: Tau and Alzheimer’s Disease: Molecular Mechanisms and Treatment Approaches
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42399-021-01092-y

Aaron Ireland, MD

Hometown: Southlake, TX
Undergraduate School & Location: Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
Medical School & Location: University of Texas Southwestern (Dallas, TX)
Personal Interests: Spending time outdoors and hiking, playing music, reading history, traveling, cooking
Professional Interests: Quality Improvement, Social Determinants of Health, Immunology
Other Education & Location / Comments: n/a
Recent Presentations & Publications: MicroRNA-15/16 Antagonizes Myb To Control NK Cell Maturation.
Sullivan RP, Leong JW, Schneider SE, Ireland AR, Berrien-Elliott MM, Singh A, Schappe T, Jewell BA, Sexl V, Fehniger TA. J Immunol. 2015 Sep 15;195(6):2806-17. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500949. Epub 2015 Aug 12. PMID: 26268657
MicroRNA-142 Is Critical for the Homeostasis and Function of Type 1 Innate Lymphoid Cells.
Berrien-Elliott MM, Sun Y, Neal C, Ireland A, Trissal MC, Sullivan RP, Wagner JA, Leong JW, Wong P, Mah-Som AY, Wong TN, Schappe T, Keppel CR, Cortez VS, Stamatiades EG, Li MO, Colonna M, Link DC, French AR, Cooper MA, Wang WL, Boldin MP, Reddy P, Fehniger TA. Immunity. 2019 Sep 17;51(3):479-490.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2019.06.016. Epub 2019 Aug 8. PMID: 31402259
Transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of NK cell development and function.
Leong JW, Wagner JA, Ireland AR, Fehniger TA. Clin Immunol. 2017 Apr;177:60-69. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2016.03.003. Epub 2016 Mar 3. PMID: 26948928
Mir-223 regulates the number and function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
Cantoni C, Cignarella F, Ghezzi L, Mikesell B, Bollman B, Berrien-Elliott MM, Ireland AR, Fehniger TA, Wu GF, Piccio L. Acta Neuropathol. 2017 Jan;133(1):61-77. doi: 10.1007/s00401-016-1621-6. Epub 2016 Oct 4. PMID: 27704281
CD56bright NK cells exhibit potent antitumor responses following IL-15 priming.
Wagner JA, Rosario M, Romee R, Berrien-Elliott MM, Schneider SE, Leong JW, Sullivan RP, Jewell BA, Becker-Hapak M, Schappe T, Abdel-Latif S, Ireland AR, Jaishankar D, King JA, Vij R, Clement D, Goodridge J, Malmberg KJ, Wong HC, Fehniger TA. J Clin Invest. 2017 Nov 1;127(11):4042-4058. doi: 10.1172/JCI90387. Epub 2017 Oct 3. PMID: 28972539

Samin Kargari, DO-MPH

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Undergraduate School & Location: ASU-Tempe
Medical School & Location: Midwestern University-AZCOM
Personal Interests: Hiking, exploring the outdoors, cooking, dancing, making flower arrangements, traveling
Professional Interests: Infectious diseases, cardiology, hospitalist
Other Education & Location / Comments: MA in biomedical sciences, Midwestern University
Recent Presentations & Publications: Title: Policy Recommendations to Reduce Anesthetic Gas Emissions in Arizona: A Comparative Literature Review

Kinza Najam, M.D.

Hometown: Roswell, Georgia
Undergraduate School & Location: (Did not do undergraduate school)
Medical School & Location: Dow International Medical College
Karachi, Pakistan
Personal Interests: Spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, and playing badminton.
Professional Interests: Hospital Medicine, Endocrinology

Sulaiman Paika, DO

Hometown: Gilbert, AZ
Undergraduate School & Location: Nova Southeastern University
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Medical School & Location: Nova Southeastern University - Tampa Bay
Clearwater, FL
Personal Interests: Outside medicine, my personal interests lie in innovation & technology, as well as music for which I have facilitated in setting up two ventures/start-ups - PGC (Pangaea Global Corp.) and TRG (The Roze Garden). Through PGC, our board has laid the foundation to pursue innovation in the healthcare sector as well as other industries. With TRG, myself and two other musicians have dedicated our time to creating albums, engaging in novel sound design, and honing in our skills as audio engineers.
Professional Interests: Hematology/Oncology
Pulmonary/Critical Care
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo Health
Glendale, AZ
Other Education & Location / Comments: I am thoroughly excited to begin the next chapter of my medical training at the Abrazo Internal Medicine Residency Program!
Recent Presentations & Publications: Anatomical and Physiological Considerations for Pig Cardiac Xenotransplantation
https://doi.org/10.1111/xen.70049

Sarah Peloquin PGY2

Hometown: Manhattan, Ks
Undergraduate School & Location: University of Arizona in Tucson Az
Medical School & Location: Midwestern University in Glendale Az
Personal Interests: Equestrian, camping, off-roading, country dancing, cooking, spending time with family
Professional Interests: Gastroenterology
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo Internal Medicine, Arizona
Other Education & Location / Comments: Finance
Recent Presentations & Publications: N/A

Dr. Taylor Schrunk MD/MScBR

Hometown: Gilbert, AZ
Undergraduate School & Location: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Medical School & Location: St. George's University, Grenada
Personal Interests: reading, baking, spending time with family and friends
Professional Interests: research, rheumatology, and women's health and education
Other Education & Location / Comments: I have a Masters in Biomedical Research and I am interested in pursuing a fellowship in rheumatology. I am excited to begin my residency!
Recent Presentations & Publications: I presented my poster "Multimodal Assessment to Evaluate Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment Outcomes on Forearm Muscle Tissue: A Pilot Study" at El Rio Poster Fair in Tucson, AZ on May 6, 2025. I am planning to publish a manuscript on this project this summer.

Amarjit Kaur Sekhon, MD

Hometown: Bay Area, California
Undergraduate School & Location: California State University, East Bay in Hayward, California
Medical School & Location: St. George's University, School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies.
Personal Interests: I enjoy traveling with my husband, spoiling our two dogs, spending quality time with family and friends in California, and exploring hobbies like cooking, gardening, and dancing.
Professional Interests: I enjoy the breadth of adult medicine, but I am keeping an open mind as I explore all aspects of internal medicine during residency.
Other Education & Location / Comments: none
Recent Presentations & Publications: n/a

Jason L. Steele DO

Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
Undergraduate School & Location: Brigham Young University; Provo, Utah
Medical School & Location: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Ivins, Utah
Personal Interests: Soccer, dirt biking, reading, grilling, being outdoors with my family
Professional Interests: Digital Health
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo Health Network; Phoenix, Arizona
Other Education & Location / Comments: N/A
Recent Presentations & Publications: Journal Articles
1. Gubler, K., Roberts, T.A.M., Santiago, M., Arias D.C., Muller, M.E., Gawrys, S.P., Evenson-Martinez, M., White., A.B., Steele, J.L., Wardle M.. (2024). Hispanic Health Needs Assessment of Southern Utah. Articulate 2024 Vol. 1.
2. Steele JL, Smith HJ, Takkoush S, et al. Long-term outcomes of pediatric temporal bone fractures with hearing loss: Results of a multinational database analysis. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. January 2025;188:112186. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2024.112186
3. Smith HJ, Takkoush S, Mendenhall TJ, et al. Hearing Benefits of Cochlear Implantation in Older Adults With Asymmetric Hearing Loss. Otol Neurotol. Published online March 11, 2025. doi:10.1097/MAO.0000000000004487
4. Steele JL, Smith HJ, Takkoush S, et al. Long-Term Outcomes of Adult Temporal Bone Fractures With Hearing Loss: Results of a Multinational Database Analysis. The Laryngoscope. April 2025. doi:10.1002/lary.32140
Oral Presentations
1. Gubler, K., Roberts, T.A.M., Santiago, M., Arias D.C., Muller, M.E., Gawrys, S.P., Evenson-Martinez, M., White., A.B., Steele, J.L., Wardle M. Hispanic Health Needs Assessment of Southern Utah 2023. Oral Presentation at: Southern Utah Department of Health; June 20th, 2023; St. George, UT.
2. Anderson, C.M., Ewer, N., Smith, H.J., Steele, J.L., Espahbodi, M., Patel, N.S., Gurgel, R.K. (2024, June 21). Does preoperative hearing predict postoperative facial function for patients with large vestibular schwannomas? [Oral presentation]. 1st Annual Resident Research Day, University of Utah Department of Otolaryngology, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
3. Smith HJ, Steele JL, Espahbodi M, Patel NS, Gurgel RK. Outcomes after Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Vestibular Schwannoma. Oral presentation at North American Skull Base Society Annual Meeting; February 16-18, 2024; Atlanta, GA.
4. Smith HJ, Ewer N, Steele JL, Espahbodi M, Patel NS, Wiggins RH, Gurgel RK (May 8, 2024). Association between Vestibular Schwannoma Volume and Postoperative Facial Nerve Outcomes. Oral presentation at the University of Utah Department of Surgery Research Retreat, Salt Lake City, UT.
5. Smith HJ, Steele JL, Gurgel RK, Patel NS, Espahbodi M. Risk of Complications after Pediatric Cochlear Implantation: A Retrospective Multinational Database Analysis. Oral presentation at American Cochlear Implant Alliance 17th International Conference; July 10-13, 2024; Vancouver, BC.
6. Johnson K, Babajanian E, Horn ML, Espahbodi M, Rydalch T, Smith HJ, Steele JL, Patel NS. Audiologic Outcomes of Cochlear Implantation in the Early Post-Activation Period. Oral presentation at American Cochlear Implant Alliance 17th International Conference; July 10-13, 2024; Vancouver, BC.
7. Steele JL, Smith HJ, Ewer N, Takkoush S, Espahbodi M, Wiggins RH, Gurgel RK (Sept. 28-Oct. 1, 2024) Frailty and Surgical Complications Increase Length of Hospital Stay Following Surgery for Large Vestibular Schwannomas. Oral presentation at American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting, Miami, FL.
8. Ewer N, Steele JL, Smith HJ, Espahbodi M, Wiggins RH, Gurgel RK, Patel NS (Sept. 28-Oct. 1, 2024) Impact of MRI Cochlear FLAIR Signal on Hearing Preservation after Middle Fossa Vestibular Schwannoma Resection. Oral presentation at American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting, Miami, FL.
Poster Presentations
1. Steele JL, Earl C, Jones A, Matthias AK, Brooks A. Effects of Oral Probiotics on the Skin Microbiome of Healthy Individuals. Poster Presented at RVU-COM Research Day; October 21, 2022; Ivins, UT.
2. Steele JL, Smith HJ, Patel NS, Gurgel RK, Espahbodi M. Sequelae of Adult Temporal Bone Fractures: Results of a Multinational Database Analysis. Poster presented at Triological Society Annual Meeting at the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting; May 15-19, 2024; Chicago, IL.
3. Steele JL, Smith HJ, Patel NS, Gurgel RK, Espahbodi M. Adverse Out

Xionelys Velez Lopez, MD

Hometown: Luquillo, Puerto Rico.
Undergraduate School & Location: University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. San Juan, PR
Medical School & Location: Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara. Guadalajara, Mexico
Personal Interests: I enjoy outdoor activities such as trail running, hiking, and playing pickleball.
Professional Interests: While I remain open to exploring various subspecialties, I am particularly interested in Infectious Diseases and Gastroenterology.
Other Education & Location / Comments: Universidad de Sevilla, Spain. Masters Degree in Molecular Genetics.
Recent Presentations & Publications: No recent presentations.

Marcellina Wiertek, D.O.

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Undergraduate School & Location: Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona
Medical School & Location: Midwestern University AZCOM
Glendale, Arizona
Personal Interests: Reading (mystery, historical fiction, fantasy), baking, indoor rock climbing
Professional Interests: POCUS and medical education
Other Education & Location / Comments: N/A
Recent Presentations & Publications: Rashid H, Wiertek M. Osteoporosis in the Osteopathic Clinic. Lecture presented at: American Osteopathic Medical Association; March 9, 2025.
Black A, Wiertek M, Ferguson S, et al. Case report: Localized coloproctitis caused by novel Basidiobolus arizonensis in a dog. Front Vet Sci. 2024;11:1427496. Published 2024 Sep 9. doi:10.3389/fvets.2024.1427496
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39318603/
Wiertek M, Murphy J. Rarities: Diagnostic Radiology and Fetal Imaging. Lecture submitted to: American College of Radiology Medical Student Symposium; January 25, 2025.

Emanuel Zayas Díaz, MD

Hometown: Aibonito, Puerto Rico
Undergraduate School & Location: University of Puerto Rico, Cayey Campus
Medical School & Location: Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, Mexico
Personal Interests: I enjoy playing ping pong, pickleball, and weightlifting, as well as reading during downtime. I am also a drummer. I love watching UFC, series and action movies, especially anything to do with Star Wars.
Professional Interests: I am interested in pursuing a career in cardiology, with a long-term goal of specializing in interventional cardiology. Additionally, I have a strong interest in academic medicine and medical education, and I hope to contribute to resident and student teaching throughout my career.
Other Education & Location / Comments: N/A
Recent Presentations & Publications: Comparison of Small Blood Vessel Diameter with Intravascular Ultrasound and Coronary Angiography for Guidance of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention https://www.mdpi.com/2838398

Mehruba Alam, D.O.

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Undergraduate School & Location: University of Arizona
Medical School & Location: Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
Personal Interests: Exploring nature, listening to audiobooks, checking out new restaurants
Professional Interests: Pursing fellowship
Other Education & Location / Comments: N/A
Recent Presentations & Publications: N/A

Adnan Almazloum DO

Hometown: Omaha, NE
Undergraduate School & Location: Creighton University Omaha,NE
Medical School & Location: ATSU-KCOM Kirksville,MO
Personal Interests: Photography
Professional Interests: Gastroenterology
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo Arrowhead Glendale,AZ
Fellowship Institute & Location: N/A
Other Education & Location / Comments: N/A
Recent Presentations & Publications: N/A

Mustafa Alnmki MD

Hometown: Baghdad, Iraq
Undergraduate School & Location: Misr University For Science and Technology, Egypt
Medical School & Location: Misr University For Science and Technology, Egypt
Personal Interests: I enjoy spending time outdoors, especially fishing and archery. I also value time with family and staying active outside of work.
Professional Interests: inpatient internal medicine, cardiology, critical care, and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). I love how POCUS sharpens bedside skills and guides real-time decisions during complex cases
Residency Institute & Location: None
Fellowship Institute & Location: None
Other Education & Location / Comments: Prior general practitioner and clinic experience in Amman, Jordan from 2016-2019. Prior clinical experience in Phoenix, including work in internal medicine and nuclear cardiology from 2024 to 2026.
Recent Presentations & Publications: None to date

Jacob Andersen, D.O.

Hometown: Idaho Falls, ID
Undergraduate School & Location: Utah State University in Logan, UT
Medical School & Location: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA
Personal Interests: I like staying active, getting outside when I can, and keeping busy with practical hobbies. I also enjoy relaxing with a book, puzzles, and other low-key ways to unwind.
Professional Interests: Hospital medicine

Andrewe Baca, MD

Hometown: Santa Fe, NM
Undergraduate School & Location: The University of New Mexico - Albuquerque, NM
Medical School & Location: The University of New Mexico School of Medicine - Albuquerque, NM
Personal Interests: Outside of medicine, I am an avid skier and enjoy spending time outdoors hiking and fishing, playing board games, managing fantasy football teams, and being involved in my local church community.
Professional Interests: Cardiology and Hospital Medicine
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo Health Network - Phoenix, AZ
Other Education & Location / Comments: Research Fellow, Department of Urology, Montefiore Medical Center - Bronx, NY
Recent Presentations & Publications: Baca AL, Patel RD, Labagnara K, Green B, Zhu M, Gupta K, Edelblute B, Asencio AA, Sharma D, Chen W, Raskolnikov D, Donnelly J, Watts KL, Small AC. Understanding the Clinical Genetics of Kidney Stone Disease Using the Natera Renasight Panel. Urolithiasis. 2025 Mar. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11933196/
Baca AL, Chung C, Duong T, Watts KL. A Call for the Inclusion of Race and Ethnicity Demographics in Artificial Intelligence Research for Prostate Cancer Detection from Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Urology. 2025 Feb. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39643051/
Nadelmann J, Baca AL, Dave P, Small AC, Sankin A. Beyond the Tumor: Exploring the Financial Toxicity of Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer in a Diverse, Urban Population. Clinical Genitourinary Cancer. 2026 Apr. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42143549/
Esce AR, Baca AL, Redemann JP, Webbe RW, Schultz F, Agarwal S, Hanson JA, Olson GT, Martin DR, Boyd NH. Predicting nodal metastases of the oral tongue using artificial intelligence. American Journal of Otolaryngology. 2024 Jan-Feb. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37948827/
Cook Ryan, Baca AL, Small AC, Himes C, Raskolnikov D. Ureteroscopy at Ambulatory Surgery Centers can be Safe for Select High-Risk Patients. World Journal of Urology. 2025 Apr. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40261377/

Jose Y. Diaz Molina, MD

Hometown: Arecibo, Puerto Rico
Undergraduate School & Location: University of Puerto Rico at Utuado
University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla
Medical School & Location: Autonomous University of Guadalajara
Personal Interests: Crossfit, paddleboarding and plena
Professional Interests: Cardiology
Other Education & Location / Comments: Internship Program - Mayaguez Medical Center in Puerto Rico
Recent Presentations & Publications: Approach to Atrioventricular Blocks: Identification and Treatment

Joshua Garrett, DO

Hometown: Mesa, Arizona
Undergraduate School & Location: ASU, Tempe, AZ
Medical School & Location: Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Meridian, ID
Personal Interests: Volleyball
Professional Interests: Acute complex multi-system disease
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo Arrowhead, Glendale, AZ
Other Education & Location / Comments: N/A
Recent Presentations & Publications: N/A

Dr. Grant Gordon, DO MS MBA

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Undergraduate School & Location: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara CA
Medical School & Location: Midwestern University, Glendale AZ
Personal Interests: Soccer, strength training, hiking, traveling, reading
Professional Interests: Hospital medicine, healthcare policy, healthcare administration, healthcare leadership
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo Health Internal Medicine Residency, Glendale AZ
Other Education & Location / Comments: MS, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. MBA, University of Miami Herbert Business School
Recent Presentations & Publications: No recent presentation

Daniel Kamna, DO

Hometown: Hillsboro, OR
Undergraduate School & Location: George Fox University, Newberg, OR
Medical School & Location: Midwestern University (AZCOM), Glendale, AZ
Personal Interests: Soccer, Golf, Board Games
Professional Interests: Cardiology, basic/translational research
Other Education & Location / Comments: NIH T32 Postdoctoral Fellow, OHSU, Portland, OR
Recent Presentations & Publications: Publications:
1. Kamna D, Davis B, Layman CE, Wiedrick J, Jahan I, Carbone L, Masri A. Cardiomyocyte-Derived Cell-Free DNA Shows Limited Association with Disease Severity in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Manuscript in Progress.
2. Kamna D, Elman M, Alani A, Alqabani M, Butzner M, Balaji S, Song H, Masri A. Age-Related Differences in Short- and Long-Term Outcomes After Septal Myectomy for Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Manuscript in Progress
3. Nguyen O, Kamna D, Masri A. Heart Failure in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Card Fail Rev. 2026 Mar 2;12:e05. doi: 10.15420/cfr.2025.25. PMCID: PMC12983141. PMID: 41837112.
4. Mahana, I, Mejia, A, Elman, M, Kamna D, Nguyen O, Chen H, Masri A. Characteristics and Outcomes of Mavacamten Use in 2440 Patients with Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. J Am Heart Assoc. 2025; 14(21); doi: 10.1161/JAHA.125.042488
5. Davis BJ, Volk H, Nguyen O, Kamna D, Chen H, Barriales-Villa R, Garcia-Pavia P, Olivotto I, Owens AT, Coats CJ, Abraham TP, Solomon SD, Maron MS, Masri A. Safety and Efficacy of Mavacamten and Aficamten in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. J Am Heart Assoc. 2025 Mar 7:e038758. Doi: 10.1161/JAHA.124.038758. PMID: 40055855.
6. Nguyen O, Kamna D, Masri A. New therapies to treat cardiac amyloidosis. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2025 Mar 1;40(2):98-106. Doi: 10.1097/HCO.0000000000001198. Epub 2025 Jan 13. PMID: 39819772; PMCID: PMC11802289.
7. Jonker SS, Kamna D, Loturco D, Kailey J, Brown LD. IUGR impairs cardiomyocyte growth and maturation in fetal sheep, J Endocrinol. 2018; 239(2). Doi: 10.1530/JOE-18-0382
Presentations:
1. D Kamna, B Davis, C Layman, J Wiedrick, I Jahan, L Carbone, A Masri. Evaluating the Clinical Utility of Cardiomyocyte-Derived Cell-Free DNA in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Oral presentation at: Knight Cardiovascular Institute Research Conference; May 13, 2026; Portland, OR.
2. D Kamna, M Morita, T Morgan, A Masri. Leveraging Extracellular Vesicles as a Window into Myocardial Biology and Pathophysiology. Oral presentation at: Knight Cardiovascular Institute Research Retreat; May 1st, 2026; Portland, OR.
3. D Kamna, B Davis, C Layman, J Wiedrick, I Jahan, L Carbone, A Masri. Cardiomyocyte-Derived Cell-Free DNA Shows Limited Association with Disease Severity in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Poster presentation at: Precision Cardiovascular Care Symposium; February 20, 2026; San Diego, CA. 1st Place – Best Poster
4. D Kamna, M Elman, A Alani, M Alqabani, M Butzner, S Balaji, H Song, A Masri. Outcomes Following Septal Myectomy in Young Patients with Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Poster presentation at: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025; November 07, 2025; New Orleans, LA
5. D Kamna, D Hanes, K Massimino, S Walcott-Sapp. Impact of Frailty on Treatment Decision-Making in Breast Cancer Patients. Poster presentation at: The American Society of Breast Surgeons 26th Annual Meeting; May 2, 2025; Las Vegas, NV
6. D Kamna, LD Brown and S Jonker. Reduced cardiomyocyte size does not account for reduced cardiac weight in growth restricted fetuses. Oral presentation at: Western Society for Pediatric Research; January 29, 2016; Carmel, CA

Omar Khatib, MD

Hometown: Bullhead City, AZ
Undergraduate School & Location: Arizona State University, AZ
Medical School & Location: Ross University School of Medicine, Barbados
Personal Interests: Watercolor painting
Gardening
Cooking
Professional Interests: Cardiology
Other Education & Location / Comments: N/A
Recent Presentations & Publications: N/A

Sarah Mohedin, DO

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Undergraduate School & Location: Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI
Medical School & Location: Midwestern University in Phoenix, AZ
Personal Interests: Music, Soccer, Volleyball, Pickleball
Professional Interests: Hospitalist Medicine, Endocrinology, Preventative Medicine
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo
Other Education & Location / Comments: N/A
Recent Presentations & Publications: N/A

Jeffrey Mutterperl, DO

Hometown: Chandler, AZ
Undergraduate School & Location: University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
Medical School & Location: Midwestern University/AZCOM
Glendale, AZ
Personal Interests: Golf, Working out, Trivia,
Professional Interests: Sports Medicine, Rehabilitation, Pain management, Pulm/CCM, Rheumatology
Other Education & Location / Comments: Previous Residency: Creighton University - Omaha. General Surgery (Preliminary)
Recent Presentations & Publications: None

Kenil Patel

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Medical School & Location: GMERS Medical College and Civil Hospital, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.
Personal Interests: Playing Soccer, Reading and learning more about space and the universe, Travelling.
Professional Interests: Gastroenterology
Residency Institute & Location: Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, Glendale, Arizona.

Mitali Madhu Salklan, MD

Hometown: New Delhi, India
Undergraduate School & Location: Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India
Medical School & Location: Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India
Personal Interests: I enjoy yoga and wellness activities, creating watercolor paintings, and spending time in nature. I love all animals and pets, and also enjoy exploring new places and cultures.
Professional Interests: My professional interests include primary care and public health, with a focus on preventive care. I also have a growing interest in rheumatology, sports medicine, and oncology.
Recent Presentations & Publications: 10.5662/wjm.v14.i3.92983

James Schumacher M.D.

Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
Undergraduate School & Location: Creighton University, Omaha, NE
Medical School & Location: St. Georges University Grenada, West Indies
Personal Interests: Crossfit, Golfing, Arizona Sports
Professional Interests: Cardiology, Sports Medicine
Other Education & Location / Comments: N/a
Recent Presentations & Publications: N/a

Jared Zaniewski, DO, MPH

Hometown: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Undergraduate School & Location: University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Lowell, MA
Medical School & Location: Midwestern - Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Glendale, AZ
Personal Interests: Outside of medicine, I enjoy all things fitness-related, especially CrossFit, Olympic weightlifting, yoga, and group fitness classes. I played collegiate lacrosse and continue to stay involved with the sport whenever I can. I’m also an avid fantasy reader and proud cat dad.
Professional Interests: Within medicine, I am interested in hospital medicine and critical care.
Other Education & Location / Comments: MPH from University of Massachusetts Lowell
Recent Presentations & Publications: N/A

Class of 2026

Dhami, Dana, MD
Grewal, Harneet, MD
Hanna, Candice, DO
Humayun, Hina, DO
James, Jacob, DO
Larson, Ross, DO
Loli, Helen, DO
Munaim, Juzer, DO
Murray, Heather, DO
Nguyen, Phuong Thu Thi, DO
Purewal, Karen, DO
Sachdeva, Nikhita, MD
Schwab, Anna, DO
Solowiej Singh, Christopher, MD
Syverson, Cole, DO
Wong, Megan, DO

Class of 2025

Ahmed Abidali, DO
Inderjeet Bharaj, MD
Troy Coleman, DO
Michael Fu, DO
Benson Gunther, DO
Sajani Jivan, DO
Jasraj Khalon, MD
Yvette Lopez, MD
Kavir Maharaj, DO
Sara Malik, MD
Suraj Narvekar, MD
Daniel Ruesch, DO
Aaron Sidhu, MD
Peter Simonse, DO
Marina Wassef, DO
Craig Yanuszeski, DO

Class of 2024

Andrew Barringer, DO
Jeffrey Crawford, DO
Tasmea Haque, MD
Matthew Keller, DO
Michael Kost, DO
Justen Kozlowski, DO
Ryan McAuliffe, DO
Serene Musallam, MD
Uyen-Nha Nguyen, MD
Ty Pfau, DO
Morgan Reeve, DO
Nikita Satapathy, DO
Sukhdev Singh, MD
Kirk Thorpe, DO
Valerie Martinez Vargas, MD

Class of 2023

Aniket Arora, MD
Shahin Bhagwagar, DO
Geo Cherian, MD
Xiaoxuan Dai, DO
Harmony Dixon, MD
Bryant Kao, DO
Mark Kirk, MD
Leena Malik, MD
Tushar Menon, MD
Nikita Nalam, DO
Thomas Pathityil, DO
Sasikanth Ravi, DO
Sandra Shi, DO
Alec Stampfel, DO
Miranda Stiewig, DO

Class of 2022

Kimball “Tyson” Bailey, DO
Fady Bodagh, MD
O’Shaine Brown, MD
Nina Celaya, MD
Jordan Fisher, MD
Neha Khan, MD
Christopher Lew, DO
Aniket Mody, DO
Haitham Rahman, MD
Jorge Rodriguez-Nylund
Raj Shah, MD
Monider Singh, MD
Daniel Stewart, MD
Samuel Ward, DO
Bilaal Zahoui, DO