Current Residents

Vanessa Crain, MD

Undergraduate: University of Vermont (UVM)
Medical School: Jagiellonian University Medical College (JUMC)
Hometown: Kensington, MD
Hobbies/Interest: Skiing, skating, snowboarding, playing in the snow! My husband and I have a dog back in Norway named Torkild.
Fun Fact: I led a dog sledding team through the mountains in Norway and didn’t tip over once (though we almost ran into several trees) 

Bryan Montes, MD

Medical School: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua – UNAN León
Hometown: Somoto, Madriz 
Hobbies/Interest: Going to the gym, running, anime, classic movies, spending time with friends and family
Fun Fact: In high school during a trip, I was riding a zip line and it broke

Joseph Ruggiero, DO, Chief Resident

Undergraduate: SUNY Oswego
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine 
Hometown: Holbrook, NY
Hobbies/Interest: Getting outdoors, sports, and exercise.
Fun Fact: Goldendoodle and German Shepherd Dad!

Sunil Shah, MD, Chief Resident

Undergraduate: SUNY University of Buffalo
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Hobbies/Interest: Working out, watching sports and traveling
Fun Fact: I learned how to surf in Costa Rica

Sherif Shehata, MD, Chief Resident

Undergraduate: University of Western Ontario
Medical School: Saint James School of Medicine
Hometown: Cairo, Egypt
Hobbies/Interest: Playing and watching soccer, exercising, watching movies, eating at new restaurants, traveling
Fun Fact: I wanted to be an air force pilot growing up, but my mom said no

Ravinder Singh, MD

Undergraduate: Brock University
Medical School: Saint James School of Medicine
Hometown: Brampton, ON
Hobbies/Interest: Travelling, NBA, NFL, MMA, and BBQs/cookouts
Fun Fact: I have a black belt in martial arts

Marco Vezza, MD

Undergraduate: University of Connecticut (UConn) 
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Hometown: Glen Head, NY
Hobbies/Interest: College basketball, NY Yankees and NY Rangers, cooking, running, hiking 
Fun Fact: I have a twin sister

Tina Zheng, DO

Undergraduate: Stony Brook University 
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
Hometown: Bethpage, NY
Hobbies/Interest: Traveling, Trying McFlurrys in different countries, Skiing, Hot Pot & Sushi
Fun Fact:  I have a husky who was kicked out of dog camp TWICE for opening the gate and letting all the dogs out

Christopher Alexander, MD

Undergraduate: University of Central Florida 
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Hometown: Hollywood, Florida
Hobbies/Interest: All forms of exercise, fútbol, anything food related, traveling to experience new cultures, big nature guy
Fun Fact: I summited the infamous Petit Piton in my families home country of Saint Lucia (see picture above)

Christopher DiNicola, DO

Undergraduate: Carnegie Mellon University, Post Bacc at University of Connecticut
Medical School: LECOM Elmira
Hometown: Port Jefferson Station, NY
Hobbies/Interest: Hiking, Outdoors, Animals (have a dog and cat)
Fun Fact: I was an actuary in my former career

Andrew Dorovenis, MD

Undergraduate:
Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Hobbies/Interest: Playing/watching hockey, soccer, football, going to the gym, cooking and spending time with friends and family!
Fun Fact: I have met multiple Game of Thrones actors in Dublin, Ireland!

Rebecca Eastman, MD

Undergraduate: SUNY Plattsburgh
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Hometown: Levittown, NY
Hobbies/Interest: Skiing, traveling, boating, kayaking, reading
Fun Fact: I backpacked Patagonia with my Chilean family for Christmas in 2016

Gavin Eysler, MD

Undergraduate: SUNY Cobleskill (BS), Lincoln Memorial University (MS)
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Hometown: Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Hobbies/Interest: Being a Dad and Husband, things that go fast, anything with a motor, long distance swimming, snowboarding, jujitsu, Slipknot, TBS, ADTR
Fun Fact: One time I wrestled a giraffe to the ground with my bare hands

Ariel Halevy, MD

Undergraduate: Yeshiva University
Medical School: Technion American Medical School 
Hometown: San Diego, California 
Hobbies/Interest: Technology, golfing, jet skiing, crazy roller coasters, and spending quality time with family
Fun Fact: Every place I have lived has been near the ocean/sea – I prefer the pool (there are less sharks)!

Arthur Speziale, DO

Undergraduate: Florida Atlantic University
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Poughkeepsie, NY
Hobbies/Interest: Mountain biking, kayaking, hiking
Fun Fact: I have two Shiba Inus named Luna and Alice

Kaitlyn Strabel, MD

Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin La-crosse
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Hometown: Somerset Wisconsin
Hobbies/Interest: Baking bread and other treats from scratch, hiking, spending time with friends and family
Fun Fact: My cat Boston is practically part dog as he chases balls, occasionally plays tug of war, and loves cuddles

Reneé Thomas, MD

Undergraduate: York College
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Hometown: Valley Stream, NY
Hobbies/Interest: Kickboxing, playing with my daughter, walks in the park, watching sci-fi movies, cooking new recipes, traveling, shopping all things beauty
Fun Fact: I visited Kaieteur Falls, the world’s highest flow single drop waterfall and was able to wash my feet in the water

Adam White, MD

Undergraduate: University of Houston
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Hometown: Houston, TX
Hobbies/Interest: Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Singing, Cooking, Hiking
Fun Fact: I’m a trained opera singer. I was a tenor with the Houston Symphony Chorus

Stefani Wren, MD

Undergraduate: Quinnipiac University
Medical School: American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Hobbies/Interest: Cooking/baking, watching New York sports teams (LGR!), crafting, traveling, reading, and spending time with family
Fun Fact: I was an extra in The Irishman

Andrew Brooke, MD

Undergraduate: Touro College School of Health Sciences
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Hometown: Bay Shore, NY
Hobbies/Interest: Surfing, tennis, playing guitar, traveling and spending time with family
Fun Fact: I became surfing buddies with Jack Johnson when I lived in Hawaii.

Clayton “Reid” Coover, MD

Undergraduate: University of Texas at Tyler
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean
Hometown: Keller, TX
Hobbies/Interest: Golf, Pickleball, Travel (for the food), Sports (MLB/ NFL/NHL/Premier League)
Fun Fact: In my spare time I am a professional fetch thrower to my mini goldendoodle “Lido”

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Gorecki, MD

Undergraduate: Loyola University Chicago
Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Hometown: La Porte, Indiana
Hobbies/Interest: Spending time with my family, traveling with my fiancé, learning new languages, reading poetry—and perfecting the fine art of sleeping like it’s a competitive sport
Fun Fact: I once scuba-dived into a shark den in Hawaii—surrounded by reef sharks and pure adrenaline

Sulaiman Jamal Asmatullah, MD

Undergraduate: University of Houston
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Hometown: Karachi, Pakistan
Hobbies/Interest: I’m a massive music nerd. I DJ, play the drums, and have recently been experimenting with synthesizers and soundtrack composition. Other than that, I love movies (RIP David Lynch), video games, exploring new places, and hanging out with my cat, Maki.
Fun Fact: I’ve lived in 6 cities, 4 countries, and 3 continents.

Alan Kalinda, MD

Undergraduate: University of Georgia
Medical School: Trinity School of Medicine
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Hobbies/Interest: Traveling, wine tasting (hehe), skydiving, running, weight training, stocks, startups, skiing.
Fun Fact: I founded a medical networking app called Pulse — check it out!

Mathew McKenney, MD

Undergraduate: Mechanical Engineering
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Hometown: Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
Hobbies/Interest: Trail running, Skiing, Mountain biking…anything that gets the adrenaline going. Also play the piano as a fall back in case I break both my legs.
Fun Fact: When i was 10 my older brothers smuggled me into a cruise’s teen club in a suitcase, had me perform a breakdance number on the dance floor, and then packed me back in and smuggled me out.

Aditi Rawat, MD

Undergraduate: American International College of Arts and Sciences, Antigua
Medical School: American University of Antigua
Hometown: Delhi, India
Hobbies/Interest: Crafting & DIY projects, Cooking, Nature walks, Photo journaling, Learning weird facts about animals, Spending quality time with friends and family
Fun Fact: The first thing I did when the pandemic started was start a full Marvel movie marathon—from Iron Man to Endgame. Superhero-ing from my couch!

Hasan Syed, MD

Undergraduate: McMaster University
Medical School: Medical University of the Americas
Hometown: Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Hobbies/Interest: Calisthenics, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA, Basketball, Action Movies, Spending time with Family and Friends
Fun Fact: I frequently hit 20K+ steps a day without even noticing (weird flex i know)

Robert Talay, MD

Undergraduate: Stony Brook University
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Hometown: Smithtown, NY
Hobbies/Interest: Golf, Avid New York Rangers fan, Anything involving food, Fitness
Fun Fact: I’m full of useless movie quotes that I will use on a daily basis

Keitha Varela, MD

Undergraduate: City College of New York
Medical School: CUNY School of Medicine
Hometown: New Hyde Park, NY
Hobbies/Interest: My hobbies include cycling, hiking, watching Netflix and YouTube, and playing board games.
Fun Fact: I have 7 birds; 6 parakeets and a cockatiel!