Azfar Ehsan, MD
Hometown: Faisalabad, Pakistan
Undergraduate Education: Divisional Model College, PreMed
Medical School: Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan Medical and Dental College
IM Interest Areas: Nephrology, Rheumatology
Personal Hobbies: Cricket, Cooking, Outdoor Adventures
Personal Motto/Quote: "Success is not in what you have, but who you are." — Bo Bennett
Why I chose Riverside: Honestly, the interactions I had with the faculty and their genuine passion stood out to me. The opportunity to be part of the pioneer batch and help shape a new residency program is a unique experience that few get to have. And who wouldn't love being close to beautiful beaches and amusement parks?
Advice to Medical Students: As an International Medical Graduate (IMG), I understand how challenging this journey can be. Work hard, stay focused and organized, and keep a never-give-up attitude. Don't let anyone or anything discourage you. Seek help when needed and be ready to support others. Stay courteous, humble, and eager to grow both personally and professionally. Take care of yourself and build a strong support system. Although it might seem like a distant dream now, trust that you will achieve your goals.
Noor Fatima, DO
Hometown: Queens, NY
Undergraduate Education: Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College. Majored in Biology and Psychology
Medical School: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
IM Interest Areas: Inpatient medicine
Personal Hobbies: Road trips, museums, traveling, reading, spending quality time with my family and friends
Personal Motto/Quote: "You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script" - Oprah Winfrey
Why I chose Riverside: I had a great experience during my residency interview process at Riverside. I felt that not only would I receive a great learning experience at Riverside, but I would also be supported here during my residency. I was happy and excited to be a part of the Riverside community.
Advice to Medical Students: There is a saying - if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. I am a firm believer in that. Working with the residents, and staff, reaching out to ask for or give help will make you stand out. Be willing to listen, learn, and receive feedback. Remember that as much as they're evaluating you, you're also considering the program to see if it is the best fit for you.
Clinnt L. Favo, DO
Hometown: Guam
Undergraduate Education: Azusa Pacific University, BS Organizational Leadership
Medical School: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
IM Interest Areas: Critical Care, Pulm, Nephro
Personal Hobbies: Basketball, Traveling, playing video games, and more importantly, spending time with my family
Personal Motto/Quote: 1. Live life to the fullest. 2. Work hard, play hard, love hard. 3. Always be kind to others.
Why I chose Riverside: I chose Riverside because of the family-like atmosphere. I also felt like there was supportive staff which was important to me.
Advice to Medical Students: Work hard and approach others with kindness.
Aneel Kumar, MD
Hometown: Jacobabad, Pakistan
Undergraduate Education: Chandka Medical College, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences
Medical School: Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Biology
IM Interest Areas: Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, Inpatient hospitalist
Personal Hobbies: Reading books, listening to music, watching cricket, spending time with family and friends, visiting parks, beaches, museums
Personal Motto/Quote: Dream big, make a plan then work hard to achieve it. yes, you can do it.
Why I choose Riverside: Riverside has everything, experienced faculty, diverse patient population and all kind of pathology one can imagine. Riverside has the ability, where I can grow professionally and personally.
Why I chose Riverside: Stay calm and focused, work hard, believe in yourself.
Advice to Medical Students:
Catherine Illah, MD
Hometown: Abuja, Nigeria
Undergraduate Education: University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria; B.Sc Physiology
Medical School: Windsor University School of Medicine, St. Kitts
IM Interest Areas: HemeOnc/Pulm Crit
Personal Hobbies: Cooking, Traveling, DIY Projects
Personal Motto/Quote: In a world where you can be anything, be kind
Why I chose Riverside: During my observership at Riverside, I was impressed by the collaborative atmosphere and the dedication of both faculty and residents to education and patient care. What struck me most were the heartfelt patient testimonials about the exceptional care they received. This positive culture at Riverside, along with the opportunity to contribute to shaping a supportive environment as part of its inaugural class, was pivotal in my decision-making process. Also, Riverside's commitment to hands-on experience and its diverse patient population with complex pathology makes it the ideal setting for my internal medicine training.
Advice to Medical Students: Stay engaged and proactive during your rotations. Seek out opportunities to participate in patient care, ask questions, and learn from every interaction. Cultivate relationships with mentors and maintain strong relationships with your mentors and colleagues.
Sara Nele-Nguyen, DO
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Undergraduate Education: Thomas Jefferson University, BS Premedical Studies
Medical School: VCOM-VA
IM Interest Areas: Critical Care, Cardiology, Women's Health
Personal Hobbies: Hiking, Spending time with family, fostering kittens
Personal Motto/Quote: This too, Shall Pass.
Why I chose Riverside: My interview with Riverside made me realize how much the residency felt like a family. Getting to work with a tight knit group of colleagues has made my first month of intern year memorable. Riverside IM has a culture of community, positivity, while also working hard for our patients.
Advice to Medical Students: My advice to medical students is to always come in with the mission to learn as much as possible. Treat the patients as your own, taking the time to know their background, comorbidities, and why they are presenting to the hospital. Step out of your comfort zone. The residents and faculty are here for you to learn so don't be afraid to always ask questions and participate.
Madalina Wise, MD
Hometown: Hampton, VA
Medical School: Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Romania
IM Interest Areas: Primary care, Cardiology
Personal Hobbies: Exploring the world and discovering new cultures, food and music, learning new languages, cooking and spending time with my family
Personal Motto/Quote: "Remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." - Henry Ford
Why I chose Riverside: The Hampton Roads community has been my home for some years now and I was really happy to have the chance to give back from this role now. The extensive range of pathology and the endless opportunities to learn, the diversity of the faculty, being able to be part of building the culture for future generations. But what truly convinced me, was the people. During the interview process, the interactions that I experienced felt like genuine conversations, with questions tailored to my journey and actual feedback that helped me understand we have similar goals and values. Everyone seemed dedicated to figure out who we are and what is the best way the program can support us to be successful residents.
Advice to Medical Students: Stay open-minded. Be kind to yourself, you're still learning, and be kind to others. Don't let a bad day decide your future. There is something valuable you can learn from everyone. Treat everyone with respect.