PGY-IIl
Eamon Abdullah, MD
Undergraduate: University of Guelph
Medical School: St. George’s University
Hometown: Puslinch, ON, Canada
Hobbies/Interest: Video games, soccer, watching movies, all you can eat sushi
Fun Fact: All my life I’ve wanted to play the violin, so I told my family before my birthday, hint hint. My mom surprised me with a guitar.
Tracie Dang, DO
Undergraduate: Pepperdine University
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences – COMP
Hometown: Alhambra, CA
Hobbies/Interest: Traveling (currently at 55 countries), trying new restaurants and coffee shops, cooking, health/fitness
Fun Fact: I’ve snorkeled between two tectonic plates in Iceland, the only place in the world you can do that, and it was COLD!
Nicholas Frangella, DO, Chief Resident
Undergraduate: Syracuse University
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Bellerose, New York
Hobbies/Interest: Drawing, reading, exercising, eating food (not so much cooking it), playing handball
Fun Fact: I’m a big music fan, favorite bands are the Strokes, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Black Sabbath
Kristen Politi, DO, Chief Resident
Undergraduate: Hofstra University
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Wantagh, NY
Hobbies/Interest: Exercising, skiing, traveling, cooking, scuba diving
Fun Fact: I have a white Labrador retriever named Maddie
Alexander Pong, DO
Undergraduate: Creighton University
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State
Hometown: Libertyville, IL
Hobbies/Interest: Hockey, golf, cooking
Fun Fact: I was Billy Bluejay, Creighton’s mascot, for one basketball game
Naveen Sharma, DO
Undergraduate: Stony Brook University
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Woodside, NY
Hobbies/Interest: watching NBA and NFL, playing basketball, weight lifting, tropical vacations, trying new bars/restaurants and barbering
Fun Fact: I shook Future’s hand at a concert
PGY-Il
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
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
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
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
PGY-I
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
Renee’ 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,
and spending time with my husband, daughter, and family
Fun Fact: I married a Boston Red Sox fan